CHAPTER FIFTY–NINE–The End Is Just the Beginning
Just then, the office door burst open and Zaya Patel breezed in, her usual whirlwind of energy
“Laura! There you are!” Zaya exclaimed, not seeming to notice she was interrupting. “You will not believe what I found last night. There’s this new vegetarian place downtown that does the most amazing jackfruit tacos. We absolutely have to try it for lunch today.”
Laura glanced at Aiden, who had already retreated back into his shell, eyes fixed on his computer screen. She felt a pang of disappointment at the interrupted moment.
“Sounds great, Zaya,” she said, trying to match her coworker’s enthusiasm. “But maybe another day? I’ve already got lunch plans.”
Zaya pouted for a moment, then shrugged. “Fine, but you’re missing out. Oh! Did you hear about the new project Bo’s assigning today? I heard it’s going to be huge!”
As Zaya launched into office gossip, Laura made a mental note to try and draw Aiden out more in the future. There was clearly more to him than met the eye.
The morning progressed, and soon Bo Chen called the team into the conference room for a meeting. Laura settled into a chair, noticing the tension in the air. Bo wasn’t known for her warm and fuzzy management style
“Alright, team,” Bo began, her voice crisp and no–nonsense. “As you know, we have a major presentation for the board coming up This is our chance to showcase the innovative work we’ve been doing and secure funding for our next big project.”
She
paced the room, making eye contact with each team member. “I’ll be assigning roles for the presentation. This needs to be flawless, understand?”
There were nods around the table. Bo continued, “Aiden, you’ll be handling the technical breakdown of our new algorithm. Zaya, I want you on the market analysis portion”
Laura sat up straighter as Bo approached her. “Laura, you and Kira will be working together on the practical applications and future projections section. It’s a crucial part of the presentation, so I expect you both to bring your A–game.”
Laura’s heart sank as she glanced at Kira, whose face had twisted into a sour expression. Working with Kira was the last thing she wanted.
“Um, Bo?” Laura spoke up, her voice hesitant. “I was wondering if maybe I could work on a different section? Perhaps with Aiden on the technical breakdown? I have some ideas that might-”
Bo cut her off with a sharp look “Is there a problem working with Kira?”
Laura faltered under Bo’s intense gaze. “No, it’s not that. I just thought-”
“Good,” Bo interrupted. “Because I need your skills combined on this. Kira’s experience with our past projects and your fresh perspective should make for a strong presentation. Unless you don’t think you’re up to the task?”
The challenge in Bo’s voice was clear. Laura swallowed hard “No, of course not. Kira and I will do a great job.”
Bonodded, satisfied, and moved on to assign the rest of the roles. Laura tried to catch Kira’s eye, but her coworker was steadfastly avoiding her gaze
As the meeting wrapped up, Laura steeled herself for the inevitable conflict ahead. She’d have to find a way to work with Kira, whether they liked it or not.
“Any questions?” Bo asked, surveying the room.
Zaya’s hand shot up. “Can we order lunch for the long work sessions? Oh! Maybe from that new vegetarian place I was telling Laura about!”
Bo’s expression didn’t change. “You can order whatever you want on your own dime, Zaya. Now, let’s get to work. I want progress reports by end of day.”
As they filed out of the conference room, Laura felt a mix of dread and determination. This project could make or break her position on the team. She’d have to find a way to make it work, even with Kira.
Laura approached Kira’s desk, taking a deep breath to calm her nerves. “So, should we get started on our part of the presentation?” Kira looked up, her expression unreadable. “Fine. Let’s use the small conference room. I’ve already got some ideas dratted.”
They settled into the conference room, spreading out their notes and laptops. Laura tried to start on a positive note. “I’ve been thinking about how we can structure this section. Maybe we could begin with a brief overview of current applications, then move into future projections?”
- CHAPTER DIETY NINE The feds Just the Beginning
Kira barely glanced at her. “I’ve already outlined the structure. We’ll start with a comprehensive history of the company’s projects, then move into current applications. Future projections will come last.”
Laura frowned. “But don’t you think opening with the history might be a bit… dry? We want to grab the board’s attention right away.”
“The board needs context,” Kira said dismissively. “They’re not going to be impressed by flashy predictions without understanding the foundation.”
Laura bit back a sigh. This was going to be harder than she thought. “Okay, well, maybe we can find a middle ground? What if we started with a brief, attention–grabbing current application, then provided the historical context?”
Kira finally looked at her, eyes narrowing. “Look, I’ve been doing these presentations for years. I know what works. If you want to contribute, you can help with the research for the historical section.”
Laura felt her frustration rising. “Kira, we’re supposed to be working on this together. My ideas have value too.”
“Your ideas are naive and shortsighted,” Kira snapped. “You’ve been here what, two weeks? You don’t understand our company culture or what the board expects.”
Laura took a deep breath, forcing herself to remain calm. “I may be new, but that doesn’t mean my perspective isn’t valuable. Fresh eyes can often see things differently.”
Kira rolled her eyes. “Fine. You want to contribute? Write up your ideas for the ‘future projections‘ section. I’ll review them and see if there’s anything usable.”
It wasn’t ideal, but it was a start. Laura nodded and got to work, determined to prove her worth.
progress.
As the morning wore on, Laura and Kira worked mostly in silence, occasionally exchanging terse comments about their Laura poured her energy into crafting a compelling vision of the future applications of their technology, backing up her projections
with solid data and market trends.
Around midday, Ryan Callis stopped by to check on the team’s progress. He made his way around the office, offering words of encouragement and advice to each team member.
When he reached Laura and Kira’s temporary workspace, both women straightened up, eager to showcase their work.
“How’s it going, ladies?” Ryan asked, his easy smile putting Laura at ease.
Kira jumped in first. “We’ve made significant progress, Ryan. I’ve compiled a comprehensive history of our relevant projects, and we’re just finalizing the current applications section.”
Ryan nodded approvingly, then turned to Laura. “And what have you been working on, Laura?”
Laura felt a flutter of nervousness but pushed through it. “I’ve been focusing on the future projections section. I’ve identified several potential growth areas and mapped out how our technology could revolutionize these fields.”
Ryan’s eyes lit up with interest. “That sounds fascinating. Can I take a look?”
Laura pulled up her draft on the screen, walking Ryan through her ideas. To her surprise and relief, he seemed genuinely impressed.
“This is excellent work, Laura,” Ryan said. “You’ve really grasped the potential of our technology. And Kira, your historical context will provide the perfect foundation for these projections. You two make a great team.”
Laura noticed a flicker of surprise on Kira’s face at Ryan’s equal praise. For a moment, Kira’s usual mask of superiority slipped, revealing a hint of uncertainty.
