Chapter 22
Tiana's Perspective
"Be enough for yourself first the rest of the world can wait."-Fw
•••••
THE smell of bacon hit my nostrils as beaming sun rays caused me to toss and turn throughout my sleep. My eyes opened instantly squinting at the light from my opened curtains. Like clockwork, my arm shot up to shield my vision. I sat up adjusting my bonnet and old sweatshirt. I stepped out of my bed slipping on some house slippers walking out into the hallway over to the bathroom to brush my teeth and wash my face. After rinsing my mouth out memories of last night flashed throughout my mind. Last night was amazing, and the crazy thing was all we did was talk about ourselves and life in general. I exited the bathroom going back into my room to put on some sweat pants before walking into the kitchen. Ally had the radio blasting Lauren Hill's X-Factor as I sat at the kitchen table watching her dance with her back turned at the stove. When she turned around she jumped before smiling clutching her chest.
"Girl that's my song." She took some biscuits out of the oven.
Every morning since I'd moved in we both took turns making breakfast for each other. I usually preferred Ally's cooking over mines because she could throw down.
"I can see that." I shook my head.
"So how was the date last night? My ass fell asleep waitin' on you to get back." She put her hand on her hip.
Instantly my cheeks warmed up just thinking about him and how sweet and charming the date was. I'd prefer something practical like that over an extravagant date any day.
"It was amazing Ally."
"Uh oh you didn't give him the cookie jar did you?"
"No girl." I laughed shaking my head.
"So what did yall do? I want to know all the details sis."
"Well at first I was super scared, I thought he was trying to kidnap me."
She looked over at me as if I was mentally unstable walking to the refrigerator to grab a gallon of milk.
"He took me to this ducked off area that resembled the woods, so I'm thinking he's gonna try and take advantage of me or something. Anyway, we walked along this trail and girl when we got to where he was taking me, it was this massive treehouse with lights surrounding it and everything."
"Damn he doin' some movie type shit huh?"
"Right! Then when we got inside the treehouse he had a blanket set up with food, music, and wine. He told me he wanted to have a treehouse picnic with me since it was quiet and peaceful." I continued cheesing talking about it.
"Awe that's so sweet even I'm blushing."
"Yes out of everything I was not expecting something like that, especially for the first date. It was so intimate and not once did I get awkward, scared, bored, or shy just comfortable and...myself."
"Wow, your night was damn sure more interesting than mines. I just caught up on Insecure." She turned the stove off grabbing a plate from one of the cabinets.
"What should I say to him at work today? What if I run into him? He left me so jittery and goofy feeling like I'm in high school again." I got up to fix some tea.
"Girl just talk to him like you usually do. Breakfast is ready." She said laughing at me.
We fixed our plates continuing to chat about random stuff before getting ready to head to work. I didn't feel like driving my Honda so we rode in Ally's car. Normally my appearance was not extremely important to me. I had no reason to go all out and get dressed up, but now with Owen around and potentially running into him at work, I had a reason to dress up. With the little money I had leftover out of my paychecks, I could afford some cute casual outfits for work and start wearing a little makeup as well. When we arrived at Wilcox's dealership Cindy was at the front desk searching through files in a hurry. She looked frustrated and highly upset. Ally spoke up before I could.
"Cindy, what's goin' on?" We walked up to the front desk startling her.
"Oh hi, girls sorry I didn't greet you when you walked in my mind is all over the place."
"No biggie," I replied.
"Matthew is out of town and we have some large investors coming in today to check out our cars. Not to mention Wilcox will be here and Erica too so I'm freaking out right now."
She threw files left and right checking cabinets and all.
"The worst part about it is I can't find that dang on contract." She mumbled.
"Cindy calm down Erica's cool she'll know you don't have everything handled here by yourself," Ally assured her.
"I know but if I mess up it's not a good look in this line of business, especially for women, found it!" She pulled the balled up document out of a file cabinet holding it up in the air smiling.
"Oh, ladies since you're already here I might as well inform you that the investors are also doing a check-up on our employees as well, so be on your best behavior. Also, we're conducting a staff meeting on the ground floor in the main garage today so don't be late."
We nodded as she rushed off from the front desk practically sprinting down the hall in six-inch black heels. She was always in a hurry.
"Damn she just gon leave this mess?" Ally asked referring to the massive load of papers Cindy left surrounding the front desk.
"Guess so"
"Lindsey gon be mad as fuck." She said referring to the girl who works at the front desk.
