Betty Suarez bounced by Daniel Mead's side as they waited for their newest perspective client. Andalasia Fashions was the next big thing. And Betty had persuaded the new hot boutique that claimed to 'Bring the Magic' into considering a photo layout with MODE.
The designer, Giselle Evers, seemed to come out of nowhere. Her designs were strange, fairytale things that shouldn't have been popular. But somehow people, both in and the fashion industry, couldn't seem to get enough of the fanciful creations. And for Mode to get a fashion shoot would be a great accomplishment. It would also help to pull the magazine after its downward spiral.
Both Daniel and his assistant blinked. The women who swept in the conference room like a wayward zephyr was not what anyone had been expecting.
Giselle Evers was simply lovely. It wasn't the typical super model kind of pretty. It was purer…more ethereal. She was slender with skin like wintery cream, eyes like the water off the Caribbean and hair that fell like the reddest leaves of autumn. She didn't seem to walk so much as she flowed like water. Also, she was her own advertising. She wore a simple gown of peach lawn. If anything she looked like an escape from a storybook.
"Hello, Mr. Mead. Miss. Suarez." Giselle's voice was just a note away from a song.
Betty recognized the sweet tone from the phone call they had had three days before. The voice was one the girl from queens had wanted for a friend.
"Miss. Evers," Daniel holding out a hand.
She shook it delicately.
Daniel felt absurdly like he should have kissed it or bowed over it.
"Hello, Miss Evers." Betty too shook the designers' hand.
"Betty!" Giselle's face lit up making it even prettier; if that were possible. The phone conversation had been delightful. "I'd been hoping to meet her." Betty had a look of barely concealed joy about her. Giselle so hoped they'd be friends. "Call me, Giselle." Surnames were still strange to the former Andalasian. Back in the land and dimension of her birth only titled people had family names. If you wanted to get formal she would've called herself Giselle of the Forgotten Forest or Giselle daughter of Samson the Miller and Isabelle of the Brightwater. Morgan, her soon to be stepdaughter had suggested Evers…as in ever after.
"Thanks, call me Betty."
"You can call me Daniel."
Giselle smiled at them, "Why do you want to do a photo shoot of my store?" Robert had not been thrilled about her coming to talk to them alone. But, he had to concede that for all Giselle's innocence she was a pretty good judge of character and being that she was a grown women he didn't need to be there all the time to hold her hand.
"We want to do something that shows true beauty for once. Not the usual prefabricated fakeness." Daniel's prepared script had flown away. He could no more be false to this women then he could be to Betty. Their was something similar about the two dissimilar women. "We want adventure, romance and at least a shot at true love!"
Betty looked at him with shock. Where had that come from?
Daniel caught himself blushing under Betty's scrutiny. What was that?
Vivid green-blue eyes regarded the pair with amusement.
"Okay. I'll do it. On one condition?" Giselle said impishly.
"Name it!" Daniel Mead said quickly. Alexis would be so jealous.
"I get to borrow Betty."
Daniel's face fell.
This was one of the more bizarre experiences of Betty's life. Considering that she lived in New York and worked at MODE that was really saying something. Giselle had demanded, really politely demanded to have final say over how they'd present her designs.
There were screens with fairytale scenes beautifully painted out, fabulous props like potted trees festooned with ribbons and hanging crystals. There were thrones and crowns and a plethora of fresh flowers.
What seemed strange to Betty was that she now appeared to be in a musical. Everyone in the studio was singing. And it wasn't even all for the same show. Everyone had a different song in their heart that seemed to be just bursting out. It was a discordant tangle of melodies that seemed to her sounded…just like the city if it were given a voice.
The only connecting thread was Giselle in a jeans and a frothy sea foam green top directing the chaos: Come my friends /As we all sing a happy little working song/ Merry little voices clear and strong / Come and roll your sleeves up/So that we can pitch in…
'Nothing that's formal/Nothing that's normal /No recitations to recite /Open up the curtain /Comedy Tonight!' Sang technicians, and stylists and gaffers, and make up artists.
'Why live life from dream to dream/And dread the day when dreaming ends/One day I'll fly away/Fly... fly... away' Sang a super model wistfully.
Betty jumped when she felt Henry's soft tap. "Hey, Henry." She gave her boyfriend a quick peck.
