I'm Doin' Me by Anna Black

parade.”
    The server finally came over to take their drink orders. They ordered and ended up sharing an appetizer because they were not too hungry. They finished and stood outside for a moment before they parted.
    â€œAgain, I’m happy for you, Asia,” Tiffany said, “and I wish the best for you, girl. Come here.” She hugged her tight. “I love you, girl, so much.” She meant it.
    There was no schedule on love and that made Tiffany question her love for Kory. Maybe she didn’t love him. Maybe she was just caught up in the memories and it was meant to be just the way it was: him with Tressa and her with someone else, hopefully soon.
    â€œMi love yuh too, gal,” she said.
    They said good night and Tiffany drove home telling herself she would get over Kory and just focus on her career and job situation. She had to make some long-term decisions and some short-term goals to get over this obstacle in her life. When she got home, she made the call she had put off all day. She had to call her best friend, Rose, and tell her that she and Kory meeting again wasn’t destiny. It was just another bag that she needed to finally unpack and stop carrying around on her trips of love.

Chapter Thirteen
    The network wasn’t impressed at all. Rather, Mr. Keiffer wasn’t impressed with all the guest star appearances Tiffany managed to land. He looked at her with the same dull-ass expression he had before she told him the lineup for the show. She was bursting with excitement and so were her cast and crew. They were only days away from rehearsals. She managed to get Brandy Norwood, Terri Ellis, Meagan Good, Mo’Nique, Pooch Hall, and a couple newcomers to commit to the show.
    She had such a great conversation with Tisha Campbell-Martin and Tichina Arnold that she came up with a concept right then and there on the spot for them to appear together on the show. She had a vision of Shana’s mom getting together with her old high school group and they decide to sing for a charity event and everyone wants to be the lead. She envisioned them being on stage singing at the top of their lungs trying to outsing each other. Shana’s mom, Rita, on the show had a singing voice, but since the show was based on the girls so much, their parents were not in the forefront. Now, it was everyone’s chance to have a title episode in this last season.
    â€œSo, Mr. Keiffer,” she said, “you are welcome to come to our tapings. Bill never missed one.”
    â€œIf I have time.” He didn’t even look up. He continued to give his undivided attention to the papers on his desk.
    She knew that meant “make your exit,” so she stood. “Okay, Mr. Keiffer, I’ll leave you to it.” He still didn’t look up.
    She went down the hall and hit the elevator button to go back down to her floor. She made it to her floor and when she got closer to her office, she realized she had her notes, but not her phone. It must have fallen when she was going through her notes to bring Mr. Keiffer up to speed on where the show was going. She went back up to look for it. His door was cracked a little, and she could hear his voice, so she knew he was in. She raised her arm to knock, but stopped when she overheard that word. The word she still used from time to time, but not for the same reasons.
    â€œYes, you heard me right,” she heard him say. “There is no way in hell I’m going to let a pack of niggers have the number one spot at my station. When my family first started this network, the only thing niggers did was clean the place. When Billy took charge, he started hiring niggers left and right.” He chuckled. “Then I learn he gave executive control of the show to this nigger. He must have lost his damn mind. When I heard that, I knew I had to shut it down. Even if they rewrite the entire season giving me what I demanded, I will let her know the offer no longer