1. Ciera
The sound from the alarm clock jolted me awake.
Damn, I couldn’t believe that it was already time to get up and get ready for work when it seemed like I had just gone to bed.
The smell of bacon filled the air, letting me know that my mom was up cooking breakfast. I placed my feet on the worn-out carpet and walked across the hall, knocking on my sister Ari’s door.
“Come in.”
“Morning, sissy. I just wanted to make sure you were up, so we can leave on time.”
Ari was three years younger than me; she had just turned twenty-one, and I will be twenty-four next month.
Ari was a very beautiful girl, and we both inherited gray eyes from our father.
Ari was what men would call, “slim-thick.” She had perky thirty-six-D breasts, a thin waist, and a fat ass that left women envious, and the men salivating.
Me, on the other hand, I was considered a full-figured woman.
My gray eyes complemented my caramel complexion, my hair was silky in texture, long and curly, and my stomach wasn’t out of shape, but it wasn’t flat either.
In other words, there were a little bit of love handles to hold on to.
However, I had enough ass to make most men ready to drop to their knees.
“Ciera, y’all come out here and get this food before it gets cold!” my momma called for us.
“We coming in a few minutes, mom,” I yelled, before I brought my attention back to my sister. “Chica, hurry up and jump in the shower then meet me in the kitchen.”
“Alright, sis,” Ari said as she got herself together.
I headed back to my room to jump in the shower.
I was so ready to find a new job because I hated the one I have now.
I’m grateful to be working; it’s just the people there were so damn disrespectful.
I was a teller at First Providian Bank, but I did lashes and brows as my side hustle, and I was good at it too.
My dream is to open my own lash and brow bar.
I recently passed my certifications, so all I needed to do was to save some money.
I was finally dressed, so I walked out of my room and headed to the kitchen with Ari right behind me looking bomb as ever.
My sis was a real baddie. Ari was in her last year of college and getting ready to graduate as an RN.
My mom, Angela Voss, did what she had to do to make sure that we had all that we needed.
We lived in East Harlem, New York in a decent area where crime was at a minimum.
My mom worked two jobs trying to get us out of the hood after my father was murdered.
Someone walked up on him and randomly shot him in the head in front of a bar near our house.
That day our lives were turned upside down forever but like a true boss my mom kept us afloat the best she could.
“Mom, I just want you to know that we appreciate all that you do for us.”
She stopped wiping the counter and turned to look at me. “Thank you, Ciera,” she replied.
I took a mental note of how off she looked.
It seemed like she had something heavy on her mind; maybe I needed to sit and talk to her about it later.
A few months ago, she met this guy named Mark, and ever since then, shit had been changing, including her appearance and attitude.
Something was up with her, and I could tell that she was trying her hardest to hide it but was literally failing miserably.
“Ari, are you ready to go?”
“Yep, let’s roll.”
We got into my 2020 Chevy Impala and were on our way with Drake’s, In My Feelings blasting the whole ride.
“Sis, there is this new club opening this weekend, you want to go with me, and Toya?” Ari asked.
“Umm, I’m not really feeling the party scene. In all honesty, it’s just not something I’m into. You know that. And on top of that, y’all like to stay out all damn night,” I told her.
Ari sat there with a pout on her face, crossing her arms dramatically like she was five instead of grown as hell.
“You act like we’re the ones that be outside committing crimes,” she muttered.
“No, but every time I’ve gone out with y’all, it’s always some shit popping off. Either it’s somebody fighting, shooting, overdosing, or some chick crying in the bathroom over a dude.”
“Come on now, it’s not all the time,” she laughed and I raised a brow. After thinking about it for a second, she sighed and said, “Okay. Maybe it does happen a little more than usual, but we always get the hell on after that.”
“Exactly.”
I really wasn’t trying to hang out in nobody’s club. Loud music, drunk people bumping into you throughout the night, all the fake energy, and not to mention the half naked women standing outside the sections trying to be the chosen one for the night. Yeah, it just wasn’t my scene. Never has been.
Besides that, I hated being out too late.
The older I got, the more I cared about my peace and being in my own space.
I did like hanging with my sister though since she was really my best friend.
She mentioned us going out over the last few days, because we hadn’t been anywhere in a while.
I knew she just wanted me out of the house even if it was just for a little while.
Lately, all I did was work, sleep, schedule appointments, work on my own business, then go to bed late.
It was rinse, wash, and repeat each day. Outside of those things, I had no life.
“You need to get cute and show these dudes what you working with,” Ari giggled.
“I like being in the house.”
“I guess, but being in the house is boring as hell.” She shrugged.
“No, it’s peaceful.”
She looked at me with her face frowned the hell up, and I looked back at her mimicking her expression before we both burst into laughter.
I guess I’d go. Who knows, I might find a love connection. God knows I had no luck when it came to men which was probably why I’d never been in a real relationship with a guy. I did have some lil’ boyfriends in middle school and tried dating in high school but there was nothing solid.
