Thank you to everybody who read or reviewed the last conversation. You are all wonderful.
I am so sorry for disappearing from this story for the last 3 months. I've done a lot in these three months. I finished Hydra Lullaby, I bought a house, moved to my new home, and spent even more quality time at my dentist. I began phase 1 of my dental implant process last Tuesday. I feel like I understand Betty on a deeper level now. I'm just getting to the point where I can dictate more than a few paragraphs at a time. Although this chapter does contain a lot of new material. Thankfully I wrote most of it before dictation became an issue, I just didn't have time to proof until this weekend.
Also, during these three months, we lost the creator of this version of ugly Betty, Silvio Horta. I know sometimes we were annoyed that we didn't get our Daniel Betty happy ending in canon, but I'm still thankful for the playground that was created. Besides, sometimes it's better to write your own happy ending. Also, Marc and Amanda are my people. You're well aware that there are my favorite characters to write. Daniel and Betty are my ship, but Marc and Amanda are my faves.
I've lost many people in my life due to death by suicide, and it always hurts. I work through some of my pain in that regard in the first few chapters of Alex Suarez.
Chapter 30: Plan B
After working with Monique Osborn for several years, Candy only remembers seeing the woman precisely one year ago today when her best friend died. (She found out via a rumor mill massed email). It doesn't surprise Candy at all that Monique is being held back by Marc to keep her from attacking the one responsible. Instead of crying over the fact her perfect wedding venue is now occupied by the NY FD. Candy knows there's going to be pictures of the angry fashion editor trying to attack Gio's arsonist ex-girlfriend as she was dragged off by the police everywhere. The fact Monique is only dressed in only a cream color slip and Marc's suit jacket will make it a thousand times worse.
Why didn't she stay in London? Candy could be having a lovely weekend avoiding a certain guy she shouldn't have slept with as she continued her search for decent London pizza and/or curry. Instead, she flew back for the most insane wedding of all time that will now probably never happen. Dealing with the Becks problem may be preferable. She's in another country, and he has called her six times. No, she hasn't listened to any of his voicemails. She's a little afraid to.
"It's not going to do any good if you spend your wedding day in lock-up," Marc remarked as he tried to calm Monique down. His years as Wilhelmina Slater's guard dog were coming in handy. Monique only looked ready to slightly injure at this point.
"No, but I will feel better when I stab her ice-cold heart with my stiletto." She screamed at no one in particular.
"I know a judge. It wouldn't be much of a problem. I told you to press charges yesterday." Mommy Wyndham West said at the edge of the group. "Now I'm going to have to deal with an insurance claim because she torched one of my hotels. I'm just glad nobody got hurt."
"Me too. I'm very aware I should've listened to you. I thought the ex was just getting something out of her system when she threw eggs at me yesterday. This is too much."
"She probably would've got out on bail by now anyway," Candy heard Marc mumbled under breath. He wasn't wrong considering what happened with his ex-boyfriend even though Marc was still bruised.
"Don't worry about the hotel. I'm not actually blaming you. I'm blaming your business partner who will have the full extent of the law thrown at her because I am calling in all favors." Vivian said just before she grabbed her phone. "I need to talk to the police. Will you be okay?"
"I'll be okay," Monique said as she hugged her mom goodbye.
"What did I do that gives her the right to completely ruin my wedding?" Monique asked once her mom was out of earshot.
"You stole her boyfriend," Antonella said flippantly as she slowly drank her ginger ale. Amanda was kind enough to share her pregnancy stash with the teenager.
All things considered, the almost 16-year-old was handling the potential pregnancy thing better than Candy thought she would. She only cried for 30 minutes after her bloodwork was drawn. She only stopped when Candy offered to go with her to break the news to the manipulative ex-boyfriend if the test came back positive. On the cab ride to Mode, Candy heard the whole story of how the 15-year-old ended up in the situation. Said boyfriend convinced the teenage girl that if she really loved him, she would take their relationship "forward" before she moved to London. He also told her that they were not doing anything that would get her pregnant. Unfortunately, the young teenager didn't know that pulling out before cuming means nothing.
