Keep Things Professional

Sorry for such a delay. I've been so uninspired lately. I hope every is well and staying safe and mentally sound during this crazy time.

Chapter 11

The morning went by fairly quickly with them compiling some ideas they had for the shoot to prepare a bit for the meeting with Vincent. When it was near noon, Daniel and Betty were making their way to the conference room.

Once they stepped inside, Betty started setting up. Daniel stood back a moment against the door, watching her, a light smile on his face seeing just how adorable and beautiful she looked.

Though she was wearing her usual color, she did look more put together and professional. He loved how much more confident she seemed since yesterday.

He glanced over her, taking in her look, that blazer making her look like a cute boss woman, and that skirt…

He loved how it hugged her curves and the colorful floral pattern on it was so her. She looked...hot!

The same sweet adorable Betty!

He didn't realize he was literally watching her until she looked at him once she was done and gave him that judgy look she got when he did something stupid.

"Daniel…" she said his name low.

He blushed.

"were you… looking at me?" She whispered that so no one passing by could hear. She blushed "Again?"

Betty was surprised to see that Daniel had been watching her. Not to mention how darn hot he looked, too! It was giving her crazy butterflies.

"Uh…" he ran his hand nervously through his hair. "Damn! I'm really sorry, Betty! I really didn't mean- uh… I'm sorry if I…" he sighed, feeling flustered. "You just look so cute is all, I'm proud of you"

The surprised smile that crossed her face made him relax. "Aw… thank you, Daniel"

He smiled, and was surprised when she slapped his arm lightly "but I know you were looking at my butt again!" She scolded, a slight smirk on her face.

He felt warm, "sorry, Betty…"

She laughed, "it's… ok, I guess…" she shrugged.

He looked at her with his eyebrow raised, but smirked when she blushed and said "I mean, I forgive you." He laughed finding her so cute.

Betty was so surprised to find that Daniel had been watching her and was checking her out. Again! She was not used to anyone ever doing that. Especially someone as handsome as Daniel. She had butterflies seeing how surprised he even seemed to be.

She glanced at him, seeing just how handsome and attractive and charming he was. How could anyone not be swept in his charms? He was not making this easier.

She bit her lip, remembering how amazing it was to kiss him, and be kissed by him. "Um…" she blushed, feeling flustered, still wondering if that had all been real.

He shook his head, "ok…uh, so... let's be professional, right?"

He sat down picking up a file.

She bit her lip as she sat next to him. When she did, he looked at her with a smile and she blushed as their eyes seemed to be held by some invisible force, and time seemed to stop and everything faded around them.

The electrically charged moment was interrupted, "Betty! There's my Queens girl!" The handsome photographer broke the silence with his loud excited voice as he entered.

Betty was a bit flustered at the interruption, but quickly got up "hi Mr Bianchi," she gave him a genuine smile.

Vincent grinned "I thought I told you to call me Vinni"

She nodded "right…"

He beamed as he revealed what he got for her. "I got you a hero as a thank you for how nice you've been" he held out the sandwich for her, wrapped in white paper and had a small red ribbon tied around in a bow. She laughed "aww, thanks Vinni! That is so nice. Mm it smells good." She hugged him. "Thank you."

Daniel felt tense seeing how great they got along. He couldn't understand how much it bugged him, especially whenever Betty called him Vinni.

He stood up, "hey, Vincent, glad you could show up" he said, though his smile was a bit forced as he held his hand out. Vincent smiled and shook his hand "sure"

"We can get started as soon as Wilhelmina gets here," Daniel said.

Vincent smiled and pulled out a chair "great, have a seat Betty"

Betty took the seat he pulled out for her and he sat next to her. She blushed as he glanced over her and said with a light look in his eyes, "I dig the colors…"

She smiled, "Um… thanks Vinni…"

He smiled, and Betty couldn't believe Vincent Bianchi, who was this amazingly talented and handsome photographer was smiling and looking at her that way.

Daniel's fists had been clenched so tight, he nearly pierced his skin, as he saw how interested Vincent was in Betty, not that he blamed him, really.

But he was feeling so irrational, he was so close to screeching his chair to snap them out of their staring contest, when thankfully Wilhelmina came into the conference room announcing herself with all her dramatics.

He couldn't believe he was actually glad Wilhelmina was here, and Marc was close behind. That should make things more focused.

"Vincent Bianchi! Wilhelmina Slater, Creative Director here at Mode. What a delight to have you join us. It is so great to have a photographer with your eye working with us!" Wilhelmina greeted as soon as she walked in, her arms open, as if she was the damn queen.

Daniel rolled his eyes, this was going to be a long day.

Vincent smiled "thanks for having me."

"Let's get started, shall we?" Wilhelmina walked in and stood over where Daniel was sitting at the head of the table, staring him down.

