Page 96 of Leaning In

People liked my work? My work?

“We have a gap coming up on the creative team and I wonder if you’d like to join us. I’ve discussed it with your manager already, and you’d have to do a bit of a transition period. But I think you’d be a good fit. If that’s something you’d want.”

I sit there, struggling to take it in. “You want me to move to the design team?”

“We do. I know you’re good at your current role, but I think you’d be a great asset, you clearly have the eye for it.” He taps the paper on his desk. “If you’re interested I can get HR to talk to you at some point next week and we can start sorting out the paperwork?”

“I’d love that,” I finally say, when my brain catches up with the fact that it’s my turn to say something. “Thank you. I really want a design role.”

“Great.” Damien’s already pulling up his calendar. “Let’s make it official next week. It’ll be a steep learning curve, but you’ll have room to grow and I can’t wait to see what you produce.”

I get out a thank you, and stand to leave, quickly exiting the room before I do something stupid like punch the air with joy.

I basically float back to my desk. In fact, I don’t remember walking down the corridor. I could’ve done a tap dance across the reception floor and not noticed.

When I get to my chair, Alicia looks up from her screen and tilts her head. “You’ve got that face. The ‘something big just happened and I’m pretending to be calm but actually internally screaming’ face.”

I drop into my chair, swivel it dramatically towards her, and whisper, “I’m being moved to design.”

Her mouth drops open. “Shut up.”

“I’m serious. Damien said I’m moving into creative. And they’ve already got a client who’s interested in my work.”

“That’s incredible, Claire. This is huge!”

“I’m shocked,” I mutter. My heart is still racing and my legs feel shaky.

Alicia raises her mug. “To them finally recognising your talent.”

“They’ll recognise yours soon,” I tell her. “I’ll make them realise it. I’ll ask for you on projects, and then they’ll see that my creativity alongside your spreadsheet wizardry are more valuable than all the men combined.”

“I approve of that idea.”

I go back to my emails, but I can’t suppress my grin. Grabbing my phone I send Sophia a text and she fires one back almost immediately. My smile breaks free again, I can’t wait to tell Tom later.

Claire: Good luck with the board presentation! I’ve got some exciting work news, I can’t wait to tell you later.

Tom: You sound mysterious. I’m excited.

I smile at the message. I’ve been helping him prepare and I know he can do this. His passion for the subject comes through in every sentence. And he’s thought about everything. I really hope that this time they give him more.

I send him a photo of Croissant that I took this morning, it’s become one of our love languages. The cat had wedged himself into the fruit bowl after leaping in through the bathroom window that I’d opened for approximately two minutes. It’s like he has a radar for when our windows are open.

Tom: He’s a menace

Tom: Love you

I smile.

Me: Love you too.

Chapter 39

Tom

“How’s my favourite history teacher?” James strolls over with a stack of books under his arm.

“Don’t let Sandra hear you say that,” I tell him. “You might cause an inter-departmental skirmish.”