“Where else would I be going on a Tuesday morning at eight a.m.?”
“Don’t get cute.”
“I was born cute.”
“True!” Resha answered and we both cracked up at our usual conversation opener.
“You work out with that fine personal trainer this morning?”
“I did.”
She sucked her teeth. “As gorgeous as he is and you keep him on your payroll to have you running some damn laps. I’d have that man yelling my whole name.”
“Resha!”
“What?” she questioned innocently.
“I don’t mix business with pleasure. Besides you already know what happened the one time JT and I actually went out on a date.”
“Yeah, I remember. He talked about his ex the entire time.”
“Yes. Good thing they got back together.” JT was certainly a flirt and loved women but he was also deeply in love with his girlfriend.
I rolled my eyes. “Anyway, what’re you up to over there? Still scoping out locations for your fashion week event?” Resha was a successful fashion blogger and co-host of our weekly podcast,Fashion and Finances.She and I had both grown up with a love of fashion, and within the last five years we’d decided to combine my love of personal finance and money and her love of fashion to create a podcast that spoke to women. She was currently in Europe for the next few months working with a few designers to host events and drum up promotion for their spring and summer lines.
“Yeah, I think I found a couple of places that are in my price range. Now, to make it all come together.” She sighed heavily.
“It will. You always work your magic.”
“I do, don’t I?”
We laughed as I pulled the glass door of my office building’s lobby open.
“You walked to work today?”
“I walk everyday,” I answered.
“I know, but don’t you have clients way across town today? How’re you going to get there? Your cheap ass better not be hopping in no damn Uber.”
I giggled at her silliness. “First of all, I’mfrugalnot cheap.” Looking down at my outfit, which altogether cost in the five figure range, I frowned. I sometimes wondered if I was even really all that frugal. “And secondly, I drove in yesterday because I met another client for lunch so I just left my car in the office’s garage and walked home. I’m driving myself to my meeting, thank you very much.”
“Oh well, I wouldn’t put it past you to try and walk all of the way across town just to save the ten dollars that half a tank of gas might cost you.”
“I’m not that damn bad,” I laughed.
“No, you’re not. I’m just messing with you. Hey, we’re still recording tomorrow, right?”
“Same time as always,” I answered. We recorded our podcast every Wednesday so that it’d be ready for a Thursday morning release.
“Cool. I’ll call you later.”
“All right, Resh. Love you.”
“Love you, too. Bye!”
I smiled as I entered the elevator to head up to the eleventh floor where I rented an office space in communal office setting. I enjoyed the energy working with other people provided even though I was fully self-employed. My office neighbors ranged in their professions and were everything from bloggers to event planners—one woman ran a nanny business for high-end clients.
“Hey, Dawn,” I called, acknowledging the office’s receptionist as I entered. Dawn was in her mid-twenties, had short hair like mine except hers was in its naturally curly state while I wore my hair relaxed, and she was as efficient as they came.
