"𝙷𝚎'𝚜 𝚐𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝙸 𝚏𝚎𝚕𝚝 𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎, 𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚋𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚖𝚢 𝚌𝚑𝚎𝚜𝚝."
~~~
𝐒𝐚𝐠𝐞'𝐬 𝐏𝐎𝐕
"Remind me again why you're still working for that woman." I could hear her intentional eye roll through the phone.
For the first five minutes of our daily phone call, I filled Vic in on what's been going on at the office and let's just say she's not at all pleased with Rosalind's last minute demand and I knew why.
Every authoritative figure in my life have taken advantage of me in some shape or form. Vic is super aware of the fact and hell bent on making sure it never happens again.
So was I, but I knew when I accepted this job it wasn't going to be easy.
When Rosalind said I would be planning the entire event, my first thought was that she must be crazy or better yet, insane to hand over a responsibility as big as that to an inexperienced secretary.
This event could determine the future of many college graduates like myself who are interested in journalism but lack the personal connections to move up the ladder.
I was lucky enough that Ms. Rayes saw something in me to even write a recommendation letter on my behalf for my Urban Scope Internship application.
"Vic, you know why." I sigh. "She's the only black female CEO in her field. I can learn a lot from her if I want to have my own journalism company one day."
"That doesn't mean you have to take her shit. I mean six days to plan an entire Gala, Sage. It's like she's setting up to fail and being an eleven-hour plane ride away doesn't give me enough room to help out."
Victoria was currently studying art in one of Paris's prestigious art schools. After finally standing her ground on quitting ballet she began filling our dorm with canvases. She even went over to Tristan's for advice and the two of them worked on many art pieces together. With many inspiration to follow, her art portfolio captured the attention of many universities abroad.
"Don't worry, I have this all figured out." I swipe through the pages of my notepad until I reached the to do list. "Let's see the venue has already been reserved for the day prior and the day of the event, I've sent the decorators the color pallets to go with the gold and black theme and I have until tonight to finalize the menu for the caterers. All that's left for me to do is go over the talking points with Rosalind and make sure all the athletes are in attendance."
"Do you have a list of which athletes are attending?" I knew by the tone of her voice she was just itching to ask.
"The list hasn't been finalized but I'd assume some pretty big ones." I cut straight to the point, not paying attention to the brief flutter in my stomach.
Sports was truly never my thing but with Syracuse being a Division One University, most, if not all of our newspaper articles touched on games, athletes, and their season stats. At one point I was giving random players in the halls tips on how they could improve. I earned a few harsh glares but in the end, a few of them did put my advice into practice.
"Well, let me know the minute you find out."
"Don't you have a boyfriend to facetime?" I subtly try to change the subject and by the deep sigh I get in return, I know it works.
"Who, Miles? I'd be lucky if I even hear from him by dinner. Between him running his own restaurant and me in graduate school in another country we barely have time to even talk on the phone."
"Long distance is that bad huh?"
"More than you'll ever know." She sighs and I immediately recognize the double meaning of that sentence before she doubles back. "Wait, that sounded wrong. Sage, I didn't mean it like that."
"It's fine I know you didn't." I shake my head, nodding but then I realize she couldn't see me.
Some days I still sit and wonder if I made the right choice. Over the years, I had come in contact with many happy couples in long distance relationships. They didn't sugarcoat it. It was rough at times but the look on their faces when they got to see one another after months of not being able to was priceless.
"Unless..." She drags the word out much to my dismay. "You and Elliot finally do something about that New Years' kiss."
I choke on the strawberry that I had just bitten into, remembering that night a couple months ago. I've tried everything in my power to remove it from my memories but every once in a while Vic likes to remind me to get back out there.
As if two failed relationships weren't enough.
