Love Never Goes Out of Style/CH 18
"Say, there, you two, do you plan on making out in the hallway all night, then?"
"Stuart? You've got a lot of nerve! Do you have any idea what you put poor Christina through? She was so upset..."
"I know, believe me! I got her crazy message and I've been on a train and two busses and three taxis trying to track her down! Those two other women and their fellas nearly beat me up before they even gave me a chance to explain. This has all been a terrible misunderstandin! I'd never cheat on Christina! I didn't, in fact, do anythin of the sort! She ought to know me better than that! The daft woman! I love her. I...always have. Even when I was a lousy husband, I loved her."
Betty narrowed her eyes suspiciously, "All right then. How do you explain that text? Who was the woman wanting to know how long 'your wife' would be gone?"
Stuart shook his head and sighed deeply, "She's one of those fancy interior decorators! I hired her to come fix the place up, so it would look nice for Christina's birthday next month. I know she's always hated that we live in my family's old house, it is a sight. I hoped she might not be gone so much if the house looked a bit more invitin, that's all.
I know Christina has to do a lot of business here in London. And I know she should get a small flat here, too, so she doesn't have to stay with her friend. But, I'm just afraid if she's gone more and more...and London's so posh, she's going to dread comin home. I wanted it to look a bit grander, so it wouldn't be so bad for her to come home to. I swear, that's the truth, Betty."
"It is; isn't it, Stuart?" Christina had awakened and heard her husband. She came to the doorway, "Come here, you. THAT'S what this was about? Fixin up the house a bit? For me?"
Betty and Daniel both smiled as Christina hugged Stuart and kissed him. "Well, I can see we're cramping these two's style, forcin them to make out in the hallway like a couple of teens with nowhere to go! Come on, Stuart. I think we should get our own hotel room for the night. I'm sorry I doubted you, luv. I should have known you weren't the cheatin type! Besides, no one else would be fool enough to put up with you, besides me!"
"That's true enough. Though you're no walk in the park, darlin! If you had any idea how much trouble I've been through to get to you!"
"Who's watchin little Will?"
"Your sister. And I had to tell her why I needed her to watch him. So, first, I got the stuffin knocked out of me by her, then all your American friends."
"Sorry, darlin'. Suppose I'll have to think of a good way to make it up to you, then, eh?"
"I suppose you will." He grinned and pulled her closer. "You ready? Thanks for takin good care of her for me."
"No problem. I'm so glad this was a false alarm. Go, you two, get lost! See you later." Betty hugged her friend, and Daniel hugged Christina, and shook hands with Stuart.
As soon as they left, Daniel turned to Betty, "So...where were we?" She shrugged.
He scooped her up and carried her, giggling inside, as he began attacking her neck, "Somewhere about...here, maybe?"
A few hours later, Betty woke up in his arms. She started to get up, but Daniel pulled her back, "Just where do you think you're running off to, young lady?"
"Uh, to take a shower, then get some coffee."
Daniel looked at the clock. "Betty, it's three thirty in the morning."
She shook her head, "Oh. I guess I'm a little mixed up with my time still. I swear, just about the time I get comfortable here, it'll be time to go back to New York!"
Daniel laid back against the headboard, putting his arms behind his neck, thinking. "Well...I've been thinking. I kind of like it here; don't you?"
"Sure! What's not to like? It's great. But Fashion Week is over now and..."
"So? That doesn't mean we have to go back just yet. In fact, I've been thinking seriously about staying here. Starting over fresh. I know you're tired of Mode, Betty. So am I, frankly. Wilhelmina wants it so bad, she can have it! I need a change. Sometimes you have to mix it up a little to kick yourself into gear."
"Daniel, you can't be serious! What would we do here?"
"That's just it; Betty. Anything we want! I don't have to be 'playboy Daniel Meade' with the damn press watching my every move and always being compared to my dad. I can see Alexis and DJ more often...we could go to Paris! You'll love it, Betty. It's really romantic. Then, maybe Italy."
"But, Daniel. This all sounds fantastic. But, Hilda's wedding is..."
"I know, I know, Betty. You have to go back for that, of course. But she's not getting married for another month and a half. That gives us at least a few weeks to stay in Europe. I haven't had a vacation in ages. And neither have you. We deserve a little break; don't you think? And maybe as soon as Hilda's wedding is over, we could consider coming back to London ... permanently."
Betty's eyes were wide open as Daniel spoke. She bit her lip, deep in thought. "I'd need to make sure my papi is okay with losing both daughters at once. I know Bobby's been taking Hilda and Justin to look for a house for them, so I'm sure it's only a matter of time before they move out, too."
Daniel grinned widely, "You mean...you'll think about it? Seriously? Betty, I'm really surprised! I thought you'd put up a fight! Tell me how impulsive and nuts I am for thinking about doing something like this. It's so unlike you."
