If You Think I Need You/Ch 3
"Sorry, but we're here, sir." Daniel's driver cleared his throat discreetly from the front of the town car.
"Thanks, Dave!" He turned and looked at her somewhat guiltily, "I don't suppose you have any intention of inviting me upstairs to 'brainstorm' together about how I can keep DJ? I do still need your help, Betty. But...I guess you probably don't trust me to… keep things professional right now. Not that I blame you. If I were you, I wouldn't trust me, either."
"I don't know, Daniel. I mean you're…"
"Whatever you're about to say, please leave out the whole 'manwhore' thing! I can handle 'millionaire playboy' or 'himbo' or whatever, but I'm not still THAT bad anymore, am I? At least, not since I..." he seemed at a loss for words as to how to finish his thought. He couldn't bring himself to say 'became a father' since that wasn't exactly true after all it seemed.
For her part, Betty was still completely blown away by the kiss and not exactly firing on all cylinders again yet. She would normally have answered a question about Daniel's character with regard to how he treated women with gentle chiding, trying to persuade him to try harder not to hit on every girl he met.
In the end, she bit her lower lip, and managed to give him the encouragement she knew he desperately needed in order to deal with his overwhelming problem, "Of course not. But maybe it's best that you go home now and check on DJ. I'll call your lawyers for you, so he doesn't accidentally overhear about this until you decide how to tell him the bad news. But don't worry; we WILL figure something out!"
She surprised both Daniel and herself by hugging him warmly and kissing him briefly on the cheek before she turned back to leave. Of course, being Betty, she then had trouble opening the door, so he had to reach across her to unlock it for her.
To his credit, he simply did so, without taking undue advantage of their proximity, although they could both feel the electrical crackle of energy between them as he seemed to take his time scooting back away. He held her gaze and smiled, holding up his index finger, "That's one. Just like I promised. Goodnight, Betty."
"Goodnight, Daniel. I'll see you tomorrow.
He had never been prouder of himself for the self-control it took for his actions (or more accurately, INACTIONS). His basic instincts were screaming at him to pursue that kiss and continue hitting on her. But first of all, he hated disappointing Betty and second, well, he wasn't going to just pounce on her like he did most women. Betty was so much better than most women. She was sweet, and kind, and actually believed in him. He was also well aware of the fact that he was after all, still her boss.
Although, technically, Wilhelmina still was if she had given her two week's notice. But that was probably being ridiculous. Or overly optimistic that she would see it that way, he supposed. Still, it was worth trying. He felt as if he would burst if he didn't at least mention that possible way of dealing with this situation.
As she was just climbing into bed, Betty heard her phone buzzing.
"You know, I was just thinking...you didn't really give your boss at Player a full two-week's notice before you went to work for Mode, since you both...said some things you regret. I need to take over the reins as Editor-in-chief right away, but before you step in as my assistant there again, you could...just take those few weeks as paid leave. I need you more as my friend, outside of work right now. Plus, IF I'm not your boss…"
She smiled, when she saw exactly where he was going with this and she whispered, "I think that's a great idea, Daniel. Maybe Amanda or Mark could help you at Mode at first. Or you could get a temp. You did fine at Player without me while I was on vacation this summer.
You CAN survive without me. But this is a really big transition with learning to become a father. And you've got your hands full, trying to figure everything out. So, I think just being your friend is the best way I can help you now."
He had no intention of giving up that easily. After all, he was proud of himself for thinking of a "loophole" to the whole boss/employee thing. So he sure as hell wasn't going to drop it without a lot of effort first, "Well, first of all, you're totally wrong about me being able to survive without you!
I was going crazy while you were gone! You know I was hurt and pretty pissed when you left me to go work for HER at first. Until I stopped being so selfish and realized you were just being honest and doing what you thought you had to for your career.
Ask DJ how much I whined about you not being here. But if you think I need you only as my assistant or even just as a friend, you're wrong, Betty. I already want more. As usual, you were right. I really want to kiss you again and again. Just one kiss wasn't nearly enough!"
Her eyes widened at hearing him saying those words out loud to her. "I know what you're saying. That...right now you aren't my boss. We both know that's just a technicality, of course. But it's one I'm happy to use..if you're sure it's what you want. Are you really sure?"
He sat up excitedly, bumping his head, "OW! Hell yeah, I'm sure! You always fight for me, you believe in me, more than anyone I've ever known. I've had things just handed to me when it came to money. I never had to work to get this job, like you did. But ever since I realized I did have to fight to keep it you've always had my back, Betty.
You know me better than I know myself sometimes and you're always trying to protect me, even if it's from my own short-sightedness, or laziness like me not being willing to admit I missed working at Mode. I see how much you are willing to help me, and more importantly to call me out on my shit when I'm wrong. I need that! I need you."
"And besides, you're a great kisser!" he teased.
