The conversation with Jhené stays with me through the week, I catch myself thinking about it throughout my day and it bothers me. I don't want to tell her, especially because it would make her feel awkward, but I also don't want to keep thinking on it. Shit... today is Friday.. I have that date today! I definitely cannot be thinking on this the entire time I'm with this mystery girl tonight!
"Hey Queen? Have you gotten a chance to talk to that Global One company about the fundraiser?" Amanda asks from her desk
"Yes ma'am, called them earlier" I nod, looking at the computer screen in front of me
"Good, thank you" Amanda half smiles in my direction before looking down at a paper on her desk
I look up from my screen just in time to see Jhené walk off the elevator on the floor. What the hell is she doing here at my job? Please don't be like the movies where the love interest confesses their undying love for the protagonist and they share a kiss... I don't want to end up fired!
"Hello Ms. Kingston ! How are you?" Amanda stands up from her seat
Wait ... Ms. Kingston? I look at Jhené, stunned
"Hey Amanda, is my dad busy?" Jhene doesn't seem to notice that I'm seated 4 feet away from her
Dad?! A rush of panic fills me as I come to a realization. I've been hanging out with my boss' daughter?! I almost want to say something to her out loud, but she looks over to me and her eyes go wide in surprise.
"Hi" Jhené chokes out
"Oh yea, you haven't met Queen, my assistant, yet" Amanda looks over to me, "Queen this is Lana, Mr. Kingston's daughter"
"Hello, Lana" I try to emphasize her name a little
"Hello, Queen" Jhené, who's name is apparently Lana Kingston!, looks embarrassed
"Lana!" Mr. Kingston comes out of his office to hug his daughter, "I'm glad you finally met the young assistant, she's doing great!"
"I bet she is, dad" Lana hugs him back and I can tell this is uncomfortable for her
This is way past uncomfortable to me, and she is definitely going to hear about it later.
"Step into my office" Mr. Kingston, Lana aka Jhene's dad!, pulls her away
"Enjoy your Friday, Queen!" Amanda basically shoves me toward the elevator, placing an envelope in my hands, "And here is your first paycheck! Spend it wisely!"
"Okay, okay!" I laugh, placing the envelope in my laptop bag, "Have a great weekend too, Amanda"
"I will! Now get out of here!" Amanda pushes the button to the elevator "Have some fun!"
I get on the elevator, laughing at how quickly Amanda wanted to kick me out of the office after hearing I have a date later. I pull my phone out of my pocket and see a lot of unread text.
-Hey! I'm in town for the weekend and need a place to crash that's not my aunt's place!- Kat
Oh my goodness! Kat's back! I almost can't control a squeal of excitement, scaring the shit out of the lady that walks into the elevator after me from another floor .
-Crash anytime at my place!- I respond back to her then scroll through the rest of my messages to see 4 unread messages from Lana, formally known as Jhene
-Queen, I am so sorry!-
-Are you mad at me?-
-Please don't be-
-I can explain-
I fight with myself to want to hear what she has to say, I mean she did lie about who she is... what else has she lied about? I look through messages from the AVs as I walk out of the elevator and toward my car, really unsure if I should tell them what's going on
-Soooo ... how are you and Emmie?- Adrianne asks in the group chat
-Great! We've just been chilling lately- Leslie responded back
-More details! It's been two days since your date!- Aria
-I mean, nothing much has changed at work but we talk a lot more on the phone and text a lot more outside of work- Leslie sends a shrug emoji
-Oooh! I smell a romance!- Adrianne
-Oh goodness!- Leslie sends the hand on forehead emoji
I get into my car and lock my doors, before starting my car and turning on music. Jessie Reyez "Shutter Island" turns on as I pull out of my parking space
"My straight jackets custom made though!" Jessie sings out
My phone begins to ring and I almost hit the ignore button when I see the name on the ID
Jhene
To pick up the phone or to not? That is the question
"Hello?" Guess that solves that...
"Queen! I am so sorry!" Lana half pleads "Don't be mad but I had to make sure I could trust you guys with not turning my return into publicity!"
"Publicity? Damn, didn't realize we were a photo op for you" I roll my eyes, knowing I'm being completely unreasonable, but I want to be so petty at the same time
"Queen, don't be like that" Lana sighs, "I just wanted to enjoy friends that don't know who my dad is and how much money he has"
"Well seeing as I'm one of thousands of employees that are on his pay roll, I don't understand how I'm not someone you would trust with your identity"
"I knew you would find out eventually, I just wanted it to be from me and not a surprise to you"
"So you pull up while I'm working and expect me not to be there?"
"I kind of thought I could sneak past you if you were in the bathroom and wait it out" Lana half jokes
"Interesting" I try not to smirk "So what about you is real?"
"Everything but my name, I mean I didn't give much information and you really didn't ask about much otherwise"
"I mean, I'm not one to dig too deep"
"So have you decided if you're going to be mad at me or not?"
