Chapter 37 Step Into It
STEP INTO IT
JAHLANI
One Month Later
“Ms. Jones, you’re needed in the conference room.”
Jahlani sits up in her chair, looking over her monitor to stare at her assistant, Bonnie. She has eclectic tastes and is currently sporting two pigtails, a polka-dot top, and striped socks with peaches that reach her knees.
“It’s just Jahlani, Bonnie,” she says in the politest way she can muster. Bonnie continues to smile, holding the door to her office open. It’s been a little over a month and she still can’t quite figure her out.
Jahlani frowns, rising to grab her notepad. “Is something wrong with the Hudson report?”
Bonnie shrugs, adjusting her laptop, notepad, and pens. “I think it’s a snag with another client’s data.” And then in a lower voice she adds, “Between you and me, Austin has been slacking since his divorce. It’s not looking good for him.”
Jahlani and Bonnie bypass his office, seeing his face pressed into the desk.
Bonnie winces, shaking her head as her heels click across the floor.
The glass walls of the conference room reflect the faint glow from the city’s lights, though the tables inside are untouched, chairs neatly arranged around them as if waiting for the first sign of dawn.
It’s late, most having already left for the day.
Bonnie pushes open the third conference-room door, and Jahlani gauges the atmosphere. Two women sit across from her boss, Monique Chamberlin. The faint hum of the projector is the only sound she hears as she sinks into the chair beside Monique.
“Jahlani, thank you for joining us. This is Ember and Anna Mayfair.”
Standing, Jahlani reaches out to give them both a hopefully firm, confident handshake that doesn’t display any signs of how she just might possibly expel her leftover burrito from two hours ago.
Monique doesn’t waste a second, sliding over a manila folder of data.
They then spend the next thirty minutes reviewing the portfolio.
“What do you recommend, Jahlani?”
Every eye in the room lands on her and she freezes because Monique Fucking Chamberlin just asked for her input.
Jahlani lifts the paper, thumbing through the report. “There are a lot of gaps in the data. It makes it hard to get an accurate analysis from the survey. I would check the coding first and re-run the program—”
“What if we don’t have time for that?”
“You could … skip that step, but then you run the risk of compromising the integrity of your data. The analysis might not be as valid.”
“How long would it take you?”
Jahlani says, looking back at the report. “Two to three weeks.”
“Which is it—two or three?” Monique asks.
Jahlani meets her stoic gaze. “Two?” And then, clearing her throat, she repeats with more confidence. “Two.”
The Mayfair women look at each other before looking toward Monique.
“She’ll do it,” Monique chimes in as she checks her watch, then offers a tight smile. “It’s late. Jahlani’s assistant, Bonnie Myer, will be in touch later this week to set up another meeting to finalize the project timeline.”
All the women stand up, shaking hands. “Thank you for agreeing to meet with us, Monique and Jahlani. We’re looking forward to collaborating with you.”
Bonnie leaps up to walk them out, and Jahlani is left alone with Monique. She turns to her, sinking into her chair again.
“Did that just happen?” Jahalani asks, looking up at her as she reaches for her drink.
“It did.”
“But … how?”
Monique leans back, studying her.
“I know you’re new here, Jahlani, so I’ll give you some advice: don't say “no” to career-altering projects, especially when you’re fresh and you’re being offered a client as big as the Mayfair’s.”
Jahlani’s face flushes. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to overstep—”
She holds her hand up to silence her. “You weren’t overstepping. I picked you because I know you can do it. Am I wrong, Jahlani?”
“No, of course not,” Jahlani offers hurriedly, her palms sweaty. “I just—”
“Do you think you can do a better job than their original consultant?”
Jahlani licks her lips, trying to keep her eyes focused on the bridge of her nose. “It’s a large project, and I figured someone who’s been here longer would be the safer choice.”
Monique shakes her head. “That’s not what I asked. Do you think you can do a better job?”