This was his son's future. She had to try and take her mind out of the gutter where it seemed to be heading and figure out a way to actually help Daniel to keep DJ. She pushed aside her first impulse to tell him to turn around and come back over to her apartment immediately and asked, "You said that DJ told you he prefers to stay with you and just visit his grandparents in Paris, right?"
"Yeah. That's what he told me when I asked if he missed his grandparents and wanted to go back to Paris. He said he wanted to live with me...with his father, and just visit them sometime. He did say he loved them and missed them, so I really don't think they mistreated him. But clearly, he wants to stay with me more. Why? Where are you going with this, Betty?"
"Well, I was wondering if you need to talk to someone with more experience with international laws. No offense to...um Holly, but…"
"She's young? Yeah, so are you, Betty. And you're still very smart. Are you implying she's not, just because she isn't older?" he chuckled.
"I am NOT only talking about this because…"
"You're jealous?" he grinned, then continued, "Okay, I'll give you the fact that I need to get a second, third, fourth, fifth, whatever opinion on what my legal options are to keep permanent custody of DJ. Biology or not, as far as I'm concerned, he's my son. I love him and he loved me, so...like you said, we'll figure it out somehow."
She sighed, thinking she had never been more attracted to the man. And that was saying something. Daniel had always seemed like the ideal, albeit totally unattainable man to her ever since she first laid eyes on him.
A thought suddenly occurred to her, "You know, Daniel, just before your father passed away in the hospital, he told me he wanted me to help you. He said he had seen me that first day I walked into the building and could tell I would be able to keep you on your path."
"Really? He said that? You never told me that."
"I did a little research of my own on French custody law. Granted, I'm no lawyer, but I'm wondering if you need to let DJ's grandparents know that just because you aren't his biological father, you are willing to fight for him.
You are still his uncle, and Alexis is willing to sign over custody, plus you have the letter from Lucy, saying that you WERE really his father, so clearly, she thought you were! I bet she named you on DJ's birth certificate as his father! If so, that would definitely give you the edge. Then, there's the fact that he's thirteen, plenty old enough to know what he wants.
And he CHOSE to leave France, leave them and come look for you. He found you, and now he chooses to STAY with you! It should be his decision who he wants to live with, shouldn't it? Why would any judge in his right mind take a child who just lost his mother away from the only man he knows as his father?"
He smiled, "I really would be lost without you, Betty. My old man was right to pick you to help me. You were right when you told me I should have fought for Mode in the first place instead of giving up. And I'm sure as hell not going to give up on my son! Or..us."
"Us?"
"Yeah. Us. Listen, you're right. Right now, I need to talk to DJ first and make sure he still feels the same about staying with me, even if I'm not his biological father. And if, as I'm hoping, he does, I want him to know I WILL fight for him! If I have to hire a helicopter and go on the run, I'll do whatever it takes to keep him. But I also want you to know I'm not likely to forget about that kiss, Betty!"
Now she really wished she had let him come upstairs instead of just dropping her off! She tried to calm her rapidly beating heart before she spoke, "Me, either, Daniel. But...you have to take care of your son first. I'll call you back after I speak to your lawyers, okay?"
"Okay. Thank you. Hey, Betty?"
"Uh huh?'
"I should never have promised to keep it to one kiss. I only stopped because I made you that stupid promise. And I respect you too much. I didn't want you to give me that damn 'judgy butterfly' look that you know I hate! I always want to make you proud of me. But...I really wanted to keep kissing you and...well...come upstairs if you wanted me to."
Her mouth went dry and she blinked, licking her lips as she imagined his hands on her body, his lips on hers and she whispered, "Uh huh…"
He smiled, "Are you imagining me kissing you and touching you right now?"
"Uh huh."
"You're such a bad girl! I love it!" he sighed in frustration, and shook off his growing arousal. "I'm going to go take a very cold shower myself. Next time I see you, all bets are off, young lady! And by the way, I'm not 'officially' hiring you back as my assistant yet, so...you know, I won't actually be your boss."
"That sounds...like a good idea. Good luck with DJ. Let me know how it goes."
"Thanks. Are you sure you don't want to come over and give him the news for me? You could go ahead and give him that cute little birds and bees and voila speech you did so well for me!" he teased, sounding more than a little apprehensive about having to share the news with DJ about his biological parentage.
"Daniel. It's okay. You can do this! He loves you, just like you said. And you love him. That's really all that matters here. I'm very proud of you, by the way."
He blew out a breath. "You have no idea how much it means to me to hear you say that, Betty. Thank you. For...everything. Bye. I'll talk to you later."
She hated to hang up, she loved just listening to the sound of his voice. His very sexy voice. They both had a lot of work to do first. She couldn't help wondering how their next meeting would go, however.
Perhaps it was a good thing that he had a child now. DJ would certainly make an appropriate chaperone. Not that she had ever needed one in the past two years. Her less than stylish wardrobe, her braces, her glasses had always been enough to keep even Daniel's rampant libido from making her feel at all on his radar.
