Page 66 of Out of Office

I was being dramatic. We just needed to postpone the court date to Monday. Adrián had promised to take care of it, and I had wanted to rail that it wasn’t fair that we even had to push it. But clearly, I was in my Oblivious Genevieve era because I was the one boarding a plane four days before our wedding. Come to think of it; I hadn’t even bought a dress. The only attention I’d put to the date was getting Anita to witness so that Adri had someone there for him.

“Fuck,” I exclaimed as I waited.

On the periphery, I read a sign with my name, and I whirled to find myself eye to eye with my driver.

“Oh fuck.”

Julín took my carry-on and guided me to the waiting vehicle. Beyond “Good afternoon, Ms. Raymond” no other word was exchanged until we got into the car.

“Hello, Julín.”

“Hello, Genevieve, imagine how surprised I was to find out we had a person from our Tropics contract that required driving...over the same dates as my best friend’s wedding.”

“Julín...”

“I’m not getting into your business. I’ll drop you off at the hotel and that’s that,” he said and then stayed quiet. What were the odds that of all people he would pick me up? I should have thought of this; I would have told the Tropics not to worry and that I would rent a car. Now I was stuck with Julín. And why hadn’t he assigned another driver? Great. Besides leaving my fiancé at home before our wedding, I had to deal with his best friend, who clearly hated me.

I descended from the car, thanking Julín as he helped me with my carry-on. The hard slam of the vehicle door told me all I needed to know about how Julín felt about this situation. Had Adri called him?

Putting my game face on, I checked into the hotel and freshened up, ready for the meeting with Danilo Morrison. I couldn’t stay in this moping state while I had business to conduct.

Diligence. Ambition. Drive. I kept repeating my mantra to keep from crumbling into pieces.

A few hours later, I sat across from a tall, debonair man with the most striking eyes I’d ever seen, with a beautiful ebony complexion, a face that should be in magazines, and a build that said super heavyweight.

“Mr. Morrison, such a pleasure to meet you. Thanks for taking the time today,” I started.

“No need to thank me, I should be the one grateful. I called Ms. Ricard on such short notice. I would have understood if the meeting couldn’t happen until another time.”

Huh.

“Of course, we were ready to meet. We have been trying to gain your attention with this project.”

“That you have, and I’m very intrigued. I’ve always been hesitant to build in that area because I’m protective of what it is and needs to remain. Sacred to our people.”

“And that it is. Let me tell you more about our plan.”

The meeting with Mr. Morrison was such a great success I felt giddy at the possibilities. He, like Adrián, had an aversion to gentrification for the sake of gentrification and was willing to make the type of moves to protect the area from additional developments that did not aspire to the same goal.

“So, tell me, Ms. Genevieve, are you looking for work? I hate to be that person, but you’re a very effective saleswoman, and the passionate way you speak about the experience for the Black traveler is fascinating. You’d be the perfect ambassador for one of my old investments, Black Travel Chronicles.”

My heart tripped in my chest.

“Well, funny enough, I was in conversations with them yesterday about a partnership with Tropics.”

“Hmm, I’ll hit Latoya up and ask her thoughts, but she probably saw the same thing I did.”

“I don’t know if you can afford me.” I laughed but inside I was eager to hear more. The excitement I used to have about work took over and I sighed. I’d missed this feeling. This was the type of job I’d never have considered in the past, but now...now it would be the perfect job that encapsulated my new goals in life. Everything that I had shared with Adrián and it would probably offer much more balance.

“They probably can’t. The publication just bought out my equity ownership, but it’s an amazing project with fantastic people. I’m telling you. You’d thrive there.”

After a couple more details, Mr. Morrison departed the Tropics Panamá, leaving me with many things to consider.

The following day I was on a mission. Gone was Moping Gen. Now I was filled with a nervous but excited energy, as I strategized possibilities in my mind. I needed to get to Aguimar and back tonight to go and see the family and give them some of the gifts I’d hastily put together the night before. Adri and I had a box of items to send, but once I was coming to see them, I didn’t want to lose the opportunity of bringing some clothes for the kids.

At the crack of dawn, I waited for my driver while a myriad of emotions clouded my thoughts.

When Julín approached in one of LasDell’s cars I sighed. I’d hoped yesterday’s antagonism meant he’d reassign my account but no luck.

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