Monday
morning Jaclyn arrived at Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport with time to
spare. She had timed the morning traffic just perfectly for an easy commute, which
in the Atlanta metro area wasn't an easy thing to do. She made her way to the
office complex and located the designated meeting room on the second floor. She
entered into a large office of boring gunmetal gray cubicles. Even the chairs
were covered in an awful gray plaid. The only splash of color in the room came
from a sickly green industrial carpet spread across the floor. There were no pictures
on the walls like in her own office back on post, and no plants to clean the stale
recycled air and brighten up the place. The lighting was overhead florescent tubes
and a bank of windows directly ahead. The disappointing view from the windows
was of the parking lot below.
None too excited, she entered the conference room where the
meeting was to be held. Coffee and doughnuts were placed on a table just inside
the doorway. She helped herself to a cup of coffee. With cup in hand, she greeted
the other members of this assembled team as she made her way to a chair. All present
were dressed in army greens, or Class A's as they were called. Some faces looked
familiar from post. One woman in particular she had recently researched her personnel
records. Jennings was her name if she remembered correctly. As they made eye contact
and acknowledged each other with a smile, the room fell silent. Jaclyn received
her first view of Mr. McKinney as he took up position behind the podium at the
head of the long conference table. And what she saw was 6'4" and 210 pounds
of delicious sweet chocolate. Lord have mercy.
***
Her immediate attraction to the man was both exciting and unsettling.
This muscular male specimen was to be her temporary supervisor. But even knowing
that didn't stop her heart from fluttering as his deep business-like voice said
good morning. She adjusted the hem of her skirt while trying to get her emotions
under control, then settled back in her chair. When she glanced back up to focus
on Mr. McKinney, their eyes met.
Tony McKinney couldn't remember for the life of him why he
was there. The woman seated on his left, two chairs down had stolen his ability
to concentrate. She was beautiful in an unassuming manner, that reached deep inside
of him, making her difficult to ignore. He quickly lowered his eyes to check her
name tag and instantly regretted the action. First of all the tag was pinned across
the swell of her generous breast, and secondly, he recognized her name as the
woman who was to be his assistant. They would be sharing office space for the
next year because of the limited availability of space in the building. He groaned
silently to himself before drawing on his prior military bearing and charging
ahead with the meeting.
"First of all allow me to welcome you all to our new
home." He smiled putting everyone at ease. "As I'm sure you all have
been told, I'm Tony McKinney, and I will be heading up this team. People, we have
been tasked to bring Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport online with the
new Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) automated web-based personnel and
recruitment system in accordance with the FAA guidelines.
This web-based system is a national program that will link
all the airports and aviation agencies together. It will be a source of tracking
employees and a recruitment tool for hiring." He walked from behind the podium
as he continued to outline the assignment.
"Also under the FAA is the agency I work for that was
just established this month. It's the Transportation Security Administration or
(TSA). The TSA has the responsibility of hiring, training, and deploying baggage
screeners, security personnel, and security officers in the airports. Both agencies
want this program online by November of next year. So as you can imagine, we have
our work cut out for us." He scanned the room of faces. Deliberately, he
avoided one face in particular. He slowly walked from one side of the room to
the other as he spoke. "This process will require that all current personnel
records be pulled for review, made current with any changing information, and
then entered into the system. Applicants for airport positions will have their
backgrounds checked for criminal histories, and/or discrepancies in their applications
before they are entered into the system as potential employment candidates. Using
FAA guidelines and FBI terrorist alerts the team will sift through the number
of employees and applicants for anyone suspicious: i.e. meeting the profile."
Jaclyn knew about this so-called profile. The very notion
was distasteful. And to a military person that had been taught to respect all
people, it was unacceptable. She raised her hand and waited to be acknowledged.
Tony inwardly groaned as he saw the woman he was trying so desperately to ignore
raise her hand. With no other recourse, he acknowledged her with a nod.
"Master Sergeant Jaclyn Davies, Automated Records Branch,
Ft McPherson, sir."
"Sergeant Davies."
"Sir, I've been reading about these guidelines in the
newspapers like I'm sure you have. What they are proposing is racial profiling.
Are we being asked to filter out those employees and applicants who meet a certain
ethnic background?" She challenged him with a hard stare. He was a black
man in America and surely he couldn't be comfortable with this guideline.
***
Tony
met her challenge head on. Her body language told him that she found the idea
offensive and expected him to as well. "Exactly, Master Sergeant Davies.
You have the concept correct." He moved on before she could say anything
more. He noticed her left brow hike higher as she gave him an I know he didn't
expression. Fortunately, however, she was professional enough not to challenge
him further in public. He would approach her about the subject later. No doubt
she would have a few choice remarks to make on the subject.
"Now as I was saying," he continued to outline the
objective. "Each one of you were chosen by me, based on your records first,
and your professional skills for this assignment. That is a compliment to you
because I only surround myself with the best." He made eye contact with the
members of his staff. So as I call your names, please go out into the office area
and locate your assigned work stations. But, before I do that ... Master Sergeant
Davies," he pointed to Jaclyn, "will be my assistant. Our office door
is always open to you for assistance." He began reading off the names and
the sections they were assigned to work.
Jaclyn didn't hear any of that. Her mind was stuck on his
assistant and our office. How the devil was she supposed to work that closely
with the man? He was gorgeous. From the top of his gleaming shaven head, down
to his high shined shoes, and everywhere in between that she looked, he was a
walking, talking distraction. She couldn't do it she told herself. She would discreetly
search for another work area. But, after walking the office floor and noticing
that every available space was indeed taken, she was left with no other option
except moving into the office with Mr. McKinney.
She returned to her parked vehicle for the box containing
her personal belongings. On the way back up to the office, she tried to convince
herself that the two of them in an office together wasn't a disaster waiting to
happen. She reminded herself that the man was her current supervisor. That's a
good point. And then there was his support of racial profiling. What African American
male in his right mind could support such a policy?
An arrogant, out of touch, wanna be, she told herself as the
elevator doors opened onto the second floor. His type of man wouldn't be interested
in a strong, independent, military woman like herself. No, she could just imagine
the type of woman Mr. Tony McKinney was attracted to. She would without a doubt
be stunningly beautiful with nothing between her ears. An arm piece to advance
his career and jump at his beck and call. I am not the one.
She was firmly in control of her emotions by the time she
returned to the office. That momentary attraction she told herself was born out
of loneliness-nothing more. In her present state of depression, the man could
have looked like a frog, and she probably would have been attracted to him. But
the moment she entered their office and saw Tony McKinney's firm backside bent
over connecting computer cables, that argument went right out the window. Dress
slacks had never looked so good. Help me Lord!
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