The Bridge/Ch 2
As they arrived, the sky was just beginning to get light and the tall, stately building seemed somehow enchanted and different, without the usual bustling flow of people, entering and exiting throughout the weekday.
Daniel spoke briefly to the guard on duty and the man took one look at Betty and raised his eyebrow. Daniel gripped Betty's hand tightly as he excitedly led her to the elevator and pushed the button for the twenty-eighth floor.
He couldn't help but look at her. She seemed so…innocent. So young, and full of hope, full of promise. How long had it been since he had been that hopeful about anything in his life? He felt suddenly old and jaded, corrupt and bereft of heart and soul next to her. Yet…somehow, when they were together, she brought out the sun, she made him feel alive and full of…well, hope, himself.
She had forced him to face himself and many of his own demons in the months since she had come to be his assistant. That was a misleading title, he thought. She often seemed to be the one leading him around, trying to keep him from falling flat on his face, especially in front of his father.
Right from the start, she had saved his ass on the Fabia account, salvaged the Natalie Whitman fiasco, she had helped him secure Vincent Biancchi when even the great Alex Meade had botched up that relationship.
Betty was really something alright. She was more than his good luck charm. She was brilliant at research, and perhaps most important, at developing relationships. She knew how to charm anyone with her sweet, honest, demeanor.
Daniel could tell he was making her uncomfortable staring at her, seeing her blush under his scrutiny. He spoke softly, "Betty…I'm sorry, I didn't mean to stare. It's just that…I feel like I'm really seeing you. What a wonderful person you are. You deserve to be happy. You deserve to feel more confident. I hate that Hilda made you feel bad about yourself. I'd like to help you if I can.
I can never really repay you for all you've done to help me since we both started working at Mode. I'd probably still be sitting in that bar in Union Square if not for you. I still can't believe you quit working for her…because of me. That was awesome!"
He absently gave her a high five. "Hell, for that matter, my old man would have fired me right from the start after I almost botched up the Fabia account if not for you. I owe you everything."
She blushed even more, looking down, "Thank you, Daniel. That means a lot to hear you say."
"It's true. So…in partial re-payment for all your hard work over these past four months, I'd like to offer my services as your…dresser. Or consultant, maybe sounds better. You can dress yourself, of course."
Why did he say that? She was surely going to go running for the hills now, he thought, somewhat uncomfortably.
Besides, he didn't want to make her feel bad about herself. Quite the contrary. He knew from all the women he had been around and seeing what they looked like 'the morning after' that Betty did indeed have potential. She just needed a little…guidance.
But how could he tell her that without sounding smug or superior? This was Betty, though he realized. They didn't really stand on ceremony. And she certainly never minced words around him.
That's one of the things he loved so much about her. She was honest, real. She was never a phony. So he suddenly blurted out, "Betty, I've seen a lot of naked women and…frankly, they look way worse than you without all their make-up and fancy outfits, you know?
You just need a little window dressing, honey. You're going to knock…uh, sorry. That didn't come out right. What I mean is, you are a really beautiful girl, I mean woman. Naturally. You just might…well, you know, I know all girls like to dress up sometimes, right?"
Betty smiled, seeing Daniel so obviously trying not to hurt her feelings. It was incredibly sweet of him to try and make her feel better about herself. But what he probably didn't realize was sizes were sizes.
"Daniel, thank you for trying. I think it's really nice of you to offer, but you forget, I'm friends with Christina. There isn't anything here in The Closet that fits me. I'm not a size two or even a four."
He walked around her and seemed somewhat surprised, "No, I'd say mostly a six, except…in the uh bust line and the hips. Those can be altered though, you know. It also depends a lot on the style. We'll just look for things that have a full skirt and are made larger on top. You have a really tiny waistline, though. We'll definitely play that up, too.
We can always find something in the back here, too, where we keep some of the slightly larger sizes for the celebrities doing covers who aren't necessarily models. You can't tell me Mariah Carey is a size zero! I'm surprised Christina didn't make you try some of these on. She definitely knows about them."
Betty's eyes popped as Daniel went to retrieve some beautiful gowns, skirts and tops in sizes that were almost…normal. "She did try to tell me once that she could find something for me, but all I saw were those zeros and two's so I guess I didn't even listen to her. I was so discouraged."
Daniel looked through several and quickly selected a dark blue dress and a silver shimmering top, with a long black skirt. "Try these. There's a red dress here that definitely has your name on it, too.
But it might be a bit tight on top. We might have to get Christina to let it out a bit. Either that or uh…you lose the bra maybe."
Betty's eyes widened, "Daniel! I'm not…taking off my underwear."
"Don't freak out. I didn't say panties, although, lines, just…never mind. Here, you can go behind there and try these on. Then, I'll call a friend of mine to come do your hair and make-up.
He's probably up, walking his dog now anyway. He won't mind coming in early. He's been bugging me to do a shoot, so I'll tell him this is his audition."
Betty couldn't help feel a little excitement as she took the beautiful clothes from Daniel. Her hands were shaking slightly, as her fingers touched his, she looked at him, "Thank you, Daniel. I…thank you for this."
He smiled, "My pleasure, Betty. Now, go get dressed!" He started to smack her on the rear, but thought better of it and went to select shoes to coordinate with her outfits.
As she fumbled to get off her sweats and put on first the long, black skirt and silver top, she bit her lip, seeing herself in the mirror as she stepped out.
