Life In London – Chapter 8

Daniel was the first to break the hug as he looked around at the faces glancing in their direction from beyond the partition separating the entryway and the work floor.

"I'm so glad you're here!" Betty smiled hugely and clapped in excitement. Finally, Daniel thought, this was the Betty he recognized best. For the first time since he arrived, he truly believed that Betty really meant it when she said it. Up until this point, he had not allowed himself to believe that they could really move past how he had reacted to her leaving. He let out a huge breath and smiled back at her.

"Glad to be here. I finally get to see where all the magic happens."

"Oh, I don't know about magic, but I really do love working here." She stood smiling at him for a moment longer than she probably should have and felt her cheeks grow warm again. Turning away quickly towards the receptionist's desk, she motioned for him to follow her. "This is our receptionist, Sean. Sean, I'd like you to meet Daniel. Daniel is my…. uh… Daniel is my very good friend from the United States."

Daniel cleared his throat and shook off the introduction, stepped forward, and leaned a cup of coffee forward in acknowledgement. "Hello Sean. Nice to meet you."

"Hi Daniel." Sean said, his eyes widening slightly. Daniel couldn't tell what the expression meant and chose to look at Betty instead. "So, this is Daniel?" Sean asked Betty quietly, but Daniel could still hear it and looked back to him for just a moment then quickly looked back to Betty as she answered with a giggle and her cheeks going completely red.

"Yes, Sean, this is Daniel." She began looking back and forth between the two men. Daniel stood there grinning at her, looking completely amused, and there was something else there that she still couldn't quite figure out the meaning for. "Well, now that introductions are done… Daniel, why don't I give you the tour?"

"Sounds great." Daniel agreed. He still held the coffee in his hands and raising one cup up he moved his hands around while he gestured "Lead the way. Oh! Here, I got you some coffee." He handed it to her.

"Oh, thank you, Daniel. That is so sweet!" she took the cup appreciatively and took a sip. "Mm, you went back to Lawsons?"

"Yes. Also, Abbi, right?" Betty nodded. "Abbi told me this is what you always order to go with your coffee when you stop by in the evenings. She said to tell you 'I figured you would be busy tonight, so I sent your order ahead with Daniel.' So here you go." He handed the bag over to her smiling widely, proud of himself.

"Awe! I'll have to tell her thank you in the morning." Betty opened the bag just to check the contents, but she couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed because she had explained to Abbi that morning that she would be showing Daniel her office that day.

Abbi certainly did have a way of expressing her advice for the young woman. Truly though it made her happy to know that she had made a real friend in the London. She talked to Hilda and everyone else regularly, but it was nice to have a friendly face that you see every day. She had made some good allies in the office though, Sean being one of them. They often talked on her way in and out of the office and found themselves taking quick snack or water breaks in the lounge. Betty hadn't been lying to Daniel when she said she was looking for an assistant. The temps had not been working out, and Betty honestly liked getting her own coffee sometimes. It also gave her a chance to step out of her office and see what was happening on the floor as she passed by the rooms and desks on her way back and forth.

They walked down the short hallway that led onto the main floor, and Daniel had to admit he was impressed as they stepped around the corner to see what was behind the partition. It looked a lot like an old-fashioned newspaper office, but with a modern twist. The desks were organized, but the floor plan was entirely open except for the offices lining the walls, but there was a large wall of windows that let light into the spacious main room. Any wall space seen was exposed brick with dark wood wainscotting making the room feel warm and inviting. Upon seeing the way that the beautiful rooms reflected the style of the building it resided in, the touch of modern sensibilities transformed the place into something truly breathtaking to behold, if one can appreciate the beauty of a place designed to bring the written word to reader's hands. He simply said "Wow."

"I know, right?" Betty looked at him, pleased to see his reaction.

"It's amazing. I kind of wish Mode had been like this." He took a sip of his coffee and looked around at everyone working. There were groups sitting together, some people were at their desks, but overall, it felt like the kind of creative space that encouraged the sharing of ideas and cooperation. It was something to aspire to. "And you get to work here every day." He said softly.

"Well, yeah, but mainly I work out of my office. That's last on the tour." Betty quickly walked him through the whole of the floor. She showed him the employee lounge and stopped at a couple of people's offices. Most of them seemed largely uninterested, but Betty was enjoying showing him everything she could. His pride grew more and more as she excitedly explained everything to him. He mostly nodded along. Really, she could have been saying everything in Spanish to him for all that he truly heard. He couldn't help but to mainly watch her in all her excitement and admire how far she had come. Before long, their tour was coming to a close as they approached the furthest corner office, and as Betty opened the door they entered a small area where the office was clearly meant to have a receptionist's area with a small waiting room. He took a moment to realize that Betty had not joked when she said she needed an assistant.

"You weren't kidding?" he stated.

"Kidding about what?" she asked him, brows furrowed in confusion.

"You really don't have an assistant?" he asked her, surprised.

"Oh! No, my last temp had to quit because she was moving to Cornwall with her fiancé. I haven't found a replacement yet, and I got tired of finding temps, so I've just been waiting for some permanent applicants." She waved her hand dismissively.

"Huh. Well doesn't that keep you from getting a lot of work done?" he asked out of genuine concern. "I mean, you're running this magazine, so I know you've got a lot on your plate. Trust me. You need an assistant."

"Oh I know, but I just seem to waste even more time trying to train the temps, so this way is easier for now." She shrugged her shoulders.

"I don't see know how you do it."

"It's really not that much more work. I find a way."

"You're amazing, Betty." he looked at her, full of admiration.

