Rules of Civility

01The Chance Encounter

As the final hours of 1937 ebbed away, two young women of disparate origins, Katey Kontent and Eve Ross, found themselves ensconced in the pulsating heart of a jazz club in New York City. The club was a living, breathing entity, its veins throbbing with the rhythm of music and the hum of conversation, providing a vibrant canvas against which their lives were painted. Katey, a quick-witted native of Brooklyn, was a secretary in a law firm, her sharp intellect often overshadowed by her humble occupation. Eve, on the other hand, was a radiant Midwestern beauty, her vivacious spirit undeterred by the struggle to establish herself as an actress. As the hands of the clock inched towards the cusp of a new year, their paths intersected with Tinker Grey, a strikingly handsome banker hailing from the affluent Upper East Side. Tinker, with his effortless charisma and enchanting smile, was a stark deviation from the men they had previously encountered. He was a man steeped in wealth and privilege, a stark contrast to their own worlds. Their encounter with Tinker marked a pivotal juncture in their lives. For Katey, he was the key to unlocking a world far removed from her working-class roots, a world that shimmered with the allure of New York's elite. For Eve, he was the golden ticket to the fame and fortune she had always yearned for. As the first rays of the New Year bathed the city, an unlikely camaraderie blossomed between the trio. Their days were spent meandering through the city, from the majestic halls of the Metropolitan Museum of Art to the raw, unpolished backstreets of the Lower East Side. However, as they ascended the social ladder, they soon discovered that wealth and status were not without their own set of stringent rules and repercussions. Tinker, despite his affluence, was not impervious to the pressures of his social stratum. He grappled with reconciling his burgeoning feelings for Katey and Eve with the societal expectations of his peers. Concurrently, Katey and Eve, despite the deepening bond of their friendship, found themselves embroiled in a silent competition for Tinker's affections, a rivalry that threatened to fracture their friendship. As the year unfolded, the dynamics of their relationship grew increasingly intricate. Secrets were unearthed, allegiances were put to the test, and their lives were irrevocably altered. The serendipitous encounter that had initially brought them together also set them on a journey of self-discovery, compelling them to confront their deepest yearnings and fears.