Taste of Reality by Kimberla Lawson Roby Read Free Book Online Page A

huh?” Lorna asked, slightly chuckling.
    “I wouldn’t say that, but I really think he understood where I was coming from.”
    “Maybe. But I still wouldn’t let my guard all the way down, because both Jim and Lyle have been known to say one thing and then do another. Especially Jim.”
    “I realize that, but I’m trying my best to stay positive.”
    “But what if you don’t get the job? What if they give it to someone who isn’t more qualified than you all over again?”
    “Then we’re going to have a problem, because I do know what my rights are. And if they force me to, I’ll do everything in my power to exercise them legally.”
    “Good for you, because I have a strange feeling that you’re going to have to.”
    “I hear what you’re saying, and even though I know you don’t think Lyle and Jim are on the up-and-up, I still have to stay hopeful. I mean, it’s not that I’m trying to dismiss what you’ve been telling me, but if I don’t stay open to all possibilities, I’m going to worry myself crazy.”
    “I understand, but I just want you to be aware of how they tend to operate, Anise. I feel bad about you having to deal with this crap all over again, but you’ve got to be prepared for what we both know might happen with this.”
    “Yeah, but I guess I’d like to know who they could possibly give it to besides me. Because I know they wouldn’t have the audacity to hire someone outside the company.”
    “Maybe not, but I heard from Jim’s secretary that Kelli Jacobson is one of the people who applied for it.”
    “What!” I said, louder than I should have. The couple sitting at the next table glanced over at me, and I felt somewhat embarrassed.
    “Yep. She did. And another gal over in public relations submitted a bidding form yesterday.”
    “How can they even consider Kelli when she started out as an HR assistant doing strictly clerical work? And even though she’s an HR specialist for corporate benefits, she’s only been doing that for one year.”
    “I know, but if I had to guess, I’d say the job is as good as hers if she wants it.”
    “But how? I know she’s been with the company for four years, but two of those years were clerical. And even though she spent her third year working as an HR coordinator, she worked more closely with training and special events than she did anything else.”
    Lorna raised her eyebrows and said, “But do you really think any of that is going to mean a damn thing when it comes to Jim and Lyle’s final decision? They’ll find a way to justify giving it to her no matter what. I’ve seen them do it too many other times, and you saw it firsthand when they gave that job to Jason over you.”
    “But why in the world would they do that? And how can they just keep getting away with it?”
    “They won’t after this. Not after you sue their bigoted asses.”
    I took a sip of ice water from the long-stemmed crystal goblet and sat it back down on the table. I was outraged. I knew both Jim and Lyle had made it pretty clear that they would have to promote the most qualified candidate, but deep down I wanted to believe that person was me. It had to be if we were talking about educational background and previous work experience. But hearing Lorna tell me that Kelli Jacobson was in the running placed me just a bit on edge.
    “And wait a minute,” I said. “What college or university did she graduate from?”
    “Well, I know she has a one-year secretarial certificate from Mitchell Community College, but I think that’s it.”
    I laughed like a confused madwoman. But nothing was the slightest bit funny.
    “I know,” Lorna continued. “But the thing with Kelli is that she’s kissed mega ass since the first day she started working at ReedMeyers. She agrees with any and every thing Jim has to say, and I’ve seen her do it with Elizabeth, too. Hell, Elizabeth is the person that you and she both report to, but you’d swear she reports directly to Jim with