I’m not your whore
Call me by my given name, realize
I am a Queen…
“Stop Kathy!”
I spoke to my voice-enabled device.
I was awakened at five-thirty in the morning to Lyrica’s new songRecognize.Trevor produced it. It was hot and had quickly become my anthem.
I sat up and threw my legs over the side of the bed. I usually snoozed my alarm several times before I got out of bed, but I had an exciting day ahead of me. I needed enough time to do a thirty-minute spin routine, meditate and get myself prepared for the big meeting I had with the Valentine Law Group. Samuel Valentine, the managing partner, was known for being one of the best litigators in the country. He was falsely convicted and incarcerated for several years when he was younger. Now he was passionate about the law and passionate about fighting for people. He has rarely lost and even more seldom worked with anyone outside of his law firm.
I slung myself over to the chair in the corner of my room to put on my workout outfit. I loved that I didn’t have to go far for my workout, because exercising was not my most favorite thing to do. It was just necessary. My building had a workout room, but I preferred to walk down the street to the gym because the café there had the most delicious after workout smoothies.
I found my phone and pulled up my recently downloaded podcast list. I listened to several podcasts, but during my workouts, I enjoyed listening to a Pastor from Houston named Roman Bluette. He and his wife, Zanetta, had a weekly podcast where they talked about current events but added spirituality to it. I always heard something that made me think or motivated me. I finished my workout while learning about the importance of forgiveness. They referenced a story where a young man was murdered over five dollars by his friend. The murdered man’s mother stood up at the trial and told the murderer that she forgave him. They discussed how forgiveness was more for the person offering it than the person receiving it. I’d never thought about it that way. I walked back to my building, drinking my smoothie and mentally preparing myself for my meeting today.
I showered and dressed in my gray skirt suit with white pinstripes. I paired it with my silver blouse and my silver and white plaid sweater vest. I finished the outfit with my blackSo Kate Louboutin pumpsand my pearl Chanel pin on the top button of my blouse.
I examined myself in the mirror after spraying oil sheen on my freshly cut fade. I opted to keep my hair short because hair is one less thing I have to worry about in the mornings.
I called a car service and pulled up fifteen minutes later to a tall glass building. The sign on the front of the building proudly displayed Valentine Law Group in large white letters. I walked through the glass doors and up to the security desk.
“Good morning. I’m Averie Patterson. I have a meeting with Mr…”
“Ms. Patterson?”
I heard someone behind me call my name. I turned around to see a tall, milk chocolate man that had to be well over six feet tall. He wore a dark brown temple fade with short loose curls. His dark brown eyes complemented his chocolate skin. He wore a nicely tailored black suit with a red tie and white shirt.
“I’m Raymond Thurman, Mr. Valentine’s assistant.” He extended his hand. We shook. “I will show you up to the conference room.”
I don’t know what cologne he was wearing, but it almost had me slipping my panties off and tucking them into his pocket. He smelled amazing. It had been too long since I’d been around a good smelling man. I needed some vitamin D in the worst way. I’d been so busy with my law practice and avoiding bum ass dudes that didn’t have anything going for themselves. I was experiencing a severe drought in the sex department.
I followed behind him to the elevator bank behind the security desk. He pushed the up button then scanned a card before the doors opened. He motioned for me to step on before him. He followed behind me as the door closed. I watched him push the button for the fortieth floor and waved his card in front of the panel again.
We rode in silence until the elevator stopped and the doors opened to a large 3-DValentine Law Groupsign. He motioned for me to step off first. I followed him down a hall lined with glass offices which were lavishly decorated with hardwood floors and massive ornately carved desks. We stopped at the end of the hall at the door with a sign that read, ‘Conference Room.’ He pushed the door open then stepped to the side to allow me to enter.
“Thank you,” I smiled. I always appreciated when a man held doors for me. It didn’t happen very often.
“No problem,” he responded before speaking to the room. “Mr. Xavier Belle,” another beautiful mocha skinned man stood from the table. He also wore a pristinely tailored blue suit, white shirt, and lavender tie.
Are all the men at this firm this fine…geeze…?
“Ms. Patterson, nice to meet you.”
He smiled and showed off the deepest dimples I’d ever seen on a man. He extended his hand. We shook.
“This is my associate, Morris Owens.”
Morris was average height and at least three hundred pounds. He looked like he was a former football lineman. I could tell that his suit was not professionally tailored like Xavier’s, but he still looked good in it. The coca brown skin on his face was partially covered by a full beard that was expertly groomed. His smile was genuine and welcoming.
“This is Mr. Samuel Valentine,” Raymond concluded the introductions.
I’d heard about Samuel Valentine’s intimidating presence in the courtroom, but nothing prepared me for the way his dark brown eyes penetrated mine making me feel exposed. I was completely unprepared for him to stand up and make the whole room pause. It was like everyone in the room held their breath waiting for him to speak. His presence controlled the atmosphere. I’d been around some very powerful men but none with the presence of Mr. Samuel Valentine. I’d seen pictures of him and I’d even seen him on television at press conferences. Neither did him any justice. His jet-black hair laid down in a multitude of waves. His goatee and mustache framed his full lips and rested under his slender nose. His blue suit appeared to have been tailored to his body because it was a perfect fit. The sleeves of his jacket rested in the perfect position above the cuffs on his shirt that held black cufflinks. His light blue shirt and blue tie were an unexpected combination, but it was an excellent choice.
He extended his hand to shake mine. I accepted expecting to feel the hands of a lawyer. Lawyer’s hands are smooth and manicured, solidifying the fact they’ve never done a day of hard labor in their lives. Not Mr. Valentine’s hand, it was rough and calloused. It was also huge and strong. He didn’t shake my hand like I was a woman, all dainty. He matched my grip which I appreciated.
I thought I was past all of the surprises and then he spoke, “Good morning, Ms. Patterson.”