"Awe, thank you Daniel." Betty smiled, pleased, and trying not to blush again though it was considerably hard after a compliment like that. "Now, do you want to see my real office?" she opened the clouded glass door that revealed one of the nicest offices Daniel had ever seen. It reminded him of his days at Harvard.

The room was lined in beautiful woodwork. It had a large fireplace on the left wall in front of which sat two large wingback armchairs, a table between, and a floor lamp leaning over them. A large window was on each side of the corner, one of which provided an inset seating area complete with cushions and pillows. The other had a short wall table sitting beneath it upon which Betty had a few plants soaking in the light. The large oak desk was directly across the room from the fireplace, with an antique lamp and a comfortably worn leather office chair. A set of baroque style armchairs faced it and her name plaque proudly displayed in the center. The room, desk included, was impeccably organized as would be expected of Betty. Yet the room had been distinctly redressed with her sense of taste, but in a refined way.

There was a colorful throw blanket tossed over one of the chairs by the fireplace, and decorations were placed in prominent places including pictures of Betty's family and friends. It perfectly combined the old with Betty's influence, and Daniel couldn't help but to feel instantly relaxed seeing the place in which Betty now worked and spent most of her time. He almost laughed aloud when he saw that Betty had brought her framed poncho and hung it directly above her desk. He knew the significance of it, and it made him extremely happy to see that it made the trip to London in one piece.

"Betty, this is amazing." Daniel spoke softly.

"You think so?"

"I would have killed for an office like this!"

"Really? I always saw you as more of a fan of the latest and greatest."

"Well, don't get me wrong, fashionable has its place, but classic elegance has its merits too. I don't know, this just seems to fit you."

"I think so, too."

They stood smiling at each other for a moment again until Daniel looked down at the coffee in his hand and took a sip, realizing he would stare at her if he didn't force himself to look away.

"So, you've seen the whole floor, and you've seen my office. What would you like to do now?" Betty asked as she went around her desk to sit in her chair. Daniel followed and sat down in one of the chairs in front of it.

"Well, honestly I hadn't thought much further than this. I wasn't sure what you had on your schedule today…" he trailed off, looking up at her framed poncho again.

"Actually, I don't have much right now. We sent the issue off for print last week, so this week has been about planning for the next one. The Editorial meeting is Wednesday so I figured I could prep for that tomorrow."

"Oh. Everything here seems so much more casual than Mode was. It felt like every day was make or break." Daniel mused.

"Oh no, trust me, there are days." Betty chuckled. "You just caught me on a good day."

"It has been a good day, hasn't it?" He stopped. He hadn't meant to say that out loud.

"It has!" She agreed excitedly, and Daniel exhaled in relief.

They both took a few moments, letting the last comment hang in the air. Neither had come up with a plan for the day other than seeing the office, and now found themselves at a loss as to what to say or do. They both looked around the room and smiled at each other as they sipped their coffees. It wasn't an uncomfortable silence nor was it awkward, necessarily. Yet, neither could come up with anything to say to the other. Daniel looked behind him towards the fireplace.

"That must be nice." He nodded at the area.

"The fireplace?" she perked up at having something to talk about.

"Yeah, that and those armchairs look incredibly comfortable. I can see you curling up there with your work, but a book would be even more enjoyable." He smiled at the thought.

"Honestly, I haven't used it much. I haven't stopped long enough to enjoy it."

"That's a shame."

"I'm hoping I'll get more use out of it next winter when I have a better routine."

"Or an assistant to light it for you?" he asked, joking, but also serious.

She laughed a little but looked down shyly. "I do know how to light a fire." She stated.

"I'm sure you do…" he smiled to himself, unable to stop the flirtatious thoughts that began to populate his mind. He busied himself with his coffee again to avoid looking at her.

"Well…" Betty began, gaining his attention once more. "If you're willing to stick around until lunch, I'd love for you to join me." She suggested.

"Of course! Please, don't let me distract you. I'm sure I can find something to amuse myself for a while."

"Are you sure?"

"Absolutely!"

"Well, alright then!" she clapped as she tends to do and smiled reaching for her bag of baked goods. "Besides, nothing can distract me from Jacob's scones."

"Jacob?" Daniel asked.

"Abbi's husband. He does all the baking for their shop. He's amazing!"

"I don't think I met him."

"He's very quiet and gentle. It's funny because I like to sit and talk with Abbi, and he'll just be in the back baking, but then whenever I say anything to him I can tell he heard every word I said."

"Huh." Daniel smirked at the thought. "He sounds nice."

"He is. They're such a sweet couple. They're the only real friends I've made here." She smiled as she took a bite of her lemon and blueberry scone, moaning at how delicious it was.

"What do you mean?" Daniel asked, concern filling his voice. "I would have thought you'd have made tons of friends by now."

"I have… kind of. It's just that they're not really the kind of friends I feel close to yet. You know? It's all still in the early stages, so they're more like close acquaintances." She shrugged her shoulders looking at him.

"I see." He looked down. "Well, then it's a good thing I'm here now."

Betty didn't know how else to respond to that except to smile and pass him a scone. They spent the rest of the morning in much the same manner. Betty worked, and Daniel found things to occupy himself with, but as he saw her pile of work grow when calls came in and some of her editors stopped by multiple times to get her opinion on a few things, he found himself internally becoming concerned for her. Her office was like a revolving door as people came in and out.

He knew she could handle anything, but honestly, the Editor-In-Chief of a magazine needs an assistant, and he could not for the life of him understand why she chose to take on all this work on her own. Even just having someone to field calls would have been a huge help for her, that much was evident.

He thought back to that moment when he had found her in Trafalgar Square and she had mentioned that she was looking for an assistant, and he joked that he might submit his resume. He really had been joking at that moment, but suddenly a thought came to him.

What if?