The Black Queen

Second Entry

August 8, 1983

Today was...interesting. I started my job today, that wasn't the weird thing. I'll tell you. I started off my day normally. I got a good night sleep, though it took me three hours to fall asleep. I woke up around 6:30 am. I ate breakfast and took a shower. I got dressed into a white blouse, and a black pencil skirt that went down to my knees. My hair was up in a ponytail and I put on some red lipstick. I put on my black ballerina flats, gathered my things, and made sure I had my keys and my wallet in my purse. I walked out and left my apartment. I took the bus to the record company building. It was pretty big and tall. I got off the bus realizing it was my stop. I looked down at the paper given to me by Paul a month earlier telling me exactly what to do. I entered the building looking for the elevator. I needed to go to the twenty-second floor. I pressed the button in the elevator and waited for a while. The elevator continued to stop at some floors, allowing people to come in and come out. I finally arrived at my floor. I walked down the hall looking for his office. I asked the receptionist,

"Fourth door down on your right" she said. I said thank you and looked for the door. It had "Jim Beach" printed on the glass door in bold, black letters. I knocked lightly on the door. I heard a faint "come in" from the other. I slowly opened the door and peeked my head in. I saw a man sitting at his desk. He saw me and smiled.

"Hello, Ms. Florez. So glad you finally arrived!" he walked towards me and shook my hand.

"Please, call me Dahlia." I smiled.

"All right, darling, whatever you like." He chuckled. "Um, let me just show you where you'll work, right this way." I followed him to another door at the side of the room. He opened it to a small room with a desk and some files and pencils. The room wasn't tiny, but it wasn't big either. But it was decent, and I didn't mind.

"Now, there's the telephone right there, and there are the buttons on the telephones ennobling you to transfer phone calls to me. That button right there is to speak to me with out leaving your office, though, I don't see why that would be much of a problem." We both chuckled. "Now, the first thing I'll need you to do is to organize a meeting with David Bowie. I need to speak to him about his new album, something has come up. Here are the phone numbers of everyone you'll need to contact at sometime. I advise you to organize them well and not lose this." He gave be a brown book with lists of contacts. "And here is my agenda. Any meetings, parties, events I am attending is right in here." He gave me another book with a rusty color. I nodded and walked into my office dialing the number. I placed the phone up to my ear and waited for a person to answer. I heard a crack.

"David Bowie speaking" I heard

"Yes, hello, I am just calling to organize a meeting with Paul Prenter. He would like to speak to you as soon as possible."

"Oh of course, when is the soonest he can be available.?"

I looked through the calendar book. "This Thursday at 1:30 is when he'll be available."

"All right then, I'll be there then."

"Thank you very much, good bye." I said and hung up the phone. That went better than expected, I thought. I decided to organize my desk a little. I put the books in one corner and the papers and pens in another. It wasn't much for now but I'll grow eventually. The phone began to ring. I picked it up and answered.

"Beach's Office."

"You're the new girl, aren't ya?" I heard a voice say.

"Um, yes, who is this?"

"I'm sorry, my name's Jo. I'm the receptionist down the hall you talked to."

"Oh yea, I'm sorry."