Shit!
I glanced at my watch, as I urged the elevator onward to the tenth floor.
The time was 755 AM. I should be at my desk already.
If nobody wanted to get on at the other floors, I might be able to get there before my boss noticed I wasn't there yet.
Shit, come on!
I swear, this is all my boyfriend's fault. He wanted to make love this morning.
No, he didn't want to "make love." He just wanted to "fuck."
Yes, for the record, my boyfriend is black. But, to be honest, he's kind of wishy-washy. Not the type to take control. He had to beg me to fuck.
I need a real man, a man who knows what he wants, knows how to demand it and take it from me, too.
It's a pity that my boss is just the kind of man I'm looking for. Tall. Dark haired. Handsome. Strong. Authoritative. Commanding. Master of his universe. The only problem is that he's white.
What was that? Why is that a problem?
You don't know what its like being a black woman. Ladies, can I have a witness? White women think the glass ceiling is bad. We black people have a double standard about interracial dating that will make your brain explode if you think about it too much.
When a black man has sex with a white woman, black men celebrate it. But a black woman having sex with white man? Forget it. The earth might as well be tilting off its axis or something. It's something I can talk about with my fellow sister girls. But talk about interracial dating with a brother and you might as well have 9-1-1 on speed dial.
All my girl friends keep constantly asking me about him. Monica is he single? Monica what does his voice sound like?
I'm not gonna lie. I'm totally into him. But having sex with my boss is about as likely to happen as me getting invited to the shareholder's meeting. It's just one of those things where you fantasize about it, sure, but you don't actually think it's going to happen.
So anyway, here I am, running late, again, after I missed the bus and had to wait for the next one, which barely gives me enough time to walk down the street to my office building, take the elevator to the tenth floor and punch in, all before eight o'clock.
I was still out of breath, still sweating a little.
Just my luck I would have to power walk in high heeled boots.
Shit! This damn elevator is taking forever! I am so screwed.
Eighth floor. 758 AM.
My boss, Stephen Taylor, is a stickler for attendance. It's not enough he wants me there on time, but he wants me to be there 15-20 minutes before 8, so I can read up on any news from the overseas markets. One time I came in just a minute late and I didn't hear the end of it for the whole day. To that I say, Kiss My Black Ass, White Boy.
Now, just this week, I've been one or two minutes late twice already this week!
I am going to be fired. I just know it.
But maybe I can get him to not send me to Human Resources. Unfortunately, I'm not wearing his favorite outfit.
Yesterday I was. This is my boss's favorite outfit. White low-cut tank top. Tight fitting black pencil skirt. His favorite sheer stockings with the seams down the back. And finally my super expensive but super sexy Christian Louboutin black patent-leather peep-toe pumps with six inch stiletto heels and a platform.
When I wore that outfit yesterday, my boss practically undressed me with his eyes.
But today, because I was in such a damn hurry, I threw on a short sleeved white turtleneck top, black knee length A-line skirt, along with matching black leather knee high dress boots, and carried a large black leather hand bag with the strap slung over my shoulder. I hadn't done a damn thing with my hair, although last weekend I'd had it straightened.
The light for the Ninth floor came on. Come on!
Oh yeah, I suppose introductions are in order. My name is Monica. Monica Foster.
I stand about 5 foot 4, with long legs and slim arms. I still have a dancer's body from gymnastics and cheerleading in high school. My hair is jet black, past my shoulders, and naturally curly. My eyes are the color of root beer soda.
Quickly I reached into my purse and grabbed a hair band, slicked my hair back, folded it into a bun and put the hair band in place.
*ding*
By some miracle, exactly at 800 AM, the elevator doors opened on the tenth floor. And my boss wasn't here yet. Thank the Lord!
Feeling immensely relieved that I might not lose my job today, I quickly crossed the hall to my desk, and signed on to my computer while I grabbed my headset.
By another further miracle, Mr. Taylor didn't show up until 805 AM, by which time I had my system completely up. In fact I was speaking to someone as he came in.
He passed my desk, giving me a single nod and a "Good morning, Monica."
I tried not to smile at him and lost.
I was congratulating myself, thinking everything was sunshine and roses, up until about 1000 AM, when Mr. Taylor said, "Monica, can you come in here, please?"
"Yes, Mr. Taylor."
I got up from my desk, smoothing down my skirt as I took the necessary five steps to his office door.
"You needed me, Mr. Taylor?"
"Monica, you were late again."
"I don't know what you're talking about, Mr. Taylor. I was right here at my desk the whole time -"
"Monica, don't lie to me. I tried to call the office to let you know about a client coming in. And guess what? No answer."
I stood there, looking at the floor. He had me.
Mr. Taylor let the silence linger on. Then he said, "Monica. This is the third time you've been late this week."
"Yes, sir....."
"I thought you liked this job?"
"Yes, sir. I do like it."
"I can't have my personal secretary coming in late. It doesn't look good. I need you here earlier than I so that you can read up on the news, so that when I come in I'm not taken by surprise by developments."
I swallowed and looked at the floor. "Yes, sir. I know."
"I hope you also know I'm going to have to let you go."
"No! Please, Mr. Taylor, I promise I won't be late again! Please, don't fire me!"
"And what reassurance can you give that you won't be late again?"