"I wonder who needs saving today". I thought to myself as I sat at my vanity getting prepared for the day.
I grabbed my foundation, makeup brushes and went to work on my face. When I finished, I swear I looked like I belonged on a cover of a magazine.
"You did that girl"! I said aloud as I stared at myself in the mirror.
After I finished adding a few touches of highlighter to my face, I walked into my walkin closet. Talk about having clothes. My closet was massive! Some clothes still had tags on, and others, I only wore maybe once.
"I better make sure I wear something extra warm today". I thought to myself.
Fall was ending and in New York City, temperatures were liable to fall down in the negatives during the winter. I remember one year we were snowed in for almost a damn week. Hopefully that shit doesn't happen again.
I grabbed my black fitted long sleeve turtle neck shirt, black pencil skirt and laid them both out on my bed. I went into my jewelry box, pulled out a few gold accessories and proceeded to get dress. I had spent so much time perfecting my make up that I didn't realize I only had 15 mins left before it was time for me to leave out. I quickly finished getting dressed, slipped on a pair of my Christian Louis Vitton pumps, grabbed my mink coat and headed for the door. As I walked towards the door I noticed the red light on my house phone was flashing. On any other day I would have completely ignore the phone, but for some odd reason I was curious to know who those messages were from. I wonder if Leslie Scott finally decided to call? I thought to myself. I hit the speaker button so I could listen aloud.
"You have three unheard messages." "First unheard message".
"Kee Kee pleasssse call me...." "Ma is trying to make me wear this crazy ass looking tuxedo to prom". "I'm in desperate need of your fashion sense". Alright.....hit me up later.
I couldn't believe how fast time flew by. RJ only had two years left before he graduated from high school. Ma couldn't keep those hot tail girls from up off of him. Everyday there was some girl calling to speak to him.
I had chuckled at the sound of his voice. I remember when he use to sound like a little rat. Now his voice was deep and raspy.
"Next unheard message ".
"Kenya, this is Mark". " I was just was calling to tell that I miss......."
"Message deleted".
I had deleted his message so fast that I damn near pushed the number three button inside of the phone.
"Damn" I said shouting. "Why doesn't he get the fucking picture!!"
I opened up the drawer that the telephone sat on and took out a pad and ink pin to make a note to get the house number changed.
"Next unheard message"
"Umm... Hey Kenya". "This is Leslie". "You told me to give you a call"............ "You can give me a call back at 902-335-2819. "I'll be staying in D.C. for a few nights". "Talk to you later".
I quickly wrote down her number, tore the sheet of paper out of the note pad, slipped it into my Giuseppe Zanotti tote and walked out the door. I took the elevator to the first floor, got off and proceeded to walk out of my condominium building.
While I waited for my driver to pull up, I decided to check my personal and work cellular phones. "Of course my phones are never dry" I though to myself. There was a message from Brad saying that he would be about 15 minutes behind and to have his desk set up. I let out a sigh as I looked at my wrist watch to make sure that I would even be on time.
"Where is this damn driver". I said out loud causing the door man to chuckle.
Frustrated that I was probably not going to be on time my damn self, I shoved my work phone back into my tote. "Come on baby give me some good news" I whispered to myself as I checked my personal phone. My eyes lit up as I read the message from my client.
"The job is finished". "The check should be clear first thing in the a.m."
I wasn't so anxious to get to the office all of sudden. Money was on my mind and I was only 1 mill away from retirement. I cracked a devious smile because I knew that It was almost time to let go of all of the foolishness that I had gotten myself into over the years. Ten minutes later, Franco pulled up. I stood there tapping my foot waiting for him to get out to open the back door for me, but he didn't get out of the car. I walked to the front of the car with my hands up. "Are you going to open the door!" I yelled out with a slight smile on my face.
Realizing that Franco wasn't the person driving, I let down my hands slowly, waiting to see who this unprofessional man was. "Oh, umm..... I'm sorry mam". "I'm Juan". "Franco is on vacation"he said as he hurried around to open the back door. "Hmmm." "That explains" I said sarcastically.