At the pre-wedding slumber party, Antonella and Monique came to some sort of agreement about the potential pregnancy. First, Monique called in some favors to get the blood test expedited. Fingers crossed, they will know by Sunday morning. Antonella also decided that if she actually is pregnant, she is going to have the baby. All other decisions will be held until after the blood work comes in. Although Candy did see Monique hand over all the research she did on adoption for Amanda earlier this year. Amanda chose not to go that route; however, there's a big difference between this happening at age 27 than 16.
"If I were you, I would not make smart comments, at least not until I get the blood test results back. God, I still have no idea how I'm going to tell your brother if the test comes back positive. Remember, pulling out is not an effective method of contraception. We did an article about this in Player about two years ago." Candy was pretty sure Monique's soon to be former stepmom mumbled something about putting the article in the teen magazine. Candy is trying really hard to remember with the actual first name is of the current Mrs. Wyndham West.
"Contraception is everybody's responsibility," Amanda interjected, looking at Marc, not Antonella.
"I had no idea the condoms were old, and I'm not used to straight sex. But I don't regret Jade at all. Except for the fact that Jade's mother dropped her off at Cliff's house so she could go to the lawyers probably to use the abusive boyfriend thing against me. Don't have sex with people that you don't necessarily like, especially when you're manipulated into the act." Marc remarked.
"Truer words have never been spoken. Antonella, it is in your best interest for me to stay calm and not freak out in front of two million cameras. I hope none of them have microphones. Your brother finding out from Suzuki will not be good for anyone." Monique said, shaking. She was definitely furious.
"May I suggest a blow job? Finding out bad news is always easier during sex." Amanda suggested, and Marc just groaned as Monique's cousin started coughing.
"Again, I hope no one can hear this conversation," Monique mumbled under breath.
"Sexual acts should never be used to break bad news caused by sex, but if I'm desperate enough, I may use it on the honeymoon. However, if we don't come up with some way to still have this wedding, there will not be a honeymoon. There is no way in hell I will let that evil woman ruin my big day." Monique shouted at Marc, which resulted in him giving her one of Amanda's emergency chocolate bars. Apparently, they gave up on not enabling the chocolate thing sometime yesterday afternoon.
"I can try calling your mom's assistant. However, I doubt that any of the other Wyndham West properties in the tri-state area will be able to accommodate a wedding with six hours' notice." Monique's cousin Tamika remarked.
"I'm sure none of the other properties around here can. We actually had to bump somebody to get the wedding venue for this weekend. I paid for their honeymoon in Aruba." Monique told the group.
"There's always Vegas." Candy suggested. "I'm sure I can get everyone that you actually want to have at your wedding on a plane within the next 3 hours. Doesn't one of your parents own a private jet?"
"Both do, although, I doubt my soon to be ex-husband is going to help in any way. However, I am willing to donate my husband's black card to the cause." Monique stepmom told the group.
"You know you're starting to become my favorite stepmom," Monique remarked.
"Aunt Vivian also has a jet and three hotels in the Vegas area. Now they might be able to throw a decent wedding on no notice. Especially because your mom is their boss," Cousin Tamika added.
"That would be so much easier, but if I don't want the Meade publications takeover to fall apart, it's not an option. I doubt Vivian is going to revisit her stance on me eloping. " Monique said as she crinkled her brow in frustration. She was on the verge of cracking up. Why couldn't Brianna be here for this?
"I will ask Aunt Vivian as soon as she's not talking to the cops." Note to self asked Tamika why she refers to Vivian as her aunt when they are technically not related except by adoption. Actually, maybe that's why.