Jahlani’s mouth dries at her fierce gaze. “Yes.”
Monique studies her, then offers a rare smile and stands. “You’re good at what you do, Jahlani. Step into it. Embrace it. Own it. Don’t let anybody in this building make you feel like you need to be smaller. That’s not the kind of company I’m running here.”
Jahlani nods, a flush spreading through her body, feeling as though she’s being scolded by her favorite teacher.
Monique slides her purse onto her shoulder. “Go get some drinks, Jahlani. Celebrate with your friends, boyfriend, girlfriend— whoever. You’re about to be very busy over the next few months,” she says, squeezing her shoulder in a reassuring manner as she walks by.
“Monique?” Jahlani clears her throat. “I was wondering—”
Monique arches a brow, folding her arms.
Step into it.
“I want to be considered for the new branch—the one in Florida.”
“Okay. Why?”
Jahlani rolls her shoulders back. “I’m highly qualified, and I was raised there. I know the people. I know the area. I have … people waiting for me. Family. Friends.”
Monique nods her head. “I hear you, and I’ll consider it, but you’re too new for me to send out right now.”
Jahlani swallows back the burn in her throat. “I understand.”
Monique’s eyes soften. “Let’s see how the Mayfair project goes. It might speed things along.”
Jahlani gives her a small smile, her heart swelling as she hears the soft sound of Monique's heels disappear down the hallway. Reaching into her bag, she slides out her phone as it vibrates, hope spiking in her chest because maybe–
“Hello?” She breathes, hopeful and flustered, pacing in the office.
A throat clears on the line. “Hey, baby. Are you free to talk?”
Jahlani pulls the phone from her ear, seeing her dad’s contact, tears stinging her eyes.
She thought it would be him. But then again, why would he call?
“Sure,” she says, her voice wavering as she works to fight through her disappointment. Settling into a chair, she drops the phone on the table, pressing the speaker button. She places her head in between her hands as she waits for him to speak.
He clears his throat again. “You sure? If you’re busy, I can hang up.”
“I’m not busy,” she murmurs, sitting upright. “I’m just at work. I’m always ... at work.”
He sighs, and she hears him shuffling on the other end. “Okay … well, your mother called me a few weeks ago. She was pretty hysterical.”
Jahlani sits upright, her skin tingling. “Oh. What did she tell you?”
“Everything.”
Jahlani drops her head into her palm, sighing. “Dad—”
“I’m so sorry, baby.”
Jahlani’s hand falls to the table and she presses into it trying to ground herself.
“What?” She croaks out.
He sighs deeply. “Your mom … she’s been through a lot, and I’m not making excuses for her, but she’s a complicated woman because of it.
I should’ve done better. I just … I made a choice to leave her, and I didn’t think about how that would affect you.
I thought about what you said to me that day, and you were right baby and … are you still there, Jahlani?”
“I’m here, Dad,” she says, whispering.
He clears his throat. “I know you’re an adult now, so maybe you’ll understand a little when I tell you why I left …
or maybe you won’t but … it got hard for me.
She didn’t support me in the way I needed her to and Celeste—your grandmother— she never liked me, and your mom just always went with what she said.
It was like she wasn’t her own person at certain times.
So, it was difficult and I … I didn’t tell you because …
I gave up on her and I left you, and … I’m sorry. ”
Jahlani lets out a shaky exhale, wiping her face feeling so fucking sick of crying.
“Yeah.”
He exhales again. “Okay, baby. Well, I don’t want to keep you.
But I wanted to let you know that I’m going to talk to your mother …
try to get her on board with, you know …
the therapy. I know you're in California, but I’ve seen that they do virtual sessions.
Just … let me know if you need anything … anything at all.”
Jahlani knows the thing she wants most, he can’t give her, but she still nods letting out a strangled ‘okay’.
“Bye baby. I love you.”
She hangs up, still not fully believing him, and not feeling ready to say it back, but knowing for the first time, she was taking a step in the right direction.