Thank you to everybody who has read or left kudos for the last chapter. I always appreciate it. Especially right now when I'm going through a lot of health issues. I will be having surgery soon. So the next update might be a little late.
Chapter 69: New Day, Same Bullshit
Early morning Tuesday, September 7, 2010
The witch's ex-husband: I heard what Victoria did, and I want to personally apologize to you.
Clarice: She fired me because you showed up when you weren't supposed to be there. Corbin and I have a system.
The witch's ex-husband: I'm sorry. Corbin didn't know I was coming. Unfortunately, I needed to be there to keep her from hurting Matt.
Clarice: I'm not going to argue with that. She's been unhinged since he came out to her. It got worse after Lindsay Black said Matt would make the perfect third to keep her sham of the marriage going. You know, if she was going to tolerate child abuse which is something Lindsey Black would not do.
The witch's ex-husband: Lindsay probably said that solely to mess with Victoria. Lindsay has a reputation for being very intelligent and dislikes most people like my ex on principle. You should also know Lindsay is also going by her maiden name again.
Clarice: Good to know. That's possible. And it worked. The fact that Matt came with his new boyfriend made it worse. You missed her breaking plates when she saw them walk onto the ship together, holding hands. I was already on thin ice for not warning her even though I had no warning. It got worse when she realized Matt was dating a Malick.
The witch's ex-husband: I'm sorry that she blamed you. I promise we will find you something else in the company. Corbin will contact you later today.
Clarice: That won't be necessary. Vivian Wyndham West hired me for her team at the foundation. I wanted to move on from being a personal assistant for a while. I'm looking forward to the challenge.
The witch's ex-husband: I'm sure you are.
Clarice: Although you should know that the one thing Vivian asked me to do last night was to keep her foster son far away from you. I don't know why. Although I did overhear that his mom used to work for you. I think her name was Tia or Tiffany. Something like that.
The witch's ex-husband: Thank you for telling me. Corbin will still contact you about the severance package. You deserve it for surviving my ex for five years.
Xxxxxx
Unknown number: Austin, this is my number for this week. Code word: Manhattan iced tea, sourdough grilled cheese, and a rainbow sprinkle unicorn sundae.
Austin: codewords: Pomegranate juice, prosciutto and mozzarella sandwich on a French baguette, and chunky monkey ice cream.
Brother one: Good to know you're not Victoria's PI. I hoped she would stop doing this after Monique caught her person spying on the mode computer network, but I doubt that will happen.
Austin: Probably not. I'm glad you sent the current cell number. Even though her PI got caught, I am being careful.
Austin: FYI, I just emailed you the notes from last night. Mostly about how we're going to have to rearrange several tables. Apparently, Marc can no longer be anywhere near your mother.
Brother one: Nobody should be anywhere near my mother, but Marc will not be the sacrifice. I'm just hoping my father doesn't show up. My family is exhausting.
Austin: I'm getting that. As of right now, your father is not on the guest list. Thank God. I'm glad Cal doesn't know who I am.
Brother one: That is definitely for the best.
Austin: So, did you get to use the overnight bag last night?
Brother one: I am not answering that question. I can't believe you did that.
Austin: So that's a yes. Finally. This means I win the when will Cory and Matt get together betting pool.
Brother one: Not so fast, baby brother. I slept in my own bed last night, even if it was for only four hours. I despise morning meetings, especially when their emergency meetings with lawyers.
Austin: That's to be expected. Although no details because I do not want to know about my boss's sex life, especially when it involves my brother.
Brother one: Nothing happened that would ruin your delicate sensibilities. That's why no bets were won.
Austin: Really?
Brother one: OK, there may have been a good night kiss, but that was all because of Victoria's interference.
Austin: Did she ambush you the moment we left?
Brother one: Not me, Marc. Which was probably why you were given orders to get him away from my mom's table. You'll have to ask him for details. Although that's why I had to be here this morning for a 9:30 AM meeting with the legal team. Actually, I'm still in that meeting.
