by Leah Kay
A sense of relief falls over everyone as they come to terms with losing their co-workers and friends and accept the sweet reality that they are not impacted.
Isha takes her phone and starts typing, “Baby, I am safe!”
Seconds later, Liam replies, “Never doubted that for a minute, darling.”
Feeling calmer, she puts her phone away and hurries towards Claire. They take the elevators to the rooftop for some privacy and arrive at their favorite coffee shop, Joe’s, with a sweeping view of Center City, Philadelphia in the background.
Sitting across from Claire, Isha fills her in on the reason she was called in. “Human Resources was concerned about Project Nexus and wanted me there to discuss any pending items with Bob before they let him go.”
Claire stares at her in disbelief. “This feels surreal; I was devastated at the thought of…”
Isha takes Claire’s her hand in hers. “I know … me too.”
“You do not get to leave me, do you understand?”
“Never.”
As an only child, Isha always craved the company of a sibling and when she met Claire, it was friendship at first sight. Her parents welcomed Claire as their own, making her an integral part of the family over the years. Her heart ached at the thought of not seeing her every day.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Claire asks, “Who do you think is replacing Bob?”
Isha replies, “It could be anyone. Someone from within our group. Someone from another site. Someone from another company. So many possibilities.”
With her brow knit in concern, Claire asks, “Do you think it’s Mark?”
Isha is alarmed at that suggestion. “No way. That would be disastrous.”
“There is no chance in hell he would let us take any credit for the work we do.”
Isha notices Mark walking towards them and immediately straightens in her chair.
Isha Turner and Mark Feinberg have been working together for a few years now. He is a well-built man with dark hair and piercing green eyes and an affinity for high-end trimmings; a man with a good mix of looks and brains, but an attitude that tends to rattle many.
“Good to see you here. Feeling good about dodging the bullet today?” Mark pauses by their table.
“Just as much as you are, Mark,” Isha replies without missing a beat.
Irked by her quick jab he says, “Too bad you couldn’t drive a decision before Bob left.”
Isha tries to save face in front of Mark. “How do you know that I haven’t already? Besides, I don’t remember you being in there with Bob and me to do the knowledge transfer.” She hasn’t driven the decision yet, but she isn’t going to let Mark know that. Isha picks up her drink and signals Claire to follow her.
They make it back to their desks and Isha places her chai down as she starts reviewing her project files to brush up on all the details in order to quickly bring her new boss up to speed. As she progresses through the slides, her thoughts inadvertently drift back to the stranger from her dream this morning. With sparkling blue eyes, scruffy light brown hair, a warm, chiseled body and a mischievous grin surrounded by neatly trimmed stubble with a hint of grey, he felt familiar. She feels anxious about the connection she experienced with him. Dismissing the burgeoning fear inside her, she lets out a small prayer to never let that dream come true.
The afternoon continues with overhearing conversations of colleagues detailing events that happened earlier in the day to their friends and families on the phone or just with any colleague that passes by. Having your career on the line and your livelihood threatened can be quite a traumatic experience. Sharing the details and reliving the moment of how it all unfolded is, in a way, a cathartic ritual for many today. What comes next, who their new boss will be and how to handle the workload with fewer members on the team are just some of the many questions lingering in everyone’s mind. It is going to take a few days or maybe even a few weeks of recovery before things go back to a normal state.
As Isha wraps up reviewing her project documents, an Outlook reminder beeps on her computer reminding her of their upcoming announcement; a fresh batch of unwarranted nerves take over. Blaming the nerves on pure anticipation of the announcement, she makes final edits to her files, saves them and heads to the restroom before walking to the conference room.
She runs into Claire on the way to the conference room, “Are you okay?” Claire notices an apprehensive look on Isha’s face.
“I may be coming down with something.”
“Well, whatever it is, shake it off. Time to dazzle the new boss.”
Isha nods in agreement.
Ron set up this meeting in the executive center located towards the west wing of their floor. With large windows on one side and glass doors on the other, it provides an extensive view of the city as well as a view of the office spaces across from it. With a podium towards the front of the room and three rows of seating facing the podium, it is large enough to accommodate 30 people. A room that would have been perfectly sufficient for her old team now seems too big for the folks who still remain, unscathed by today’s ordeal. As they take their seats in the second row, Isha tries to remember all the key points about her project just in case she is put on the spot to go over it. As she glances at the crowd, she notices a mix of concerned faces continuing to reel from the events earlier in the day, along with the ones who are ready to turn the page and are prepared to grab the attention of their new boss at any cost.
It is now five minutes past four and they see Ron walking down the hallway towards the conference room. Next to him is a man who looks like he could be in his late thirties. He is dressed in a fitted powder-blue shirt paired with classic fit navy blue pants and brown leather shoes. As they come closer to the conference room door, the crowd gets a better view of the two men walking into the room.
