CHAPTER 13:

Things were a little crazy at the office as it has been three days since the news about Bradford's death broke. Daniel and Alexis were in and out of the office, busy with the funeral arrangements. Deadlines had to be met and Wilhelmina was the one who had to oversee everything as she was in charge.

She was currently seated at her desk preparing for yet another meeting.

"Marc!"

"Yes, Willie."

"If I have any meetings after 5:00 cancel them, please."

"Really? Why?"

"I'm leaving a little earlier today."

"Oh, hot date with pasty?"

"His father just died, Marc."

"So?"

"He's busy with the funeral arrangements and lawyers and his mother."

"So you're not meeting anyone after?"

"No, I'm going to the shooting range."

"Shooting range? But, Willie I thought the shooting range was on Mondays only."

"It is. It has been a really crazy 3 days, Marc. I just…need to cool off."

"From Pasty face? Spill." He said settling on the chair in front of her desk

"Close that door." He quickly ran to shut the door and returned to his seat as soon as he got up

"Okay, spill."

"It's just…ever since Bradford's heart attack, Daniel has been…emotional lately."

"Willie his father just died, of course he is emotional."

"That's not what I meant. What I meant was…since Bradford's heart attack he's been overly affectionate."

"Overly affectionate? How?"

"He stares at me with this 'look' in his eyes that I find myself getting lost into, he kisses me… like all the time and he's nervous and a little edgy. At the hospital he claimed he had something to tell me and he stuttered and mumbled and he didn't get to finish. And on Monday just before you called me…I'm pretty sure he was going to…drop the L bomb."

"What? Willie that's huge."

"Exactly, Marc."

"No, I mean GOOD huge."

"No it's not. He's been trying to get me to tell him about my feelings and all that crap. I'm not the emotional type. However I'm afraid that he's gonna think I don't feel the same way he feels about me… that I'm not in this for the long haul."

"Well, you should show him that you care, especially now that he's vulnerable. Spend some time with him at his place some time."

"What?"

"Has he ever invited you to his place?"

"Of course he has, Marc. But he lives in Lower East Side. I'm not a barbarian."

"Willie, maybe you want to consider opening yourself up just a teensy bit to Daniel."

"I don't do intimacy anymore. I tried it before, it never works out."

"You don't have to reveal your uncomfortable secrets over night. This isn't The Bachelor. But baby steps. Going to see his apartment, letting him know that you really care, that you also want… more."

"Sometimes I hate it when you're right. Get out."

Daniel was acting like a total maniac. He was cleaning and tidying his loft, trying to get rid of pizza boxes, empty bottles, burrito wrappers, anything that might put Wilhelmina off. She called him ten minutes earlier and he asked her to come over and she said yes. He was so excited that ever since that phone call he'd been rehearsing how he would play it cool when she showed. Before he knew it there was a knock on his door.

"Hey Wils, I'm so glad you came."

"Really?" She asked lightheartedly before placing a soft kiss on his lips as a greeting.

"Yeah." She scanned the loft as she fumbled with the buttons of her over coat "So…you like?" Asked Daniel, hopefully as he noticed her eyes browsing the room

"This place is surprisingly…acceptable."

"It is?"

"Yes. It's better than I imagined."

"Thanks, make yourself at home." He assured, She then flung her jacket on the sofa "Would you like something to drink?"

"Got any beer?"

"Beer?" He inquired narrowing his eyes

"Yeah, cold beer."

"Wilhelmina Slater!" He teased

"What?"

"Nothing, nothing…cold beer coming right up."

In the morning Daniel was in the kitchen making breakfast. The entire time he was thinking about the previous evening. How they talked, drank liquor and watched T.V in bed sharing laughs in between, which was just what he needed. He also kept thinking about how he spent the night and shared the bed with her without sex- they just held each other. His thoughts were interrupted by her footsteps.

"Hey, Good morning."

"Good morning." Daniel stared at her from head to toe with a smug grin. Hair in a messy bun, wearing only his T-shirt and bare foot. He could honestly say no other woman looked hotter than she did at this very moment.

"You look hot in my Harvard t-shirt." She rolled her eyes at him before replying

"Thank you. Is that what you told all the women who'd been here and wore this very shirt?"

"First of all, I never made breakfast for the women I've been with…well except for one. Two, I don't let anybody wear my Harvard t-shirt."

"Wow now I feel so special." She said sarcastically

"What would you like for breakfast?"

"Would you be terribly disappointed if I said 'nothing'?"

"Yes, Wils. You gotta have something for breakfast."

"How about a glass of water?"

"C'mon you won't gain weight in just a day."

"Now I get why you and Betty get along." She said as she gestured to the food on the kitchen counter.

"Willie." He warned while chuckling

"I'm sorry that just slipped. What's with this obsession of you wanting to feed me, Danny?"

"Breakfast is the most important meal of the day."

"Not according to me."

"Seriously, Wils. What are you gonna have?"

"How about a plate of steam and a glass of water?"

"I've got toast, bacon, eggs, coffee, tea, pineapple juice, orange juice, oatmeal, bagels, everything. I even have your favorite."

"My favorite what?"

"I know it seems a bit stalkish but I've noticed that you like whole wheat bagels."

"You're right, that does sound like you're some kind of a stalker."

"So?"

"Okay I'll have the whole wheat bagel with coffee."

"Coming right up. Hey do you want me to call you a cab after breakfast?"

"No."

"You gonna call the town car? Willie, I don't think the drivers are paid enough to keep the news that you woke up in my loft to themselves."

"Don't worry, Danny I'm leaving the same way I came- I'll drive."

