Peter van der Meer stepped into the technology superstore around midday, lost in thought. It was only his first day on the new contract, but already he felt like he was drowning in a sea of doubt. He had made the mistake of assuming he would be provided with a laptop for his work, only to find out that both the Global Plaza and Infinity Consulting Group expected him to use his device.
As he wandered through the aisles looking for a suitable laptop, Peter couldn't help but feel a sense of shame wash over him. He had spent the first day of his new job not being productive, and he was already worrying about whether the client would be willing to pay for his wasted time. His subconscious tried to reassure him that this miscommunication was not his fault, but his anxiety continued to gnaw at him.
Perhaps Sean had mentioned the laptop situation during the interview, and Peter had simply not paid enough attention. Or maybe Sean hadn't mentioned it at all. Peter had not met Sean since the interviews, so he couldn't be sure.
Peter wandered aimlessly through the vast technology store, scanning the shelves for a suitable replacement laptop. He was lost in thought, still reeling from the miscommunication that had led him to this point.
Out of nowhere, a salesman - with a nametag that reads “James” - approached Peter, trying to sell him overpriced laptops. Peter kept his politeness, telling James he was looking and had no plans to buy. He didn't mention that his credit card was almost maxed out due to travel and accommodation expenses. He needed to find the cheapest laptop and didn't want to admit that to James. James quickly understands Peter wasn't interested in a sales pitch and moved away, suggesting Peter reach out if he had any questions. Peter takes a deep breath once James was out of view, grateful to have some peace and quiet.
Agonising realisation crashed into Peter like a wave, drowning him in the reality of his situation. Sean had been unforgiving in the telephone interview, making it crystal clear that each day mattered and that the deadline was strict. Peter's heart sank as he realised how much of the day had been wasted and how much of the project he still needed to complete to catch up.
Just then, his phone rang, and he saw it was Vanessa. He answered, feeling defensive and on edge.
"How's the first day going, Peter?" Vanessa asked, her tone bright and friendly.
Peter took a deep breath, trying to control his emotions. "It's been... challenging," he replied. "I wasn't expecting to buy a new laptop, and I feel like I wasted a lot of time today."
Vanessa's voice was sympathetic. "I'm sorry to hear that, Peter. I know that starting a new job can be stressful. But I'm sure you'll find a way to catch up and get back on track."
Peter couldn't help but feel a twinge of irritation at Vanessa's words.
"Did you know that I was expected to bring my own laptop?" Peter asked, his tone defensive.
There was a brief pause on the other end of the line. "I expected that to be discussed directly between you and Sean," Vanessa replied. "But if it wasn't made clear to you, I can understand why you would feel frustrated."
Peter felt a surge of anger. Why can’t she give him a straight answer? Why did everything have to be so complicated?
"Thanks for your help, Vanessa," he said, his tone curt. "I'll figure it out."
Vanessa's voice was gentle. "Remember, Peter, we're here to support you. If you need anything, just let us know."
Peter hung up the phone, feeling more anxious than ever. He knew he needed to focus on finding a way to catch up, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he was in over his head.
Peter checked his watch and realised he had already spent thirty minutes wandering around the store, not paying attention to which laptop would meet his financial restrictions. He took a deep breath and decided to focus. He knew he needed to find a discounted laptop, even if it was an outdated range. Speed and a lot of disk space were not necessary for running SAP.
Peter continued to wander through the aisles, eventually finding a discounted laptop that fit his requirements.
He tried to catch James' eye, but he seemed to be studiously avoiding him. Instead, James chatted with one of his colleagues, their laughter echoing around the large store, making Peter feel isolated and slighted. He noticed that he was the only customer in the shop, which only sharpened the sting of James' disregard.
Peter walked up to James and told him he had found a laptop. When James saw Peter's choice, he said, "Ah, the last of the big spenders." Peter believed it was an insult but was too stressed to make a fuss. He needed this laptop as quickly as possible because a colleague at Global Plaza was waiting to install some VPN software that would allow Peter to access the SAP system on his new laptop.
Peter had wasted enough time already and wanted to get back to Global Plaza as quickly as possible, even if it meant skipping lunch. He handed over his credit card, eager to complete the transaction and return to work.