The Bridge/CH 7
After sitting, sharing a beer and catching up for a while, Becks looks at Daniel, settling into his recliner, "So, Daniel, tell me. What's so special about this Betsy chick?
I mean… she's definitely got the booty and the uh… goods. She seems kinda young and sweet for you, though. I didn't know you were into corrupting little bridge and tunnel girls. Don't get me wrong. I like the attitude.
But, seriously, telling me to 'lay off' is like waving a red flag in front of a bull. You know you're just going to make me want her more. Besides, I think she likes me. She said she dug my dimples. If you just want to play big brother, then what do you care if I have a little fun with the firecracker?"
Daniel flew off the chair and got in Becks' face, "You're NOT going to have 'fun' with this firecracker, okay? I don't have to explain my relationship to you. Just don't push it.
God, I can't believe how stupid you sound! Was I really like you? First of all, Betty, not Betsy is NOT some 'bridge and tunnel' girl. She's from Queens, she's smart, she's funny. She's…amazing. She…"
Becks put up his hand, shaking his head in disbelief, "Whoa! Daniel…slow down. I know you told me about how that Reyes woman wrapped your balls on a stick and ran them up a flag pole. She really messed you up, huh?
Now you're in love with your assistant from Queens? She's cute, and sweet, but…come on, Daniel. You and I would normally have girls like her for an appetizer, then move on to the main course! Don't get your panties in a wad over the help."
Daniel shook his head, and looked like he wanted to kill Becks, "Becks, I know we go back a long way. But don't EVER talk about Betty like that again, do you understand me? And I'm not in love with her. She's my friend. I know that's a foreign concept to you, maybe. But Betty has helped me do my job ever since day one. Even after I treated her like crap at first. She deserves respect.
If you want to stay here, if you expect to come to Fashion Week, you WILL show her respect! No cheesy pick up lines, no come ons, just say yes ma'am, no ma'am and walk away. Got it?"
Becks rolled his eyes, "Yes, Daniel! Geez, lighten up! You're not in love with her, huh? You sure about that? Boy, the old man really has you wound up on a tight leash, doesn't he? So, aside from Queen Betty, are we on for our usual bet? Whoever scores with the hottest chica there wins a buck?" He held up a dollar.
Daniel shook his head and went back to try and get comfortable in the chair, "I don't have time for that this year, Becks. I tried to call you to let you know. My father's about to hand over the keys to the kingdom. I have to worry about what the models are wearing, not how to get them out of their clothes for once.
Look, this is really important. I have to be on my best behavior. You can go sniffing around the models all you want, just don't cause any trouble, okay? I'm the Editor-in-chief now. I've got to act like it."
Becks scoffed, "Editor-in-chief! Do you have to say it like that? You sound like you've got a stick up your butt, man! Do you pee sitting down, now, too? What the hell happened to you? You're like a shell of the man I knew."
Daniel closed his eyes, ignoring Becks' comments. "Whatever, Becks. Just let me do my job and hit on whatever models you want. I want no part in it. I don't even want to know about it. NO bets this time!"
Becks shook his head, lying down on the sofa, punching the pillow and pulling the blanket over himself and rolling his eyes, "No bets? Where's the fun in that? It won't be the same if you're not even trying to beat me! Not that you'd ever win, but…at least go down swinging!"
He looked at Daniel, who was out immediately, snoring softly. Becks rolled his eyes, "Unbelievable! It's only one in the morning and he's snoring like an old man! Where's the Daniel I know?" He sighed and closed his eyes, falling asleep quickly himself.
Early the next morning, Daniel jumped up from the sound of the blender, falling onto the floor, then rubbing his eyes, "What the hell?" He walked into the kitchen and saw Betty, smiling and drinking the smoothie Becks had just handed her.
"Daniel! Good morning, bro. How did you sleep?"
"Terrible. The chair kept folding up on me. I had nightmares that I was in a clamshell that kept closing on me. What time is it?"
