“Actually, could you be in at seven?”
It’s a test.
These types of things are always a test in corporate America, and if I want to climb that ladder quickly, there’s no way I could say anything but, “Absolutely. I’ll see you at seven.”
“Perfect. We need to discuss some changes in your employment and get all the necessary paperwork sorted before an all-company meeting at nine.”
I shake my muddled head, questioning if I heard her wrong.
“I’m sorry, did you say changes in my employment?”
“Oh, sorry, I should’ve led with that.” She chuckles. “This new opportunity for the company has opened some vacancies. Based on your résumé and stellar references, we believe you’d be a perfect fit. We can discuss the specifics tomorrow, but it would be a promotion to a bigger account, not a lateral move.”
“That’s... incredible.”
“I’m glad you’re open to it,” she says, cutting me off. “We’ll see you tomorrow at seven.”
I can tell from her fast and clipped tone that she’s in a hurry.
Move along, idiot. Let the poor women go.“Thank you,” I offer, sounding dumbfounded.
“Thank you, Raven. Enjoy your day.”
I place my phone on the white table, along with the pen and paper, and sit against the headboard, sliding down until my head hits the pillow.
There are so many questions I should’ve asked before hanging up that call, but they’d all eluded me at the time.
Being caught off guard is the worst.
But I can’t complain. It’s taken years for some of my friends to be offered better positions, and here I am getting a better gig before I even start?
It sounds too good to be true. Which means it probably is.
I groan, hating that I’m being robbed of my last few days but ready to start earning real money. My mom has been paying for my apartment, and I know it’s been a stretch for her, even with my father’s life insurance money.
I’d tried to convince her we could live together to save, but she insisted I have the experience they’d always promised me. City living in a place of my own because I’ve never been fond of the idea of sharing a space with a roommate. My mom would be the only one I’d make an exception for.
I close my eyes, giving myself permission to rest today. All the projects I wanted to get done can wait. Sleep is more important. As I drift off, all I see are cornflower eyes and a devilish smirk.
* * *
“I can’t believeyou already managed to snag a better position. You’ve got to be the luckiest girl I know, Raven,” Lily says, stuffing a forkful of lo mein into her mouth.
After lying down for another hour, I got up and tackled my list. With the help of my mom, who insisted on coming into the city, and Lily, I managed to get two days’ worth of stuff done in one.
“Her father and I have said that since she was born,” my mom says, smiling widely. “She was born under a full moon, after all.”
“I’m not sure it’s lucky to be born during a full moon, Mom.”
I take a bite of the chicken and rice my mom brought us and moan in appreciation.
Mom scoffs. “Nonsense. Full moons are magical.”
“I agree,” Lily says, nodding her head.
“Kiss ass,” I whisper under my breath, sharing a smile with Lily.
My mom makes work of cleaning up the empty food cartons and carrying them the two steps to the kitchen. My place is one big open space, and my bedroom is separated by a row of foldable white panel wall dividers. It’s small but cozy.