MUAH HA HA I said that if you review quick I will post more and you reviewed slow so I skipped a day….I was bored so I decided to mess with you all …Sorry lolol I'm not that evil I'm just easily humored lol Thanks to those who did review! Enjoy! =D BTW remember to review and earn a quick update MUAH HA HA
-NWJ
She was beneath the covers. Her head lay flat on a pillow. The lids of her eyes stirred close and her breathing was even...But she wasn't asleep. Still as a rock, her body became rigid at any sudden movement, fearing that Daniel smelled a trace of that heavy La Coda Cologne that rubbed off on her despite their brief interaction. Her breath ceased with the lowest of whispers, expecting him to say something in his sleep that mentioned her betrayal. Did he know? Did he suspect anything? It was just a kiss...It wasn't sex...It didn't matter... She tried to convince herself but unfortunately she was not easily convinced of something that she had previously stood firm against. If it were Daniel, she would have crucified him and dared him to rise on the third day.
It would have been different had she not responded to his actions. Had she pulled away. Had she not have kissed him back. But she responded, she pulled closer and she locked lips with him like no tomorrow. But after that...something happened...After she had kissed him...Satisfied that unfaithful yearning...the lust began to dissipate...She no longer felt that pitter-patter in heart or churn her stomach. As soon as she had caved and succumbed to the yearn of her body, her mind stopped wanting him and her heart stopped feeling for him...She had been tricked...Her body...Her own self...had tricked her...Tricked her..Maybe if she had held out...It would have went away...slower but eventually...And yet she didn't...she gave in...and now she didn't even feel anything for him anymore...At this point she was repulsed by the thought of him...The fact that he would take it upon himself to ruin a family...A child was involved...Izak...This is where the real guilt came in...Her little baby...She never knew love like that...Never knew such an impulse until she had him...What about him? Where would he fall if this blew out of proportion...She didn't think about that when she felt his lips caress hers. She didn't think about any of it when he pulled her to him and caressed her waist. She didn't think about it when his breath was made wet on her face...She didn't think...And she hated herself for it.
She needed to be reminded of her guilt...She peered over at the clock and saw that it was only 12am. She needed his contact to tell her that he didn't hate her. He didn't know and yet she felt he hated her...She needed to get the feel of Rod's lips off of hers...She needed to get the imprint of his hand on her neck from being there...She needed to become Daniel's again...She needed him to make her his once again.
She lifted her torso from the bed and looked to Daniel, seeing that he was sleep...Slowly maneuvered herself beneath the covers and got on top of him, their chests touching as she laid an array of kisses on his neck, ultimately waking him. His eyes fluttered open and his hands immediately flew to her lower back, holding her to him. Not that he didn't mind being woken up to something so pleasant but...After the day they had...It wasn't something that he expected to happen. Feeling him stir beneath her, she sat up, straddling him in the night. Her face sat up inches from his as her hands roamed his chest and his clasped around her waist. He looked in her eyes, noting the longing desire she held for him and the glisten he could have mistaken as a tear. Her mouth lingered against his ears, blowing hot bounds of air as she spoke. "Touch me..." She whispered, beguiling his body to respond. By her shoulders, he moved her so that she would look at him, so that he could see her. Her eyes had darkened through the night and before he could speak, her lips had pressed against his. He felt as if he had never been kissed by her before...It felt as if it were the first time they had ever met their lips mutually. The way her lips graced his and her hands moved to pull at his t-shirt at the same time, feeling a projection against her abdomen. "Touch me..." She spoke against his lips and this time he complied, rolling her over so that he hovered over her and his hands were free to rediscover her...The way his mouth suckled against the nip of her neck...The tender way in which he touched her...caressed her...handled her like she was made of glass...perplexing to look at yet too delicate to touch. He may not have known her like he wanted to...But he knew her body. She couldn't deny that...
OoO
As she lay in their bed, now a disheveled mess, 4 hours later. Their hands lay intertwined on the sheets, her body, depleted of energy relaxed against his body, nothing between them. It was unbeknownst to her how many times that he made love to her...but telling by the closeness of their bodies, bare and hot, breath tempered and running on E...It was more than once. She felt his lips press against her head and she stiffened lightly, not enough for him to notice but enough for her to be brought back to the reality of the fact that this erased nothing...The only thing it succeeded in doing was erasing his lips from hers...his hands on her...It erased the imprint...but never the memory...It erased the feeling...but never the act...