It was New Year's eve, a bunch of us from work got together at a rooftop bar and I'd had way too many shots of tequila after watching the bar's TV play football all night. We both were just lonely on a day when couples seemed to make each other the most known and when the clock hit twelve o clock, I glanced to my side and there he was, looking down at me with more than friendship sparkling behind his eyes. The next day we went back to normal as if nothing ever happened and I was secretly glad none of us have bothered to bring it up again.
"I'm starting to regret telling you that. It was one drunken mistake. Plus, he doesn't even see me that way." I add.
"Sage, are you blind or just being delusional? He has been pining over you since the day you guys have met. I visited last summer and he quite literally looked at you like you hung the damn stars and moon. Plus he's hot and—
My throat drys at her rant but I cough up the strength to interrupt her. "Oh look, my boss is calling."
"Sage, it's your day off."
I practically go radio silence.
"Don't you dare hang up this phone. Sage. Monet. Winters."
"Duty calls. Love you!"
And I hang up, blowing a well deserved breath through my teeth.
The second I remove the phone from my ear, I plate the scrambled eggs right beside my french toast and lather the entire breakfast in syrup. Not exactly the healthiest but these were the only days where my first meal of the day did not consist of coffee and an overpriced danish. These days my relationship with food has become much better. I no longer wince at the calories on the nutrition label and I make sure I eat three times a day. Taking a bite of the warm delicacy, I get lost in my own world of thoughts.
I would be lying if I said after the news of Urban Scope's Gala partnering with E-Sports came out, I didn't think of him right away.
That day still haunts me. How I lied to his face so he could finally leave and pursue his dreams. But nonetheless it paid off and only a year after his transfer to Texas University, Zachariah was drafted to the Cowboys as the number three pick.
The second I found out it was like dragging ten pounds of my shoulders and the first thing I wanted to do was call and congratulate him but deep down I knew I couldn't.
Get a grip Sage. It's been what? Five years. Surely he's moved on by now and by the look of all the NFL players I've come in contact with they were wifed up only a year after being drafted.
It was almost like a tradition.
After scrolling through mindless tweets and a few work emails. I push off of the barstool and place my now empty plate in the sink.
My phone rings and without looking at the name I answer, thinking it was Victoria.
"Ms. Winters."
"Rosalind?" How did she—never mind. Don't question it. "I'm not in the office. Today's my day off." I wince because I know day off wasn't in her vocabulary.
"There is a Gala to be hosted next week and you just took a day off?!" I could hear how busy the office was through the phone. The ringing phone, shouting and copy machine signaling the paper cartridge was now empty.
"Well, I didn't just ta-
"Uh—" She stops me mid sentence. "I don't want to hear it. Get here in thirty. You'll get a bonus for your time if that's what your worried about."
Then she hangs up without waiting for my reply.
Scrambling to get in some decent clothing that hadn't consisted of my matching pink satin pajama set, I go for a blouse and form fitting pencil skirt. The soft fabric stretches to accommodate my wide hips and love handles in that area.
Removing my bonnet from my head, I cringe at the sight of my matted curls struggling to survive in this excuse of a bun I put together before bed. I wet the strangling ends in an attempt to bring them back to life with moisture and proceed to comb my fingers through its entirety until I look presentable once again.
When I look at my reflection in the mirror, I say the same three sentences as the day before.
"I am worthy of all things great."
"I am beautiful when I think I am not."
"I am going to achieve all of my dreams."
Some days are harder than others but today I manage to let the words pass through my lips with confidence.
____
I cleared my throat when I approached the already occupied conference table lined with coffee mugs and leftover pastries from Ginny's Cafe. With the slow clicks of my heels, the noise in between these four walls drop a sound level.
Rosalind never looked up from the folders in her hand. Shuffling, then reading, signing a couple things and tossing a few aside. "Glad you could be here with us, Ms. Winters."
"Of course, please excuse my tardiness. It won't happen again." I make my way around to an empty chair and drop my bag onto the seat.
Ignoring my last comment, Rosalind stands and the other two humans beside her follow suit.
