Crusty old manager passes away

    The crusty (顽固的，脾气暴躁的）old managing partner finally passed away, but his firm kept receiving calls asking to speak with him. "I'm sorry, he's dead," was the standard answer.
    Finally, the receptionist¹ who fielded （负责接听）the calls began to realize it was always the same voice, so she asked who it was and why he kept calling.
    The reply, "I used to be one of his junior associates² （下属同事）and I just like to hear you say it."

1 receptionist   

n.接待，接待员

参考例句：

• The girl is a receptionist of the Beijing Hotel.这个女孩是北京饭店的前台接待员。
• Ask the receptionist to put your call through to my room.让接待员把你的电话接到我房间。

2 associates   

接合物( associate的名词复数 )； 朋友； 非正式会员

参考例句：

• The official associates were scattered like stars. 僚属星散。
• John Brown and his associates were tried for conspiring to overthrow the slave states. 约翰·布朗和他的合伙者们由于密谋推翻实行奴隶制度的美国各州而被审讯。