This story was co-written by Browncuriousity, please do not reproduce without author(s) premession.
Evelyn Masters sighed as she cut across three lanes of traffic to get of at the Maple St. exit. More than one person was laying on their horn and giving her impolite hand signals. Thanks to her mother she had nearly missed her exit.
"Evie girl can you hear me?" Her mother shouted through the phone.
"Yes Mama, stop yelling I heard you just fine." Evelyn said nearly yanking the hands free set off of her head, when the older woman's voice startled her.
"Well you never know with those cell phones."
Evelyn almost laughed out loud, her mother clearly had no idea what was up as far as modern technology went. Her urge to laugh was immediately followed by the urge to scream as her mother went on.
"It's time you got over all that mess with Topher and move on. What you need is a man."
Evelyn sighed, smacked her lips then sighed again. She was sorely tempted to hang up the phone but she hadn't gone crazy quite yet. She knew her mother meant well but she was getting on Evelyn's last nerve. After the way Topher had used her, broken her spirit and taken off with all her money (down to the change she kept in the catchall compartment of her car) the last thing she wanted to do was traipse blindly into another relationship. Besides with her business growing like it was the last thing she needed to complicate her life was a man. Granted success wasn't something you could cuddle with on a long stormy night but then again success couldn't runoff with all your money and your best friend to boot.
Her mother went on talking the same as she always did no matter how much Evelyn sighed. I know Topher really hurt you but that was two years ago and it's time to get over it and move on with your life. You're a beautiful woman, you might as well get yourself a man while you can and go ahead and settle down, and after all you're not getting any younger.
"Mama I've told you before I don't need a man to make me happy. You should be proud of me for making on my own not encouraging me to chase after some clown who'll give me his last name in exchange for my freedom."
"Marriage isn't a prison Evie"
"Well it's not a beauty contest either Mama, what do my age and looks have to do with finding a man who will really and truly love me?"
"Girl it has everything to do with it, you..."
Evelyn pulled into her parking space in front of Design and Conquer, the interior design company she had started out of necessity after Topher had robbed her blind.
"Mama I'm running late for work," she said cutting off whatever the woman had been about to say.
The two women said their goodbyes before Evelyn flipped her cell phone shut and let out one heartier sigh before removing the headset and tossing the phone into her already overstuffed tote bag. She had tried a brief stint with a briefcase but in the end the overfull tote nag had turned out to be more efficient and suited to her needs.
As usual Evelyn had arrived an hour earlier than her employees, well make that employee, since Jade had married a doctor and up and quit two months ago. Things were hard with only her and Donnie working, which is why she was accepting resumes and screening interviewees. In fact she had two interviews scheduled this morning and she was praying to God, Buddha and any other entities who might be listening that one of the women coming in today would be the designer she was looking for. Sitting down behind her slightly cluttered desk Evelyn looked over the resumes she'd set aside the evening before for review. Both perspective employees were qualified so she wouldn't be able to decide based on education and experience alone.
She'd interviewed a handful of other applicants but had yet to find someone she was sure could do the job well as well as represent the company in a positive way. Two of the people she'd interviewed had been right out of college and lacked the experience needed to design with confidence and skill. She would have truly loved to give one or both of them a chance but she hadn't become one of the city's foremost designers by wearing her heart on her sleeve. As a business woman she just couldn't afford to take those kinds of chances , after all her livelihood hung in the balance and more importantly so did her reputation.
The third interviewee had been almost perfect except for the fact that she had two children both under the ages of five years old and there was to much of a chance that she'd be called away from work because one of her children were infected with whatever it is children get infected with. Plus the woman had stated that she wouldn't be able to travel much which was sort of a big deal when it came to having to attend estate sales or spend a few days antiquing for unique pieces, to say nothing of scouting potential artists whose works would lend a certain ambience to whatever room or rooms that the company was hired to decorate.
The very last applicant had seemed perfect at first but after talking to him for a few moments she'd found that he was both self centered and spoiled and in a business that was all about pleasing others those traits would hinder even the best designer. Evie hoped that Lillian Rogers or Donna Martins would be the person she was looking for because if not then she'd just have to pick from the applicant pool and hope for the best. Donnie Mitchell showed up a half hour before D&C was due to open and as usual he was dressed to kill in a pair of snug boot cut Ralph Lauren jeans, a tan polo sweater and a dark brown leather Bruno Magali Nappa blazer, all of which he paired with a stylish pair of Cole Haan slip-ons. If Donnie weren't gayer than a three dollar bill she might have considered getting with him based on his fashion sense alone.
"Hey boss lady." He said sashaying, yes that's right sashaying, maybe all gay men didn't do it but Donnie S Mitchell sure did and he did it well too.
He set down two brown two dark brown paper cups on her desk. No doubt they contained coffee based drinks. Donnie always stopped and picked up their pre work coffees, some would be inclined to think he was being a kiss ass but Evie knew the truth. D had a raging Man crush on Anselem the owner of the specialty coffee shop which just so happened to carry her very favorite Caribbean coffee made with fresh coconut milk. Evie had offered to pick up the drinks on alternate days but had ultimately given up since D insisted on handling all caffeinated beverage interactions, Evie wasn't even about to try and push the issue either because when it came to hissy fits between them the queen trumped the straight every time.