They had slept for three hours before she felt him move next to her, slipping out beneath the stretch of her back. He moved slowly, replacing his body with a soft pillow as to not wake her. But it made no difference, seeing how the sleep that she did get was light and easy to be woken from. As he walked around the bed, his eyes caught hers to see that they were open and watching him silently.
"Go to sleep Willie."
"Where are you going?"
"Go to sleep."
"Where are you going?"
"You don't listen..." He buckled a clasp on his belt and pulled a long sleeve v neck t shirt over his head, tight and showing off his muscles.
"You think you're so sexy, don't you?"
He smirked, feigning narcissism. "Well you know..." He leaned over the bed and pulled the larger blanket over the covers that shielded her body. "Happy Birthday Willie..."
A shiver racked her body and she clutched at the blankets, subconsciously knowing that as a mental chill, a physical covering would do nothing to suffice. "Where are you going?"
"Didn't I tell you to go to sleep?"
"Didn't you also say that I don't listen?"
OoO
Again she awoke to the sounds of click-clacking yet it was far and distant, a sound that she had to search out to find the source of. Looking at the clock, she shrugged, not caring that she was late to work, the benefit of not seeing Rodrigo outweighing the so called penalty of seeing Rob Sauerberg stare. Drudging down the stairs, bare faced and hair scrapped back into a low ponytail, a silk black robe hugging her body. Still exhausted, she complied when she felt a familiar arm wrap around her shoulders, bringing her closer, her head finding his chest. Finally opening her eyes fully, she realized the luggage that stood next to her.
"Whose is this?"
"Finally fessed up, eh?"
Wilhelmina looked around the bend as her sister-in-law leaned against the arch way that framed the entryway to their kitchen. Wilhelmina looked to Daniel, crossing her arms over her chest. "Who let bigfoot into my kitchen?"
"Shut up...you didn't even invite me over when you guys finished the house..." Alexis retorted, reaching into a bag on Lays potato chips.
"You were invited to the Housewarming..."
"I'm family..."
"You're also a man...Shall we continue?" Wilhelmina questioned, lifting a brow.
"You're so annoying." Alexis groaned, chuckling through her crunching chews.
Wilhelmina mocked her laugh as she walked towards Alexis. "Ha ha ha ha-give me my damn chips!" she snatched the bag aggressively and walked off with them, knowing that she doesn't even eat them herself. Alexis brushed her hands against each other, cleansing them of salt.
Over time her relationship with Wilhelmina grew into one of love-hate...Kind of...Sometimes they acted like two best friends that had been friends for 20 years, while other times you would think you were watching a WWE backstage segment when listening to just a snippet of their conversation.
"What the hell is going on?"
Daniel ran into the kitchen, sliding in nervously when he only saw the back of her head. She turned around and pounded her fist at his chest, sending him back a few steps. Tyler laughed in the corner, giggling as Wilhelmina stalked towards her husband. "Why didn't you tell me that we had company! I don't care how I look in front of Manzilla but your mother doesn't need another reason for me to rip her eyes out!" Wilhelmina whispered, growing irate.
"It was a surprise..." He responded, holding her shoulders as if to calm her down... His hands moved up and down her shoulders soothingly, giving her a pouting look that she knew he didn't have the strength to resist. "I thought...It would make you happy since...I haven't been able to do that myself lately..." He whispered, eyes low as the room quieted, the rest of their extended family sensing the sensitivity of the situation...
"Can we discuss this later?"
"Yeah..." He nodded softly, not meaning to bring it up in front of everyone else.
"So Wilhelmina...I guess we're closer in age then you've been leading on..."
Wilhelmina turned around as Claire sat at the island, picking a grape from a vine on the counter. "Claire...I'm 48...you're near death...I don't see the comparison."
"Hahaahahaha..." Tyler's laughter soon died down when he earned a stare from all of the women in the room, including Amanda.
"You don't get to laugh!" Amanda sneered, pushing him off the stool so that she could sit.
Daniel chuckled, watching his dysfunctional family. "Where's DJ?"
"Upstairs, putting some fresh clothes on Izak.." Alexis responded, picking a grape from the vine. Wilhelmina hissed and slapped her hand. "What did I tell you about eating my damn food..I don't go grocery shopping...You eat any more and Daniel will starve."
