Daniel sat and watched as Betty rubbed her swollen pregnant belly and showed his new secretary the ropes. She was leaving. At six months pregnant she was finally moving out of the state with Henry. They had been married a year ago and she had put off the move for as long as she could. Daniel was hoping it would take a lot longer. Not only was he loosing his best friend to that geeky Accountant, he was loosing his unborn godson. Betty had asked him as soon as she found out she was pregnant and he had jumped for joy, He missed DJ a lot, so the thought of having Betty's baby around had thrilled him. Until she told him she was moving away with Henry.
Daniel was pulled out of his thoughts as he heard a knock on his door, "Come in!"
"Daniel, This Is Siobhan Johnson, your new assistant." Betty said and nudged the young woman towards him. "Don't worry he might look scary but he doesn't bite."
"thanks Betty" Daniel said and stuck his tongue out at her "Its nice to meet you"
"you too sir" Siobhan said and stiffly shook his hand "I was really surprised that I'd gotten this job, I never even had the interview."
"well Betty saw your application and insisted that you were the best for the job" he said and stuck his hands in his pockets. "and I always trust her judgment"
"Aww Daniel that's sweet" Betty said and hugged his arm and rested her head on it. "Now, You mister have a meeting with Dolce and Cabaña(?) in ten minutes!"
Daniel nodded his head and grabbed his coat off the back oh his chair. "Don't think were not going to talk before you leave"
"Yes, yes. I know, your going to try and talk me out of leaving again" Betty replied with an exaggerated sigh.
"see you later" he said and walked out the door knowing full well, betty would get her way and there would be no talk.
Seven hours later Siobhan sat at her desk playing a game of solitaire while she waited for Daniel to tell her it was time to go home. After their introductions and Betty taking off after lunch, she had answered calls scheduled appointments and shooed away suspicious looking models. It had been a long day and all she wanted to do was get home and take a long bubble bath before she got up and started it all again tomorrow.
Looking at the clock she sighed and stood, if he wasn't coming out she was going in. Standing she walked over to his door and lightly tapped on the door frame, "Sir. Its after seven"
His seat turned around and Siobhan wanted to hug him, because he looked like his world was crumbling. Betty had explained that Daniel would seem a bit off for the first few weeks after she left. The two had been attached at the hips for the last five years. They had been through a lot together and her leaving was like he was loosing her forever.
"oh, I'm sorry Siobhan I was lost in thought, you can go if your ready." Sighing Siobhan walked into the room and sat down in the chair in front of his desk.
"ok, Betty told me you'd be a bit off, spill it" crossing her legs she leaned back and waited for him to respond.
"I'm fine" he said and then rubbed his hands over his face. "so she said I might be a bit off?"
"Yes she did" Siobhan chuckled "she told me you would be at a complete loss with out her"
"ha!" Daniel said and she could hear his choke back a sob, "I bet she did."
"Its alright if your upset about her moving, she's your best friend, it happens" Standing Siobhan smoothed down the front of her shirt and smiled at him "Now, I have to go. I've got to pick up something at the store and make sure my kids didn't destroy the house"
"Oh?" he said and she knew she'd said the wrong thing, betty knew she's had kids but she didn't want Mr. Meade to know. She didn't want him to think that she couldn't do her job. "you have kids?"
"yes… I have seven" looking down at the floor she blushed as she heard his suck in a breath.
"wow, got started early didn't you. You cant be more then twenty five" looking back up she saw that he was smiling at her and she blushed again.
"well… it's a long story" taking a step back she smiled "I really should be going, like I said I have to stop at the store."
"okay… have a goodnight" nodding her head she walked back out to her desk and grabbed her things, hoping this didn't change his view on how she worked.
An hour later she stepped into her house and sighed. She was right, it looked as if a tornado had come through here. Boxes were still stacked up around the living room and clothes and toys were all over the place. "Abigail!"
"Mom, your home, thank God!" turning she saw her oldest daughter coming out of the kitchen holding her youngest, Four year old Alex looked like he'd been attacked with silly string. "They boys thought it would be fun to go through every box in the house and then when they found the silly string they had a war! Carina and I have been trying to reign them in, but they came at us and then Alex got some in his eye!"
"take him upstairs and get him in the bath." Turning she shouted up the stairs "Austin, Tyson, Anna, Amie! You get down here right now and help clean this mess up."
