The Lies I've Told (By the Bay #3)

Chapter Two - Millie

I took one last look in the bathroom mirror and tried not to smile.

It didn't work.

I couldn't help it. This was it.

All my hard work was finally coming to fruition. All those long nights, all the travel, every hour of dedication and putting everyone else's opinions and ideas first.

It was all about to pay off.

But, first, I needed to look the part.

My hair was perfectly curled in that undone why, yes, I did wake up like this sort of way when, in reality, no one woke up this way. We all just paid a fortune for high-priced blowouts to make it look like we did.

My makeup was flawless, but it always was. I'd spent far too much time on YouTube learning how to make it so.

As for the sleek, fashion-forward dress I was wearing? Well, considering I worked for the company who designed it, let's just say I'd gotten more than a few double takes on the way up to the office today. And I doubted any of them had anything to do with my stellar good looks or my overpriced blowout.

I did work in one of the top fashion houses in Miami after all.

Here, it was all about the clothes.

"Millie, your shoes are fantastic!" one of my coworkers announced, stepping out of a stall to wash her hands. She eyed my spiked Louboutin leather booties, just off the runway from one of my last trips to Italy.

Okay, sometimes, it was about the shoes too.

"Thank you," I replied, deciding, after another glance in the mirror, a little touch-up on my lipstick wouldn't hurt.

After all, today was a big day.

"Are you nervous?" she asked. "Excited? God, I would be a basketful of emotions."

Pulling out my go-to nude I loved to rock at work, I shook my head, wishing I'd done a better job at paying attention when this newbie made the rounds last week introducing herself.

I wanted to say her name was...Sally? Sarah?

"It's Sadie, by the way," she said, her blue eyes meeting mine in the mirror. There was no shame but not a bit of animosity either.

"I'm so sorry," I said. "I'm usually better with names. It's been a crazy week."

She smiled, a genuine type of smile. One I hadn't seen in a long time. "I get it. You're about to be promoted to one of the highest positions in the company. That couldn't have been easy."

I let out a breath, thinking back to all the long nights without sleep, the endless travel, and the lack of a social life. "It hasn't been; that's for sure. But it's not a guarantee. The position, I mean. It's all rumors at this point."

I was totally lying through my teeth.

That promotion was mine. I'd heard it directly from my boss's lips late last night.

"Well, you're an inspiration, Millie. Truly. I wish you nothing but the best today at the company meeting."

"Thank you," I said, watching her exit.

I returned to my primping, dabbing on a little lipstick before letting out a breath.

"This is it," I said. "This is when everything finally begins."

Wasn't there a saying about famous last words?

***

When I entered the conference room, it was bustling with energy. Most often reserved for board members and key leaders of the company, today, the usually large space was bursting at the seams.