"As much as I enjoy having this conversation in 90° heat with every single camera in the city watching us, I suggest we move this conversation somewhere with air conditioning and hair styling products," Marc suggested, and Candy agreed wholeheartedly. The extreme heat was doing horrible things to her hair. "I need to call Cliff and probably my legal team about the baby situation, and I've only bribed Suzuki to stay quiet."
"We are only a couple of blocks from the Mode offices. It's closer than your apartment, and I know you keep a change of clothes there for emergencies, and this is an emergency." Candy said, pulling her phone out to call for a town car. She doubted some members of the group, like cousin Tamika, wanted to walk in bunny slippers. Amanda and the stepmom have already remarked multiple times that they were too pregnant for this.
"Fine, do you think we can find everything I need for the perfect wedding there too?" Monique asked with pure sarcasm.
"I know you're being facetious, but if I remember correctly, Craft Monthly is doing their annual do it yourself wedding issue. If the rumor mill is to be believed, studio three currently looks like the tackiest wedding ever from yesterday shoot. They haven't had time to break it down yet. We might be able to salvage something." Marc suggested.
"Are you suggesting that we have my wedding at sound stage three?" Monique asked, rubbing her forehead, a visible sign that she had a headache. Just as Candy started looking for something with acetaminophen in it, Tamika already passed a bottle of pills to her cousin.
"That would be absurd. We could use the props for the executive banquet room on the penthouse level if we can get rid of the tackiness." Marc said with a snicker.
"I was an interior designer before becoming the latest Mrs. Wyndham West. I can make anything look good." Mrs. Wyndham West told the group.
"It's not big enough for both, and we don't have the resources or time to break everything down between the wedding and reception," Monique said after swallowing the pills dry.
"You can have the ceremony on the roof. You did want an outdoor wedding, but your mother said you couldn't." Tamika reminded her.
"Remind me to never listen to my mother again. Okay, we have five and a half hours to pull off the wedding of this summer season. We're going to need all the help possible." Monique told the group.
"I'm working on it," Marc said with new iPad in hand. But the stepmom took it from him. "You have a kid and boyfriend to contact. I can rally the troops. Maybe Mercedes will come now that your father is in Tahiti with my replacement."
"You are definitely the favorite stepmom. Marc call your boyfriend and ask him to come meet us at Mode. I'll arrange for a babysitter." Monique tells Marc.
"I can do that. Being this pregnant, I'm mostly going to be doing emails and supervising." The stepmom offered as Marc nodded his head in agreement. "Besides, I can always use a baby refresher course before I deliver."
"Perfect. Amanda, contact Sherry, my wedding planner, and tell her to meet me at Mode as soon as she is done with the police. Also, call all the vendors and see if they can drop off everything at the Mode offices instead." Monique said already going into leadership mode. The skills that made her the youngest EIC in Mode history were evident.
"Got it," Amanda said, grabbing her phone out of her bag.
"Brittany, if you could please look in Marc's contacts, you'll see the numbers for the EIC of course craft monthly, Terry. Please ask her if we can borrow what we need. Also, Marc, can I please steal your assistant for the next 5 hours and 29 minutes?" Monique asked.
"Tamika is your cousin. Family is needed at times like this." Marc said, looking sad for a moment. "You don't need to ask permission. It is your damn company or will be as soon as the papers go through. We work for you. We have no choice but to be okay with it."
"I found it easier to work with people if they don't all hate you," Monique said with another smile.
"That's very true. That's why I'm not that upset about leaving the department." Tamika said, affirming her cousin.
"Dear cousin, call the family and let them know about the new location and see if any will be willing to help with the setup. Don't call anybody Gio's side because they all think I'm a whore." The bitterness was easily heard in her words.
"Got it. Mom should be willing. She would do anything for family, and she's good with a glue gun. So is your biological mom, for that matter. She is here." Oh, that was going to be interesting. It's definitely a good thing that Monique's father is nowhere to be around.
