Part One
'I am a real man,Ok?
What on Earth had happened there? They'd been alone in the elevator when Daniel had decided to prove his masculinity by pouncing on her, pressing his lips against hers. He said he'd done it to 'diffuse the sexual tension' between them. Apparently, he said, the reason she was so hostile towards him is that she secretly wanted him. What complete nonsense! Wilhelmina had responded in the only way she knew how...she had punched him. She was Wilhelmina Slater for goodness sake! Daniel Meade had no right even invading her personal space let alone placing his lips on hers. Just who did he think he was? Ooh but they had been such soft lips, and the way his taunt body had meshed into hers ever so slightly, his strong arms hooked around her waist, just...ooh. She'd freaked out and just had to get out of there!
Which is why she was now sat in her office mulling the incident over. She berated herself for not pulling away quicker. As much as she hated to admit it, she had kind of enjoyed it. But this was the man she despised. The man she had tried to ruin on numerous occasions. She had worked damn hard to get where she was. She had plotted, schemed and screwed her way to the top. Daddys boy Meade had simply been handed the same job on a silver plated platter! Daniel... the womanizer, the player, someone she wouldn't ever normally give a second thought to. But in that elevator she had felt the electricity between them. A spark, a passion, it was immense. Argh! What the hell was happening here? She needed to forget this had happened and hoped Daniel would do the same.
Propping up the bar at a local club, Daniel felt a complete fool. He had completely misread the signs. Sexual tension...pfft! What did he know? This was the devil woman. If Wilhelmina had shown any sign of sexual tension, then there was bound to be a plot behind it. It was bound to be used against him in some way. I mean, she had tried to destroy the company. She had tried marrying his father on his death bed. When that had failed, she had stolen sperm from his lifeless body and tried to give birth to an heir. All in the aim of gaining a share of Meade Publications. She had tried and suceeded to drive a wedge between him and his sister Alexis. She'd managed to humilate him numerous times. He should be imagining her dead.
He shouldn't be imagining her mashing her lips into his, her long mocha coloured legs wrapped tightly around his waist, grinding her body against his, her hands entwined in his hair, moaning into his mouth. 'Stop it Daniel! You despise this woman remember?' He tried to remind himself. 'And she despises you'
So why had she responded, albeit only slightly, to his kiss? Why had she scuttled out of the elevator, head hung? The Wilhelmina he knew would have sauntered out, head held high after beating his ass down. He needed to get her off his mind. He needed a distraction. Scouring the bar, he saw her... his distraction. A tall leggy blonde, giving him the eye.
'In for a penny, in for a pound aye?'
Waking up in a strange Manhatten apartment, Daniel had felt numb. Yes this girl had been beautiful... couple of sandwiches short of a picnic of course, but there was a deeper itch that hadnt been seen to. As much as he didnt want to admit it... he wanted the devil woman. He wasn't foolish though, he knew it was just lust. He wanted to screw her. He wanted to take control, for her to scream his name. He wanted to wield his control over this strong, powerful woman. He wanted her at his knees, begging for his mercy. And he was going to get his wish. For once, It was Daniel Meade who had the scheme.
Part Two
Working late in her office that night, Wilhelmina signed off on the Book and began to think about heading home.
Daniel apperared and rapped on the glass door.
"Hey. Heard you landed the Valentino account? Care to celebrate? I promise to keep my lips to myself" he joked.
"I was just about to head off. And as for keeping your body parts to yourself, I dont doubt that Daniel, unless you wanted another split lip to match the first" she raised her eyebrow.
"Come on... I have champagne and caviar" he said, knowing full well Wilhelmina couldn't resist the finer things in life.
Sure enough, she rolled her eyes and sighed. "Ok fine but no mushy stuff, strictly business, after all I did do a marvelous job landing the Valentino account."
Daniel smiled. He had her where he wanted her... it was a waiting game now.
A couple of glasses later and the conversation turned from work to a more personal subject. Wilhelmina was laid out on her chaise, Daniel propped up against it, his head on his elbow, next to Wilhelminas thigh.
"So, when exactly did you decide to stop been so mean to me?" Daniel questioned Wilhelmina.
"I dont know what you mean?" She raised an eyebrow.
"Come on Willie. You're starting to take my ideas on board now and actually give me credit for them. You don't appear to be trying to sabotage me anymore. Oh and I can't remember the last time you insulted me" he chuckled.
"Is that what you want Daniel? An insult? Because I can more then happy oblige that one"
"Bring it. I'm a big boy, I can handle it"
Wilhelmina rolled her eyes.
"Cat got your tongue Willie?"
"The only thing thats had my tongue recently was a cocky, chauvenistic magazine editor." She smirked. Clocking the look on Daniels face she added... "And if he were to try it again, he would be a 'dead' magazine editor"
"Oh is that so? Did it get to you that much Wilhelmina?"
