Valentine Masquerade
hope you enjoy my friends! I think there will maybe be 2 or 3 more chapters left of this story! lots of love!
Chapter 15: Secrets Revealed
They walked up the pathway to the mansion, Betty glancing at Daniel with a somewhat sly smile. He noticed and looked to her with a smirk. "Hey cutie, what's going on in that head of yours?"
She laughed, though her cheeks were rosy, "uhm, well, I'm just thinking, who knew I'd be walking in here to this party to find you again, and then you turned out to be, not just someone I really liked getting to know, but that you'd end up being...my masquerade prince." She whispered the last part as if she was embarrassed to admit.
He smiled and pulled her close meeting her lips in a kiss. She wrapped her arms around his neck pulling him closer and returned his passion.
They started to get lost in the kiss when they heard the door to the mansion open and pulled apart to see Daniel's mother looking at them with a knowing smile.
Betty blushed but walked up to the woman, "hi, Claire! I mean, Mrs Meade, it's so nice to see you again!"
The older woman laughed and said "please darling, you are more than welcome to call me Claire. I quite like that, actually. It feels like we're old friends, reconnecting." She embraced her warmly and Betty smiled "aw, thank you so much."
Daniel smiled as he watched them, feeling really happy how great they got along.
His mom looked to him with a knowing playful smile. "I see you found your Bella, and my, you are looking stunning, dear" Claire said taking in her look, smirking slightly at their obvious matching looks.
Betty blushed, but said "thank you, Claire. I can't believe you ended up being Daniel's mom! It's so cool!"
Claire laughed "likewise darling, who knew you'd end up spending this magnificent night with my son, when I had wanted to introduce you all along."
Betty laughed, "well, to be honest, I had noticed Daniel and didn't want anything to do with him"
Claire nodded in understanding, "Ah, yes, my son's unfortunate lapse in judgement"
Betty nodded looking to Daniel "but then we ran into each other and he really surprised me by sharing this side of him I liked getting to see"
Claire smiled "yes, that Daniel Meade charm, I'm afraid"
Betty laughed and Daniel rolled his eyes "are we done talking about me?"
Claire took Betty's arm and said "not in the slightest, dear. I'm going to tell her all of your secrets" she joked but he knew with her she was serious. "Mom, please…"
Betty laughed as she walked with Daniel's mom, finding the whole situation hysterical. Daniel sighed sure that he made a terrible decision in agreeing to bring Betty to his parents. He hoped they wouldn't scare her away.
"I read your story about your evening with Daniel. It was wonderful. You are an exceptional writer, Betty. Now, tell me dear, would you consider wanting to write for a magazine publication?"
Betty's eyes lit up "oh my goodness, are you kidding? I'd love that! I've always wanted to have my own magazine someday! I've loved them since I was little. I used to make my own."
Daniel and Claire both smiled at how excited she was, and Claire said "well, wonderful, I've been thinking of starting a new publication, perhaps you and I can collaborate."
Betty's eyes were practically sparkling as she tossed her arms around Claire nearly making her fall back with her excited hug; both Daniel and Claire laughed. "Thank you so much!" She pulled away blushing, then had a pensive look cross her face.
Daniel noticed "what's wrong, Betty?"
Betty bit her lip, then said quietly "is this just because Daniel and I…" she paused unsure how to word it to avoid sounding ungrateful.
Claire quickly wrapped an arm around her and said "dear, believe me, the reasons I'm asking you are strictly professional. Of course, I'm even happier to help since you are seeing my son and I happen to like you quite a bit, but truly your talents are why I want you to work with me. I read your story on your evening with Daniel, and it was so wonderful I read more of your posts. You're a very bright and passionate young lady, and have remarkable talent"
Betty smiled, and Daniel followed them into the sitting room, a smile on his face, so happy to see how much his mom really did like Betty, and the possible opportunity she just got.
Hell, he was pretty damn sure he was in love with Betty and had been since their amazing night together. The more time he spent with her, the more he knew that feeling was genuine.
He sat down in the chair across from them, watching with a smile.
Claire and Betty sat together, "You know, you quite remind me of myself when I was young, Betty. I always wanted to use my voice to inspire other women, and was very determined and passionate about it. Unfortunately, I lost my focus here and there, but meeting you and reading your work, you reinspired me."
Betty had tears fill her eyes at her unbelievably kind words. "Aww, Thank you so much, Claire. You have no idea how much that means to me." She said in a low voice.
Claire smiled brighter "You are the exact person I need working alongside me. so, what do you say, we work together, Betty? "
Betty nodded with a bright smile, "Yes, I would love to! And for you Mrs Meade, I will even strain cole slaw and walk a hundred dogs!" she said, glancing at Daniel with a playful smirk.
He laughed, though his face turned warm.
Claire noticed their exchange, and said "Daniel! Did you make Betty do that?!"