"Mom, I've got the kitchen done" turning back to the living room she saw her daughter Carina come out, holding a large load of clothes. "I'm trying to finish up the laundry. Anna and Amie's rooms are clean but every time I get the boys' rooms cleaned up they thrash it again"
Siobhan smiled at her daughter and kissed her head "I'll deal with it"
"Mom!" turning once again she held her arms out as her other four children came stumbling down the stairs ready for hugs. "we had so much fun with Abby and Rina today!" Austin exclaimed
"Oh I bet you did. Now you four get in the living room and clean it up. Then I want you boys to get up stairs and clean your rooms!"
"But mom!" Tyson started and then pouted when she pointed her finger in the direction of the living room.
So much for the bubble bath.
After getting the kids to school and picking up Mr. Meade's dry cleaning and grabbing his breakfast, Siobhan stood in the elevator tapping her forty dollar Avon boots and hoping that Daniel was running as late as she was. when the elevator doors opened she was greeted with sight of Daniel and betty talking to the receptionist. "Oh there you are Siobhan"
"I am so sorry I'm late, but there was a big line at the dry cleaners and the bakery was closed so I had to get your bagel from somewhere else!" she stammered and handed him his bagel.
"no problem, I just got here," she watched as Daniel turned to Betty and she saw how his face lit up as he talked to her. "betty was trying to sneak out of my office, she thought leaving a goodbye note on my desk was going to be enough"
"well… it looked good in my head!" Betty said and Daniel laughed.
"that's my line!" he said and hugged her close. "I'm going to miss you Betty Suarez "
"Aww look at Beauty and the Geek love!" suddenly remembering the receptionist, Siobhan looked over to see the thin blonde come around the desk and hug both Daniel and Betty. "Were all going to miss you Betty, and you had better not tell anyone I said that" and as soon as she was there she was back behind the desk.
"I'm going to miss you guys too" Betty hugged Daniel again. "now, I need to go, Henry is holding a cab for me"
"have a good trip Betty" Siobhan said and hugged the heavily pregnant woman. She stood next to Daniel as they watched the elevator doors close. She heard him sigh before he left her side, shaking her head she turned and jumped, the receptionist was standing right in front of her staring. "can I help you?"
"I'm Amanda. And you are?"
"Mr. Meade's assistant." taking a step forward she stopped again when Amanda took one too.
"your almost pretty. Though those Avon shoes have got to go! Don't you know you work at a fashion magazine.?"
"Well at least my Avon shoes where cheaper then the last season Prada knock offs your wearing Darlin" Smiling that she had stunned the rude woman she skipped to her desk and hung the dry cleaning on the coat rack. Turning on her computer she leaned over and also turned on her radio smiling when she heard Garth Brooks come on. Flipping open her day planer she got started on the day, nodding her head to Garths 'Aint going down till the sun come up'
Daniel stood and looked out of his office window over the city. Betty was boarding a plane flying away to Timbuktu right now, and he couldn't stop her. She was finally happy, he knew there was no way she was ever coming back. Turning he looked at his watch and sighed, he had a meeting to be at. Putting on his jacket he stopped short when he came out of his office to see his assistant bobbing her head to a country song and typing away on her computer, crossing his arms he let his eye travel over her. She wasn't thin but she wasn't really fat. She had short brown hair and wore no make up, While her clothes weren't as loud as betty's when she had started they still loudly stood out that she was not one of the fashonistas that walked around here.
"your going to be late for your meeting with Armani" a voice startled him out of his thought and he blushed, he had been caught staring at her.
"sorry, I just got lost in thought again" tugging the sleeves of his jacket down he smiled over at her again
"I should be done in about an hour."
"okay, I'll give you your messages when you get back and your monthly expense report should be done by then too"
Daniel nodded and walked towards the conference room, she was efficient for sure, but she still wasn't Betty.
Siobhan was in Daniels office putting his report on the desk twenty minutes later when he came storming in and tossed his Jacket on his couch. She stood for a moment clutching her files as she watched him pace the room. "Sir is everything okay?"
"Armani didn't like the presentation, said it wasn't right!" she watched as he stopped and sat down on the couch putting his head in his hands "he said he's going to back out if we don't come up with something by tomorrow morning."
"well what did he say was wrong with the presentation, I went over it this morning and its seems okay to me." She said leaning against his desk.
"Just okay? Well what did you think was wrong with it?" Daniel asked, and she suddenly felt nervous, she wasn't the person who got asked questions about high profile fashion. She was the one people asked about computer problems and where to file something, or how to change a diaper.
"um…. Well… I do remember reading that Armani just had a baby right?"
"yeah so what does that have to do with it" he asked looking confused.
"think about it, this is the first meeting you've had with him since the baby?" Daniel nodded "then his perspective has changed slightly, while he might have liked the shots of skinny models and beautiful men before me might like a more personal presentation now, something with a family feel to it."