Betty traced a circle on his chest with her finger, "Well, I just know...I love you, Daniel. And it's not every day I get an offer from my hot new boyfriend to come with him on a European tour. And you're right; I haven't had a vacation in a really long time! Since I took the summer off to travel around the country was the last time.
Now, moving to London permanently is a little trickier. I need to get a job here, which means visas and all that. And no, you can't just give me a job at one of Meade's publications here in the UK, Daniel."
"Hey, did I ask?"
"I know you. You are always trying to solve all my problems for me. I mean, it's sweet. I love you for it, but..."
He smirked, "Oh, so THAT'S the only reason you love me? Because you think I try to solve all your problems? Heck, you're really bringing down my mojo, Betty. Here I thought it was because I was such a great lover."
She shrugged, "Well, there is that, too, of course!"
"Good answer."
She laughed, but he could see she was thinking about something serious. "What's up? Look, I know this whole London thing is coming out of left field, Betty. Just...think about it, okay?"
"No, I will, Daniel. It's really not that. I was just sort of worried."
"About?"
"Well, us. I mean...once upon a time, Stuart and Christina were 'mad' for each other."
"Seems like they still are. Even with the whole misunderstanding thing, it was because she was jealous, right? Well, you don't get that jealous over someone you're not 'mad' for, you know?"
"I see. So...just how long have you been secretly in love with me, then?"
"Me? I don't really know how to answer that, Betty. I don't even know. A while, probably. Why do you say that?"
"Because. You act very jealous of all my boyfriends. You always have."
"I do not!"
"Yes you do. What was with you getting seats right next to Gio and I at Wicked? And threatening to fire Henry in the first place? And watching me kiss Zachary Boule at my apartment. Yes, I know you were there with Amanda, but why did you act all weird about it, huh? And then there's Matt and you punching him then yelling at everyone at the UN like that. I mean, don't get me wrong it's very flattering and sweet, but…"
He rolled his eyes. "Fine, you got me, Betty. You're right. I don't know. I just never thought any of those guys was nearly good enough for you. Not that I am, either. But, I love you. And you're silly enough to say you actually love me, so...I'm not questioning it. I'm just really lucky, I guess. I know one thing, though. You're going to miss me when you go back to New York if I stay here for a while."
Betty smirked slightly, "Is that so, Mr. smart guy?"
"Yes, that's so. What are you daring to question me? I think you deserve to be punished for doubting my all-knowing, all-wise authority!"
"Really? And what's the punishment? Twenty kisses? Tickles? What's it to be?"
"Hmmm...let me think about that for a second."
Hours later, after they had made love several times she looked up, with a towel around her, coming out of the shower stepping into the bedroom and seeing Daniel fuming, "When were you planning on telling me this, Betty?
"Telling you what? What are you talking about?"
"This! I really thought I knew you better. I thought things were going great with us, and then, just when I let myself start falling for you…I feel like you keep pulling the rug out from under me!"
"Daniel! I swear, I have no idea what you mean! What is it? What's wrong?" She was close to tears. He shoved a newspaper at her, and turned away.
She saw immediately what he was talking about. Right on the celebrity 'news' page of The Daily Mirror, she saw a grainy but distinct picture of Matt Hartley, at a Gala in his mother's honor in London.
She still didn't understand where his anger was coming from, though. She shrugged, "So…Matt's back from Africa, attending some charity ball here in honor of his mom. So, what? Daniel, I'm sorry, but I don't get the connection or what it is you're accusing me of, exactly. I haven't seen him since I got here. I didn't even know he was back, I swear!"
He looked hurt and hesitant, "You're sure…you had no idea? I'm sorry, Betty, but I couldn't help wondering if that's really why you were applying for a job here. This says he is considering taking over his mother's place on the Board of Directors for whatever it is, Alzheimer's or American Red Cross…I forget. But you're telling me you didn't know he might be staying here?"
"No, I didn't, Daniel. And I don't think I like the implication that I was trying to deliberately deceive you, either! YOU are the one who asked me to move here, if you recall!
I only applied for a job with Mr. Dunne that I could still do from New York. I never had any intention of moving to London until YOU brought it up! This jealousy has got to stop! You're…being totally ridiculous! I am the one who has a lot more cause to act jealous and you know it! I'm not the one who went bed-hopping all across New York, Paris and Milan, Daniel Meade!
So don't you dare try and make me out to be some sort of…I don't really know what to call it. International booty call for Matt or Gio? Neither one of which I had any idea were even here! You need to…grow up!"
She stormed back into the bathroom, grabbing her suitcase, and stubbing her toe on it. "OW!" she huffed and slammed the bathroom door.