Claire rolled her eyes and picked a grape, popping it in her mouth. Alexis looked over, expecting a chastisement from Wilhelmina but was surprised when one failed to come. "Aren't you going to say anything?" Wilhelmina shrugged, taking a grape. "Hell, the woman is an alcoholic, grapes are the closest thing to wine that she can have...leave her be."
"So you two are...good now?" Alexis questions, referring to the rift between Claire and Wilhelmina?"
"No." They both responded simultaneously. Wilhelmina moved her hands to her hips, growing defensive. "She is still attempting to run Mode and has not apologized-"
"For what?"
"For not dying when I asked you too!" Wilhelmina exclaimed.
"You have got some nerve...I am working my backside off taking care of Mode while you parlay with Vogue."
"Okay, one, it's ASS not backside...two, you don't what you're talking about when it concerns Mode so I suggest you shut the hole on that dusty urn you call a face and leave it be..."
A silence reigned over them as Claire and Wilhelmina stared each other down, now feeling things that they had tried to ignore. Wilhelmina's peripheral vision showed her Daniel's anxiety, and disappointment that they couldn't put their differences aside for one day.
"You know what, Alexis shut up for the rest of the day...Thank you.." Wilhelmina spoke harshly, making the others chuckle discretely, even Claire.
"And give me my damn grapes.." She snatched the bowl quickly and Claire's hand landed on the counter, her grape expedition thwarted.
"Wilhelmina you just said-"
"I changed my mind!" She stormed away and up the stairs, leaving the rest of them in stitches over her moody attitude.
"What bit her in the ass?" Alexis questioned, leaning back in the chair.
Claire spoke lowly into her glass before gulping down warm cup of coffee. "Cellulite..."
OoO
Age...A single digit for some...A double for most and a triple for the blessed. Age...That thing that's hidden by woman and prided by men when they have a younger woman on their arm. That thing that physiologically convinces some that their life is over...That there are things that they can no longer do...No longer accomplish...The game was over...The scoreboard had darkened and it was time to give up the ghost.
She fought off those feelings, trying not to succumb to the gloomiest that was her birthday though it proved difficult when it had become such a pattern over the days. Everyone assumed that her mood stemmed from the loss of a loved one on 9/11 though it wasn't that...It was her birthday...Not as serious...as heart-wrenching...but don't tell her that.
A crisp fine spun cotton tunic with cuffed bracelet sleeves and origami pleated front, clung to her body, playing out over a pair of dark wash skinny jeans, her feet dawning barefoot as she sat in front of her mirror, touching up her makeup before she descended the stairs. Seeing Daniel beside her reflection, she spoke up, taking a mascara brush to her lashes. "What was that in the kitchen?"
"What was what in the kitchen?"
"It would make you happy since...I haven't been able to do that myself lately."
"It's true...I mean...Sex is one thing...Us laughing is one thing...You smiling...genuinely...I haven't seen it in a while...You're short tempered-"
"I'm always short-tempered."
"You've been snappy."
"I've always been snappy."
"Ever since the Mode vs. Vogue Game...you've been acting strange."
"I'm acting as-"
"As if you're hiding something-Wilhelmina I'm not stupid I-"
"Hey..." DJ knocked on their door, peeking his head in with closed eyes. "You guys aren't...doing...anything in here are you?
"Stop being silly..." Wilhelmina spoke happily, changing her tone when she saw DJ. He grinned excitedly, hugging her shortly before he found himself being held by the tip of his shirt by her index finger and thumb. "Oh my god, you smell like a dump truck."
The young adult smiled. "I was just running around with Izak."
"Go take a shower..."
"Aunt Wills, I already took one today."
"Take another one, No scratch that-take two! And don't call me Aunt Wills...You know I hate that.."
He chuckled, knowingly antagonizing his aunt by marriage. "Then what am I supposed to call you? Wilhelmina?'
"No, don't you dare...Master will suffice...Go on now...Go shower, your scent is beginning to seep into the carpet..."
"But-"
"Go on.." She urged him on, pushing him lightly, both of them laughing at the situation. Once he left, she turned her attention back to Daniel who wore a weak smile, trying to act happy but was finding it quite hard under the circumstances...
"Wilhelmina..."
"What?"
"You told me that I don't know you and yet when I attempt to talk to you, you won't let me in...It's like you told me to drive around a racetrack but you won't give me the keys to the damn car..."
"There should be a spare somewhere..."
"Wilhelmina I am serious...It's really starting to piss me off."
