The Climb | Episode 2: One of Them

As Kelly and Angela start toward the elevator, Kelly hears her meeting notification chime from her laptop.

She stops in her tracks.

“The Meeting is at 8:30.”

Angela stops at the elevator.

"You forgot something, didn't you?"

Kelly nods.

"Yep. My first Monday Morning Leadership Meeting."

Angela smiles.

"Go. I'll survive one coffee run without you."

Kelly waves as she watches Angela hop on the elevator.

For three years, every Monday had started with coffee and conversation.

Not today.

---

Kelly slips into the meeting room just in time.

She scans the room and quickly finds a seat near the front.

Her heart is racing.

She didn't want to miss a second of her first official leadership meeting.

Senior Leadership begins with the usual welcome.

Department updates.

A few announcements.

Then one of the directors smiles.

"Before we move on, we'd like to recognize some of the newest additions to our leadership team."

The room breaks into applause.

"Our first addition to the management team is David..."

The audience claps as David stands.

"...He will serve as our new Workforce Manager."

More applause follows.

"Our next promotion is Gale..."

"...our newest Senior Manager in Operations."

Another round of applause fills the room.

"And our new Team Lead from Barry’s Department ..."

"...Kelly."

Kelly stands as applause echoes through the room.

She smiles and gives a quick wave.

A little embarrassed.

A little proud.

She sits back down, assuming the introductions are over.

The director looks down at his notes once more.

"And finally..."

He smiles.

"Our newest leader who will serve as Team Lead for our Process Improvement Journey Team..."

"...Victoria Lesley."

Kelly's head immediately lifts.

Victoria confidently stands as the room applauds.

The director continues.

"Victoria and her team will be partnering closely with all of our Operations Team Leads to improve specific processes, procedures, and workflows for our frontline representatives."

Kelly joins the applause.

She smiles.

But inside...

Her stomach tightens.

Victoria?

Working directly with me?

Now our paths would cross regularly…on purpose.

Kelly couldn't help but wonder...

What does this mean for her success as a new Team Lead?

As the meeting adjourns, Kelly gathers her notebook.

On her way out, she looks up.

Victoria is already standing near the doorway.

Their eyes meet for only a moment.

Victoria offers a polite smile.

Kelly returns it.

Then quietly heads down the hallway.

---

As she walks back toward the floor, she hears familiar voices around the corner.

"...I'm really happy for Kelly."

Kelly smiles.

Then another voice answers.

"Yeah... but this means we definitely can't tell her anything anymore."

There is a short pause.

"She's one of them now."

The group walks away before Kelly turns the corner.

None of them realize she heard a word.

Kelly pauses by the copier for a moment.

She wants to stand there and read into every word that was expressed.

But the reality is...

She knows that she just can't.

---

Lunch couldn’t come fast enough. Kelly needed a little break from all the unexpected twists and turns she was experiencing.

Kelly carries her tray into the break room and instinctively heads toward the table where she has sat with her teammates nearly every day for the past three years.

Someone is already in her chair.

They smile politely.

"Sorry, was this your seat?"

Kelly returns the smile.

"No, you're good."

Angela looks up and notices Kelly.

She then looks over at the person sitting in Kelly’s normal seat and gives them a polite scowl.

Kelly finds a seat at the far end of the table.

Angela shouts,

"I’m coming down there!"

Kelly sees that Angela is already settled.

She smiles back.

"No, you're fine. Don't move."

Kelly pulls out her fruit and chicken salad and begins a dull nibble.

For the first time in years...

She feels isolated.

And at work of all places.

Work is where she is considered a social queen…or at least a social princess.

But now...

Most people seem more distant.

More cautious.

It was hard to admit.

She felt it.

The infamous new leader sting. 

---

The day is flying by.

It is already afternoon.

As Kelly heads down the hallway, Darren waves her over.

Angela is already standing outside a small conference room.

Darren closes the door behind them.

"I just need your opinion," he says quietly.

"I'm on a PIP."

Kelly's expression immediately changes.

"What? What happened?!"

Before Darren can answer...

Barry walks past the conference room.

He stops.

Looks through the glass.

Then motions for Kelly to step outside.

She gives Darren and Angela a quick hand gesture.

"One minute."

Kelly catches up to Barry as he walks toward his office.

He closes the door behind them.

"I don't know what's going on back there," Barry says calmly.

"But stop it."

Kelly opens her mouth to explain.

Barry doesn't let her.

“You’re in leadership now. The game has changed, and so is the way you play it.

Kelly starts to interject.

Barry stops her.

“Trust me. I know what I’m talking about.”

Kelly paused respectfully.

She learned very early in her career to pick her battles… besides, later on when the energy had shifted, she can go back and ask Barry questions to get full context on why he reacted the way he did. There is definitely wisdom and power in patience.

In the meanwhile, Kelly decided to just listen.

Barry continues.

Besides, I have some critical information I need to get from you.

Kelly nodded.

“Okay”

Barry pauses.

“What I really need to know is…”

" Any information you can tell me about Jordan?"

Kelly’s eyebrow raises.

“Jordan?”

“Yeah, Jordan. You do know her, right?”

Barry tries to confirm as he is shuffling through papers in his leather bag.

Kelly pauses. Her guard goes up. Why all the questions about Jordan. Jordan is her buddy. Is Jordan in trouble?

Kelly speaks.

“Yes, I know Jordan.”

Barry looks up.

“Well?”

Kelly stares at Barry with a very confused expression.

Barry puts the papers down.

“Well, what can you tell me about her?”

Kelly still doesn’t say a word.

“Earth to Kelly.”

Kelly is still staring.

Barry begins to look concerned.

“Kelly are you okay.”

Kelly still doesn’t respond; she’s standing perfectly still as her mind races...

Trying to figure out where in the world this conversation may be going.

Stay tuned for Episode 3:Good Intentions