YOU DON'T KNOW ME/CH 5
"Betty? Are you still there?"
"I'm here."
He chuckled slightly, "Good! I was afraid you hung up on me. Sorry, am I...um...coming on too strong? I mean, you did sort of start this, though, when you asked ME the same thing before! Like I said, not that I mind. Do you WANT to see me naked? If I'm being honest, I did take off my towel. I'd be very happy to have you stop by if you need any help getting this way yourself. You should try it. It's very freeing."
She giggled, not sure how to react to him talking to her like this. Why in the world did she have to start acting so...goofy? Did she really think she could tease the man and that he would let her get away with it? He was Daniel Meade, for goodness sake!
She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. Okay, she thought, she was certainly safe enough. It's not like he was going to actually be able to do anything over the phone, right? They were only flirting. She spoke as softly and slowly as she could, trying to avoid squealing with nervousness, "Well, actually, I WAS going to take a bath before I went to sleep. It helps me relax."
He grinned, "Oh yeah? Too bad I'm not there in person. I could wash your back for you, maybe even give you a nice massage if you need to relax. I'm pretty good at those."
"I'm sure you are." She tried to think of something "sexy" to say to the man without sounding like an idiot! She wished this came more naturally to her. Finally, she added, "Maybe next time."
This time, he was earnest, and sounded pleased at her extended future invitation, "I'm so glad to hear there's going to BE a next time, Betty! I was really worried you were going to tell me to take Trista or something and you would insist on bringing the dufus accountant to your sister's wedding! I admit I was a little hurt when you told me you drunk dialed that idiot!"
"You're very cute when you're jealous. But I told you before you don't need to be. Henry is my past. You are…my present and…future I hope."
"That's really nice to hear you say, Betty. I want that for us, too."
"And trust me, there is no way I'd ever tell you to bring HER! Talk about idiots!"
He laughed, "I like you being so...feisty like this and ready to throw down and fight over me! VERY sexy!"
"Hey, I could definitely take HER! And honestly, just about any of the women you've been with! Especially the models. Maybe not Renee, though."
"God, I still can't believe you did that! You literally walked through fire for me, Betty! Nobody has ever done half the things you have for me before. And nobody knows me as well as you do. You really get me. You always have. I used to think I knew you pretty well, too. But I'm beginning to see I was wrong about a few things. I guess I don't know everything about you after all. Not as well as I thought I did."
"Is that so? What kind of things? Good or bad?"
"Definitely good! Different, that's all. Like how cute you are when you're turned on. Tell me the truth. You got all blushy when you said that about asking me if I was naked, didn't you?"
"Maybe. CUTE, huh?"
"Sorry! I meant...sexy, of course. This is new for me, too, Betty. I'm used to always having to keep things professional with you. I don't think I've ever had a female friend before!"
"Yeah, what a shocker that you've never been able to keep things platonic with a woman before! We've always been friends, rather than acting very "professional" around each other! But you're still my boss, Daniel. Even if I'm not your assistant anymore."
"I know. Don't remind me!"
"What do you mean? You don't want to be my boss?"
"There are definite advantages for me NOT being your boss anymore. The fact that we can finally think about flirting like this, about having a real relationship with each other without it being "inappropriate". I guess...I'm wondering how long that's going to last with me being your boss, anyway.
You should know I got a call while you were gone, Betty. From Lindsey Dunne, the owner, and CEO of Dunne Publications. Our biggest competitor in the UK. You care to tell me anything about your interview with him while you were on company time for Mode? AFTER you drunk dialed Henry, of course!"
She put her hand over her eyes, sitting up in her bed for a moment, "You knew?"
"Yeah, I knew. Who did you think they would call for a reference, Betty? Wilhelmina? The restaurant where you worked as the Chip Chick? This is your only job!"
"Right, of course. I should have figured they would call you, you're right. Daniel, I'm so sorry you found out this way. I wanted to tell you. I didn't TAKE the job, though! And it would have just been something I could have done here in New York as a side thing, sending in my stories to Dunne. It's not like I would have been quitting my job at Mode."
