Page 24 of The Don's Virgin Obsession
At that moment, my assistant came in with a stack of mail.
“Your invitation to The Vanguard Development & Design Expo came.”
“Good.”
I opened it. Paid appearance, a whole section for my business, and I was asked to join a panel. That was an easy twenty-thousand-dollar check made.
“You need me to do anything?” my receptionist asked.
“Yeah, order new company shirts, the forest green ones. I want everyone working, including you.”
She nodded and walked out. I texted Vanessa.
Me:We goin to The Vanguard Development & Design Expo at SOFI Center. Make a flyer.
V-Baby:I know… just a heads up, ya girl Sade is attending.
Me:I ain’t ask you that.
V-Baby:So… word got around you went out with Alana, apparently, you pulled up with her to your car club meeting. You know that’s Sade’s friend, right?
Me:You act like I’m fuckin’ Sade.
V-Baby:Just reminding you… I’ll make the flyer and post it.
I set my phone down and smirked. Sade being at the expo was perfect. Business hours, that’s when she wanted to talk to me, so I was going to try my hand again.
Sade
“I stayed focused… even when I felt him before I saw him.”
Iwas out early on a Saturday atThe Vanguard Development & Design Expo, setting up my booth. I hated doing events, hated being put on the spot. I had social anxiety and was introverted, but if I wanted to gain clients, I had to be on the scene.
So, I was here setting up with Laila while practicing my tone, my smile, and my patience. Last event I went to, a white woman made me go viral, saying I was rude, wasn’t smiling, and “acting frustrated.” And I was, and that situation had me not wanting to do another, but here I was, ready to redeem myself.
“Don’t let these people stress you out. We got a full team this year. You can stay in the background,” Laila assured me.
I turned up my nose. “And they will complain about that.” My nerves had my palms sweaty.
“Fuck them. You didn’t miss a penny after that video. You’ve made six figures eight times since then.”
I sighed. “You’re right.”
Two hours later, we were set up, and the doors to the convention opened. At least 30K people were in the building, and my nerves were through the roof. Laila was trying to get meto play the background, but I started to open up as time went by. While my team worked the booth, I stepped out and passed out business cards with a smile.
“You’re doing good, bestie. I see you,” Laila cheered me on.
“Thank you. How’s the new client list?” I asked.
“It’s going… slow, but we got this,” she told me truthfully.
Shit had been slow, so I was hoping we would get ten new clients before leaving.
At that moment, the MC announced the upcoming panelists. That’s when I was reminded that Vaughn was somewhere in the building.
“Panelists Vaughn St. Clair, Jessica Reed, and Larry Fisherman are coming to stage 6,” the MC announced.
I looked around, and stage 6 was in eyesight. Laila came and brought me a plate of wings, a slice of double pepperoni pizza, and a grape soda. Everything I didn’t need but ate anyway. I stepped back in the booth to eat and listen to the panel.
