“Then what am I applying for?”
“The next junior executive training program begins next month. I reserved a seat for you.”
“What? Are you serious, Joy? You can do that?”
Joy smiled. Although she was Joy Johnson, a junior executive, she was also Mr. Skeffington’s Joy. Which was the worst-kept secret in the building. But it did give her certain privileges. “Yes, I can do that,” she said.
“So you’re saying after this training program I’m going to be an executive like you?”
“Absolutely. You run rings around me in terms of leadership, Tess. And you’re the most ethical person I know. You’ll probably be my boss someday.”
“Oh Joy, quit playing. But I’m so happy! The most I was hoping for was that receptionist job.”
“I know. Like when all I wanted was an office job. A clerk or anything would do. Just as long as it was in an office. Butthat’s because we’re accustomed to dreaming tiny dreams. We love and honor a big God. High time we started acting like it.”
“I know that’s right,” said Tess. “Thanks, Joy. Tony kept saying you forgot about me when you got your big job, but I knew you wouldn’t do that.”
“No way would I do that. But I had to get my foot firmly in that door first before I tried to drag you in. But what’s up? Why the call in the middle of the day? You usually wait until after work.”
“I’m not at Maylene’s.”
“You aren’t?”
“No.”
“Then where are you?”
“Me and Tony are here. In Chicago.”
“What? For real girl?”
“For real!”
“Where are you?”
“At the bus station. Tony wanted to drive the van, but I knew that hunk of junk wouldn’t get us all the way here.”
“Stay there. I’m on my way.”
“What will you be driving so we can look out?”
“I’ll be driving my car. It’s a baby-blue Lexus LC 500. With a convertible top girl.”
“Whaaat? When did you get it?”
“Just a few weeks ago. I didn’t want William to buy it for me, so I had to save up.”
“Now that’s smart. Y’all break up, that’s still your car, your apartment, your life.”
Joy wasn’t about to break up with William, but she understood what always-sensible Contessa meant. “I’m on my way.”
“Okay girl. Drive carefully.”
Joy ended the call, grabbed her suit coat from the back of her chair, and went to the mirror to check herself out as she put on her coat. It was one of those skirt-suits that were among those racks of designer clothes Mrs. Humphrey, one of William’s clothing boutique-owning friends, brought to his house four months ago. Every outfit fit her so well that she hadn’t bothered to buy any additional clothes. She smoothed down her hair that dropped down her back in waves of bounciness and curls, and she hurried out of her office.
“I’ll be out of the office for the rest of the day, Khadedra. But call me if something pops off.”
“Will do, Boss,” her secretary said and she hurried away.
