Chapter 14; White Lies

"ARGH! So bossy." She rashly put her phone on the table. "That man makes my headache worse." She leaned her head on her swivel chair and close her eyes. She didn't realize that she had fallen asleep. She just woke up to the feeling that someone was staring at her.

When she opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was Mikael's serious face staring at her intently.

"M-mikael." She get up and she just realized that she was lying on the sofa. If she's not mistaken, she was on her swivel chair, so how come she woke up on the sofa? How's that happened? Did she walk while sleeping? Too tired to remember when she walk and lay down on the sofa?

Yes, it must be it.

Mikael clear his throat to get her roaming attention.

"W-what are you doing here?" She shamelessly cares her hair, she surely look mess.

"Damn it woman! Aren't you in your right mind? Your working even if you're burning up! Are you going to kill your self?"

"It's none of your business." She averted his eyes, feeling more shameful. "Thanks for your concern but I don't need your pity."

"Don't be too ahead of yourself, I'm not wo—"

"Big brother Mikael!"

"W-who is she?" She asked when her eyes landed on the woman sitting on the other sofa. She didn't notice her because Mikael was in front of her, sitting on the center table. If the woman didn't talk maybe she still won't notice her.

"She was the one I was referring earlier when I called you. Venice Keith Quinlin, my younger sister."

"What?" Her eyes widened. "W-why do you want her to work here?"

"Just give her a job."

"Brother don't be rude! She's sick, you see." The woman smiled at her. "Just be patient with my brother. His very hot-headed, you know."

She smiled back and nodded. "You can work here if you—"

"I like that! It's nice here and everyone looks kind and friendly." She turned to her brother. "Brother, can you introduce her to me now?"

"Her name is Danielle Riccardi, my girl."

Venice was very shocked and surprised. "Are you kidding me?"

"You know that I'm not kidding Venice." Mikael said feeling annoyed.

"S-sorry, just don't be angry. Your blood is already in a higher level. Cool it down a bit, okay? I was just shocked and surprised, I didn't expect this, not even in my wildest dreams." Venice shily took a glance on her. "You just introduced me to a girlfriend, I couldn't believe it."

"Its not a big deal."

She clear her throat to get their attention. They seemed forgotten that she's still there. "Ahm, Venice, Venice right? Is it okay for you to make you my co-manager here while my friend is away?"

"Of course! I have knowledged in business even though I graduated as a fashion designer."

"Its settle then." Mikael stood up from the center table and sat next to her on the long sofa. "Venice ordered some food for Danielle."

"Okay." Venice said and left the office.

"After you eat I will take you home."

She shook her head not agreeing. "You can't send me home without my own free will! You have no right to order me around Quinlin whenever you please. You might be forgettin' that we we're just pretending."

"I will never forget Ms. Riccardi." He became cold and angry. "I don't care if you were sick, what I was worrying about is you couldn't pretend as my girlfriend when you are sick and unwell." He look at, then shake his head. "Look at yourself, tsk."

She didn't know why, but she feel hurt by what he said. "W-well that's clear." She said coldly and forced herself to stand. "You can go now. Venice can start working here whenever she wants."

"I stay here! Whether you like it or not."

"Do what you want." She said and sat on her swivel chair and started drawing different types of gowns for her clients. She don't want to argue with him. His just making her feel worse more than she already has.

A few minutes later, Venice came back with the food she ordered for her. "Brother, I order some food for you too. I know you haven't eating breakfast yet. You just took a sip some coffee. It's not healthy for you."

"You should've have done that Venice."

"Just thank me. Don't worry, I'll scold big brother Ky for you, his not taking care of you." Venice smiled and arranged the food on the center table. "Come here." She called her.

"Join us." She invited Venice when she sat on the sofa in front of the center table. Mikael is on her left who become silent. He look like in a deep thought because he does not seem to notice them.

"Thanks but no, I'm done." Venice turned to Mikael and patted his arms to get his attention. "Brother, I'll leave you two alone."

Mikael just nodded to his younger sister.

"Aren't you going to eat." He asked when she didn't eat. "You don't like the food? I can order something for you—" Instead of answering, she started eating. "A few days from now we will attending a formal dinner." He said later as he placed the beans along with the dish on the side of the plate.

"O-okay. Just inform me when the exact date. Where, when and what time. I surely be there on time." She paused. "It seems you don't like beans?"

"Obviously, yes," he nodded. "They taste awful, why?"

"N-nothing. I just remembered something."

"Special someone?"

"You can say that." She strug her shoulder off, indicating that she doesn't want to talk about it. "Aren't you working?"

"I have plenty of work to do, it's filling up every passing minutes."

"W-why are you here wasting your time then? You can just leave."

"Venice will be suspicious if I leave you when you're sick."

"I'm fine really, I can talk to your sister."

"Okay. I leave when we finish eating."

After they ate Mikael stood up. "Make sure not to make mistake about telling Venice about us, understand?"

"Don't worry, I won't."

"Good." He said and left.

She shake her head and clean the center table where they ate. After she's done she returned to sketching gowns for her clients.

She was to focus on what she is doing and she's a little bit startled when Venice peeked the door. She's smiling to her.

"Hi. Can I come in?"

"Sure." She smiled back.

She intered and sat in the chair in front of her desk. "My older brother has left. Did he say goodbye to you?"

"Yes, actually he don't want to leave but I forced him to go."

"Aren't you sick?" Her forehead furrowed.

"A bit, but I'm fine, nothing serious." She smiled again to assure her that she's really fine and there's nothing to worry about.

She nodded and looked at what she was doing. "What are you doing?" Venice ask curiously.

"Sketching gowns."

"D-don't tell me your a fashion designer?"

She smiled shyly at her. "Yes. I am."

"Really?" She look surprised but happy, herr eyes were sparkling in awe. "Do you personally designs the gown on this boutique?"

"Some of them but we often just order and buy to other Boutique and company."

"You mean, to brother Mikael's company?

"No, no. We only get it from small companies. "

"Why not to my brother?"

Danielle just shrugged her shoulder and changed the subject. "Why don't you work at Mikael's company?" She asked curiously. She knew and she's fully aware that the Quinlin were not a simple family. Their lineage is well known. Rich, looked up to, respected and envied by many. She knew that Venice did not suit to her Boutique, she's a Quinlin after all.

Venice rolled her eyes. "There's a rule that a Quinlin can not work for their own company if you are not the CEO."

"Who made that rule?" She raised one eyebrow.

"May crazy father."

"Watch your tongue."

"Sorry." Venice peace signed and shyly smile at her.

"It's okay."

"I'm curious."

"Hmm?!"

"Where did you and my brother meet?"

"Huh?"

"Can you tell me? Please? I'm really curious."

"Here in the Boutique." Danielle laugh a little.

"What was the reason he came here?"

"I think his looking for something. Then we bump to each other, after that he always sends me flowers every morning and he insists to take me home." She said like it really happened but it actually didn't happen. It's all a lie. That the lie she and Mikael come up to tell when someone asks how they get to know each other.

"How long have you been together?"

She thinks for a while to make it more real and realistic, like she's really thinking how long she and her brother have been together.

"Well?" Venice ask excitedly.

"T-three months." She lied again, one after the other.