"What the hell are you talkin about boy?! I just dont appreciate your slobbering lips all over me." she shuddered.
"So you're telling me that you didnt feel anything back there? In that elevator?" Daniel moved slightly up and removed the glass from Wilhelminas hand before setting it on the table. He stared her out. He wanted the truth from her.
"Oh Daniel be real!" She reached out an arm and attempted to swat him away. He grabbed her delicate wrist, leaned forward and hissed. "I'm not a fart Wilhelmina... you can't just waft me away."
He stood up, placing his hands either side of her head so even if she had wanted to move, she couldn't. She was trapped.
"Tell me you don't feel this heat. Look into my eyes and tell me i'm wrong, and i'll leave you alone and never mention this again."
They locked eyes. There was no sound in the room other then their breathing. Wilhelmina swallowed hard and tried to speak. Her lips were dry. Daniels face was just inches away from hers, and them lips...oooh. She couldn't help herself. She hated proving him right but she couldnt stop it. It was as if some invisible force was pulling her upwards. Their lips met. No words were spoken as they hungrily explored each others mouths. Daniel shifted his weight so he was laid above her, their legs entwined. He used one hand to support his weight and the other he used to run softly up her stocking clad thigh. Wilhelmina moaned, pressed further into him and wrapped her arms around his neck, one hand stroking through his hair. He could feel her breasts pressing against his chest and it almost sent him over the edge. God, her breasts. He had spent many a daydream thinking about her amazing assets. He dipped his head and ran his tongue along her neck. She shivered and ran her hands along his back, lifting the bottom of his shirt. Daniel took the hint and stopped briefly to remove the offending item of clothing, giving her a glance at his toned muscular body. His kisses resumed and trailed down her neck to her cleavage. Unbuttoning her silk blouse, Daniel stopped for a second, mesmorised by the caramel coloured globes that were only inches away from his hungry mouth.
'What the hell are you doing Daniel?' he thought to himself. He wasn't supposed to go this far, but he physically couldnt stop. This was Wilhelmina Slater, the well renowned ice queen, and here she was, melting beneath his touch, hair toussled, lips swollen and begging him with her eyes not to break this spell.
"Told you there was heat" he murmured, his mouth firmly attached to her nipple.
Shit! That was it. Spell broken. Wilhelmina pushed him away with all of her force, and flew out of the office, re-arranging her skirt and top along the way.
'Fuck!' Daniel sat back on his knees. 'You idiot!'
Part Three
Slamming the door to her apartment, Wilhelmina hurled her keys across the room in sheer frustration. What the hell had happened back there? Had she lost her mind? She wasn't sure. It was as if she had temporarily lost control of her body. Daniel had been like a positive to her neutron. She had magnetically been drawn to him, losing control of the comman sense part of her brain. She mentally kicked herself for allowing him to see the real extent of her feelings for him.
Sure, she wasn't going to deny she'd never thought this day would come. She knew it would happen eventually. Daniel had been right... the reason she was so hostile towards him was because she wanted him. Good god she wanted him. But it couldn't, shouldn't, happen. It hadn't always been like that. Oh no, the scheming and plotting had been real. But they had begun to have a mutual respect for one another after the whole Molly/Connor incident. She had shown a weak side then and Daniel hadnt made a big deal of it, because he had been feeling it too. They had a non spoken understanding with each other. Since then she had began to see him in a new light. She wasn't going to deny it, he was a very attractive man, that was obvious to any woman within a fifty mile radius. But just lately she had begun to get these urges. She didn't know if it was just sheer frustration, it had been a while after all. Or if it was something deeper. Well whatever it was.. she had to make sure it wouldn't happen again. She was far too scared of the consequences.
To say the tension between the two Mode Co-Editors over the next few weeks was tense, was an understatement. The snippy comments were been thrown back and forth thicker and faster then ever. Meetings had become a tedious affair and even the Mode staff were beginning to notice that something was amiss. Betty and Marc were staying away from their respective friends/bosses as much as was possible for fear of been caught in the cross fire.
"They so wanna jump each others bones"
"Amanda! You're not helping!" Betty sighed as the pair stood looking into Daniels office. Him and Wilhelmina were arguing again.
"Soo-rriee! But come on... sexual tension gone ca-ray-zee! Why do you think Willies been all bitch-nasty with Daniel again? They got it on, i can so totally tell. I can feel it in my breasts" She cupped her breasts as if to emthasise her point and stares into space.
"No way!... Really?... What?"
"Come on Betty dont be such a drip. Im telling you, Willie and Daniel have bumped uglies. Their fights aren't about Mode, its about their undying lust for each other. Ive heard it with my own eyes. Listen to your Auntie Amanda. She knows these things" She turned on her heel and swayed her hips as she sauntered off to find Marc. "By the way.. lu-huving the outfit! Did you get that at a yard sale?"