Betty smiled, "It's eight thirty. How are you feeling, Daniel? I had a huge headache when I first woke up, but these smoothies Becks makes are awesome! I don't feel bad at all now."
Daniel took it from Betty and smelled it, "Yeah, that's because they have vodka in them, Betty. You're going to get drunk again. Becks! Please…I thought I told you to…"
"Back off? Hey, can't a fella try to be nice to the young lady? She said she had a hangover headache and I was just trying to make her feel better. That's all. Nothing sinister here. You never heard of having a little hair of the dog that bit you before?"
He leaned forward on the counter and put his hand up to stage whisper to Betty, pointing to Daniel "He thinks I'm trying to get into your pants or something. I think he doesn't trust me."
Betty smiled, blushing slightly and took a drink of water. "I don't think I trust you, either, Becks. I think I'm going to get dressed and go get some coffee.
Daniel, I think I'll let you and your friend catch up. I need to get back home before my family sends out the National Guard, anyway."
Daniel smiled, "I thought you said you were over twenty-one. That you didn't need anyone's permission to go out?"
"I don't. But…"
"You are only twenty-two. I get it. Your family babysat me once when I was hungover. They know my reputation.
Hey, I don't blame them. I'm sure if you were my daughter or sister, I wouldn't trust you around a guy like me, either. Especially a lecherous older boss."
She put her hand on his, "Daniel, I don't see you that way. It's not that. I just…have been using you and avoiding working things out with Hilda.
I've been having fun with you, pretending like I didn't have a family. But I do. I can't keep running away and hiding out with you to escape dealing with my family issues."
Daniel's door suddenly burst open, and Hilda and Santos, and Claus, the daytime doorman all came rushing in.
"Mr. Meade, I'm so sorry. This woman insisted that you were holding her underage sister hostage and that she would call the police and the press if I didn't let her in to search your apartment! I told her she was mistaken. Do you know her? Or should I call the authorities?"
Daniel looked at Hilda and shook his head, "No, it's fine, Claus. I know these people. Thank you. We'll be fine."
Betty was trying to hide behind the counter and Becks was eying Hilda, and watching, amused.
Hilda narrowed her eyes, which were clearly red, and put her finger on Daniel's chest, backing him up to his wall, "YOU! What the hell is wrong with you?
Do you honestly think you're going to 'score' with my kid sister and then break her heart or something? Look, I don't know what you think you're playing at, mister, trying to lead on a sweet, innocent girl like Betty, but just because we're poor, doesn't mean she's one of your cheap Park Avenue high fashion tramps!
My sister may be young and maybe we don't have all your money, but she has more class than you and all your slutty models put together! If not for her, your own father would have dumped you out on your fat cat ass months ago, Mister Meade! I swear to God, if you got her pregnant, you're gonna wish you'd never been born, you arrogant, selfish…"
Daniel's eyes widened and he was completely taken aback by Hilda's attack. Betty slowly stood up from behind the counter, seeming touched at first at her sister's obvious concern for her, raising her hand, "
"Hilda? I'm here. Daniel slept downstairs. I'm sorry I didn't just call you and tell you what was going on, but I was upset that you kept pushing me to stay with Walter, that's all. Daniel was a perfect gentleman. So was Becks. They both slept downstairs."
Hilda looked Betty up and down, seeming shocked at her appearance. Then she really noticed Becks, looking at him, narrowly.
"Who the hell is THIS guy? Geez, Betty! Now you're sleeping with two rich guys at once? Wait…oh I see what this is about. You got all made over and now you're trying to prove to me how you can get all these guys or something?
Will you please just listen to me for once in your life? I'm trying to protect you. These two are only interested in one thing, Betty! And believe me, it ain't how smart you are!"
Daniel could see the tears forming in Betty's eyes, and he gently but firmly pushed Hilda away, then stepped over to stand beside Betty, "Okay, okay. Let's calm down, here. Hilda, as Betty's big sister, I totally understand you being protective towards your younger and somewhat inexperienced sister.
