These Things Take Time/CH 6
After giving Daniel the once and twice over, Betty smiled, "Daniel, this dress is…"
"Awesome! You look amazing, Betty!"
She smiled, "Thanks, but...if I'm going to get any work done..." The dress was rather tight and she really wanted to get a little more comfortable. But sighed, thinking she didn't want anyone, including DJ and Valerie getting the wrong impression if she changed.
"We'd better get started." Daniel smiled, looking at her chart on the wall. "So, this is command central, huh? I see you've got two more advertisers to nail down and you still need some help with the catering. If I remember how to read your chicken scratch, that is."
She shoved his arm, making him laugh, "Hey, this is supposed to be just for my eyes. I didn't know my ex boss would be assessing me."
"I'm not. I'm impressed. You did all this over the past few months, all by yourself, Betty. Just goes to show me you never really needed me at Mode. I was dead weight. A figure head."
"That's not true, Daniel. And you know it. You have a lot of insight. Great judgement about anything that doesn't involve women and sex at least, and a good eye for detail. Plus, you could sell ice cream to an Eskimo."
He smiled, "Thanks, but...I think we both know you're exaggerating. You did the hard work. I just put the 'polish' on things a little. But here, things don't need to 'dazzle' as much, because you're writing about real issues.
I read some of your stuff over the past few months, the contributions you made to some of the other magazines at Dunne, to get the buzz going for your publication. Have you come up with a name yet?"
She nodded, "Yes, but...I'm not saying anything till the launch. It's a surprise."
He smirked, leaning against her, "You think I can't get it out of you? I have ways of making you talk, Betty."
She laughed, but Valerie came into the kitchen, "Sorry! I wanted to get a glass of water. DJ is sort of thirsty."
Betty moved so quickly, Daniel almost fell, "Of course, Valerie. Did you get hold of your dad?"
"Yeah. He said he'll be here to pick me up around ten which of course means eleven. I hope I'm not in your way here or anything."
"Of course not. We'll be working for a while. It's fine. You and DJ make yourself comfortable. Here you go, Valerie."
"Thank you. Are you going to come watch the movie with us, too, Daniel?"
"Uh, no, sorry. I'm going to help Betty with her work, Valerie. You and DJ enjoy the movie."
As soon as she left, Betty smiled. Daniel looked at her and rolled his eyes, "What? What's that look for? Please! She's a child!"
"I know that. But I don't think she does. You'd better be careful, Daniel. Lolita has the major hots for you."
"Jealous much? She's DJ's girlfriend. I prefer more mature women, thanks. Ones who…"
"Oh, sorry guys! I was wondering about that pizza? I'm a little munchie. We ate a long time ago."
Daniel looked at his watch, "Two hours ago? Really, DJ?"
His nephew shrugged, "Sorry! I've got money. I'll call on my phone. I just need to know the name of the best one. I can find out the number online. I didn't mean to cramp your style, dude! If it wasn't for me, you'd still be crying in your stupid Scotch, Daniel! Don't be so grumpy. I'm not trying to cock block you, man."
"DJ! Get out!"
Betty laughed, then handed him a few local flyers, "Here are some numbers, DJ. I think Agelina's is the best in this neighborhood myself. They have really good crust. Their sauce is amazing, too."
"Thanks, Betty. We'll stay out of your guys' way from now on, I promise, Daniel. I've got my own action to worry about."
Daniel narrowed his eyes, "Don't be stupid, DJ. Her dad is coming soon to pick her up. Be respectful."
"I will if you will, old man." DJ smirked, as he went back to join Valerie in the living room, sitting down and making a show of putting his arm around her as he joined her on the couch.
Daniel sighed, and started to follow him in, but Betty pulled his tie, "Daniel...let them have their fun. They're not doing anything. And we don't have time to...do anything. You said you were going to help me. So...help me."
He nodded, "Yeah, I know. You're right, Betty. I'm sorry. Okay, so how about I call both of these advertisers for you and see if they would be interested if Mode UK agreed to give them some ad space for their jewelry next month?"
"Daniel...you'd do that?
He shrugged, "Sure, Betty. Why not? I can still just make a few calls and make things happen in the fashion world, at least. I may not have any clout anywhere else yet.
After about twenty minutes, while Betty worked on the mock ups online, trying to edit some of the features a bit more, to make them really stand out, Daniel stood and paced, while he made some phone calls.
Finally, he put down the phone and smiled, looking at Betty, then took her marker, and put a check mark next to the two advertisers she had been trying to get for months, and picked up a post it she had on the table next to her white board and scribbled on it, then put it over his chest, grabbing her hands off the keyboard of her laptop, and pulling her up. She giggled, "So?"
"So, done and done. What else have you got for me, boss lady? Wow, maybe I should have really put in my resume as your assistant, huh, Betty? Then you could have chased me around your desk. Fulfilled some of your fantasies. And mine. Taken advantage of me."
As he put her hands on the note he had written and placed on his chest, she pulled it off and read it, "Sorry, I'm out of practice at reading your scribble, Daniel. What does this say?"
