Probable Improbability

Chapter 1 - Speaking of the Devil

- Aurelia - 

"If it had been done two weeks ago, then where are the documents?" I swirled my chair left and right, trying to find the perfect balance for my raging mind right now. 

This is the best kind of calm I can maintain inside a conference room with no one but imbeciles!

"Ma'am, we tried informing you two weeks ago, but your secretary--"

"Kanino ba kayo nagtatrabaho? For me? or for my secretary?" I asked, my brow shot upwards.

He bowed his head down, in shame, probably. 

Aba, dapat lang! 

My ears deafened with the silence, making me stand up from my seat. Realizing that I won't be given the answer I'm looking for, I stared at the stupid employee who suddenly lifted his head up, panic and worry reflecting on his prey eyes. 

"M-Ma'am..." he stuttered in a pleading tone, knowing what's about to come next. 

"I suggest you visit the HR after this."

"Ma'am, please--"

"You're fired," I firmly said before walking out. 

His pleas echoed until the glass doors shut behind me. 

As the sound of my stilettos clacked against the tiled floor, every employee knew to step aside and bow their heads. Morning greetings repeated as I made my way to the other end of the hallway, into the elevator. 

After the doors closed, my secretary pushed the button up to the highest floor of the building. 

"Schedule," I ordered. 

She hastily unlocked her tablet while balancing my bag on her other arm and whatever those folders are on the other, making me roll my eyes in annoyance. Kung inaayos ang trabaho, hindi matataranta. 

"Run me through my schedule now."

"Yes, Ma'am! Uh...you have a 9 A.M. with Mr. Tan, a 10:30 A.M. with the marketing department po. Lunch with our Singaporean investor to discuss expansion, and by 3 in the afternoon, the board scheduled a meeting with you po."

My forehead creased with the last appointment that she mentioned. "Kaka-meet ko lang sa kanila. Bakit na naman? Is it an urgent matter, or they're just obsessed with seeing me in rage everytime?" I couldn't help but to roll my eyes.

She drew a sharp breath before continuing, "About daw po sa ano...ipopromote na CFO. Bale nasa office niyo na po now 'yung mga records ng mga qualified for promotion and mamaya po, pagbobotohan kung sino--"

I cut her off. "I know how a promotion works, I'm not stupid."

She slightly bowed her head down. "Yes, Ma'am. Uh--sorry po."

The elevator door opened, finally!

"My coffee better be on my desk when I get there," I warned, hoping yesterday's mindlessness of this woman won't repeat. 

"Yes, Ma'am! Nando'n na po, kasama na rin po 'yung salad."

I turned around, causing her fast paced walk to come to a halt. "Visit the HR, will you?"

Her eyes widened, on the verge of tears. "P-po? Ma'am, sorry po. M-may mali po ba--"

"Tell them that I want to meet them first before the board meeting, that's all."

I turned back around, making my way to my office.

..................

"But our most qualified, Mr. Arturo Rivera. Credible and reliable, and most of all, his qualification really turned heads. His recommendations are vouching for him," The head of the HR department spoke after I ran through every single document for the promotees. 

I took a deep breath in, as I leaned my back against the comfort of my chair. "If he's the most qualified, how come I've never heard of him?"

"Well uhm, pretty sure you've encountered him, Ma'am, from our past meetings?"

My mouth shrugged as I slowly shook my head 'no'. "This is the first time I've heard of that name so if you didn't mention him, he would just be a speck of dust in my world."

Dead air hung as the talking stopped. I glanced at him, and he looked awfully stiff in his stance.

"So? Are we just gonna stare at each other all day? Get out, we're done."

He bowed his head before rushing to the door. 

Promote promote pa, puro mga palpak naman ang napipili. SIguraduhin nilang marunong ang pinapasa nila for promotion dahil nasasayang ang oras, resources, money, and energy sa mga empleyadong wala namang alam gawin kung hindi mag-rely sa orders at walang pagkukusa and later on, nasisisante lang rin naman. 

They're all just a waste of time!

.............

"He's very promising. In a span of five years, ang bilis ng pag-akyat niya sa corporate ladder."

"And he's also a part of the Rivera clan, although not direct heir to their companies, but he's making his own legacy. Tignan niyo naman, he's on for the C-suite na. It really does run in their blood. Now, I believe that's a good sign."

Too much talkingggg! Ayoko ng puro salita! Praises here and there, nakakarindi!

I composed myself to disguise my exasperation. As I sat up straight, everyone's attention veered my way. "So, let's begin the voting? Let's get this done and over with." 

With everyone's devices in front of them, the room silenced with meticulous fingers deciding the fate of the names involved. 

[Arturo Rivera]

My finger hovered over that name, double thinking of the decision that I'm about to make. 

The tick tock of the clock hanging by the wall directly opposite me is the only object in the room that gives off noise in the middle of the silence, making it seem like we're inside a ticking time bomb.

Alright, fine! But this is just because I want to know what he could do, not because I got swooned by his 'perfectly perfect' profile. 

I tapped his name, my vote sealing the decisions of everyone in the room.

Somehow, I'm glad it's over. Tapos na ang isipin ko sa matter na 'yan.

I smirked while everyone's clapping in the room, my mind already imagining what I would do to those who recommended this Arturo in the case that this person doesn't live up to the expectations they set for me. 

This is why I don't believe in recommendations. They always set the bar so high, and the person doesn't even live up to half of that bar. Ugh!