Baby Can I Upgrade You?

1. Black Cherry

"Black Cherry Events. This is Imani speaking. How can I help you? Yes, ma'am... No, ma'am. Unfortunately, we cannot do that at such short notice as we are fully booked... I'm sorry ma'am, but I can recommend another service provider if you'd like? Oh, no! It's my pleasure. Have a nice day."

Where the hell is Felicia? I swear, I pay her for nothing! I think as I put down the phone and look around for my very absent receptionist. Her absence might just become permanent. I dash back into my office to double check my checklist for tonight's event. We are hosting the engagement party of some trust fund babies, Jenna Stevens and Michael Hobbs.

Décor? Check. Party favors? Check. Catering? Included in the venue. Servers? Included in the venue. Sound and lighting? Setting up now. Live band? En route. I run through my list and mentally check off items while making notes. Everything seems to be on schedule, but you could never be too careful with these things. There is always a crisis or two about to happen. Luckily, my team is super-efficient and professional. Thank goodness for my right-hand man, Marcel, who is my carbon copy. Albeit the gay and more flamboyant one is on hand at the venue.

My name is Imani Buthelezi, and I am one of the most sought after event planners in and the rest of South Africa really. I started my business, Black Cherry Events, straight out of business school at the age of twenty-three. My family wanted me to take some high paying office job, but I knew I'd be miserable, so I followed my heart into event planning. I love organizing things and bringing people's dreams to life. I get to use my degree (happy family), express my creativity (happy me), and get paid big bucks (happy everyone)! It's a win-win situation! I was lucky to have my first gig be a baby shower for a celebrity friend. Things kind of took off from there. It hasn't been a smooth road, but I feel blessed that Black Cherry Events is now one of the most sought after event companies in the country. Thank you, Jesus! I started off doing baby showers and kids' birthday parties, but now, I'm mostly known for lavish weddings, engagement parties, and over the top birthday and product launch parties. You dream it and I make it a reality. There's really nothing I haven't made happen whether it be angels floating down from the ceiling of a chapel for a wedding to mermaids in a tank for a child's fairy tale birthday party. I am a master of dreams for everyone but not always for myself...

I've reached most of my career goals but I guess while climbing the success ladder I forgot about my personal life along the way and I now don't have much of one to speak of. They say women can have it all but I guess they didn't include mavens of their professions because we're now over-qualified for the job of "significant other". I was almost engaged once but as my pay check grew, our love shrank because he "couldn't be the man of the house" because I could provide far more than he could. I wasn't prepared to slow down my momentum to let him catch up and so it ended. That was 3 years ago, and I haven't really been in a serious relationship since. They weren't lying when they said it's lonely at the top.

Anyway, back to the event at hand. At 3:15 pm, I decide that it's time to head off to the Le Roux Wine Estate, which is about an hour from here. I grab a suit bag with my freshly dry cleaned, gray, floor-length evening dress. "At least Felicia's good for something," I mutter as I grab my handbag and speedily walk out of my office. I walk through our plush carpeted offices, turning off the lights as I walk through since I'm the only one here. The rest of the team is at the venue getting everything ready so I can come in later and do a final walk through and check-up. It's nice to be the boss! I smugly smile to myself. I step out of the building and feel the cold concrete of the parking garage's floor beneath my feet, reminding me that I'm still barefoot.

Shit! Get it together, Imani! I scold myself as I drop my black ostrich leather handbag and dress on the passenger seat of my charcoal-black Mercedes-AMG A 45 hatchback with black and red leather interior. I'm not a big car fanatic, but when I saw this beauty, that I affectionately named June, I couldn't leave her in the garage. June is my soulmate and nothing will tear us apart! I rush back into the building and up the stairs to grab my white and silver diamante encrusted Nine West heels from the mini closet in my office. Being one of the most sought after event planners in the country isn't easy. I don't always have the time to go home and change before events, so my office is my home away from home.

The main space of my office is painted my favorite shade of plum with black and white furnishings and accessories. It has a huge bay window with black window panes that my modern, translucent white plexiglass desk and two guest chairs sit in front of. The view is breathtakingly beautiful! I can see the whole city from here. It is especially beautiful now with all the Jacaranda trees in bloom, creating a purple ocean with buildings jutting out of it. It's a view fit for a queen!

The wall on my left is covered in six white floor-to-ceiling closet doors half hold a quarter of my immense wardrobe. I love clothes, and I hate to throw anything out. I'm a major clothes hoarder, but can you blame me when most of my clothes are cocktail and evening dresses I only get to wear once or twice at gigs?

Diagonally across from my desk is a lounge area with one big, comfy, L-shaped black leather sofa adorned with an assortment of white and plum throw pillows, which is perfect for napping. The wall on my right has two glossy, white doors with a single letter on each. The door next to the lounge has a silver cursive "K" on it because behind it lies my kitchenette. It has all-black cabinets, granite countertops, and fluorescent down lighting. There is a small sink and all-black appliances. The second door with the letter "B" on it is my all-white bathroom which has marble floors, porcelain tiled walls, a toilet, a glass shower, an elegant vanity and sink set with a big round mirror above it and plum towels, rugs and soaps. I'm not going to lie, it's a pretty sweet . I kind of build my favourite parts of my home into my office since they tend to blend into one and the same thing lately.

Anyway, I quickly grab my shoes and rush back down to the garage, taking the lift this time. Going up the stairs was enough for me, thank you very much! I exit the lift and jog to my car, hopping in and driving out of the parking lot. Off to go make another happy ending. I sigh heavily to myself as I speed off onto the N1 freeway.