She left me with a smile as they dispersed back to their assignments. Uncle Clive led me down the hall to the office where I’d be working. He knocked softly before opening the door. Inside stood a very pregnant woman at a copy machine.
“Morning, Charlene.”
“Good morning, Mr. Clive.” She turned to face us and smiled. “You must be Alayah. Nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you, too.”
“I’m gonna leave you two to get better acquainted. I’ll be right out front if you need me, baby girl.”
“Okay.”
He kissed my temple and left the room. Charlene gathered her papers and waddled back behind the desk.
“Your uncle is a very sweet man.”
“He is.”
“You ready to take my place?”
“I might as well be. I don’t know anything about being a receptionist.”
“Lucky for you, I’m a great teacher. I have a pretty simple organization system. The hardest part will probably be entering data. Everything else is pretty much basic customer service. You greet customers, take calls, schedule appointments, handle complaints, and take payments. Don’t pay these men in here any mind. They will fuck anything with legs, and a pretty little thing like you is right up their alley.”
I swallowed hard. “I peeped that. I’m not interested. I just want to do my job and go home.”
“That’s the spirit. Well, we’re about to open. You’ll simply shadow me for the day. Tomorrow, I’ll see what you’ve learned.”
I took a deep breath and nodded. I was a little nervous. This was my first day at my first job as a twenty-eight-year-old woman. This wasn’t what I had in mind, but it was better than nothing, and I was grateful for it.
Today will bea good day,I told myself.
Lunchtime rolled around before I knew it. I was feeling confidant in my new job duties already. Granted, we hadn’t done anything too complicated. Tomorrow would tell if I had really learned anything.
Aunt Penny brought Uncle Clive and me lunch. While he ate in his office, I decided to go to the break room to enjoy my meal. When I walked in, a few of the guys were also on lunch. I gave a light smile and took a seat in the back. I ate quietly for a minute or two before the one Uncle Clive introduced as Theo came and took a spot in front of me.
“How you doing, beautiful?” he asked, flashing his gold grill at me.
My brows furrowed as I swallowed my food. “Fine.”
“Why you looking at me like that?”
“Because you just invited yourself into my space.”
He chuckled. “My bad, shawty. I was just being hospitable. I didn’t mean to ruffle your feathers. Mr. Clive never said he had such a beautiful niece. Where you been hiding?”
I stared at him with a blank expression, hoping he would get the hint. He continued to sit there, waiting for me to answer.
“Oh, you one of those playing-hard-to-get women. I know that type all too well.”
Something about that statement sent a chill up my spine. He was giving off predator vibes, and I didn’t like it.
“Look, I’m just trying to eat so I can get back to work.”
“And I’m just trying to get to know you a little. You don’t have to be so cold, pretty girl.”
Pretty girl.
The sound of that caused my heart to race. I squeezed my fork and tried to control my breathing. Those two words would forever haunt me. It didn’t matter that Rodney was dead and gone. The significance of those words lived rent free in my head.
