I wished I could pack my bags and leave this horrid life of mine forever.
CHAPTER 24
DAYLIGHT APPEARED much too soon, and I felt as if I hadn’t slept more than twenty minutes. It was 2:00 A.M. the last time I’d glanced at the clock on the nightstand, but I dragged myself out of bed when the alarm clock sounded at a quarter to seven. I felt drained, and if it hadn’t been for the memo I was working on now, I wouldn’t have thought twice about calling in sick.
At work I’d seen Frank already, but we purposely didn’t speak because we both knew it was better to keep our contact low-key from here on out. We hadn’t even discussed it before I left his house, but somehow we were on the same wavelength.
My office door was closed for the second day in a row, and I could tell my staff members wanted to know why I was so preoccupied. They must have known this wasn’t my normal managerial style, but unfortunately I couldn’t tell them what was going on. I couldn’t tell them that major fireworks would be skyrocketing in a day or so.
I was reading the outline when my phone rang. I debated answering it because I didn’t want to be bothered with anyone inside the company. But since the caller might be Mom, I succumbed and picked it up.
“Hey, sweetie, it’s Mom.”
It was so good to hear her voice.
“Hi, Mom.”
“How come you didn’t call me back last night?”
“I didn’t know you called.”
“I called twice. You didn’t see my number?”
“No, I guess I didn’t scroll through all the calls far enough,” I said, realizing I’d stopped viewing the numbers when I discovered how many times Lorna had called.
“It’s so unlike you to go two days without calling, and I was starting to get a little worried. I even called you on your cell phone.”
“I know, Mom. Things have been so crazy for me the last couple of days.”
“David isn’t harassing you, is he?”
“No, not since he was at the house on Saturday.”
“Then what’s wrong?”
“There’s so much going on here at the company, it’s best that I tell you in person. But the one thing I don’t want to put off any longer is telling you about Frank.”
“Who’s Frank?”
“He’s a guy that works here. I’ve been seeing him since last Thursday.”
“Really, now? And you didn’t tell me?” she said in a teasing tone.
I was elated that she wasn’t upset about it.
“I didn’t feel comfortable.”
“Why, because you know how I feel about adultery?”
“That’s exactly why.”
“I’m not happy that you’ve become involved with someone else before your divorce is final, but sometimes things just happen and we don’t have any control over them.”
“Is this the real Emma Hill I’m speaking to?” I said, laughing for the first time in what seemed like weeks.
She laughed with me. “Honey, I know you’ve been going through a lot lately, and I know it hasn’t been easy living alone in the process. And even though, I raised you to be strong, I know that every woman has her breaking point and sometimes needs someone to be with.”
“This is true. But Mom?”
“Yeah?”
“There’s something else I need to tell you about him.”
“What’s that?”
“He’s white.”
“Yeah right,” she said, laughing again.
“He is.”
“You serious?”
“Yes. Very.”
“Well, the world certainly must be coming to an end, because I’ve never known you to even consider dating a white man before.”
“I know, but I was attracted to him. And, Mom, I think I’m in love with him, too.”
“My goodness. Don’t talk to you for two days and you have a whole life story to tell.”
“I have even more than that to tell you, but like I said, I’ll tell you about what’s going on here later.”
“Okay, well, my break is almost up, but I just wanted to make sure you were okay. I figured you were, but you know how I worry.”
“I know you do, and I’m sorry I put you through that.”
“Give me a call when you get off work.”
“I’ll pick up some ribs and stop by instead.”
“I’ll see you then.”
“Bye, Mom.”
“Bye, sweetie.”
I felt better already. It was so amazing how my mother’s voice brightened my spirits the way medicine fixed an illness. She was the light of my life, and I didn’t know what I would do without her. I hadn’t seen her as much lately. Sometimes we saw each other seven days straight, and I knew she missed that, because I did. But things would return to normal as soon as I remedied this Reed Meyers situation. Things were going to be better for me all around when this was over.
The morning passed by as quickly as the night before, so I picked up a sandwich from the cafeteria and came right back to my office to finish the memo. I’d gone over it more times than I was willing to count, and then faxed it over to Monica so she could review it. She found a couple of typos, but that was it. I read through it one final time and then printed out five copies.
DATE: August 1, 2001
TO: Tom Peterson, President and CEO of Reed Meyers Lyle Mason, Vice President of Operations Jim Kyle, Vice President of Human Resources
FROM: Anise L. Miller, Manufacturing HR Manager
I would like to take this opportunity to share with you some very serious issues pertaining to the ill treatment of “protected class” employees here at Reed Meyers. As you know, I am a black female who began employment with Reed Meyers on January 10, 1999, as a benefits specialist for human resources. During my first year of employment, I discussed my career goals with Jim Kyle in terms of management, and he stated that there was much room for advancement in the department.
