Chapter VI

"Betty? Betty?"

The girl had her head upon her arms, folded atop the haphazard mess of her desk. Plans for the hospital fundraiser had been, so far, a complete success, and now Mode magazine was inundated with companies seeking to jump onto the charitable bandwagon. Betty had been sifting through the portfolios of several of the corporations when she had just put her head down to rest for a minute.

"Betty!" The dark haired girl looked upon a face filled with concern.

"I'm sorry. I must have fallen asleep. Were you calling me? I just felt so tired all of a sudden."

"Betty, you look exhausted, and your face is flushed. Are you feeling alright?"

"Umm."

A gentle hand trailed through her bangs to rest against her forehead.

"You're burning up!" Her forehead felt clammy, and hot to the touch. Had she been working all day with a high fever? "I'm calling for the towncar."

"Oh no! I still have to prepare summaries for today's meetings! Then afterwards there are the thank you notes and the runway line up. And I still have to-" Her torrent of words was typical for a Suarez in full work mode.

"It can wait Betty."

She made a weak attempt at a protest, but it was no use arguing with a Meade. Their stubbornness was legendary. Betty could typically give as good as she got, if only she was in the right state of mind. Right now, Betty Suarez felt like a weak kitten. She felt herself being helped out of her chair and guided towards the elevator. A couple of strange looks passed the pair's way. Any interaction between the rich and elite Meades and the unheard of Suarezes was an oddity. Hopefully, this Meade would ensure there was a more permanent connection between the families. All it took was a little push.

They made it into the town car, and the family driver automatically knew their destination. It seemed that the Suarez residence was becoming a common stop.

Snuggled in the warm car, Betty's head lolled upon her companion's taller shoulder. Her forehead was still warm, with eyes closed half asleep.

Poor girl. She deserves to have someone take care of her.

Absentmindedly a hand threaded through Betty's bangs, gently brushing them away from the ill girl's face. It had been a while since anyone in the Meade family had felt these feelings. That a Meade could even feel feelings was a miracle, but they were not a family of stone. No, indeed.

The sleek black car pulled up to the Suarez residence and Betty was carefully extracted from the interior.

"Betty!" Hilda Suarez came out in a flurry of energy and concern. "What happened?"

"She's running a high fever."

"Ay! That girl! She was feeling sick yesterday and still decided to come in." She turned and gave a grateful look to Betty's savior.

"Thank you for bringing her home, Mrs. Meade."

"Please Hilda, call me Claire."

Very few people had the honor of calling her by her first name, and the blonde socialite could count on one hand how many of those people she considered true friends. Claire Meade would always feel indebted to the older Suarez daughter. Ever since the Queens Latina visited while the Meade matriarch was incarcerated, the Hot Flash magazine editor felt hope enter her life. The Suarezes were the Meade's good luck charm, and each family in turn would do anything to help each other.

Hilda soon had her baby sister bundled up inside the house, and Mrs. Meade soon found herself back in the familiar territory that was Mode's headquarters.

"Mother, have you seen Betty? She was preparing my notes for the meeting and scheduling my one o'clock appointment."

Her youngest son tried to send a nonchalant glance her way, but the mother in her knew that he was truly worried. If there was one constant in Daniel Meade's life, it was that Betty Suarez was always there by his side.

"I sent her home. She had a high fever."

Daniel growled and ran his hands through his hair. The action reduced his well groomed look into tufts standing on end.

My, my. What the girl can do to him.

"Betty! She looked a little out of it but I never thought she was sick!" He berated himself for not thinking about her well being. As her friend and boss, he should have known.

Claire Meade attempted to soothe his guilt ridden conscience, "It's alright, Daniel. She did her best to hide it from you. How about we give her a call when work is done?"

The notion cheered up her youngest, and he also made plans to send for her favorite soup to be delivered to her home.

Claire Meade smiled warmly. It was so obvious what was between the two of them.

Although, she was going to wait to tell her son that Betty Suarez snored when she slept.

Another Betty POV. Up next will be another set of 4 interactions between the Meades and Suarezes and then Betty/Daniel.

Please review,

Grignard