She comes into his office while there are still people lingering.
"What do you need?" he questions casually.
"I can't do this anymore," she tells him.
"Do what?"
"Whatever it is that we're doing."
"Will..."
"Daniel I'm concerned."
"About what?"
"That you're making this into something more than it is."
"I don't think now is the best time."
"You're right. We'll discuss it later.
"I'm going to a party tonight. We can do lunch tomorrow."
"Ok," she agrees.
She's staring at her computer screen the next morning when Marc comes into her office. He starts yammering, she never meets his gaze. Half way through his monologue he stops. He waves his hand in front of her face.
"Hello?"
She looks up at him, "I'm sorry, I didn't hear a word you just said," she admits.
"What are you looking at?"
"Nothing," she lies.
He flips the laptop around and finds pictures from the night before.
"Why are you looking at these?"
"I don't know."
"Stop," he orders.
"Marc..."
He stops her, "Does this bother you? Seeing him with other girls? Because if it does then I think that you need to reevaluate."
"It doesn't bother me. I know how he is."
"But?"
"But nothing. What did you need?"
"Nothing. I'll figure it out."
"Ok," she nods.
Before she meets Daniel for lunch she spends an hour on the phone. He comes into her office as she hangs up.
"Ready?"
"Let's go," she answers.
He takes her to a private restaurant. They order drinks, and their meals. She says nothing.
"Wilhelmina. You haven't said anything. What's on your mind?"
"Nothing," she lies.
"Why are you being so quiet?"
"No reason."
"I hate this. Why can't you just be normal? Just say what you think."
"I think that you're a jerk," she answers.
"Where did that come from?"
"I'm going to ask you something and I want you to be completely honest."
"Of course," he nods in agreement.
"How many women have you been with?"
He looks at her in confusion.
"Since we started this?"
He looks into her eyes, "None," he answers with a look of guilt.
She nods, and calmly pushes the chair away from the table, as she fights the tears collecting in her eyes. She grabs her bag and leaves.
Meanwhile in another restaurant Betty sits across from Claire Meade.
"You're being quiet today Betty."
"Sorry. I just don't want to say the wrong thing."
"The wrong thing? About what?"
"Nothing."
"About who?"
"No one," she picks at her food.
"Betty tell me."
"It's about Wilhelmina."
"What about her?"
"The things she's been doing lately make me feel concerned about the company."
"What is she doing?"
"You know what? I probably shouldn't have said anything."
"Tell me."
"I don't think that's a good idea."
"Why? What is she doing now?"
Betty takes a deep breath and answers, "Daniel."
"Excuse me?"
"She and Daniel are... you know what I don't know what they're doing exactly."
"What do you know?"
"They're having sex with each other."
"Had, or are having?"
"It's been going on for a few months."
"What is she up to now?"
"It's hard to tell."
That night when nearly everyone has left Wilhelmina sits at her desk. There is a knock on her door, she looks up.
"What do you want Claire?" she asks coldly.
Claire enters the office, closing the door behind her. She calmly takes a seat across from Wilhelmina.
"What are you doing?"
"Getting ready to go home," she answers in confusion.
"With my son?"
"What are you talking about?"
"You're sleeping with him."
"Who told you that?"
"Does it matter?"
"I'm not sleeping with your precious son."
"Don't play games with me Wilhelmina. Whatever you're up too..."
"What is it you think I'm up to? What could I possibly have to gain by sleeping with Daniel?"
"The title of editor."
"I could screw him senseless and he still wouldn't relinquish his co-editor in chief position."
"Thank you for that mental image."
"I'm not sleeping with him anymore. Nothing is going on between us."
"Since when?"
"Since today."
"Why?"
"Why does it matter?"
Claire says nothing.
"You don't have to worry about Daniel, or about the company. I don't want the company. I don't want Daniel. I haven't told anyone else, but I'm leaving for a while."
"Going on vacation?"
"I was offered a temporary position at British Vogue, and I'm going to take it."
"For how long?"
"Six months, maybe longer."
"You're serious?"
"I think that it's time I reevaluate things, starting with my position here."
"Best of luck," Claire answers sincerely.