"You drover over here?"

"Yes, you think I'd take that risk?"

"Hey, I need a favor."

"Sure."

"I need you to handle some meetings for me and Alexis. We're gonna be out of the office all morning."

"Okay. Where will you be?"

"We're meeting with my mother and her lawyer to discuss and negotiate the terms of her attendance of the funeral."

"Oh that's okay. So you want to tell me what's up with the scrunched up papers on the floor?"

"I've been writing."

"Writing?"

"Uh…my father's eulogy."

"And by the papers on the floor I can see it was a walk in the park." Daniel chuckled at her sarcasm

"No, actually…It is a bust. I've got nothing…I can't find the right words."

"What does that mean? Just say what you feel."

"That's just it, Willie. I'm not good with words, Alexis is giving the eulogy at the church and I'm doing mine at the grave site. Alexis' will be 'spectacular' and memorable, it'll have people searching for tissues and mine will be…simple."

"Okay first of all it's a funeral, so people will probably have tissues on standby. And why are you worrying about Alexis' eulogy? If yours is simple, it's fine. At least it's from the heart and it'll be the truth."

"The thing is, my dad has always been disappointed in me. I just…I wanna do him this last honor. I wanna have something memorable to say when he's laid to rest."

"Well…you won't be doing much of an honor if you're going to use words you don't even understand. Stop trying to dazzle people and say what is in your heart. At times like these, sometimes simple is the way to go." His mouth curved into a smile

"You know just what to say don't you? Thanks, babe."

"You're welcome. Now I've got to go take a quick shower." She leaned in and gave him a quick kiss and got up to take a shower.

"Can I join you?" She didn't answer verbally but rather gave him a seductive smirk and disappeared in the hallway.

Upstate women's correctional facility:

"Hi, darling, how are you doing?" Claire pulled him into a tight embrace

"I'm fine, mom."

"Where's Alexis? I thought she was coming with you."

"She's coming along with our lawyer, Mr. Adams. I left a few moments before them. How are you holding up?"

"Bradford's dead, you can only imagine how I feel. It's too bad I can't have a drink."

"Mom, c'mon."

"So what's going on with you?"

"What do you mean?"

"Who is she? There's a woman in your life, I can tell,"

"What? Mom please, there isn't anybody. I came here to talk about you, how are you doing?"

"The man I loved for past 39 years just died. So I feel…empty."

"I'm so sorry, mom."

"Now let's talk about you, how's everything? Anything new, any new developments?"

"Well…not really a business one."

"Hmm…Romantic?"

"What makes you say that?"

"Because you look like a boy with a crush."

"Mom, Okay, I'm seeing someone and…she's an amazing woman but we're just getting started and…"

"Her name wouldn't be Betty, would it?"

"What? No! No!"

"Mom!" Alexis called out as she came in the room with the lawyer

"Mrs. Meade I've got good news for you" Mr. Adams, the attorney announced

The sky was grey, and black was the color of the day. After a moving service, the mourners walked in the cemetery to pay their last respects to Bradford Meade. The guests finally made it to the Meade plot and settled as they patiently waited for Daniel's eulogy. Daniel assumed position as soon as he saw his mother coming towards the Meade plot accompanied by two police men. Daniel watched his mother as she fixed her eyes on Wilhelmina and he silently prayed that she wouldn't do anything crazy.

"Must you man-handle me!? I'm in mourning here. This is my husband's funeral. Allow me some dignity." The two police men decided to let her go. Daniel gave his mother a nervous smile and began clearing his throat.

"I…uh…my father was…"

"Wilhelmina Slater! You have some nerve showing up here! Have you got no shame? You put Bradford in his grave and you have the audacity to sit in the front row at his goddamn funeral!" Claire shouted

"Hello, Claire. Decided not to wear black, I see." Wilhelmina quipped. Although she hated hurting Daniel, she wasn't about to let Claire Meade disrespect her in front of the Meade staff. Daniel watched the exchange between the women in trepidation.

"Bitch! What the hell are you doing here? Looking for free publicity?"

"Claire this is neither the time nor pla-" Before she could finish the sentence Claire pushed her and sent her flying into the open grave. Loud gasps were heard. The look on Daniel's face went from fear to shock followed by disappointment and anger. He stayed frozen in the same spot; he was just too shocked to do anything.

"Motion to terminate Wilhelmina Slater as Creative Director, Mode magazine, effective immediately."

"Aye" Alexis didn't hesitate.

"The motion carries. Rest in peace, bitch!"

Daniel rushed towards the six foot hole but Marc beat him to it and he pulled Willie out of the grave. The look on Wilhelmina's face scared the shit out of him but he wasn't scared by the anger and humiliation on her face, obviously that was directed at his mother. What scared him was the way her icy blue eyes stayed fixed on his as they showed disappointment, betrayal, and hurt. She finally turned away from him and walked towards her car with Marc.

After that awkward moment, the Meade employees stared at Daniel as he watched Wilhelmina's car drive off. He wanted to run after her, he really did. As he was still fighting this internal battle Betty's call of his name brought him back to earth. He went back to the pulpit and tried to remember the eulogy he wrote but he just couldn't. However he was determined to try. He couldn't even look at his mother.

"I…My Dad…uh. As we lay my father to rest…in this…apparently secret family plot. I'm reminded that…he…he leaves behind some big shoes to fill. Alexis and I will make sure that…his legacy lives on. Now if anyone else would like to say something?" The Mode employees remained seated but Daniel felt a little relieved when Betty got up and made her way to the pulpit. He went to take his seat but he wasn't all there, all he could think about was Wilhelmina.