“All right.Make it happen.”
I left the office and found Edi already online, shopping for syrups, and Marius and Bomir giving me a thumbs up.
Working in a department that fully encouraged and welcomed me completely changed my workday.As the hours passed, I didn’t feel isolated or unwanted; I felt like part of a team.
Edi was a great trainer.After every task, he’d review what I’d observed, praising me for the details I’d noticed and pointing out the ones I’d missed.
“It’s not about doing what you’re told; it’s about reading the room and knowing these executives well enough to anticipate what they need before they ask for it.Efficiency earns promotions and raises.”
He never criticized me.Neither did the other two.
At lunch, the four of us went down to the cafe together.
I’d barely sat down when my phone buzzed.
K:Where did you go?
Me:Lunch
K:What about me?
“Did we wreck your lunch plans?”Marius asked, seeing the text.
“No.I didn’t have plans.Just someone being needy.”
Their phones pinged, and Bomir sighed.Without looking at their phones, the three of them each put a fist on the tabletop, banged it three times, and made rock-paper-scissors signs.
“You’re up, Edi,” Bomir said with a grin.
Edi glanced at me as he took out his phone.“Hope he never adds you to the chat.”
He read the message and rolled his eyes.
“He knows we’re all in the cafe and asked us to bring him back a BLT.”
All three glanced at my plate, which held a BLT and chips.
“It’s pretty good,” I defended, since they were all eating chicken berry salad, today’s special.“The bread’s delicious.”
“Get your hand up on the table,” Edi said.
Grinning, I played their version of “not it.”Marius “won” the right to deliver Konni’s lunch once we finished.
Near the end of the day, Konni summoned me to his office.
“What can I do for you, Mr.Steele?”I asked, having learned my lesson about the assistant groups’ hearing.
“Where and when is your meeting tonight?”
“A private room at Seventeen Twenty-One at six-thirty,” I said.
“We can head over at six, then.Felix can meet us there.”
“No,” I said firmly.“The deal will fall apart if you’re there.It’s better if it’s only the lawyer.Trust me.”
He let out a long breath.“Edi, close the door.”
The door closed behind me.“Just how good is their hearing?I’m sitting right behind him, and I never hear you in here when your door’s open.”