She looked up at him from her beauty spot and realized that he was standing over her, and he actually looked upset...hurt even.
"I don't know what to do anymore! What do you want from me? What do you want me to do?"
She stayed silent, not knowing the answer herself. She had been making him miserable in a few mere hours without even realizing it. He was trying to make her happy and she had been so wrapped up in herself that she hadn't even realized it. She wanted to tell him Nothing...That she didn't deserve anything from him...She was no longer worthy of the love that he tried to shower with...She wanted to be honest with him...tell him how she felt...What she did...Just what stopped her?
"I..I-I don't know..."
"Daniel did you tell her why we are all here yet?" Alexis' head popped in doorframe, right where DJ had been moments before.
"Uhhh no..." Daniel answered before turning to Wilhelmina. "Uh...The Meade woman are going out on the town tonight and Tyler, DJ and I are going to a game..."
"Out on the town?"
"Yup..." Daniel responded before feeling a vibration in his pocket, the sensation leading to a text message that made him smile. "Willie, I'll be right back..."
He left the room and descended the stairs, going out on the back porch where he found Tyler, shivering from the cold. "What the hell man, why'd you text me when I'm upstairs..."
"I can't go back in that house...bro, Your assistant...is crazy.."
"Amanda?" He asked and Tyler nodded fearfully, enticing a laugh from Daniel. "She's your girlfriend."
"And she's crazy!"
"Well what did you do to piss her off?"
"She's mad because Marc and that doctor guy have been dating for as long as we have and he is engaged and we're not. She thinks that that means that she will never find love because quote unquote If your gay best friend gets married before you...Your life is over...OOOOOOVER!"
Daniel chuckled, resting his arm on the balcony banister. "Why haven't you proposed? Are you not ready?"
"Yes I'm ready! I'm just...having a little trouble getting the money together for the ring...You know Mandy likes big and expensive..."
"But if it's from the heart..."
"Have you ever gotten Wilhelmina something that is...from the heart that didn't have a diamond on it?"
"Point taken...But...I thought you were doing good with the modeling jobs you had this week for Fashion Week."
"I AM! After this week, I'll be set but she doesn't know that and she's driving me up the wall!"
"So is Wilhelmina..."
"Yeah but you hit her in the face with a ball..."
"It was an accident!"
"I still have bruises."
They both jumped back at the sound of her voice, and spun around to face her, fearful of what she heard.
"Tyler, I swear you better propose to Amanda before I kill her...And there will be no one to be proposed to."
"Did you want something Will?"
"Where'd you put the Aspirin?"
"Which one ?"
"Bayer."
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing...Just a little chest pain, tell me where it is so I can go get it."
"I'll be right back Tyler..." Daniel stepped back in the room, intent in his eyes.
"Daniel, just tell me where it is and I'll find it..."
"What kind of chest pain?"
"It's not bad..Daniel just-"
"Go lie down on the couch."
"Daniel-"
"I said...Go lie down."
She would have argued, clawed, punched and kicked anyone else who would have dared to take that tone with her but since it was him, she let him. She rarely argued with him when it came to her health, his fear being that she would have another heart attack and that time, not come back to him. Her only annoyance was his over-protectiveness, but all in all, in could be a turn on.
"Hey weirdoes...what's going on?" Alexis greeted.
"You did not just call US...weirdoes..."
"Here..take this." He handed her a glass and two tablets, making sure she took them and it was enough.
"Something wrong?"
"Your brother is just overreacting..." Wilhelmina responded, handing Daniel the glass. Despite their disagreement, he kissed her shortly, his body beginning to long for her. "Sooo...Please tell me what you and Amanda have planned for tonight...so I can know where not to go..."
"Nope...All you need to know is that Ariel will be joining us and Marc is our designated driver..."
"Marc?"
"And Betty is our back-up driver..."
"Why do I have a feeling that I'm going to regret this."
"Because you already do."
OoO
Dressed in a fire red, strapless mini, topped off with a sweetheart neckline. She grabbed her white coat and took to the stairs where the rest of them waited. She scanned each woman, Amanda in her pink mini, black lace adorning one arm while leaving the other bare. Alexis, a blue V-neck, mini as well, not as risqué but with her height, it would do. Ariel, Black tube mini, all of them in mini's despite it being close to freezing. Scanning the line, she came upon a big dissapointment.
"Oh come on!" Wilhelmina pointed to Claire, Daniel behind her. "She's coming too?"
