CHAPTER 15:

After her doctor's visit, Wilhelmina thought when she got home she would be in total tranquility. Her little fantasy ended as soon she heard some commotion from the kitchen. She knew nobody was supposed to be in her house at the moment, so she went to investigate.

"Marc, I gave you the day off. Didn't you get my message?"

"I did, but I came over anyway. Where were you? Meeting with the investors?"

"No, Marc. Slater will have to take a step back for now, I'm having a baby."

"You're keeping it?"

"How could you ask me that? Of course."

"I'm sorry, Willie. I just thought that since you're a busy career woman, you're wouldn't want to deal with a baby."

"Well, I am."

"So where were you?"

"The doctor's office."

"Everything okay?"

"Yeah." She said with a deep sigh as she settled on her island

"Good, I took the liberty of buying you more rocky road ice cream."

"I love you, Marc."

"Oh, Willie. You know how I get when you say that to me. Willie?"

"Yes, Marc."

"Uh…you have a…"

"Hello, Wilhelmina." A voice called out before Marc could finish.

"…visitor…houseguest." He finished while smiling nervously. Willie praying that she was hallucinating, turned her stool and looked at source of the voice that just greeted her.

"Renee? What the are you doing here?"

"Now is that a way of greeting a family member you haven't seen in three years?"

"Uh…Marc? Why did you let her in here?"

"She said she was your sister, Willie."

"So? You are going to let in everybody who claims to be related to me into my apartment?"

"She's not your sister?"

"She...is. Renee may I please have a word in the hallway?" She didn't wait for an answer and just dragged her out of the kitchen by the arm and lead her into the hallway. "What the hell, Renee?"

"Look, there's this workshop that I'm attending…"

"Workshop?"

"Okay, I have a couple of job interviews here in the city. If happen to get one I might move here."

"Job interviews? What happened to your current job? Which I'm now sensing is an old job." Renee looked down "Oh, God let me guess, you had an affair with a coworker, it didn't work out and now you are running. The usual cycle"

"Don't judge me."

"I'm not judging you, I'm trying to find a polite way of telling you that you can't stay here."

"What, you're gonna throw me out? You still hate me." Renee said bitterly

"I'm not going to throw you out, I'll get you a hotel or an apartment far away from here. I'll pay for everything."

"Really?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Oh I figured since you left Mode magazine, money might be a little bit tight these days."

"That's very funny, Renee. But don't worry, I know how to manage my finances, unlike some people."

"Well maybe as Daddy's favorite you can call him and talk him into re-releasing my trust fund."

"Well now you're being ridiculous, we both know Dad doesn't have a favorite. I'll get you an apartment or something. Or better yet why don't you go and stay with a friend?"

"If you don't want me to stay because of your little secret, it's okay, I already know."

'What are you talking about?"

"I know you're pregnant, Willie."

"What?"

"Oh, don't play dumb with me. You know exactly what I'm talking about. I found your prescription of prenatal vitamins."

"You went through my medicine cabinet?"

"Relax, I was looking for Xanax."

"What happened to your own prescription?"

"I ran out but don't worry, I'll go and get some by the end of the day. So I guess I'm staying since I know your dirty little secret, which I'm sure you don't want the media to know about."

"You wouldn't dare."

"Wouldn't I? I've done some things you never thought I'd do."

"I can't believe that you're actually proud of that." Suddenly Renee realized how badly her words sounded and probably hurt her sister, not that Willie would actually admit that. Wilhelmina started walking back to the kitchen.

"Willie, I'm sorry. I didn't…I didn't mean that." Willie totally ignored her

"How long are you planning on staying here?"

"A month, maybe…two."

"Real joy."

"It's just until I find a proper job. Look I'll stay out of your way, okay?"

"We'll see about that."

A few nights later:

Daniel sat at the bar listening to Henry's lame band. It was better than sitting at home feeling sorry for himself, thinking about Wilhelmina. Especially with his mother staying at his place since she was acquitted, asking every five minutes if he's okay. Alexis accused him of mopping around and asking him what's wrong. How the hell would he tell them what was really going on? How would he tell his family and friends that the reason he is depressed is because he lost Wilhelmina Slater. How does one tell people that he lost something he wasn't supposed to have? With Betty's nagging he went to the concert, if that's what was going on in the bar was called.

"Hey, hey. Quick, come dance with me." Daniel turned to the soft female voice calling to him.

"What?"

"I want to make my boyfriend jealous."

"Uhm…Well, which one is he?"

