"Right. Can you believe going from jobless to making twenty dollars a day? It's everything!"
Rene exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement.
"Girl, I know this job won't be a walk in the park! But I'm genuinely happy for you,"
Eliana responded.
Suddenly, Eliana's attention shifted, and she shrieked,
"What happened?"
Rene inquired, intrigued.
Eliana grumbled,
"Someday, you'll hear on the news about a young, attractive Libarian slapping a toddler. Let me call you back."
Rene laughed as the call abruptly ended.
Clicking on her phone, she saw she'd been tagged and frowned since she didn't have many friends.
Just as she was about to watch the video she was tagged in, a car horn blared.
A black Elantra had pulled up, blocking her path.
Rene stepped back, squinting to see who was inside, but the windows were darkly tinted.
Lowering the window, a smile spread across her face as she spotted Henry.
Shaking her head playfully, she asked,
"Another one?"
Knowing he was just showing off.
He shrugged with pride,
"What can I say, if I've got it, I'll flaunt it. Hop in."
Smiling, she walked towards the car as he closed the window.
Looking around, she complimented,
"Your car's interior is stunning, I have to say."
He nodded,
"Anything for a queen like you."
Then she turned, "Are you still riding high from the other day?"
She asked, feeling a bit uncertain.
He laughed, "I'm not proud, I'm just stating facts. Aren't you a queen?"
She sighed, giving a gentle nod,
"You know where my house is, right?"
He quickly shook his head.
"Your house? It's still early, why head home so soon?"
"Henry!"
"I know the perfect spot for you to spend the day..."
She turned, giving him a stern look.
"Please...I couldn't take you out the other day, and even though this isn't exactly a date, I'm trying to make your day better."
His voice softened, and she nodded, "Alright. But just one place, and then I'm going home!"
He grinned,
"That's not a problem! I know the perfect place!"
As they drove off.
Meanwhile, as Eliana wiped cheese off her shoes, she muttered,
"I need to find a new job; I'm too normal for this one. Maybe I should throw maturity out the window and start poring stuff on those dirty kids as well.
Just look at my shoes."
Suddenly, her head snapped up as her colleague burst into the bathroom, yelling her name.
"What? What is it?"
She asked, anxious as the young lady approached, showing her phone screen.
"Wait, is that the video of us being harassed?
But it was my live on Saturday, how is it out there on a Monday?"
She asked, confused. The woman clicked on the page,
"Looks like a blogger screen-recorded and posted it.
Look, it already has seven million views, twelve million shares and eight hundred thousand likes, and it's still climbing."
Startled, she reached for her phone on the sink as it rang.
"It was Ryan."
"Babe, have you seen your video going viral?"
He asked, and she nodded,
"I just did. I had some notifications, but I wasn't sure. I even spoke to Rene, and she didn't say anything."
Eliana heard her name and gasped,
"Ryan, I'll call you right back,"
She said, disconnecting the call.
Turning to the lady, she asked,
"Do you think he saw it?"
The lady looked like she wanted to deny it but she couldn't. Pressing her lips, she shook her head.
Slamming her fist on the sink, she bit her lip in regret,
"Fuck, why did I take that video!"
She exclaimed.
A shout for her name followed as the lady tapped her,
"You might as well pretend you haven't seen it. Go! You know he's not a patient man."
Eliana nodded and walked out of the bathroom with wet shoes.
Entering her boss's office, she pressed her lips together, letting out a dry sigh.
Before she could close the door, he asked,
"Have you seen the video circulating?"
She wanted to say no, but couldn't and nodded,
"I did. But sir, I swear it's not what you think!"
Just when she thought she was about to lose her job, the man screamed and pulled her into an excited hug, leaving Eliana confused.
"Um...sir?" She asked, tilting her head as he walked back,
"Have you seen the views? We could use this to our advantage!"
He exclaimed, and she frowned,
"Mr. Reed, this is a Children's library, how does this benefit us?"
She asked, and he gestured for her to sit, which she did.
"Don't you see it? This helps us beat our opponent and even shut them down. We have so many children's books that aren't selling; how about we write about police brutality, the adult version, and then push the others?
We can also push the name of this library out there; it'll give us more visibility.
