Chapter 4: The First Lie

The weekend ended quietly.

Emma tried to convince herself that cancelling dinner had been unavoidable. Daniel's job had always been demanding, and the recent campaign was clearly putting pressure on everyone at the office.

Still, something felt different.

It wasn't just the late nights anymore.

It was the way Daniel seemed distracted even when he was home.

On Sunday morning, Emma prepared breakfast as usual. Daniel sat at the dining table scrolling through emails on his phone, barely touching the toast in front of him.

"Daniel," Emma called softly.

"Hm?"

"I've been talking to you for almost a minute."

He blinked and looked up.

"I'm sorry. I didn't hear you."

She forced a smile.

"You've been somewhere else lately."

Daniel reached across the table and held her hand.

"It's just work, Emma. Once this project is over, everything will go back to normal."

She wanted to believe him.

So she nodded.

"I know you'll get through it."

For a brief moment, guilt flashed across Daniel's face.

---

Monday morning brought another round of meetings.

The marketing campaign had reached its most important stage, and everyone in the office was under pressure.

Richard Mason gathered the team.

"I've just received a call from the client," he announced. "They've invited us to present the campaign at their regional office on Friday."

The room fell silent.

"It's an overnight trip," Richard continued. "Daniel and Sophia will represent the company."

After the meeting ended, Daniel frowned.

"I wasn't expecting to travel."

Sophia smiled.

"Neither was I."

"It'll only be one night."

"Still," Sophia replied, "I hope your wife doesn't mind."

Daniel looked away.

"She'll understand."

---

That evening, Daniel arrived home earlier than usual.

Emma looked pleasantly surprised.

"You're home before sunset."

"I've got some news."

She poured him a cup of coffee.

"What is it?"

"My company wants me to travel on Friday for a client presentation."

Emma nodded thoughtfully.

"Where?"

"Riverside City."

"Just for one night?"

"Yeah. We'll leave Friday morning and come back Saturday."

Emma smiled.

"You'll do great."

Daniel felt relieved.

He had expected questions.

Instead, he received complete trust.

That made the knot in his stomach tighten even more.

---

Over the next few days, Daniel and Sophia spent almost every hour together preparing for the presentation.

They practised speeches.

Reviewed slides.

Corrected mistakes.

Occasionally, they laughed over small errors that only the two of them understood.

One afternoon, while discussing ideas in the office cafeteria, Sophia looked at Daniel curiously.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Have you ever wondered if life would have been different if you'd made different choices?"

Daniel thought for a moment.

"I suppose everyone wonders that."

Sophia stirred her coffee.

"I always imagined I'd be married by now."

"You still have time."

She smiled faintly.

"What about you? Are you happy?"

Daniel didn't answer immediately.

He pictured Emma waiting for him at home.

Then he thought about how distant he had become over the past few weeks.

Finally, he spoke.

"I don't know."

The words surprised even him.

Sophia looked at him but didn't say anything else.

---

Friday morning arrived.

Emma woke up early to help Daniel pack.

She folded his shirts neatly into the suitcase and slipped a handwritten note into one of the inside pockets.

"Good luck today. I know you'll be amazing. Come home safely. I love you."

She zipped the suitcase before Daniel noticed.

At the front door, she hugged him tightly.

"I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you too."

As he walked toward the taxi waiting outside, Emma waved until it disappeared around the corner.

Inside the taxi, Daniel opened his phone.

A message from Sophia appeared.

Already at the station. See you soon!

He smiled without thinking.

Then he locked the screen.

---

The presentation was a success.

The client praised their work and approved the campaign immediately.

Richard called to congratulate them.

"You've both done an excellent job. Enjoy the evening—you've earned it."

With no train back until the following morning, Daniel and Sophia checked into the company-booked hotel.

They had separate rooms on the same floor.

After leaving their luggage, Sophia knocked on Daniel's door.

"There's a nice restaurant across the street," she said. "Want to celebrate?"

Daniel hesitated.

It seemed harmless.

"They're paying for dinner anyway," Sophia added with a grin.

Daniel smiled.

"Alright."

---

The restaurant overlooked a quiet river lit by strings of golden lights.

Soft music played in the background as they enjoyed dinner and talked about everything except work.

Sophia laughed at one of Daniel's stories from university.

"I can't believe you actually climbed onto the dean's office roof."

"I was young."

"So... reckless?"

"So... stupid."

She laughed again.

For the first time in weeks, Daniel forgot about deadlines and responsibilities.

When dinner ended, they walked back toward the hotel beneath a sky full of stars.

As they reached the entrance, Sophia looked at him.

"Tonight was fun."

"It was."

She smiled warmly before walking to her room.

Daniel watched her disappear down the hallway.

Then he entered his own room and sat on the edge of the bed.

His phone buzzed.

It was Emma.

He answered immediately.

"Hi."

"How did the presentation go?" she asked excitedly.

"It went really well."

"I knew it would."

Daniel glanced at the receipt from the restaurant lying on the bedside table.

"What are you doing now?" Emma asked.

He paused.

Only for a second.

"I'm... just finishing some paperwork."

The words left his mouth before he had time to think.

It was such a small lie.

A simple sentence.

One that seemed completely harmless.

Emma smiled through the phone.

"Don't stay up too late."

"I won't."

"I love you."

Daniel closed his eyes.

"I love you too."

After the call ended, silence filled the room.

He looked at the untouched paperwork on the desk.

Then he looked at the restaurant receipt again.

For the first time since meeting Sophia, Daniel realised he had crossed a line.

Not with an affair.

Not with a kiss.

But with a lie.

And every betrayal, no matter how devastating, begins with a single step.

To be Continued

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