Author Notice: dont own.. sad!

Summary: takes place when Connor is still with Molly and Wilhelmina and him have just arrived back from Flordia.

Chapter 1

DMDMDMDMDM

What had it been? Weeks? Weeks since he had hired Connor, weeks since they had tricked Wilhelmina, weeks since he had seen them both in the office? It was fact, there was evidence. It started out once or twice a week, around noon, on of them would end up leaving and in the realm of 10-15 minutes the other would be gone. Their excuses were vague. The easy ones had concluded of 'picking up something', 'a business function or lunch', all the way to 'Molly's deathly sick' and 'I'm going out Daniel!' Yet their returns were worse then their exits. One might turn up and then the other smelling of aphrodisiacs, hair slightly ruffled, still adjusting their clothes.

The more they edged towards the big spring 'Resort Wear' Issue, the more they seemed to spring out the door, sometimes even twice a day. He couldn't let that happen. He needed them both there, focused, jumping on the job, instead of each other.

"Maybe that's a little too far," Daniel thought out loud to himself trying to prevent the images forming in his mind.

"What's too far?"

"Huh," he said turning around to face the yellow and green polka dot clad assistant.

"Oh, hey Betty."

"Daniel you ok? You've been staring out that window for about the last 20 minutes." Sort of like Wilhelmina, she thought, deciding it was best to keep it to herself.

"Yeah, uh…hey Betty. Could you… I have a job for you."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yes but it's a job for only you to know about. Like… hush-hush," He said slightly crouching down.

"Hush-hush? Oh what's hush-hush? Sounds secretive, SPILL!"

They both turned round at the sound of the cheeky phone girl Amanda. Her hair half up in a wild and very avant garde style, boots up to her knees and a dress that probably would fit on Betty like a snug green midriff shirt. Needless to say it was very Amanda.

"Its nothing Amanda," Daniel said obviously a little shaken.

"Right," She said with her signature wink and extension on the RRR-ight.

"Seriously Amanda, now I need to talk to Betty," He said a little more annoyed then shaken.

"Fine, but I'll find out," She insisted turning around beginning to leave. Before she could exit Wilhelmina came through the door. She eyed the blonde receptionist as she flounced by.

"Well, im off to a lunch with Donna Karan," She said paying absolutely no attention to Betty.

"What type of lunch," Daniel asked.

"The one where you sit down and eat, usually discussing things," She retorted.

"Well if you're going to be discussing things I think you need both editors there." Daniel said. She was clearly taken aback; she had obviously not expected him to question her. He reached for his coat unmistakably making her jump.

"Oh, Daniel. Donna and I go way back, were just two friends… having lunch discussing things," she replied to his sudden movement.

"Well we have a big Issue that needs to be signed and I need your approval on the final spreads."

"Yes yes yes, have Marc give them to me. Ok," she said checking her gold diamond studded watch, "Its 12:07 and…"

"My clock says 11:58," Daniel cut her off. Her eyes snapped up at him.

"Well regardless I have to meet her at 12:05 and Im late either way." With that she turned on her gold Dior heel. The ruffles on the back of her tan coat swaying vivaciously behind her.

"What was that about," Betty asked?

"I need you to follow her." Daniel replied still staring at the spot where she had been.

"Wha.." Daniel beckoned at Betty imperiously cutting her off.

"I need you to find out where she's going," He said his voice almost a whisper.

"But Daniel," Betty said matching his tone, "We already know where, she's going to lunch with Donna Karan. And why are we whispering?"

"Betty it's Wilhelmina, she could be going anywhere." Betty winced, the memory of Wilhelmina lying about going to lunch before and secretly sneaking back to the black gossamer sheets and gold satin bedspread with her "body guard" Dwayne.

"Uh, Daniel do I really have to be the one to track her? I mean Amanda would be great at something like that and I have a big pile of papers to attend to." He was taken aback at her abrupt change of mind.

"Betty I can't have Amanda track her. She's Marc's best friend and he tells Wilhelmina everything. And Amanda can't keep her mouth shut for the world." Betty sighed. She knew he was right and she turned round secretly hoping that he would not ask about the paper rubbish she had just made up.

Walking out of the room, her head slightly down at an angle preventing her from even noticing Amanda, standing there slightly stunned. Hidden directly in the indent between the door and the glass window to Daniel's office, rapidly snapping her head back and forth between the backside of Betty and the advancing Daniel. She ducked as he came out. He poked his head around the wall almost as if checking that Betty was walking out the tube and not turning towards the closet where her friend Christina worked. Betty turned, but not towards the closet but out to the elevators. Reentering his office Daniel closed the door behind him.