LIZZIE'S WORLD: Time to get down to business

I think the one thing I am going to enjoy about all of this is torturing the hell out of Ciru. ILLUSTRATION | JOSEPH NGARI

What you need to know:

  • My heart is in my mouth – and not just because I am nervous about my first day on the job.
  • I am also wondering if we can sustain this professionalism given that we have a lot of personal sorting out to do.

Chris walks briskly into the office and nods towards me for me to follow him. My heart is in my mouth – and not just because I am nervous about my first day on the job. I am also wondering if we can sustain this professionalism given that we have a lot of personal sorting out to do.

“So the first order of business is to ask you if you think you can handle both marketing and running the business for the next few months,” he asks crisply as he shuts the door to his office behind him and settles in his chair, fixing his tie as he does so.

“Yes, I’m sure I can,” I nod. I narrow my eyes as I look at him, looking for any signs of emotion, but Chris’ face is blank. And so, for the next hour, we discuss projections, projects, expectations and the day to day handling of his tasks. At the end of the briefing, he leans back in his chair.

“Would you like a coffee? You look like you could use a break,” he says with a friendly twinkle in his eye. I nod gratefully; although I already knew a lot of what he told courtesy of my position as head of marketing, I am still feeling overwhelmed by all of it. “There’s the coffee machine in the corner over there,” he indicates with a smile. “This will be your office soon so you might as well learn to use it!”

We both laugh. I am grateful for the lightness in the air right now. “Does that mean that for the next hour we can switch positions and I can sit in the big chair while you pretend to be my guest?” I giggle. “I mean, seeing as it is my office now.” I fetch two cups and pour both of us cups of strong, black coffee.

“Now now, let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” he laughs. “But you know what? Go for it.” He stands up and ushers me into his chair. I giggle and hand him one cup of coffee then make my way to the other side of the table where – for the first time ever, I can see things from his perspective.

REVERSED ROLES

“This is nice,” I say, caressing the mahogany table top and observing the pictures of his daughters in a frame. “How are they?” I ask him as I lift the picture to take a look at them. It has been years since the last time I met them. I bet they have forgotten me by now.

“In boarding school in England,” he sighs. “It was their mother’s idea. She said it would give them exposure.” He rolls his eyes. “Go on and sit down and feel the seat of power,” he jokes. We both laugh out loud.

“And you, please, welcome to my office,” I say, indicating towards the guest chair that I have just made vacant. He takes a sip from his cup then heads round, settling in and stretching his legs.

“I do believe I have never seen my desk from this side. It’s interesting. Is this how you all see me when you come to speak with me?”

“Yes,” I laugh. And then I glance over at the small coffee table in the corner with the couch and two seats next to it, conveniently placed near a mini-fridge in which I know there are hot drinks for ‘special’ visitors who like to drink scotch in the afternoon. “But I suspect that’s where I’ll be doing most of my meetings,” I indicate with my chin.

“Aha, I see you are already making the place yours. I like that,” he says. “You see, it’s not so bad when the positions of power are reversed, you know?” And he gives me a meaningful look, letting me know that he is referencing our argument last night. We smile at each other for a few seconds – until we are interrupted by an abrupt knock on the door and Ciru walking in.

“Boss I was just-,” and then her mouth drops and she freezes in her tracks and she takes in the scene.

“I guess you’ll just have to call me boss too,” I say with a cheeky smile. I think the one thing I am going to enjoy about all of this is torturing the hell out of Ciru.