Chapter 4
Reflecting on her earlier nervousness, Emma struggled to comprehend why she had felt that way. As a seasoned programmer with an impressive track record, there was no reason for her to be uneasy. The memory of Erik's chuckle now left her with a tinge of embarrassment. Determined to restore a professional impression, she reminded herself to convey competence and composure in the email:
"Dear Erik,
Thank you for your time and for the sharing. Per discussion, may I schedule a coffee chat with you to discuss the tech landscape in Stockholm? I am new to the city and your help would be greatly appreciated.
Kind regards,
Emma"
After meticulously reviewing the short email for the fifth time, Emma deemed it perfectly concise and professional. Satisfied, she hit the "send" button and shifted her focus to her cooking projects. Transitioning from pizza to pasta, she upped the difficulty level. While she is fighting in the kitchen, a reminder tone echoed in the kitchen – an email from Erik had already arrived:
"Sure. Will next Tuesday evening work for you? We can grab a coffee after I get off at 5 pm."
"5 pm next Tuesday will work for me! Where is your location? I am flexible and could search for cafe options, or do you have any preference?"
"Sent you an invite. Whether the cafe in the invite works?"
"Yes! Thank you! Enjoy your weekend and see you next Tuesday :)"
"See you next Tuesday. By the way, my Whatsapp is +46 ***-****-***. Ping me if you need."
Emma carefully saved Erik's WhatsApp contact and sent him a smiley face, then returned her attention to cooking. Upon completing her culinary endeavours, she noticed Erik's response—a waving hand emoji. Realising the importance of being prepared for the upcoming coffee chat to respect his time, Emma dove into her work, intending to accomplish tasks before relishing the remainder of the weekend.
Over the weekend, a new question lingered in Emma's mind: what to wear for the upcoming coffee chat. An impulse to buy new clothes struck her, but why? Was it because Erik seemed too cute? Suddenly, a twinge of shame enveloped her as she realised that just before the weekend, her heart still carried the weight of William. Thoughts of William significantly dampened her good mood, diminishing it by more than 90%. With no news from him, she wondered if he had moved on and spent the weekend with someone else. The mere possibility of William being with someone else triggered a mix of emotions in Emma. The worse was that she no longer had the right to even feel bad. Who cares! Emma resolved to focus on preparing a beautiful outfit for the coffee chat.
As the time for the coffee chat approached, Emma, sticking to her habitual early arrival, secured a table before the scheduled time. This practice ingrained from the bustling cafes of London where tables were often scarce. Erik had chosen a Swedish cafe nestled on a narrow street near the business districts. The cafe exuded a distinctive blend of simplicity and warmth, creating a unique ambiance. Within its confines, people in the cafe were either chatting in low volume, or concentrating on their laptops.
In a light brown sweater paired with a caramel knitted long dress and maroon leather ankle boots, Emma selected a table by the window, relishing the view of people passing by. A peculiar sensation enveloped her in this city. Accustomed to the glamorous lifestyle of London, where indulgences were available around the clock, she found the two cities were so different. London, a city adored by many worldwide, offered constant excitement. However, in this new place, Emma found a sense of serenity that brought her profound comfort. Here, she felt free from relentless ambitions and the constant pursuit of a better future. It was as if she could genuinely relax and savour the simplicity of each moment.
As Emma wandered in her thoughts, Erik emerged on the street. Clad in a grey hoodie concealed beneath a black puff coat and complemented by blue jeans and sneakers, he carried a backpack today. Striding briskly down the street, he halted at the cafe's entrance, taking a moment to compose himself before entering. Scanning the cafe, his eyes met Emma's, prompting a warm smile as he made his way toward her.
Erik sat down in front of Emma and apologised: "Sorry. Was occupied by some work at hand."
"It is completely ok. Thank you for giving me the time on your busy day."
At Erik's suggestion, the two delved into more detailed self-introductions, maintaining a professional tone. Emma perceived the conversation as highly professional, yet Erik's calm and warm voice had a soothing effect, putting her at ease. Following the introduction of his own company, Erik thoughtfully mentioned several other companies that Emma might find appealing. However, he acknowledged the challenging macro environment impacting recruitment activities in the city. While Emma felt a twinge of disappointment, she adeptly concealed it. Nevertheless, Erik offered his willingness to provide a referral if needed.
"But things here could turn more slowly. At the same time, would you be interested in being a tutor at Ignition Labs?"
Emma was a little surprised about this offering: "me? Am I eligible?"
"Clearly. You had done award-winning projects at university, not speaking of your prior experience as a senior programmer at a global firm." Erik added: "and it seems that you are familiar with the finance concepts. Did you also work on some finance-related projects?"
"...I learnt it from a friend." Emma admitted.
Sensing her hesitation, Erik changed the conversation: "Got it. So are you interested? It could be a good opportunity for you to get to know more entrepreneurs and startup owners. There are good chances some would need your help. And as one of the best accelerators in the region, there are also VCs watching. You might like to consider that path too."
"If I am interested in it, what is the schedule?" Emma still needed to secure free time for her recruitment.
"It is flexible. I will be there part-time. But you could work full-time if you are on a project, with the accelerator or with a startup. What say you?"
"I never worked in an accelerator, but I like to try!"
"Great. Could you send me your resume via email? There is still some admin work to do before the next step. But I will let you know how it goes."
Expressing gratitude, Emma noticed the darkening sky over Stockholm as patrons gradually vacated the cafe.
Erik asked: "shall we?"
Emma nodded and put on her coat. Erik asked again: "which direction are you heading to?" And it turned out that they would be taking the same line.
Bidding farewell to Erik, Emma's spirits soared as things seemed to be heading in a promising direction. Eager to maintain this positive momentum, she resolved to challenge herself by preparing a dish from scratch – Swedish beef stew kalops. This decision arose as a response to the doubts her parents and friends harboured about her cooking capabilities.