Make Me Yours

“To friendship!” They all cheered.

These girls had seen her at her worse, and had been there for her through it all, as they all have been for one another. Zoey knew that she had found treasures in them. Life was so much easier with friends like this.

“So, Zoey… you were saying something about seeing the light before I very sweetly interrupted you. Finally deciding to get back into the market?” Mariah asked, as they all finished sipping.

“Err… I don’t know, per say. But hey, it wouldn’t hurt to try right? All I know is that I’m going to go out more often from now on. If a nice, handsome man makes a pass at me, I won’t ignore it; I’d make one right back. If he asks to get drinks after work, I won’t come up with an excuse. I’d say ‘Why, thank you. I’d love that.’ I guess, all I’m trying to say is that, thirty, I’m no longer hiding away. And it’s not because I want to find my Prince Charming or anything… no. This is just me having fun, enjoying my thirties and not getting my hopes too high once I find someone that I remotely like. Just like y’all have been doing.”

And perhaps, who knows, maybe she just might get lucky and find Prince Charming after all. Of course, she did not say that part out loud. Her friends had always ridiculed her for having “The One” syndrome. They believed that it ruined things, because she was always trying too hard to make them work.

Perhaps they were right. Perhaps this time she’d really just lay back and let things play out for themselves.

“I’m impressed. Someone finally saw the light!” Jenny exclaimed.

“Baby girl, you can say that again! I’m so psyched that we have finally rubbed off on you.” Mariah joined.

Carrie began to fill their cups again. As she did, she lifted hers. “Another toast: to the birthday girl and to a fun filled flirty thirty. Cheers to being born again. Pun intended.” She winked as she ended, causing Zoey to chuckle.

She looked at all of them as they picked up their glasses and waited for her. This was ridiculous, but…

“What the hell! To thirty, flirty, and fun!” she exclaimed, catching the excitement.

“To thirty!” The rest of them cheered, and in one swoop, they drank their glasses empty.

Zoey’s phone rang just as she finished her drink, and she found it. One look at the caller ID told her that it was her assistant calling.

Kelly was probably calling to wish her a happy birthday in advance, or perhaps, it was something at the office. Begging her excuse, she got off her chair and found her way outside the club.

By the time she got out, the first call had ended and the second was ringing. Glad for the peace and quiet, she tapped the receive option.

“Hey, Kelly! How are you?”

“Zoey! Hey! I’m just perfect, thank you. How’s it going over there? Singapore still treating you good?”

“It’s amazing here, Kelly. You should come sometime with your girls. Or maybe with Abel.”

Abel was Kelly’s fiancé and he was totally smitten by her. Sometimes, Zoey envied their love – but it was the good kind of envy.

“I’m definitely considering it. How are the girls? Driving you crazy?”

“As always. You know them.”

Kelly gave a laugh that sounded forced. Added to the unusual cheery tone she had been using since the call began, Zoey could easily tell that something was wrong.

“Oh well, they’re wonderful all the same. I know that you must be having your party already. I’m sorry to intrude, but I wouldn’t have called if it wasn’t urgent.”

Finally, they were getting somewhere. “It’s okay, Kelly. You are free to call anytime, you know this. What’s up?” She readied her mind for unfavorable news. They were working on some deals; perhaps one of them had fallen through? It would be a tough blow, but she could take it. One couldn’t win everything.

There was a long pause before Kelly replied.

“Well, first off, I want to wish you a very happy birthday. We can’t wait to have you back at the office, though. It’s never the same without you.”

She had eight staff, Kelly included. They were the best team she could ever hope for. Of course, she missed them too.

“Thank you, Kelly. I should be in Colorado by Saturday.”

“Yeah… you see, that’s the issue. You might have to come in tomorrow.”

“What? Why?” What could possibly be so grave that it would require her immediate presence?

“The Belmont property…”

Dear God, not the Belmont. She had fought for months to get that property and she had only succeeded just two weeks ago.

“What’s with it, Kelly? Quit stalling.”

“Oh well, you see, I was getting to that. It was a very hectic day away from the office today and I missed a lot of calls. I had to show a couple of clients some properties. I only got to listening to my voicemails a few minutes ago. There are several from Anna.”

Anna was the secretary.

“What did they say?” She was aware that she was pushing Kelly, but she could not help herself.

“They’re all about a certain Mrs Chan. Apparently, she’s a part of a company that’s interested in the property. They want to turn it into a tech company. I’ve read up on them, Zoey. They are powerful. They have the money, they know the right people. If they want it, they will get it. And if they do, the thousands of people occupying that space would be rendered homeless. What we wanted was for their living conditions to be bettered, not this…”

If she hadn’t had such a clean slate of health in all of her thirty years, she would have feared that she was in fact asthmatic. Because suddenly, she couldn’t breathe. This was more than a tough blow. It was tougher. No, not the Belmont. This… she had pursued this property for personal reasons.

“Zoey? Are you there?”

Willing herself to calm down, she began to deliberately draw in long breaths.

“Zoey? Should I call one of the girls to come get you?”

She answered then. “No. No. It’s fine. I’m fine. I was just a little overwhelmed there for a while. You think they really have the chance to get the property, Kelly?”

“They really are powerful. We are like ants compared to their elephants. It would be so easy to trample all over us. However, they are extending the courtesy of a meeting and bidding, first.”

Zoey remembered who she was then. Zoey Martins. Someone who had clawed her way to the top of Colorado’s Real Estate chain. People had told her no, that it was impossible, that she was a woman and black and that the competition was tight. Had she listen? No. So why would she cower before some Elephants? When ants formed their colony, they could very well take down anything.

“Agree to the meeting. Set it as soon as possible. I want to look into their eyes as I tell them that Belmont isn’t going to be turned into some industrial site. I’ll book the next flight I can get. I hope to see you tomorrow.”

As the call ended, she turned to go back into the club. As soon as she reached her friend’s table, she made the announcement.

“Oh well, totally a great way to start the New Year. Another property fight.” That was Mariah.

Zoey shrugged as she slipped into her chair and downed a shot of vodka. The girls must have ordered some while she was away.

“Well, what can I say? I just love my job.”

Just then, twelve struck. Rolling her eyes at the irony, she muttered to herself. Oh, great.

Forcing a smile on her face, she chimed. “Well, happy birthday to me!”

Her friends chimed right back, though more happily. “Happy birthday!”