On day two, after waking up after a night of drinking, Dionne is surprised to feel fine. She makes a to-do list, prioritizing an upcoming editorial meeting and finding a way to contact Kareem. Like her mother used makeup as a survival mechanism, Dionne spends three hours applying her own to create a facade of control. She calls Farrah, leaving a message saying she is not sure what drama Kareem is talking about and asking to meet that evening. On the subway, Dionne is startled from a nap by a young girl who reminds her of her own child self. The encounter triggers a wave of shame and sorrow, causing Dionne to cry and ruin her makeup. Overcome with dread, she remembers she has twelve more days to wait for her HIV test results.

At the monthly editorial meeting, Joanne, and the head of HR, Alesha Powell, announce that Dionne is a final contender for Joanne’s job. They explain that as an internal candidate, she is exempt from presenting a new beauty concept, a requirement for external applicants. Worried her past work will not be enough, Dionne insists on creating a new presentation. Alesha reveals the budget for such projects is up to $10,000.