"really?"
"well think about it, He designs clothes for all occasions, Maybe if you ….. Wait I have an idea" Siobhan said and rushed out to her desk with Daniel behind her
"what?"
"give me an hour, I'll be back" Siobhan said and grabbed her purse and keys, looking up she saw the uncertainty in his eyes "don't worry, we will figure this out. I'll be back!"
With that she raced out of the offices and to the parking garage, leaving a very confused Daniel in her wake.
An hour later Siobhan stood crammed into the elevator with her children in tow. While her oldest girls where nearly jumping with excitement of being in the building of MODE, the younger ones were fidgeting and looking tired. "now remember what I said no touching anything and no asking Mr. Meade a bunch of questions."
"yes Mom" they all said and when the doors opened she grimaced Amanda was sitting at her desk filing her nails and when she saw them her jaw dropped and she stood.
"wow, Avon, when did you have start having kids when you were five?"
"Amanda, Darlin, at least I can say I got more then you and your fifteen dollar botox will ever get!" Siobhan said smirking as she walked by. It felt good to put someone in their place, well Amanda at least.
Walking over to her desk, she looked down at her kids and started straightening clothes and hair, " now, were going to go talk to Mr. Meade, best behavior!"
Picking up Alex she opened his office door and then held it open so all of her kids could come in.
"sir, I know this look weird"
"um… Siobhan why are your kids here?" Daniel asked and then stood.
She put her hand up and set Alex down. "now hear me out…Armani just had a baby, his thoughts are on family oriented things right now, so that's what you'll give him."
Pausing she watched as he crossed his arms and then nodded for her to continue. Taking a breath she walked over to his desk and picked up the photos for the first presentation "We can still use this, and I'm pretty sure I can get him to buy at least two more pages in the magazine."
Daniel sat back down "you have my attention."
An hour later found them all down in a staging room for pictures, the kids were all dressed up in Armani clothing and posing for pictures. Daniel was standing next to Siobhan as they watched the kids laugh at each other, the boys were playing with their ties, while the older girls where helping the younger ones with their hair. "this is an amazing idea Siobhan"
"thank you sir" she answered blushing.
"He's going to love this, he has too. I mean 'Life Time of Armani' Is a purely wonderful idea"
"just think, we can get a few models to play the first shot of the couple meeting , and then they can shoot a wedding in Armani clothing, then the shot with some kids, then a shot of the parents waving the kids goodbye as they leave for college, all the while wearing Armani." Smiling at him, she felt very sure that this was going to win Armani back.
"the shots we do today with your kids I want to present and if he would like to use them for the actually shoots he can… if that okay with you?"
"oh.. Well I guess that would be okay. I mean I'm sure my kids would love it." she shrugged her shoulders and looked back over to see Alex and Anna start to fidget. "I think we got enough shots, how about I take them home."
Daniel nodded and called for the photographer, as he talked to him, Siobhan walked over to Anna and picked her up, she was rubbing her eyes and complaining that her dress was itchy. "mommy can we go home now, I'm hungry and I want to sleep"
"sure baby girl, lets just get you guys out of these clothes." turning to Alex she started to pick him up as well but Daniel beat her too it. "you don't have to get him, I carry both of them all the time."
"Its alright" Daniel said and let the little boy rest his head on his shoulder. "I'll take the boys to get changed why don't you take the girls?"
"thank you" she smiled at him and lead the girls to the dressing rooms. After getting the kids all dressed and ready to go, Daniel instead on having the town car take her home, and when she suggested that he would be going out of his way he ignored her and called it any way.
When they got to her house, The girls invited him for supper and he readily agreed, She smiled knowing he was probably missing the loud happy dinners he had shared at the Suarez house. As they walked in she turned to him and put her hand on his chest. "just to warn you, its not clean, boxes are every where and toys seem to pop up in every place imaginable"
He just smirked and put his hand over hers, "we'll order dinner and I'll tell you about the time Betty found me moping in my apartment while I was supposed to be in the Bahamas getting over someone."
Shaking her head Siobhan moved her hand and moved into the house, for some reason her hand was cold now.
Three hours later after the kids were in bed, and the kitchen clean after their meal. Siobhan and Daniel sat at the table drinking coffee and laughing about his adventures with Betty. " I was so mean to her the first few weeks she was there, I didn't want her around because I know my father had only hired her to spite me."
"but you ended up with a best friend" Siobhan said and took a sip of her coffee. "My best friend and I were like that too, she showed up in my media room at church when I was fifteen, all sweet and she wore her heart on her sleeve. I told her to get out, but she wouldn't and soon we were inseparable."