"Pretty crazy, isn't it?" The bespectacled accountant said waving a hand at the twirling choreographed dance numbered.
"It's insane. Where is the music even coming from?" Betty said goggling at the stylist who was now juggling hairdryers and hair curlers as he put in a soft shoe number.
Henry shook his head, "All I know that an orchestra is not in the budget."
---
Alexis looked at her brother staring at Betty and Henry with a distinctively unhappy expression as he took in how leaned intimately towards one another.
She shook her blond locks. What was wrong with him? It was like Daniel was completely incapable of buying a clue when it came to his own feelings…wait was he singing?
'And I know it's only in my mind / That I'm talking to myself and not to her / And although I know that she is blind / I say, there's a way for us," Daniel sang pouring out his subconscious heart.
His sister shook her head. Maybe she should take a nap.
Music included
'Happy Working Song' from 'Enchanted'
'Comedy Tonight' from "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum"
'Someday I'll fly' is from 'Moulin Rouge'
'On my Own' is from Les Miserables
To all you songfic hates…I'm so sorry
Attorney Robert Phillips sauntered into MODE his hands stuffed down the pockets of his trench coat.
Amanda grinned her catlike grin at the sight of the lawyer…he was positively mcdreamy. "What can I do for you," she purred.
"Yes. I'm looking for Giselle Evers," Robert smiled. Even her name made him happy.
"Oh," Amanda said in disappointment. "Here she comes."
Robert turned around and promptly had himself with arms full of Giselle.
"Robert!" She smiled up at him. It was like sunlight.
He kissed her soundly. Robert was never one for PDA but these days he just couldn't seem to help himself.
He grinned at her blush. Who da thunk that he'd get the princess; okay so she wasn't technically royalty but she was close enough in his book, "Hi Honey, you just about done here?"
Giselle nodded, "We're just finished up for today. Just one more thing on my list."
"Giselle," it was Betty's warm voice. "You wanted to see me?"
Robert smiled, "So, you're the redoubtable Betty. Giselle's been singing your praises for the last few days…sometimes literally."
Amanda listening in to the conversation rolled her eyes. She honestly didn't get why the ragamuffin was so popular.
Giselle pulled a large box with the Andalasia Fashions castle by the lake logo on the top out of nowhere and handed it to Betty with a flourish. "I made you a dress; as a token of my gratitude for all your help."
Betty flustered. "You didn't have to."
"I wanted to. Now go try it on," Giselle said with an encouraging smile.
Betty sighed. There was no use putting up a fight. She'd just end up doing to doing the crazy ladies bidding.
"Like some sparkly fabric's going to help that," Amanda muttered. She told herself that Giselle's line was tacky. The truth was that the little girl inside of her desperately wanted one of those dresses.
Giselle had caught that little comment. But to Robert's surprise her eyes didn't well up with empathy they narrowed in on Amanda.
"I agree," Giselle's voice was as sweet as ever it just held an edge he'd never heard from her before. He found it compelling. "Betty does not need a dress no matter how sparkly to show how very lovely she truly is."
Amanda made a scoffing noise and tried to look away from Giselle's intense look.
"Betty just glows with the beauty that only comes from a kind and loving heart. And that is only kind that truly matters." That being said she turned away from Amanda and effectively dismissed the girl from her presence.
"That was kind of mean," Robert said thoughtfully. "I approve."
Giselle shrugged, "She reminds me of the village maidens. They weren't inclined to be kind to an orphan who lived in the woods."
Robert pulled her against him. Not all her stories of her magic birthplace were happy.
"Well?" It was Betty.
Giselle grinned. It was even better then she had hoped. She made a twirling motion with her hand.
Betty rolled her eyes and went in a circle. Betty had to admit the dress rocked. Rich blue satin shot though with blue ice with a multitude of crystal beads, it fit her perfectly. She'd never felt more like Cinderella in her life. It had even came with beaded slippers…and they were comfortable!
Robert looked up at the sound of an indrawn breath. There stood Daniel Mead. At first Robert thought that the…playboy was staring at Giselle and his grip tightened.
But, no Daniel was looking past Giselle at Betty who was still spinning around in uneven circles.
"You little minx," Robert laughed into Giselle's red tresses.
She looked at Daniel's pole axed expression from the corner of her eye and smiled with satisfaction. "I have no idea what you are talking about."