In Times of Trouble Read Online Free PDF Page A

figured no one would die if I missed this one. I didn’t feel like rushing back.”
    â€œI’m sure they survived.” Olivia was one of the board members of Brentson Technologies, the company where Lisa worked. With her and Isaac being large investors in the company as well, Olivia had a lot of clout around the place. In fact, when Lisa wanted to ensure that things got done around here, she knew Olivia would make it happen, like with the new time-reporting system that was recently installed.
    With a name like Brentson Technologies, Lisa’s employer should have done away with antiquated time sheets and implemented a computer-based reporting system long ago, but last Monday was the first day that employees were introduced to the “new way of doing things.” As Head of the Human Resources Department, Lisa was forced to work a lot of overtime last week, dealing with training sessions, computer glitches, and staff complaints. She had been pushing for the new system for quite some time, but her proposals continued to get “tabled.” Telling Olivia about the situation was all it took to expedite things. What Lisa had been trying to do for months was settled within a few short days once Olivia got involved, proving how much of an impact she had on what did and did not get done around here.
    â€œHow was church yesterday?” Olivia asked.
    â€œIt was good. . .I guess. To be honest, I was zoning in and out a little.”
    â€œWhy? Were you tired?”
    â€œI was tired and stressed.” Lisa filled Olivia in about the weekend’s events.
    â€œChanelle knows better. Teenagers can surely put us through some stuff. Isaac and I had our share of issues with Justin. We got through it and so will you. Before you know it, this incident will be a distant memory.”
    â€œYou think?”
    â€œTrust me. . .it gets better.”
    â€œGirl, I hope so because that child is driving me up a wall.”
    Olivia laughed. “She’ll be all right. She’s strong-willed and one day that’ll come in handy when dealing with people. One thing I like about Chanelle is that the sistah is not fazed by Justin’s popularity. I don’t want Justin to get big-headed because you know once he’s drafted all kinds of little sluts will be throwing panties at him. Maybe hooking up with Chanelle can be what he needs to stay humble, but we can’t force a match. If they get together, it’ll have to be on their own.”
    â€œYeah, I know. . .” Lisa was starting to lose hope. Justin was perfect for Chanelle, but she couldn’t see it. “Girl, let me get off this phone and finish my work so I can get out of here. Minister Freeman and I are having dinner at six.”
    â€œAgain ? Y’all are getting awfully cozy. It’s four o’clock already; you should be heading out now. What you really should’ve done was leave early.”
    â€œI thought about it, but I have an IT presentation in the morning and I didn’t want to take work home with me. I’m going to leave from here and meet Minister Freeman at the restaurant.”
    â€œI don’t see why you keep calling him Minister Freeman instead of his name.”
    â€œBecause that’s how he was introduced to me and he hasn’t told me anything different. You call him by his first name, but you’ve known him longer than I have.”
    â€œYeah, well, it sounds like you may be getting to know him much better than I do,” she teased.
    â€œShut up. We’re just having dinner, that’s all.”
    â€œSo you say. . .I suspect before long, we’ll hear wedding bells. Just make sure you invite me to the wedding.”
    â€œWhy would the matron of honor need an invitation?”
    Now the very best of friends, Lisa and Olivia initially met under frightening circumstances only a few months after Lisa first moved to Ohio. They were trapped on an