"Yet, don't you mean? Didn't you say your old pal Gio who happens to be engaged and "annoyed" you so much after you flashed him then took off with him to go sightseeing advised you to get out of fashion entirely, that you were wasting your time at Mode when you should be out pursuing your real passion?"
"Daniel…"
"What? Am I missing something? It seems like you really went wild in London without me! Flashing one ex and drunk-dialing another. Getting wasted and Interviewing for jobs there in your spare time."
"Daniel, that's not really what happened...well, it is, but, I don't know what to say. I'm not really happy at Mode. I do love parts of my job, naturally. That's not right to say I'm unhappy. I am happy here. I'm content. I enjoy knowing how to find everything and all the familiarity that comes from staying in the same job for four years. But if I'm honest, I think I am ready to move on. To take on a new challenge, yes.
I wasn't trying to "sneak around" to interview with Lindsey Dunne, though, Daniel. And I am sorry about flashing Gio and calling Henry! It all happened accidentally! I didn't go looking for any of it! I promise you I will never drink Guinness again, either! It's vile stuff and I don't even like it that much!"
He smiled, "Okay, calm down. I'm sorry, too, Betty. I didn't mean to yell at you or accuse you of anything. Trust me, I know you're no Mata Hari and it's not in your nature to sneak around OR come onto guys when you're drinking. I guess I'm just feeling a little insecure, thinking you had such a wild and crazy time in London without me! Maybe it's one reason I wanted to prove to you tonight that we could have a fun time together, too!
Plus, you have people chasing you down to hire you! Do you have any idea how interested I could tell Dunne was in poaching you from me? I was tempted to lie and give you a bad reference to try and scare him away! But I couldn't do that to you, of course. I didn't go quite as crazy as I did for your YETI recommendation, but all I did was tell the truth. You're a fantastic employee! You always give a thousand percent. You could easily do my job far better than me and you don't even like fashion!"
"I don't dislike fashion."
"Liar! Come on, you know you can't lie to me, Betty! Not even over the phone."
"Okay, fine! You're right. I admit it, I do hate fashion! I want to write about something that matters, something that is really important. And fashion… just...isn't! Not to me, anyway.
He sighed, "I told you so. Look, Betty, it's okay to want something else, something bigger than this job. To tell the truth, I've been wondering myself why I'm still even at Mode! I should have the guts to be running all of Meade Publications now. I should have left Mode years ago myself. Who am I trying to please? My dad, still? He's gone!"
"Do you want to run your father's company?"
"Not really. That's the problem. I haven't stepped up to the plate because I'm scared. That was always Alexis's dream, not mine. I only fought her for it in the first place because we're both so competitive. It's why I let her win the stupid laser tag game. I never wanted it that much. It's what our dad groomed her for her whole life. But me...I was just the spare heir.
No, running all of Meade sounds more like a prison sentence to me! I want to start over completely and do something on my own. I'd like to work somewhere where my last name isn't on the building. Or maybe it's a much smaller building but it has my whole name on it because I did it myself!"
She smiled, excited at his revelation, "So you really want to start over, Daniel? Do you know what field you're interested in?"
"Yeah, I do. Advertising. I'm pretty damn good at getting new clients. Even when I don't "sell myself" like some smarty-pants girl taught me I didn't need to do!"
"That's wonderful, Daniel! A little scary, though. Are you actually going to quit Mode? I'd really like to see the look on Wilhelmina's face when you tell her you're stepping down!"
He chuckled, "Yeah, me, too! I think I'm going to make a big announcement. That way all the press cameras will catch her wrinkles when she actually shows some emotion!"
They both laughed, "But do you know where you might want to go to start over?"
"I really miss DJ. I'd love to spend some time with him in Europe maybe. But I don't know, my French really does suck! It's pretty bad on my ego to need my twelve-year-old nephew as my interpreter!"
"You know, London is closer to France than New York. And they speak English."
"Yes, Betty. I'm aware of that basic bit of geography. I only dated Trista a few times. She didn't completely suck my brain out!"