"What did you think I meant when I said Meade women?"
"I thought you meant the LIVING women!"
"Wilhelmina, with you continuously hinting at my death, I might have to take offense."
"Don't even bother, that might exert the little energy you have left."
She held out her arm as Daniel helped her with her coat, smoothing it behind her, Tyler and DJ doing the same for their lady lovelies. Daniel looked over, seeing a hint of pain flash across his mother's face a common mantra for those who were widowed and often felt alone especially when it seemed as if everyone surrounding them had someone.
"Come on Mom." He grabbed her coat from the rack and opened it for her to put it on and she smiled weakly, turning back around and flipping her hair from beneath the collar. She hugged him shortly, her hand touching at the back of his head.
"Thank you son."
"ALRIGHT, LET'S DO THIS BITCH!" They all looked to Wilhelmina who shrugged, seeing nothing wrong with her sudden burst of energy. "I can have fun too...
"ALRIGHT, LET'S DO THIS BITCH!" Amanda echoed before kissing Tyler briefly, exiting the house behind Claire and Alexis.
Wilhelmina turned to Daniel, her hands on his chest as his laid to rest on her upper back, holding her to him before sharing a parting kiss. She smiled to herself, knowing that this little outing was probably for the best, to clear her mind and for once...have some fun.
OoO
"Okay, Truth or Dare..." Amanda exclaimed, sipping on a Martini as Betty drove them through the city after they had picked her up and told her that she was driving.
"No..." Wilhelmina protested, sipping on her Chablis, watching Claire out of the corner of her eyes, slip into the refrigerator of the limo. They still didn't know why Betty was capable of driving one but all Wilhelmina knew was that no drivers were available so last minute and Betty was their next choice.
"Yes!" Alexis sat on the edge of her seat, sipping a beer.
"No."
"Come one Wilhelmina..."
"Not you two, her!" Wilhelmina snatched the bottle from Claire's grasp, throwing it to Ariel who happily began to chug it down.
"Wilhelmina come on it's my birthday!"
"Claire it's my birthday..."
"It's somebody's birthday! I just want one drink...You all are drinking..."
"Your right.." Wilhelmina looked around and rolled down the window and took Amanda's martini glass, throwing its contents out the window.
"Hey!"
She then proceeded with Alexis's beer, chugging it straight.
"Seriously?"
She took the bottle from Ariel who was practically looking to fight tooth and nail before reading Wilhelmina's stare before she poured its contents onto the street and continued to drink her own, much to their disdain.
"Mom..not cool."
"Did you not hear me...It's my goddamn birthday...I can do whatever the hell I want.."
"You're feeling cursy today..."
"Would you like a piece?" Wilhelmina asked Alexis before they all were stopped in their tracks when they saw the red, blue and white lights flag them down and siren signal to pull them over. Betty pulled over and Claire swatted Wilhelmina and Wilhelmina swatted her back, not going down without a fight.
"What the hell Claire?'
"You just littered Wilhelmina!"
"So what? You act like if we get a ticket, we can't pay for it."
"We? I was minding my own business drinking my beer when it was forcefully tugged from my grasps." Alexis spoke innocently, sparking an idea in Amanda's head.
"Oh my god, Wilhelmina as a part of the game..I dare you to seduce your way out of this ticket."
"What?" Wilhelmina exclaimed as the rest of them urged her on and the police officer moved from Betty's window to hers.
"Excuse me mam, But I happened to witness you pouring a suspicious liquid from your window, presumably an alcoholic beverage-is that correct?"
"Well I-"
"Wait a minute...you're...You're that lady that runs that magazine...Rouge..."
"Vogue.."
"Yeah that...You're a celebrity..." He smirked, looking at his pad before beginning to write. "You must think that you're above the law."
"No I-"
"1200 dollars..." He ripped off the paper and gave it to her.
"That is excessive." Wilhelmina looked to the rest of the girls, all of them giving her the looks of what to do next. And against her better judgment...She complied. "Excuse me, officer." He looked down in the window and Wilhelmina smiled, opening up her coat and shedding it to allow her nothing more than that red mini. "Can I speak to you for a second..." Against his protest, Willie still stood and opened the car door getting out.
"Mam, Keep your hands up so that I can see them at all times."
Wilhelmina leaned forward, her hands in the air yet her cleavage full frontal to give him a good view. "Is this ample enough for you?" She asked, using the play on words to her advantage after tracing his stare to where she needed his eyes to be.