"That's good because mommy Wyndham-West is probably going to be busy with the police. Antonella, please tell the same thing to the family members that haven't been poisoned against me on your side. They're more likely to believe you. Also, are any of your friends good with a glue gun?" Monique asked.
"Justin is the only friend I have that is still speaking to me, and they don't even know about this." She said, pointing to her stomach.
"You don't even know for sure about that yet." Monique placed an arm on her future sister-in-law's shoulder. "Don't even think about it again until we get the blood work back. One crisis at a time."
"Everyone already hates me because I'm moving to Manhattan." Monique quickly put her arm around her and whispered something to her that no one else could hear.
"You only need one real friend." He said, pointing to Amanda.
"Fortunately for you, Justin is very good with the glue gun and color coordination. I've already sent him a text message." Marc said quickly. "Also, Terry texted me, so there's no need for you to contact her. I gave her your stepmom's number so she will call you. Terry said that she would be happy to help with the current plan. She will meet us in the studio in 30 minutes." Marc said, looking up from his cell phone just as the limo arrived. "I also drafted an email for your stepmom to send out to everyone and anyone I know that can help. You could probably use the Betty and Daniel conspiracy group mailing list for this." Marc suggested.
"How did you do that so fast?" Tamika asked in absolute surprise.
"That's a trade secret of a former assistant of Wilhelmina Slater. Because you are my new assistant, I may share." Marc said, smirking as they walked to the car.
"That's one less thing to worry about," Monique said just as her phone rang. It was Daniel's ring tone.
"Thank god you called," Monique said as she slid into the back of the limo. Everyone else quickly followed in behind her. "The wedding is still on. We are just moving everything to the Mode offices. I will explain when you get there. How crafty is your girlfriend?" Monique asked, not letting Daniel speak until she was ready. She became silent for a while before exploding once Daniel was able to talk.
"What the fuck do you mean the UK issue is lost?" Thankfully Marc just closed the door to the soundproof vehicle before the explosion. That was not something that should go public. At that moment, Candy decided to look at her work phone. She had three emergency text messages from Sumreen. That was not a good sign at all, the situation must be critical. "Let me put you on speakerphone now that we're in the car so that everyone can hear."
"What's going on, Daniel?" Candy asked. That's when Daniel explained about Mr. Pratt's revenge involving a computer virus and a cricket bat on the ride to Mode. If she ever saw that bastard again, she was going to kill him. She calmed down as Daniel explained a plan to recreate the magazine. A little bit.
And then Beck's texted her. Joy. She should probably return that. At a minimum, they will need his pictures. She might as well get it over with now.
XXXX
Number one mistake: I know you're kind of avoiding me, and I get that. But I heard about what happened at Mode. It's the talk of the magazine world at the moment here in London. Also, Betty left me a voicemail while I was in the shower.
Number one mistake: Do you need my proofs again? I keep backups of everything after what happened the day that Daniel's dad died.
Number one mistake: Although I'm hoping Daniel learned from his mistakes and had everything backed up. Although from what I got from Betty's voicemail, I don't think that's what happened. I only heard half of it because the stupid thing cut out early. I tried to call Daniel and Betty, but I keep getting a busy signal.
Candy: He did, and apparently Mr. Pratt took a cricket bat to it or so I've been told. We are definitely going to need your proofs.
Number one mistake: I'll send them right away.
Candy: To Daniel, please. Thank you
XXXX
"I know she is your bridesmaid, but I really need Candy right now." At her name, Candy stopped texting and turned her attention back to the conversation at hand. "Betty said she would help you with the wedding stuff. "Daniel offered. "DJ said he would help as well if you keep him far away from his mom and the mother of his half-sister."
"I can agree with that. Besides, the magazine is more important than how cute my wedding is. The only reason why I agreed to have this spectacle of a wedding was to help the magazine. You have full run of the US Mode offices, and I will try to get you some help from my people." Monique said with a sigh.
"Thank you," Daniel said gratefully.
