CHAPTER 18:

"Will the drama at Mode ever end? Fashion diva and headline-stealer Wilhelmina Slater is back on the scene…with child. Wilhelmina a mother again? She's certainly been called one. The babe was confirmed to be the spawn on Bradford Meade, who impregnated Wilhelmina around the time the couple called off the wedding. Will La Slater return to Mode? Will the baby own a share of the Meade fortune? Insiders tell me the Meades are fighting her tooth and French-tipped nail, with a legal decision expected this morning…"

The phone interrupted Betty who was watching the video in horror "Hello? No, Daniel is not available. We will be releasing a statement this afternoon." Finally the Meades got off the phone with the lawyer in Daniel's office. Betty only hoped it was good news but their body language and facial expressions said otherwise.

"So? Is it bad?"

"It's terrible. Our father's will divided the company evenly among his children. Unfortunately that includes future children." Daniel explained

"None of this makes any sense. Bradford never wanted to have another child. And now to have one with her?"

"It's happening. And until that kid turns 18, Wilhelmina controls a third of this company."

"So that means…"

"Wilhelmina is back." Before Betty could ask any further, they heard whispers around the office and people moving towards the elevators. That gave them the clue that she was around. They stood at the end of the Mode tube watching as she appeared at the other end of the tube with her right hand man, Marc. As she slowly walked down the tunnel smirking, her eyes focused on Daniel. Daniel folded his arms and stood confidently not wanting to let her see the effect she was having on him.

"If she tries anything, call security."

"I can take her." Alexis said confidently. Claire, Daniel and Betty simultaneously turned their heads to look at her, "What? I can."

"Whatever happens, I'm right here." Betty tried to be brave but knew she wasn't much help as the woman can send her to the ladies room crying with a five word sentence.

"Family Meade. I just want to say how thrilled and honored I am to be back here. Today is a new day, and I hope we can all put the past behind us." Daniel scoffed

"Yeah right. You're probably planning on screwing me out of my job as we speak."She smirked knowing she was getting under the Meades' skin, especially Daniel's.

"Maybe…maybe not. Wonderful seeing you all." With that she turned and walked down the tube with an exaggerated sway of her hips.

"Oh, now that was fun." She said as they walked in the office which apparently remained untouched.

"Oh, Willie it's so good to be back. And to have health insurance again, because I have this weird mole thing." Wilhelmina scrunched up her nose as marc's mole seemed to trigger her morning sickness. "But Daniel still runs Mode and Alexis still runs Meade. What's our next move?"

"To divide the House of Meade. We'll start with the weakest link. Did you see the look on Daniel's face?" She chuckled as she slowly sat down "Terror. If there's one thing I know how to do, it's manipulate fear."

"You are a horror movie I wish would never end."

"Now for the November cover, I was thinking we'd be a little more bold. Ladies, gentlemen, I give you the 'War' issue. Sexy soldiers surrounded by danger. Definitely gonna keep the focus on fashion, but with a bit more political edge, as well."

"I don't know. It seems a too risky." Alexis warned

"I think it's fantastic." Willie chimed in

"You don't get to talk!" Alexis retorted

"No, wait. You think it's good?" Daniel asked with a hint of excitement

"I think it's genius. In fact it's so genius that Elle is doing the exact same thing a month earlier. But I'm sure you've got some terrific backup ideas."

"Yeah…yes…I do. Of course. We could…" He paged through the files nervously with Wilhelmina making him more nervous with her tapping on the conference table. "The…the backup ideas for the cover, we're thinking, we might…Why don't we just take five minutes, I'll be right back."

Daniel returned from his 5 minute break

"Alright, let's talk cover. What's going on?" He asked in confusion as he noticed people leaving the conference room.

"Wilhelmina just pitched a great concept." said Alexis

"What?"

"Well, it's just a takeoff on your idea. Instead of the 'War' issue, we're doing the 'Peace' issue."

"That's not a takeoff on my idea, that's the exact opposite."

"Daniel give peace a chance" With that, Willie walked out. Daniel stared at Alexis in disappointment.

"What about not making decisions without each other? What about two against one?"

"You left the meeting. I've got twenty other magazines to supervise, including Mom's, which is going to tank unless she gets some advertisers"

'It's starting again. Wilhelmina is taking over."

"It was just one idea. Stop being paranoid."

