The Climb | Episode 6: New Roles
Barry smiles as Kelly takes a seat.
Jordan is already sitting across from him.
Kelly looks from Barry...
...to Jordan.
Barry folds his hands.
"Jordan and I wanted to be cautious about sharing this”
Kelly’s facial expression can’t hide her confusion.
Barry pauses then continues.
“But we felt we needed to make someone aware”
Kelly is curious where all of this is going
Barry glances at Jordan before looking back at Kelly.
" Since this change will affect your team structure and the way things will operate going forward..."
"...we wanted you to hear it from us first."
Kelly nods.
Barry continues.
“Jordan. Has graciously accepted…a new role as my assistant."
Jordan smiles.
Kelly smiles but is a bit confused, because during the conversations she had with Jordan over the past few months, all Jordan talked about was becoming a team lead.
“Congratulations Jordan! This is such good news.”
"And there’s more..."
Barry adds.
"She'll also serve in a dual role as your secondary Team Lead."
Kelly's eyebrows rise.
"Secondary Team Lead?"
Barry nods.
"Her primary responsibility will be supporting me."
"But she'll also help support your team when needed."
Kelly smiles.
"Sounds great."
"Jordan, I know you'll shine with both."
And Kelly meant every word.
Jordan had earned the opportunity.
Still...
As Kelly walked out of Barry's office...
One question kept replaying in her mind.
Why does my team need a second Team Lead?
No other team in the department had one.
Was this simply because of Jordan's new role?
Or...
Was Barry unsure she could handle the job on her own?
Kelly pushed the thought aside.
There wasn't enough information to jump to conclusions.
At least...
That's what she told herself.
As Kelly rounded the corner, someone nearly walked right into her.
"Whoa!"
The two of them stopped at the same time.
Then smiled.
"Ronnie?"
Kelly stared.
"I haven't seen you in forever."
Ronnie shook his head.
"I know."
"I heard you made Team Lead."
Kelly smiled.
"I did."
"Congratulations."
"Thanks."
For a moment...
It felt like nothing had changed.
Years earlier, the two of them had started at the company just weeks apart.
Fresh out of school.
Single.
Trying to figure out adulthood one paycheck at a time.
They had clicked almost immediately.
The conversations had always come easily.
The laughter even easier.
More than once, coworkers had asked if they were dating.
They never were.
Kelly had always believed workplace relationships were more trouble than they were worth.
She had heard too many stories that didn't end well.
Ronnie eventually transferred to IT on the other side of the building.
Life got busy.
The conversations became occasional waves in the hallway.
Until now.
"Our team's moving back over here next week," Ronnie said.
Kelly smiled.
"Really?"
"Yep."
"I guess you'll be seeing a lot more of me."
There was a brief silence.
The comfortable kind.
"Well..."
Ronnie rubbed the back of his neck.
"I should probably get going."
Kelly grinned.
"Yeah..."
"I'll see you around."
Ronnie echoed.
"Yep, See you around."
They walked in opposite directions.
Both smiling.
Later that afternoon, Kelly finally catches Darren between calls.
"You got a minute?"
Darren nods.
The two step into a small conference room.
"I've been meaning to talk to you."
"So have I," Darren agrees.”
Kelly smiles.
"I talked to Barry."
Darren raises an eyebrow.
"He actually gave me some advice I think makes sense."
Kelly pauses.
"He suggested that maybe I'm not the right person to help you through your PIP."
“He actually recommended that you consider a mentor to help you through this. That way the advice given will be more professionally tailored with less emotion and bias.
Darren nods slowly.
Kelly continues.
"Here’s the bottom line. I care about you too much as a friend."
"If I try to coach you through it..."
"...I’m afraid I would likely give guidance based on how I feel about you and not give the right counsel that you would truly need."
"Which could actually hurt more than it would help."
Darren is quiet for a brief moment.
Then he smiles.
"You’re right..."
“Because if the shoe was on the other foot and you asked me to help you through a situation like this. I would be ready to put on a muscle shirt and gym shorts and square up with somebody. So, I totally get it.”
Kelly laughs.
"See, what I’m saying…"
“And don’t make me pull out my black leotard and put my hair in a messy ponytail.”
Darren bursts into laughter at the mere thought of that leotard and messy ponytail .
“Don’t hurt ‘em. Kelly.”
They both explode into laughter. Then hugged and headed back to their desk.
Walking down the hallway, Kelly realizes the day is finally winding down.
She starts packing up her bag, when Ronnie appears beside her desk.
"Hey."
She looks up and smiles.
"Hey."
"A few of us from IT are trying that new taco truck tomorrow."
"It's about two blocks from here."
He shrugs lightly.
"You should come."
Kelly hesitates.
Every reason she'd ever given herself not to mix work and personal life flashes through her mind.
Then she catches herself.
She smiles.
"I'd love to."
Ronnie grins.
"Great."
"I'll stop by around lunch."
"I'll be ready."
They exchange one last smile before Ronnie heads toward the elevators.
Kelly turns back to her computer.
One more thing.
She schedules a team email to send first thing in the morning.
Just as she closes her laptop...
A loud siren echoes through the building.
Everyone freezes.
The televisions mounted around the operations floor interrupt their programming.
WEATHER ALERT
TORNADO WARNING
TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY
Kelly's heart drops.
"Ronnie..."
She rushes to the window.
Rain is pounding the parking lot.
The trees are bending in the wind.
She looks to see if she can see Ronnie anywhere in the parking lot.
Row after row.
Nothing.
He was already gone.
Kelly stares into the storm.
Hoping...
He hadn't driven straight into it.
