“We’re so lucky to get not just one but two elites joining our team!”
“This project is going to be a huge success. Thank you for agreeing to help us out with this one,”
“I’m really looking forward to learning from you two. Thank you for joining us,”
While Richard stood with a face void of any emotion next to , we were welcod by everyone in our new team. I had never had such words of welco or complint showered on
like this at the start of a project before. Being called an ‘elite’ made
feel slightly uncomfortable because I wasn’t certain if I was suitable for such a title. While I felt glad yet a little unsettled, Richard seed used to this kind of reception that we were getting.
“Thank you. I look forward to working with everyone,” I said before showing what I hoped was a very friendly smile.
While being branded as one of the ‘elites’ in the company because I had a track record of being part of Project Alpha and an active mber of the CEO’s office brought many complints, it also brought with it a whole lot of expectations. Before, I thought that there were high walls that I had to scale in order to prove myself to get promoted, to get staff on bigger and more challenging projects, and to get opportunities to co my way. Then the boss at my previous departnt and then Ace stepped in and gave
so many opportunities to propel my career forward.
I smiled at the team mbers who were beaming at us while actively trying to hide the dilemma that I had co face to face with. It felt like behind the team mbers gathered in front of us were walls so high like I had never ever seen before. Their expectations of
seed endless and I wasn’t at all sure that I could et them.
Am I supposed to climb a wall that high?
“Ace…” I whispered his na.
“What is it?” he asked as he kept his eyes glued to my face.
For a brief mont, he seed concerned. I pursed my lips tightly together as I tried to find the right words. In the end, I just let my instinct take over.
“How do you deal with people who have such unrealistically high expectations of you?” I asked as I stared back deeply into his captivating eyes.
“Hmm…is this what you were thinking about just now?” he asked as he seed to think about how to respond properly to my question.
“Yes…sort of…” I replied softly.
“Well, first of all, what makes you so sure that their expectations of you are ‘unrealistically high’?” he asked before he grinned at .
“Well, I…” I mumbled as I struggled to answer his question.
“Isn’t that just your opinion of things and not the facts?” he asked in a voice so gentle that I wanted to just throw myself in his arms.
Despite what I wished to do; my body did not move from the chair that I was sitting on. Maybe I was just over thinking things and worry too much again.
“I don’t know. It just feels like they expect so much from , and unlike Richard, I’m not sure if I can live up to their expectations,” I replied a little sadly.
“Expectations can be quite scary, I think. Instead of assuming the worst, you should work to align on what they expect of you. Maybe then you’ll find out whether or not they’re asking for too much,” Ace advised.
“I’ll try…” I mumbled although I wasn’t certain if I could do sothing like that.
“Don’t be scared, Rina. People are just excited to work with you and you have to get used to that. You may not realize it, but I think you’ve levelled up quite a lot during Project Alpha. The you right now, isn’t the sa as the you before you joined my team,” Ace said as he reached across the table and took my hand into his.
His warm touch gave
comfort, and more importantly, it gave
courage.
“You really think so?” I asked softly.
“I do. I really think so…” he replied without any hesitation.
His steady gaze as it held mine told
that he probably wasn’t just saying it to make
feel better about myself. Ace wasn’t soone who would pay lip service and I knew that well enough.
“Thank you, Ace…” I thanked him and found that I was able to smile naturally again.
“So, why are you still here this late at night?” he asked to suddenly change the topic.
“I could ask you the sa thing,” I said.
“Well, I asked you first so maybe you could start by answering my question. The project just started so I don’t know why you’re still here this late at night,” Ace asked as he gave my hand a squeeze.
“I split up so research tasks with Richard and I’ve been working on that since late in the afternoon. Before I knew it, it was already this late…” I confessed before letting out a sigh.
“Did you make good progress?” he inquired.
“I wish…” I muttered.
Even if I did make a lot of progress, I doubt that I managed to cover as much ground as Richard did. That was probably why I worked even more diligently than normal so that I would have sothing solid to show him in the eting tomorrow.
“Don’t worry too much. You’re doing really well, Rina,” Ace said warmly.
I glanced up when I felt a slight weight and warmth on the top of my head. With his large hand on the top of my head, Ace smiled down into my upturned face. I never knew that Ace could look so kind just like this. Although he was just encouraging
about my work, I couldn’t stop my heart from skipping a beat. The small little butterflies in the pit of my stomach started to fluster their wings and my face felt a little warr than usual.
--To be continued…
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