Feeling Ready

I was officially a lobby agent at Greenvile, and a part of me felt excited. 

Leo brought me a tray that had a chest badge with my name engraved on it, a journal that had my name also engraved on it and a pen, meant to be tucked in my chest pocket.

I fixed it all on and I was good to go. I followed him down to where-heavens-know because he had instructed me to follow, claiming that the whole of team 2 were waiting for me.

 We finally got there, and it turned out to be Karima's office. 

The meeting started as soon as we got there, with Leo going to where Karima was.

"Good morning everyone." Karima started. "For our new team members,  I am Karima and here is my co-team lead, Leo." She paused and gave Leo room to make any further statements of introduction.

He made some corporate gestures. I guess some people eventually made it past that training, and I felt bad that I did not get to experience the last phase of the training.

"So, you new members will get a manual from me, on how things have been done here, our rules and regulations. But the basic ones are, you are to be in uniform as long as you are coming here for work, anyone who disrespects any of our VIP and VVIP guests gets fired by default, no offensive words should be used for anyone. The new members are meant to honor and respect your seniors, and of course your team leads. Accountability to your team leads are the most important, nothing must happen without passing through us, you are not meant to work individually, it is why we are here as a team.Ugh...I think that's all for now, you will find the rest in the manual" She listed and I noted all mentally.

"You've got any word for them, Leo?" She turned to him but he nodded his head. 

"Nothing much, let's just work together and make sure there are no issues." He asserted and we all nodded.

"Okay! So we will be expecting a guest by 12 PM, y'all get prepared for that. It's a VVIP, and you are expected to help the new members out, alright?"

 "Alright Karima!" They all chorused. 

Karima's eyes started looking around and I guessed she was looking for me. Her eyes fell on me and she seemed relieved. 

 "Mira, please step out." She instructed and I bit my lower lip, why was she calling me out?

I complied and walked out to face the whole team, then she said, "This is Mira Silver, everyone. And she will be welcoming the VVIP guest this afternoon." She declared and my eyes almost popped out of their sockets. I was stunned to my bones! What?? I just started.

"But Karima, she just joined the team." A blonde lady chipped in and I saw Karima smile slightly.

 "That is how it will be, Cindy. And that's enough! Uhm...I don't think there is anything I want to communicate to you guys for now, apart from preparing for the new guest, that's all. You are dismissed." She announced politely and calmly and everyone walked out. I was already walking towards the door when I heard my name asking me to stop.

I stood at the door because she seemed to be having a short talk with Leo at the moment, but I could hear everything.

"Why her? She is new, Karima." Leo spoke and sounded like he was not taking offence, just mere curiosity.

 "Would you pick someone else?" She asked.

"Nah... it's fine. You are Karima after all, I trust your decisions and judgement." He replied and she smiled. "Thanks Leo. Yeah, you said you had some files to give me."

"I will bring it later, I need to get to the support sales team." He replied and headed in my direction, to the door. He gave me a broad smile and muttered, "I wish you success!" He said before walking out of the door.

I stepped closer to where Karima was. "Why did you do that?" I spoke first.

"What? The selection? I just wanted you to have experience, that's all."

 "But there are other people here and even before me?." I countered firmly, not believing her response.

"You seem to have forgotten that Travis Coles, my boss handed you over to me personally. But then it's a thing of professionalism and trust me, if you mess this up I will definitely scold you. So put in your best and make me proud, make yourself proud too. You can already hear humans you don't deserve it." She urged.

"I plan on doing my first assignment well." I assured her and she smiled.

 "Care for tea?" She raised her brows and I nodded. 

....

My heart raced throughout while practicing my welcome smile words and gestures. I was trying to implement everything Leo taught us during the second day of training but there was no one to evaluate me.

For the umpteenth time, I drank from a bottled water and tried calming my anxiety but to no avail.

And at some point in time, I started feeling like I could not do it. I was losing faith in myself, maybe I should just go tell Karima to take it up?

But I could not do that, it was impossible for me because I knew how many oppositions she had to face and would still have to face for instructing an amateur like me to handle a VVIP's arrival.

It was about thirty minutes to 12PM and I was still in the females' dressing room, then a knock came on the door.

 "Who's there?"

"Leo."

 "Oh, come in..sir." I replied and my boss walked in.

"I guess you have been rehearsing." He started, smiling and looking impressed.

 "Yeah, I have. But it seems harder each time."

"Hm. I disagree, it's not the rehearsal that's hard but it's something you have to deal with psychologically. Train your mind to believe you are a professional already and prepare your mind for what's to come. Don't just rehearse a script or try to cram words." He said. 

That made a lot of sense and it was true, I had been limiting myself in my mind so I guessed that was what made it harder.

 Leo was with me for about ten minutes and helped me practice. With his help, I rehearsed so well and my anxiety reduced.

I felt ready for it all!