The team dinner was a great success, everyone was chatting and laughing, and the tension from earlier seemed to have melted away. I was surprised by how easily I fit in, and how welcoming everyone was. We were just enjoying each other's company, having a great time.
As we continued our dinner, the conversation turned to the topic of Diana's company. But this time, it was different. Instead of being serious and professional, the team started joking and poking fun at the company.
"I mean, who cancels a project just because of a personal vendetta?" Ryan said, chuckling. "That's just unprofessional."
"Right?" Samantha agreed. "I mean, I've seen some petty things in my time, but that takes the cake."
"I know, right?" Ava chimed in. "It's like, hello, we're trying to run a business here. Get over yourself."
I couldn't help but laugh at their antics. It was clear that they were all trying to make me feel better, and it was working.
"I mean, it's their loss, not ours," Mrs. Rachel said, smiling. "We're better off without them. We'll find a better client, one that appreciates our hard work and dedication."
The team cheered in agreement, and we continued to chat and joke about the company. It was a lighthearted and fun conversation, and I felt grateful to be surrounded by such supportive colleagues.
Just then, Mrs. Rachel's phone buzzed again, and she glanced at the screen. Her expression changed, and she looked up with a smile.
"Speaking of new opportunities," she said, "it looks like we've got some news to discuss."
The room fell silent, and everyone turned to her expectantly. "What is it, boss?" Alex asked, his curiosity piqued.
Mrs. Rachel smiled mischievously. "Let's just say that our luck is about to change. Big time."
Mrs. Rachel's smile grew wider as she continued, "It seems that the headquarters of the company that...ah...let's just say, 'parted ways' with us, has reached out to us. They're interested in working with us after all."
The team erupted into cheers and applause, congratulating each other on the new opportunity. But I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. I knew exactly which company Mrs. Rachel was talking about, and my mind was racing with thoughts of Diana and Ace.
My smile faltered, and I felt a wave of anxiety wash over me. How could this be happening? I thought I'd left that drama behind. I forced myself to take a deep breath and try to compose myself, but my mind was a jumble of emotions.
The team was still celebrating, oblivious to my inner turmoil. Mrs. Rachel's eyes met mine, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of concern. But then she smiled and said, "Sharon, aren't you excited? This is a huge opportunity for us!"
I tried to muster up some enthusiasm, but it felt like my face was frozen. "Y-yes, of course," I stammered, trying to sound convincing. But inside, I was screaming.
The team's cheers and applause slowly died down as they noticed my lack of enthusiasm. All eyes were on me, expectant and curious. Mrs. Rachel's smile faltered for a moment, and she looked at me with concern.
"Sharon, is everything okay?" she asked, her voice low and gentle.
I felt like I was under a microscope, with everyone waiting for me to say something. I forced a bright smile onto my face, trying to hide my true feelings. "Yeah, I'm just...surprised," I said, trying to sound convincing. "I didn't expect that."
I took a deep breath and decided to come clean about my connection to the company. "Guys, I need to tell you something," I said, my voice a little shaky. "The company that just canceled our project...I have a personal connection to it. The CEO, Diana, she's...well, she's not exactly a fan of mine."
The team looked at me curiously, their expressions a mix of concern and curiosity. Mrs. Rachel leaned forward, her eyes locked on mine. "We already know that, with the wy she cancelled with us but what do you mean, Sharon? What's going on?"
I hesitated, unsure of how to reveal the truth. But something about their kind faces put me at ease.
"It's just...Diana's husband, Ace... He is the CEO of the company that just emailed Mrs Rachel"
The room fell silent, with the team exchanging shocked glances. It was Ethan who finally broke the silence, his voice laced with amusement. "So the CEO's husband you allegedly slept with is the CEO's husband of the company that just canceled our project, and now the his company is asking us to join projects with them?"
I winced at his blunt words, feeling a flush rise to my cheeks. "That's...basically it, yeah."
The team looked at each other, and for a moment, I worried that they'd think less of me. But then, Ryan spoke up, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "Well, this just got interesting."
The team erupted into a fit of laughter and jokes, teasing me good-naturedly about my alleged past with Ace. "I knew there was something fishy going on," Samantha said, chuckling. "You've got a knack for picking 'em, Sharon."
Ava chimed in, "I bet Diana's just thrilled about this new development. I mean, who wouldn't want their husband working with their former lover?"
Mrs. Rachel was laughing along with the team, a warm smile on her face. "Okay, okay, let's not get too carried away," she said, holding up her hands. "We need to focus on the task at hand."
The team settled down, still grinning. Mrs. Rachel's expression turned serious. "Listen, I don't care about the personal details. What I care about is that we do our job to the best of our ability and maintain a professional relationship with our clients. If this company wants to work with us, we'll give them our best work. And if they can't handle a little office gossip, then maybe they're not the company we want to work with."
The team nodded in agreement, and Mrs. Rachel continued. "A good professional company won't cancel a project because of a rumor that's not even qualified as true or false. We'll let our work speak for itself, and if they have any issues, we'll address them professionally."
The team applauded, and I felt a surge of gratitude towards Mrs. Rachel. She was right; I couldn't let my personal feelings get in the way of my job. I was determined to prove myself and show this company that I was a valuable member of the team. My phone started buzzing, a call coming in...
I excused myself from the table, apologizing for the interruption. "Sorry, guys, I need to take this call."
I walked away from the table and answered the call. "Hey, Maxie."
"Hey, girl! What's up?" Maxie's cheerful voice came through the line.
I smiled, feeling a bit more relaxed after talking to my best friend. "Just getting dinner with the team. We just got some good news about a new project."
"That's awesome! Congratulations!" Maxie said, sounding genuinely happy for me. "But I'm not calling about that. I'm calling because I'm feeling a bit lonely over here and I was thinking of coming over to sleep over at your place tonight."
I chuckled. "Sorry, Maxie, but I'm not home right now. I'm still out with the team."
"Oh, okay. Well, when will you be home?" Maxie asked, sounding a bit pouty.
"I'll be home soon, I promise. We were just finishing up dinner. I'll see you soon, okay?" I said, trying to reassure her.
"Alright, alright. I'll see you soon. Love you!" Maxie said, before hanging up the phone.
I smiled, feeling grateful for my best friend. I walked back to the table, where the team was already getting ready to leave.
"Ready to head out?" Mrs. Rachel asked, smiling at me.
I nodded, grabbing my purse. "Yeah, I'm ready."
The team chatted and laughed as we walked out of the restaurant, the night air feeling cool and refreshing after the warmth of the dinner conversation. I was looking forward to going home and unwinding with Maxie, and maybe getting some advice on how to handle the whole Ace situation.