Austin: Justin will after class.
Brother one: How's that going?
Austin: My teacher is passing a box around for us to put our cell phones in, so not good. I'll talk to you later.
Xxx
Stephanie walked into the newly renovated classroom to see her students seated with laptops and cell phones in hand. She is pretty sure this was an office in a previous career life. Thankfully their desks contained convenient nametags. She was there earlier setting the place up but decided to try out the infamous Mode cafeteria. Just like Skye said, the coffee was perfect.
She's glad she did come early; otherwise, the students would be dealing with blank orange walls. Just because she was tutoring three teenagers didn't mean they would have to have a bland classroom. She wanted to make this as normal of a school experience as possible. Considering they never looked up from their cell phones, she felt they were halfway there to normal school behavior.
"Welcome to Mode Academy. Put your cell phones in the box now." Stephanie said as she passed the box around. "I promise you will get your phones back after class." Only the lightheaded boy put his phone in the box after sending one last message.
"But we might have to answer work emails?" Antonella commented. "I've already had to answer three from Megan in the last five minutes."
"I am still waiting to hear back from Charlotte about what shows I'm covering for Mode UK next week. We need to finalize my credentials today. It's going to be too late London time by the time we get out. I'm working against a time difference here." She's already very concerned about work-life balance. She expected them to be texting friends, not answering work emails.
"You can do that during our break. I promise we will have one." Stephanie said as she placed the basket of phones on her desk.
"I know this will be slightly different because all three of you have a job. But I feel, if nothing else, I want to teach you work-life balance. So when you are in this room, you're here to learn. Your bosses will just learn to adjust to that." Stephanie explained.
"Good luck trying to explain that policy to my supervisor Megan," Antonella remarked with a side.
"Trust me, she will get it once I'm done with her." Stephanie definitely wanted to meet this Megan person already. "I promise this won't be a normal school environment. We won't be in class for 8 hours a day. You will have independent study and less in-class work. I want this to complement what you're learning on the job. For example, I'm planning to count your article writing for fashion week as part of your English component." Stephanie explained.
"What if you're not writing articles for fashion shows next week?" Austin asked. "I mostly tag along with Justin to ensure he eats between shows. He tends to forget basic functions when in the fashion zone."
"I'm getting much better at remembering to do that," Justin remarked. Per her briefing with Skye, she knew the two boys were dating. This may have been another reason why they opted for private tutoring versus private school.
"You nearly passed out from low blood sugar in DC." Antonella reminded.
"That was only on the day that Marc's ex Troy hit him at the State Department. That was chaos, and I'm pretty sure nobody remembered to eat that day." Stephanie barely knew what they were talking about, mainly because the DC issue hit the stands a couple of weeks ago. Although there was more zoo and fewer government buildings in the issue.
"I hope London is better than that." Justin lamented.
"Look, Justin is the one who actually writes. Technically he's a junior writer. The rest of us are just gophers with the occasional notetaking responsibilities at meetings." Austin explained.
"I don't even get to do that much. I spent most of my morning escorting photographers to fashion week Boot Camp. I also had to pick up bagels this morning. It's why I had to get up way too early after last night." That was obvious from the yawning.
"And Megan couldn't do that herself?" Austin asked, obviously annoyed.
"Since I was getting them from my brother's bakery, it was easier for me to do it. Do you really think Megan will give up the opportunity to order around the big boss's pseudo-daughter? Of course not."
"I hope you're doing more enriching stuff than that," Stephanie said, concerned.
"There will be. Cory has plans. But with fashion week and the ball coming up, you go where ever you are needed." Austin explained.
"Plus, Megan is taking advantage of Monique being on maternity leave and Marc having to do three jobs, including his baby daughter," Antonella added.
"It's still important for you to speak up. I will be talking to your boss about that. I want to ensure our curriculum here is reinforced by what you're doing. This internship is still where you're supposed to learn about the magazine industry."
