Off Script

Two Days and a Maybe-MBJ POV

"Hey Michael. Sorry to hit you late," she said, voice crisp like always, "but something came up, and I wanted you to hear it from me first."

"Aight."

"There's a project that's been quietly moving behind the scenes for months. Netflix deal. Limited series, long arc. They want you for the lead, but it's a long-term commitment. Seven months of filming. Possibly overseas."

I went quiet.

She continued. "It's everything we've been building toward—character-driven, Black-led, political, emotional. You'd be an executive producer on it too. Total Outlier alignment."

My stomach twisted. This was the kind of role that cemented legacies.
But it also meant distance. Serious distance. From Mina. From J.C.
From what was maybe starting to bloom into something.

"I'll send you the script tonight," Alana said. "Take your time. We need an answer in the next two weeks."

"Yeah," I said, slowly. "Thanks, Alana. I appreciate you."

As soon as I hung up, Ryan was back on screen.

"What was that about?" he asked.

I leaned forward, elbows on my knees, rubbing my hands together.

"Opportunity of a lifetime," I said.

"Damn."

"Yeah. And it couldn't have come at a worse time."

******

I woke up feeling heavy after learning of the opportunity Alana presented me with. I should be jumping for joy and ready to lock in, but it had me feeling some type of way. I still wanted to try though.

I checked my schedule and decided to find out my meetings and if I could wrap them up by 2. It gave me time to surprise Mina at work and ask her officially on a date. Even though we discussed it, I never gave her a set date or time.

Although I was still brainstorming ideas, I wanted her to be able to get a sitter with enough time to spare—and if she couldn't, I already had Kamila in my back pocket.

I pulled into the parking lot and took a breath. I hadn't seen Mina since our almost-kiss, two days ago. We had texted but danced around the moment we missed.

I walked into the office and, I came all too familiar with the ladies sitting straight up and their voices hitching a few higher octaves when I came in.

"Hi, good afternoon Michael," Shannon said, biting the tip of her pen.

"Hey, what's up," I said as I kept walking. I wasn't entertaining that.

"Hi Michael, how are you today?" Myra said, tossing her hair behind her shoulder and looking me up and down.

"I'm good, how are you?" I said, swiftly passing her by.

I see Ms. Mildred by the filing cabinet and she laughs.

"Hey Ms. Mildred, how are you?" I stop before entering Mina's office.

"I'm alright, Michael, thanks for asking, baby... uh, would you come here for a second?" she said with a half smile.

I walk over to her and lean in.

"So listen... I know you like my girl in there. Tell me when you asking her out. I need to know so I can babysit my baby J.C."

I was thrown for a bit. I didn't know Mina had told anyone.

I cleared my throat. "Oh uh... I didn't know she told anyone," I said, glancing around the office.

"Oh... no no no, baby, I noticed things first. She confided in me just yesterday about it long after I peeped the attraction between you two. Mina doesn't go around telling her business—especially since you are who you are—she wasn't going to do that." She closed the file cabinet.