Free Somewhat Saved by Pat G'Orge-Walker Page B

to make things better.”
    Again, she’d allowed a fantasy moment to visit. For the next few minutes she did everything she could to avoid eye contact and pretend she wasn’t listening to whatever the problem was. From snatches of conversation she’d learned that the problem was in one of the conference rooms and that it involved several church women. She wasn’t sure how serious it was but it caused Mr. Lamb to order security to the room and hold those involved until he got the building manager there.
    â€œ. . . I’ll decide what to do once security gets there. Just calm the women down. The last thing we need or want is bad press or a lawsuit.”
    After hanging up, again Mr. Lamb started scribbling, but this time he handed the paper to Zipporah. “Give this to the receptionist when she returns. She’ll tell you where to go for your uniform and have you fill out the remaining paperwork. I’m placing you on the eleven in the morning until seven in the evening shift. If things work out, then I’ll see about a permanent shift for you. You’ll need to come back inside my office before you leave.” Without waiting for her to reply, he rose and extended a handshake before escorting her out of his office.
    â€œMandy, you’re back. Good. Please take care of Miss Moses. She has the paperwork for you to get her started. She’s starting tomorrow.”
    â€œYes, sir, Mr. Lamb,” Mandy replied. “I’ll take care of things.”
    Mandy waited until the door closed behind Chandler Lamb before she addressed Zipporah.
    â€œI see your prayers worked.” She gave a half smile before turning away.
    So Mandy was her name. So what happened to the smiling woman with the ugly blue eye shadow? This one still wore the ugly eye shadow but the encouraging personality was gone. This one in less than ten minutes had returned as an uppity woman with an uppity name.
    Zipporah watched as Mandy strained to remain dignified. She pushed her rimless glasses down on her nose and looked again at Zipporah, this time with disapproval. She looked as though by Zipporah’s very presence Zipporah had taken the building from a five-star rating to a one. Her disdain was apparent. Her true reasons for disliking Zipporah were not.
    After giving Zipporah detailed instructions, Mandy led her back inside Chandler’s office.
    Inside the office Chandler was busy trying to do the job of human resources and guest relations. He was still rapping the pencil as he gave orders into the telephone.
    â€œI also need you to get in touch with a Reverend Leotis Tom. Here’s his number.” Chandler gave the numbers hurriedly. “Apparently, several of the conference attendees have started a row in our Billie Holiday banquet room.” He put down the phone and got up. He started gathering papers from his desk.
    â€œIsn’t that where the National Missionary and Mothers Board Conference is being held?” Mandy tried to suppress a smug smile at her knowledge of everything that went on at the Jaeger, but failed.
    â€œYes, I don’t know all the facts. I sent security over there before things get completely out of hand.”
    â€œI see you have your briefcase. Are you leaving early when you finish with Miss Moses?”
    â€œNo, Mandy, I’ll be back.” He could tell by the way she just stood there that she needed more information. “Just so that you know, my godmother is visiting for a few days. I’m going over to her hotel to surprise her with a visit.”
    Zipporah listened as Chandler gave further instructions and explanations regarding what she thought should’ve been his personal business.
    To Zipporah, the mention of the church mothers acting unseemly reminded her of the two old women she’d witnessed cutting up at the Luxor. Whatever these women were doing in the conference room would pale compared to the antics those old women were capable of