Cory could see how serious he was. “Yes sir.”
“I want to hear about it immediately. All of this racist bullshit that has infused itself into my organization is over.”
Sloane’s jaw tightened.
“Let me know if you even think it’s happening around you.”
“I will, sir. I absolutely will. Thank you very much.”
Cory looked at Sloane when William looked away. Sloane rolled her eyes at him.
Then William’s impatience came through again. “What the fuck is taking these people so long? It can’t be that many tests in this world.” He pushed away from the wall, and began pacing again.
Then Bobby came back in. “The CEO isn’t at the hospital right now, sir, but the Chief of Surgery is. She’s on her way down now.”
“Good,” said William, “because I want answers and I want them now.”
“Oh they understand. I made sure that they fully understood.” Then Bobby exhaled as he sat down and crossed his legs. “I just pray the kid’s okay.”
William looked at his chief-of-staff. He was tall and had an elegance about him that he always found impressive. And he was smart as a whip. But because of his easy charm, it was William’s belief that if there was any man that could win Joy over, Bobby would be that man. “How did you find out before I did?” he asked him.
“I called him, sir,” Cory interjected. He didn’t feel nervous anymore. William made him feel as if he belonged there. “I had no way of reaching you, but I remembered Joy said she was going to let Mr. Latham know where she was going. So I called Mr. Latham. I would have phoned you too, sir, if I would have had your number.”
“No, no, it’s fine, Cory. You did nothing wrong. I was just curious that is all.”
Bobby and Sloane glanced at each other. Even Cory knew it was more than curiosity. The way he saw it, Bobby Lathamwas this gorgeous hunk of black man that all the ladies wanted. Mr. Skeffington was gorgeous too, but different gorgeous. Mr. Skeffington was like the gorgeous boss. Bobby was like the gorgeous boyfriend. The boss might have felt some kind of way, or even felt threatened, by a brother like Bobby Latham.
“Sloane?”
Sloane looked at Bobby. “Sir?”
“Why don’t you and Cory wait out in the hall for a sec. I want to run something by the boss.”
Cory was quickly moving toward the exit. Sloane reluctantly grabbed her bag and iPad and left the room.
William looked at Bobby. “What do you want to run by me?”
“Just a question.”
“Which is?”
Bobby uncrossed his legs and leaned forward, his hands clasped. “What exactly is your intentions regarding Joy?”
William stared at Bobby as if he had some nerve. Nobody asked him a question like that! “Excuse me?”
“What’s Joy to you, Mr. Skeffington? Is she somebody I need to . . . leave alone?”
William calmed back down. He was not the kind of man that shared intimacies with his employees. But Bobby was doing it the right way. He couldn’t argue with a man willing to look him in the eye and be blunt about it.
He nodded. “She’s most definitely somebody you need to leave alone. Inthatrespect anyway,” he added.
Bobby sat back and nodded. “Okay, sir. Thank you for letting me know.”
But now William was curious. “Why would you ask? Are you in love with her?”
“Mesir? In love?” Bobby smiled his best rakish smile. “Not at all, sir. Nothing like that. A little in lust maybe, butthat’s over too.” Then he looked at William. “So you’re serious about that girl then?”
Now William felt exposed. “Serious?Me? She’s a kid.”