So eight months ago, when the position of corporate HR recruiting manager became available, I interviewed for it. However, I learned a few days later that Jason Massey had been promoted into the position, even though he had an associate degree with no previous HR experience. I, on the other hand, had a master’s degree and four years of solid HR experience. Then, six months later, on May 29, 2001, Jason decided to leave the company, and the position was re-posted. On May 31, 2001, I reapplied for it, and on June 11, 2001, I interviewed with Jim again.
On June 22, 2001, Jim told me that the position was being placed on hold because he needed to restructure the entire department. On June 27, 2001, the position of manufacturing HR manager was posted, and since the corporate position was still on hold, I applied for it. Then, on July 24, 2001, the first day in my new position, Kelli Jacobson, who was not as qualified as me, was promoted to corporate HR recruiting manager. The job was suddenly released from hold, although Jim never restructured human resources.
This is only a general summary of what has happened, but a more detailed outline is enclosed for your convenience. Also, I think you should know that I also have documented information that will prove continual racial and gender discrimination with other employees here at the company as well. Therefore, based on the humiliation, frustration, mental and emotional distress, and many sleepless nights, I feel it is not unreasonable to expect Reed Meyers to produce a separation agreement that shall include financial remedies equal to the damages mentioned above.
It goes without saying that the laws Reed Meyers have ignored, and the, not glass, but concrete “ceiling” it has created for women and minorities, would not be tolerated in a federal court or by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). I think you will agree that it is in all of our best interests to bring this tense situation to an amicable conclusion in an expeditious manner.
Thank you in advance for your attention to this matter.
cc: Ray Stevens, Attorney
Enclosure
When the last page of the last copy pr
inted, I stapled each set, slipped them into interoffice envelopes and distributed them to the secretaries of each addressee. I’d lost hours of sleep because of the way they’d treated me, and I wondered how much sleep the three of them would miss after reading my memo. I doubted they’d ever rest comfortably again, and something deep inside me was happy about it. They wouldn’t believe for a minute that I had any real evidence, and I couldn’t wait to produce everything if they asked me to back up my claim.
I walked back into my office and called Monica to let her know the countdown had begun. I wanted to call Frank as well, but decided I would wait until I was home. For all I knew, our phones were under surveillance.
Although after today, I wouldn’t care about which of my conversations they heard.
CHAPTER 25
ANISE, Tom would like to know if you’re available to meet with Jim, Lyle and him in the executive conference room this afternoon at four,” the CEO’s executive assistant said. “Four o’clock is fine.”
“I’ll let them know, and thanks.”
It hadn’t taken them a full twenty-four hours to summon me to a meeting. I was glad they knew I meant business. I wasn’t sure if they were going to try and weasel out of what I’d asked for, or if they were going to ask me what type of separation package was acceptable. The latter seemed too easy, and I knew it was time for me to prepare responses to possible questions. I hoped they wanted to keep our meeting as cordial as possible, and that they weren’t planning to badger me. I wouldn’t tolerate cocky attitudes from any one of them, and I would walk straight out of the conference room if I detected any rudeness. I wasn’t going to tolerate it, because I no longer had to, and it was a great feeling. I still had some distance to travel, but I was finally starting to see the end of this tiresome journey.
I spent the rest of the morning and the first part of the afternoon catching up on work I’d ignored all week. Today was already Thursday, but I hadn’t worked on any projects that weren’t considered crucial by my definition. I’d allowed most of my responsibilities to fall by the wayside, and now I felt guilty because of the three women who reported to me. It wasn’t fair that they’d had to improvise without my guidance, but I hoped they would forgive me in the future.
It was now ten minutes to four, so I picked up the manila folder from my desk and walked out of my office and down to the conference room near Tom’s office. I saw Lorna in passing, but I averted my eyes. I still wasn’t speaking to her, and it was safe to say that I probably never would again. When I walked by Frank’s office, he pointed his right thumb toward the ceiling and winked at me for good luck. I’d spoken to him on the phone last night for two hours after arriving home from Mom’s, and couldn’t wait to spend some quality time with him again. I missed him so much, but I knew the day would come when we could be together more frequently. I still wasn’t so sure that getting married was the right thing to do, but I no longer had any doubts about his feelings toward me. I believed his love for me was genuine, and once my divorce was final, we’d be able to discuss our future in much more detail.
When I entered the room, the Big Three were already seated next to each other on one side of the table. I closed the door and took a seat across from them. They were seated in ranking order, from left to right starting with Tom, then Lyle, then Jim.
“Thank you for coming,” Tom said.
I nodded but didn’t speak.
“I have to say, Anise, I’m a little disappointed that you thought it necessary to put all of this in writing when we all work right here in the same building,” Tom said.
