She's sitting at her desk when her phone rings.
"Wilhelmina Slater," she answers.
"Miss Slater there is a Claire Meade on the line for you."
"Tell her I'm out to lunch."
"She said that it's urgent, that she'll keep calling you until you talk to her."
"Fine, put her through," Wilhelmina groans.
The receptionist puts the call through.
"Hello Claire."
"Wilhelmina I know that I'm the last person you want to hear from but..."
Wilhelmina cuts her off, "Not the last person."
"I'll just cut to the chase."
"Please."
"I need you to come back."
Wilhelmina nearly chokes to death on her own saliva, "I'm sorry, I don't think I heard you right."
"I need you to come back to Mode. I'm not going to grovel. Do it, or don't..."
"Why are you asking me to come back?"
"I need an editor in chief."
"Isn't Daniel the editor in chief?"
"He was."
"What do you mean was?"
"He's in rehab."
"Rehab? For what?"
"Since you've left Daniel's best friend is a bottle of booze."
"He can't handle the pressure?"
"No, he's just an idiot."
"He's your son," Wilhelmina reminds her.
"He's still an idiot. For whatever reason he can't seem to get over you."
"Claire as much as I'd like to come back to Mode to be Editor in Chief I have a contract here, and it's not up for a few months."
"I'll pay for you to get out of your contract."
"You're really in a bind aren't you?"
"I wouldn't be calling you if I weren't."
"I can't leave right now. We're in the middle of an issue."
"I need you."
"Claire I can't leave."
"Stop being so hard-headed. Do you really want to watch all of your hard work go down the drain because of Daniel?"
"It wouldn't be the first time. Claire even if I wanted to leave I couldn't."
"Are you ever coming back?"
"I'll be back when my contract is up here."
"Fine. I guess we'll just have to take Mode off-line until you get back."
"You can't do that. Taking it off-line will kill it."
"I don't have much of a choice."
"Why can't you be editor in chief?"
"I could, but I'm still going to need a creative director."
"Make Betty, or Marc, do it."
"You're serious?"
"No, not Marc. It would go to his head. Make Betty do it."
"Do you really think that she has what it takes? She's soft."
"It's time for her to toughen up."
"Wilhelmina I don't think..."
"Claire she's your only option."
"You're right."
"Goodbye Claire," she hangs up.
Claire hangs up with Wilhelmina and goes to find Betty. She finds her putting together an article for the next issue.
"Betty can I have a minute?"
"Claire I don't have a lot of time."
"I know. You're doing a great job."
Betty looks up from her computer screen. "Why do I get the feeling that you're buttering me up for something?"
"I'm not. I'm just making an observation."
"Ok."
"Betty I need you."
"I know."
"I want to promote you."
"To what? I pretty much already do everything."
"To creative director."
"To Wilhelmina's old job?"
"No. It's not her old job. It's your job."
"I don't think that I want to be creative director. You should ask Marc."
"Betty if I wanted Marc to do it I would have already asked him."
"Who is going to be Editor in chief?"
"I guess that I am."
"You should ask Wilhelmina. I'd imagine that she's dying to get back here."
"She told me no. Betty I really need you to do this. I don't have anyone else."
"Will this promotion come with a raise?"
"Of course."
"And when Daniel gets back am I going to be demoted?"
"No. I'll make sure that you keep your position."
"Ok," she agrees.
"Do me a favor?"
"Yeah?"
"Don't tell Marc yet."
"Ok."
"You can have Daniel's office."
"Do I get an assistant?"
"You can have whoever you want."
"Cool."
She looks out the window of her office. It's grey, and cloudy, and the rain falls in big fat drops. She tries to push aside the gloomy feeling. She crosses her arms, and stands perfectly still as she watches the rain fall.
"I'm so sick of rain," she whispers to herself.
"It's definitely not New York is it?"
She spins around and finds her assistant behind her. "I didn't hear you come in."
"I'm sorry. Did I scare you?"
"No Cara. Just don't do that anymore."
"Sorry Miss Slater."
Wilhelmina turns back around, and stares out the window. "Do you miss it?"
"Miss what?"
"New York? Mode?"
"Some days," she admits.
"Days like this?"
Wilhelmina purses her lips, and nods silently.