You know parents don't fully appreciate the importance of dedicating time and money to reading for their children. If they understood that it could help their kids become as self-aware and well-rounded as you, they'd definitely be more willing to invest their resources in it. Which is more money for us.
But sir..."
"You don't need to think about it now. Just go back to doing your job and give me feedback by the end of the day,"
He cut her short.
She pressed her lips, nodding gently before getting up and pushing the chair back. "Yes, sir,"
She said before leaving his office, even more confused than when she entered.
Back to Renata and Henry…
The car stopped at a place called Maltier.
Rene smiled, and Henry noticed, saying,
"You're already smiling, that's a good sign."
She turned to him, curious,
"How did you know I like gaming centers?"
Henry laughed, pleased with himself,
"You hardly see a girl who's not a fan of games, and if she's not, she's not a 'wife'."
Rene frowned, confused,
"What the hell does that mean?"
She asked, both bursting into laughter.
As she prepared to get out of the car, Henry quickly offered,
"Let me get that for you!"
He got out of his car and walked to her side to help her.
"Thank you! And I hope this wouldn't be done just once."
She said as she stepped out, Henry giggling.
She reached for her phone, but he stopped her, taking the phone and putting it back in her bag.
"Nope. We're here to have fun. No calls allowed,"
He said.
She laughed, as he locked the car door.
He held out his arm, which she took, linking her arm in his, laughter bubbling from within her.
They started with arcade games, then moved on to racing games, and then to shooting games before finally ending at dancing games.
"Yes!!! Four points for me! One more to go. I told you this was my game, I am the master of dance!"
Henry screamed as she laughed.
"Fine, press play and let's see who wins the last one,"
She replied calmly, already exhausted from all the excitement.
Playing wiggle, she burst into laughter as she looked back, nothing to show for, and then gave up as she plopped into the red couch nearby.
Henry, a competitive man, refused to give up and continued looking silly as he twerked with his waist, earning him the last point.
He fell to the ground laughing his heart out as he watched Rene, who had already given up, trying to stop herself from laughing.
Then, he immediately jumped to his feet and said,
"How about we go another round? I promise, I'd let you win this time."
But Rene shook her head, her hands gesturing in defeat.
"I'm done. Let's go home, please!"
"Are you sure? I'd let you win, I promise!"
"Yes, I am; let's go home!"
She exclaimed, still laughing as a beautiful black woman in dreadlocks approached her.
"Hi, are you Renata Dubois?"
The woman, clearly in pain, asked. Rene's expression shifted as she nodded abruptly.
"How do you know my name?"
She asked as the woman slipped her phone from her pouch, showing her the video of her and Eliana being harassed by the police on her birthday.
Immediately, she yanked the woman's phone from her hands and watched the number of views.
"Nine million views already? What the fuck is this?!"
She asked, clearly annoyed as Henry got closer.
"I am sorry, young lady; it's just that I know that man. He does this all the time, and he's….. He's killed my son... please, I..."
"What the fuck does that have to do with me?"
Rene cut her off, clearly getting angry.
Henry walked closer to her.
"Please, calm down!"
He whispered, but that only annoyed her more as she threw his hands off.
"Stay calm when my video keeps circulating without my permission?"
Just then, the woman approached.
"You may not have children, but you could be my child. We, as Black people, sometimes lack a voice, but you do not.
Please, perhaps if you and your best friend spoke up, he could be arrested this time, or even better, lose his job, so he doesn't do this to anyone else, who might be Black. Please..."
"For your information, ma'am, I am not Black! I don't have Black in my system, and as you can see, neither does my friend, so fucking get lost with your racism.
He's a bully, that's all. Look, I'm sorry, I truly am sorry you had to lose your child through this tragedy, but I can't help you."
"Miss, please...!"
The woman cried, collapsing to her knees as Rene turned to Henry, wiping her tears.
"Take me home, Henry!"
"Rene..."
"NOW!!!!"
She screamed and walked off as Henry nodded, helping the woman up to the chair.
"I'm truly sorry, ma'am,"
He said, but just as he was about to leave, the woman grabbed his hand, reaching into her pouch for her card.
"Please...help me,"
She pleaded. Henry hesitated but eventually took the card and ran out after Rene.