Daniel blushed, feeling nervous and ashamed, but was surprised when Betty got up and sat on the arm of his chair, picking up his hand and looked at him with a playful smile. "He did, but only one dog," she teased with a playful laugh, and said "he's made it up to me, though"
He smiled as he squeezed her hand, but his mom was quick to ruin the moment.
Claire shook her head, "You can't let him off the hook that easily, dear. He has to learn what an absolute fool he was to do that to you."
Betty giggled as Daniel groaned "mom! Please! Are you trying to convince her I don't deserve her forgiveness? I mean, I know it's true."
He held Betty's hand gently looking at her with a soft look "believe me, I know I don't deserve you, Betty. You are way too nice and special to be with an idiotic jerk like me, but I hope you can forgive me. I promise, I really will do whatever you want me to do as payback!"
Claire nodded "oh trust me, dear, I will make sure you do"
Daniel rolled his eyes in annoyance and Betty giggled, enjoying Mrs Meade's support. She really liked her.
"I knew I heard voices down here. Oh, I didn't realize we had company" Mr Meade said as he came into the room. Betty was a bit nervous to see him, but stood up and approached him, "hi Mr Meade, I'm sure you don't remember me, but you had hired me to work with Daniel at Mode about a year ago. I'm Betty Suarez."
He nodded as he shook her hand "oh, yes, I remember. I was very disappointed in Daniel to hear what he'd done to make you quit."
Daniel walked up and put his arm around Betty. "Believe me, dad, no one is more disappointed than me to have treated Betty that way, but uh… thankfully we reconnected and she has kindly forgiven me."
Betty smiled, blushing at the way Daniel was looking at her.
Bradford glanced at Claire who'd come over and whispered in his ear that Betty was the one she'd met at the party and the one Daniel spent the evening with. He nodded with a smile as he looked to Betty.
"I'm not surprised you've made such a mark on my son. Not only are you so beautiful, I remember seeing this fire in you back then. you had this sort of energy that was determined to get seen. That's why I'd hired you to keep my son focused and inspired"
Betty was surprised "really? That's why you hired me? Because everyone at Mode told me it was so I wouldn't tempt Daniel because I wasn't very pretty" she realized she said that aloud when Daniel cringed beside her, his grasp on her faltering, and Claire gasped at the revelation, only to then glare at her husband.
Betty blushed, feeling nervous that she may have overstepped by being too honest.
Bradford shook his head, "I know you have no reason to believe me, but the first thing I noticed was your passion and determination." His face seemed to color, "though… it didn't hurt that perhaps you weren't my son's usual interest"
"Bradford!" Claire glared at him even more, and Betty smiled at her gently "it's ok, Mrs Meade."
"No, it is not, dear! You are much too forgiving"
Bradford sighed, and Daniel realized he'd never seen his dad look so embarrassed. He was oddly insanely proud of Betty for being so honest. Hell, that is what he loved about her. Someone needed to put his dad in his place.
Only Betty could seem to do it in a kind way.
"If you had let me continue Claire, I was going to say, I knew that Daniel would see beyond that and see her eventually, if he had only given her a chance"
Betty appreciated everyone trying not to offend her, but she didn't want to cause any problems so said "Mr Meade, thank you."
Daniel and Claire both looked at her in confusion.
Betty stood in front of him, "If you really did see all that you said you saw in me, even despite my appearance back then, then I'm grateful, because that means you really did see me."
Claire and Daniel smiled watching Betty in awe that she had such a beautiful heart and chose to see the good. Bradford seemed to be just as surprised, and shocked them all when he embraced Betty.
When he pulled away he looked at her with a genuine smile, and turned them, his arm around her shoulder as he said "Daniel, be sure to treat Ms Suarez right. If you do anything to disrespect or hurt her, you leave me no choice but to disown you."
Betty blushed, while Daniel rolled his eyes in annoyance "thanks dad, believe me, I really care about Betty." He smiled at her, his heart lifting the longer he was around her.
Betty felt like butterflies were floating all inside her seeing that look in Daniel's eyes.
Claire took a deep breath and took Daniel's hand in hers "Daniel, I'm glad you were able to come here and let us meet Betty. She is a wonderful young lady. And 1000 times better than that bitch you almost married."
"Mom!"
Betty's eyes were wide in surprise, seeing just how much Claire didn't like Sofia. She felt a little embarrassed that she was glad that Daniel's mom liked her more.
Claire rolled her eyes "oh what! Honestly, I think I'm nervous."
Daniel looked at her oddly "what's going on?"
She had a strange look on her face. "I have something to tell you and your father, and it's important."
Daniel exchanged looks with his dad who then said "Claire, have you been drinking again?"
She shook her head "no!"
Betty wasn't sure what was going on, but could see that Mrs Meade had something on her mind. "I can give you some space. I'll wait outside" she started to walk to the door, when Daniel grabbed her hand "no, please stay."