We headed down the hallway to the elevator on our way to the call center room. Ally carried on talking about our next-door neighbors annoying her as car salesman and women passed us by. I looked up from the floor catching a pair of hypnotizing brown eyes set on me. It was Owen in a navy blue jumpsuit walking with a bottle of water in his hands. He continued watching me as we nearly passed by each other. He winked at me touching my arm slightly as he walked by continuing on his stroll.
Where was he going? I wanted to go. What was this man doing to me?
When we got up to the call center room there was not as much noise like there usually was. You could hear a pen drop. Damn investors come and everyone wants to work diligently. This should be an everyday thing. Ally and I got to our seats signing in before accepting and requesting a few calls. We worked non stop for a couple of hours before Brad, a co-worker notified everyone that the staff meeting would be starting in a few minutes. I'd rather attend a meeting than sit down answering calls for another twenty minutes so that was refreshing. We got down to the garage to find Mechanics, Technicians, Salesmen, Saleswomen, and other business people scattered around the huge garage. My eyes detected Owen a couple of feet away joking around with Andre as usual. They stood in their spot waiting for the meeting to start. A part of me desired for him to look in my direction. I stood next to Ally with my arms crossed looking around.
I noticed Erica, she was going around hugging people and smiling. I doubt if she had remembered me. The man in a suit next to her I'm guessing was Wilcox. He didn't strike me as Erica's type at all, but they looked good together. Cindy came into the garage with a folder looking out of it, I guess from stressing all day. She stood in the center of the garage trying to gather everyone's attention.
"Hi, I'm Cindy Moore head assistant saleswoman at Wilcox Establishments."
Everyone started clapping as she introduced herself, so Ally and I did too. In the midst of her talking, Eric came in late trying to sneak in standing next to Ally and me.
"Hi Eric," I said bussing him out chuckling.
"Ah hi Tiana"
"Matthew and I have been working with this company for years now trying to perfect it into everything Erica and Wilcox desire it to be. We promise our cars are in top-notch shape with some of the best mechanics working on them in Georgia. If you investors do invest in Wilcox Establishments you won't regret it, thank you." Everyone clapped as she ended her little speech going over to converse with investors for a minute before the meeting continued.
I took the opportunity to go over and speak with Erica hopefully having the chance to thank her for everything she didn't even know she had done for me. She stood typing away on her phone as I approached her. She looked up giving me a warm smile already figuring out who I was. She came over to me grabbing my hands gently.
"Is it Brittany or Tiana today?" She asked in a jokingly manner.
I had totally forgotten about that.
"Oh, right I'm sorry about that."
"Don't be, you were just being cautious I understand." She smiled.
"I'm so glad you decided to show up here. How's it been so far? Matthew treating you right?" Investors beside her looked confused as ever as she continued talking to me stepping over to the side so no one could hear our conversation.
"Yes actually, I'm surprised you remember me."
"Of course I remember you, that sweet yet secretly fierce personality of yours."
"I really do apologize for the way I acted towards you," I said putting my head down.
"It's okay Tiana, really."
A man came to her side handing her a glass of champagne.
"Oh, Tiana this is my husband Wilcox."
He gave me a warm smile sipping from his glass.
"Nice to meet you I do try to get to know all of my employees, but it's hard with so much traveling we do."
"Especially with various dealerships all over." Erica concluded.
I nodded not really knowing what to say.
"Well thank you for the job."
Erica only smiled.
"Anytime and remember Tiana not all strangers have bad intentions sometimes they can be the best of people if you just...let them in." She turned her attention back towards the investors and Wilcox.
I stood standing in my thoughts scanning the garage for Ally. I looked over at Owen unintentionally as he stood with a rag wiping his hands staring at me. He ushered for me to come over to him with his hand. Like a sprung silly girl, I walked over smiling. He moved away from Andre and the other mechanics walking closer to me until we were inches apart.
"What?" I asked in a snarky playful voice.
He didn't reply, only looking into my eyes as if I had some sort of trance over him.
"Let me take you out for lunch today."
"You're always trying to feed me."
"Nothin' wrong with puttin' a lil meat on them bones. I'm trynna lookout for you."
His smirk was something deadly.
"What time yo lunch break?"
"Right after this meeting," I said holding my hands behind my back.
"Aight cool go tell Ally I got her job today." He walked off going to go put the rag down.
Cindy started talking again as I went back over to my original spot finally finding Ally standing beside Eric.
"Owen wants to take me out for lunch today," I whispered, more excited than I should have been.
Ally only looked over at me with an eyebrow raised smiling, "alright ditch me then." She joked.
"Stop playing," I shook my head laughing continuing to listen to Cindy chatter in a shaky voice. Her blonde locks were thrown all over her head. Matthew really shouldn't have left her to handle all of this by herself today.
Chapter 22
KelisAjanee
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