"Candy, when we get upstairs, call Gina from graphics and see if she's willing to come in today for double overtime and an extra day off for the winter holiday of her choice. Also, look in my contacts for Natalia Winters's cell phone number." Monique told her as they got out of the car in the parking garage of the Mode offices. Thankfully for her, she still had a copy of all Monique's contacts saved on her new work phone.
"Considering Diana quit and Mode UK no longer has an acting Creative Director, we really do need to fill the position quickly. I will talk to her about the option and send her over." Monique explained.
"Got it, I am sending her a text message now about the new location for the wedding and to see if she can meet you here to help." She said, not even looking up from her phone.
"You are brilliant," Daniel said in praise.
"I know." She said, smirking as she started walking to the elevator.
"I need one more thing from you. As much as I don't want you to have an excuse to talk to him, I need you to call Becks to see if he can email us his proofs. Betty tried, but he didn't pick up. They don't like each other very well." Daniel said hesitantly.
"Why do you think he will pick up for me?" She asked, not wanting Daniel to know that Becks is already agreed to send the proofs. Or the fact that he wasn't avoiding Betty but was merely in the shower. Also, he did try to call back, but apparently, their phones were busy.
"Because he never ignores someone that he wants to have sex with again," Daniel responded.
"What do you mean again?" Monique said in open mouth shock. Why does she have a feeling that Mo knew about Becks' reputation? Let's just hope it wasn't in the Biblical sense.
"Hey, check your email I think the proofs might be there already. I have to go." She said quickly, ending the call before she threw the phone back at Monique. She then proceeded to run to the elevator, the doors closed right in front of her friend. Candy only hoped that Monique would be too distracted by the wedding to ask questions. She already had another disaster to worry about.
XXXX
Cliff: I just turned on the regular news, and apparently, the wedding venue is on fire. That explains the sprinklers. What's going on? Are you okay?
Cliff: Now they're showing footage of Gio's ex-girlfriend being hauled off by police.
Cliff: I'm feeling a little better now that they just showed pictures of you in your silk pajamas outside the hotel. You're holding back your boss from killing someone with a stiletto, but at least I know you're okay.
Cliff: And now they're showing footage moments earlier when Gio's ex lit the wedding venue on fire.
Cliff: Now, I understand entirely why Monique went after her with the stiletto moments ago.
Cliff: Aren't you glad I just sent you my girdle? BTW I think I was a little drunk when I did that. But no arson.
Cliff: See, I'm a wonderful ex-boyfriend. I'm even taking care of your kid.
Cliff: She just spit up on me. Still cute, but you owe me a silk shirt. I should make Jody compensate me, but you had better taste.
Cliff: If the wedding is canceled, you should come over here to hang out with your kid.
Cliff: Is the wedding canceled? Do you need help with that? I do a mean phone tree.
Jade's dad: But what about your glue gun skills?
Cliff: BWH talked me into making props for Alexis' winter holiday spectacular last December. Matt was supposed to help her, but he flaked.
Cliff: What a surprise.
Jade's dad: I will get you the best replacement shirt ever if you help me put Monique's wedding back together at the mode offices. As soon as I call my lawyers regarding the Jade thing.
Cliff: I already did. Amanda gave me their number. We have a meeting today after the wedding.
Jade's dad: Why are you so perfect, and why was I such an idiot?
Cliff: Severe mommy issues.
Jade's dad: At least we got to the point where we can joke about that. Sorry I didn't text message you back earlier.
Cliff: I understand. You were running from a fire.
Jade's dad: As well as working on getting the wedding back together, and I had to pull out my emergency email templates and pass them to Monique's stepmom. She was an interior designer in her previous career life. Also, Tracy text and I had to point her in the stepmom's direction.
Cliff: I feel like that would be useful.
Jade's dad: The stepmom also offered to babysit. She's too pregnant for glue gun duty.
Cliff: Let me put on a clean shirt, and me and Jade will be there in 30.
Jade's dad: Thank you.