"Well, I have learned I don't want to work at a fashion magazine when I grow up," Antonella answered. "Or actually any magazine, for that matter. I am going to see if I can work with aunt Marcedes next year."
"Fair. I know Mercedes does a lot of exciting stuff, per Skye. What about you, Austin?"
"I'm still open to the publishing industry. Although that might be because I've been doing less busy work. My current project is the Black and White ball. Antonella has been helping me with that. She's been at all the planning meetings, especially when Justin was in London." Austin explained.
"Which is also why I know I don't want to get into my brother's business either. Catering is exhausting." Stephanie chuckled at that.
"Well, it's good that you're figuring out what you don't want to do now. That's something you don't get in the more traditional experience."
"It's good that we're not getting that." Justin retorted.
"It is. Justin, since you're the writer of the group, I want to see writing samples from you. Can you send me two of your latest articles and one of your blog posts by the end of the day?"
"I can do that."
"Good. For everybody else, I want at least two writing samples. I will accept notes from a meeting, a previous class assignment from last year, or fanfiction, if you write it." Stephanie instructed. "I want to get an idea of where you are."
"Why?" Antonella asked. "Can't you get that by looking at our grades?"
"I don't know if they paint an accurate picture. For example, it seems odd that someone who's a Junior Writer got a C+ last semester in English."
"My grade was that low because the teacher hated me, and I was partnered with the boy who ghosted me for several projects and Ava. She wrecked our final project because she discovered I was going to London." Justin explained. "That was 30% of our grade. Honestly, I'm surprised my grade was still that high."
"That's why I'm not concerned about your previous grades. This is a fresh start." The three teenagers appear to agree with that.
"I know it's the first day, but I have a quiz." That caused all of the smiles to disappear very quickly. "This isn't for a grade," Stephanie said as she passed out the test. "It's just for me to figure out what you like and what you don't like and what things we need to focus on."
"I thought we had to focus on the requirements of the New York public school system?" Antonella asked.
"Yes, true, but since this is essentially a private school, I get to be creative with the curriculum. So I promise less Shakespeare, more In the Heights."
"I'm not against Shakespeare as long as it's a good production. Although I welcome any curriculum that involve current Broadway musicals."
"You would," Antonella remarked before turning to her exam.
x
Boss Cal: Do you have the personal phone number of Vivian Wyndham West? Victoria was her usual charming self at the fundraiser last night, and I have feathers to unruffled, personally.
Corbin: I'm sorry, I don't have that number. We have her assistant's personal number but not the new one. I know there was a change recently. However, I can get that information soon.
Boss Cal: Please do. Vivian Wyndham West is one of our biggest donors despite her own foundation. We also do a lot of work with the Wyndham West group. I would like to speak with Vivian as soon as possible to apologize for last night. Even if it's just a phone call.
Corbin: Of course, sir.
Boss Cal: thank you. In the meantime, I need you to get me on Lindsay Wyndham West's schedule as soon as possible. She deserves an apology as well.
Corbin: I'll take care of it.
Boss Cal: I also need you to have our personal investigator track down a former employee, Tiffany Reynolds. There's a Project we worked on together that needs to be revisited. I want to bring her in as a consultant.
Corbin: I'll take care of it, sir.
Boss Cal: Thank you.
xxxx
A few hours later
London Betty: Hey, I just wanted to say that you looked lovely last night. Justin sent me pictures. It looks like you had fun even though he had to restrain himself twice to keep from punching out Cory's bigoted uncle.
Marc: That does not surprise me at all. There were too many horrible people there last night. I don't even want to think about it anymore. I'm still hungover and got no sleep last night because of multiple emergency meetings with lawyers. I also deeply regret making it to the Men's room and not throwing up on Victoria Hartley's shoes.
Marc: They were ugly as fuck anyway. Just because something is couture doesn't mean it's actually nice.
London Betty: As evidenced by my former wardrobe. Apparently, most of my pieces have been designer for the last four years, and I didn't even realize it. Daniel was secretly ordering things my size and having Christina give them to me.