"Chest-I-I mean yes..." He fumbled, enormed with her physical beauty. "Mam I'm going to have to ask you to put your hands on the car..."
Wilhelmina did as she was told, knowing she didn't have to and he was now just taking advantage but she was determined to carry out her task. She stuck out her behind, perching it farther out as he passed by, brushing passed him. "Like this?"
"Yes...do you have any type of Identification ass-I-I mean pass."
"Nope..." Wilhelmina got off the car and approached him, running her finger along the lining of his badge. "But when I finished with you...You'll know who I am..."
OoO
Wilhelmina jumped back in the car, immediately taking to her hand sanitizer as they all stared at her, all wondering the same thing. "What?" She questioned.
"We want to know what happened!" Claire exclaimed, the situation peaking her interest as well.
"I just let him hand cuff me, I bent over and the man was like silly putty..."
"That's it?"
"Oh and I gave him some random number out of my phone..." She screwed up her face, trying to remember the 5 letter name she saw as she read it from her phone. "I think it was Betty's..."
They all laughed and Betty turned back shortly, beginning to pull off. "What'd you guys say about me?"
They all responded mutually before howling with laughter. "NOTHING!"
OoO
"Wilhelmina I dare you to take this tequila shot...right now." Amanda set it in front of Wilhelmina as they sat in the VIP section, separate from the rest of the club.
"I said TRUTH, Amanda." Wilhelmina responded.
"Well than I'll do it." Claire attempted to reach over Wilhelmina and Wilhelmina swatted at her quickly, handing Ariel the drink to down. Claire pulled back, pointing a finger in Wilhelmina's face. "You really need to stop hitting me."
They all laughed and waited while Amanda contemplated the question she wanted to ask. "Okay Wilhelmina...When was the last time you had sex...Who was it with...And How many times.."
"Oh my God, Mandy, we all know the answer to that question!" Marc spoke up, drinking the rest of Amanda's Martini.
"Well then tell me the rest...How many times...When was it..."
Wilhelmina blushed, burying her head in the pillow behind her before being tugged at by Alexis, the rest of them coxing her to answer. "FINE!" She crossed her legs and leaned back against the pillow, looking up at the ceiling before answering. "Last night...and in the early morning...Daniel of course...And...4 times...maybe 5..." Wilhelmina sighed as if it was nothing and took a sip from her glass in which they all gawked at her in awe. "Don't look at me like that...It's truth or dare, You asked me the damn question and I answered!" They continued to look, shocked by her answer. "Don't be mad because all of you are dry fountains.." She pointed to Amanda.. "You're too angry at your man to even doing anything.. "She pointed to Ariel. "You need to break up with your man already, he annoys me." She pointed to Alexis. "You are a man." She pointed to Claire and sighed, waiving her hand. "Nahh...To easy."
"You know what, on with the game..." Amanda spoke up quickly. "Wilhelmina...Truth or Dare."
"Truth."
"Wilhelmina."
"I don't do dares.."
"Fine, Fine. Fine...What is the most expensive thing that you have ever bought with your own money?" Wilhelmina sighed softly, looking over at Alexis quietly. The room grew still as Alexis's eyes fell to the bottom of her drink and the others began to wonder just what was about to be said. Amanda rose a brow, leaning back as her mouth formed a small little 'o'
"OMG is there so torrid lesbian thing that we don't know about?"
"No Amanda..." Wilhelmina chastened, her voice revealing to the girl how preposterous her suggestion was. "The most expensive thing that I have ever bought...Was Alexis..."
Everyone was quiet except Claire who know was really paying attention, wanting to know just what she was referring to. "What the hell are you talking about Wilhelmina?"
Wilhelmina looked to Alexis, not wanting to reveal anything that she would rather be kept a secret. "Alexis?"
"Just tell her..." Alexis sighed heavily, tucking a curled lock behind her ear.
"Tell me what..."
"Okay Claire, as hard as this is I want you to really focus..." Wilhelmina turned to Claire setting down a glass...She was half drunk, half angry and didn't give a crap any longer...This was bad. "When Alex faked his death...And Bradford CUT HIM OFF...Who do you think paid for all of those EXPENSIVE surgeries? Bradford had emptied out her personal bank accounts and Hudson's bank accounts...Alexis...then Alex...Came to me...And asked for help...I complied and paid for the procedures and facilitation stays for a year while she recovered."
