This Can't be Life Read Free Page B

was to take place.
    “Charles Immerson! Yeah, that’s his name. I’m sure that helped a lot.” He finished with a snide smile on his face. I had to stop and take a few breaths before I could even respond. Maybe I’m a little bit emotional because I’m about to come on my period, but I couldn’t let this one go unchecked. What he was implying pissed me off.
    “You know, Jose, I’m sure that the decision for Immerson, Bradley, and Williams to hire us as their advertising agency had nothing at all to do with Charles Immerson…how’d you put it?” I mimicked him, snapping my fingers, faking the need to jog my memory as he had. “ Taking a liking to me. I believe that’s the way you phrased it. I know this business like the back of my hand. That’s why I’ve signed more than a few billion-dollar companies with this agency — because we do good business. So, if you think that the only thing we have to offer our clients are good-looking women, then I’m not sure how you became vice president of this company. But I can tell you this. I’m sure that Charles Immerson didn’t build a multi-billion dollar business by making deals with companies just because they have pretty representatives.” I replied in the calmest voice I could muster. The nerve of some people sickens me. You can’t just say whatever the hell you want to say and think it is okay as long as you put it nicely. Shit, nice will still get you told off where I’m from.
    “I didn’t mean it like that. Talise, please forgive me if that’s the way it sounded. I’m just saying that you’re such a beautiful woman. Any man would have a hard time telling you anything other than what you’d want to hear. So please forgive me. I know you know this business very well — actually better than a lot of us.” He extended his hand to me. “All is forgiven?” he asked, sounding like Antonio Banderas.
    “Yes, Jose. All is forgiven. Just watch what you say to me. You know I can be pretty cutthroat when I feel someone is offending me, and that sounded pretty offensive. But, I forgive you for not thinking before you spoke.” I gave him a slight smile, letting it go for the sake of having to see him every damned day, although he knew what the hell he was saying and meant every word of it.
    “You can cut my throat all you like. I’m sure it would be enjoyable. Now let’s get to the conference room and get this meeting started,” he said, undressing me with his eyes. Up to this point, I’d never been the subject of his unprofessional advances, and I knew that I would have to get that in check real quick if it continued.
     
     

 
    Simone
     
     
    Surprisingly, I awoke to my Blackberry alerting me of a new text message. Two hours had passed since I’d gotten off the phone with Talise and I felt like a new person. My ears were no longer ringing from Talise’s way too early call and the nightmare was a distant memory. I picked up my Blackberry from my night table and was surprised to see a message from Deon. As my low battery signal beeped, I typed in a reply for him to call me and gave him my home number to do so. No more than one minute later, my cordless was ringing.
    “Hey, what’s up?” I asked, smiling into the phone. Deon seemed to be a cool guy, but my expectations were still very low.
    “You, Simone. You’re what’s up. What’re you doin’ today?”
    “Why? Are you coming to hang out with me or something?” I teased.
    “Yup. What’re we doin’?”
    “Does it matter?”
    “Nope, sure doesn’t. What time you want me to pick you up?”
    “I’ll pick you up at noon . I’ll call you when I’m in front of your building. And, oh, I hope you don’t mind going shopping with me,” I stated, as an afterthought.
    “I guess I’ll take my chances. Don’t be late,” he said, sounding skeptical.
    After hanging up the phone, I felt invigorated. It was a beautiful day outside and the view of the Staples Center from my bedroom balcony made