Cliff: I'll even bring bagels. Are you eating bagels now?
Jade's dad: Yes. This is a bagel kind of day.
xxxxx
Alexis is sincerely regretting telling Breanna that she would get their young daughter dressed this morning. She's a former fashion editor, she can get one small child dressed. Except apparently, Lexis is significantly more stubborn than her.
"You can't put on your flower girl dress yet. The wedding is not for five more hours, and you don't want to get strawberry jam all over your mom's hard work." Alexis tells her daughter.
"Mommy had my dress Scotchgard it. What does that mean?" Lexis asked with an adorable tilt of her head. That kid was cute.
"That I prepare for every contingency possible including apparently Gio having questionable taste in significant others before dating Monique. Your mother just informed me that brunch is canceled because Gio's ex-girlfriend just burnt down the wedding venue." Bree answered as she walked into the room.
"Fuck!" Alexis mumbled under breath.
"Other mommy said a bad word." But her daughter heard her anyway.
"I will make mommy Alexis donate five dollars to the swear jar charity account," Bree told their daughter. "In the meantime, take off your flower girl dress and put on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt."
"But I don't want to change twice," Lexus told them, which is the same argument she's been giving for the last hour.
"We have to go help aunt Mo turn a roof into a wedding venue. You don't want to get pain on your bridesmaid dress?" Bree asked their child.
"But I don't want to change." Honestly, she sounded like she was 30 seconds from going into a full tantrum.
"Then I guess you don't get to make centerpieces with DJ."
"Okay, I'll go change, mommy." And with that, Alexis Junior went back to the bathroom to change clothes.
"Thank you," Alexis said to the now shut door. "DJ may hate us, but at least Lexis adores him."
"And vice versa. DJ has a right to be angry." Bree tells her.
"I know. I just wish DJ wasn't hiding in Queens with Daniel and Betty. Who knows when I'm going to get to see him again."
"In your mind, you're thinking if. You're worried you're not going to live much longer." Its moments like this, Alexis realizes that no one knows her better than Bree, not even Daniel.
"You have gone to the same appointments I have. I think it's a real thing I need to consider." The news has not been good. She doesn't want to go the same way as Bradford, but it seems to be a strong possibility.
"Yes, I have. We're you are you paying attention to Jordan's mom. She really believes she can help you."
"I know, but…" Alexis starts to speak but stops when she feels Bree's fingers against her lips.
"You have two kids who need you. Yes, DJ prefers to be with Daniel and Betty at the moment, but that doesn't mean he doesn't love you. He needs you to fight for him."
"You're right. I'll start looking for apartments in Cleveland in the morning."
"We will start looking for apartments Monday. By the way, your mom is trying to reschedule the family brunch for tomorrow morning before Daniel flies back to London."
"Of course, she is." Alexis sighed. "You want to come with me to Cleveland?"
"Of course, I am. Cleveland has always had an interesting fashion scene. I can design anywhere. I don't mind setting up a temporary studio there. Maybe I'll find some undiscovered local talent."
"What about the situation with your nephew?" Alexis asked. She knew that would be a problem for the designer.
"You should probably use the plural."
"You just managed to get a DNA sample from Austin yesterday."
"Which I'm only doing as a precaution because I fully believed Tiffany. Especially the part where my former sister-in-law tried to have her killed." Alexis raises an eyebrow at her… Actually, she's not sure what to classify Breanna as especially because they may have kissed last night. It was barely a peck on the lips, but it was something.
"Plans are in motion. Daniel is going to protect the twins, and I'm going to take care of you. You were there when we discussed the plan. You and I are partners. No matter what we call each other, I'm always going to have your back."
"I know. Everything is just complicated."
"It is. Nothing between you and me has ever been simple, and now we have a child together. And I want you two to have as much time as possible together. You and I will figure things out as we go." With that, Bree pressed a kiss to Alexis's temple. They will figure this out together.
To be continued.