"Ms. Winters, this is Janice, spokesperson for E-Sports. A couple of the athletes are here to join us to talk about their experience with the company. From the updated itinerary I know we have two spots left in the lineup for guest speakers so after today we'll decide who's best suitable to fill those roles."
"Oh— I wasn't aware the list had been finalized. Who are the athletes?"
"Well, we have Tony Anderson, NHL right winger and NFL Cowboys quarterback, Ezra Moore. We had initially chosen someone else but it seems like he wasn't able to catch the flight out to Chicago. Is that okay with you?" The spokesperson announced.
I let out the biggest sigh of relief, thanking God yet again for saving my ass, from just another awkward encounter.
When I respond with a head nod, she continues to brief us on what questions need to be asked, answered and printed out.
"Your guest is down the hall, first room to your left."
I grab my things, before disappearing out the door and into the never ending hallway. The place looks even more busy on a Monday and I can't tell if it's because Rosalind's in one of her moods or because the Gala was this weekend.
I grab the door handle and push down. The person I make eye contact with doesn't surprise me. "Mr. Moore, so nice of you to join us. Thank you for agreeing on short notice to be here. I can assure you this won't be a waste of your time." I jump straight into it, ignoring the awkwardness surrounding us both because of our last encounter.
Ezra immediately stands up, pushing his hands into the pocket of his jeans. "Sage–
"Mr. Moore, we should really keep this professional."
"I came in place of him." He admits and I ignore the way my heart shifts inside my chest.
What did that mean? Did Zach not want to come because of me? Shit, I knew he hated me but not to this extent.
I take a deep breath, biting back my tongue. "I don't think now is the appropriate time to discuss this."
"I know why you left that night and never looked back, Sage. When you told me you wanted to surprise Zach, I would have never imagined anything like that to happen."
"What's in the past is in the past, Ezra. I'm sure he's moved on and...I have as well." I lie, looking from his calculating gaze.
"Right." He hums in a rather sarcastic tone.
"Now that that's out of the way. How's Izzy and my nephew? God, I feel like the worst friend ever. We haven't talked in weeks." I take a seat in the chair across from him.
He follows suit and smiles to himself at the mention of his wife back home. "You know her, still working when she's not supposed to. She loves those kids but the doctor said in the last trimester she should be taking it easy, not continuing to teach."
"You know Izzys a persistent one. She'll never let those first graders go a day without their ASL teacher."
"Yeah and that's why I'm on the fence. Plus she could really use a girl's day. You know, you, her, and Vic like old times. Before the baby comes. I'll take care of everything, flights, food, and any other expenses."
My heart flips, loving the fact that he was paying attention to his wife's needs. I ignore the tinge of jealousy that came along with it. "I would love that. I'll talk to Vic and see if she could fly out this weekend. I know she's been missing Miles as well. So, maybe we all could hang out again."
"Really, are you sure? You wouldn't have a problem with Zach being there. I know you guys haven't talked in years."
I push my pride aside for everyone's sake. "It'll be awkward at first but we're all adults. You guys shouldn't have to organize separate hangouts because of our past."
"Thank you, Sage. Really, this will mean everything to her."
I nod with a hint of a smile. I could go a weekend in his presence. I mean what could really happen with the six of us in one house.
Realizing we hadn't talked much about the real reason he's here, I opened up my laptop to a blank word document. "Okay, now back to this speech. Are you comfortable saying a few words at the Gala? You won't be up on stage for more than five minutes."
"Sage, I think you misunderstood. Unfortunately, I won't be at the Gala since Izzy won't be able to fly to Chicago with me. I'm only here to get the information as a favor for Zach since he was originally picked for the role."
Oh fuck me
End of Chapter
This was just a filler chapter!
But the Izzy and Ezra shipped has definitely sailed. I had no choice but to put those two together.
Can't wait till Sage and Zach meet again!