No Longer Alone

Chapter Twenty-Three

*Nicole's POV*

    There sat Alex and Damian in business suits, one smiling with polite indifference, the other with a bored and disinterested look on his face.  Neither one reacted like they had any clue who I was, and I did my best to hide the rage that was seething inside me as I smiled.  Alex caught my eye and I saw the humor flashing there, while I did my best to try and give him a look that would let him know he should be planning for his funeral without alerting anyone I had  to work with.

    "Well, gentlemen, this is Nicole Evans, she is the one that was training class today.  Per your request we have added her to this meeting."  Laura started and while she still sounded like she was trying not to laugh, she also sounded a touch confused.  Alex nodded while Damian appeared to be checking something on his phone.

    "Thank you for joining us Ms. Evans, I'm Alex. First since we were looking at working with this center for some work, we were actually interested in knowing about the training that you took to be able to teach a class like that.  Also I am a bit curious who created that particular training and presentation for a topic like that."  Alex started with a friendly tone, and I watched as Andrew puffed up a bit, hiding my fisted hands in my lap since I knew what was going to happen next.

    "Oh, Nicole was okay but it was thanks to the leadership in our department that developed her into what she is.  I spent a lot of time working with her and coaching her on how to improve."  Andrew started his speech, his dry voice almost flatter than a two by four.  I fought the urge to roll my eyes, instead focusing on trying to keep a smile on my face as I felt more anger building at him taking credit for my classroom style.

    "Andrew, right?"  Damian looked up from his phone for a moment and looked at Andrew, seemingly unconcerned that he had interrupted Andrew mid rant on self-congratulation.  Andrew stopped and nodded.  "The question was directed to Ms. Evans, not you.  It is clear from listening to you that you are not capable of interacting with people the way she did in class, and while you may do well with data and building explaining what your department can do, you lack the self-awareness to understand this meeting is not about you, but VXB is looking for and what we need."

    If I hadn't been so annoyed with the whole situation, I would have laughed at seeing Andrew so rapidly set down.  His habit was to take credit for everything we did well, and blame us for everything that went wrong.  Damian had gone back to his phone, not once looking at me, while Alex had a hand in front of his mouth, gesturing with his other hand for me to speak.

    "The presentation and the class itself are my own creation based on self-study that I have done through the years." I started explaining, and focused instead on what I had built this based on.  "I haven't gone through any specialized courses, but have worked with customers most of my life to see what works and what doesn't.  When I have free time I occasionally enjoy reading information on why people react to certain words or sounds the way they do, and studying human behaviors.  Phone service, by it's very nature, changes the ways that humans understand interactions.  We are cut off from all nonverbal cues that tell us what someone is doing or how they are feeling, having to strictly rely on how things are said and what is said."  I paused a moment and looked around, feeling like I had gone into lecture mode.

    "I completely agree with those points.  So that content was all of your choice?"  Alex had dropped his hand finally, making a note on the paper in front of him.

    "The presentation in it's entirety is all my creation.  Adult learners due to the problems with learning new things need more stimulation to keep them interested.  They need the chance to laugh at things and find something to relate to in order to help build a functioning team as well as keep the interest in what is being presented.  A straight black and white lecture with just facts and no way to relate the information to them on a personal level is the easiest way to loose the attention of an adult learner.  I'm certain it must be different for meetings of this nature, however if you think back to your own high school or college days, I can almost guarantee that some teacher or student stands out in your memories more than others due to their delivery of a topic more than the topic itself."  I defended my presentation and teaching methods with passion, leaning back in my chair with my hands now neatly folded in my lap.  Even if they had an issue with how I chose to do things, I wouldn't back down here, nor would I let anyone else claim my class.

    Alex nodded, alternating between looking at me and writing notes, a smirk on his face. 

    "Oh, I do have a person like that thinking back to my school years, and I have had the teacher that droned on and on in a monotone voice that nearly put me to sleep as well." I thought I caught his eyes flicker to Andrew for a moment, before focusing on me.  "Tell me are those the only kinds of classes that you have developed for your department?  Ones focused on how to talk to other people?"

    "Far from it, I've been able to create several other classes that help our agents understand the technical side of our job and how to utilized different systems and resources as well.  I've also worked with some other members of our team to help improve existing classes, or to help make some that can be used for any of our sister sites that use similar systems but work on different contracts."  

    "So you are saying you could make these kinds of classes for just about anything, and that they could be created in a way that anyone could teach them?"  Damian spoke up without looking up from his phone.

    "If I knew the subject, yes, I most likely could, though I make no promises there.  As for people being able to teach them," I spread my hands before me, dropping the smile for a moment, "anyone can read a document placed in front of them, to teach the way I do isn't something everyone can do.  Everyone has their own style, and their place in the world.  Some belong in meeting rooms, some behind computers, and some belong out with agents."  I thought I had been rather polite in hinting that I didn't belong in this room, and that I wasn't happy to be here.  I had hoped that my responses would get these two to leave me alone, since I was now certain they knew it was me when they asked for me, and were going to have a good laugh at my expense.  I saw my freedom in sight.

    "I want to see more of these classes you have created, and I want you to explain them to me as if I were an agent."

    My freedom died a painful death before my eyes, but anger and frustration settled in like old friends.