Page 9 of Token

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An hour after Sahara and her team left the building, Kennedy had upgraded her office—as a guest—although this one was equally dark but larger, with a nicer view. She faced the CEO across his desk.

“Sahara appears quite taken with you.” Mr. Edwards’s scrutiny of her was intense in the most benign manner possible.

“I assure you, the feeling is mutual,” Kennedy replied.

“Good. That’s good.” He paused. “If we’re fortunate enough to partner with her, that would mean a great deal to the company’s bottom line. It would also open new doors for us. A celebrity of her status would give us the kind of exposure that money can’t buy.”

Not only were celebrity endorsements worth their weight in gold, but when stamped by the celebrity’s own particular brand—think Air Jordans—the sky was the limit when it came to earning potential.

“So, I’m sure it won’t surprise you when I say Iwould like you to stay on with us in a marketing capacity.”

And there it was, the job offer, just as Aurora had predicted. Now all she had to do was play it cool.

Kennedy treated him to a level gaze. “I feel I need to remind you that I’m currently temping at the reception desk.”

Strictly speaking, I don’t even work for the company and I just saved your heinie big-time.

His smile thinned. “Yes, I’m painfully aware of that. I wish we’d had you on full-time long before now.”

Look how much money it would have saved uswent left unsaid.

“You could have five years ago when I applied.”

That caught his attention. “You applied for a position here?” he asked, his tone sharp and gaze probing.

Kennedy nodded, feeling a certain sense of karmic vindication. “Right out of college.”

A shadow crossed his face. “Were you brought in for an interview?”

“No.”

“What about a telephone screening?”

“Nothing. Never heard a word back.”

“I see.” He drew out both words.

This couldn’t possibly come as a surprise to him. Had he not ventured beyond the ninth floor to mingle with the peasants on the lower floors in their cubicles? Not a single Black employee existed at the company.

She discreetly appraised his stalky build in his iron gray suit, with his salt-and-pepper hair and air of self-importance and obliviousness.

Likely not.

“I guess that was our loss.” His statement came as close to self-deprecation as she imagined he could muster.

“Given the way things turned out, some would say so.”

“I hope you won’t hold that against us and are open to a job offer. And this has no bearing on the outcome of any partnership with Sahara.”

Oh yes, he was now seeing the benefits of actually having a Black person on the payroll, come what may. Whoever said money was the greatest motivator of all was proved right time and time again.

“I do have two interviews next week.” She was glad to be able to throw that out there. Nothing like a bit of competition to apply the right kind of pressure and let him know she wasn’t so desperatefor a job she’d be willing to accept any lowball offers.

“Both I hope you’ll cancel. After you consider my offer, that is.”

“I guess that will depend on the offer.”

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