Big Balls

CHAPTER ONE

Wilhelmina looked out her window, relishing the view as she sighed, rolling her eyes to pick up her phone. Why wasn't Jason picking that up? Did she have to do everything around here?

"Hello! This is Wilhelmina Slater speaking." she didn't really give a crap if she sounded impatient. She WAS anxious to get home!

"Yes! She did. That was some time ago now, but of course, I remember her! Yes, yes. Just send it to my assistant. Jaso...I mean Justin Suarez! Oh, yes, actually, they ARE related. She worked under my supervision...as well as others. I was quite impressed with not only her writing and editing skills but her attitude and work ethic while she was here. But I don't understand why you're calling me for a reference.

Surely, she has been at that dull...I mean incredibly fascinating little magazine of hers at Dunne longer than she was...oh! You don't say? He did? I hadn't heard. Yes, that's terrible of course. Sorry to hear it. You can email me the forms. I'd be happy to give her a glowing recommendation. And trust me, that's NOT something I give lightly. She earned my respect!"

As the diva put down the phone and turned in her chair she was somewhat startled to see Daniel Meade, staring at her from her doorway, "DANIEL! What the hell are you doing here? WHERE is Jason?" She stood up from her desk and started to go towards the outer office.

"JUSTIN just left, Willi. I told him to go home. You do realize it's after nine o'clock? Do you always work him this hard? What am I saying, of course, you do! I see your 'tranquil domestic life' hasn't mellowed you completely, has it?"

She rolled her eyes, straightening her suit jacket as she went to retrieve her own designer bag, and pick up her briefcase, "Hilarious, Daniel! Is there some reason you've decided to come and dismiss my staff, ordering people around as if you still worked here? Reliving your 'glory days'?"

He ignored her remark, "Who was on the phone just now? Was that someone...asking about…"

She sighed, throwing her scarf over her shoulder as she closed her office door and walked swiftly to the elevators, "Betty Suarez for a reference? Yes, as a matter of fact, it was!"

"Why were they calling YOU? You were only ever her boss for a short time, that time you STOLE her from me when Alexis stuck me in Player! I was her boss, Wilhelmina, not you!"

"Technically, perhaps. But since you no longer work at Mode, I believe that point is moot! How is your dear sister doing these days? Still hiding out in Paris?"

"Provence. And she's not hiding! She likes it there."

"Of course she does. Look, Daniel. I'm thrilled that your mother and sister are all doing well, but let's not pretend we're old friends! You only 'gave me' Mode when you decided to follow Betty to London in some grand, romantic gesture, and when it didn't work out with her, you eventually came back to New York with your tail between your legs, and without her help, never really decided what you wanted to 'do when you grew up'! You're almost as bad as that idiot, Matt Hartley! The woman really has terrible taste in men!"

"Speaking of terrible taste in men...How is good old Connor these days, Willi? Still playing Mr. Mom, since his checkered past has kept him out of the job market? I can't believe nobody is willing to hire him after he embezzled eighty million dollars! Shocking!"

Wilhelmina narrowed her eyes and rose her index finger, clearly planning to tear into this idiot for his insolence. What the hell did he know about having to actually look for a real job and work for a living?

This sad, rich little former playboy wasn't going to bring her down today. It was her daughter's ninth birthday on Saturday and she and her "Mr. Mom" and their daughter were all going on a well-deserved mini-break for the holiday long weekend on the yacht Connor had restored.

Something "men" like Daniel would never understand, but it set her heart racing, having a male like her husband treat her like the goddess she was, and yet never sacrificed one bit of his testosterone.

She shrugged as the elevator doors closed, shaking her head, as she bared her teeth, almost smiling at the idiot, "Have a pleasant weekend, Daniel! I know WE will! You could...always call her, you know. SHE didn't die, just her old boss!"

Daniel tilted his head as the doors to the elevator closed, "Who died?"

But it was too late. She was gone. He could have sworn he heard her actually laughing. Wilhelmina laughed now? How had this become his life? He went to sit in his old chair and found it no longer fit him. He had obviously been replaced by Mrs. Slater-Owens! And this time, he hadn't even put up a fight! He had handed Mode over to her on a silver platter.

And for what? Nothing, as it turned out. He picked up the phone, seeing the last number that had been received. "New York Review! HR Department. This is Jessica speaking. May I help you?"

"Um...yes, you can, actually! My colleague just received a call from someone at this number and she wanted me to add something from um...Miss Suarez's file here to the positive recommendation she already gave. I'm Daniel Meade.

