December 2010

Betty Suarez glanced through the last papers she had to sign for the day - Les Mis was about to start in half an hour, meaning she might have to skip dinner again to make it to the show. Not that she minded having a quick bite at desk once in a while. Dinner for one could be lonely sometimes, despite numerous times convincing herself that she was fine being single.

Betty always considered herself an ambitious career woman whilst being fully aware that she was living her best life in London. Accepting the offer to manage Mr Dunne's newspaper was life-changing - she finally treaded on the right track and started following her passion. Her first few weeks running Youth had been teaching her immensely, and her colleagues had been incredibly supportive. She was living her dream, not least because she was eager to get out of her apartment and start work everyday.

It was hard to leave everything behind in New York - especially her family, however she was glad to hear they had been doing fine without her. Everything was really falling into places as she expected. Ignacio was now managing a few of Frank Burrata's restaurants, occasionally providing hints to what had made his mole poblano second to none. Bobby and Hilda now had a successful beautician's in Manhattan, and Justin would soon join drama college. Despite the time difference, they called each other often.

Leaving MODE was also a difficult decision - the first job was always the greatest learning experience. She mused at the thought of Daniel running around without a competent assistant (with or without Claire's occasionally well-intended but none-the-wiser help). Daniel had been more than just a boss - he was a friend, a mentor and the brother that she never had. Surprised by Claire's mention that he might have feelings for her during her leaving party, she got on the plane at JFK airport still thinking furiously.

Betty had been spending her life looking after people including Daniel - her determination as well as her kind and open nature gained his trust and approval from day one. They worked great as a team and he would always support her both in her work and life matters. However, she never had considered dating him - she first thought it would have been too complicated at work, but that was not the whole story. Work had not prevented her from seeing a certain person in the past. Hearing Claire's words, she was simply surprised and did not have time to think further. Until now, she was still confused about what she would say to Daniel. She nevertheless decided to go to London - it was a one in a lifetime opportunity for her career.

Betty was speeding through Leicester Square, on the way to the theatre when she stopped short, spotting a billboard about a relief mission in Africa. She stared wide-eyed at the charity's mentions - Calvin Hartley Foundation.

Suddenly she was pulled back to six months ago in New York - when her heart was broken into a million pieces seeing Matt leaving for Africa. She had to make the most difficult decision in her life then - to let him go. There had been times she berated herself for not persuading him to stay, and wondered if she should have been uncharacteristically selfish for once. However, she remembered the excited look in his eyes when talking about Botswana - the look that made her heart skip many a beat. She admired him for sacrificing his comfortable life to pursue his passion, and found herself loving him even more. She could not help but feel her heart wrench at the thought of them being apart even for just six months, but she had to say goodbye.

Betty was so deep in thought whilst making her way to the musical, that she did not realise that she had taken a wrong turn. I'm definitely missing it now - maybe I should head home. She stopped by a Tesco to grab a sandwich and a bottle of wine. This would be another night being by herself.

Sipping through the merlot, Betty continued thinking about Matt - his adorable goofiness and his bad jokes that made her laugh. The little moments they had together were the happiest time in her life back in New York. She liked him pretty much right away when they started being partners at YETI, especially after he expressed that he was more interested in learning about her than fashion. She missed how she felt every time she was with him, even during their brief break-up when he made her life miserable. Those were pretty strong emotions - I have my diary to prove.

She missed how they always got each other's back. His words, albeit sometimes harsh, were what she needed to hear - she realised with amazement how well he knew her even better than herself. Betty blushed guiltily at how Matt knew she was not completely over Henry, until a few weeks before her trip to London. He also knew she was rather a cautious person - that was why it took years for her to get away from fashion and pursue her passion. Hilda's words at her wedding were ever so true.

Moreover, he knew something she was rather uncomfortable with - he knew she did not think he would be able to commit to her. That was partly why she chose to let him go - deep down she was praying that if Matt could eventually see through something, he would be able to stay with her. Perhaps that was also why he felt he had to leave. He knew they could not truly be together with the status quo.

She felt guilty at the thought of doubting him then - her ex-boyfriend had been constantly loving and supportive during their relationship. Matt had helped her move forward to where she was today. He prompted her to look deeper when she could not cope with producing Heinrich's show. He encouraged her to be creative and speak about the link between fashion and opera during Victoria Hartley's dinner, which was subsequently published by a prominent newspaper columnist. He helped her finish the YETI project. He helped her defend non-fashion pitches during the time they were both at MODE. All of this had gained her a great reputation in the publishing industry.

Most importantly, he was why she could create a blog - the sole reason why she was here today doing the job she loved. Betty looked at the pages, now with millions of views, and scrolled right down to the very first comment. "You inspired me". She smiled at the kind words that both ended something and started something else. They ended their relationship at the time, but they started her journey to find courage and follow her dreams. On their last day together, Matt told her she changed his life - little did he know that he changed hers too.

So much had changed, yet something stayed the same - her feelings for him. She realised they were still there shortly after Hilda's bachelorette party, when she received a call from a stranger.

"Hello?"

"Hello, I received a rather strange voicemail from this number yesterday, believing that you might have been drunk." - as the person spoke uncertainly, Betty cursed herself. Apparently Henry was not the only one she drunk dialled.

"I am so sorry about that, I had a lot of drinks from my sister's bachelorette party and frankly don't remember at all whomever I called or whatever I said."

"No problem. Just wanting to say that, er, I don't think this is the right number anymore because you apparently addressed a Matt in your voicemail." - she felt an electric shock through her heart hearing his name.

"Oh...? Sorry, this used to be my ex's number, he's moved to Africa now." - she stammered.

"I see.. yes it did sound like he's your ex. You probably don't want me to relay what you said, supposedly to him?" - the stranger chuckled.

"Er...hopefully nothing too outrageous?"

"No worries. I will say this though, just two cents from a stranger, you didn't sound like you were over him yet. It didn't sound to me like he was just any ex either - he seems like a very important person in your life."

His words shook Betty to the core. It was already a few months since Matt departed for Africa, and she had been trying her best to start over. Thoughts about him were buried as she moved on, but apparently they resurfaced during that time she was inebriated. They kept propping up every now and then, and finally came to a bubble during Hilda's wedding, when Betty realised things were slowly falling back into places seeing Hilda dancing with Bobby, Ignacio dancing with Elena and Justin with Austin. She could finally move on with her live, as he did - she thought as she picked up her phone.

"Mr Dunne? I would like to accept your offer!"

She was now ready to start over, as her part of looking after people seemed to be finished. Now she could focus on herself and her passion. However, she also remembered Gio's words whilst hanging out with him in front of London Eye - "It's because we both follow our passion that we can be together."

Opening her blog for the first time since she settled in London, she stared in amazement at the newest comment.

"You inspired me, again".