White Lies

Chapter One: Dead Line

She is walking fast on her way to work. 

She briefly checked her watch how many steps did she already take. 

A brewed hot coffee on her left hand, a smartphone on her right, and a black handbag slinging on her elbow. 

She manages everything at the tip of her fingers. 

She owns the world. 

Margaux Lucynne Sinclair, that's her name. 

But everyone calls her "Bryie", no one knows why, but her best friend Stacy does. Margaux thinks about the things she needs to work on for today. She does it all the time. Prioritizing, I mean. Career-driven as she is, she sees to it that her work is all excellent. Her family supports her in all she does even when she decided to leave town and live on the city on her own. But she never fails to spend time with them every time she can, especially Christmas. That is why her family loves her and Margaux always put them above her needs. Even partner-kind of needs.

As she enters her office and Patty, Her assistant waits patiently before she settle down, she will smile and breathe in deep. That is her way to clear her head off after her mental chassis outburst from her parents nagging about her quest in finding the right partner. She is turning 29 this year. And her parents are worried if Margaux ever wanted to have her own family someday. She told them that she is already dating someone and she'll let her meet the soon. But she knows that's not going to happen anytime sooner. She got pissed by the sudden outburst and pressure of her parents but then it also made her think.

"What am I doing if I'm not working?"

Margaux must've said it out loud that startled Patty but she replied anyway.

"Mostly shopping ma'am and meeting with potential clients."

"Ugh! That's still working. Have I ever gone to dates?"

"Not that I know of, ma'am. Should I set you up?" 

Patty who looked eager for an answer tried to divert her for other important concerns just in case Margaux decided to dismiss her question.

"The venue for your meeting with Mr. Yu at 10 am was changed at the Madison. You have a lunch date set with Miss Sally. In the afternoon you have a meeting with the 'FW for a cause' team. Mr. Wiliams also called earlier if is it okay to have a separate meeting with you prior to the meeting with the board of directors of Colloneal Group for the Fourth of July project. And your mom just called 30 minutes ago when you got in."

The list goes on, huh.

"Do you have a boyfriend, Patty?" Margaux asked. Too fixated with the cold truth that she is going to be 29 this year, and a year away before she is out of the market. Her brain cells were not working with her today that she lost focus for 30 minutes already. 

"Yes, I have a boyfriend ma'am. We've been together for 7 years already and –" 

"Wait, what? 7 years? And how long have you been working in my company?" 

"7 ma'am." 

"Wow. How did you two meet?" 

"At my friend's party." Patty wondered Margaux sudden interest in her relationship but they have bigger stuff at hand to discuss. She was quite impatient already but it doesn't show on her face. 

She added "Your mother is waiting on the line ma'am. I'll email to you a copy of the proposal. Have a great day ma'am!" And Patty went straight ahead before Margaux can say another word irrelevant to work. She's much alike to her boss that's what Margaux liked about her.