Detty Bold and Beauty

Chapter 22

"Something to talk about"

Daniel arrived back at MODE shortly after dropping Betty at the hospital. He knew he was supposed to see his father but he needed time to think about what had happened between him and Betty. That time was short-lived when the phone rang. Daniel looked across his office to Betty's desk. He smiled slightly as he pictured all the times Betty was usually sat right there; a smile on her face as she answered cheerfully, "Daniel Meade's office". But she wasn't there today so Daniel picked up himself.

"Daniel Meade's office, Daniel speaking."

"Daniel, I see you've arrived back."

Daniel groaned inwardly as he recognized his father's voice.

"Yes Dad, I just got back."

"Good, then I expect I'll see you in my office," Bradford said.

Daniel sighed.

"Now?" He said incredulously, "I mean, I've just driven for 5 hours."

"I know, but I need to see you now. It's very important."

"Fine," Daniel said resignedly, "I'm on my way."

Daniel hung up and made his way to see his father.

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Betty stood in the doorway to Amanda's hospital room. She was lying on the bed, listening to her iPod, when Betty knocked on the door. Amanda looked up and gestured for Betty to come in.

"Betty, nice to see you," Amanda said, turning her iPod off, "Come in."

"Thanks," Betty took the seat by Amanda's bedside, setting her luggage down also.

"How are you feeling? I thought you'd be released already."

"I'm fine," Amanda replied, "but I thought I'd stay longer because well, lets just say that my doctor is a real hunk, if you know what I mean?"

"No I don't," Betty said, confused.

Amanda rolled her eyes.

"Never mind then. But I'm actually getting released today; Marc will be picking me up later."

"Good," Betty said distractedly, her mind wandering to thoughts of Daniel.

"So how are you or should I ask where you've been? You've been MIA since, uh…you know," Amanda said sheepishly.

"Yeah, uh, I have been busy with a few things," Betty explained awkwardly.

Amanda smirked slightly.

"Let me guess - Daniel things."

"Yeah," Betty admitted, shaking her head in agreement.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Amanda asked.

"No, not really," Betty said, shaking her head no.

"I see," Amanda said seriously, "I understand, you don't trust me, not after…" She trailed off, "I understand," She repeated, "you don't have to tell me anything Betty."

"Amanda, I do trust you," Betty said earnestly.

Amanda shot Betty a you've got to be kidding me look.

"Ok," Betty conceded, "so maybe I don't entirely trust you. But you did try to get me to quit."

"Yes I did," Amanda admitted, "And I was a fool for doing it ok, but I was still hung up on Daniel. And he asked me to, and I couldn't very well say no to him, and…" Amanda blurted, her words coming out in a rush.

"Wait a minute," Betty interrupted her babbling, "Daniel told you to get rid of me?"

Amanda wouldn't meet Betty's gaze.

"Oops, I wasn't supposed to say that. But yes, he did."

"When?" Betty asked.

"At the photo shoot, when you were running late," Amanda replied.

Amanda stole a glance at Betty.

"Betty?" She said when the young woman beside her still hadn't said anything.

Betty was furious; her eyes darkening dangerously and her mouth set in a grim line.

"Excuse me Amanda," She said tightly, moving to leave, "But I have to go and kill Daniel Meade."

"Betty, WAIT!" Amanda grabbed at her sleeve. Betty couldn't leave, not until she heard everything that Amanda had to say.

"What Amanda?" Betty said, her voice uncharacteristically sharp.

"There is more to it," Amanda explained, "more I need to tell you. There's something you should know before you walk out that door."

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In the elevator, Daniel made his way up to the 50th floor of the Meade building. The elevator doors glided open with a resounding ping! and Daniel stepped out to see his father playing indoor golf. Thinking he could sneak off, Daniel tried to back away to the elevator as quietly as possible. But it was too late as Bradford had already seen him.

"Nice try Daniel, now get your butt in here," Bradford ordered curtly.

Daniel sighed and entered his father's office.

"This better be important, Dad."

"It is important son," Bradford turned to face his son. "So your vacation with Betty was nice, I hope."

"Yes it was. I got to know Betty a lot more."

"I'm glad."

Daniel let out a frustrated sigh, wishing his father would just get to the point.

"Dad, enough with the small talk. What is it that you want to talk about?"

"Why don't you sit down," Bradford suggested.

"Dad! I don't want to sit down!" Daniel yelled, "JUST TELL ME, WHAT DO YOU WANT??!"

"Betty. You have to fire Betty," Bradford blurted out.

Daniel's mouth dropped open and his heart sank.

"What?" He choked out.

"You have to fire Betty," Bradford repeated calmly.

"I heard you the first time Dad, but why?"

Bradford sat across from his son.

"Daniel, I'm not stupid. I know what's going on."

"What are you talking about?" Daniel said, confused.

"It doesn't take long for a father to know when his son has just slept with a woman."

Realization dawned on Daniel's face.

"Dad, it's not what you think," He said quickly.

"Oh really, so then you didn't sleep with Betty?" Bradford eyed his son skeptically.

