Page 82 of Devanté
“Your woman?” Gabi scoffed. “You don’t have to lie to get out of talking to me, Tae.”
“I’m not lying. You know I’ve always wanted Blake. You knew in college too. That’s why I told your ass I didn’t want to be your man.”
“It was so long ago I barely remember.” Her laugh was camera ready and phony as hell. That let me know she absolutely remembered, and Devanté was telling the truth. He was never her man.
He broke through the piranhas with cameras and led me to the bar. We sat beside each other and his hand immediately slipped under the hem of my dress finding my thigh. My eyes widened but I stared straight ahead.
“She’s going to be on that fucking reality show with Renee, isn’t she?” He asked.
“That Lavish in LA bullshit? Yeah.”
“I don’t even drink but I need something strong.”
“Aww, Jodeci.” I rubbed his shoulder and he inched his hand further up my thigh. “Don’t let that bitch stress you out.”
“I’m trying. I know she’s going to be stalking me all damn night with those cameras. She’s just like Renee. I’m gonna have to get my lawyer to send a cease and desist to the network so they don’t use my image in any episodes of their shows.”
“Get on that ASAP. I smell a storyline being crafted around you. Renee is getting you in the Bay and Gabi is getting you in LA. Something messy is brewing.” He shook his head and rested his elbows on the bar top.
I wanted to tell him he didn’t have to worry but Perez was ready for me to stand in front of everyone and speak about the millions I pulled in for the company over the past eight years. Noa had already emailed me the small speech we worked on in the office. The only thing I had to do was speak.
My palms were slick and my insides were bouncing. Devanté pulled me to the side before I took my place in the middle of the floor. “You’re going to rock this. It’ll be quick and painless then we can find somewhere to go.” The look in his eyes let me know exactly what we were going to do once we snuck away. I had to get this speech out fast.
All eyes and two cameras were on me.
I smoothed my hands over my dress and smiled at everyone. Perez had already gone through the trouble of introducing me and telling the entire room full of people I barely recognized how much business I brought to Watson. That was the nice way of saying they were getting filthy rich off my ideas.
“Hello everyone,” I began, making sure to connect with Noa, Molly, and Devanté. People I knew and felt comfortable with. They all gave me reassuring smiles and nods to continue. “Man, I don’t know what to say. I can’t believe I’ve been here for eight years. It seems like a lifetime. I’ve made meaningful connections and I’ve been able to grow beyond my wildest dreams.”
That shit was a lie. My wildest dreams were constantly shifting, and now they centered on the possibility of building my own marketing and branding firm from the ground up.
“Doing business has become synonymous with creating bonds and pushing harder. When I walk into Watson offices in the morning, I don’t look at it as going to work, I look at it as another opportunity to be better than I was the day before.” That part was true. I was only in competition with myself. That was the reason I’d been able to think outside of the box everyone else seemed to be stuck in. I wasn’t trying to compete with them. I was competing with me.
“I finally feel like after eight amazing years here at Watson that I’ve reached the top and I’ve surpassed my goals.” I was veering wildly off-script and Noa’s concerned eyes were the indicator. With shaky knees, I continued. “I’ve topped myself repeatedly and I’ve gifted this company with gems and fantastic clients along the way. It’s been so much fun and a one of a kind learning experience but…” I looked around the room until I found Mr. Perez’s confused face.
“All good things must come to an end.” A murmur broke out starting with Mr. Perez and the executive standing beside him. “I want to tell you all that I’ll be ending my time at Watson next month.” I watched everyone’s reactions. The crowd was full of past clients and people from various departments in the LA office. Nobody looked pleased. My stomach wobbled then dropped to my knees but I kept talking. It was now or never.
I looked out at the sea of confusion and found those galaxy eyes that sucked me in every time. I inhaled slowly then said, “I’ll be starting my own marketing firm in the coming year so I hope all my clients will continue to be loyal and keep me in mind when your contracts with Watson expire.” The murmur turned from confused to torn.
Some people were smiling and applauding my speech while others were frowning and shaking their heads. “I know it’s sudden and this probably isn’t the place for an announcement like this but you all know I don’t play it safe. I’m all about taking chances and this is a chance I would have never taken without someone very special to me in my corner, cheering me on. The love of my life.”
Devanté was at my side quicker than I could blink. His arm around me was my safety belt for the choppy waters I insisted on navigating. “You’re doing great, Blake.”
Soft applause broke out at first but then something happened and the applause grew. The sound of clapping hands billowed up into the high arching ceilings. I was shocked at how many people were grinning and happy for me.
Gabi’s cameramen zoomed-in, moving closer to me. Devanté was on top of it. He shielded me with his tall, chiseled frame. I held my hand up calling for silence and the applause died down. “I want to thank Mr. Perez for giving me such an incredible opportunity to grow with Watson. You didn’t even know me when I was a kid in college but you took a chance on me anyway. Now, I’m ready to step into the wild on my own. Thank you for believing in me, Mr. Perez.” I don’t remember when Noa came to stand beside me, but she handed me a champagne flute and I raised it in the air. My speech was done. My time at Watson would be done soon too. I had a healthy fear looking forward but I was ready to embark on something new. Something groundbreaking and phenomenal.
…