Amanda could be so dumb sometimes, but been the receptionist at Mode had its advantages for her. She heard and saw 'everything' that happened within the glass walls of these offices. Was she right? She usually was. Ask Amanda an intelligent question and you'd get a stupid answer. But ask her who's sleeping with who, who's wearing what, and who's gotten fat and she turns into Stephen frigging Hawkin. Betty hoped, however, on this one occasion that Amanda was wrong. Surely Daniel had more sense then to go near Wilhelmina. Not much more, granted, but surely even he had scruples. The woman had tried to destroy everything that he held dear on many occasions. Betty knew the phrase 'Keep your friends close and your enemies closer' and hoped to god that Daniel wasn't taking it literally.
Part Four
Three weeks had passed since Daniel and Wilhelminas 'encounter', and both had been avoiding each other like the plague. When they did have to be in the same room, it was unbearable. Daniel decided one day that enough was enough and they were going to discuss this whether Wilhelmina wanted to or not.
Later that night, stood outside the door to her apartment, Daniel suddenly felt nervous. He had to admit that he was petrified of Wilhelmina sometimes. Christ, the woman could kill with just a look. But he knew this needed to be resolved before they drove themselves, and the whole of Mode crazy.
When she answered the door, Daniels jaw literally dropped. She was wearing a short white silk nightie with an open silk dressing gown. The nightie accentuated her breasts perfectly with just a hint of nipple visible through the flimsy material and it made her look like a goddess. Her hair was loose and framed her make up free face. Daniel realised he'd never seen her without makeup and he was amazed by how much more beautiful and younger she looked without it.
"What do you want?"
Wilhelminas snappy tones brought Daniel out of his daydream and he struggled to find his words. "Er..listen. Er.. i think we need to talk"
"I have nothing to say"
"Please Wilhelmina. This is crazy. We need to sort this and ill be damned if im doing it in the hallway...so are you going to let me in or do you want me to air your dirty laundry to your neighbours?"
She rolled her eyes and walked back into her sitting room, leaving Daniel to close the door and follow her.
"You have five minutes."
"This is crazy ok? Look what happened, happened. Now we either forget all about it and go back to the way we were, or we own up to it and admit whats really going on."
"And what would that be?" She looked at him quizically.
Daniel gulped. He was just going to come out and ask it. He could deal with the ramifications later.
"Do you have feelings for me?"
Wilhelmina snorted. "Silly, silly boy. It was a clumsy fumble in a moment of weakness. It meant nothing" she said, none too convincinly.
"I don't believe you" he said, taking a step closer.
"What's not to believe Daniel? Tell me? Why would i ever be interested in you?"
"So this chemistry? This heat between us?"
"Oh will you shut up about the damn heat!" she screamed at him. "You know nothing Daniel! You're just a silly pampered little daddys boy, thinking you know it all out here in the big bad world. Well let me tell you something" She jabbed a finger in his direction. "You know shit! You don't know fuck about real feelings and real relationships, so get down off your high horse and fuck off out of my house!"
"Oh i know nothing do I? At least I've felt true love! The person I loved, actually loved me back and didn't just use me for personal gain!"
He hadn't meant to say that, and by the look on Wilhelminas face, he knew he had hit a nerve. But, Wilhelmina, been the bitch she was, soon recovered and hit back.
"True love? With the 'plain jane' infant school teacher? Oh purlease! That wasn't love! It was pity. She knew she was going to die and thought 'what the hell'. You do know that she was relieved when she pegged it? Because she knew she wouldn't have to spend the rest of her life with you following her round like a little lost puppy!"
"You evil bitch!!" Daniel screamed. He lunged at Wilhelmina and pushed her against the door, pinning her arms above her head. She moaned out in pain. "What the hell are you doing?! Get off me now before i call the police!"
"You're plain evil you are. You're nothing more then Cruella De Ville in fucking Prada!!"
"So what the fuck are you still doing here Daniel?!" She yelled back. "If im so evil, why the hell do you care that i have feelings for you!"
"You don't have feelings for anyone! You're nothing more then a robot! Hell a fucking robot would be more sympathetic then you, you cold hearted bitch!"
"Thats were you're wrong! I do have feelings for you and its fucking killing me!!"
"What?" Daniel gasped and released his grip slightly on her wrists, but she made no attempt to break free.
"Please go Daniel" she said..her voice breaking slightly.
He knew he had pushed her too far. He let go and took in the sight before him. Wilhelmina was slouched against the wall, eyes closed, breathing heavily. This wasnt the Wilhelmina he knew. She was powerful, fiesty and completely devoid of human emotion. Stood in front of him now was a frightened little girl, and it scared him that he had reduced her to this.
