The Bridge/CH 3
Betty was trying not to sweat. But everything TJ was putting on her face made her feel like she had on a mask. And she wasn't sure how she would possibly remember half of what he was telling her about how to apply her own make-up. It seemed like a foreign film with no subtitles to her.
She nodded and looked pleasantly surprised when TJ stepped away to reveal his work. But when he handed her the red dress, she had to fight back the tears. TJ was very good at getting her to open up.
She had only known the man for twenty-five minutes and she already found herself practically sharing her whole life story. Even how she was struggling not to develop a crush on her handsome boss, and how she was trying not to be angry with her sister for her low expectations concerning Betty's dating prospects.
TJ seemed puzzled at Betty's reaction, "Don't tell me you don't like how you look? Darling I may not swing that way, but you look divine! If I were straight, I'd be ripping off that dress in a heartbeat! Go…put it on, and maybe we can get mister tie me up, tie me down Meade to help you take it off later!
I have to tell you, dear, I've been driving him crazy to hire me for a shoot for months and this is the first time he's actually called me in ages! You must be pretty important. He normally reserves me for special occasions, because he knows I'm the best and I don't come cheap!
Sorry…why are you just standing? Go, get dressed, darling or I'll do it for you! Come on, chop, chop! Miss Coco Channel doesn't like her doggy-sitter very much. So, I'm on the clock here!
Plus, I have a feeling once Daniel gets a load of you in that sexy little red number, he's going to be happy and tingly enough in all parts of his anatomy to warrant him finally putting me on permanent staff! You're going to look good enough to eat. But, can I ask you a question, without hurting your feelings, dear?"
Betty felt a bit pressured to try on the red dress Daniel and TJ seemed so determined to get her into, in spite of its plunging neckline and tight fit to her torso. It did drape well on her, she had to admit, once she put it on. The deep red color was a perfect complement to her complexion and dark locks that now framed her face, not to mention the smokey eye and deep red lips TJ had given her.
She stepped out, and as TJ zipped her up, she nodded, "Of course, TJ, what do you want to know? You already know practically everything about me. You should be a reporter. Or a therapist!"
TJ grinned, "Well, I do like a bit of gossip, I must admit. I can't keep a secret to save my life. But, what I was going to ask is…why the metal mouth? Don't get me wrong, you can rock it pretty well, surprisingly, and the glasses are retro enough to work, I suppose. But can I just try something? Here, step in front of the mirror and close your mouth.
There, see how gorgeous you look? Those big soft lips are absolutely to die for! What did I tell you about that dress? Your curves are seriously dangerous, chica! Can you see at all if I take these, too?" He held her glasses and 'accidentally' stepped on them, putting his hand up to his mouth, "Oops! I'm such a klutz! So sorry, darling!"
"TJ! I really do need those to see! What did you do?" She was trying not to get angry, but was getting extremely frustrated with his behavior, nonetheless.
TJ shrugged, "I'll tell you what…if you promise to make an appointment with a real orthodontist, I'll get Daniel darling to pay for the clear, pretty ones. But only if you promise ME first you'll try contacts! Do we have a deal?"
"But I really don't like putting my fingers in my eyes! I tried it once before and it was scary."
"Life is scary, dear. Promise me or I'll tell him you think he's dreamy. Tick, tock. Here he comes. I bet he's got a little thing for you, too, sweetie. Well, actually, I heard it's not all that little."
"TJ!" Betty's eyes widened. She looked panicked, now, "Fine! You win. I'll see about the contacts. Please don't bother Daniel about the orthodontist, though. I don't want him to worry about that. He's got enough of his own problems to deal with right now."
"Sorry, let's just see, shall we? If he's not into it, I'll back off. But how much would you like to bet that all I have to do is bring it up and he's totally on board. He called me here because he wants to pull a George Bernard Shaw."
"Sorry?"
"You're kidding, right? Are you saying you don't know who Shaw was? "Ever hear of Pygmalion, dear?"
Betty shrugged, "Sure. He was an Irish playwright. He wrote Don Juan in Hell, Man and Superman, Pygmalian…"
"How about My Fair Lady?"
Betty's eyes lit up, "Oh, my nephew LOVES that show! It's wonderful!"
"Fine. Think of Daniel as Henry Higgins to your Eliza Doolittle, and you've got the picture, doll."
" Really? You think so?"
"Remember, the 'professor' falls for Eliza. It's inevitable."
She blushed. "I…uh…well, I don't know…no, that's…not…possible!" She quickly jumped, almost falling out of the chair as Daniel entered the room, holding a pair of shoes.
"Isn't it?" TJ smirked.
Daniel's eyes lit up as he saw her. He held up the shoes, "Uh…here. I thought these might work with that…dress. Wow! You look…really good, Betty. Great work, TJ! Betty? Why aren't you smiling? And where are your glasses?"
She put her hand over her mouth, "I…was trying to cover my braces. And…my glasses, I…"
TJ spoke up, "I had a little clumsy moment, Daniel. I was working so hard to get little Miss Mexican cutie pie all dolled up here, I'm afraid I stepped on her glasses. She's going to need new frames. Or don't you think she'd look gorgeous with contacts?"
