Chapter 5

Castle and Betty were walking down the hall when he noticed a tall, handsome man heading toward them.

"Is that Connor Owens?" he asked.

"Yes, he's the new chief financial officer," she replied. "Do you know him?"

Castle shook his head. "Only by reputation."

"Looks like you might get your chance to meet him," she said. "Hi, Connor."

"Hello, Betty," the Australian smiled.

"May I introduce Rick Castle," she said.

"I thought I recognized you," Connor said shaking Castle's hand. "Derrick Storm and I have spent many a flight together."

"Something every author loves to hear," he said.

"Doing research for a book?" Connor asked.

Castle nodded. "Already have a couple of ideas."

"Well you couldn't have a better guide than Betty," Connor said smiling down at the young assistant.

"So I understand," Castle said.

"Betty, could you do me a favour and take this down to Accounting?" Connor asked.

"Certainly," she replied taking the envelope from him.

"Thanks," he said. "I'm off to see Wilhelmina."

"She's in with Fabia," Betty said.

"Is it true their meetings tend to be explosive?" he asked.

"They can be," she admitted.

"Then I better hurry if I don't want to miss the fireworks," Connor grinned. "Castle, good to meet you."

"Likewise," he nodded and watched the man go. "How long has he been CFO?"

"Not long," Betty said as they turned and entered a side tunnel that linked to the main Tube. "Mrs. Meade suggested that Daniel and Wilhelmina hire a CFO to handle the business side of the company."

"Was there any concern about hiring an outsider to help run the family company?"

"Connor and Daniel went to Harvard together."

Castle smiled. "So Daniel tried to pull one over on Wilhelmina by placing a friend as the CFO."

"Yeah," Betty admitted, "though it didn't go quite like he had planned. After all three bumped heads over some business decisions, Connor made it clear to both that he was, and I quote, 'nobody's bitch' and would do what he thought was best for the company."

They walked back to reception, and Betty approached the blonde who had escorted Castle to Daniel's office earlier.

"Amanda, I need you to cover my phones while I give Rick a tour of Mode," Betty said.

"Okay, but in exchange for this favour, I need one."

"Amanda," Betty sighed.

The receptionist flicked a glance toward Castle then said in hushed tones, "I was able to get an extra shift at the place that shall not be named, but I need someone to walk Halston."

"Okay, I'll walk Halston," Betty said.

"Thanks, roomie! You'll also have to give him his medication. The rubber gloves are under the kitchen sink," Amanda said quickly.

"Now wait a minute," Betty started, but the receptionist received a phone call.

"Mode Magazine, how may I direct your call?" Amanda asked with a smile and a quick wave toward Betty.

The young assistant turned back toward Castle and sighed again. "I'm a marshmallow."

"You are awfully sweet," he teased. "I take it Halston's her dog?"

Betty nodded. "A Chinese-crested dog that's on more medication than my dad. She inherited him from her birth mother, Fey Sommers."

"The editor-in-chief before Daniel and his father's mistress," Castle said.

"Mm-hmm."

"Wait, was that the Amanda that helped you write that web article "How I Blew Ten Grand Without Actually Spending a Dime"?"

"You read that?" Betty asked surprised.

"It was a good article," he said. "Sounded like you had quite the adventure."

"Well, life with Amanda is rarely dull," Betty commented.

As they headed toward the next stop on the tour, another story idea popped into his brain. A fashionista receptionist is found dead at her desk, and her roommate, an executive assistant, tries to find out who murdered her.

ooOoo

Author notes: The Ugly Betty episodes referenced in this chapter are 3.6 "Ugly Berry", 3.7 "Crush'd" and 3.10 "Bad Amanda" (the "place that shall not be named" is a fast-food restaurant where Amanda has a second job).