"Are you still like that? Does she live around here?" Daniel asked and Siobhan just shook her head and set her cup down.
"no, she passed away shortly after I had Alex. Cancer"
"oh" looking over at him she saw his mood change, "My wife died of cancer almost two years ago. Betty tell you that?"
Shaking her head , Siobhan suddenly felt very stupid. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean…"
"no its okay" he said and smiled a little "you know you never did tell me how you have so many children at such a young age."
"well" Siobhan said and leaned back in her chair, "Anna and Amie, are my best friends kids. She left them to me when she died."
"oh… And the other girls? Your still to young to be their mother"
"well…" she said taking a drink of her coffee "that's a longer story"
"I've got time"
"My husband Emanuel was a cop. So I didn't really work, he wanted me to stay home and take care of the kids. I had no problem with that." running a hand through her hair she took a deep breath "Abigail, Carina, Austin, and Tyson lived next door with their parents, I got along great with their mother. She loved her kids a lot. But their father was another story. He called them a nuisance and would beat on them and their mother. ….One day the kids came barreling into the house saying I need to call the ambulance and my husband. Their dad had a gun and had shot their mother." she paused and looked at the expression on his face, it was a look of disgust and horror
"I called , and then went next door with my husbands hunting rifle. I was going to go scare him off, I could hear the sirens not far off, when I walked in the house I about threw up, their mother was laying on the floor covered in blood and their father was standing over her yelling that it was all her fault. I didn't hear the cops pull up, the next thing I know my Emanuel was pushing me out of the way and someone had been shot."
"oh Siobhan" Daniel said and reached across the table taking her hand.
"Emanuel was rushed to the hospital, but he died on arrival. There was nothing they could do." wiping a stray tear away she shook her head and let out a low laugh "I spent months thinking that if I had just staid in the house with the kids he would be alive and they would all have a father."
"Its not your fault, that bastard did what he did" Daniel said
"I know that now. And were all okay now. We spent a year there trying to pull ourselves together but it wasn't working so we packed up and came out here" smiling she squeezed his hand and let go to stand up.
"Why New York?" He asked and went into the kitchen with her to put his cup in the sick.
"well that's a funny story" Siobhan laughed "I pulled out a map and told the kids to pick a place"
"really?" he asked and laughed with her.
"yep, Abigail and Carina automatically shouted for New York while to boys asked if we could live in Disney Land"
"that would have been fun" He said and put his hands in his pockets. "well I think I should get going now, Its late and we have an early presentation."
"oh wow it is" Siobhan said looking at her watch, it was almost one in the morning. Looking out the kitchen window it was late September and snowing "um, I don't know if it would be a good idea to drive anywhere tonight."
"oh crap" Daniel said as he looked out the window "its early for now isn't it?"
"yeah, well I have a very comfy couch you can crash on." she said smiling shyly.
"alright" he said
After getting his some blankets and pillows she said good night and went up to her room, setting the alarm clock, she prayed that the kids would get up on time.
The next morning Daniel woke up to whispers and giggles as he lay on the couch. He had the blanket over his head and smirking he yawned loudly, then laughed when he heard the girls scatter. Sitting up he stretched and stopped short when he saw Siobhan coming down the stairs chasing a fast Alex, "young man you get over here right now!"
Standing quickly he snatched the young boy and tickled him "I think your mama wants you to get dressed."
"I don't want too" he squealed and tried to squirm when he saw his mother standing there with his cloths
"come on little man get dressed" Daniel said and handed him to Siobhan. "do you need help?"
"No, I'm sorry we woke you" she said and shoved a shirt over her sons head, then told him to get upstairs and brush his teeth "they are pretty much ready to go, I just have to get some food into them."
"what time is it?"
"half past six, I told them to keep quiet, I didn't want to wake you too early" she said blushing.
"Its alright, its actually sleeping in for me, I'm normally up at five getting paper work done." seeing Siobhan blush again and look down he suddenly realized he didn't have shirt on. "oh sorry…"
"I'm going to go get dressed, the bathroom is just off the kitchen." he chuckled and pulled his shirt over his head as she raced up the stairs at top speed. She sure can blush, he thought.
An hour later they were cleaning up breakfast, finding backpacks and homework when Siobhan's house phone rang, Seeing Siobhan doing dishes and the girls arguing over who was wearing who's top, he shrugged and answered it. "Johnson residence"
"Daniel?" sucking in a breath he cursed at the familiar voice
"oh so you don't talk to me for three whole days but you call Siobhan" looking over at Siobhan he shook his head as she put her hands on her hips and mouthed 'who is it'
"Daniel Meade I swear if your over there for what I think you are I'm coming all the way back there to kick your sorry butt" he smiled, at least he could still rile her up from several hundred miles away.