He shook his head, and looked at it, "Very funny. I write very neatly, unlike you. It says, task to accomplish, win Betty's heart."
She smiled, "Did you put a check mark by it, yet?"
"Can I?"
She nodded, smiling, and grabbing the pen and making a check. She pulled his tie down to her level and reached up to him, "Check."
He slid his arms around her waist, pulling her closer and kissed her as his hands drifted to her ass, and he moaned into her mouth, kissing her intensely.
Betty tried to remind herself that they really shouldn't be doing this in her kitchen, that DJ and Valerie were in the next room, but the feel of Daniel's lips on hers were driving her slightly insane right now. She still couldn't quite fathom that he had declared to the world that he was coming across an ocean for her. That he had told her he was in love with her. And that finally, he was back in London.
She had thought she was never going to see him again. She had all but given up on the fantasy she had first had once he bumped into her in Trafalgar Square six months prior.
And she had convinced herself all afternoon after talking to Daniel on the phone that morning and seeing him and DJ drive up that he was here to break her heart, and tell her he was the one getting married, not his sister. To some gorgeous French model, no doubt.
"Betty? Are you okay? You seemed to drift away there for a minute." He whispered, as she pulled away.
"No. Sorry, just...thinking."
"You think too much sometimes. Can't I have your undivided attention, at least when we're kissing?"
She nodded, placing her hands on his shoulders, "Of course. Sorry…"
He shook his head, brushing away a strand of her hair, "No, I'm sorry, Betty. I'm being seflish as usual. You're so stressed about your launch and I come here, showboating and get two lousy adverstisers on board, then expect you to just forget all the work you still have ahead and make out with me, just because I finally grew some balls and told you I love you."
She smiled, "That's not a small thing, Daniel. I really do appreciate what an amazing thing that is to hear. And believe me, I'm really happy to hear you say that."
"Really? You're sure? It doesn't...bother you?"
"Why would it bother me? It makes me… happy. Very happy."
"Yeah, but you're busy now. Super busy. You don't have time for me right now. I'm just in the way."
"No you're not, Daniel. It's like I said before. I'm glad to finally have somebody who cares about me to be proud of me and share this with me."
He nodded, thinking how lonely Betty sounded. He knew he had been lonely, too. Even staying with DJ and Alexis. He could only imagine how hard it must have been for Betty, living here in a foreign country, and not knowing if she could pull this off, scared to death, with no support. Not even from him.
"I'm so sorry I wasn't here for you all this time, Betty. I can't believe how selfish I've been, ever since you told me you were leaving New York, it's been all about how upset I was because you were leaving. I should have just found a way to be happy for you, to try and support you. That's what you would have done for me."
She smiled, and shrugged, as he leaned his forehead against hers, "Maybe. I'm not so sure, Daniel. I think it would have been really difficult for me if you had left from New York to start a new life that didn't include me.
Then, after you gave away your job, left your friends and mom behind in New York, to follow me here, I can understand how hard it must have been for you, not sure what came next.
I don't know how I would have handled that, either. Afraid we might lose our friendship. It makes sense."
He smiled, touching her cheek, "You always get me, Betty. I know I hurt you, though. I hate that."
"I hurt you, too. By coming here in the first place, I hated seeing the look on your face when you signed my release. I felt like I couldn't breathe."
"Me, either. I just wanted so much to yell at you and tell you that you couldn't go. That I would miss you way too much. I was just starting to realize then that I loved you. And I was losing you."
She put her hand on his chest, "I'm so sorry."
He smiled, "I'll live. I survived. I just...took too long to realize what I had right in front of me all along. You know at your sister's wedding when she gave that speech about how loving somebody meant that you knew them and you'd do anything to protect them?"
She nodded, "Mmhm...don't get me started remembering Hilda's wedding, Daniel. I'll start crying."
He smiled, "Sorry. It's just...when she said that, I felt like somebody hit me over the head finally and I saw you. For the first time. How I couldn't stand to see Henry hurt you and that's why I gave him the crappy reference. Why I really punched Matt. Why I felt like somebody punched me in the gut when I saw you making out with that stupid playwright. I think...part of me has always known I loved you.
I'm just...kind of slow, sometimes. Like Wilhelmina...and my sister and my nephew all like to remind me. Oh, and my mom!"
Betty nodded, "Yes, she...well, she sort of said you liked me. But I thought she was crazy. Or maybe had been drinking that night."
He laughed, "No. I was the crazy one, to let you go without telling you how I felt. And especially once I finally got the balls to come here, to then chicken out a second time and give up so easily. I'm sorry I didn't stay."
"It's okay, Daniel…" The buzzer rang and she let Valerie's father in, "Hello, Mr. Ryles."
"Please, I've told you, Betty. You must call me Brian. So, how are the two lovebirds. I mean...DJ and my Valerie, of course. I do apologize for leaving the restaurant, earlier. I'm afraid it couldn't be avoided.