"Give me time to think about it" I pull up to my apartment and turn my car off, "Just don't get me fired off my decision"
"I don't think I have that kind of power" Lana sounds serious
I walk into the restaurant my friends set for my date, and I feel super nervous. I decided on high-rise black and white plaid pants, a black lace crop top camisole, and black Toms. I'm proud of myself for trying, honestly, because I seriously didn't want to. I check the text for the clue marker again
-look for a red rose- Adrianne
That's all? That shouldn't be too hard... except this restaurant is hostess seating only! I don't want to walk around not knowing where she's at!
"Excuse me, ma'am? Are you waiting on someone?" The hostess asks me, looking me up and down
"I'm actually here to meet someone? I was told to look for a red rose?" I try not to say it too loudly
"Ahh! She said you would say that! Follow me" the hostess leads me to a back booth in the restaurant, all the way to a very beautiful female who looks just as nervous as I feel. She looks at the rose then to me, a nervous smile forms on her lips
"Thank you" I smile to the hostess before looking back to the female in front of me "May I sit?"
"Depends" she squints her eyes, "are you Queen?"
"The one and only, probably" I laugh a little at my small joke... damn girl... already getting corny on her ass! Chill the fuck out!
"Then you may sit" she smiles, waving her hand to the booth in front of her, "I didn't know what to expect out of this. My friends set this up"
"Really?" I eye her a little more. Her deep set freckles are super fucking adorable and go perfectly with the dimples on both sides of her face
"Yea, I only received your name 10 minutes ago " she looks at the Apple Watch on her tan arm
Damn. You have a lot going for you... my friends didn't fuck me over ... maybe ...
"Wow, I didn't even get your name" I shake my head
"Anissa" she moves a dark curl from her face, "So... how was your day?"
"It was fine. I mostly worked, you?" I try not to leave any awkward silences between us... knowing how I tend to get with being awkward.. I don't need to add silence to that too
"Same, really. Where do you work?"
"Kingston Inc. I'm an assistant to an assistant" I shrug a little
"Damn, that sounds great actually" she nods in approval, "I work in the judicial system"
Noted...
"Is that code for police officer?" I lift my eyebrows
"Yes" she answers slowly, looking at my face to see how I'm registering the information
"You could have just led with that" I shrug my shoulders, "I know the chief"
"Know?" She raises her eyebrows at me
"He's a friend of my dad's. You'll never catch me with a ticket" I wink, just in time for our server to come over to our table
"Hello! My name is Courtney and I'll be your server! Can I start you ladies off with something to drink?" Courtney smiles widely at us both
"A blue hurricane" Anissa lifts up her drivers license to be verified for age
I look down at the drink menu, avoiding margaritas and any heavy liquor before finally deciding, "I'll have a strawberry sangria" I pull my wallet out of my back pocket and pull my license out before handing it to the server to verify it
"Yes ma'am, and I'll bring you both a glass of water as well" Courtney writes down our orders then walks away
"So when is your birthday?" Anissa asks, breaking our short silence
"July 15th"
"March 19th"
"You're a Pisces" I note out loud and in my head
"Cancer" she smiles, "you have a lot rooting for you already. You haven't backed out or made a weird excuse to leave because I'm a cop, you're beautiful, and you're a cancer"
"Are you saying this so you can keep your job?" I give her a sly smile
"If I somehow fuck this date up? I will need to keep my job after" she laughs
"I don't think I have the authority to take it anyways" I laugh
"That's a relief" Anissa smiles as Courtney places our drinks in front of us, "thank you, Courtney"
"You're welcome! Are you both ready to order or need time?"
Well shit.. I guess I could have been looking at the menu ! "We need a few minutes"
"Okay! I'll be back!" Courtney walks away to attend to another one of her tables
I look down at the menu and study it for a second, feeling Anissa staring at me instead of looking at her menu, "I'm sure the menu could help you find something to help your hunger" I look back at the menu trying hard to keep from laughing out loud
She burst into laughter, tossing a straw paper at me, "oh my goodness, Queen! Damn a girl can't admire the great things the Lord has given?"
I crack a smile. This date won't be too bad after all.
I grab my phone to check my text messages while Anissa is preoccupied with the menu
-Did you find her?- Adrianne
-She better have by now!- Leslie
-If she doesn't text back, should we go check on her to make sure she's alright?- Aria
-Let's give it 10- Leslie
Shit! That was over 20 minutes ago! Leslie and the others will literally show up if I don't - I look up and around the restaurant for any sign of my friends before I catch Adrianne and Leslie sitting at a table together, and are definitely not good at being stealthy.
-Adding glasses does not count as a stealthy disguise- I text them, looking up to see them read the screen.
Leslie looks up at me and smiles before waving
I guess this is how it'll go for the rest of the night.