Cutting Loose Read Online Free PDF Page A

their
bodies on the street to strangers, getting raped, beaten and sometimes getting
killed, Sabrina’s mother took her good looks to the strip club and started
working there, where she eventually met Sabrina’s would-be stepfather Sean. It
was instant mutual attraction and from the first lap dance was all it took to
have him hooked and not before long he swept her off her feet and out of the
projects to New York where they settled down and got married. A year later he
loaned her the money to debut the magazine. Then it was off to Miami where
things went to a whole new level and the publishing world never knew what it
hit it.
    She gathered her folder full of notes
just as Raquel walked in with a cup of hot coffee.
    “Anything else I can get you?”
    “That’ll be if for now. Thanks. ”
    “Okay.”
    Sabrina headed over to the conference
room, where the room was filled with a bunch of rich white guys in suits and
maybe one or two females. Sitting at the head of the table was a
thirty-something looking guy dressed in a pen-stripe Italian suit. He arose
from his chair and extended his hand. “And you must be the beautiful
co-editor-in-chief, Sabrina Evans?”
    “Yes, that would be me.” She shook his
hand firmly. “And you must be Lance King, the CEO of King Cosmetics, and
world’s top-leading cosmetics company in the world?”
    He smiled and said, “I see you did your
homework.”
    “Well, yes. And I happen to be a big fan
of King Cosmetics, especially the cherry shimmer lip-gloss—it’s my favorite.
And don’t get me started on the eye shadow.”
    “Don’t worry, you won’t,” said Camille
as she waltzed into the room, dressed in a crème pantsuit, her crimson colored
hair pulled back into a boring bun. “I’ll be sure to stop you.” She shook the
investor’s hand before taking her seat at the head of the round table.
     Sabrina took her place in front of the
many faces she knew was just waiting for her to say something stupid. She said,
“Good morning, everyone.” They smiled and greeted her back. She turned on the
projector and a screen descended from the ceiling. She continued, “My name is
Sabrina Evans and I am the co-editor-in-chief of Fabulous magazine and I
am here today to show you all why King Cosmetics should advertise in our
magazine. Now, if you would all please turn your attention to the screen.”
    She stood up there for at least half an
hour babbling about how Fabulous magazine was a great way to get Kings
Cosmetics’ clients attention in every community nationwide, also noting the
tremendous amount of gross the company would make and save versus going to
another magazine. Sabrina delivered a powerful presentation, and yet at the end
of it all, some people were looking at her as if she didn’t belong there, like
she didn’t know what she was talking about. She didn’t want to think it was
because she was a black woman standing amongst a crowd of men, so she just kept
her cool.
    Lance King looked impressed, and that
was her main goal. After he gave her a brief applaud, he said, “Well, Miss
Evans, I must say that was a very educating presentation.” He looked to his
colleagues and asked, “Can anybody tell me why we shouldn’t sign with Fabulous magazine?”
    They talked amongst themselves and no
one said anything about objecting the idea.
    With that, Lance stood up next to
Sabrina and said, “Well, I think you’ve got yourself a deal.”
     She smiled, proud of herself.
    They shook hands again and the room went
into an uproar of applause. Once everyone left the room, Camille came up to
Sabrina and said, “You were fierce up there.”
    Sabrina chuckled and said, “I guess you
couldn’t tell how nervous I was up there.”
    “Nope. You did a great job. Well, I have
to get started on some ideas for the twenty-third anniversary issue. I don’t
even care about it being the weekend. You got any plans?”
    “Of course not.”
    Camille chuckled and added, “Why did I
even