Daniel put one finger up to his cheek, trying to decide something, then twirled her around and handed her silver sling back Jimmy Choo's, "Here Try these, Cinderella. If they don't work, I'll see if we have any glass slippers for you in the back."
Betty giggled, as she sat down and easily slipped on the shoes, which were high, and not what she was used to, so she almost fell when she went to stand in them. He caught her by the waist and looked at her, "Watch it, there. Yeah, I don't know how women walk on those things. It constantly amazes me. Those look good on you, except…"
"Except what?" Betty didn't know why being on heels should make her feel so breathless. Maybe it was something about being so close to Daniel?
"Well, that skirt is kind of long. You've got nice legs. You should show them off. Of course, you should also definitely show off your other…uh…assets, too. Rather than cover them up with those interesting clothes you usually wear."
She smiled, "Are you making fun of me, Daniel?"
"Of you, never, Betty. Of your 'fashion-sense' if you can call it that, yes. Yes, okay…I'm sorry, but my senile grandmother in Poland has better taste.
You're a beautiful young girl, but you dress like a grandma at a yard sale. And don't tell me it's all you can afford. Justin dresses nicely. That kid's got taste. And last I checked, being a student pays less than I do."
"Barely." She hit his arm.
He laughed, "Okay, okay, point taken, maybe it is time for a raise. But you also never take advantage of the swag that is supposed to be part of your salary, Miss Suarez. Here, let me educate you a little."
He pushed her gently to the dressing curtain and motioned for her to try on the dark blue dress. "Try that, please. It's cocktail length, and should hit you in all the right places.
It's uh…good material for your shape and the color is great for your skin tone. I just got a text from TJ. He'll be here in ten minutes. Maybe by then, I'll be able to talk you into that red dress you were meant to wear."
She glanced down as she slipped on the navy blue dress and touched it. It looked great on her. The side shirring emphasized her waistline and made the most of her figure. It had buttons down the front, which he wordlessly unbuttoned two more than she had, showing a lot more cleavage.
She took Daniel's hand as he nodded, smiling, and "Getting better. Check you out! Twirl for me."
She blushed, but seemed a bit more confident and turned around slowly, looking back at herself in the mirror. Daniel seemed suddenly thoughtful, "Sit down."
She raised her eyebrows at his somewhat commanding tone, "Please. I want to see how these go with that dress." He took hold of her leg and put on a lovely blue pump with a peek-a-boo toe and an ankle strap. He fastened the strap and held her calf, running his eyes up her body, somewhat slowly.
"Daniel?" She asked, rather hoarsely. She didn't know about him, but all these compliments were getting to her a bit. And him touching her was…electrifying.
He cleared his throat, and looked down at his hands, still on her leg. "Huh? Oh, sorry. What did you say?"
She felt her cheeks warming and found herself irresistibly drawn to those mesmerizing eyes of his. The ones she always tried to avoid looking into ever since she started working for the man. He had this uncanny way of looking straight through a woman that made Betty feel as if she were the only woman on the planet.
Of course, she was unfortunately all-too aware that he used that very well-documented ability to do the opposite of what he was doing for her, to help women get OUT of their clothes, not into them.
So, she looked away, finding the door extremely fascinating and was trying to focus on it, when he moved his hand off her leg, "Sorry. I… didn't mean to uh…Betty, I'm really sorry if I'm making you uncomfortable.
I honestly think you'll feel better about your problems with your sister and it might help you at work if you don't feel so out of place. But, I do like…there's nothing wrong with how you look. I was just teasing about your clothes. Don't feel like I'm trying to make you do anything you're not into, though. I really hated the way Wilhelmina was so rude to you before and I know Amanda and Marc are mean to you. I just…want to help, that's all."
"I know, Daniel. You're being really sweet. I do appreciate it. I guess I never learned how to do all this girly stuff. My sister wears uh…clothes I don't really think I could wear. And she tried to get me to dress like her and do that Herba-Luxe make-up. I know she looks good, and sexy and all, but…it's just not me."
"No offense to your sister, Betty, but you're a lot classier than she is. That's why you felt so out of place when she made you up like her that time. It wasn't you. It works for her, but you're not like that. You're sweeter. More refined and intelligent.
It's okay to show what you've got, but without making it too obvious. I hate to admit it, but Wilhelmina is actually a good example. She isn't a spring chicken anymore, but she dresses pretty sexy for an older woman and she has class. It…works for her, just like your sister's style works for her. But you…you're different. Unique. You…"
Daniel didn't know why his mouth suddenly went bone dry and he was unable to form sentences, or why he felt so hypnotized by Betty's lips.
But, just as he moved closer to them, TJ burst in, holding make-up cases, curling irons, and bags filled with brushes, and hair spray, "I'm here, Daniel! You said it was urgent.
I dropped Miss Coco Channel off with the neighbor to come running. Where's our little victim? Ooh la la…very Christina Hendricks on Madmen! A curvy girl! Come on, sweetheart! I know just how to make you up for this outfit!"
Daniel pulled out the red dress, "Wait! TJ, here, see if you can get her feeling good enough about herself to try this one on."
TJ smiled, looking down at the dress, and appraising Betty, turning her around and nodding, "Oh, absolutely! You do have an eye for beauty, Daniel. Come on, darling, let's go make some magic. Fear not, your fairy Godmother is on the job."