"Hello?" Pt. 2

August 22nd 2016

"Your sister is in the South of France."

"Your point?"

"You said she was in Dublin."

"No, I said that she was in Ireland."

"But she isn't."

"Not now, she isn't. Daniel, should I be worried about the amount of attention you're lavishing on my sister?"

"No. I'm not interested in Charlotte."

"You sure?"

"A hundred per cent."

"How did you even know that Charlotte's in the South of France?"

"Hello! on-line."

"You read Hello! magazine?"

"No. Evelyn does and she showed me the article on-line. You should read it, Soph."

"I'd rather not. How about you just give me the highlights."

"'Delaney Heiress on Heartbreak Diet.' That's the headline, accompanied by about fifteen photos of Charlotte walking around on a French beach looking painfully skinny. Who is the blonde walking with Charlotte?"

"Not sure. Defining features?"

"Bird tattoo on the ribcage. A ton of piercings- oh, nevermind. That's Keira."

"Keira has a tattoo?"

"Apparently."

"What else did the article say? Anything about the details of the break up?"

"Not many. It names Brogan-"

"We don't call him that anymore."

"You don't call him what?"

"We don't say his name."

"That how do you refer to him?"

"Jasmine calls him that 'Rat Bastard.' I've taken to calling him, 'Him.'"

"Original. So, that article names Him and just says that they were dating for a few months and that Charlotte's taken the break up hard. She's hiding out at the family's estate in the South of France and she's lost a lot of weight. That's basically all it says. It doesn't mention His preference for men."

"Ok."

"That's all you have to say on the matter?"

"Yes. As long as Charlotte doesn't have to put up with all that being splashed across the front pages of newspapers and gossip magazines, then it's ok. If, or when, it does get out in the public domain, that's when I'll get worried. Thankfully, PG's on the case and has practically threatened every outlet that dares carry any gossip about Charlotte."

"Good old Philip Grey, huh?"

"Let's just say, he earns his wages when he works with our family."

"Scandals and skeletons in every closet with you Delaney's."

"And it isn't just the Delaney side. Although, with the Cléments' it's usually brushed off with a 'That's so typically French of them' kind of attitude."

"Because the French can handle scandal."

"We're more equipped than the English, I suppose. With the French, we just acknowledge it slightly and then move on. If you admit what happened then people can't make a big deal out of it. With the English- and the American's, I guess- if you don't face up to it, it gives the press free reign to make it all up and then it gets out of control and then it's this one, big, huge fucked up situation."

"So, instead of issuing the whole, 'No comment,' thing, people should just say, 'Yeah it happened. Get over it'?"

"Yep."

"Interesting. Want to know what else is all over the Hello! website?"

"What?"

"News of our engagement. I've recently been notified that, due to my recent engagement and upcoming wedding, I am no longer considered a candidate for Most Eligible Bachelor."

"Shame. Did you cry?"

"Balled my eyes out."

"Diddums."

"We're also now considered a Power Couple."

"A Power Couple?"

"'As one of Britain's most desired men, Henry, Duke of Kendal was  recently snapped up by Sophie Clément-Delaney, fashionista and heiress to the Delaney fortune. Together, this gorgeous pair will rule the London scene as its latest Power Couple.'"

"Stupid article."

"You don't want to be a Power Couple?"

"No offence, Daniel, but I can be pretty powerful by myself, without needing a man at my side to verify any of that."

"Ouch."

"I said 'no offence.'"

"People always say 'no offence' just before they then say something rather offensive."

"I just don't see why I need to be coupled with a man in order to be considered powerful. What is the whole point in feminism if that's the case?!"

"Don't rage at me about it. I've always known you're powerful without me."

"..."

"So, when does Charlotte get back to London?"

"No setting her up with your friends, Daniel!"

"Not even Mike?"

"None of them!"

"Ok, ok. But I was only asking because I thought she might like to hang out sometime. I know how it feels to be humiliated, so I could help. Maybe."

"The only way you got over it is by randomly calling a stranger's number. Do you suggest Charlotte do that, too?"

"No. If she wants a rebound, I'll give her Fletch's number."

"Rebound?"

"Yeah."

"So, was I your rebound?"

"What? No!"

"You just said, if she wants a rebound, you'd give her Fletch's number. You rang me after a break up, so it kinda makes it sound like I was your rebound."

"Well, in a way, I suppose you were."

"..."

"Not in the way you think of a rebound, though. In a... this is sounding really bad right about now."

"No shit, Sherlock."

"I'm going to quite while I'm ahead."

"Ahead? Sweetheart, you're about half way throught the race. You may as well get to the finishing line."

"I gracefully pull out of the race with an injury."

"An injury of what kind?"

"Of the 'I'm an idiot' kind."

"Mhm."

"Anyway, I think this may be my cue to hang up."

"Mhm."

"I love you, Sophie."

"Even if I'm just a rebound?"

"I'd love you even if you were just a cursory glance in a crowded room."

"Um, ok. That's kinda weird."

"But you still love me."

"Undeniable. I love you, Daniel."