When Opposites Attract

"You have an eight-thirty meeting with the board of directors about the five-percent projected increase in the fiscal budget, a ten o'clock meeting with the legal team about the impending lawsuit from the Grayson Corporation, a lunch meeting with Ronald Jackson about his transfer to the Hong Kong office, and a three o'clock conference call with the regional managers from Los Angeles, Dallas, and Atlanta."

I could hear my secretary, Shelly, running off my daily schedule, but I was looking past her out of the floor-to-ceiling window. She had greeted me at the door, mug of steaming coffee in her hand, two creams, one sugar, just like she did every morning. She was a pretty sistah -- tall, graceful, beautiful skin, perfect smile -- but she always seemed so stressed out. I often wondered why she let her executive assistant job get to her so much. Granted, I was stressed out all the time as well, but I had more to lose. Unlike me, Shelly earned no more than $889.95 after taxes, every two weeks, no matter what her work performance.

I glanced up at her, standing rigidly like she was preparing for a military drill. "Shelly, can I ask you a personal question?"

A nervous expression shadowed her face, causing me to wonder if she was afraid of me. We were the exact same age but had never bonded. I was the vice president of corporate development, pulling down 250K a year plus bonuses. She had barely finished high school.

"Sure. Go ahead," she finally responded.

"Do you ever just go out and have a good time?" I redirected my eyes to the window. There was not a cloud in the powder blue sky. "I mean, just let it all go, hang out with friends, party hearty?"

She giggled. She was glea