Marc: I'm not even surprised by how oblivious the two of you were. See, your problem was you didn't know how to put an outfit together and needed a stylist to consult. Thankfully you're marrying one.
London Betty: True. What happened last night that made you wish threw up on Matt's mom?
Marc: Does there need to be a specific reason? She's just an absolutely horrible person. Has she sent Amanda any more threatening roses? I wanted to ask you since Mandy didn't tell me about it the first time.
London Betty: I think she didn't want to worry you more than necessary. And no, we haven't gotten any more threats. At least nothing that has gotten past the security team.
Marc: They may have missed something. Victoria is as subtle as a neon yellow blazer due to decades as an entitled bitch, but she does have her moments.
London Betty: It's possible. I'll send a quick email to the team while I wait for Daniel to pick me up from work. He's running late due to a meeting.
Marc: So, you're only texting me because your boyfriend isn't there yet?
London Betty: I also want more baby pictures.
Marc: [six images attached]
London Betty: They are so cute in their matching outfits. I want a set of those for the twins.
Marc: I will have Tamika send you a hyperlink. She is the one who bought those.
London Betty: Thank you. I'm checking in because Daniel got an email this morning from Brianna letting him know she will be taking over paying for your custody lawyers. Why is Brianna now paying for your custody lawyer? Did something happen last night? Is it related to your desire to throw up on Victoria Hartley's shoes?
Marc: Yes. Apparently, I was invited to a very Victoria Hartley yacht party because she wants me at Isabella.
London Betty: We were all concerned she had her own agenda for inviting you. I was worried it was related to Amanda.
Marc: As long as Amanda stays away, she'll be safe. Although maybe mommy Hartley wants her back now that she met the new boyfriend last night.
London Betty: We were all expecting that reaction. We assume he went through with it as a distraction to keep Victoria from reacting to Austin's presence.
Marc: A well-thought-out distraction, even if Matt had no idea Cory was a Malick before inviting him to hell. He is an illegitimate Malick, but that offers more protection than being an illegitimate Somers.
London Betty: Malick? I thought his last name was Hunter? Also, a real relationship or just messing with Victoria?
Marc: I'm going with real. Also, I did say illegitimate Malick. It's very messy. Unfortunately, I only got some of the details last night. Matt really had no idea. It means that Victoria can't touch Cory without dealing with big sister Hillary Malick, the future head of the Malick Investment Group. She's their CFO, but that's only because the old man won't retire. She does the actual work.
London Betty: I miss the mode rumor mill at moments like this when I don't even know what you're talking about. Or how it relates to Brianna now paying for your custody lawyer.
Marc: Cliff and I are probably going to need a whole new team since Matt's mom is threatening to bank my mom's attempts to get Jade if I don't come work for her.
London Betty: Matt told me that his father was worse than his mom once. I don't believe that anymore.
Marc: They're both horrible people. His father has abandoned multiple children. As somebody raising a daughter that came into The universe under non-idea circumstances, I couldn't see myself not wanting to be part of her life.
London Betty: Which is why threatening to take Jade away from you is a very big incentive. Especially if it involves giving her to a woman who hurt you deeply.
Marc: And it may have worked if Cliff wasn't with me. He says we're fighting this, and I trust him.
London Betty: And you should. They only want you at Isabella to destabilize Mode.
Marc: And how do you know that? I am very good at my job.
London Betty: And so was I. However, per Daniel's private investigator, I was only brought on to London Hub to get me away from Daniel. I was the secret to his success, and the only reason Mode succeeded. They wanted to destabilize the company before buying Isabella.
Marc: I'm highly offended on both Daniel and Wilhelmina's behalf.
Marc: And myself. I felt like I contributed to Mode's continued success, especially during the post-Connor times.
London Betty: You did, and you are now the only one from the old team still there. And despite all the shakeups, Mode US sales are up.
Marc: They may be up because of the shakeups.
London Betty: Maybe so, but you're part of that. You're currently acting EIC while Monique is on maternity leave. Daniel said he barely had the change anything in the book.