"You let her...Fake her own death...Knowing the pain it would cause...You paid for her to...hurt our family." Claire spoke harshly, looking at Wilhelmina as if it were 7 years previous and she was still as evil as they come.
"Mom stop it, It was my decision..." Alexis retorted, not allowing Wilhelmina to take the heat for what she did. "She was my friend..."
"She was trying to hurt you."
"SHE is right here."
Silent, amongst themselves, a bartender approached and set a Cosmo before Wilhelmina. "Uhhhh The gentleman over there says Happy Birthday..."
Wilhelmina followed the finger of the bartender and her heart nearly skipped a beat and flew out of chest. There stood, at the bar...Rodrigo, his suave manner depleted when he blew her a kiss across the room. Wilhelmina got up from her seat, nearly knocking Claire over as she ran from the table and to a place of solace. A place where she could be by herself...Gather her bearings...contemplate her next move...But When she turned around she found that she wasn't by herself and that Alexis had followed her all the way to the restroom, worried about where she had gone.
"I'm sorry...I..."
"I saw him too." Her eyes followed Willie's, following with matching fervor.
"Rod-"
"-rigo...Ambrossi."
"DO you kno-"
"I know you slept with him...And I know that he is working at Vogue beneath you...I also know that Daniel does not know...But I don't know why..."
"It's just too complicated-"
"You still love him-"
"No...I-"
"I have feelings for him?"
"I did...But last night...I...he...we.."
"No..Wilhelmina..." Her voice pleaded with the truth...Pleaded that the truth was not what she was predicting.
"-Kissed...I didn't sleep with him but...I did kiss him back..."
"Did you tell Daniel?"
"Would you tell Daniel?"
Alexis ceased her questioning, pinching at the bridge of her nose as she processed what her sister-in-law had just confided in her. She lifted her head, deciding a final move. "You have to tell him."
"But-"
"Wilhelmina he trusts you..."
She sighed, realizing that this was true. Daniel...trusted her...After everything that went on and after all they went through to gain that trust...if she kept this from him..It might as well have been in vain.
"Damn it..." She cursed under her breath, now regretting going home. "How long are you staying?"
"Actually...I was thinking...I was thinking about moving back to New York?"
"Why, What about DJ...French Mode?"
"We can appoint someone...DJ wants to move to be closer to Daniel and...I'm honestly tired of France...I miss my home.." She shrugged innocently, offering a weak smile.
"Well then at least Daniel will have someone to talk to."
"What do you mean?"
"Do you really think he is going to want to talk to me after I tell him?" Alexis squeezed her hand gently, trying to be of help but knowing that it would not be enough. This was the time when they were like best friends.
OoO
Returning back to their VIP lounge, Wilhelmina approached slowly, hearing Claire's rant from a mile away. "And now she's working for Vogue... I don't get it...Maybe this was the plan all along, I certainly wouldn't be surprised if it was...Reel Daniel...Get vogue, Destroy Mode...Then steal Mode..."
"Mrs. Meade maybe you should take it easy on those drinks." Ariel warned.
"Yes Claire you should." Wilhelmina stepped forward, taking her place in front of them all.
"What are you doing here?"
"It's my birthday..."Wilhelmina reached down and snatched Claire's drink from her hands, wafting it briefly. "And you're drunk..."
"And You're a bitch...Now that we have stated the obvious-"
"I'm going to go get the bill so that we can leave..." Trying to contain her anger, Wilhelmina made a gesture to leave, halted by a voice that she didn't want to hear.
"So you're going to turn your back on us just like you did Mode?"
"Mom!" Alexis scolded, trying to hush her mother.
Wilhelmina's hands began to clench at her sides, condensed into fists that began to turn her knuckles a pale tan. She tried to be good, tried to remain tamed but...Claire kept going.
"As soon as something opened up you made sure to sink your fangs into it-"
"Claire shut up before I do something that Daniel will never forgive me for..." Her voice took a menacing tone, the insinuation that she had never changed and was just using Daniel, combined with the fact that she had betrayed him building and riling emotion.
"Like work for the enemy?"
"I did it for him!" She whispered harshly as to not draw attention to him. She now faced Claire, net down to her level. "He was the one driving the car that put Ana Wintour in a coma...Had I not taken the job, he would be in jail right now...But I guess you didn't know that...You know what, I'm going home..." Wilhelmina reached over Claire, snatching up her coat and purse. "I'll be in the car...No never mind that I'll just catch a cab."