They had worked many late nights together and spent so much time together, getting to know one another as colleagues, as friends, it never occurred to her that he would simply enjoy her company so much that all those superficial things wouldn't matter anymore, wouldn't keep him from...well, wanting her for herself, just as she was, in spite of how she looked on the outside that might otherwise discourage him or any man (just like his father planned when he hired her to keep Daniel's mind on his job).
But he did. Betty found she couldn't keep her smile from spreading. Bradford was a shrewd businessman. He knew how to develop a world-wide publishing empire. He had died thinking he had failed both his sons, however. Alex, because he had initially treated him cruelly when he found out about his desire to become a woman. And poor Daniel seldom ever heard his father tell him he loved him or was proud of him.
He chose Betty to be Daniel's assistant to make certain he kept it in his pants and would never be tempted to want to sleep with her. However, just before he died, when he had told Betty he saw more in her, he saw someone who could also help keep Daniel on his path had been more than a deathbed promise. Surely, when he haunted her afterwards for walking away the man would also expect her to continue helping Daniel now, to make sure he was able to keep DJ.
And more than that, he might have been surprised to learn that he had misjudged his son. Apparently, Betty wasn't the "last woman on earth Daniel would ever want to sleep with" after all. Seeing Daniel so passionate about keeping his son, fighting to keep his job, and working hard at both had given her the opportunity to see him as more than just the roguish lothario, the lazy manwhore, those descriptions no longer worked for the man she had come to know.
She saw his potential, his kind heart, how he loved his mother, in spite of her weaknesses, how he loved his sister, in spite of...well everything Alexis had put him through. The way he helped her family get a Christmas tree, but more importantly, stayed to help them decorate it, and encouraged Justin when his own father failed to.
Betty loved so much about the things Daniel did when nobody saw. Yes, he was gorgeous and rich. But those weren't the things that she saw as much. Neither of them made him a good man. In fact, she knew those very things had kept him acting childish far beyond his years. Everyone gave him a hard time for being dumb, and granted, he could be a tad naive at times.
But he had such a huge, loving, forgiving heart. He had encouraged Alexis when she regained consciousness after their accident and continued to support her even when it cost him dearly.
He had sent her whole family to Mexico, had paid for her trip to Italy with Gio just so she wouldn't marry Henry. He tried to be a good father to DJ, even though Lucy never told him she was pregnant years ago. Bottom line, Daniel stepped up when he was needed. Right now, he saw that DJ needed him. So of course, he would once again rise to the challenge and prove he was a good man, a good father.
She called Daniel's lawyers and was told that French custodial laws did in fact give preference to the father over grandparents after the mother had died, naturally. However, given DJ's highly unusual parentage, IF he simply had Lucy's letter to establish paternity he would have been fine. Unfortunately, since he had gotten that damn DNA test and Lucy's parents found out that he was in fact, biologically DJ's uncle and Alexis was "the biological father" made things...well, a legal mess!
Still, Daniel had the fact that DJ had sought him out and preferred to remain with him on his side. And clearly from her letter, Lucy had believed Daniel to be the father of her child and wanted them to be together. It didn't hurt that Daniel was rich, so he could obviously provide well for the boy. And that they both loved and cared for each other.
"Hey."
"Hey. So? What did you find out?"
"You first. What did DJ say when you told him? How did it go?"
He sighed, "Actually, at first, he laughed."
"That's good. He's...okay, then?"
"He took it really well. He shrugged and said, maybe it was a blessing in the skies."
"A what?"
He laughed, "He's new to figures of speech, give the kid a break."
"Of course! I get it. What is the blessing exactly?"
"Well, he lost his mom. But...he has an aunt that's sort of more like a mom now. Plus, he still has me."
She could tell Daniel was tearing up.
"You know I would be giving you a hug now if I could. I'm really glad he took it so well, Daniel."
"He did. Your turn. What did my lawyers say?"
"Bottom line, they said you are going to win custody. IF you even need to fight for it. They suggested you take DJ to France with you first, though and try to convince his grandparents that you consider him your son and you will be a good father. Show them that you are willing to fight for him if you have to, but you will win in the end.
So, you'd prefer not to put DJ through a custody battle. If you show you are more than willing to share DJ with them, to bring him back to France and pay for them to come here if needed, but you have Lucy's letter, and Alexis's support. So no court in France would deny you custody if it came down to it.
Alexis and your mom might want to come with you and DJ, too, just to prove that DJ has his father's family here, supporting him. He truly found his father when he tracked you down, Daniel. He's loved, he's wanted, he's needed here." This time, it was Betty who wiped away a tear as she spoke with passion, trying to reassure Daniel he would not lose his son.
"Okay. That's great news! Do you want to come with us? I need you, too, Betty."