He stared her down and she finally relented and went to the other side, with Marc following along. He rolled his eyes internally, she always had to try to make him look like an idiot.

For the next hour and a half, Wilhelmina, Daniel and Vincent went back and forth between ideas, giving tasks of gathering, pinning and compiling photos to both Betty and Marc.

Every time Betty was near Daniel, she felt like there was a magnet drawing them together, and the occasional smile or glimmer in his eyes made it hard for her to focus. So much so, there were a few times where Daniel bumped her gently with his hip, giving her a flirty smirk.

She felt butterflies each time he gave her that charming playful look.

Vincent on the other hand was surprisingly very focused on his job, though every once in a while he would catch her eye and smile at her.

About another hour later they had more than half a wall decorated with photos for inspiration and colors, and possible layouts, and types of garments and looks and themes and possible concepts.

Everyone took notice when Vincent stepped back from the wall taking a look at what they complied so far, then called Betty over.

"Hey Suarez, what do you think?"

"What? Me?" Betty asked in surprise, and blushed as Vincent pulled her up from her chair to stand next to him, while Wilhelmina was giving her a sharp look, Daniel was definitely watching her now, too, and Marc was looking at her with surprise that she was being asked for her opinion.

"Come on, tell me what you think?" Vincent looked at her.

Betty bit her lip, feeling so nervous with everyone's eyes on her, but took in everything that was displayed out before them. "I… like it. It's a very different approach to Christmas. I've never seen anything like it"

Vincent seemed to watch her take in everything; she was trying so hard to control her butterflies as she looked to him and said "I'm sure you can make anything look amazing, though"

He smiled at her and nodded. "Thanks Suarez."

Before they could get too swept up in each other, Wilhelmina sauntered over "thank you, Betty." She silently gave her a look that told her to beat it. Betty quickly got out of the way and stood over by Marc, who gave her a curious look.

"How about we break for lunch and resume in an hour." Wilhelmina suggested, Vincent agreed "sounds good. I'm starving."

Wilhelmina left calling Marc to follow her. Vincent looked to Betty as she was gathering a few things and tidying up. "What do you say, we share that hero, Betty?"

Betty smiled "oh, sure. Let me just see if Daniel wants me to get him something"

She walked over to Daniel and looked at him as he was pretending to be focused on pinning a picture to the wall, "Daniel, did you want me to order something or pick something up for you?"

Daniel shook his head, "uh… no worries, Betty. I think I'm gonna keep working."

"Are you sure? You should eat something."

He smiled and she looked at him with a curious smile and asked "what?"

"I'm glad you're here."

Betty felt her heart skip a beat at how sweet he sounded. "Me too…" she said quietly.

He smiled "enjoy your lunch Betty. You did good today. I'm gonna head over to my office for a bit"

She nodded "ok."

He left after grabbing his laptop, leaving Betty and Vincent in the conference room. She sat beside him, then picked up the sandwich "mm… I can't believe how good this smells. Thanks again Vinni."

He smiled as she started to untie and unwrap it, when he said, "So, tell me Suarez, what's the deal with you and Meade?"

Betty paused to look at him curiously "What deal?

He smirked "Call me crazy, but I detect some suppressed sexual tension going on between you."

Her eyes grew and her face flushed with warmth. "What?! No! You felt that? I mean, that's just crazy! There's nothing going on!"

He stared at her for a moment then cracked up laughing "Yeah right, and I don't find Shakira sexy? Come on, Suarez, I'm no fool. I can see the way you two look at each other. Or not look at each other. He's always lookin' at you. And I swear every time I make you laugh or smile, I feel Meade wants to kick my ass."

Betty blushed, "what, no… Daniel could have any girl, why would he care?"

Vincent smirked, and that made her cheeks flame further. "Damn Betty, do you have the hots for Meade?"

Betty blushed, shaking her head vehemently "No! I don't! He's my boss. There's nothing going on. I mean, we're… friends, but that's all."

He stared at her for a long moment. "Hm...I don't buy it. You're like his number one fan. What do you see in him?"

Betty felt a bit flustered, but said "I know you've had bad experiences with his brother, but when Daniel is given a chance he is really nice and charming, he can be pretty smart and has good ideas."

He listened, his eyebrow raised, obviously not buying her denial, seeing how much she defended him. He smirked, causing her to blush and push him. "Vinni! Stop teasing me!"

He chuckled, "Alright Betty… if you two really are just friends, how about once I'm through working for Mode you let me take you out?"

Her eyes grew in surprise "like a date?"

He grinned "yah"

Betty smiled "okay"

He grinned "great! But for now, why don't you go show that gringo how good this sandwich is!"

AN: Hope you enjoy!