Title: Seeing Red
Author: Cathy Miller
Timeline: Bartlet’s first term
A/N: I read an article that had research which concluded that when a woman wore
red, men found her more attractive and were even willing to spend more money on
her. That was just too ripe an apple not to take a bite of (just to complete the
red/temptation metaphor).
“Donna, I can’t find- What’s wrong?” Josh found his assistant sitting at her desk with
her head pillowed by her arms and her eyes sad.
“Doesn’t matter. What can’t you find?” She mumbled.
“The numbers on the new Ag bill.” Josh answered. “Seriously, what’s wrong? Are you
sick?”
“Here.” She handed him the numbers he was looking for. “Am I sick? I’m very sick. I’m
sick of getting my hopes up and having them dashed like the Titanic on some
icebergs. I’m sick of guys lying about themselves or worse, their level of interest in
me. I’m sick of living at this office and not having any kind of a personal life.”
“You have a personal life.” Josh contradicted her.
“I really think that of the two of us, I’m in the best position to judge whether or not I
have a personal life.” Donna shot back.
“I…watch…” Josh noted.
“Yes, you certainly do.” Donna drawled.
“I look out for you.”
“You needn’t bother. There’s nothing and no one to protect me from. Even when I try
to provoke it.”
“Try to provoke it?” Josh repeated. “Just how are you trying to-“
“I’m wearing my red dress.” Donna noted.
Josh refrained from telling her that he was well aware that she was wearing THE red
dress.
“I’m sorry. The dress provokes what?” Josh asked for clarification.
“I read an article…”
“Oh God…”
“It was a scientifically researched paper in a peer reviewed psychology journal!”
Donna defended herself.
“What the hell are you doing reading a peer reviewed psychology journal?” Josh
asked.
“It was quoted in a magazine.” Donna replied shrugging.
“Cosmo?”
“People.” Donna mumbled. “But that doesn’t negate the research just because it was
printed in a…a…”
“Trashy magazine?” Josh suggested.
“Popular weekly periodical.” Donna corrected him.
“Uh-huh.” Josh stuck his tongue in his cheek. “So what did this paragon of modern
culture have to say?”
Donna blew out a frustrated breath torn between getting a guys opinion and feeling
embarrassed by her machinations. Finding out a males’ honest opinion won out.
“The researchers showed men pictures of the same woman in different colored
outfits. Without exception the men in the study found the women dressed in red the
most attractive and were even willing to spend more money on women wearing red
than any other colors.”
“Really?” Josh questioned.
“Every. Single. Male. Same reaction.” Donna explained. “So here I bring out the big
guns and still…nothing! Do you think there’s something wrong with the dress?”
Josh looked her up and down taking in the thin red straps against her alabaster skin
and the form fitting red fabric that hugged her body from breasts to thighs.
“No…nothing wrong with the dress…” He said in a gravelly voice. Donna pouted.
“Then it’s definitely me.” She complained. “I’m a scientific anomaly.”
“No, you’re not.” Josh countered finding his voice again.
“Every man in the survey, Josh, every man found a woman in red more attractive and
alluring. But when it was me? Allen couldn’t get out of the restaurant fast enough. No
appetizer, no dessert; just rushed through the entrée and left. Sent me back here in
a cab! I’m lucky he covered the tab! I am some kind of weird woman who sends off
vibes that make men scurry away!” Donna was getting hysterical.
“That’s not true!” Josh matched her for volume level. It was very late in the bullpen
and they were the only ones there.
“It IS! It’s me! For the last two weeks every guy I’ve gone out with has made it obvious
that he doesn’t want to spend a single minute more than necessary to share a meal
with me. What other explanation could there possibly be?” Donna sat down heavily at
her desk and put her chin in her hands; a full pout on her lips. Confession time.
“It’s…possible…that there was some other reason. Maybe a very good reason the
dates haven’t worked out.” Josh offered.
“I can’t wait to hear this one.” Donna drawled. “What’s another reason then?”
“You work for a fairly important man in Washington and the guys you’ve been dating
work in Washington…Maybe…they’re nervous about dating someone who is the right
hand of the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President.” Josh tried not to wince while he
explained, but Donna must have caught a whiff of something.
“What. Do you. Mean?” Donna asked through gritted teeth.
“It’s not…beyond the realm of possibility…that these guys…who all work in
politics…might have gotten the wrong impression about our relationship and cut
things short so as not to curtail their political careers.”
“What did you do?” Donna slowly stood up and shrieked.
“Now, Donna, just take a breath.” Josh advised as he walked backwards toward his
office. He had a door that locked there.
“Joshua Lyman, what did you do?” She continued walking toward him and they did a
strange sort of dance around furniture as they traversed into Josh’s office.
“I simply explained that it might be in their best interest to keep it light and friendly,
that’s all.” Josh held out his hands in surrender.
“That’s ALL!” Donna yelled. “You ruined my dates, on purpose, and you say ‘that’s
all’?”
“Yes, but it wasn’t my fault!”
“You sabotaged my dates, but it wasn’t your fault? How do you figure it wasn’t your
fault?”
“Because you were wearing that red dress!” Josh shouted and knocked the wind out
of her sails.
“You felt compelled to sabotage my dates because I was wearing this red dress?”
She confirmed.
“Yes! Well…except for on Wednesday, when you were wearing the long blue one
that brings out your eyes.” Josh amended and Donna’s blue eyes bugged out. She
walked purposefully toward Josh and he courageously stood his ground. When she
got within striking distance though, she reached out and covered up his tie.
“What color is the tie you’re wearing?” She asked.
“The hell?”
“Answer the question. What color is the tie you’re been wearing for the last 15
hours?” Donna pressed.
“I have no idea! What difference does it make?” Josh demanded.
“You have no idea what color your own clothes are today but you remembered that I
wore this red dress on every date except Wednesday when I wore the blue dress.”
She confirmed.
“Yes….” Josh answered cautiously.
“But Wednesday’s dress wasn’t red. So what made you remember that?”
“It was just…you.” He answered simply and Donna’s eyes glistened with tears. She
took another step closer and seeing nothing but encouragement in his face, took yet
another until their bodies were touching.
“That’s quite possibly the nicest thing you ever said to me.” She noted and kissed
him softly on the lips. “Get your coat, you’re taking me to Marcel’s for a superior
bottle of white wine and dessert.”
Josh blinked. “You just announce that I’m taking you out for wine and dessert? At
Marcel’s? You think you can just snap your fingers and I fall into your plans?”
“Yep, and I’ve got the research to prove it; professional and personal.” Donna
smirked and replied over her shoulder as she left to get her coat and purse.
Josh watched her go for a moment. He’d be lying if he said he didn’t see the red, but
mostly, he just saw her. “Fair point.” He agreed and made sure he had his wallet
before he followed her out.
The End.