Marc: We were mainly following Monique's vision and Megan did help, as much as I hate to acknowledge that. She got better during her time at Player.
London Betty: You're also doing Fashion Week without Monique, and again Daniel says what he's seeing is really good. You were the one who closed the Alexandria lingerie deal. That's public knowledge. So obviously, they see you as another cornerstone.
Marc: One that they want to remove?
London Betty: Exactly.
Marc: This is ridiculous.
London Betty: I agree, but I still hate that I fell for it. I should have known the offer was too good to be true. I was barely a junior editor for a year when this job fell into my lap. Nobody gives someone a new magazine with that little experience.
Marc: Except for your fiance.
London Betty: He was a writer for several publications before getting Mode.
Marc: You put your time in too. Maybe you didn't have the traditional experience, but you spent years studying Daniel and Wilhelmina just like I did. You're good at what you do and qualified for this job. Who cares how you got it?
London Betty: Because I hate it here. Lindsay doesn't trust me at all.
London Betty: With the day-to-day operations or not telling Daniel the Isabella empire's trade secrets. I've never been micromanaged this much before in my life. He is so petty he argues about font size and color choices. We're using a charcoal Gray instead of black on the next issue's cover.
Marc: That's even pretentious by my standards. And I spent two hours looking for the perfect shade of orange once.
London Betty: He thinks I'm also responsible for getting Alexandria lingerie from Mode. Even if the company has credited you and Monique for the decision.
Marc: They're willing to go through more hoops than an 80s-themed fashion show to not acknowledge that they lost the big account because Victoria Hartley was her homophobic, transphobic, fatphobic self.
Marc: But doing that would require accepting and acknowledging your own mistakes, which will never happen. This feels like a Hartley trait to never recognize when you're wrong.
London Betty: That seems plausible. Matt and Brianna are starting to grow out of it.
Marc: Just starting.
London Betty: I want to quit.
Marc: Then why don't you?
London Betty: If I leave before the end of the year, I will be stuck with the no-compete clause for the rest of my original contract.
Marc: That shouldn't have been in your contract. I heard with my own ears that honey bun would not sign the release form unless they agreed not to put a clause in your contract.
London Betty: Really?
Marc: I was listening on the other phone. Amanda was throwing up, and I was helping her out for a minute.
London Betty: I will have our lawyer contact you. We might be able to prove that they changed the contract.
Marc: Although that doesn't prove that you didn't sign an amended contract. I'm still willing to help. I'm getting really good at talking to lawyers
.
London Betty: I'm aware. And thank you.
Marc: You're welcome. Anything to help you get the hell out of that place. I've heard stories from Amanda.
London Betty: I know I should get out. But I'm not sure how to really do that. Maybe some of me doesn't want to leave even though I hate it there.
Marc: Because you want to prove that you deserve to be there? Which you do. I always felt you were a genuine threat, and I'm glad you're in another country, so we're not competing against each other and can be actual friends.
London Betty: Wilhelmina actually respected me as a person. Lindsay does not.
London Betty: I can't believe I typed that.
Marc: Well, it is actually true.
London Betty: I don't want you to be in the position I'm in right now where you feel trapped. So, I'm glad Cliff talked some sense into you.
Marc: Well, it helps that he was lying in bed next to me when I got another text message just this morning demanding I come to Isabella to discuss the new job.
London Betty: I'm sure that helped. I'm glad you guys are back together.
Marc: We're not. I was just too lazy to go to my own bed last night. We're just telling everybody we're dating because it's simpler with Jade. And because Cliff is my work plus one now. It's easier to do business with a partner. Cliff was even nice enough to come to my absolutely awful way too early in the morning breakfast meeting before going off to wedding Boot Camp. That was followed by our emergency lawyer meeting. Since you work for the competition, I can't tell you what happened except your bosses probably hate me even more now.
London Betty: All the more reason to get you to come over.
Marc: Do you think they'll try something else when they realize I'm just going to get better lawyers?