"I'm so sorry" he whispered. He leaned forward, tilting her chin up, and brushing his lips gently against hers. She flinched from his touch and he walked away and let himself out of her apartment. Outside the cool air hit him and he leaned back against the wall. 'You fucking idiot! Why did you have to push it?' he scolded himself. He slouched down the wall, head in his hands and wondered how the hell he was supposed to rectify this.
Wilhelmina tried to compose herself enough to lock the door after Daniel had left. She couldn't believe what had just happened, what she had just admitted to. She then curled herself up into a ball on the floor and began to cry.
Part Five
"Get out of my way! ... Didn't I fire you? ... I don't care, ask me again and I'll shoot you"
"Well Wilhelmina is back to her lovely self today" Betty whispered to Amanda.
"Oooh i know.. Bitch-a-mina back in full swing... yow!"
"Amanda?!" Betty giggled.
"Meeting in ten minutes, all departments!" Wilhelmina yelled as she walked past.
"Hey Amanda? Is Daniel in yet? I need to go over some proofs with him before this meeting."
"Haven't seen him yet" Amanda shrugged.
Betty wandered over to Daniels office. Hmm, weird. He was never late for work. He hadn't even rang to say he was running late. Before Betty had a chance to ponder further, Marc came shooting past, grabbed her arm and started dragging her to the conference room. "Hurry, don't want to keep her Highness waiting... boy is she in a bad mooood!"
The meeting wasn't going well and everyone seemed to be getting on Wilhelminas bad side. Listening to the third bad pitch of the morning, Wilhelmina looked over to Daniels seat, and wondered where he was. Was his no show anything to do with what had happened between them last night? Had it really affected him this much? Or had he simply been on one of his drunken binges and spent the night with some floozy? She felt her heart sink at that thought. She wasn't exactly sure why it bothered her, but it did. Just the thought of some leggy, beautiful, young girl wrapped around him made her unbelievably... jealous? Was that the word? She didn't know, couldn't explain it. She just knew she didn't like the idea.
Lost in her own thoughts, Wilhelmina didn't notice that everyone was looking at her. Keith, from the art department, had finished his pitch and they were all now waiting on tenterhooks for Wilhelminas brutal opinion. She gathered herself, stood up from her seat and simply said "Ok".
She didn't have the energy to put anyone else down today. She felt she'd already achieved her quota for the day and just wanted this meeting to be over so she could sculk back to her office and be alone.
She barely even registered Amanda charging into the confrence room. Tear stained and struggling to speak, she tried to announce something to the group.
"Oh spit it out Amanda, we don't have all day to waste on your dramatics" Wilhelmina snapped. Oh look at that, she did still have it in her.
"Daniel.... accident.... coma!"
With that everyones heads snapped round and began firing a million questions at the blonde receptionist.
"What?" "How?" "When?" "What's going on?"
The room was now a loud buzz of Mode employees desperate to grasp what Amanda was trying to say.
"SILENCE!" Wilhelmina shouted. Everyone sank back into their seats and a quick hush asended across the room. "Amanda?" She softened her tone. "What's happened?"
Amanda choked back a tear. "Daniels had an accident.. h.. was hit by a car this morning...he's in a coma" She burst into tears and flew out of the room.
"Oh my god!" Betty yelled, grabbing her phone and dialing in the first number she could think of...
Calling... Claire Meade.
"Meetings over" Wilhelmina said. "Back to work. We will keep you all updated."
No one moved so she raised her voice. "Back to work!!"
Everyone scuttled out of the confrence room. Betty had just reached the door, phone firmly clasped to her ear, waiting desperately for Claire to answer when Wilhelmina grabbed her arm, pulled her back into the room and closed the door.
"Sit!" She barked. "I want to know what the hells going on here."
Betty simply nodded and her phone clicked into life.
"Mrs Meade? Its Betty. What's going on?"
Wilhelmina encountered quiet possibly the longest 5 minutes of her life listening to Bettys side of the conversation with Claire. All she heard was, "Oh my gosh" and "So what now?" and "Is he going to be ok?"
She had nearly actually bitten a perfectly manicured fingernail by the time Betty had finished the phone call.
Tears in her eyes, she looked at Wilhelmina and struggled to get out the words. "Daniel was on his way in this morning and he got involved in a hit-and-run. He hit the concrete head first. He's in a coma and stable at the moment but the doctors dont know if there could be serious brain injury. Its just a case of waiting to see when, if, he comes around"
Looking at Bettys now fragile state, Wilhelmina knew she was itching to get out of there.
"Go" Wilhelmina said. "Take the day off, go see him"
"Are you sure?" She snivelled.
Not wanting to show that she actually had an emotional side, Wilhelmina muttered. "Well you aren't going to be much use around here. Go"
Not wanting to give Wilhelmina chance to change her mind, Betty whispered a thank you and scuttled out of the room.
Wilhelmina sat back down, head in her hands and tried to fight the urge to cry.