Taste of Reality by Kimberla Lawson Roby Page B

you.”
    I didn’t know whether to believe him or not. My intuition told me that I could trust him, but there was no way I could be sure.
    “Well, since Jim will be expecting you to report back, what are you planning on telling him?” I wanted to know.
    “Whatever you want me to.”
    “Yeah, right,” I said, looking away from him.
    “I’m serious. I’ll tell him whatever you ask me to.”
    “Okay, then tell him I said to go to hell.”
    Frank laughed. “I understand how you feel, but I was thinking of something a little more subtle. Something more along the lines of why you don’t want the training position. Because we don’t want him finding out that I gave you the heads-up on what they’re trying to do.”
    “I know, but I’m just so pissed about this. Jim has been a thorn in my side ever since I told him I was going to apply for that job again. I don’t mean to offend you, Frank, but Jim is one of the most racist white men I have ever worked with. And the only reason he’s going to such great extremes about this is because they’d rather close the company than see a black woman in management.”
    “I agree with you completely. I’ve been here much longer than you, and I’ve seen some pretty crafty stuff happen with a few employees. And don’t ever think you’re offending me about any of this, because they’re the ones who are wrong. Not you.”
    I cut a bite of pecan pie and was raising it to my mouth right when Kelli Jacobson slithered over to our table.
    “Well, well, well,” she said. “Since when did the two of you start having lunch together?” The tone of her voice was sarcastic.
    My first thought was to ignore her, but I realized this was an opportunity to speak with my lovely competitor.
    “Hi, Kelli. So I guess we’re both going for that corporate manager position, huh?”
    “I guess so. And may the best woman win. Good luck,” she said as she walked away.
    She was flippant and acted as though she’d already been told the job was hers, and I didn’t like it.
    “I can’t believe she even applied,” Frank said.
    “She applied because Jim wanted her to.”
    “Well, if I were you, I wouldn’t let that worry me too much until the decision has been made.”
    “That’s easy to say, but there’s no way I can simply forget about how Jim keeps trying to manipulate me. And the worst part of all is that Lyle called me into his office to discuss my interest in the job and almost made it seem like he was behind me. So of course I couldn’t help but think that maybe he was going to convince Jim that I was the best qualified for the job. He seemed so genuine when I left his office.”
    “Really?” Frank said.
    “Yes, so I guess I don’t understand what’s going on with either one of them.”
    “I can imagine, because it does sound like the two of them are giving you mixed signals. And while I don’t have any answers for you, I do want you to know that I’m here if you ever need someone to talk to. All you have to do is say the word. We can even do it over dinner sometime if you want.”
    He was making me feel uncomfortable again.
    “No, I don’t think so,” I answered.
    “Why not?”
    “Because even though I’m separated—” I said, and paused. I couldn’t believe I’d let that slip.
    “You’re separated?” he asked.
    I looked away from him and didn’t respond.
    “Anise, I am really sorry. I didn’t know.”
    “Actually, there’s no need to apologize. But I would appreciate it if you don’t mention this to anyone else.”
    “Of course not. I would never do that.”
    “And as far as your dinner invitation, I’m still going to have to pass, because it wouldn’t be right.”
    “Even if our relationship is solely platonic?”
    “Yes, because I’m still married.”
    I would never admit my true feelings to Frank, but with David not caring about our vows one way or the other, I did have this growing desire to pay him back for what he’d done to me. Which was