Free Black Lies White Lies by Dranda Laster Page B

assistants sat with papers in hand.
    “Let’s get this meeting started,” began Mr. Maxwell. “I first want to say what a terrific job this young man to my left is doing in turning this company around for the better. Our numbers are up in a very short time and we owe a crucial part of that increase to him. The necessary cuts were made and others were let go for other reasons. Let’s go over the reports and get to other business.” All you could hear were papers being shuffled.
    As the meeting came to a close Mr. Maxwell announced, “We do have promotions to hand out. Candice Robinson will be promoted to head of Marketing…” and that’s all I heard. A few others were also promoted, but I was so excited I wasn’t paying much attention. Everyone headed back to work and Brenda and I headed back to my office before celebrating.
    “Candice, I’m going to get us some coffee. I will be in back in a minute.”
    “Ok, I’m going to start to wrapping things up for an early Friday.” I walked into my office and found two dozen red roses on my desk and a card.
    Can’t wait to see you later
    ~Ashton
    He never ceased to amaze me.
    Carl, Mr. Maxwell’s assistant, walked in. He was tall and thin. He was always extremely well dressed and spoke with a foreign accent. He had a tendency to act like the sky was about to fall any minute. “Candice, you will be moving upstairs to a corner office on Monday. Mr. Maxwell wanted you to know all your things would be moved over the weekend. Your office will be on the 18 th floor adjacent to Mr. Williams.”
    I needed to pinch myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming. “Will you be keeping the same assistant, Mrs. Robinson?”
    “Yes, Carl, I’m going to keep Brenda.”
    “Well I hope she’ll be getting a raise,” he smiled just a little, as if to say she would need it. She would, but it wasn’t any of his business. “No offense, Ms. Robinson, but things are changing so fast and I know Brenda is a hard worker.”
    “Yes, she is and she deserves a raise.”
    “Well Ms. Robinson, I will see you on Monday.”
    Carl left as fast as he’d come, almost running into Brenda who was walking in with the coffee. “What was that all about?”
    “We’re moving up. Carl was just telling me were being moved to the 18 th floor.”
    “How convenient is that? On the same floor as Ashton. He couldn’t have planned it any better.”
    “Brenda, it’s not a plan. Stop being so negative about things. You’ll be moving with me, aren’t you happy?”
    “Thanks, Candice, but I’m still saying watch Mr. Slick. There’s more to him than meets the eye. Look at those flowers. Bet I can guess who these are from.”
    “Really, who?” And I started to laugh.
    “Mister moves a girl close and keeps a close eye on her.”
    “Brenda, you are funny. Thanks for the coffee.”
    “Anytime. What you say after work we catch the subway to Jamaica town and get our swerve on.”
    “I can’t. Ashton and I are leaving for the Hamptons to visit his parents.”
    “Oh, it’s getting that serious, meeting his parents now.”
    “If I didn’t know better I would say you’re a little jealous.”
    “No, I want you to be happy, I just don’t think he is the one.”
    “Well we will see what time brings for me and Ashton.”
    “Candice, you’re my girl, so just watch your step.”
    “Brenda, we can celebrate when I get back, I promise. So where is Calvin these days?”
    “He works all the time so I see less of him these days. I’m going to call him and tell him to come over for a late supper since you will be in the Hamptons.”
    “That sounds like a plan for you two.”
    “It does, now that I said it.”
    “Well, Brenda, I need to wrap things up and head to my stylist.”
    “Yeah, you do need to get that hair did.”
    “Amen!” we laughed.

Chapter 7
    I started putting my things away so when the office coordinator came it would be a little easier. I needed to call my sister before I left. I picked