FUBU

cuarenta y cuatro

Sari

The smell of croissant is the first thing that attacked my senses. 

I sat right next to J. I have noticed for some time now that he is no longer wearing his engagement ring. I wondered when he would ever tell us about his supposed marriage. 

I guess right now, there's nothing more to tell.

Austin and Shane came in looking exhausted followed by a few more people. Then, Dash came into the picture. He looked like he was just pulled out from somewhere and was asked to join them. 

My brows arched in wonder. 

Why is he here?

The moment he looked up, he was dumbfounded. He looked at me and then to everyone who's in the meeting room. We were in one of the hotel that I know Austin's father owned. 

Clueless, he sat right across me. 

"Well, it seems we're all here." Austin took a quick pause to sip some of his coffee. He looks tired. I can only imagine the night he must have had. Then, my eyes met Shane's. Her smiled filled with that arrogant smirk. 

It felt like something's in her mind. 

I kept my cool and turned to Dash who's brows were now more arched than anyone's in the room.

I smiled at him. 

"Well, you are all here because we need to talk about a continuity plan. The account is about to be launched in 2 weeks and right now, we have a dilemma in our hand. In a few days time, the government is about to place the city in quarantine. the break out is slowly happening and we need to act now before it will all be too late."

Yesterday, news just spread that this coronavirus has already reached the country. In fact a few of the known hospitals has alerted the government of how severe this virus is. 

"Starting tomorrow, everyone will need to pack their bags and move in to this hotel until further notice."

That caught me off guard. 

"I'm sorry what do you mean?"

"This hotel will be your new home. At least for the next few months or until the government would loosen up. All of the 300 employees that we have onboarded for the account will be invited to this hotel as well. All will be working remotely. And I want everyone to be ready for that. That's the reason why we have all of these other people around."

Nagkakatinginan na lamang kaming magkakaibigan. 

None of us has ever experienced a remote set-up. We've always been reporting on site. Where the pantry is wild and smoking is a carefree zone.

I thought of my garden and who will be taking care of my plants. But just as soon as I lift my head up, Dash welcomed me with a warm smile. 

I have to ask him why he's here later. But with the uniform he's wearing, I only have to take a guess. 

The conversation went on for almost an entire day. Meals had to be served to us, and the only time we could get out is to take a smoke. 

I had to also take note of all the things that I need to prepare. Unlike being a team manager in the past, my new role will be quiet different from what I have been accustomed to. 

Before we all go home for the day, Shane and Austin asked me to walk with them, along with Michelle who is our Senior Operations Manager.

We landed on the executive suite of the hotel.

"I need both of you to be on top of your game all the time. We will be launching the account here. We'll make it conservative but fun. Unfortunately, until further notice, the clients will not be able to attend. All international flights are cancelled until further notice. The only people allowed to fly out if needed are health personnel and medical professionals. We have to plan out all other aspects from the launch to the daily whereabouts. When we say no one is allowed to get out, no one will be allowed to get out."