Chapter 3: Howard Braxton, CEO

I entered a lavishly decorated waiting area, the floors were white marbles, the walls white paint, fresh exotic flowers and plants sat in Egyptian style clay pots that rested in corners while expensive paintings hung in golden frames on the walls. The secretary informed me that Mr. Braxton was  not in as yet and told me to sit. A pretty woman with blond hair and blue eyes, yet she shot me a sour look as if I were trying to take away one of her most precious possessions. When I took my seat, Roman leaned over the counter and chatted animatedly with the woman. I shifted in the beautiful but uncomfortable leather chair and watched the woman cheese in Roman's face, I wondered if she knew his sexual orientation, if she knew she was wasting her time. 

Laughing, Roman took a seat beside me and the woman went back to looking daggers at me. "That's Sari, Mr. Braxton's secretary, she's very possessive of her meal ticket."

The elevator's mirrored doors parted and a well dressed middle aged man strode off, he carried a briefcase and spoke into a cell phone. He looked like an aged Morris Chestnut, mocha skin, bald head, salt and pepper mustache and full kissable lips. Sari immediately stood up, "Good afternoon Mr. Braxton, your two o'clock is here," She gave me another dirty look, "Gwen called and said that your shipment from Paris just arrived at the L.A. office, your daughter said to give her a call and perhaps I can give Roman the schedules for his roommates?"

Mr. Braxton offered me a hand, "Howard Braxton."

"Brooklyn James." I said with uncertainty. 

"Step into my office."

I swallowed the lump in my throat and followed the handsome older man into his office. Mr. Braxton's office was not as impeccably decorated as the waiting area, the beauty of the office was the view of the city's skyline through the floor to ceiling windows behind the large mahogany desk. Two black modern style leather seats faced the desk and the left wall was decorated  with a large glass bookshelf. I took one of the seats. 

"Your resume was very impressive Ms. James. I see here you minored in graphical art." He fell silent and looked at me, I guess I was supposed to confirm his statement. "Stone is in charge of the marketing department, for such a large company, our advertisements are all done by a hired third party, that is an expense I feel is unnecessary. We were speaking about hiring somebody in that field and then your file came across my desk, I figured it was a sign." He looked at me expectantly, I had no idea what I was supposed to say or even how to react. "Ms. James, do you want this job?"

I stared at him in disbelief, I wasn't sure if I wanted this job or not, I was certain that I did not want my mother to win, and then I heard myself say, "Yes sir, I do. I'm not a big talker."

"You're shy." Mr. Braxton chuckled, "I'll check up on you in a month, by that time I guarantee you'll be as crazy as those other idiots in that house." He pushed a button on the phone, "Where the hell is Stone?"

"Mr. Braxton I didn't know you wanted to see him."

"Well Sari, his trainee is here isn't she?"

"Yes sir."

"Get Stone up here now."  He ended the call and turned his attention back to me. "I own the building the penthouse is in so you will not be required to pay rent, however the utilities are not my responsibility. As far as a dress code you do not have one. You work nine to five starting tomorrow." The office door opened and closed but I didn't turn around to see who entered. "Any questions?"

I shrugged and Mr. Braxton frowned, to the man who had taken the seat beside me, Mr. Braxton said, "This is Brooklyn James, Brooklyn this is your supervisor Don Stone." 

Don Stone was another man who looked like he belonged on the cover of GQ Magazine. Stone was a Channing Tatum doppelgänger if I'd ever seen one, only he had jet black hair that was combed back like a 40s gangster, his ice blue eyes seemed to peer into my soul. "I'll see you at nine Ms. James." He said in a no nonsense tone. I realized then I was dismissed.  

I slinked back into the waiting area, Roman took one look at me and shook his head, I did go in but I didn't go hard. He waved goodbye to Sari and offered her a very sexy smile that had me wondering if he was gay or bi, he certainly didn't act like any of the gays I knew. Was I being biased?

"Okay, how long is your trial period?" Roman asked when the elevator doors closed behind us.

"A month."

"Well Baby Doll, we've got a month to get you out of your shell." His fingers danced on his cell phone and that reminded me that I hadn't phoned home. I don't even know why I was calling Ma, she had bitched and moaned so much before I left...hell, her bitching was what made me change my mind about leaving, it wasn't normal for someone to get as angry as she did about one bowl being in the kitchen sink. Suddenly it hit me that I was out of my mother's house and on the road to becoming my own woman, I wouldn't call home right now but I would be calling the one and only man in my life, the one person who would give me an unselfish, honest opinion about my sudden move.