Today was a very busy and tough day for me at work. I was feeling a bit sick for the past couple of days, and then I got a quick, yet heavy, rain shower on my way to my in-laws’ place yesterday, so today I woke up feeling worse.

I had to work on a report for my boss, because he was too busy, and then just around my only lunch break, he remembered that we had a deadline for a client’s proposal. So I had to work my head off to meet the deadline, or else, we’ll be in a very bad situation.
I felt I almost passed out! But we got things done and I had my lunch.
When I got back to the office, I found my boss with a very angry face, he told me:
Boss: Eman, I’m in deep SHIT! Sorry for my language! (he always says “shit” and follows up with an apology!)
Eman: Why’s that? Is there something wrong with the proposal?
Boss: No, not that, I went to their headquarters to hand it out personally, but they said the time was over and they can’t accept our proposal any more! I asked to meet the manager but he was out! I’m afraid we lost a project!

Like I even had the strength to care!! All I said was: oh, all that work for nothing!!! And went to my office. Out of curiosity, I looked in the papers of the client to check on the terms. I found out that the deadline is today indeed, but the last time to submit the proposal is 5 p.m.! And it was still 3:30 p.m.!!
I went to the boss, explained the thing to him, he was happy, and taken with joy he said: Eman, you saved us, I’ll leave you the honour of going there yourself to submit the proposal!
I had no power to walk one more step, I told him that, and he said that he has a meeting coming up! So he basically left me no choice but go there myself!
I reached the client’s building at 4:10 p.m., I introduced myself to the receptionist, handed out my business card, explained why I was there, she asked me to go to the 2nd floor.
The 2nd floor had another receptionist, I introduced myself, gave my business card, explained why I was there, and then she asked me to go to the 4th floor.
Seeing that it was the last floor in this building I was happy I wouldn’t be asked to go to a 5th or 6th floor. So with a smiling face, I introduced myself AGAIN, gave another business card, explained why I was there, and then, the receptionist kindly asked me to go back to the 3rd floor, where I introduced myself and all, and then the receptionist told me to go to the secretary’s office on the left.
I went there, to find this lovely office overlooking the managers meeting room. I explained the whole issue to the secretary, and she said she can do nothing, it’s up to the manager. So she pointed at him through the glass window and asked me to simply go in.
I saw that he was in the middle of a meeting, with many people surrounding him, a board, a projector and all. So I asked her: don’t you think you should at least notify him before I get in.
She said: if I do, you’ll have to wait and might pass the deadline time! So this is the only way I can help. I’ll just pretend I didn’t see you and you went there by yourself, ok!
I knew it was wrong and I had to wait, but well, it’s either that or we’ll lose a project! So I said to myself: what the hell! I’m going there, I knocked on the door, he looked at me, I had a very very very serious face, so he waved his hand asking me to get in, being happy that he let me in without complications, I was so proud, I smiled, walked in his direction with fast steady steps, my head up high, so confident, so optimistic that he’d accept our proposal. He was also walking in my direction, and then BOOM!
No, we didn’t hit each other, it was my face against the damn extremely clean invisible glass door! It was too strong that I couldn’t feel my nose for the few first minutes!
I turned all red, the whole meeting room were staring at me, some laughing, some feeling sorry for my red nose… ah it was so so embarrassing!
The manager offered me a glass of water, and asked if I was alright. I thanked him and then I saw my face in the mirror opposite to me, and my face features on the glass door I hit, and then all I did was laugh!
The manager, who was hardly holding his laughs first, surrendered and laughed along. He then listened to what I had to say about the deadline and said: We can’t make you come all the way here, and have your nose hit that strong, and then let you down.
Give me that proposal!

And so I went back to the office to my boss with great news and a red nose! 🙂