I can't wait for more!   

Thanks Zach

Chapter 11-


Their taxi  had dropped Greg home first, though he hinted he would love to join Betty for a nightcap.

“Not tonight Greg.” Betty was tired and she did not want Greg to feel they were dating. At least  not yet.

Not until she was free of Archie. She would not be unfaithful because he was.

“ Did you meet any new people who’ll  back us at the party Ethel?” Betty asked Ethel when they were alone.

“ Yes Bets, I made a few connections for advertizing and getting us some back up money”

“Great news E”, Betty said. “Who was it?”

“Um, before they’ll give us any money, Bets we need a name for the designs  and we have  to

choose some models”. 

Ethel was quick to get off of that topic!

“Hey I have it-“Angel  Blue , Inc” said  Ethel.  Thinking of Betty.

“Nahh! Too dull”   said Betty, “ Let’s call it ‘ Hot Muggs Inc’  ‘cause you are so hot , Muggs!”

Betty said, laughing.

“OK , ‘Hot Muggs’ it is. “ Ethel said. They both hugged and drank a toast to their new business.

Hot Muggs Inc, Damn!  Sounds  good.

Later that night, Ethel  had called Jughead. To be sure Betty didn’t hear her conversation,  Ethel

went outside on the terrace. Ethel had a lovely view of Central Park.

Ethel told Jughead about seeing Reggie at the party.

“ Reggie is bound to see Betty, Juggie. I  couldn’t believe they missed each other at the party”.

“Juggie when can you  get away? I need you. I told Reggie my partner’s name was Ann Avery.

How creative was that? We are calling the clothing line, Hot Muggs, Inc. What do you think?

Betty came up with it. She is so creative, Juggie”

“Cute name, my sweet. Yep, Bets is amazing. How is she holding up?” Jug said.

“Very well Juggie. Betty looks better than ever. Can’t wait for Reggie to see her. She also filed

for divorce. Oh happy day!” Ethel was crowing with laughter. She was so proud of her friend.

“Hey Ethel, I can  be out there next Saturday. I need to get someone to mind the shops while I’m

gone. I’ve been dodging Archie. He is going berserk with Betty gone. I ‘ll be glad to be away for

a while. Don’t worry sweetie, that name, Ann Avery  will work. Everything  work out. You’ll see”.

 “How long can you stay Juggie”

Jughead had bought out Pop Tate’s  and started his chain of ‘Chocklit Shoppes.’

Jughead was also a great chef. He went to the American School of the culinary Arts in NYC and

learned from some of the world’s top chefs. He did a lot of lecturing, but put that on hold

because of the Andrews’ drama. Betty and Ethel needed him around. He would stay in NYC as

long as was needed. Jughead could use a break, and could afford it. He was very well off.

“I‘ll stay as long as you need me,  darlin’.  I can’t wait to see you.” That’s all it took for Jughead

to come to her. She just had to ask. Ethel needed Jughead  nearby because she  didn’t know how

Reggie would react when he saw Betty.  Or vice  versa.  She knew Betty was still emotionally

scarred and would not let anyone undo all of her hard work to get Betty well. Ethel could not risk

anyone hurting Betty, ever again. Ethel needed Jug’s strength and wisdom. The emotional storm

would be too much for anyone person to handle.

Reggie was smart and Ethel knew that only Juggie could hold his own when it came to scheming 

against and with Reggie Mantle. Reggie could never out smart or out prank Jughead.

It may be needless worry. But since Jughead is coming,  Ethel knows that Jug’s wise advice and

cunning will be needed here when Reggie and Betty crossed paths.

And to handle Archie Andrews.  Archie was bound to find Betty.