"What's good Evie?" He asked propping himself against the corner of her desk.
Before Evelyn could respond the front door opened and a tall woman walked through the door. Her suit was tailored within an inch of its designer label life, and while it was classy it was still altogether too tight, too short and too low cut to be considered as a typical business suit. Not to mention the bright orange color of the material. On any other woman the suit itself might have looked downright unprofessional but somehow this woman pulled it off with grace that would make her millions, if she could somehow bottle it. The stranger was the type of woman that other woman instinctively disliked, the type of woman that made you want to adjust your clothes and check your makeup even when you knew it was perfect. No doubt she rose from the bed looking like a cover model.
Her strong features were almost completely unadorned by makeup and her long thick hair had a natural wave that made her look slightly disheveled, but not unkempt. Evelyn didn't really mean to stare but she knew she was. The woman was the color of deep dark bittersweet chocolate. She looked like she would taste smooth and cool. Her eyes were clear and brown with flecks of gold near the centers that made it seem like light was trapped inside of her eyes. She was tall and lean with a good handful of curves to keep her soft, instead of all angles and sharp corners. Her fullness was reflected again in the lushness of her lips blooming like a dark flower beneath her high cheekbones and wide set eyes. It crossed Evelyn's mind that she was being rude but before she could snap out of it,
The woman walked over to Evelyn's desk and placed the black leather bound portfolio she'd been holding atop the smooth cherry wood finish. Before Evelyn could so much as glace at the portfolio the woman had presented her with, the stranger sat in the leather chair directly across from her and crossed her long legs. Evelyn couldn't help but glance at the ample display of leg the woman was showing, as her orange skirt crept up. When she realized the direction her eyes had wandered in Evelyn snapped her eyes to the woman's face. She had only looked for a moment but she somehow had the impression that she'd been caught. The woman held Evelyn's gaze for a moment and allowed a smile to creep around the corners of her full lips before speaking.
"I'm Jerusalem Baptiste, and I'm going to change your life."
"I'm sorry have we met?" Evelyn said blinking in surprise at the woman's comment
"I'm your new designer" the woman said without even a hint of doubt in her voice.
Donnie made a sound akin to a snort and Evelyn glanced at him before turning back to the woman, somehow she was not quite sure what to say, she was rarely out of control of any given situation and so the mere presence of this unexpected visitor unsettled her.
"You'll have to submit your resume and then schedule an appointment then come in for an interview." Evelyn told the woman, dismissing her.
"That's not going to work for me," Jerusalem said meeting Evelyn's eyes and holding her gaze.
Evelyn was losing her patience just a little and when she spoke her voice held a razor sharp edge.
"Well then I guess you're not going to be working for me." Jerusalem laughed a low deep sound, she didn't seem at all concerned nor did she make any move to rise from the chair and be on her way.
She leaned forward after a moment and for some reason Evelyn couldn't look away from her deep brown eyes. She didn't even notice Jerusalem undoing the clasp that held the portfolio closed. The woman had settled back into the chair before Evelyn glanced down. She would have closed the case and sent the woman on packing if the design of the room on the very first page hadn't literally taken her breath away.
She looked through the leather bound photos encased in plastic covers without saying a word, this woman definitely had talent that went beyond color composition and a good eye for furniture. She had that intangible something that Evie had been looking for but hadn't been able to fully define. When she was done with the photos she closed the portfolio case clicking the gold clasp into place.
She had removed the resume that Jerusalem had included and even glanced over it she noted the woman's extensive experience with design companies in New York City and Chicago she also had more than enough schooling to make her qualified for the job twice over, she'd even included a number of glowing recommendation letters and some tear sheets from accredited interior design magazines that her work had been featured in. The rooms had been pictured in the portfolio but Evie hadn't realized they'd been published in magazines as well. She wasn't the least bit surprised based on the quality of the work
. Jerusalem was watching Evelyn with an expression of complete confidence and, her expression was blank but not inattentive. Evelyn watched the woman watching her, she almost wanted to see which one of them would speak first, she wanted the woman across from her to make show some sign of humility but judging from the little she'd learned about Jerusalem in the last few moments she didn't seem like the type of woman who would ask for anything let alone beg. Besides with her qualifications and talent she could get a job at any number of interior design companies, and though she was reluctant to admit it Evie wanted this woman to work for her. She had talent and she was clearly confident, although Evelyn wasn't completely crazy about the way the woman had just walked in expecting to get hired.
"I'll review your resume and get back to you in a day or two I still have other applicants to interview." She told the woman wanting to knock her down a few pegs.
Jerusalem stood and reached into the pocket of her suit jacket, she handed Evelyn a business card before picking up her portfolio and turning to walk away without a word. When she reached the door she turned back and winked then she left.
"mmm mmm mmm" Donnie murmured when Jerusalem had departed. The three syllable sound spoke volumes.
"You gonna hire her?" he asked.
"You know I am D."
