Liza Sergeevna stepped through the glass doors of the New Innovation Group business center, clutching a coffee cup from the nearby café and a bag that weighed slightly on her shoulder. The lobby was impressive: marble floors, massive floor-to-ceiling windows letting in streams of golden morning sunlight, and a bustle of people in sharp business suits who looked like they’d just stepped off the cover of a corporate magazine. Liza smoothed her skirt, feeling a bit out of place, but the little star brooch from Katie pinned to her blouse reminded her of her kids’ support. “You’re a boss lady, remember?” she thought, taking a confident step toward the reception desk, where a young woman with flawless nails handed her a badge reading “Elizabeth Sergeevna, Marketing Analyst.”
On the fifth floor, reached by a sleek elevator, Liza was greeted by the chaos of an open-plan office: the hum of computers, ringing phones, and the chatter of colleagues already deep into their workday. She was escorted to her desk by the HR manager, Elena—a friendly woman with a rapid-fire way of speaking and a habit of adjusting her glasses.
“Liza, welcome to the team! Here’s your desk, and this is your colleague Max. He’ll get you up to speed,” Elena said, gesturing to a man in his thirties sitting at the neighboring desk, scrolling through something on his monitor.
Max stood up, extended his hand, and gave Liza an appraising look that made her instinctively tense up.
“Max Kovalenko, nice to see a fresh face. It’s fun around here if you can keep up with the pace,” he said with a smile that was just a tad too cocky.
Liza shook his hand, replying:
“Elizabeth, but you can call me Liza. I can keep up, as long as the coffee doesn’t run out.”
Max laughed, though a flicker of curiosity in his eyes put Liza on edge.
Elena left them, and Max immediately started explaining the basics: marketing reports, the CRM system, and the meeting schedule.
“You’ve got experience, right? Because they love throwing newbies into the deep end here,” he said, sliding a folder of documents toward her.
Liza nodded, though inside, her stomach churned with nerves. She had experience, but her previous job at a small advertising agency was far less fast-paced than this corporate giant.
“I’ll figure it out,” she said, opening the first report and jotting down notes.
Max, however, didn’t rush back to his desk. Instead, he leaned in closer, ostensibly to point something out on her screen.
“If you need anything, I’m right here. I can show you where to get the best coffee during lunch break,” he added with a hint that Liza picked up on immediately.
She smiled but responded with a touch of irony:
“Thanks, Max, but I’ve already found coffee that keeps me going. Now, where’s the printer? That’d be more helpful.”
He laughed but backed off, clearly getting the message that Liza wasn’t one to fall for casual flirting.
As Liza dove into spreadsheets and analytics, her mind buzzed as much as the office around her. She pictured Gene and Katie at school—had Gene remembered his gym clothes? Was Katie getting teased for her love of sparkly accessories? But most of all, she worried about making a good impression in this new role.
“Don’t mess this up, Liza,” she whispered to herself, flipping through the report pages. Max tossed another comment her way:
“You’re a quick learner, Liza. But watch out—our big boss, Alexander Vladislavovich, likes everything to be perfect. I wouldn’t recommend getting on his bad side.”
Liza raised an eyebrow, replying with a hint of humor:
“Thanks for the heads-up, but I’ve survived giving birth to two kids and a divorce. I think I can handle one boss.”
Max smirked, though a shadow crossed his eyes—as if he was already scheming how to use her inexperience to his advantage.
By lunchtime, Liza had tackled the basic tasks and even suggested a few tweaks to the report, which Elena approved with a note of surprise.
“You’re adapting fast, that’s good. There’s a meeting with management tomorrow, so be ready,” the HR manager said, adjusting her glasses.
Liza nodded, a mix of pride and anxiety swirling in her chest. She glanced at Max, who was already whispering something to another colleague, and thought, “Office sharks are the same everywhere. But I’m not prey.” With that, she grabbed her phone to text Gene and Katie:
“First day—I’m still alive! How are you guys doing?”
Gene’s reply came instantly:
“Mom, you’re killing it! We’re fine, but Katie lost her sparkly pencil case again.”
Liza smiled, feeling a warmth from her kids that gave her strength. This day was just the beginning, and she was ready for whatever challenges came her way—whether it was office politics or tough bosses.