Chapter 5
Kenni
“Girl, I need you to breathe,” Lupita coached as I paced back and forth in her office.
“I cannot. You have no idea how stressful this past weekend has been. I’ve been working on pulling everything together for the campaign, and I finally got those files from the photographer. I sent them to your assistant this morning.”
“I got them. Thank you very much. I received the email at six this morning.”
“Because I’ve been here since five.”
Lupita’s dark mocha skin glowed as she smiled at me, and two deep dimples creased her cheek. My friend was a beautiful model, cover girl material. “You have to find some time to balance your personal and work life, Kenni. I tell you this all the time. You’ll suffer burnout if you don’t.”
“I know, but I really want this promotion desperately. Ever since Milicent told me that I was up to replace her, I’ve been walking around on eggshells half of the time and on cloud nine the other. But that’s not the problem.”
“Then what is the problem, my dear?”
“Bryse. He acts as if he doesn’t understand.
I’m so supportive when it comes to his career, and I have his back in everything.
To get to the next level is all about sacrifice.
He’s a defense attorney with his own practice.
He should know this. It’s like a repeat of Brent all over again.
I don’t want to be pressured to quit my job and give up on my career goals and dreams for the sake of my relationship.
Why can’t I be loved for who I am and supported the way that I’m willing to support them? ”
“Have you sat down and talked to Bryse about how you feel?”
“I have, but he thinks that I’m too focused on my goals. He says that I’m emotionally unavailable and sometimes cruel with the way that I become self-focused and ignore him.”
“Are you?” Lupita challenged.
I stopped pacing and glared at her. “I’m not here for therapy, Lupita.”
“Then why are you here, Kenni?”
“I need my friend to understand and give me advice on my situation.”
“And I did. I told you to talk with your man about your issue.”
I groaned. “That’s not all it is. There’s the pressure of this promotion. Do you think that I’ll get it and they’ll take me seriously?”
“Why wouldn’t they? You’ve worked your ass off for this spot, Kenni. In the last few years, no one has sacrificed more than you have or worked harder than you have.”
“I heard that they were looking at external sources for the position as well. Angelique in HR told me they were taking résumés for it.”
“Legally, they had to post the position, but that doesn’t mean they have to take interviews or hire externally. Just like Angelique told you that, Milicent told me that they have a preferred candidate,” Lupita declared with a smirk.
“Really?”
“Girl, I wouldn’t shit you. What you need to do is take some time out while they go through the process and breathe. Take a day for some self-care. Don’t work this weekend. And aside from self-care, maybe spend a night away from home with your man. Show him what he means to you again.”
I sighed. “I know. I just don’t want to drop the ball when I’m so close.”
Lupita stood up from her desk and walked around to me. Grabbing my hands, she replied, “And you won’t. Breathe, Kenni, and trust that everything will work out fine. Don’t lose your man behind this though.”
“I was told those same words with Brent, and I lost him anyway.”
“Maybe he wasn’t meant to be your one, but I believe Bryse is. He’s a good man, Kenni. You’re going to get the promotion. I believe it in my spirit, but make sure that you have someone to enjoy the good times with as well.”
“Okay,” I replied softly.
I hadn’t told my girls about the invitation the woman had given me at the bar. I wasn’t certain why, but I held it close to my chest. I truly worried about what Bryse would have to say about me canceling this weekend’s date night. It was all good when he did it, but when I did it, it was a problem.
Either way, it would be broken. I was going to that party to meet the mystery person I had been chatting with for the last two weeks.
COMPANION 713: I viewed your posts, and it seems as if we have several things in common.
PINA COLADA: Watching MMA, fall leaves, making love at midnight, and building sandcastles.
COMPANION 713: Exactly. But I can’t lie, walking in the rain there was no way around it.