"You'll find out soon enough." Daniel looked around the bar

"Not the one with the tattoos over there, is it?"

"That's him. You can take him though."

"Right" Daniel replied while chuckling nervously

"Oh! Look who likes living dangerously" Renee said with a chuckle as Daniel held her closer

"I have the strangest feeling you guys are gonna be breaking up soon."

"You sound confident."

"I am. Because your boyfriend's making out with another dude."

"Okay, you got me."

"Why didn't you just ask me to dance?"

"I don't know. I guess I'm just shy." She replied while grinding up against him

"Yeah, I can tell." Daniel said with sarcasm

"I'm Renee."

'I'm Daniel."

"Meade. I know, everybody knows. Hey Daniel you wanna get out of here?"

"Sure. But it'll have to be your place because my mom is staying at mine, she's been going through a rough time…"

"Don't worry. A man who takes care of his mom knows how to treat a woman."

"So?"

"My place it is."

In the morning Daniel woke up and there was no sign of Renee. He took a few seconds and looked around the bedroom. He got up and picked up the robe he spotted on the chaise. As he walked down the hallway something was familiar about it.

'This looks like Wilhelmina's hallway. This looks exactly like her apartment. I could have sworn that last night when I got off the cab with uh…Renee that this was her building. Could it be? Maybe I miss her too much. However I'm ready to move on since she probably already did a week after we broke up.'

As he continued to walk down the hallway he heard the shower. He headed to the bathroom and opened the door. He smirked when he saw Renee through the frosted glass door and then he untied his robe and moved towards the shower door and slid it open.

"Wilhelmina?"

"Daniel?" The former couple's eyes roamed each other's bodies. Wilhelmina finally snapped out it. "Daniel? My face is up here. Now tell me, what the fuck are you doing in my apartment?"

"This is your…I didn't…I just…" Just then, her sister appeared

"I see you met my sister." Renee said with a smirk, clearly satisfied by what just happened.

"Your sister? How could you neglect to mention that Wilhelmina Slater is your sister?" Daniel was still in total shock as he put his jacket on.

"I didn't think it was that big of a deal."

"Look, Wilhelmina and I were in a…I mean anyone who's read the paper or watched the news in like, the past two years knows her history with my family."

"Look baby, I'm sorry. I didn't plan any of this. I saw you and I liked you, and I just thought that telling you that I was her sister would scare you off."

"Well, it did. Goodbye, Renee." As he turned to leave he bumped into Wilhelmina

"Leaving so soon? The shower's free." Daniel looked into her eyes and they were filled with fire. He wanted to say something, apologize, or something but he couldn't find the words. Wilhelmina just pushed past him and he walked out of the kitchen. When she heard the apartment door close, she turned to Renee.

"What the hell were you thinking?"

"That you'd react this way." Renee replied with a smirk

"You don't date Daniel Meade. I did you a favor, you showed up here with no place to stay, and I took you in. And this is how you repay me!?

"Calm down, Wilhelmina"

"You listen to me, Renee. I've got a lot going on right now with this baby, and I don't need any of the Meades knowing my business. Stay away from him."

"I'll date whoever I want."

Mode offices:

"She's Wilhelmina's sister?"

"Yeah, Betty."

"Daniel, you can't date her."

"No, I know."

"Wilhelmina tried to destroy you. And your family. And your magazine." It was hard for him to listen to people talk about her like that. He had gotten to know her in the past few months and had fallen in love with her and he just couldn't let anybody talk about her like that

"Alright, stop. Please don't. I know I can't date…" A knock on his door stopped him and Renee was standing by the door with a bouquet of flowers. Betty gave a nervous smile as she hurried out of the office.

"So I called you three times, and now I'm stopping by the office. Some may say desperate, I'm hoping you think cute."

"This isn't a good time."

"I don't know if you know this, but my sister is not the nicest person, and I knew that hooking up with you would get under her skin."

"So you used me."

"At first. But then I got to know you better, and it became less about Wilhelmina and more about you."

"Renee, it's just a little too weird, you have no idea what went on between me and Wilhelmina."

"Come on, Daniel. I promise you the next time I use you, it'll just be for sex." She said seductively

"I'm sorry. It's probably better if we forget this ever happened."

He watched her walk away in disappointment. Then he thought about how he spent the entire day thinking about Wilhelmina. A small part of him was hoping she would call and forbid him from seeing her sister. It sort of broke his heart when she didn't seem to care. Then a light bulb went off in his head.

"Renee, wait!"