Later that day Daniel felt like a total fool as he walked to his office. He couldn't believe he made a fool out of himself on Larry King. He noticed that his mother and his sister were having a heated argument in the conference and went over to find out what's going on.

"Over my dead body."

"Mom, I'm sorry it's done."

"What's going on here?"

"Go ahead, tell your brother."

"I reinstated Wilhelmina as Creative Director of Mode."

"What?"

"Do you know how much easier it was having her around today? I mean she saved your cover, she helped save Hot Flash in under a minute. She's the best in the business."

"And she's a ruthless, immoral, ambitious snake."

"That's what makes her so good."

"What happened to not making moves without each other?"

"Like you going on national television and making an ass of yourself and this magazine? This is damage control."

"You're making a huge mistake."

"No, I'm making a tough decision, which is my job as president of this company. This discussion is over."

Wilhelmina walked down the tunnel to her office to get her belongings and call it a day when she heard Daniel calling her.

"Wilhelmina!" She stopped dead in her tracks, "Alexis may be on board with you and your little act, but I'm not. I haven't forgotten who you are."

"And which 'me' is that? The vicious monster in heels that could make you shit in your pants with a stare when you first started here? Or the me that you manipulated, charmed and gotten into bed and let your family push me out of the company like I was one of your 'Daniel's girls'? Or the me who thinks you're a pathetic little shit for using my mentally unstable sister to make me jealous? Enlighten me."

"Wils…I mean Wilhelmina…"

"So, Daniel, who am I? This morning I was nothing at all. This evening I'm Creative Director. And tomorrow who knows maybe I'll be Editor-In-Chief. Oh, wait, that's your job, isn't it? Sweet dreams." She winked at him and continued to walk down the tube leaving him feeling worse than before.

She stood in her office window looking at the view

"It's only a matter of time before we break this family apart for good."

"Wow, I love this. You're back and Wilhel-meaner than ever."

"Well, I couldn't have done it without your help. I especially liked the caller on Larry King from Vermont, putting Daniel into the ringer."

"Well, he is a sexist pig." Marc said using his 'female' voice

"Brilliant move getting a Vermont cell phone."

"You told me to."

"Like I said, Brilliant move."

After Wilhelmina stepped in and took over the Madelon De Bie presentation, Daniel felt humiliated. He couldn't believe the woman managed to make what he worked on for a week look like crap within a few minutes.

"She made me look like an ass. I've been working on that for a week!" He yelled in frustration with Betty in tow

"She stole the show."

"Yeah, but it was my show."

"Daniel you know that I hate to say this, but I don't think that witch Wilhelmina is going anywhere anytime soon. Maybe you need to find a way to work with her."

"Betty, Wilhelmina doesn't want to work with me. She's working against me."

"But you guys did it before. Before she was fired you two made a great team, you were comfortable with each other. I don't see why you can't do it again."

"Do it? Oh, you mean…work together? She hates me, for what happened with me and her sister."

"She was engaged to your father. What's the difference?"

"That's different, Betty. Wilhelmina and I…just go to your lunch with Gio. I'll deal with this"

Daniel stood by Betty's desk looking into his office completely dumbfounded. He didn't know what to do or what to say. 'God, I wish Betty was here right now because she…'

"Hey Daniel! Gio just asked me to go to Rome with him for a month and I said yes!" Betty's high pitched voice interrupted him

"Betty."

"Oh God, Daniel you're already freaking out. Look it'll be fine. I know this terrific temp and she's totally reachable…Hey who's the kid in your office?"

"He says he's my son."

"What? Oh my God, you trumped me!"

"His mother was a model I slept with years ago. She just died."

"That's terrible."

"It is, but he's not my son. You know how many time this happened to my father? People just show up, pretend to be related."

"True, but Daniel…"

"Look, either someone is after my money, or they're just messing with my head. And I think I know who it is."

Wilhelmina sat at her desk, cool, calm and collected as she listened to Daniel's ridiculous tongue lashing about how she's an immoral bitch who'll stop at nothing to make him miserable.

"So what you're saying is…I researched every woman you slept with, found out which one had an illegitimate child, waited for the woman to die and then arranged for the child to come on a class trip from Europe, just to…upset you?"

"You're not gonna beat me here, Wilhelmina. You may own a third of the company, but I am still Editor-in-Chief of this magazine. You have no moves in this chess game."