"betty" he started and then almost laughed when Siobhan laughed and said 'Busted' "Look we were working late and I came over here and had dinner but by the time I was getting ready to go home it was snowing and Siobhan offered to let me stay."
"that better be all mister!" betty screeched "now give the phone to Siobhan!"
"but I haven't talked to you in days and … and I miss you" he whined and pouted when Siobhan held out her hand for the phone. "fine"
He handed the phone to her and sat back down. He watched as Siobhan suddenly went three shades of red and turned away from him before whispering "BETTY!" into the phone. This was definitely an interesting morning.
After the early snow had cleared away, and everyone was back into their fall fashion clothing, things began to move fast. While Christmas was only a few months away they were starting to shoot spreads for it, and Armani, after seeing the new presentation , had bought six Christmas pages. Soon Halloween had come and gone, thanksgiving had been a huge fiasco that Daniel had shared with Siobhan and her family while his was still in Paris. Now it was a week before Christmas and Daniel was running himself ragged trying to get this issue out.
"Daniel, Slow down." Siobhan said as she set a cup of coffee on his desk. "The issue is done, you just need to send it the printer."
"I know, I just want to make sure its perfect." he replied not taking his eyes off the book.
She sat down across from him and sipped on her tea. She had been done with her work for almost an hour, but she knew that Daniel was on edge about this issue so she wanted to stick around and make sure he was ok. Crossing her legs she tapped her heal against the edge of his desk. Tap Tap Tap… Tap Tap Tap… Tap Tap Tap
"Is there something you wanted?" looking up she smiled at him and shook her head, taking another sip of her tea she started tapping her foot again. Tap Tap Tap…. Tap Tap at… "What?"
"well, is everything spelt right?"
"yes" he said not looking up.
"Is every photo approved and positioned right?"
"yes" he said looking up at her and glaring.
"Has every clothing line been featured? Are they all put on the pages that were promised?"
"okay okay, I get it… I'm obsessing" he said and leaned back. "you win, I'll drop it off at the Printer."
"Good, but you might want to pick your mother up from the air port first, She's been waiting for an hour… lets hope she didn't have to call a cab." smiling she stood and laughed when it registered to him that he'd forgotten his mother.
"Crap! Why didn't you tell me!" He yelled, while pulling on his jacket.
"I did Sir, but you would not stop looking at the book" walking out to her desk she slipped out of her new Avon boots and reached under her desk. "I will be late tomorrow"
"Why is one of the kids sick?" he asked and she noted the general look of concern on his face.
"no, but I have to go to the kids school. The little ones are having a career day and they wanted me to go." pulling her Jeans out of her large purse she slipped them on under her skirt and smirked when Daniel turned around.
"oh well you can just take the day off if you want to, I mean we don't have any meetings tomorrow" he stuttered rubbing the back of his neck.
"you know I never took you for one to blush" zipping up her pants she took off her skirt and shoved it in her bag just as the elevator doors opened. "well looks like she did get a cab."
"Daniel Meade!" sitting back down in her chair to zip up her boots Siobhan smiled at the tall blonde woman who came into the room.
"Hi mom how was your trip?" Daniel asked like nothing was wrong.
"you were supposed to pick me up" His mother said crossing her arms " I waited at the airport for over an hour… and what were you doing?"
"I was working on the Christmas issue. I'm sorry." he said and tilted his head trying to look innocent.
Siobhan snorted, standing she pulled on her wool sweater and stuffed on a beanie. " Ma'am, I'm Siobhan Johnson your sons new assistant"
"Oh hello, yes, Betty mentioned you. And I think Daniel said he spent Thanksgiving with your family… and he might have mentioned that your mighty feisty." Siobhan smiled, she liked Daniels mother already, she was down to earth, but she knew she was from money.
"I bet he did" She said and picked up her brown leather bag, " Ma'am, Daniel is going to drop the Book off at the Printer, and I am taking the town car home would you like a ride?"
"I would love one" Mrs. Meade said and patted her sons arm "I think you should keep her."
"Don't worry, She's not going any where until at least after Christmas" He answered smirking. "Her children made me promise to buy them all Christmas presents"
"And I told you that you didn't have too" Siobhan said as she walked with Mrs. Meade to the elevator. "Now get a move on or that issue wont be on the stands tomorrow morning."
"CRAP! SIOBHAN" he yelled and darted off towards the stairs.