Shortly Meaning

Alice was a young professional working for a busy law firm in the heart of the city. She had just finished her lunch and was about to head back to her desk when her boss, Mr. Clark, approached her. 'Alice,' he said with a serious tone, 'I need you to meet with a client shortly. Can you be ready in five minutes?' Alice was taken aback. She had expected a quiet afternoon, but when Mr. Clark said 'shortly', it meant she had to act fast. She quickly gathered the necessary files and walked briskly to the conference room. Just as she entered, she overheard Mr. Clark speaking shortly to another colleague about the urgency of the meeting. 'It’s critical we wrap this up soon,' he said, and Alice knew that this wasn't going to be a regular meeting. The client was a large corporation, and their needs were pressing. As the meeting began, Alice noticed that the client was speaking very shortly about their concerns. They didn’t seem interested in discussing anything beyond the main issues at hand. Alice replied in kind, keeping her answers brief and to the point. She didn’t want to waste time with unnecessary details. The meeting ended quickly, as expected. 'Good job, Alice,' Mr. Clark said, his tone approving. 'You handled the client shortly, just as needed. I think we’re on track.' Later that day, Alice reflected on the meaning of 'shortly' in her work. It had been a term that had shaped the entire afternoon, from the quick preparation for the meeting to the concise conversations that followed. She smiled to herself, knowing that in her line of work, being able to respond and act shortly was a vital skill. Alice glanced at the clock—it was almost time for her next task. And once again, she would be expected to deliver shortly.