It was not the regular Monday morning. This one felt different because it was a public holiday that day. Of course I was happy I wasn't going to work except for the Zoom meeting that had been scheduled for later today. I had plans of doing my chores early and sleeping the rest of the day. But with the Zoom meeting, it only meant that I'd only have time for my chores.
So I got up early and started cleaning my house. Maybe I'll still be able to catch some sleep before the meeting if I finish my chores on time. But I couldn't.
The sky outside my window was already turning grey, heavy with clouds when I was done with my chores. The sky was about to pocket the sun. A soft drizzle tapped on the glass as I logged into the Zoom meeting with my lukewarm cup of coffee. I was still in my pajamas, at least from the waist down. But I made sure to pull my hair back in a lazy bun and apply a little makeup. Then I tried to put in a focused look. Even though I was being distracted by the movie playing on my TV in the background from time to time. Its volume was on mute but the subtitle was on.
By the time I got to the meeting, Rachel, our team lead at Johnson & Co., was already talking. Her voice was clear, confident as always. She had her hair in a lazy bun too. Behind her was a neat shelf lined with different books and awards. Plus, a tiny plant that somehow always looked fresh whenever we were on a Zoom meeting.
Zara was already in the meeting. It wasn't long before Alex joined us.
“So the main focus of this meeting is to get your feedback on the campaign visuals,” she said. “Honestly. We need ideas that will work.”
I scoffed. This was a campaign that had been dragging for weeks. With tons of endless edits and too many meetings. While the ideas kept coming from one side. Ideas I knew were too random. I was already getting tired of the endless meetings. Besides, what was the need to join the meeting or say something if my ideas were getting brushed aside? My presence at the meeting that day was just for formalities' sake
I let my eyes drift from my laptop to my TV screen. My movie was getting very interesting now. I could still hear Rachel's voice.
"Come on guys. I'm still waiting for your ideas." She said
I scoffed again. Then sighed loudly and leaned back on my chair. "Not like you're going to take the idea if we talk. Just acting like you know it all. But in the end, there's no result. For once, listen to my ideas or others. Don't brush them off," I whispered.
Honestly, I thought I had muted my microphone since, from the start, I had no idea of bringing in any ideas for the meeting.
It felt good to let it out. Like letting steam escape from a pressure cooker. I didn't let my eyes leave my TV. Until something strange happened.
Everyone went silent. Like, too awkwardly silent. I looked at my screen, it felt like all eyes were on me. I squinted at the microphone icon on the screen. That was when I saw it, it wasn’t red.
I wasn’t on mute.
My heart quickly dropped to my stomach. I swallowed hard. Mouth agape. I felt like disappearing, but to where exactly.
I looked at Rachel’s face; her once calm and focused face was now frozen. Her mouth was wide open, and her eyes were blinking slowly like she was still trying to understand what just happened. There was a bit of shame and disappointment in her eyes.
Alex had his hand over his mouth, I could tell he was holding back laughter. Emily held her breath, eyes wide.
They were all in shock.
"Oh, I um. I didn't mean... I thought I was on mute." I finally found the courage to say
Rachel smiled then she cleared her throat. “Well, if it wasn't some very candid feedback.” She rolled her eyes at me.
I thought of ways to shut my laptop and throw it out the window. Maybe leave the country or anything to save myself from that situation. But there was absolutely nothing I could do.
To worsen it, my job might be at stake with the reckless mistake I just made.
Alex kept chuckling nervously. Nobody said much after that; we tried to continue the meeting as if nothing had happened. But the mood had already changed. There was tension in the air.
Finally, Rachel smartly called the meeting off. Postponing to the next day at work.
The relief came as I slammed my laptop shut and sat back. Somehow my face burned. I got up to go grab some water when my phone buzzed. I quickly checked if it was a message from Rachel.
"Let’s talk over coffee. You’re buying. "
I stared at it for a moment. The world seemed to stop. Maybe I was finally going to get fired over drinks. I sluggishly dressed up and made my way out of the house.
I got to the café to meet Rachel already sitting there. She smiled as if nothing happened as she saw me walk into the café.
I took a seat beside her and smiled back at her.
“You really heard all that, huh?” I asked, avoiding her gaze.
“Every word,” she said, still smiling.
"Are you not mad?"
"Mad? No. At least now I know what you really think.”
I buried my face in my hands. “I’m so sorry, Rachel. I was just angry. I didn’t mean for it to come out like that.”
She leaned back on her chair and took a sip of her coffee. “Honestly? Maybe I was angry at first. But I get it. It's been a rough campaign and maybe I was wrong. I needed to bring up fresh ideas from my team but I kept being the boss." she winked and laughed.
I laughed too.
"Anyways, all I'm saying is, next time, just say it to my face. Preferably on purpose. Not in public. I'm so approachable.”
I blinked. “You’re seriously not mad? The embarrassment and all that.”
She smiled again. “Embarrassed? Sure. But mad? No.” She paused. “By the way, you should be sipping some coffee. It's a cold night." She added and called a waiter.
I made my order, and we spent the rest of the evening brainstorming fresh ideas for the campaign, which we told the team the next day, and everyone bought the idea.
