Would you Swallow all your Pride?

Chapter Ten: Red.

"Yes." Emma got up and instantly reached for her hand again. Wilhemina wasn't expecting it, but she forced herself to allow it. And so, they made their way back to the office. Hand in hand, in public, in a situation Venable had never been before.

When they got to Billie Dean Howard & Co., Wilhemina let Emma's hand go. They stepped into the elevator.

"Thank you for the ice cream," Emma said softly.

"It's no problem. You paid for lunch, after all." Wilhemina held her cane with both hands. Her nerves had calmed down slightly. Emma shrugged, smiling to herself. The door opened to their floor, and they both stepped into the office. On her table, Venable saw a purple post-it on the screen of her MacBook. She frowned, leaning closer to read it once she had taken her coat off. 'Meet me in my office once you're back from lunch. It's quite urgent.' It was signed with Billie Dean's initials. The handwriting was so fancy and full of curves, Wilhemina found herself staring at it for a bit too long. Then, she quickly walked down the hallway and knocked on the door of Billie Dean's office. A part of her was scared Billie had seen her and Emma holding hands and that's what it was all about, but it just didn't make sense; they were all adults. Irrational. Jenny opened the door, revealing a table with calendars and papers all scattered over it.

"Wilhemina, thank God you're back." Billie Dean glanced up at her from the piece of paper she had been writing down at, phone beside it. "We have a pickle to figure out."

A pickle. Someone as posh and as classy as Billie definitely didn't look like the type to speak like that. Venable got inside and sat down on the chair Jenny pulled for her. "Thank you," she said quietly. Jenny sat beside her. "What is it?"

"I need to film an episode in San Diego next week, which will require me to spend a night away. Jenny has a wedding right on the date, so she can't come. Would it be possible for you to accompany me?" Billie Dean stared deeply at Wilhemina, now. "I'll pay you extra for the hours."

The words were nearly thrown at Venable, and she was having trouble processing them. San Diego was a three-hour drive from Los Angeles, which sounded like pure torture for Wilhemina's back. And why was she asking her, of all people? She was the last one to be hired, after all. One thing at a time. "Would we go by car?"

"Plane," Jenny quickly said. "Thirty minutes. First class. The hotel is five stars."

"Which days?" I can't believe I'm considering it. But Billie Dean had asked her for a reason. And if she were honest with herself, she still thought about how no one had gotten the touch to check on Billie when she passed out on set. I wonder how much they'll overwork her there. Was Jenny that inconsiderate, too?

"Leaving Monday morning and arriving Tuesday night," Jenny said, once again.

Venable's brown eyes looked at Billie Dean. Her own chocolate hues were fixated on her, and she nibbled on her lower lip almost as if she were nervous. Hesitantly, Wilhemina nodded. "Of course." She had never traveled like that before, after all. I've never been on a plane.

"Thank you," Billie Dean let out a relieved sigh. She reached for her phone and typed something before putting it down again. "My driver will pick you up and take you to the airport, where we'll meet. On Tuesday, he'll take you home. You can come to work after noon on Wednesday." Venable nodded.

"Any preferences on the flight?" Jenny asked Venable with a pen and paper in hand. With a frown, Wilhemina shook her head. "Window seat, hallway seat, flying company, front or back...?"

"No." Venable sat up a little better. She knew what Jenny was talking about, of course, but she had no idea of what she preferred. I'm a grown woman who has never stepped foot at a plane. It was nearly embarrassing given Billie Dean had traveled probably the whole world.