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“Hell no. I didn’t date that filthy, sleazy ass, halitosis having, cheap suit buying, gutta-rat. Someone told you I did?”
The look in her eyes was quickly identified as anger. It wasn’t my intent to make her angry.
“No, no, no one told me. I assumed that’s where all the animosity came from the other day in court,” I answered quickly to assure her no rumors were flying around.
“Oh,” she sat back and rolled her eyes.
“What did I witness between you and Barry?”
“You witnessed me reminding him I’m not a female who gains position by fucking or sucking dick. I do those things because I want to not for career advancement. I’ve worked hard for everything I have, and I continue to work hard to earn more. No one has given me anything especially through sexual favors.”
I have apparently discovered a sore spot of hers.
“Barry thought you were easy?”
“Barry thought I was somehow moved by his blonde hair and blue eyes like other women in this industry are. I could give two fucks about blue eyes, blonde hair and artificially tanned skin. Not too long-ago girls that looked like me didn’t have a choice when it came to men who looked like him. But I was born with the option and I don’t want to deal with a man who needs more hair products than me. He thought I would bend to his will if he reminded me he was the one in control. The first time he said something slick, I was not exactly sure what I’d heard him say. I thought, ‘well maybe I’m just hearing things’ because I’m always looking for something. I rationalized it away using the black girl with a chip on her shoulder excuse because that’s what women do. We always find blame in ourselves first before blaming others.
Then we were working together another night, and he did it again. This time it wasn’t any way for me to mistake what he’d said. I engaged him some because I was recording our brainstorming session and he didn’t know it. I told him no. He walked up on me and told me if I didn’t, he would tell the partners that I was hard to work with and was not a good fit for the firm, essentially blackballing me. I told him I would tell his wife about this conversation. He told me she wouldn’t believe me until I played the recording back. The conclusion is, I hate him. He tries to pretend it didn’t happen, but I still have the recording, so I dare him to try something with me.”
“Did he put his hands on you?”
“I would have tried with all my strength to kill that muthafucka if he would have touched me. I promise I would be serving time for murder right now.”
“You are not apprehensive about working against him as opposing counsel?”
“Men come for me all the time because I am a woman. They believe I will fold, cry or run away from a fight. I will never fold. I don’t cry unless I am laughing so hard it brings tears to my eyes, and I don’t run not even for exercise.”
Talking to Averie is almost like having an internal dialogue. She thinks the same way I do on a lot of issues. Indeed, she is an anomaly among women.
“Is it the same dynamic when you date?”
“Dating can be difficult. The rules for a woman in leadership are different. If I’m warm, then people think I’m weak. If I’m strong, people think I am cold. Men don’t know how to handle me, they are usually intimidated by my job or by my independence.”
“That’s because you’ve only dealt with boys. Real men are attracted to women with power, not to rein it in but to have a front row seat to see it in action. Boys are intimidated by you. You are intriguing to men.”
I certainly am intrigued.
Suddenly the whirling sound of lights and electronics powering back on filled the room.
I looked at my watch. It was a little after midnight.
“That wasn’t so bad,” Averie commented while standing and collecting her things. “I’m glad I didn’t have to feast on you. You’re all muscle. You would have been tough,” she laughed.
Averie
“And you ain’t do nothing?”Kenzie asked.
“No!”
“Oh, my gawd!” Kenzie said exasperatedly.
“I am so disappointed,” Keeva said while sipping her strawberry daiquiri through a crazy straw.
Kenzie would be leaving soon to go back to California so, my sisters spent the night at my house for our girls’ night. Our schedules had been too busy for us to spend any real time together since she’d been home. We ordered Chinese food and had settled in to watch re-runs of our favorite show,Relationship Statuswith our girl Natalie Hopson. She was our friend in our heads.
“Mother Nature set you up perfectly and what did you do? What did you do? You choked,” Kenzie threw her hands in the air.
“Or didn’t choke,” Keeva said while using her fist and tongue creating an oral sex gesture.