I was actually Betty's direct supervisor for four years while she worked at Mode from 2006 to 2010. Mrs. Slater-Owens told me that when she spoke to you, she completely forgot that she will be out of town for the next few weeks so she asked me to answer any further questions about our former little superstar, Miss Suarez."

After giving Betty a reference that rivaled his YETI 12-page (prior to editing) written recommendation, he put his feet up on the desk he had handed over willingly over a decade ago and put back his head, closing his eyes.

He heard a commotion outside the office door and finally called out, "Come in, it's open!"

When he turned and swung his feet back to the floor, opening his eyes, he was surprised to see Justin, looking rather confused, and with an expression that reminded Daniel of his aunt in a slightly accusatory tone, "I have Wilhelmina's calls transferred to my cell when I go get her coffee or...anything and have to leave the office. Why did I get her outgoing calls notification when I just saw her downstairs, getting into her town car to leave for the evening?"

Daniel smiled, as he rose from the desk and patted Justin's back, leading him outside the office, "Justin, you do realize, no matter how much 'Willy' has insinuated herself here at Mode, my last name is STILL on this building, not to mention on your checks? Sorry, Justin! That was really a dick thing to say! Shit, one afternoon in this place and I already sound like 'old Daniel'! I really hate how catty and competitive I get when I'm here!"

Justin shrugged, "It's fine, Daniel. Personally, I LOVE the drama at Mode! I always have! Marc and Wilhelmina have always been such inspirations to me. But you, your temperament is more like...well, you know who. So...can I ask you something?"

"Uh-huh. Sure."

"Why are you here? And what are you doing, returning calls to the same number she already spoke to? Not to cause any trouble. I do REALIZE that you're still 'the boss', Daniel. Even though you've stepped away from Mode and decided to become a philanthropist."

"I didn't mean that. I'm really...well, still kind of trying to 'find myself' in some ways, I guess. Hey, what was Wilhelmina talking about when she said something about somebody dying? Did she mean me? She said your aunt's 'old boss' had died! Wait, did she mean Dunne? He died? Does that really mean she's coming back to New York?"

Justin smiled, seeing how excited the man seemed at the thought of his aunt returning to US soil, "Well, did you not notice WHO you were calling, Daniel? Among other places, AB did apply to a managing editor position at The New York Review! That is who you were talking to earlier. Man, you talked for a long time! What did you say?"

Daniel put his arm around Justin, "Only the truth." he sighed, "Do you have to get home? Feel like getting a drink? It's been a long time. You're over twenty-one now, right?"

Justin thought for a moment, knowing that he and Daniel didn't likely frequent the same sort of drinking 'holes'. But they were both men of distinction, "Uh, yeah, Daniel. Of course! I'm twenty-six! Actually, I am pretty hungry, though! I haven't eaten at all today! I bet you could still get us a great table, even on a Friday holiday weekend!"

Daniel grinned, as he removed his arm from around his young friend, "Maybe. Sure, why not? I'm starving, too! I haven't really used my 'celebrity status' in a very long time, but I still know some people. Let's see if I can still get us a decent table at La Mer.

They have the best quality of paparazzi there, a great wine list, and their escargot is excellent! I have to warn you though, we should probably play it cool on anything that could be misunderstood unless you want to be thought of as my 'boy toy' or something crazy! Hell, I'm too old for your aunt, let alone YOU!"

"You really think you're too old for AB? Since when?"

"Since...a long time ago! I don't know. Ask her! I...tried!"

"What happened to you two in London, Daniel? She still never talks about it. Did she...catch you sleeping with an assistant or something?"

He shook his head, "No. Nothing like that. Well, actually...sort of the opposite. Look, this isn't something for me to talk about, Justin. It's private! It's between me and your aunt. If she wants to share something with you, that's her prerogative. But...I respect her far too much to 'kiss and tell!"

Justin smiled and nodded, "Sure, of course, Daniel! I understand. No problem-o! Far be it for me to intrude. It's none of my business. Wait, there was 'kissing' involved? She never told me that! Even when she was dri...upset."

The young man knew he would simply have to do the same thing he did with his aunt, his mom, Marc, or anyone he was trying to get the 'dish' on, he would let them get good and trashed and nurse his own vodka martini, and wait for the real story to flow.

Hell, he had even tried to use that technique on his diva herself once! But of course, SHE had merely turned the tables on him and slyly stopped drinking far sooner than Justin, so that he ended up revealing far more than he meant to-the woman was deliciously diabolical sometimes! He really did love her!

So Daniel and his AB HAD had some kind of hot affair in London that somehow fell apart?! He knew it!