Daniel sighed, knowing he was in store for the usual silent treatment from her for a while before she finally forgave him for being idiotic.
He leaned against the door, and tried to test the waters, "Betty…I'm sorry. You're right. I was being stupid and childish. I know I overreact and say things before I think. What can I say? You nailed it. I'm wrong. I know you couldn't have known Matt was here. I guess…I just was pissed to find out he would be here. The whole idea of us maybe moving here was to have some time to ourselves. Get away from Mode and New York and all the people sticking their noses into our business. I really wanted to have you all to myself."
She re-appeared a few minutes later, dressed and still livid and limping, "Are you sure you don't mean you wanted to hide out here so no one would know you were sleeping with "Ugly Betty?" Maybe you wanted to see if we were really going to work out before you let the world in on it? You were too embarrassed to be seen with me in the tabloids in New York? Are you sure that's not the real reason, Daniel?"
"What? Betty, honey, no; that is absolutely NOT the reason! Why would you even think that? I love you. Look, I'm so sorry I said what I said, but please don't say that about yourself or think that. It's not true, I promise you."
"Isn't it? Let's be honest, Daniel. We both know how I got my job in the first place. I'll always just be Ugly Betty; braces or not. No matter how I dress, or how much I try to conform, I'll never be a size zero and nine feet tall. I'll never fit the Mode mold and I'm okay with that. I always have been. But you need that. You grew up with it. It's what you're used to. I'm going out for a while. I need to cool off. I'll talk to you later."
"But, Betty…"
"Goodnight, Daniel."
She left, as he paced for a while. Finally, he got dressed and started making calls. First, to Hilda, then Christina, then Amanda. When he kept getting everyone's voice mail, he decided to see if Betty had gone to see her sister or friends.
Bobby answered the door to his and Hilda's room, smiling, "Hey, Daniel! How's it goin? Good to see ya, man. Where's chipmunk?"
"Chipmunk? Oh, right. Well, that's what I was hoping you could tell me. She and I had a fight and she stormed off about a half hour ago. She's doing that thing where she won't answer my calls now and I've tried to call everybody…I just want her to listen to me."
Bobby shook his head, and nodded for Daniel to join him out in the hallway, "Look, Hilda'd kill me for telling you this, but…I overheard her saying something to Betty about the Tower Bridge earlier. I didn't really catch all she said, but, that might be where she was headed."
"Okay, thanks, Bobby! I owe you!" Daniel rushed away.
Hilda came out of the bathroom wearing a very sexy outfit, "Hey, was somebody at the door just now?"
Bobby shook his head, "It was room service. They got the wrong room. Wow! You are one hot fiancé!"
As Daniel headed downstairs and out to hail a cab, he got a call, "Daniel Meade?"
"Yeah, who's this?"
"This is Victoria Hartley. I don't know if you remember me. Your parents used to…"
"Of course I remember you, Mrs. Hartley. If you recall, your ex-husband tried to take over my father's company not that long ago. I'm sure you were aware of it."
"I had nothing to do with that. For obvious reasons, your mother and I haven't exactly stayed on friendly terms since she had an affair with Cal while he and I and she and your father were both married, so I'm afraid she's lost my vote as the matron of the country club. Not to mention her constant drinking!"
"I'm sorry, but is there a reason for this call? Other than to trash my mother, that is? I don't know how you got this number, but I'm sort of in a hurry right now. What can I do for you, Mrs. Hartley?"
"You can make sure my son doesn't ruin his future by getting involved with that vile secretary of yours, that's what!"
"Secretary? I'm sorry; what did you say? Why would you think Betty and Matt were getting involved again?"
"I have my reasons. I saw that you were here for Fashion Week. Can you come meet me at the…"
"Wait, so you're here, too? But I just read that Matt was in London and he was taking your place on some Board of Directors or something."
"For the Aids Foundation? Yes, he is. But, that's just it. He told me he wanted to move here to get her away from you and Mode. That's the reason he asked to take over my position on the Board. He told me he had been inspired by her to continue his philanthropy, which is wonderful as far as that goes. I'm happy he's finally found what he enjoys doing, don't get me wrong.
It's just that I have no intention of letting him throw away his years of training and education on that annoying little…nobody! What he ever saw in her in the first place, I have no idea! She's hideous! And those outfits, please!"
"Okay, at first, you were just annoying the shit out of me, because I'm very busy. But now you're starting to really piss me off, lady! You start off insulting my mother, then you trash the woman I love. I'm sorry, but this call is over. Figure out your own problems with your son!
I will tell you this much; if I have anything to say about it, you have no need to worry about Matt getting his hands on Betty. And if you ever call Betty ugly or my mom some kind of a…drunken tramp again, you'll have me to answer to, do we understand each other? Goodbye!"