But NOTHING happened here last night. Betty IS over twenty-one, first of all, as you are well aware. She isn't underage, so if she wanted to take off and go to China to join a strip club that would be HER business, not YOURS.
No offense, but I really don't think you are the one to be handing out advice to Betty on how to act around men.
The only thing she did last night was have a few drinks, but she did nothing to be ashamed of and for once in my life, probably mainly because I was trying to be a better kind of man to impress her, neither did I.
And Becks…is just an old friend of mine who showed up unexpectedly. He got into town late last night, and crashed on the sofa. I slept in my very uncomfortable chair. And your sister slept upstairs. Alone!
You two clearly have some issues to work out, and I don't even care about the accusations you just made against me. I totally deserve them. If I were in your shoes, I wouldn't trust me, either.
But you should know and respect your own sister enough to know better that she would never do anything so stupid as to sleep with a guy like me!"
Santos looked around and smiled, "Whoa, babe, I hate to say it, but he told you! Now do you believe me? Although…heck, Betty, I gotta tell you, sweetie, you do look a LOT better! Still, she's okay, Hilda. These guys didn't touch her. She's still a virgin, it's all good, right? Can we go now?"
"A virgin! Whoa! Seriously? How is THAT possible? Is she Amish?" Becks looked shocked.
Betty was bright red, "Oh my God! I can't even talk to you right now! Daniel…I'm SO sorry you got dragged into this craziness. And just for the record, Becks, that ISN'T true. What he just said.
Although apparently that's what my SISTER believes! For your information, Hilda I'm NOT a virgin! I haven't been for almost two years now. Not that you would notice or care. I'm surprised you didn't read my diary again. I guess you just figured nobody would want to touch your ugly sister. And yet you thought Daniel would want me? UH!"
She grabbed her things and stormed out the door, with Hilda following afterward. Daniel started to go after them, but thought better of it and reasoned that Betty needed to work things out with her sister on her own.
Becks made a face, "Whoa! That was like one of those Mexican soap operas! Is she seriously a virgin? Her sister's a pain in the ass. But she's kinda hot, too."
Daniel shook his head sadly, "I'll wait till tonight and call Betty to make sure she's okay. And no, she's not…whatever. Let's get dressed and go get some coffee."
Betty was fuming. She stood to face Hilda and yelled at her, "I'll make my own way home. I don't want to talk to you right now! I can't even look at you!"
"Betty! Stop! Listen to me. I'm sorry, okay? I was worried sick about you. I…didn't sleep at all last night, wondering where you were and what I said that was so terrible.
I didn't tell papi we were arguing, but he knows. Justin knows. He's the one who finally confessed to me that you took him shopping in the city and that you took off with Daniel! I was afraid you were gonna elope with the guy or something!"
Betty stood to face Hilda, her tear-soaked face red and blotchy, "I don't even know where to start to tell you how much you just embarrassed me in there, Hilda!
Because you think you were totally in the right to just barge in like that and start making assumptions.
God forbid Daniel would even think about just wanting to spend time with me without wanting to sleep with me! For your information, he was actually nice to me.
He flirted with me a little and so did his friend. That's all that happened, okay? I didn't have some orgy with the two rich guys!
They made me feel like a lady and like I'm worth something. Unlike my own sister who is ready to pawn me off like I'm some deformed troll who has to take whatever creep she can get!"
"Betty, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have tried to get you to settle for Walter. You're right. I'm jealous, okay? I am a grown woman with a child to raise and I got fired. I have no marketable skills. You…you're smart and young and ambitious and I know you're going to go really far.
Daniel and the people at Mode all look up to you. You…don't have to sell yourself short. You…have everything."
Hilda walked closer to Betty and wiped away her tears, and looked at her, smiling then hugged her, "By the way, I like the new braces and the contacts.
The clothes are a still a little stuffy, but they look much better! You look good, Betty. Really good. I love you, you know. But next time, please call me! I'm just sayin..."