The Climb | Episode 8: Seeds

The line at the taco truck stretched halfway down the sidewalk.

Ronnie looked over at Kelly.

Kelly was still thinking about what she just witnessed in Barry’s office.

“Kelly.”

Ronnie received no response.

“Kelly.”

Still nothing.

Then Ronnie leaned in a little bit.

“Kelly.”

Kelly snapped out of it.

“Yes”

"Chicken or steak?"

Kelly laughed.

"Why does everyone always make me choose?"

Ronnie chuckles.

"Because indecisive people hold up the line."

"I am not indecisive."

Kelly insisted.

Ronnie smiled.

"You've been staring at the menu for five minutes."

Kelly laughed and lightly bumped his shoulder.

“Okay, true.”

The two finally ordered and joined the rest of the IT crew at a nearby picnic table.

The conversation came easily.

Stories from the old days.

People they used to work with.

Funny customers.

Embarrassing mistakes.

Someone brought up new hire training.

Ronnie immediately started laughing.

"Do you remember when you accidentally unplugged the trainer's laptop?"

Kelly covered her face.

"I did not unplug it."

"You absolutely did. You actually did it twice."

"It was already loose!"

“Loose twice?”

The whole table burst into laughter.

Kelly laughed so hard she accidentally squeezed her taco...

...sending a streak of taco sauce onto the front of her shirt.

"Oh no..."

She looked down.

Ronnie was already on his feet.

"I got it."

He hurried to the condiment table and came back with a handful of napkins.

"Hold still."

He gently began dabbing the sauce from her blouse.

For a second...

Neither of them realized how close they were standing.

Ronnie suddenly stopped.

"Oh..."

"I'm sorry."

Kelly smiled.

"Oh, you're fine."

The two laughed.

Neither seemed quite sure where to look.

---

The walk back to the office was much quieter.

Comfortable.

Ronnie broke the silence.

"Random question."

Kelly smiled.

"Those are usually the best kind."

"Do you like classical music?"

Kelly's eyes lit up.

"I do."

"I actually grew up playing classical music on the piano."

"No kidding?"

"Seriously. They used to call me baby Chopin"

Ronnie smiled.

"I've got two tickets to the symphony this weekend."

He hesitated.

"I was wondering if you'd like to go."

Kelly looked ahead for a moment.

Then back at Ronnie.

She smiled.

"I'd like that."

Ronnie grinned.

"Great."

"It's a date."

The words hung in the air.

Ronnie quickly laughed.

"I mean..."

"It's a..."

Kelly smiled before he could finish.

"A date."

The two looked at each other.

Neither one corrected it.

---

As they walked into the building, applause echoed through the lobby.

A town hall meeting was underway.

Curious, Kelly and Ronnie slowed as they passed the open doors to the event hall.

Five sharply dressed individuals stood on stage while an executive introduced them to the company.

The applause was thunderous.

Kelly scanned the room.

Near the back...

Barry sat quietly typing on his phone.

Several executives began walking toward the exit.

Kelly stepped aside to let them pass.

"We better get upstairs," Ronnie said.

Kelly nodded.

The two headed back to the operations floor.

Ronnie walked her all the way to her desk.

They stood talking for another minute.

Neither seemed to be in a hurry to leave.

Finally, Ronnie smiled.

"I'll see you this weekend."

"You will."

As Ronnie walked away...

He glanced back.

Kelly was already looking.

They both laughed.

Then he looked back again.

Kelly was still smiling.

"Well..."

Angela suddenly appeared beside Kelly.

"What is this?"

Kelly quickly looked away from Ronnie.

"What?"

Angela folded her arms.

"I've known you too long."

"That smile means something."

Kelly laughed.

"Oh, stop."

"Nothing's going on."

Before Angela could tease her any further...

Jordan walked past.

The familiar fragrance drifted through the hallway.

Angela smiled.

"Girl..."

"You're smelling like a million bucks."

Jordan laughed.

"Thanks."

Kelly quietly smiled to herself.

