Chapter 101: First day at work

Words : 1293 Updated : Sep 17th, 2025

Chapter 101: First day at work Anne stepped into the sleek, open-concept office with a mix of anticipation and nerves. Her heart thumped a little faster—it was her first day, and this wasn’t just any role. Leading a major project came with pressure, and one misstep could derail everything. But she resolved to work hard. She wasn’t going to let doubt get in the way. As she walked toward her desk, she spotted a couple of familiar faces from the interview day. Before she could say anything, a cheerful voice called out. "Hey! You’re the new project lead, right?" Anne saw a woman approaching with a bright smile and a confident stride. "I’m Lily," she said, extending her hand. "Welcome aboard." Anne smiled and shook her hand warmly. "Thanks, Lily. I’m Anne. Nice to meet you." "You’ve got the kindest energy," Lily said with a laugh. "We’re lucky to have you leading the team." Just then, another woman joined them. She had a calm presence and an observant gaze. "Hi Anne, I’m Rose," she said. "I remember seeing you at the interview. I also heard you used to work with the Beaumont Group?" "Yes, that’s right," Anne replied with a nod. "I was with them for over four years and worked closely on this project." "I see." Rose’s eyebrows rose slightly. "That makes sense. No wonder they hired you as lead. You’ve got solid experience." Anne gave a small, confident smile. "Thanks. I hope to bring that experience here and make this project a success." "Honestly, it’s reassuring," Lily chimed in. "We’ve had leads before who barely knew what was going on. It’s good to know we’ve got someone who has already walked the walk." "That means a lot," Anne said, glancing at the other desks around them. A few more heads had turned toward their conversation, faces curious and welcoming. "I’m excited to work with all of you," she added, her tone warm but professional. "From what I’ve heard, the team is strong and enthusiastic. That’s exactly what we need. Why don’t we all take a seat? I’ll walk you through the project overview and what the next few weeks will look like." The small group gathered near her desk, pulling chairs around as Anne opened her laptop and began outlining the project’s overview with clarity and purpose. She opened the project file on her laptop and began walking them through the details. Her voice was steady and clear, outlining the scope, goals, timelines, and key milestones. There were nods, a few questions, and some scribbling in notebooks. Anne handled each question with ease, her confidence growing with every passing minute. "This project is ambitious," she said, looking around the circle, "but I believe with the right coordination and mindset, we can hit every milestone." Once the overview was done, she switched gears and started assigning responsibilities. "Lily, I’d like you to handle the client communication and documentation. You’ve got a great way with words, and it’s crucial for keeping everything aligned." "Got it," Lily said with a nod. "Rose, you’ll be leading the backend development team. I’ve read your profile—you’ve got the technical depth we need to get that part right." Rose smiled. "Challenge accepted." She moved on, assigning roles to the others, making sure everyone had a piece of the puzzle they were both capable of handling and excited about. No one was left out. "I encourage open communication," Anne added. "If you hit any roadblocks, talk it out with your immediate group first. But if you need guidance, my door is always open." After everything was distributed, Anne looked around at the team and said, "I know we’re new to working together, but I’ve got a good feeling about this. If we stay sharp and support each other, we can absolutely nail this." Her energy was contagious, and a spark of excitement ignited in the room. "Let’s give it our all," she declared. "I know we can make this happen. Let’s do it." A cheer erupted from the team, voices rising in unison. "Yes, let’s do it." Anne’s gaze swept over her team, and for the first time in a long while, she felt something stir inside her—pride and a quiet sense of belonging. The smiles, the willingness, the energy in the room—it was all so different from what she had known before. This was what teamwork was supposed to feel like. Back at her old job, things had been different—draining, one-sided. Her mind involuntarily drifted to Denis. No matter how hard she worked, no matter how late she stayed or how perfectly she executed every plan, all she got in return was criticism, sharp words, cold looks, and dismissive tones. She had done everything she could, trying to prove herself, thinking that maybe he’d say something kind. A simple "good job" would have meant the world. But Denis never gave her even that. Just silence. Just more pressure. And still, she pushed on like a fool, clinging to the hope that there was something human behind his harshness, that maybe he saw her. Now, sitting among her new team—people who respected her from day one—Anne felt the sting of regret. How could she have been so blind? How could she have let herself believe that man cared, even a little? Her smile faded for a moment, just slightly, before she caught herself and straightened up. That Chapter was over. This was a fresh start, and she wasn’t going to waste it looking back. Not anymore. Anne returned her focus to her laptop, her fingers dancing across the keyboard as she reviewed the project notes. Just then, her phone buzzed beside her. She glanced at the screen and saw Augustine’s name flash across it. The corners of her lips curled into a soft smile. Opening the message, she read: ’How are you holding up? Is the first day at work tough for you?’ Her heart warmed. Without wasting another second, she typed back: ’I’m really excited. The team members are supportive. I feel at ease.’ Augustine leaned back in his chair, smiling as he read her reply. He was happy to hear that Anne was adjusting well. He replied: ’Good to know. If anything gives you a hard time, let me know right away. I’ve got your back.’ The response was instant. ’My dear husband. I know you’re caring, and I love that you’re worried. But I can handle myself. Don’t stress. I’ll keep my head down and steer clear of any mess.’ Augustine chuckled. He admired her strength—it was one of the many reasons he loved her. She wasn’t just capable. She was unshakable. The grin still lingered on Augustine’s face as he reread her message, his thumb poised to type a reply. But just then, a knock at the door broke his focus. He set the phone aside. "Come in," he called out. Lorie stepped in. Augustine’s face darkened the moment he saw her. His irritation flickered in his eyes. Her presence grated on him. Though every fiber of his being wanted to dismiss her immediately, he held himself back—he needed a valid reason, not just instinct. "Hello, sir," she said sweetly, walking over to the desk. "I’ve prepared the report you requested." She placed the file neatly in front of him. Augustine opened it. As his eyes scanned the pages, his expression soured. A sharp glare followed. "What is this supposed to be?" he growled. "You call this a report." With a flick of his wrist, he tossed the file toward her. It slid off the edge of the desk and landed near her feet. Lorie gasped, instinctively stepping back. Her eyes dropped to the file, her hands clamping her mouth.

Chapter 101: First day at work

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