There would be hell to pay when that happened.

thats sweeet
poor Juggie, wanting to get a nose job LOL

Chapter 13
After a  two hour long celebration, they talked about Reggie and Betty.
“ Archie told me he got the divorce papers, but he won’t sign them. He doesn’t want a divorce. I don’t get it.  It will only be a matter of time before he finds Betty here with us.  I think Reggie needs to know Betty is here.   We’ll  say nothing to Betty just yet about Reggie being your ‘backer’.” Reggie knew Jughead was in town. They planned to meet at the upcoming photo shoot.
“Anything you say Juggie. You are so wise, darling” Ethel giggled as he began to nuzzle her neck…
Betty was  walking down the street, still  sniffling  from the movie, ‘Lion King 3D’. It always made her cry.
Suddenly, Betty was knocked flat on the ground, shoes and purse went flying.
“Hey guy watch it!” she yelled. That hurt! Betty had been partially blinded by tears and could not see the man’s  face well.
“Sorry miss, let me help you up”. A very smooth, rich and arrogant voice said….
Betty froze at the sound of that voice,
Reggie Mantle….!
Before she could say anything, he helped her up and was on his way. He was otherwise occupied. A very beautiful brunette was arguing with him. Betty set about picking up her scattered belongings.
Betty  knew she looked different.  Ethel made her wear more makeup than she would have ever done before. Her voice did not have that sweet little teen age girl lilt to it. She was also more ‘tight’ that ever before. She actually looked more like a bad girl than the good girl she is.
She looked nothing   like the Betty  Cooper Reggie Mantle knew.
Reggie wasn’t even  looking at the young woman he had just knocked down. He barely even heard her voice. Reggie helped the young woman stand, and kept walking, all in one smooth motion. Reggie didn’t look back. If he had, he would have been shocked. There she was.
And he didn’t even know it.

"No way, Doll!" ha ha ha! He doesn't mess around when dumping someone

    A week after Betty was knocked down by Reggie, he  was entertaining a client at The Masa, a very expensive Japanese restaurant  located downtown Manhattan. He was looking at a Japanese distribution of his magazine, when he swore he saw her pass by the window they were sitting at in the restaurant. Reggie felt his pulse race.  He  didn’t hesitate for a second  and he sprang up from the table, “Excuse me, Matsura-san. I see someone , uh something I have to catch” , nearly knocking down waiters and patrons alike, sprinting easily and quickly out to the street. Reggie had to see if it really was her.  By the time he tore outside,  the young woman , who could have been her , was nowhere in sight.
   
     The young woman who Reggie saw pass by had long golden blond hair and a short  skirt, tight sequined tee shirt that fit her snugly  across luscious breasts. She was gone. He was breathing so fast, his  heart racing.  Reggie’s chest felt as if he was going to have a coronary!
Now he  felt totally deflated.  A part of him was glad it wasn’t her, but the other part was terribly disappointed  that it  wasn’t her.  She had a husband that was not him. Now, not only was  he calling every female he sleeps with  Betty,  now he’s starting to see her  everywhere. He was losing his mind. He looked around once more, just to be sure it wasn’t her.
Get it together Mantle. You’re a sick fool!  Shaking his head at himself, Reggie went back to his client. What Reggie didn’t know was that it was Betty he saw. Betty had passed  The Masa while she was out shopping. Betty had gone into  a nearby  shop to look  fabric. They were doing a non traditional wedding gown line.
      Can’t wait for Ethel to see this,  thought Betty.   She was laden with bags of  fabrics and accessories for the upcoming photo shoot.  She loved shopping for their supplies. She knew they had assistants for that, but she wanted to do this herself. The rest of her purchases would be delivered later. Now they needed to make  more of the Hot Muggs tee shirts.  A lot of people, especially men were admiring the tee shirts she wore. 
     Just a little about the  Hot Muggs Tee   shirt: This  was a sequined number in a variety of colors, with the name Hot Muggs’ across a woman’s ‘jugs’.   For  the men, no sequins. Though some men were seen in the Village  and in the clubs with the sequined tee shirts.  And they looked very cute, indeed. On the  front or back of the shirt the customer could have their favorite photo or ‘mugg’ shot placed on the shirt. Many of the  men and women wanted to know where to get one, constantly stopping Betty, Jughead , Ethel , or various models they  had hired to advertise for them.    They were all walking advertisements.  Then there were the photo spreads Reggie had set up. These shirts were soon seen everywhere. Ethel sent Reggie a tee shirt with his picture on it. It had no sequins on it. Reggie looked at it, and he became suddenly pensive. It reminded him so much of her, how she  had looked in her tee shirts, with the bobbing ponytail, breasts bouncing as she moved….
He mentally shook himself, and went back to the matter at hand

