Page 3 of Business Casual

My skin, the color of fresh brewed espresso, looked flawless. My eyes, big and brown, were bright. My body, fleshy and full, was cloaked in a dress that was professionally sexy. I pinned my tightly coiled hair up into a faux hawk that showed off my diamond crusted hoops. My plump lips were slathered with my favorite red lipstick.

My cell phone rang as I parked my car outside of Franklin Financial.

“Hello?” I answered.

“Hey, Imani,” Keisha Mann greeted me. “Are you getting ready for your interview?”

“I’m here now. I’m outside of the building.” I stared at the glass and metal structure in front of me. “Are you at work? Why are you whispering?”

“Yeah, I’m at my desk. I had to come in early. But listen… you go into that interview, and you kill it, okay? You are the best social media manager and consultant in the world! If they know what’s good for them, they’ll hire you. If they don’t hire you, they don’t deserve you.”

I smiled at her pep talk as I entered the building. “Thanks for that.”

“Why are you there so early? Isn’t your interview at nine?”

“Yeah. This would be a big contract if I get it. I guess I wanted to get here early to calm my nerves.”

“Is it working?” she asked.

“Not yet,” I exhaled. “We should’ve gone out last night. I’m always my best when I let out some tension before a big moment.”

Keisha giggled. “I always love how flirting with men is your spinach and it makes you power up like Popeye.”

“Stop saying that,” I said in a strained cackle. I tried to swallow my amusement as I walked through the lobby. It was quiet and there weren’t many people around, but I felt a hearty laugh starting to bubble up again. “You know that cracks me up and I’m in the building.”

“Sorry! What did you decide to wear?” she asked.

“I went with the black pencil dress.”

“Oh, the ass one? That’s sexy!”

My brows furrowed and I stopped in my tracks. “What do you mean the ass one?”

“The formfitting one that makes your ass stand out. It has the slanted neckline, right?”

“Yeah.” I paused as I moved toward the big window at the end of the lobby. I stared at my reflection in the glass as I got closer. “It’s not too sexy, right?”

My black dress was fitted but professional. The asymmetrical neckline was sexy but subtle. The black pumps were sky high but comfortable.

“No, it’s perfect,” Keisha assured me. “It’s sexy yet refined.”

Nodding, I let out a breath. “Okay, yeah. That’s what I thought, too.”

“And I know you’re prepared. You look the part. You know what you’re going to say. You got this in the bag.”

I nodded. “Yes. I got this.” I watched the birds playing near a fountain and garden in the small courtyard on the other side of the glass. The display of April flowers was pretty. “I’m going to head up and just get a feel for the place.”

“Text me and let me know how it goes,” she demanded.

“I will. Thank you again.”

“Anytime and always.”

We said our goodbyes and ended the call.

Closing my eyes, I took a soothing breath.

I imagined driving to Franklin Financial for meetings. I imagined myself taking lunch breaks in the courtyard and basking in the beauty of the garden. I imagined myself wowing Mr. Franklin and getting offered the contract on the spot.

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