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Uhh, calm down, Lucy. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale…
I settled down behind my desk and reminded myself of what I promised I’d do. I’d dive straight into work and I’d feel better. It was my best cure for anything.
Drinking coffee from my travel cup, I switched on my laptop. I got a brand new project to work on plus two high-priority ones. Those alone would keep me busy for a while. I also needed to finalize that report Sam asked for. I finished it yesterday but thorough proofreading and some top-notch formatting were essential. Now that would surely calm my nerves. I was a sucker for catching typos, double spacing and missing punctuation.
My plan to confine myself to my desk worked perfectly for an hour at the most. My design team called me to the studio because they were in disagreement about the colour scheme of the biscuits advert. Again.
At the moment, I wasn’t exactly the most appropriate person to calm down a group of pissed-off young adults when I was seconds from erupting myself.
As their superior, I ignored my own emotions and gave my subordinates a decent pep talk with just the right words to motivate them. Even managed to convince myself to ‘look out the window, take in the serenity of the beautiful day outside and feel the tranquility.’ Okay, not my best choice of words, but they did the trick. The team were now laughing at each other’s silly fibs.
I went through the designs with them and an hour later, we settled on four schemes because I, the director who should make the final decisions, couldn’t decide on just one. I couldn’t recall the last time I had that immense absence of concentration. And since this was a top priority decision, the only option I had was to involve Sam. Whenever I was unsure of a decision or simply just wanted an opinion on my judgement, I always turned to Sam. Not just because he was my boss. But because he had a good eye and gave the most honest feedback.
So I typed an email to Sam and attached the four designs.
Would love your opinion. I think black and white over colourful is better but can’t settle.
Within a minute, he replied back.
Can’t decide either. Will forward these to the client for his verdict.
P.S. Surprised you preferred monochrome. You usually go for colourful.
Yep, same thought exactly. Another indication that I wasn’t well today.
It was two in the afternoon when I returned to my office.
I kicked off my shoes and sipped on my steaming fresh black coffee. I didn’t have any lunch yet. Not that it was any unusual. I was used to long, busy mornings where I lost track of time.
My laptop chimed the arrival of a new email from the boss.
Client is going with black and white.
By the way, he’s impressed! Told you I’d congratulate you again. Well done.
While that was a common compliment any superior would give to his subordinate, Sam’s comment managed to make me smile for the first time today. I replied to him with a thank you and a smiley emoji.
Deciding to take a brief break, I unlocked my phone and checked for any notifications I might have missed. But I hadn’t. Actually, that was close to impossible to have happened because I had made sure the ringtone was on loud and kept the phone in my pocket at all times. Even during toilet breaks. But Joe never called or texted.
That morning, my eyes were wide open before the alarm went off. Still, I hadn’t seen Joe. He left for work earlier than usual. Typically when he did that, I would send him a good morning text as soon as I woke up. This time, I chose not to. I wanted to see if Joe would initiate a text conversation himself. I wanted to know if he would make the first step himself for once. If he didn’t…
The phone beeped in my hands just then. I checked it quick.
But it wasn’t Joe. It was another email from Sam.
Zimmerman just called. Dinner tonight at 8.
Tonight, perfect. I didn’t have to stay home waiting for Joe, or worse, contemplate over my downward spiralling private life. Besides, focusing on pitching to a big potential client will keep my mind busy.
I typed my reply to his email.
I’m in. Same restaurant?
This time, I definitely wouldn’t ask Sam for a lift. I would ditch my high heels and walk miles back to my car if need be.
I received his answer shortly.
Change of venue. Meet me at the town square fountain. No need for too elegant.