"My apology mam" he said as he grabbed his handkerchief from his front pocket to damp the sweat that was building up on his forehead. "Mam"! I blurted out. "Boyyyy, I'm only twenty something". "Do I looked like somebody's mom?"
"No ma....." Just before he could get the word out I cut him off.
"Don't you dare say it" I laughed.
Traffic was crazy as usual but, I manage to get to the office five minutes before eight. "Good morning Ms. Kenya" James said as he sashed towards me. "You look stunning darling"! He said as he quickly kissed me on my cheek and then spun me around like a ballerina.
James always knew how to make a sister feel beautiful. Even though he was just as attracted to men as I was.
"Thank you Darling". I replied in my Dolly Parton voice. "How's she doing I said as I looked in the direction where our new receptionist sat. "She's doing pretty good for it to be her first day". "I mean she's no James.....but she'll do" he said.
"Oh my god" you are soo crazy" I blurted out. I gave him my fur coat and walked over to meet our new receptionist .
She was a very pretty girl. She dresses very professional and exuded class.
"So James tells me that you have been holding this place down pretty good",I said with a smile.
I could tell that I had caught her off guard, because she hesitated to respond.
"Ummm, yes, yes, thank you for hiring me", she said as she quickly got up from her seat extending her hand to give me a handshake. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you Ms.Kenya".
"Just call me Kenya, I said as I shook her hand. "Okay, I sighed. "Is there anything you need up here", I asked as I scanned the desk to make sure she wasn't missing anything.
"Nope". "I think I have everything", she said smiling so hard that she started to look like an Asian.
"Okay". "Great!" "Make sure you send all of Brads messages over to me until he arrives".
"Okay, I'm on it", she replied.
"Here's your coffee", James said to me as I walked off towards my office.
"Aww thanks babe", I said as he handed me my cup. "Is that my favorite cream I smell", I said as I tilted my head down to catch the sweet aroma of pumpkin spice against my nose.
"Yes you know it it girl", James boasted.
" Honey just what I needed" , I replied with joy.
"Ummm James", I whispered as I stopped, then looked back to make sure no was around.
"What's up?", he said whispering back.
I cleared my throat then spoke. "What is our new receptionist name again"?
James chuckled a little, but I was being serious as a heart attack.
"Oh damn girl you are for real", he said when he noticed the look on my face.
"Her name is is Kimberly child", he replied. "You mean to tell me that you really didn't know her named", he added.
I laughed a little, then took a sip of my coffee.
James on the other hand, began laughing profusely.
"Shhhh, be quiet", I said as I placed my hand over his mouth to keep him quiet.
I must admit, it was pretty funny, but then again it wasn't. In a way it made me realized that work and all the other shit was keeping me off my game.
Me and James proceeded down the hall to our office. When I walked into my office, a bouquet of beautiful flowers were sitting on my desk, along with a small box of my favorite chocolate covered strawberries.
I sat my cup of coffee down on my desk so I could see who took their precious time putting together such a lovely arrangement. As I admired the flowers, I spotted a small card tucked neatly on the side of the flowers.
" You are the twinkle in my eyes".
Love,
Mark
Instantly my stomach began to turn. I was freakishly grossed out. "Don't tell me this fucker been in my goddamn office", I shouted.
I grabbed the bouquet of flowers and strawberries and stormed out of my office.
"Kimberly!", I hissed "Did you allow someone in my office without my permission", I questioned.
"Ummm. No, they were delivered and I .....I .......I" ,she said stuttering. " I took them to your office.
Realizing how confused she was, I began to breath slowly so I could calm myself down.
"Please make sure you speak to me first before anything else is delivered", I said politely.
"Ok,will do", she replied.
I walked outside the office and around the back of the building where all of the dumpster were, holding my breath along the way. Once I got to our trash, I tossed the flowers and strawberries inside and quickly ran back so I could escape the unforgiving cold air.
I sat at my desk in deep thought. This guy just wouldn't let up. Had I knew that it would have turned out this way, I would have never got involved in this situation. Only 1 mill, I thought to myself. Only 1 fucking mill.