"Hmm..."

Angela looked at Kelly.

"What was that?"

Kelly shook her head.

"Nothing."

Angela narrowed her eyes playfully.

"Okay..."

"My doctor's appointment is in a little while."

"I've got to head out soon."

Kelly's expression softened.

"Everything okay?"

Angela smiled.

"Of course."

"I'm fine."

Kelly nodded.

"Alright."

"I'll see you later."

---

Kelly sat down at her desk.

A calendar notification immediately appeared.

Percy - One-on-One

3 Minutes

"Oh..."

She quickly grabbed her notebook and headed to the conference room.

Percy was already sitting at the table.

Legal pad open.

Pen in hand.

As Kelly walked in...

Percy wrote something down.

Kelly smiled.

"Hey, Percy."

"Hey."

For years the two had worked side by side.

They laughed together.

Helped each other through difficult calls.

They genuinely liked each other.

But today...

Percy wasn't talking to Kelly the coworker.

He was talking to Kelly the Team Lead.

Kelly began reviewing a few strengths she had noticed.

Then transitioned into a few coaching opportunities.

Almost immediately...

Percy pushed back.

"I don't see it that way."

Kelly explained her reasoning.

Percy documented something on his legal pad.

"I've been doing this for ten years."

"I know what works."

Kelly offered another perspective.

Percy challenged that too.

Every suggestion.

Every observation.

Every piece of feedback.

Met resistance.

Kelly paused.

She could keep debating.

Or...

She could change her approach.

She closed her notebook.

"You know what, Percy..."

"I appreciate how much pride you take in your work."

"You've been doing this a long time."

"You've earned that confidence."

Percy looked up.

For the first time...

He wasn't writing.

Kelly continued.

"I'm not here to change who you are."

"I'm just looking for ways to collaborate to help make our exceptionally strong team even stronger. But I can’t do that alone. I need people like you with the experience and know-how to help me bring that goal to fruition."

The room grew quiet.

Percy slowly placed his pen on the table.

"I can respect that."

The rest of the conversation felt different.

Kelly didn't force change.

She planted seeds.

Tiny ones.

By the end of the meeting...

Percy's legal pad stayed closed more than it stayed open.

For Percy...

That was progress. 

---

After the meeting, Kelly headed toward Barry's office.

She wanted to discuss Georgia's leave of absence and work through a staffing plan.

She knocked.

"Come in."

The moment Kelly stepped inside...

The now familiar scent filled the room.

"I Caught Ya."

It almost felt like a billboard announcing...

Jordan was just here.

Barry was kneeling beside his desk, searching through an open drawer.

He looked up.

"Hey, Kelly."

Before Kelly could answer...

Another woman stepped into the office behind her.

Kelly turned.

The woman was impeccably dressed.

Everything about her projected confidence.

Professional.

Poised.

If Kelly had to describe her in one word...

It would be...

Expensive.

Barry smiled.

"Oh, perfect."

"Kelly..."

"There's someone I'd like you to meet."

Kelly looked closer.

She recognized her immediately.

She had been one of the leaders the executives introduced during the town hall.

Barry extended his hand toward the woman.

"This is Liz Calhoun."

"She's joining a special enterprise project we'll be supporting."

Kelly smiled and shook her hand.

"It's nice to meet you."

Liz returned the smile.

"I look forward to working with you."

"As do I," Kelly replied.

Liz turned toward Barry.

"Can I borrow you in the conference room for a few minutes?"

"Of course."

"I'll be right there."

"Nice meeting you," Liz said.

"You too," Kelly smiled and nodded.

Liz disappeared down the hallway.

Barry went back to searching through his desk drawer.

Kelly walked closer to Barry’s desk.

"I'll just put some time on your calendar so we can talk about Georgia's leave."

"Sounds good."

Kelly turned toward the door.

As she did...

Her eyes briefly landed on Barry's phone lying face up on his desk.

An audiobook was open.

The title filled the screen.

It read

The 52 Rules of Divorce.