"Right! Sorry! It's just...I really liked London myself. I thought maybe…"
"We could go there...together? As a team?"
"Well, I'm not sure. I would like to maybe talk to Mr. Dunne again about working in another magazine for him. IF you weren't still at Meade Publications, their biggest competitor in the Uk, that is! IF you were say, starting your own advertising business there, where they speak English and you could easily just hop on a quick flight or train to see DJ or have him come visit you."
"In London, huh? I could...do that. I'll be honest, I did feel left out staying here. We could go there together, this time. That way, at least if you're going to flash anybody, it would be me!"
"But, Daniel...I don't know. We're both going to go there, without jobs? I mean, you can afford to leave Mode and start a new business. But what would I do if I quit my job, too? I mean, yes, fashion may not be my ultimate dream right now, but at least it's a job!"
"Come with me, Betty."
"As your...girlfriend, you mean?"
"Yeah, why not? You can apply at Dunne, see what jobs they have NOT in fashion there, and I can start over completely. But with you there to kick my ass a little, make sure I don't get scared. I need you, Betty. You are my inspiration. You do know how much you mean to me, right?"
"That's very sweet, but what if I don't get hired at Dunne? No offense, but I don't want to be your girlfriend AND end up as your assistant again!"
"None taken. I get that! I mean, let's face it, sweetie. You're bossy and interfering, so to some degree, you're always going to be in my business, and a little like you were as my assistant in that way. Only you get the added benefit of my excellent massage skills and my experienced love-making, my hot, steamy kisses and we get to see each other naked all the time, we get to be each other's dance partner any time, day or night, and you'll always have my...adoration and lov...um…I'm always going to need you! I can't live without you, Betty! Come with me if you REALLY want to live!"
She giggled at his silly attempt at imitating "Ahnold", "That's really sweet! I don't know, Daniel…"
"Look, I'll quit, but you don't have to…yet! You can take vacation time for now. Then see if you find a job there that's worth quitting for. I could also see us starting our own magazine, you know. I could get us advertisers and you could run the whole damn magazine. Screw working for anybody else! We do make a great team!"
"YES! I'd love to!" she squealed, excitedly, "You're right, I AM ready for a challenge. I can do what you suggested, and not quit my job yet, just take a vacation for now. That gives me time to apply at Dunne and gives us time to um…get to know each other better. But us working together does sound really exciting, Daniel! If you're sure?"
"Oh, I'm sure! So you'll come with me? We have a little place there. My dad left it to me in his will. It's small and needs some updating because nobody's used it for a long time. So we'd need to stay in a hotel for the first few weeks while it's getting cleaned up for us. US…that sounds…amazing, Betty! Are YOU sure about this? I mean, us living together?"
"I am. Why do you seem so surprised?"
"Maybe because we've only just had our first kisses after four years! And because we still haven't slept together in all that time."
"Oh, that."
"Yes, that! Look, I'm coming over there, now, Betty! We need to…to… um…well, we need to talk about this in person!"
"Talk? That's what I thought we were doing!" she wasn't letting him get off that easily.
"Well, yeah, but…come on, admit it, this is nuts! You're telling me you're going along with moving in with me to a foreign country, but…"
"Yes, but not until AFTER Hilda's wedding of course, and we can't say anything to anybody about it until AFTER her wedding! Because trust me, you do NOT want to hear her if I "upstage" her in any way before her wedding!"
He laughed in spite of being worked up about her exasperating way of seeming so "practical" about them living together before the little prelude of never having actually slept together!
"Got it. Sure, fine. No problem-o! But I have to insist that we…"
"Sleep together first to make sure we're compatible before we move in together in a foreign country?"
"Well, yeah!"
"Naturally! That makes perfect sense. Sort of like a test drive. Sorry! That sounded a lot less dirty in my head!"
He rolled his eyes, but chuckled slightly at how silly she was being about this, "Well, yeah, Betty! Geez! So you're absolutely sure you are okay with me coming over there now? It is Saturday morning technically, but…"
"That depends."
"On what?"
"Are you getting dressed first? Because I wouldn't advise walking around New York City naked!"