CHAPTER 2:

At the hospital Betty and Daniel are looking at Alexis through her the glass:

"Partial retrograde amnesia?" Betty questioned

"The last thing she remembers is mom's birthday party two years ago. And nothing since then, blank. She doesn't even remember becoming a woman. Look at her." They watch as Alexis fondles her breasts and Betty does the same. Daniel finds it awkward

"Betty?"

"I'm sorry. I was trying to put myself in her shoes. Ready to go?"

"No, no, no, I can't. I gotta stay with her. I'm the reason she's here in the first place."

"How?"

Flashback:

He's sitting at his desk in his office when he sees Wilhelmina standing in the balcony with a martini in her hand. If it were a few weeks ago he would have chickened out to even think of talking to her but their relationship changed in the past few weeks so he gets up and goes to talk to her.

"Hey"

"Hey, What are you still doing here?"

"Just thinking. Normally I would go to a night club and go home some girl l but…I just want to have a different night."

"So you'd rather drown yourself in work? That's not healthy, Daniel."

"I know but I needed some time alone…just to think."

"About?" 'Like I give a damn' she told herself

"About my life, my job here, something my dad said about commitment and settling down and all. I made some horrible choices and I want things to be different but…I don't know where to start, in my personal life that is."

"The important thing is you tried, Daniel."

"I tried and I failed. Even though the failure was sort of a blessing." She arched her brow "I mean with Sofia Reyes…I dodged the biggest bullet of my life. I knew in my heart that it wasn't love, at all."

"So why did you pursue her?"

"I was infatuated, I guess. She played hard to get and it was exciting and dangerous and also…I was desperate."

"Desperate?"

"I thought by being with her I'll finally move on from Alexis' shadow. I thought I was gonna finally get my father's approval because he'd love for me to be with a woman like her. And with the recent Petra and Nina incident and numerous lectures from Betty…I really think it's time."

"Time for what?"

"You know…for me to settle down." She let out a small chuckle "What?"

"There is no right time to settle down, Daniel. There is the right person to settle down with."

"Really? You really think so?"

"I know so." She faced away from him as she stared ahead while leaning on the railing.

"Well…I…think I…found the right person." She turned back to him and found him starring her right in the eye.

"Already?"

"I mean she's really not the type of woman…girl that I would normally…you know…date. She's nothing like me, she's smart, ambitious, she's determined." Wilhelmina couldn't help but think who the hell was Danny talking about? Normally the women he went after were mindless sluts. 'Who the hell is he talking about? Almost all the women here are his type…the only woman he normally wouldn't go after is…Betty. Oh my God is he talking about Betty? He wouldn't normally date her, she's smart, determined and probably ambitious'

"I don't mean to pry, Danny but who is this woman?" Wilhelmina was completely oblivious that Daniel was talking about her

"I can't tell you that…she's…uh she's taken." 'Oh, my God, he is talking about Betty. She's obviously taken by the accountant, Henry.'

"Word of advice…Don't confess your feelings if she's in a relationship."

"Even if she's not happy?"

"In my opinion, telling someone that you have feelings for them while they are in a relationship is one of the most selfish acts ever." It was Daniel's turn to lift his brow at Willie's little philosophy

"I'm serious, Daniel. Because all it does is confuse the other person. It makes them think the grass could be greener elsewhere, makes them question their feelings for their partner, it makes their lives hell.'

"I…uh…I know you think I'm just a rich, spoiled jerk who gets everything he wants. But I'm not gonna act on my feelings. I know it's not right."

"Good." Once again the two stared at each other in an awkward silence. Wilhelmina's blackberry broke the silence with an incoming text. She looked at the screen "I have to go."

After Willie left Daniel walked back inside his office and fell back on his chair and took a few pills. He couldn't understand what everything he was feeling meant, especially towards the woman who's done nothing but sabotage him ever since his first day at Mode.

Daniel's POV:

'Why, why, why, God, why? Why do I have to feel this way about her? Wait how do I feel about her? Is it a crush? Is it lust? Sure I have fantasized about her numerous times ever since I started working here and years before that. Lord knows I've ruined quite a lot of magazines covers she's been on back in the day. But this isn't just about sex, this is…something more, different than all the women I've been with, different from Sofia Reyes. I enjoy her company, she's funny even though she thinks she's trying to be hurtful, her little sarcastic jabs are just to get to me. God what the hell am I thinking? She's engaged to my dad for God's sake. Okay let me think of something else…uh…Gisele naked, Gisele naked, Gisele naked, Gisele is naked, Wilhelmina is naked, Wilhelmina is naked, I mean Gisele, What the fuck!' He reached into his drawer again and took out the bottle of pills 'Maybe this will help.'

A few moments later he felt the room spinning and he started to sweat. While he was still struggling to get up he saw Alexis coming in his office.

"Daniel?"

"Alexis? What are…what are you doing here?"

"Daniel, are you drunk?"

"No…I…Milhelwina...she…"

"Wilhelmina? What did she do?"

"Nothing, I just…she makes me feel…"

"Daniel what did you take?"

"Uh…I took…" He felt himself getting weaker and weaker

"Daniel come on let me take you the hospital." Those are the last words he remembers before everything faded to black.

PRESENT:

"Daniel?"

"Huh?"

"How is it your fault?"

"I just…it just is okay?"

"Daniel no, stop blaming yourself. Wilhelmina is taking over the issue."

"Just let her…I'm sure she's doing a good, if not great job anyway."

"What?"

"I…uh…I don't know what the hell I'm saying, Betty. I'm under a lot of pain medication."

"Of course you are. Should I bring the book so you can sign off on it?"

"Yeah, bring the book."