Free Behind Closed Doors by Kimberla Lawson Roby Page B

the driver’s side, and waited for her to get in. “I hope you’re not disappointed about Atlanta. New Orleans is a much better idea. You’ll see.”
    Yeah, she was going to see all right. See him down in Atlanta next week.
     
    R EGINA PUSHED her office door shut, walked across the teal plush carpet, and sat down. The interview had gone well. The electrical engineering managerial position was finally filled, and the young woman was starting at the end of the month. As anticipated, the salary issue had come up, but shortly after Regina had disclosed an offer of $85,000 per year, the engineering graduate had quickly accepted and suddenly had had no further questions. It just went to show, money didn’t mean everything, but it certainly came pretty damn close.
    Regina glanced over at her wedding photo and smiled. She and Larry looked good together, were the perfect couple, and that’s how it was going to stay. Regina was going to use everything in her power to transform this Atlanta business trip into a second honeymoon. Of course Larry was against the idea right now, but his feelings would be different once she got down there.
    She reached for the phone at the edge of her desk and called Larry’s office. Doris, his secretary, would have his complete travel itinerary and would gladly aid her in modifying his hotel reservations.
    “Larry Moore’s office,” a woman said.
    Who was this answering the phone? Doris was middle-aged and Caucasian, but this particular voice belonged to a sister. As far as she knew, there were no African-American secretaries in Larry’s department, but then, maybe they had hired one and he’d just forgotten to mention it. “Is this Larry Moore’s office?” Regina asked, then realized how stupid she sounded, since the woman had already announced that it was.
    “Yes, it is.”
    “Actually, I’m looking for his secretary. Is she in?”
    “Yes. May I tell her who’s calling?”
    “This is Mrs. Moore.”
    “Please hold.”
    Regina leaned back, rested her elbows on each arm of the chair, and waited.
    “This is Doris. May I help you?”
    “Hey, Doris, it’s Regina.”
    “Hi, Regina. How are you? You just missed Larry.”
    Doris spoke fast and to the point but, as always, with a pleasant tone of voice. Which is why Regina loved talking to her. “As a matter of fact, I was calling for you. I need to find out which hotel Larry is staying at in Atlanta, so I can extend the reservations through Sunday. I’m planning to fly down there and surprise him on next Thursday.”
    “Well, good for you. Now let me see here…he’s staying at the Marriott Marquis.”
    “Good. That’s a supernice hotel. We stayed there last year and loved it.”
    “I remember Larry talking about it when you guys got back. Have you made your flight reservations yet?”
    “No. He just told me about the trip at lunchtime, and I’m just now getting an opportunity to make a few phone calls.”
    “I can call and book it for you, if you want.”
    Regina smiled. It was just like Doris to offer to help someone else. “I don’t want to bother you with that, and anyway, I can make one phone call to the corporate travel division here at my company and they’ll take care of everything. But thanks for offering.”
    “Okay, but you know it wouldn’t be a problem.”
    “While you’re worrying about me, you should be planning your own vacation,” Regina said and then laughed.
    “Actually, I’m training someone right now, because I’ll be leaving day after tomorrow for two weeks. My husband and I are flying out to California to visit my daughter and son-in-law.”
    Well, that explained why the sister had answered the phone. She was probably from one of those temporary agencies.
    “I’m really glad to hear you’re taking a break, because I know how busy you guys have been,” Regina said.
    “Yeah, we were flooded with work in January, but things have been pretty slow since then. To tell you the truth, I’m glad,