39. Maya
Maya sat on her bed staring at the phone in her hand. She’d been there for almost an hour trying to work up the nerve to hit the call button. It wasn’t that she was unsure of what she was about to do, she was afraid of learning that it may no longer be a possibility for her. Finally, she closed her eyes and pressed the button.
“King and Associates.” She instantly recognized the warm, southern voice as Patti’s. “How may I direct your call?”
“Hi Miss Patti, it’s Maya Hendricks.”
“Maya! How are you? We miss you!”
Maya smiled despite her nerves. “I’m well. Just busy interviewing and studying. I miss y’all, too.” There was something about talking to Miss Patti that brought the Georgia girl out of her.
“We know you’re doing great, darlin’. Are you calling for Al?”
“Yes.”
“He just got out of a meeting with a client, so he should be free. Let me transfer you.”
Maya thanked her and sprung from her bed, pacing in triple time compared to the soft classical hold music.
“Ms. Hendricks! I’ve been expecting your call.”
Maya stopped in her tracks. “You have?”
“Of course, I have.” He chuckled at her reaction. He always did that for some reason. “It’s recruiting season. I’ve been waiting to hear which lucky firm I get to send my glowing recommendation to.”
“Right. Well, no one quite yet.”
“Surely you’ve gotten offers already.”
“I’ve had a few,” she admitted.
“Well, I’d be happy to be your sounding board if you need help deciding. To what do I owe the pleasure of this call then?”
Maya took a deep breath and straightened her posture, as if she was standing before him and not in her bedroom still in her pajamas at lunch time on a Wednesday.
“I was calling to see if you had filled the junior associate position yet.”
“We’ve already interviewed several strong candidates, but no final decision yet. We still have two more interviews left.”
“Well, if it’s not too late, I’d like to submit my resume for your consideration.”
There was silence on the other end of the line, and she thought she was going to be sick, but then he began to laugh quietly.
“It’s not too late,” he assured her. “Go ahead and submit your application through the website. I’ll put you in touch with Patti to schedule your interview and take care of your travel arrangements.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Thank you for considering us, Ms. Hendricks,” he said, matching her formality with his own. “I’m looking forward to meeting with you.”
Maya ended the call and fell back onto her bed. This wasn’t compromising, she told herself. This was a completely rational move, to weigh all options before making the most important decision of her adult life.