"Daniel I play chess. You're playing checkers." Marc chuckled

"Either way, you have no moves. Especially with the possibility that that kid is not Dad's."

"The hell are you talking about?"

"I'm not as dumb as you think, Wilhelmina. If you're three months pregnant then there's a possibility that the baby is mine. And then you'll lose your share of the company and then I'll sue you for custody."

"Okay how the hell are you going to do that?"

"I'll subpoena a DNA test. If the kid is mine I'll make you seem like an unfit mother and they'll grant me full custody."

"Wow you had this well thought out didn't you? Bravo, Danny. Now here's the thing…you have no case against me. Because with your filthy history, you'll have to prove that you've done a thorough research on all the women that you've slept with and be certain that none of them had an illegitimate child, which I'm guessing will be an easy task for you since you keep track of all the women you fuck."

"Wilhelmina…"

"I'm also guessing that you'll be using your little bastard that for thirteen years you didn't know you had, as evidence of what a great father figure you are."

"Look Wilhelmina…"

"Now please leave my office so you can get started on your research. If you start now you might be finished by thanks giving…next year."

Daniel decided to save his dignity by leaving, feeling like a total idiot.

"Well that choo-choo has gone off the rails right? I mean it's not like there's some twisted scheme that you haven't told me about, is there?"

"No, Marc. I didn't plan this. Why the hell would I plan for some French boy to come over her to mess with Daniel's head?"

"So you really didn't…"

"No! All I care about is making sure that my position at this company is secured and if I'm lucky I get to be Editor-in-Chief by the end of this month. And as for Daniel…he can go to hell."

"Oh, I just thought you were trying to make him pay for..."

"No I'm not trying to do anything. He and I are done. Now go and find Amanda or something and leave me alone."

The following day Wilhelmina was working late when she noticed a Daniel leaning on her door frame obviously waiting for her to notice him.

"Daniel. What are you doing here?" He walked slowly towards her desk and put his fists on her desk.

"Why are you such an evil bitch?"

"Oh Danny that's just part of my charm. But seriously, what have I done now?"

"You leaked the story about DJ."

"What?"

"Don't deny it, Wilhelmina. TMZ, Suzuki and all the gossip magazines are running this story. And now Alexis is ordering me to keep a low profile… "

"I did no such thing. I have more important things to worry about, like taking your job."

"And I'm supposed to believe you?"

"I don't give a shit what you believe. Why would I go to the press about your pathetic personal life anyway?"

"I don't know…to get back at me?"

"Get back at you? Daniel I'm not trying to get back at you, I'm not trying to do shit because we're done!" She closed her laptop and picked up her handbag and gathered some files. As she was walking past him Daniel grabbed her by the hand.

"Are we?"

"OH YEAH" She replied as she snatched her hand from his grip

"I find that hard to believe. Because if we were done, you wouldn't be so angry with me."

"Angry with you? You are a cocky piece of shit, you know that?"

"Yes you are angry…especially since there's a big possibility that that's my child you're carrying."

"This isn't your baby, Daniel."

"Just because you wish that it isn't doesn't mean it's not possible. Come on, Wils you're a smart woman, you know what I know."

"Fuck off"

"Especially since we didn't use any protection at the start of our relationship."

"What?"

"Oh come on, you know I bare backed you when we first got togeth-…" Before he could finish he felt the palm of her hand connecting with his cheek. His eyes widened in shock as he rubbed his stinging cheek.

"DON'T YOU DARE SPEAK TO ME LIKE THAT. EVER. Don't ever speak to me like I'm one of your cheap whores!" When she spoke those words Daniel realized how he made her feel. When he didn't have a comeback, Willie stormed out of the office. He fell back on her chaise sighing heavily.

The anger which was evident in her voice told him that she was still bitter over what happened between them, especially after she warned him about her sister. He thought about why he keeps on being an asshole when it comes to women. He knew he was a pussy when his mother pushed Wilhelmina into an open grave and fired her on the spot and he didn't do anything to stop it. He knew he was an ass when he tried to move on a month later, especially how he attempted to move on with her sister of all people. That probably made her feel like she didn't matter, like she was a disposable piece of ass, He thought. He knew he fucked up big time and had to find a way to fix it. She might not want him anymore but he had to tell her how sorry he is. He had to make things right with her, and it had to happen sooner rather than later.