Jim and Lyle kept their tails tucked.
“And I’m extremely disturbed by the accusations you’ve made against this company,” Tom continued. “So much so, that we are prepared to deny any allegations you have made in any court of law. You may not like the way we run things here at Reed Meyers, but we all have choices. And if you’re not happy with the decisions being made by the three of us, you’re free to leave at any time.”
I knew he’d eventually say something I couldn’t resist responding to.
“First of all, Tom, going to work somewhere else simply because you’ve discriminated against me is not an option. I have the right to work anywhere I choose and be treated fairly. And the fact that you’re prepared to deny all allegations means nothing to me because I have all the evidence I need in black and white. I have salary comparisons of other employees and proof that I was the most qualified candidate both times you passed me over for that promotion to corporate manager. And there’s not a court in this country that will tolerate your blatant discriminatory practices. I know what my rights are, and I also know what the consequences are for people like you who break the law.”
“You’re playing way out of your league, girl, and if I were you, I’d be very careful,” Tom threatened.
He was trying to intimidate me, but it wasn’t working. I knew there was a time when black people had to cower to men like Tom, but this wasn’t the 1800s or the 1960s. So it wasn’t as if I had this great fear of being hanged or hosed down in the street.
Which is why I didn’t even bother responding.
“And even if you did have any so-called evidence, which we know you don’t, we still have legitimate reasons why we hired or promoted certain employees or why we gave certain raises to certain people,” Tom continued.
“What do you mean I don’t have any evidence?”
This was the highlight of the show. It was what I’d been waiting for.
“We know that you’re just bluffing, Anise,” Tom said. “I mean, did you actually think we would fall for something like that when we know for a fact that you only have access to the manufacturing side of the system?”
“So in other words, I don’t have anything? Is that what you’re saying?” I asked.
“That’s what we know,” Tom said in a louder tone than what he’d used before. I’d pressed the wrong buttons, and he was becoming belligerent.
But I didn’t bother responding. Instead I opened the folder I’d brought with me and passed them each their own individual salary histories that dated back to the day they started with the company.
“Where did you get these?” Tom raised his voice even higher.
“That’s the least of your worries,” I answered.
“This is confidential information,” Tom declared.
“And it will stay confidential if you provide me with a separation package that makes me happy.”
“This is bullshit,” Jim yelled.
I leaned back in my chair and stared at him. “You know, Jim, I wonder if Tom and Lyle would be interested in knowing about that little soiree you had going on in the training room on Tuesday. What do you think?”
He turned candy apple red, and I knew from that moment he wouldn’t be voicing any other opinions so readily.
“If you’ve used an unauthorized ID or password to get this information, you’ll be fired on the spot,” Tom announced.
“Fire me if you want, but that won’t stop me from going public with the information I have. So don’t be surprised if you open the Mitchell Post in a few days and see your names plastered all over it.”
“What is it that you want from us?” Lyle asked, speaking for the first time since the meeting began. But I wasn’t surprised. He didn’t like black people, but it was obvious that he never wanted to be an obvious villain.
“I want damages equal to the pain and suffering I’ve experienced the entire time I’ve worked here.”
“Which is?”
“Three hundred and fifty thousand dollars tax free.”
“That’s absolutely insane,” Tom insisted. “Even if we had a reason to pay you a settlement of some sort, which we don’t, how would we go about paying you money that would leave you with no tax obligation?”
“The same way you break the law with everything else around here but end up making it look legitimate.”
“We might be willing to offer you something s
o we can end this problem you’ve created, but it won’t be six figures,” Tom added.
“No, I don’t think you understand. My request isn’t negotiable. After printing out everyone’s salary history, I’ve already found fifteen cases of racial discrimination in terms of pay and ten that are related to gender. You have consistently paid minorities less than white employees who are less qualified but doing the same job. You’ve done the same thing with women by consistently paying men much higher salaries when the women are just as qualified and in some cases, have more credentials. So you can either pay me the money I’m asking for now or the seven figures a judge will force you to pay me when we get to court.”
“I don’t think we have anything further to discuss,” Tom said.
“No, I don’t think we do either,” I said, standing up. “But when the trial begins, don’t say you weren’t warned.”
I left the room without a care in the world, because I knew I had them. Jim had told me so with that petrified look on his face. There was no doubt he would convince them to do the right thing, because he couldn’t take the chance that I might expose his perverted ways or the sexual favors he was securing from Lorna, not to mention what he was probably doing with other women in the company.
I smiled openly as I strolled back to my office.
My coworkers stared at me like I was crazy.
What they didn’t know was that I was only smiling to keep from crying.
What they didn’t know was how degraded I felt as an African-American woman having to go head-to-head with three white men who cared nothing about me as a person.
CHAPTER 26
A Taste of Reality Page 25