Daniel noticed how pretty Betty's eyes were, as he stared at her again for a moment, "Well, yeah. I guess so. Is that okay with you, though, Betty? I don't want you to do anything you aren't comfortable doing here. You look really great with your glasses, too."
She smiled, then covered up her mouth. Daniel stepped closer to her, and asked TJ, "Nice work, but…can Betty and I have a minute, please, TJ? You can call HR Monday. I think we can definitely use you for our next cover."
TJ hurriedly grabbed his things and smiled at Betty, "Bye, darling. You look like a goddess!" As soon as he left, Daniel looked down at her, "Betty, listen, I'm sorry. I like TJ, he knows what he's doing with his job, but…I think that backfired. I wanted you to feel better about yourself, but I absolutely don't want you to feel like you have to change who you are. I like your braces AND your glasses.
Please don't listen to everything he said. What does he know about women, anyway? He's gay! He doesn't know what's sexy or not if it doesn't have to do with make-up and hair, you know? You get enough crap from Hilda and Marc and Amanda. I don't want you to feel like you're not good enough the way you look right now. You're…"
She smiled, "Beautiful? I know, Daniel. You told me."
He raised his eyebrow, "Well, do you believe me yet? Because I think you need to see yourself on camera. Maybe then you'll know I'm not exaggerating. Hold still."
Betty started to run away, but just as he grabbed her to hold her in place, standing behind her in a full-length mirror,, the door opened and Wilhelmina stepped in, "What's going on here? Daniel?
What are you doing here on a Saturday? I…oh, dear Lord, don't you have enough room at your own little love nest for your extra-curricular activities? Now you've got to bring your…"
She stopped as Daniel glared at her. Betty had ducked behind a clothes rack as Wilhelmina stepped outside the room and Daniel followed her.
He narrowed his eyes, "Look, Wilhelmina, not that it's any of your business, but…that young lady is not just some random girl I picked up at a bar, I'll have you know. And in spite of what you may think, it's not what it looks like. She's..."
"Sofia Reyes, right? I must say, I'm rather surprised that even you would stoop to reunite with that woman after her treatment of you in the press, but then I suppose you did always think with your 'little brain', although in your case, I don't imagine there's much difference!"
"I don't know if that's a compliment to my manhood or a dig at my intelligence, but thanks…I think!" he laughed slightly, "But believe me, that was NOT Sofia! Even I'm not that stupid!"
She smirked, "You said it, Daniel. Not me."
"I mean…oh, hell, you know what I meant! I'm not fool enough to let that woman screw me over again."
"So, you found some look-a-like? Or…dressed another woman up to look just like her? That's sort of sad, really, Daniel, and I must say, rather desperate."
He narrowed his eyes, "You're kidding me, right? I don't know what the hell you're talking about! She doesn't look anything like Sofia! It's Betty."
Now it was Wilhelmina's turn to look shocked, "Betty! Betty Suarez? Well…it was a definite improvement, no doubt on her usual attire. But until that metallic smile of hers no longer induces seizures in small children, I'd say it was somewhat of a lost cause, wouldn't you?"
Betty tried to stop herself from crying, but she couldn't help it. She brushed past the cruel diva, headed for the door as quickly as her legs would take her. Daniel ran after her, but she didn't slow down. She took off the shoes he had brought for her and ran barefoot out the door.
He shouted, "Betty! Wait! Don't listen to her. She's insane! You look…"
Betty crossed her arms across her chest, trying to hide her rather exposed cleavage as she waited for the elevator, "I look, what, Daniel? Beautiful? Like Sofia? Is that what this was really all about? You are dressing me up because I'm short and Mexican to try and look like her because she broke your heart?"
"What? NO! Betty, listen, I don't know what the hell she's talking about. I never thought that, I promise you. And I swear, I certainly wasn't trying to use you as some kind of replacement for Sofia. That thought never even entered my mind. You look nothing like her."
Betty looked at him, "No, of course not. I'm not sexy like her. What was Wilhelmina thinking?"
Daniel was really pissed at Wilhelmina now. He knew Betty was hurt and that was the last thing he wanted to have happen. "Betty, please. I'm sorry she hurt your feelings. But I don't think of you that way. I wasn't…trying to 'dress you up' for my own benefit. I was just trying to help you feel more at ease at Mode, that's all."
Betty didn't know which scenario hurt more; the idea that Daniel might have in some way been using her as a 'Sofia patch' because of her ethnic and physical similarities to the Latina beauty or his remark that he 'didn't think of her THAT way'. Either made her want to crawl in a hole and hide right now.
She blinked back the tears that threatened to fall and put her hand on his arm, "It's okay, Daniel. I know your intentions were good. I do really appreciate all you tried to do for me. It was sweet. But let's face it; I'm no Cinderella or…Juliet. And no offense, but you're no Prince Charming or Romeo. Or…Henry Higgins for that matter. But...thanks for trying, anyway."