Chapter 2 Set Your Priorities

Tatiana Point of View

"Baby, I'm off to work!!!" I screamed as I hurriedly wore my gown. "Hang on a sec woman, I'm coming!!" Scott shouted back from the closet.

"Hurry!! I am going to be late" I whined as I stared at my wristwatch.

"What the heck are you whining about? It's just 6:30am!! So why the rush? I am also going to my company" He said as he stared at me in disbelief.

"Don't look at me like that, mister. You seem to have forgotten that you have your own company, as you said your company, so you can go anytime you wish to but I'm an employee, it's not my company. So I have to go to work on time, so let's go have breakfast" I said as I dragged him downstairs after he was done wearing his suit.

As we rushed downstairs, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the sizzle of bacon greeted us in the kitchen. The morning sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow over the cozy breakfast nook.

I hastily set the table, pouring coffee into our favorite mugs, while Scott grabbed the morning newspaper. Despite the rush, there was a familiar comfort in our morning routine. We exchanged playful banter as we enjoyed a quick breakfast together, stealing glances between bites.

We shared a smile, realizing that amidst the chaos, our connection remained intact. As we finished breakfast, I grabbed my bag and headed towards the door, Scott following suit.

"Just promise me you'll be home early tonight," he said, wrapping his arms around me.

"I'll try my best," I replied, giving him a quick peck on the cheek before rushing out the door. As I stepped into the crisp morning air, I couldn't help but reflect on the delicate balance between work and personal life.

We hopped into the car, then he dropped me at my company.

I came down and stared at the building which had a huge inscription 'LANDMARK', I heaved a sign of nervousness.

" Landmark here I come", I said, then finally walked into the building.

____________________________

As I entered the building, I was greeted by the receptionist who checked my name off a list. She directed me to take the elevator to the 10th floor where my new workplace was located. My heart raced with excitement and nervousness as I stepped into the elevator.

The doors opened, revealing a bustling office filled with people talking on phones, typing away at their computers, and moving about with purpose. I took a deep breath and made my way over to the receptionist's desk.

"Good morning," she said warmly. "You must be Tatiana. I'm Emily, the head of human resources. Welcome to Landmark."

"Thank you," I replied, shaking her hand. "I'm excited to start my new position here."

Emily smiled and led me to my office, introducing me to my team along the way. They were all friendly and welcoming, making me feel at ease in my new surroundings. As I settled into my desk and began to familiarize myself with my tasks for the day, I couldn't help but feel grateful for this opportunity. It was a dream come true to work for such a prestigious company, and I was determined to make the most of it.

The day flew by in a blur of meetings, emails, and phone calls. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the work and the people I was working with. By the end of the day, I felt fulfilled and excited about what the future held. As I left the building and met Scott for dinner, I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and accomplishment. This was just the beginning of my journey with Landmark, and I couldn't wait to see where it would take me.

__________________________________

As the day drew to a close, I felt a sense of accomplishment wash over me. I had successfully completed my first day at Landmark, and it had been nothing short of amazing. The people I had met, the work I had done, and the overall atmosphere of the company were all incredible.

As I made my way back home, my mind was filled with thoughts of the day. I couldn't wait to dive into my work even more and learn everything I could about the company. The feeling of being part of something big and important was exhilarating, and I couldn't help but feel grateful for this opportunity.

When I finally made it home, I collapsed into bed, exhausted from the long day but satisfied with my accomplishments. I knew that this was just the beginning of an exciting journey, and I couldn't wait to see what the future held for me at Landmark. As I drifted off to sleep, I was filled with a sense of peace and contentment. I had finally found my place in the world, and I was ready to make the most of it.

_______________________________

I woke up due to the feeling of someone kissing me all over the face.

I groaned as I tried pushing him away from me. "Scott!!! Stop it".

But instead of stopping, he only came in stronger. "Scott, please I want to sleep!! Leave me alone, I am so tired" I complained, as I was extremely tired from the days' work.

"Tired? Seriously? Tatiana, you are tired because today is just your first day at work, what the heck did you do over there?" He asked in confusion.

"Scott, I'm serious. I'm just exhausted. It's been a long day, and I have to get up early tomorrow," I explained, trying to push him away from me.

He sighed, finally relenting and rolling off of me. "Fine, but you need to get some rest. You can't be tired all the time," he said, pulling the covers up over us.

I nodded, grateful for the comfort of my bed. As I drifted back off to sleep, I couldn't help but think about the day ahead. I knew that tomorrow would be just as exciting and challenging as today, but I was ready for it. Landmark had given me a chance to prove myself, and I was determined to make the most of it.

The next morning, I woke up feeling refreshed and energized. I quickly got ready for work, grabbed a cup of coffee, and headed out the door. As I made my way to the office, I couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation. What would today bring? What new challenges would I face? I couldn't wait to find out.

