“It explains what?”
“Why he’s on the executive level. You gave him a shot.”
When the numbers came up, the director of personnel cleared his throat as if he was surprised himself. He looked at William. “We’ve hired six African-Americans in the entire time that this company has existed, sir.”
William was floored.
“What positions?” Joy asked.
The director looked at her as if she was an alien from a hostile land.
“You heard her,” William said. “What positions?”
He then looked at the list. “Chief of Staff.”
“Keep going.”
“A receptionist.”
“Go on.”
“And the other four work in housekeeping. Three janitors and one maid.”
Joy shook her head. “That’s a crying shame,” she said out loud and didn’t care when William gave her a disapproving look. “It’s a shame,” she said again. “This can’t be an accident. And this is Chicago too? Somebody has to be systematically shutting us out. I don’t know who, but somebody is.”
“I agree with you,” William said. “Now will you let me handle it?”
Joy felt as if she had been put back in her place. She forgot she wasn’t dealing with the man that had sobbed in her arms, but with the boss. “Yes sir,” she said a little embarrassed.
But William was worried that she’d get the same treatment if she was handed over to anybody but himself. “This is Joynetta Johnson,” he said to his personnel director. “Hire her as the Assistant to the Chairman of the Board.”
Joy was impressed with the title, but she tried not to show it.
“I’m not familiar with that position nor pay scale, sir,” the director said.
“It’s a new position. Pay scale commensurate with a senior staffer. Signing bonus included.”
Joy could hardly believe it. She was going to get a signing bonus and make senior staffer money? She didn’t know how much either would be, but she knew it would be far more money than her waitress salary, including tips! She was shocked.
So was the personnel director. He even glanced at Joy. What special sauce did she have between those legs was his first thought. “Yes sir,” he said. “Will she be on probation first, sir, with probationary salary?”
William thought about it. Then he nodded. “Yes,” he said. That would be only fair, he thought. “Thirty days,” he added, which was two months short of their usual probationary period.
“Yes, sir.”
Then he looked at Joy. “He’ll take it from here.”
“Yes sir,” Joy said She was doing all she could not to throw her arms around William in great gratitude. But she held her peace.
William was still too upset with his organization to be thrilled about anything. But he didn’t take it out on the director of personnel. He just did the paperwork. His CEO had to answer to him for this major kafuffle.
William glanced at Joy and left.
Joy watched him leave. He was pissed she could tell. But she was glad he wasn’t pissed with her for pointing out what anybody bothering to look could see.
“Have a seat, Miss Johnson,” the director said happily. “I’ll personally take care of you.”
“Thank you,” Joy said as she sat down. She didn’t even know her salary yet. But she felt like a million bucks all the same.
