Not Weak, Just Stronger

Chapter 29: Look Again, Think Again, Feel Again

March 29th, 2023
Wednesday, 5:05pm - Miami, Florida

"You MUST keep me up to speed and be proactive with potential issues, please. My last consultant waited 'til the end of the project to tell me they thought there was a change in scope and wanted additional fee, leaving me in a very bad place with my board. You want to know the key in keeping your spot on my team? I don't like surprises," Lauren scolded her team, especially her newest consultant Matthew. "Am I understood?"

"Yes, Ms. Jauregui," the five members agreed.

Lauren closed her folder and went to type on her laptop. She sat at the head of the table in the conference room wearing her usual black two-piece suit and tight ponytail, but her face was hardened and cold this time instead of the usual soft. She was visibly tense and annoyed, with very little patience for anyone's bullshit. Today had been a very long day and she had to work late on top of that; Lauren wanted to scream at the top of her lungs.

"Rebecca, how are we on the analysis report?" she asked dryly, now looking up from her screen.

The ginger flipped through the packet she had out and double checked it first. "All good here."

"And you, Fernando?"

"Well we have to go back and make some changes because the sizing and phases in the design aren't at all the same. It's being reworked now but I'm afraid I won't have it for another week," he spoke very slowly with a sheepish and panic filled expression.

With glaring dark green eyes, Lauren made him feel uneasy. Her tone was sharp and firm, "That's out of scope. Document the time you're spending on this. And you and I need to meet with the client immediately. Schedule the QC review on facility sizing and phasing while you're at it. Don't forget to keep Daniel up to date."

"Of course, Ms. Jauregui. I'll get right on it," he nodded curtly.

Lauren sighed in distress and rubbed the sides of her nose with her fingers, already over the meeting. "Does anyone have any questions, need any resources, information, or anticipate any issues before the next meeting?

"Nope," said Matthew.

"All set here," Rebecca smiled.

"When's the deadline for the townhouse again?" asked Abu.

"The second of August," replied Lauren quickly. She raised her eyebrows at everyone once more. "Anyone else?"

"Nope," said Fernando.

"I think we've covered it all," Andre nodded.

"Great. Rebecca, do me a favour and summarise the action steps from this meeting and get it out to the team by the end of today," Lauren got up from the chair and stretched. She closed and grabbed her laptop, standing very still for a moment as her vision blurred. "Any news, questions, or phone calls will be left with my secretary for the remainder of this evening."

She was first to leave the conference room and went straight to her office, ignoring Kacie who called out for her attention. Lauren closed the door to her office and grabbed the glass bottle of Scotch on the coffee table. She drank straight from it, set it down, then plopped down on the swivel chair at her desk with an extended huff. She recently had a change in meds and they were making her really drowsy—she couldn't afford to be drowsy at her job, that's partially why she was so frustrated. All Lauren wanted to do was nap and find a Zofran to wipe out the nausea that came as a side effect. It was all too draining and overwhelming, she thought deeply about going off her meds and saying fuck it. Maybe it wasn't worth it.

"Lauren?" Kacie's knocking sounded gently from the other side of the door.

"Come in!"

The door closed as soon as it opened and in came Kacie with a tray of cafecito and a chocolate toasted croissant. For the first time all day, Lauren managed to smile. The blonde continued further into the room across the glossy marble floor to set the wooden tray on her desk.