French Roses and Silk Kisses [Discontinued]

No Average Joe

As Mrs. Snow and Mr. Belcourt finished their interview, Zaria quickly finished up the notes spewed across her note page. The interview had been longer than she expected but the things discussed were interesting.

"I think that's all I have for you, Mr. Belcourt. Zaria, Marshal any questions?" Mrs. Snow turned to look at the pair and Zaria turned to let Marshal go first. He looked down at his notes before shrugging his shoulders.

"I think you guys covered it all." He turned to face Zaria as if saying she could speak now.

"Well Mr. Belcourt, I just wanted to know what you're doing to improve the community? You mentioned it several times throughout the interview, but have yet to provide any examples or evidence." Zaria finished reading the question sloppily written in the margins of her page. The pair seemed stunned by the question before Mr. Belcourt turned his body to face Zaria fulled. She grabbed her pencil to prepare for the answer.

"If you must know Ms. Hopkins, I prefer to remain lowkey about my community endeavors, but for you I'll spill. I'm currently working on a boys club for the east side which I think will be a great addition near the newly built boxing ring. I've contracted a merger between the two so they'll have a place to let off steam and a place to get help with academic and life problems." Zaria quickly scrambled the words into her notebook, nodding her head to let him know she was paying attention.

"This is just one of them many things I'm currently working on and I'd love to tell you the rest over dinner." Zaria stopped writing and quickly looked up at the man.

She cocked her head to the side, "isn't that kind of unprofessional?" Her eyes widened as she realized she'd spoken without thinking. Shifting her eyes to Mrs. Snow in search of help, she instead found the woman hunched over laughing into her elbow.

"You don't work for me or Mrs. Snow, so I don't see how it could be unprofessional." He began to make his way over to the desk, leaning his hip against the edge closest to Marshal.

"So, what do you say gorgeous?"
"Sure... I guess"
—
Arriving home, Zaria panicked and ran to her closet. Mr. Belcourt wanted that date to happen tonight at 8pm and it was already 4pm. She didn't know where they would be going so she had no clue as to whether she should dress up or down.

After almost an hour, she gave up and simply decided on a pair of jeans and a cute sweater. Taking a shower, she made sure to place a cap over her fresh wash and go. Deciding she would have no other time to get it done, she brushed her teeth in the shower.

Stepping out of the shower she saw that the time was already 6:30pm. She hurriedly began placing lotion onto her body and searched her dresser for a matching pair of black socks.

Squeezing into her skinny jeans, she decided to tuck the sweater in with a nice belt to give it a more put together look. Checking the clock once more she found that it was 30 minutes until he'd be here. Placing on her accessories, she snatched the cap off her head and began to fluff out her coils. Just as she placed the pick down, the sound of a knock echoed throughout the apartment.

Taking one last look at herself, she grabbed her black ankle boots and headed towards the living room. She opened the door to find him in a white button up with black slacks and couldn't help but second guess her outfit choice.

"You look stunning. May I come in?" Breaking out of her stare, she nodded and stepped aside to let him in. She watched as he took in her minimalistic apartment.

He whistled, "Nice place. No offense but I thought you were still a college student, how'd you swing this?"
"I know the landlord."

He nodded before taking a seat on the dark grey couch facing her. Zaria couldn't help but feel naked under the weight of his stare, so she turned to begin placing on her boots. Once she had successfully zipped each boot, she turn back to the man.