OoO
Wilhelmina stormed through the house, slamming the door behind her. Finding that it was still intact after what she was sure, was a wild night for Tyler, Daniel and DJ, she sighed a breath of relief. Then she remembered what she had to do...And that breath was soon caught up again, making for a lump in her throat. She undid her coat, standing in the foyer before handing it on the rack.
Hearing the commotion, Daniel came barreling down the stairs, all smiles. He pulled her into a hug, his mouth finding the lobe of her ear. "I missed you..."
"I was only gone for a few hours..."
"I know but...It's your birthday..."
"Yup...Happy Birthday to me..." She spoke flatly, seemingly annoyed.
"Something wrong?"
"Uhh...Nope..." She lied, shaking her head. He looked at her, noticing her lie and became relentless to find out. "You know what...There is something wrong...Daniel I need to talk to you..."
"Good...I wanted to talk to you too..."
"Wait...let me...say this..." She looked up at the staircase, seeing Izak's bedroom door, peeking open. She took him by the hand, leading him to the dining room where she sat down silently, hoping he would do the same.
"Willie..."
"I love you...you know this, right?" She asked him, their hands still connected, laying on the dining room table top. He nodded softly and her head dipped low, having to force herself to look him in the eye... "Daniel...7 years ago I-"
"Wilhelmina!" Alexis bellowed, coming through the door with Claire's arm slung around her shoulder.
She fell silent, seeing them in the position that they were, the serious that hovered and the look on their faces.
"...She's drunk...I didn't want to leave her alone..."
"You guys let her drink?" He rose from the table, leaving Wilhelmina alone. She sighed, wanting to bang Alexis's head against the wall.
"You tried to kill Ana Wintour...Like Mother like son.." Claire slurred, pointing her finger in what she thought was Daniel's direction but was really the wall.
"I'll put her in the guest bed room." Alexis advanced up the stairs, looking to Wilhelmina, mouthing 'Sorry'.
Wilhelmina glanced back, rolling her eyes. 'Just get up the damn stairs'.
Daniel turned around, finding her in the exact same spot that he had found her. "So where were we?"
"Actually...: She rose slowly. "We can do this tomorrow...I'm kind of tired..."
He nodded, not allowing her to pass him without embracing her. Wilhelmina's arms fold a solace around his neck, her partially drunken body pressed heavily against him as she leaned on him for support in lieu of her lack of balance. He kissed her cheek softly, holding her to him, reflecting on the fact that he loved her...That she loved him...That they had a relationship. Though he was unaware of how they got to such a rocky spot in their relationship...It didn't stop the fact that she was his. No matter what was to happen...She was his...As he lifted her into his arms...She was his...
She felt a well of water begin to form in her eyes and she shut them tightly, not allowing the guilt to rise. She refused to succumb, She refused to be defeated, She refused to face it...She wanted to punch herself in her face...Punish herself...Man after Man,...Story after Story...She was convinced that she had found one with a happy ending...Until now...She could no longer see their future...No longer see their happy ending...All she saw was his pained face staring back at her...And the deceit that she left him in..
That night she was beneath the covers. Her head lay flat on a pillow. The lids of her eyes stirred close and her breathing was even...But she wasn't asleep. Still as a rock, her body became rigid at any sudden movement, fearing that Daniel wanted to continue their conversation, probing her for more. Her breath ceased with the lowest of whispers, expecting him to say something in his sleep that mentioned her awkward behavior. Did he know? Did he suspect anything? It was just a kiss...It wasn't sex...It didn't matter... She tried to convince herself but unfortunately she was not easily convinced of something that she had previously stood firm against. If it were Daniel, she would have crucified him and dared him to rise on the third day...But it was her...She had messed up this time...And unlike her...He wouldn't crucify her...He would just stare...let the anger rile in him and walk off...punching a wall...The pain in his eyes...being much more than any pain that she could physically inflict
It would have been different had she not responded to his actions. Had she pulled away. Had she not have kissed him back. But she responded, she pulled closer and she locked lips with him like no tomorrow.
She felt his hand reach over and squeeze hers gently, his words slurred in his sleep. "Happy Birthday Willie." Her body managed to choke down the guilty sob that rose to her throat, attempting to become howl. This man loved her...He really loved her...He trusted her...She violated his trust...The trust that she fought, oh so very hard for.
And she now had to live with that.
OoO