When I arrived at the office, I was greeted by the familiar faces of my coworkers. They all seemed to be in good spirits, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of camaraderie with them. As I made my way to my desk, I knew that I was exactly where I belonged.

The day flew by, filled with meetings, phone calls, and endless tasks. But despite the busy-ness of it all, I felt a sense of purpose and fulfillment. I was making a difference, contributing to something bigger than myself. And as the day drew to a close, I knew that I had made the right decision in choosing Landmark as my new home.

As I made my way back home, exhausted but satisfied, I couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude. Grateful for the opportunity to work at Landmark, grateful for the people I had met, and grateful for the chance to grow and learn.

I stumbled into the house, exhausted after a long day at work. As I made my way to the bedroom, I could hear Scott's voice coming from the living room. He sounded upset about something.

I walked into the living room to find Scott pacing back and forth, his brows furrowed in frustration. "Where have you been? I've been worried sick about you," he said, his voice raised.

I winced, instantly regretting how late I was. "I'm sorry, Scott. I got caught up in some work stuff and lost track of time," I explained, trying to sound apologetic.

He sighed, rubbing his forehead in frustration. "Tatiana, I understand that work is important, but you can't just ignore us like this. What if something happened to you? We need to communicate better."

I hung my head, feeling guilty. He was right. I had been so focused on my job that I hadn't been paying enough attention to my personal life. "I know, Scott. I'm sorry. It won't happen again," I promised.

He sighed, finally relenting. "Okay, but just promise me that you'll be more careful in the future."

I nodded, grateful for his understanding. As I made my way to the bedroom, I couldn't help but feel a sense of resolve. I was going to make sure that I found a better balance between my work and personal life. Because after all, my relationships were just as important as my career.

Scott's voice followed me into the bedroom, his words echoing in my mind. "And don't think that just because you're sorry now, you can just brush this off. We need to talk about this."

Scott POV

My voice grew more annoyed as I spoke. "I can't believe you did this again. You promised me you would change, but here we are, right back where we started!!!"

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. "Look, I get that you're busy with your job and all, but it's not an excuse to constantly put me on the back burner. We need to talk about boundaries and expectations."

As I waited for her response, I couldn't help but feel frustrated. I loved her dearly, but our relationship was starting to suffer because of her workaholic tendencies. I hope that she would finally understand the impact her behavior was having on me and be willing to make some changes.

She looked at me, her expression a mix of guilt and exhaustion. "I know, I know," she sighed, running her fingers through her hair. "It's just that work has been so demanding lately, and I feel like I can't catch a break. I never intended for things to be this way."

I could see the sincerity in her eyes, but it was hard to ignore the growing resentment within me. "It's not just about the promises, it's about feeling neglected. I miss the times when we could spend quality moments together without the constant distraction of your job. I need you to prioritize our relationship."

She nodded slowly, acknowledging the gravity of the situation. "I hear you, and I'm sorry. I never wanted to make you feel this way. Maybe we can set some boundaries, establish specific times for us to connect and be present for each other."

Despite her words, doubts lingered in my mind. This wasn't the first time we'd had this conversation, and the previous attempts at compromise hadn't lasted long. "It's not just about setting boundaries. It's about understanding the importance of balance and making a conscious effort to maintain it. We can't keep going in circles like this."

She sighed again, a mixture of frustration and regret. "I know I need to change, and I want to. I just need to figure out how to navigate this workload without sacrificing our relationship."

I softened my stance, realizing that this wasn't just about placing blame. It was about finding a solution that worked for both of us. "I love you, and I want this to work. But we can't ignore the fact that something needs to change. Maybe we can explore finding ways to manage your workload more efficiently or seek professional help to guide us through this."

As we delved deeper into the conversation, the weight of our words hung in the air. It was a critical juncture in our relationship, and both of us knew that decisions made in this moment could shape our future together. We needed to confront the challenges head-on, finding a compromise that would allow us to preserve the love we had for each other.

Tatiana POV

I sighed, knowing that he was right. I was going to have to make some serious changes if I wanted to keep my relationship with Scott healthy. As I crawled into bed, exhausted but determined, I knew that tomorrow would be the start of a new chapter in my life. One where I put my relationships first and my work second. Because without the people who loved me, what was the point of all my hard work anyway?

(The following Day-Saturday Morning)

I woke up and couldn't find Scott beside me. I grew worried but later calmed down. I brushed my teeth and took my bath, then wore some comfortable clothes, then walked out of the bedroom and went downstairs. When I finally got to the living room, I couldn't believe my eyes.

Scott had taken the initiative to prepare a cozy breakfast, and the table was set with candles and soft music playing in the background.

He smiled, "I figured we could use a quiet moment together. No work talk, just us."

As we sat down to dinner, I realized that finding the right balance wasn't just about setting boundaries at work; it was about cherishing the moments that made life meaningful, both at home and in our careers.