Ron opens the door to let his guest in and at the sight of him a shiver passes through Isha’s frame, numbing her to absolute stillness. The man they have all been anxiously waiting to meet, makes his way to the front row and sits across from Isha. She can see his left profile from where she is seated. Light brown hair, neatly trimmed stubble with a touch of gray on the chin. Her heart races faster.
She can barely hear Ron’s words over her inner turmoil. As she tries to regain her attention, she catches the last of Ron’s speech. “With that, I introduce to you Nathan Walker, head of Strategy and Development. Let’s welcome your manager with a round of applause.”
It can’t be. This is not happening. Isha, seated with her legs crossed, is now frantically shaking the tip of her right shoe. Claire takes one look at her and understands something is truly bothering her and tries to calm her by placing a hand on her knee. Isha immediately grabs her friend’s hand as her heart slams in her chest.
Nathan walks up to the podium and introduces himself. “Hello everyone, I am Nathan Walker.”
Hearing him speak flashes her back to the dream. She recalls the same voice asking her, “Be Mine…”
“I am excited to join this team…” His words trail off as the visions of her dream come rushing to her mind. Fighting the tears forming at the corner of her eyes, she desperately tries to regain her composure.
There they are, the same sparkling blue eyes that looked at her longingly in her dream, now hiding behind a pair of black-framed glasses. The hands that are leaning on the podium were holding her face this morning.
“I am looking forward to working with all of you…” His eyes catch Isha’s and he loses his focus for a split second. Clearing his throat, he continues with his speech.
A stranger who had her in his arms in the early hours of this morning is now standing in front of her. Every cell in her body wants her to make a run for the door, and that’s precisely what she does as Nathan wraps up his speech and the team starts to introduce themselves to their new boss.
“If anyo
ne asks, I have a meeting conflict.” Claire nods watching Isha exit the room without looking back. Nathan notices Isha leave the room but gets sidetracked by the other staff coming forward to make introductions.
Isha panics and exits the building hurriedly. How can this be happening? Is this a cruel joke? Is it really the stranger from my dream? How am I supposed to interact with this man? And many more questions choke her up as she makes her way home through the crowded city streets.
Chapter 2
First Impressions
Washington Square West truly captures the beauty of living in historic Philadelphia. It is a walker’s paradise. Large old trees line the streets with cute boutique stores and cozy BYOB restaurants sprinkled throughout the area. Elegant federal style townhomes cozy up to each other along the street creating an intimate neighborhood. Beautiful brick façades with white shutter windows complement the modernistic interior restorations complete with stunning private rooftop decks. Isha stops in front of one such building with a classic 19th century façade and a bright red door. Deep blue ceramic pots filled with blossoming white geraniums line the stairs to the building and faded red shutters flank on either side of white wood-trimmed windows throughout all three stories.
On her walk home, she has come to terms with the fact that she has no other option but to face the situation like a grown-up. For starters, she is not a hundred percent certain that Nathan is, indeed, the stranger from her dream; and even if he is, she is a professional and she just needs to work with him. As long as she keeps things professional, she has nothing to worry about. Feeling semi-determined, she takes a few deep breaths and shakes off the jitters. Before stepping in, she quickly checks the water moisture of the cedar planter boxes filled with an assortment of spring flowers and frosted curls underneath both of the first-floor windows. Pleased that the self-watering glass globes she purchased after watching an infomercial are working, she walks up the stairs and opens the front door to step into the house.
Leaving her bag and shoes in the entry hallway, she makes her way into the living area and plops herself on the couch. As she pulls the cozy throw over her legs, she receives a text from Liam.
“A few of my buddies are meeting up at the Irish pub; want to head out for a drink?”
Isha was hoping for a simple dinner with just Liam and relaxing for the night. “The TV remote has my name written all over it.”
“You relax and take it easy; I will see them for a bit and come home soon.”
“Have fun, love.”
Perhaps it’s the events of the day starting with the unusual dream, but Isha feels disappointed that Liam did not come straight home after work. For as long as she has known him, his world has revolved around his friends. Philadelphia born and raised, Liam has roots in the area deeper than an Oak tree. Roughhousing with two older brothers, growing up traveling around the country with his friends as part of the hockey team, his ecosystem thrived on strong camaraderie. These friendships matured with time and strengthened as they transitioned from a carefree lifestyle to a semi-responsible adulthood. Isha doesn’t doubt his love for her or question his loyalty to his friends and has mastered a way of living in harmony with it all. Yet, on days like these, a mild disappointment creeps in without her permission. Dropping her work clothes off in the hamper upstairs, she hears her phone ring from downstairs and rushes down to answer it. She feels relieved to see Claire’s name pop up on her phone.
Answering the phone she asks, “I need you, can you come over?”
“Red or white?”
“Doesn’t matter.”
“I will be there in thirty.”
Claire and Isha settle into the couch with their glasses of chardonnay and a record of Etta James playing in the background, and Isha lets her friend in on her peculiar dream and Nathan. Claire listens to her intently then breaks into laughter.