"Ok," Daniel admitted, "So I did sleep with Betty."

"Daniel…" Bradford started, shaking his head in disappointment.

"I know, Dad, I know," Daniel said, "But please. You have to believe me when I say that it's different with her. Betty is different from all the others."

"Really? How?" Bradford asked; he was still skeptical.

"I love her, Dad" Daniel admitted.

Bradford looked at his son in surprise. He hadn't been expecting that.

"You love Betty?" Bradford repeated.

"With all of my heart," Daniel added.

"Well I am sorry son, but that will make it even harder for you to fire her."

"Dad, please!" Daniel pleaded, "Don't make me do this. Betty doesn't deserve this!"

"I know, Daniel," His father agreed, "She deserves better. And I promise that she will get a glowing recommendation from me to work for any other magazine. But if you don't fire her, not only will I do it for you, but she will get nothing from me. Now what will it be Daniel?" Bradford asked harshly.

Daniel sighed in defeat.

"I guess I have no choice. I have to fire Betty," Daniel said sadly, all the fight had gone out of his voice.

"Good," Bradford replied, satisfied. "You're doing the right thing for her Daniel."

"I hope so," Daniel said darkly, "but if you're wrong, then damn you!" Daniel snarled and stormed out of his father's office.

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Back at the hospital, Amanda was relieved that Betty had agreed to listen to her.

"Well Amanda?" Betty said, crossing her arms over her chest, "What is it?"

Amanda swallowed.

"I wasn't finished," She explained. "Yes, Daniel did order me to find a way to get rid of you and I was persistent in doing just that. But then he changed his mind."

"He changed his mind?" Betty said, her voice had softened, "When?"

"After the dance you two shared at the ball. He told me to back off, but I was so jealous of you, I kept trying to get rid of you anyway. But every time, the same thing happened."

"What was that?" Betty asked.

"I failed," Amanda told her as though it was obvious. "I failed because Daniel is in love with you. And it broke my heart to see you two together at the ball and that's why I left with Becks. I wanted someone to feel that way about me. I'm so sorry for all the trouble I caused you Betty, can you forgive me?" Amanda said earnestly.

Betty smiled.

"Of course I can Amanda. Love, it makes you do crazy things sometimes," Betty said accepting Amanda's apology.

"Speaking of love, tell me Betty Suarez, are you in love with Daniel Meade?" Amanda asked.

Betty sighed.

"I don't know."

Amanda looked at her, confused.

"What do you mean, you don't know. You either love the man or not - it's that simple."

"It is not simple Amanda," Betty said tiredly, "It's very complicated."

"No, it isn't Betty," Amanda insisted, "Maybe it's hard at first. But if your love is pure and true, it will win out in the end."

Betty shook her head.

"That is a fairytale," She said, "not real life."

"Ok then," Amanda said undeterred, "let me ask you a few questions to see if you really do love Daniel, ok?"

"Ok," Betty reluctantly agreed.

Amanda smirked again.

"Does Daniel make you smile every time you see him?" She asked.

Betty smiled as she answered.

"Yes," She said.

"Good," Amanda nodded approvingly, "And does Daniel make you feel like you are the only woman in the world for him?"

"Yes," Betty replied.

Amanda looked at Betty closely.

"Last one. When you made love to him, did you feel as though you were one?"

Betty didn't have to say it. She simply shook her head yes. Amanda was triumphant.

"So Betty Suarez," She said smugly, "Are you in love with Daniel Meade?"

Betty felt her eyes well with tears.

"Yes," She admitted, "I am. I love Daniel Meade."

"So go and tell him then!" Amanda encouraged her.

"Right," Betty said, jumping up. She barely paused to say goodbye to Amanda before she hurried out into the corridor and straight into a handsome, dashing young doctor.

"Are you Amanda's doctor?" Betty asked curiously, remembering her earlier remarks about her doctor being a hunk.

"Yes that's right," He replied pleasantly, "I'm Dr. Charles Bingley. Nice to meet you..."

"Betty, Betty Suarez," She supplied. "Dr. Bingley, my friend Amanda likes you," Betty shot the blonde a knowing look, "so do you mind my asking if you like her?"

"Betty!" Amanda yelled

"Amanda, I am asking the doctor a question," She said innocently, waiting for him to answer.

"Yes," Dr. Bingley admitted, "I do I think she is a decent woman."

"Then ask her out already!" Betty smiled.

Ignoring Amanda's protests, Betty excused herself, leaving Dr. Bingley and Amanda alone.

"I'm sorry about my friend Doc," Amanda apologized, embarrassed, "She just found out that she's in love."

"I see, and please, call me Charles," He said agreeably.

"Ok Charles," Amanda said shyly, "So would it be possible for you and me to go out for a cup of coffee sometime?" She asked, looking at him from beneath her lashes.

"Actually, I think I can do better than that," Charles said, "How about dinner and a movie? How does that sound?"

"Sounds great," Amanda said.

She smiled, no longer embarrassed by Betty but grateful to her. She'd helped her land a good-looking doctor. Now Amanda hoped that Betty would land herself a Daniel Meade.