Beginning the Journey

“Asshole,” Jacqueline mutters under her breath, “You just may get burned toast this morning, and maybe some salt in your coffee.”

“Did you say something Jackie?”

“No,” yawning, adding quietly, “Nothing you’d want to hear.”

“The toast was better today, the coffee tasted a little off though, and the eggs were a little stiff, you’ll do better tomorrow, right?” Mark comments, as he takes his last sip of coffee.
“Yes Mark,” as she turns her back, rolling her eyes.

It's 6:45 a.m., when Mark is rolling his bronze BMW M6 out of the garage and down the long bricked driveway. The two-lane paved road is quiet. There’s not much traffic in this secluded area of Pineville, Louisiana. He loves this road, filled with its beautiful wooded scenery, and yellow painted leaves in the fall. During the spring and summer, the leaves appear as jade stones hanging from distorted brown fingers. Right now, the jade look is just starting to arrive while the sun stretches across the horizon.

Jacqueline is dressed in her black and white pin-stripped, Giorgio Armani suit, and white Rachel Roy Duke blouse, completing her boardroom look with her favorite-heeled shoes. She loves the way they cradle her petite foot, and the way the signature red sole portrays a slightly edgy side, to the otherwise sexy shoe.

Examining herself in her full-length mirror, she smoothes down the jacket and skirt, turning to the right, then turning to the left, stepping closer and then backing away from the mirror –smiling.

Her long dark hair falls with perfection onto her shoulders, as she sighs with uneasiness and speaks to the image in the mirror, “Remember, you have researched the area, you know the market, you know the product, you can be successful – you WILL be successful.”

Feeling strong and empowered, she walks out her front door, with her large business portfolio, and Marc Jacobs handbag, a gift from Mark the morning after her second miscarriage. Once inside her red BMW M6, she repeats her mantra, “I can be successful, and I WILL be successful.”


image: www.thespaato2.com