“You can’t be serious?”
“I have been distraught all day and you find this humorous?”
“It is freaky, I will give you that. But to think your marriage is doomed because of it is a bit crazy, even for you.” Isha feels foolish listening to Claire. Her compelling fears from earlier in the day have quickly shrunk to insignificance.
Yet she can’t let it go. “Why did this happen?” she complains.
“Well, dreams reveal repressed emotions...”
Looking away, Isha reaches for her glass of wine. The truth is that she is an easy read to Claire and it doesn’t take her long to recognize the source of her dream. Claire quietly goes back to sipping her wine, while her eyes communicate a great deal to Isha.
“You know his friends mean a lot to him…”
“You always say that. But you are his wife.”
“And he loves me very much, just has a hard time prioritizing. It’s an age thing.”
“And Nathan is older.”
“That’s not fair!”
“You wanted to know why.”
The realization that in some way her thoughts buried deep in her conscience gave birth to this dream hurts her a little. Attempting to turn the page she says, “Let’s not dwell any further on this dream. That is all it will ever be. How did it go after I left?”
“He was wonderful. He is joining us from San Diego and has been with the company for over sixteen years. Mark was telling me that he is a hotshot back in California. Delivers above expectations on any initiative and is pretty much a golden child of the VPs. And frankly, he was quite charming during our introduction.” Claire’s eyes are filled with awe talking about her new boss. Isha wishes she had stayed back and talked to him.
Putting her glass down on the coffee table, Claire turns towards Isha. “Are you thinking what I am thinking?” she asks, trying to cheer her up.
“I’ll grab my iPad.” Isha hurries upstairs with a glint of mischief in her eyes.
They order Thai food and promptly begin a modern-day detective session.
Isha types his name into LinkedIn and a long list of Nathan Walkers shows up. The list narrows down to three when she applies San Diego as a filter and only one of them is from Genex, and by the thumbnail picture she finds the Nathan she is looking for. Feeling fluttery in her stomach, she clicks on his name and—voila—his whereabouts for the past 20 years are neatly listed out.
“He went to USC for his bachelor’s in chemical engineering.” Isha takes a quick sip of her wine.
“Received an MBA from Anderson School of Management at UCLA while he was working for Genex, he is a hard worker.” Claire refills their glasses.
“He has been with Genex since he graduated and looks like he has climbed up the corporate ladder effortlessly by doing short stints in several functional areas within the company—makings of a capable boss,” Isha adds.
“He has a healthy balance between cross-functional experience and strategic advancement. From the looks of it, he has orchestrated his career to perfection so far.” As she scrolls down, Claire sees several awards he has won throughout his career for his contributions as a leader. “He seems pretty perfect to me.”
No matter how hard Isha tries to ignore it, she is itching to find out his age. She looks for his birthday on that page but has no luck. She notices that he graduated in 2001, and after quick math in her head she lands at 38. Eleven years older than me. Why on earth did I have a dream with someone who is eleven years older than me? Shaking off her ridiculous thoughts, she continues to quench her curiosity.
Next stop, friendly Facebook. She narrows him from hundreds of other Nathan Walkers by using his previous location, school and work information. Pleased that his page is semi-private, they start scrolling through his profile pictures.
“So, he is a Trojans football fan.”
“Loves beer, enjoys mountain biking.”
“Wait, is that his wife?” Claire stops at a picture of an attractive redhead.
“Must be, they seem cute together.” Isha finds comfort in knowing that he is married and, from the look of it, happily.
“That must be his daughter, she is the spitting image of him.” Claire scrolls to the next picture.
It seems like he has a wholesome life and it makes Isha feel less anxious about her dream. Since both of them have happy marriages, there is no reason for her to worry that either of them would ever stray. Feeling satisfied with their mini detective session, they serve themselves dinner and watch old re-runs of CSI.
Three hours later, Liam walks in through the door with an apologetic smile. “I love you, Isha bear.”
Smiling at his efforts, she says, “Just not as much as beers, I see.”
He cozies next to her on the couch taking her in his arms. “I am sorry, the game got very interesting. Congratulations Super Star!” She smiles and snuggles into him.
“Alright, I will let you two do your thing.” Claire peels herself off the couch and Liam gives her a warm congratulatory hug. Isha carries her bag outside and waits with her while the Uber arrives.
“Do you think I should tell Liam about Nathan and the dream?” Isha speaks softly.
“I’d say leave him out of it. An unnecessary complication,” Claire assures her.
Nodding in agreement, Isha hugs her good night. “See you at Pilates tomorrow.”
After cleaning up the plates and wine glasses, she cozies up to Liam on the couch and relaxes to some old episodes of CSI. Nathan continues to be on her mind throughout the night as she prepares to face him tomorrow. During the commercials, an infomercial comes on and she suddenly springs up from the couch.