I'm terribly swamped with my secretary getting married and running off to honeymoon, leaving me in a bit of a lurch trying to get everything done by myself.
She knew all my contacts and had them in her mobile, and now I'm struggling to re-invent the wheel, trying to reach everyone. I know poor Valerie has been quite angry with me for neglecting her this visit, but I do honestly want to spend time with her.
I feel I've been a terrible father of late, and God only knows what you both must think of me. I hope she hasn't been too upset or too much of a bother."
"No, of course not, she and DJ are just...DJ, Valerie! Oh my God!"
As Betty led Brian into the living room, they saw DJ on top of Valerie, with her bra off and in his hand. Daniel was just coming out of the kitchen, still on the phone with Alexis, when he heard Betty yelling and he quickly got off, "Uh, yeah, gotta go, Sis. I'll have DJ call you when he gets out of the bathroom."
He turned and his eyes widened as he saw what Betty was so upset about, "DJ! What the hell are you doing?"
"I was trying that trick you told me about a long time ago when you were drinking. Oh, uh...hi, Mr. Riles."
Brian marched to the couch and grabbed Valerie up, then grabbed her bra from DJ, and handed it to her, "Go get dressed young lady, and we're leaving. NOW! March!"
He shook his head, not speaking until his daughter came running back in, then he pulled her away, without another word. DJ grimaced and Daniel looked like he wanted to crawl in a hole somewhere. Betty put her head in her hands.
"Oh my God! DJ! What the hell were you thinking? Seriously? You knew damn well Valerie's dad was on his way here. Why would you think that was a good time to try and take off her bra? Not that anytime's all that good at somebody else's house?"
"Where else would we do it? We can't really get a hotel. We're too young. I have money, but Mom won't let me do anything like that. She said I'll end up a degenerate like you or like she used to be before her surgery.
Besides, she bet me I couldn't do it. It was a challenge to my manhood. I told her it was nuts to do, with you guys in the next room and her dad on his way. But I think she gets off on excitement like that. Once, she let me get pretty far with her at school, when we knew the whole school was about to have an assembly. It was hot."
Daniel shook his head, "DJ...I don't even know what to say to your mother."
"Why do you have to say anything to her?"
"You honestly think Valerie's dad is EVER going to let you see his daughter again now after that little display? Or he's ever going to trust me to be in charge of you two again? You practically told the man I was giving you lessons in how to remove girl's bras for God's sakes!"
DJ shrugged, "I think you American and English adults get way too obsessed over sex. It happens. We're teenagers. We have sex. It's what we do. You uptight adults are the ones who make us sneak around.
Like you really don't think we're smart enough to find a way to be together if we want to be? Look, I'm sorry if I embarrassed you both. Mainly, Betty. I'm sorry to ...disrespect you in your own place. I told Valerie it was rude to do that to you.
But she said you were busy here making out with my uncle in your kitchen and then she...well, she kept kissing me and touching me and I sort of just went with it. But I am sorry, Betty."
Daniel sighed, "Betty, me, too. I was just about to check on those two when Alexis called and I got distracted. Look, we'd better go. I don't want to keep you up late. I know you're busy.
I hope I can at least call you and you'll let me try to make everything up to you somehow? I'm really glad I'm back in England with you. And that you're not pissed at me. At least, I hope you're not."
DJ made a face and tuned them out, flipping channels on the remote as Betty shook her head, "No, it's not your fault, Daniel. DJ's just...going through some kind of teenage rebellion I guess. Maybe because of his mom's wedding. You might want to try and sell that angle to Brian, at least. If you're trying to get him to let DJ ever see his daughter again."
DJ overheard her and walked into the kitchen, "Can you please talk to him for me, Betty? He seems to like you. I couldn't tell if Valerie more jealous of you because she has a crush on Daniel or because her dad basically said you were hot and that made her mad on behalf of her mom. Her dad cheated with the now runaway secretary, by the way."
Betty blushed, shaking her head, "Oh, I don't know, DJ. I…"
Daniel made a face, "Betty doesn't have time to get involved in this stuff right now, DJ. She's busy."
"Not too busy to make out with you, though, huh?"
"DJ...you are on such thin ice right now. I need to call your mom back as soon as we get back to the hotel. I'm really pissed at you for your attitude. You act like you don't even care that you were so disrespectful. Why would you think it was okay to pull a stunt like that?"
DJ rolled his eyes, "Oh this is rich! You of all people trying to lecture me on being respectful to women! The guy who got photographed doing it under the damn Peter Pan statue in Central Park!"
DJ stalked out, slamming the door, and Daniel looked at Betty, taking a deep breath, "Betty...I'm so sorry. I have to go."
She nodded, and smiled, kissing him on the cheek, and put her hand on his, "I know, Daniel. Just remember two things. First, of all: he's right about you. You can't deny your past to him. It's well documented.
He is probably trying to emulate you a little. And two...he did help you tonight. Besides, he loves you very much. And he's going to miss you. That's why he's testing you."
He shook his head, and kissed her quickly, as he took off after DJ"What would I do without you, Betty?"