Betty's First Trip to Rome the Prequel - Chapter 5 – Checking the list
Daniel talked to Betty for a long time. In the end Wilhelmina did not come to Daniel's office and they were not interrupted by anyone else. Over the course of several hours Daniel found out all about what Betty was feeling. Betty first started to explain in simple terms but as she went on she began to reveal to him more and more of the details and then finally everything about her troubles including her most intimate of thoughts.
Betty was angry at Gio and she was sad for Henry. She was in a very unsettled state of mind. However Daniel could tell that she wasn't sad because Henry was gone. She was over Henry. She had given Henry his ring back and she did not regret it. But she had loved him and now she felt sad for him.
She regretted losing her friendship with Gio. She blamed him for that. He had angered her and acted possessively when she was in no frame of mind to tolerate that behavior. She was prickly and sensitive from her recent unsettling experience with Henry. She was definitely not going to become his girlfriend now and that was what he had demanded.
She wanted to get away from Mode because she didn't want to see Gio. His deli was located very close by and he could often be seen in the hallways and elevators making deliveries. He could be seen at any time. He was there at random times. There was no safe way to avoid him. It was intolerable to her that she would be forced to see him. Her only option was to escape the building altogether. She had to get a new job. She blamed Gio for that too. He was making her leave a job she loved. She planned to get a new job within a month so she would be gone before Gio returned from Rome.
Betty had an appointment with the orthodontist the next day to have her braces removed and Daniel encouraged her to take the day off. He did this readily. He knew he could manage by himself for a whole day easily enough. But for more than that, he did not want to even contemplate.
Daniel hated the thought of losing Betty. She was the only assistant he'd ever had that he could rely on completely. She was very special. Their relationship was much more than the usual boss and employee one. He trusted her and he loved her.
She had a sparkling personality that was nothing like he'd seen before. She took care of him. She was capable and tactful. She was imaginative, creative and saw things from her own unique perspective. She radiated an infectious child-like optimism. She would see the genuine when others merely saw the superficial. She had given him priceless assistance many times.
She had done wonderful things for his family. She had come into harm's way more than once because of him and his family with no regrets. She had helped his family tremendously. It was inconceivable that she would leave.
Daniel listened to her describe her budding relationship with Gio and how it had come to fall apart. He heard all the details of what she said, what he said, what she did, and what he did. He listened to everything very carefully.
Daniel liked Gio. He had liked him since the day he met him. The very first day, the day he had taken Betty to get the wheelchair; Gio had discovered her goals and encouraged her to write. Betty loved writing and Daniel was pleased that she was pursuing her dream.
Daniel had observed how much Gio cared for Betty, even when she was oblivious to him. Daniel remembered the time that Gio had pretended to be her boyfriend. He did this for her even though Daniel could tell it pained Gio to see Betty with Henry. Gio had taken her to see the doctor and had stayed with her there when she was poisoned from the toxic perfume. Gio did not ask for anything in return not even for the broken window in his shop. Gio had cheered her up when her birthday plans were ruined. Daniel knew all these things and they showed him how much Gio cared for her. Daniel knew Gio loved Betty even more than he did.
But Betty did not see it that way. On the occasional times when she thought about Gio she thought of him as pushy and annoying. But he was there to listen to her when she needed someone to listen. And he was there to help her when she needed help. And he was her friend. A friend. That's all she thought of him when she thought of him at all.
Betty was angry at Gio because he had spoiled their friendship by wanting more from her than she could give him. Betty was even angry at him because she was going to miss out on a trip to Rome. She had looked forward to it and to the promise of something more with Gio. But she had been nervous about the trip from the outset and her lack of courage had overruled her desire for travel. She just could not enter into a deep relationship with Gio now and she had become enraged when he would not postpone his trip to suit her needs.
Daniel sent Betty home when they finally finished talking. He sat in his office and thought. He thought long and hard. He wondered about what he could do. He was motivated by his own selfish desire to keep Betty, his perfect assistant, but he was also motivated by a desire to make her happy. And Betty was very unhappy. Very unhappy indeed. Daniel thought about Betty the whole rest of the day.
Daniel went down to the deli just before closing time. He let himself in and asked to wait until Gio was done for the day.
When Gio saw Daniel he couldn't help but think of Betty. When Daniel refused a sandwich and said he wanted to talk to him he became uneasy. He was already tired and distraught. Gio had no idea what Betty may have said to Daniel. He knew they were close friends so he suspected that Daniel knew all the essential points and probably many more details than that. Gio was embarrassed by his words and actions and he was sorry that Daniel would know all about it. He regretted everything he had done and said.
He wasn't sorry that Daniel would know all these things because he didn't like him. It was because he did like him. He knew Daniel was a rich womanizing bachelor with a plum job that he didn't earn. A dumbass. He was the kind of man that Gio would normally disdain.
But Daniel was the dumbass that Betty loved. The dumbass that loved Betty. Daniel respected Betty. Daniel treasured and protected Betty. He may not have been very good at it but he tried his best to be her mentor. That's what made the difference. Gio wished that Daniel would like and respect him but he suspected that was very much in doubt now. Of course Daniel would take Betty's side. He thought Daniel should take Betty's side. Taking Betty's side was the right thing for Daniel to do.
He was unhappy that he'd caused Betty any pain and he regretted his words of the previous day. He wanted to see Betty and apologize to her but she had ordered him to stay away. He would not disobey her wishes. If she wanted to talk to him she knew where to find him. He wondered if he should write her a letter.
Finally everything was done and Gio could no longer delay sitting down with Daniel. Gio was nervous and upset and he found the situation very stressful.
Daniel greeted Gio with a warmth and concern that surprised him. Daniel came straight out and asked Gio what had happened between him and Betty. Daniel showed tact when raising the issue and he listened to Gio very sympathetically.
Gio was relieved to have someone to talk to about it. He realized as soon as he started talking that he desperately needed someone to listen. He was very grateful to Daniel for coming to see him. And he was grateful to Daniel for coming when there were no customers or distractions so Gio could feel comfortable talking with him. Daniel asked Gio why he was going to Rome and many other questions. Daniel learned of the family celebrations that Gio would be attending in Italy. Gio answered everything that Daniel asked and they talked for a long time.
When Daniel was satisfied that he had learned the extent and depth of Gio's regard for Betty he said that he would try to convince Betty to go to Rome with him. This surprised Gio even more. He felt it was hopeless but he was impressed that Daniel cared enough about him to try and he was amazed that he thought that going to Rome with him was the right thing for Betty to do.
Daniel promised to figure out a plan to get them back together and get the trip back on track. Gio thought it would be almost impossible and he could tell that Daniel did not think it would be easy. Daniel asked Gio to keep his spirits up and said he'd be in touch as soon as he could. After Daniel left Gio locked the doors to the deli and got into his van. As he drove away he decided he would not to tell his mother about Betty canceling just yet.
Daniel went back up to his office and thought some more. After a while he picked up his phone and dialed the Suarez home number.