Next Chapter
Damn it Mantle, get it together… Reggie still did not know why Betty was on his mind, on his lips and in his dreams recently. He had to get it together. It took him too long to get her out from under his skin, and his heart. So he called his mother.
     “Hi mom. When are you and Dad coming to NY?  I miss you guys.” They hadn’y been to see him since Betty left. They were terrified it would slip out that Betty was there. After all, Vicky had promised Alice Cooper she would not tell Reggie. It was so hard. She wanted her son back. He was so hard now. And the women! Vicky read the papers. She knew what her son did. She wanted him to settle down and have children.  And to be happy. She knew Betty would save him.
 “Soon darling.  Dad has to go to California for business, then we are going on an Alaskan cruise for two weeks. Then we will see you. Ok love?” By then, Reggie and Betty should have met.
“Sure mom. Tell Dad I’ll call him later. Take care. Love you both”
Reggie hung up, disappointed. But he knew they would come. Then he could be himself, for a little while, at least.
     Reggie had called Ethel a few days later. They needed to talk details about the upcoming  photo  shoot.
“ Reggie, can you help us model our evening men’s wear?”
“ Look E, I am retiring from modeling, ok?  Really too busy. The clubs, the PR firm, and the magazine take up all of my time.”  Not to mention juggling all of his women, and his adult club parties, at the exclusive club, Pandora’s Box. Also known as ‘The Box’.

“ Please Reg? Pretty  please?   We really  need you for this. No one has your flair for clothes”.
Ethel was appealing to Reggie’s ego. That always worked.

“OK E, for you.  If you need my magnificent  self, I understand.  I’ll model for you, until you get really famous.  Only for you. Then I’m finished, Deal?”
“Deal. Thanks Reg. You are a good friend” And she meant that.
“I know. Don’t start getting mushy on me. When do I get to meet your partner? She is very elusive Or is it reclusive?” Reggie asked.
“Both Reggie. Down , boy. She only  agreed to be my partner if she stayed out of the public eye”
“ Is Ann pretty? Maybe I can  meet her before the shoot” 
Reggie had that devilish tone in his voice.   Ethel just bet he had that  familiar wolfish look on his face. He sounded like he would try to seduce ‘Ann’.
“Oh no you don’t,  Mantle.  I can’t have you breaking my partner’s heart and I have to clean up your mess”.  Ethel was laughing very hard at this.
“Come on  E. Business only OK?  I  really do have to have some background information on her”
“Promise  me  you’ll behave, Reggie?”
“Scouts honor” he said
“Hey, when were you a boy scout? “She asked
“Never !   I hoped you wouldn’t remember that” he laughed.
“I can give you what information about her you need. She’s  a very shy and private person. Small town girl moves to big city.  Always had big dreams to be famous designer. Single. No children. She wants people to love her clothing. That’s Ann in a nutshell.”
“ Well, everything  sounds good.  Soon we’ll set a date for the shoot. Talk to you soon, E, “
Man, Ann sure sounded a lot like…. `
Nah. Just being crazy again.  Maybe I need a shrink. I’m sure I’m losing my mind.
After they hung up,  Ethel told Jug about their conversation,  and they both fell into each other’s arms laughing like two maniacs.
Betty heard their laughter and smiled at the sound of their mirth. They were so cute and so happy.

Reggie kept   even more busy writing an articles and ad campaigns for the launching of the Muggs Hot line, and for several other clients. He was going out with more and more women. Nothing seemed to help. Betty was not going away. He did do discreet inquires to be sure she wasn’t dead. She was alive and well. That was a relief. So what was wrong? He stubbornly trudged on, trying to be too tired to think of her.
I really  wish I could get high