London Betty: I don't know.
Marc: I'm worried she might try to bring Amanda into it.
London Betty: I will mention something to security. Although, Does she even know that your friends?
Marc: I don't know. Although she did have Matt's phone tapped, so possibly. I'm sure he's cursed my existence a few times because I'm Amanda's friend.
London Betty: Victoria is horrible and needs to be in jail.
Marc: She's too rich for that. People like her never actually get punished. The system doesn't work against people like her because she is the system.
London Betty: Connor's in jail
Marc: For Wilhelmina. He would be in Honduras living off of the missing money otherwise. Besides, Connor isn't even in the same tax bracket as Victoria Hartley.
London Betty: Point.
Marc: Don't tell Amanda what happened last night. I told her everything was fine and sent her a picture of me kissing Cliff in front of Victoria Hartley so she wouldn't ask more questions.
London Betty: You kissed Cliff again last night? And you're still trying to claim you're only pretending to be back together for the baby?
Marc: Yes, mostly to make Victoria disappear before the panic asthma attack started.
London Betty: And?
Marc: The attack happened the moment I got in the car. Cliff helped me with the inhaler.
London Betty: That's sweet.
Marc: And he took me to his bed last night.
London Betty: Are you sure you're not dating?
Marc: To sleep. I already told you that. We had Jade with us. She was very grumpy we took her away from Jamie. They've bonded.
London Betty: Again, are you sure you're not dating? That's how Daniel and I acted for the last year, at least.
Marc: I don't like labels. We are a family. I don't want to add anything else to that right now.
London Betty: Fair.
Marc: I don't want Amanda to know what's happening with Victoria Hartley. She is stressed out enough with the babies coming soon. I want her to concentrate on the babies and not worry about the messy custody situation.
London Betty: I agree that she has enough to worry about. Especially because she can't go to France. The doctor said no travel, not even on the train.
Marc: And I haven't been messaged about this?
London Betty: She just found out this morning when it was too early your time. She's trying to get the doctor to reconsider. Although Daniel offered to have, her be his guest of honor at all of the London shows in two weeks.
Marc: That's probably for the best. She'll be farther along in France, which might be pushing it.
London Betty: Exactly.
Marc: We're not even sure she's going to make it until our visit. Amanda will be technically overdue by that point. But we can't do the shoot until after Paris fashion week. Apparently, twins tend to come early.
London Betty: The doctor isn't worried about that happening, though. But just to be on the safe side, no Paris or extended travel.
London Betty: And because of that, I won't tell Amanda, but I reserve the right to tell Hilda because you need a friend right now.
Marc: She knows. I told her everything when Cliff had her come over to make my eyes look not puffy for the breakfast meeting.
London Betty: She's very good at making you look like you didn't spend the night before drinking.
Marc: This doesn't surprise me.
Marc: And she turned that special skill into a life calling. You know you could do something else if you don't want to stay at Hub.
London Betty: And what would that be? Since I was a little girl, I only wanted to be in the magazine industry.
Marc: No, you wanted to be a writer. You're actually pretty good at it. Although, per Monique, all your RPF Backstreet Boys/*NSYNC fics are really OOC, even though they are very well written.
London Betty: Thanks for that. I don't even want to know who told you about my old LiveJournal account.
Marc: It was your sister, and we were bored on the way to a photo shoot a few weeks ago before Jamie arrived in our lives. Again Monique said they were well written. I also saw the baby books you made for Justin. Those were good.
London Betty: Of course, he showed you those. I haven't written anything not magazine related in years. Not since I started at Mode. I haven't had the time.
Marc: It was your father. He found them when packing and gave them to me for safekeeping for reasons only known to him. I should scan them and send them to you.
London Betty: Please do that. I can make a new version for the babies.
Marc: See, you have a new project already.
London Betty: Not one that actually pays the bills.
Marc: You'll find it eventually, and you have Daniel in the meantime.
London Betty: I hope so. Daniel is here. I'll talk to you later.
To be continued