“Pleaseeee, Ci,” Ari begged.
I scrunched my face up and stared at her. “Alright, you win. I will go, but I’m not staying out late.”
“Ayyyyyyye! We gone shut that bitch downnnn,” Ari sung.
I shook my head at her theatrics as we finally made it to her school.
“Alright, sis, I will see you later tonight.”
“Later, babe.”
She kissed my cheek before getting out the car. Seconds later, some fine ass dude walked up to her, and they hugged then headed inside of the building together.
Damn, I miss school, I thought as I drove off and headed to work.
“Ms. Voss, can I see you in my office?” My manager asked me.
I stepped away from the drive-thru window at the bank, and asked my friend, Misha, to cover for me.
“Hey, you wanted to see me?”
“Yes ma’am. Close the door please.” I closed the door before myself and took a seat across from the desk.
“I just wanted to let you know that you have been doing a great job, and we are promoting you to a manager position starting today. We would like you to sit in on a meeting that we’re having in about an hour.
The new owner of First Providian is on his way in, and will be speaking to all management,” my manager, Mr. Hall, revealed.
I was so stunned and beyond grateful. I couldn’t believe that they had noticed how hard I’d been working and promoted me for it. Maybe now I could change the way these attitudes worked around here. I was cheesing my ass off.
“I take it that you agree to the new position?” Mr. Hall asked me matching my smile.
“Yes, sir. Thank you so much!”
“No problem. I will send this up to human resources, and they’ll need you to go down there later today to go over your management package.”
“Thank you, Mr. Hall!” I replied cheerfully.
“See you in the meeting, Ms. Voss,” he said, and I stood to exit his office.
Walking back to the front of the bank, I locked eyes on a group of men walking in like they owned this mutha, and damn were they all fine as hell!
Especially the guy who was doing all the talking.
He looked and smelled like money in his tailored Armani suit, Gucci dress shoes, and a presidential Rolex that was bringing on his wrist. I shouldn’t have been looking that hard to know exactly what he was wearing, but I knew an Armani suit when I saw one.
My God, everything about him screamed money with his sexy ass.
I saw one of the associate managers take them to the elevator that went upstairs to the suites where the rich bankers were normally assisted, so they had to be customers.
“Ciera!” My friend, Misha, yelled, bringing me out of my thoughts. I didn’t even realize her standing there.
“Yeah. What’s up, girl?
“Are you alright? You were in a zone looking at those fine ass men that just walked in,” Misha asked with a slight giggle.
“That nigga wasn’t just fine; he was fucking beautiful. Honey brown eyes, those muscles trying to burst through his suit, and the thighs in those slacks, my gawd!” Misha was bent over laughing at me.
“Girl, you just looking and drooling. You know your virgin ass ain’t giving shit up!! That Jewel box is on lock!” Misha said, still laughing.
“Shiiiitttt, the way he was looking, that nigga can be my first, and last! Bitch, I will go find the pastor,” I said, and we both fell out laughing. I was serious though; that man had me rethinking life.
“Girl, I got a promotion! I’m the new Teller Manager!”
Misha screamed like she was the one who got promoted and wrapped her arms around my neck squeezing the hell out of me
. “Congrats, friend! I’m so happy for you!”
“Thanks, Sis! I’ve really worked so hard for this. I’m just happy Mr. Hall saw it.”
“Shit, girl, we all did,” she laughed playfully.
“Well, let me go freshen up real quick; we have a meeting in twenty minutes, so I will see you when I get back.”
Walking towards the bathroom, I ran in to freshen up my makeup, and to make sure that my hair was in place.
Afterwards, I walked back to my station and placed my things back in my drawer.
I grabbed my binder and headed for the elevators.
Once on the elevator, I hit the button for the Executive Suites and waited as it proceeded to my designated floor.
The receptionist was sitting at a desk when I got off, so I smiled and walked up to her.
“Hello, I’m Ciera Voss, here for the managers meeting.” She showed me to the conference room where everyone was already standing around talking.
Mr. Hall walked up to greet me. “Ciera, I’m glad you found us; we will take our seats soon,” he said.
I stood beside Mr. Hall as we had a casual conversation until the conference room doors opened.
Walking through the door was the senior bank manager and some people from legal and human resources.
And then it happened, my heart stopped beating, and the damn time stood still.
Mr. Beautiful and his crew walked in and took a seat.
He glanced across the room at everyone then his eyes landed on me.
We locked eyes for what felt like forever.
It seemed as if he snatched my damn soul from my body, and I wasn’t even sure if I wanted that shit back.
I quickly turned my head and put my attention on the lady from legal who was explaining that the bank had been purchased by a Mr. Juelz Kassom.
“Mr. Kassom, can you come up and say a few words?” She requested and I almost flatlined when Mr. Beautiful stood up, straightened his tie out, and made his way up to the podium.