Author's Note: Thanks again, everybody, for your wonderful reviews! I couldn't believe it last Thursday when Daniel called Walter Wilbur! I must have the same sense of humor as the writers of Ugly Betty! That was so awesome. Anyway, here's the next chapter. It probably won't be the most popular one and is a bit of a filler, but I had to write it to satisfy my wanting to be rid of Sofia. I hope that you enjoy it anyhow! Let me know what you think.

Darkness was slowly making its way into Daniel's office. Just about everyone had left Mode for the day already, rushing home to their families. Betty hadn't though. She was faithfully sitting at her desk, waiting for Daniel to give her the "okay" to go home. She obviously refused to come into his office and speak with him, and every time he tried to go out to talk to her about what had been said earlier that day, she had a sudden bladder attack and rushed off to the bathroom. Daniel didn't know what to do. She'd never been this angry with him before. He wanted to talk to her, but she just wouldn't listen. He took one more look at Betty who was working diligently at ignoring him and he sighed. He pressed the intercom and said, "You can go on home now, Betty."

Betty looked at him and nodded curtly, then gathered her things and left.

Maybe she just needed some time to cool off. She'd be back to her old perky self tomorrow. Daniel desperately hoped that she would be. His days were never easy when Betty was disappointed with him, but that afternoon had been downright excruciating. He could deal with her disappointment much better than her anger for some reason. Maybe because this time he had hurt her instead of himself.

Daniel glanced out the window of his office that was overlooking the busy streets of Manhattan. He saw Betty walking toward the subway in her hard-to-miss, marshmallow-esque, light blue coat. Her hair was blowing out of control in the evening breeze. Her hand went up to capture a lock and shove it behind her ear, then it looked like she was wiping at her eyes behind her glasses, then her nose. Oh god, Daniel thought, she's crying. He couldn't just let her leave like that. He didn't want to be responsible for her having a terrible night; he had already given her a horrible afternoon.

Daniel grabbed his jacket and rushed out of the office. He pushed the button to the elevator and waited, then impatiently began punching the button saying, "Come on, you stupid elevator, hurry up!" He heard the ding and the doors opened and he exclaimed, "Finally!" He was about to rush into the elevator but stopped dead in his tracks. Sofia Rheys was standing in the back corner. She looked up at him and grinned seductively.

"Hello, Daniel," she said in a soft voice, with that irresistible Hispanic accent.

All thoughts of Betty seemed to have vanished with those two words. "Hi, Sofia," Daniel said with a smile. His eyes moved along Sofia's body, taking in every inch of her. Daniel felt stirrings down below when he recalled that one glorious night that they had shared together. If only Hunter didn't exist. How was Daniel supposed to compete with perfection? Of course, Betty said that Sofia was insane for choosing Hunter over him, but she was just trying to lift his spirits. He didn't quite tell her all the details of why Sofia chose Hunter over him. If he had told her that it was because he wasn't ready to commit to what Sofia wanted, she probably would have agreed with Sofia. Betty kept saying that he was crazy for being so insecure around Sofia, but he just couldn't help it. She was the first woman he had met in a long time who had made him chase her. Most women just jumped into his bed with barely any effort on his part.

"Are you going down?" Sofia asked.

"What? Oh right, yeah." Daniel stepped into the elevator and leaned against the opposite corner from Sofia.

"Daniel, about the other night…"

"No, save it. I know why you didn't go home with me. You want a family, I get it. It's no big deal, really." Daniel shrugged, hoping that he looked nonchalant.

"Daniel, I really am sorry. I really like you."

Daniel looked at her incredulously. "Really? More than Hunter?"

"I didn't say that. Don't make me say that."

Daniel inched closer to Sofia. "Say it. Come on, Sofia. There's something between us. You can't just brush it off like that doesn't mean something."

Sofia pushed him away and said, "Daniel, please! I love Hunter, he loves me. We're getting married."

"Can you honestly look me in the eye and say that you love him? That you wouldn't leave him in heartbeat if I had said that I was ready for marriage?"

"It doesn't matter because you aren't ready for marriage, Daniel. Hunter is."

"What if I told you right now that I am ready?" Daniel asked, his heart pounding a million miles a minute.

Sofia pressed her body against Daniel's and wrapped a hand around the back of his neck. She looked into his hopeful eyes and said, "Daniel. Can you really see yourself married to me? Close your eyes."

Daniel closed his eyes and swallowed.

"Look at yourself in five years, living in the suburbs with three kids and a dog. Living the same old routine from day to day. Having to care about more people than just yourself. Do you look happy? Do I look happy with you?"

Daniel tried to imagine it and couldn't help but cringe. Something about the picture just didn't look right. He looked bored. Even with Sofia on his arm, the image wasn't a good one. He definitely wasn't ready for marriage. He opened his eyes and looked at Sofia. His disappointment must have been obvious.

She smiled at him and said, "Ahh, so now you see. It's not going to happen, Daniel. You're a fun guy, the one to call for a good time, but not the one to settle down with." She pulled Daniel's head down and touched her lips to his for a lasting kiss. The elevator doors opened. She caressed Daniel's face and looked longingly into his eyes, then said, "Goodbye, Daniel."

"Goodbye, Sofia," Daniel whispered. He listened to the clicking of her heels against the tiled floor of the lobby and watched her walk out of the building. He took a deep breath and stumbled out of the elevator. He sat down on a chair and put his head in his hands and closed his eyes. The image of Sofia walking out of his life would probably haunt him forever.

He needed Betty. Daniel sat up in an instant and gasped, "Betty!"