He looked in her eyes and she nodded squeezing his hand warmly. He held her close. "Mom, whatever it is, just say it. Betty might as well hear it. What's going on? You're really freaking me out. Are you sick?"
Claire took a deep breath, and when Bradford wrapped an arm around her she blurted "Alex is alive!"
Daniel and Bradford looked confused, "what?! Is this some kind of joke, mom? What the hell are you talking about?"
"Claire, maybe you need to rest" Bradford tried to make her sit down.
Claire shook her head, and let out a nervous breath, "No. Alex is alive, except… he is no longer Alex"
Betty glanced at Daniel seeing just how concerned and confused he was.
"Mom, what the hell are you talking about? What does that even mean?" Daniel asked, his anxiousness increasing.
Betty let go of Daniel's hand and approached Mrs Meade seeing how nervous she was, her eyes were glossy. "Mrs Meade, would you feel better maybe telling me first, and then I can relay the message?"
Claire nodded "yes, good idea, Betty" they sat over by the fireplace and Claire started to quietly tell Betty what was going on.
Daniel was obviously concerned as he started pacing and Bradford stared at her trying to access what was going on. Daniel ran his hand through his hair "dad, what the hell is going on? What the hell does she mean Alex is alive, and he's no longer Alex?"
Bradford looked on suspiciously "I don't know, son…"
Daniel sighed, but needed to try to calm down.
He took a deep breath, then smiled as he saw Betty listening to his mom, but then her eyes grew wide as she received the information.
Dammit! He hoped she wouldn't leave him and tell him to go to hell for whatever crazy shit he was sure was going on. He wouldn't blame her. He knew his family was nuts.
After several minutes, Betty got up taking a deep breath, leaving his mom sitting there, who had obviously been crying.
Betty walked over to Daniel and Mr Meade, shocked at all the information Mrs Meade just revealed. She looked at Daniel, sure that what she was about to tell them was going to make him really upset.
They approached her, obviously both anxious. "What's going on, Betty?" Daniel asked.
Betty took another breath, "ok… first, there are three BIG things. So, one is that your brother Alex apparently faked his own death."
"What?" Daniel was shocked. "Why the hell would he do that?"
Betty looked to Mr Meade who visibly got uncomfortable, obviously knowing the reason. Daniel noticed her look at his dad. "Dad, what the hell? Did you know?"
Betty placed her hand on his arm "Daniel, Alex is Alexis now."
Daniel looked confused "what?"
She noticed Mr Meade seemed unphased, clearly knowing where this was all going.
Betty pulled Daniel close and whispered in his ear about Alex faking his death to get a surgery to become Alexis, and why he had done so.
Daniel's eyes were glossy, then he looked to his dad, and they reflected anger. "What the hell, dad? Why the hell would you say something like that? So where is he...she, now?"
He wanted to punch a wall, but when he felt Betty's gentle touch on his arm, he took her hand in his. "Ok…"
She told him and Mr Meade in a soft tone how Alex had planned a big comeback and wanted to make Bradford suffer, but then got sick after the treatment, and only reached out to Claire recently.
Betty was nervous herself, as she said "there's something else…"
Daniel ran his hand through his hair "Dammit, what else…"
Betty glanced back at Mrs Meade to make sure if she wanted to have them know and when she nodded, Betty took a deep breath. "So… there was a year where your mom went away?"
Daniel sighed and nodded "Yeah? She had been an alcoholic and was getting help."
She held his hand tighter, "well, she was actually away because she was pregnant with your half brother who she gave up for adoption" As soon as Betty said the words it was like she shot him in the chest. The look on his face was one of pure shock and devastation. She felt heartbroken to see him look like that.
After a long moment, he pulled Betty toward himself, and said "I need to get the hell out of here!"
Claire got up to stop him, "Daniel, wait-"
"I don't know who to be more angry with right now! You or dad! I need to go!"
Betty followed him, and as soon as they were outside he slammed the door behind them.
She couldn't blame him. She remembered how upset she had been to find out her Mami had a different husband in Mexico and that her Papi defended her and accidentally killed him to save her.
Of course at the time her and her sister had been hurt that their father had kept that from them, but after time they started to understand from his perspective.
It didn't make it any easier, but they were eventually able to move past it.
She hoped the same for Daniel and his family.
She followed him to the car silently, until she couldn't any longer "Daniel…"
He sighed, "Betty, I don't blame you if you wanted to run and never see me again."
She stood in front of him as he leaned against the car and said, "that's not at all what I want to do. I know there is nothing I can say to take away the pain you must be feeling, but I'm willing to listen or just sit with you. I'm here for you. Whatever you need."
He smiled and lifted his hand to her cheek, looking in her eyes, knowing for sure that he must be in love. She placed her hand over his. "Can I take you somewhere?"
He interlocked their fingers together as he pulled her close "I will go anywhere with you"