Vagabond

Chapter 2: Backlogs

Cali wanted us to coordinate with Ninong Leo. It also means he can't talk to his dad right now, pareho kami.

Wala raw si Ninong sa satellite office kaya dinayo pa namin siya sa corporate building para lang personal na makausap.

Compared to their first office na duplex lang, the corporate office of GS Agencia showed what that small office couldn't do for their investors.

Fiber glass walls with blue shades, elegant tiles, and a lot of chandeliers line the ceiling of the corporate lobby. It was far from that office in the West na simple at humble lang. Anim ang lift at sumakay kami sa isang for VIP only.

Cali checks his phone every ten minutes. Probably he's talking to his wife na naiwan sa bahay. Although marami namang kasama sa mansiyon ang asawa niya, but it's Cali. If worried siya sa pamilya niya, hindi na ako magtataka.

Pagdating namin sa 28th floor, dumeretso agad kami sa front desk ng lobby roon. Nasa guard station si Kuya Voltaire.

"Si Ninong Leo po, Kuya?" tanong ni Cali.

"Sa loob. May appointment kayo?"

"Kailangan ba?" seryosong tanong ko.

Kuya shrugged and forced a smile. "Protocol."

Sabay kaming tumalikod ni Cali saka nagbulungan.

"I'll call Ninong," I told Cali, taking my phone out of my pocket.

Cali was smiling at the guard while I waited for Ninong to answer. He picked up after a few rings.

"O? Ano na namang problema mong bata ka?"

I rolled my eyes. "We're outside your office. Need pa raw ng appointment, Ninong? Nasa meeting ka ba?"

"'We'. Kasama mo si Audree?"

"Carlisle's with me."

Ninong Leo sighed and didn't answer. I heard him pick up the telephone, and after a few seconds, the guard's phone rang.

"Papasukin mo 'yang dalawa."

Cali smiled at Kuya Voltaire after we heard Ninong's instruction.

We headed left. The glass door opened after the guard tapped his badge on the door. Nakasunod pa kami kay Kuya Voltaire habang nilalakad namin ang buong floor na puro employee na busy sa mga trabaho nila.

Dumeretso kami sa dulo at saglit na dumaan sa managers and supervisor's desks. Lumiko kami sa kaliwa pagpasok namin sa panibagong glass door na nakabukas naman at nilakad ang panibagong hallway paderetso sa dulong office na may nakalagay na Office of the CEO tag sa malaki at mataas na pinto.

Kuya Voltaire tapped his badge sa scanner na nasa gilid ng pinto at saka bumukas ang sensor-activated door ng office ni Ninong Leo.

"Sir," Kuya Voltaire said, and that was all. Lumabas na rin siya after that.

Seeing Ninong Leo in his office inside the corporate building means the lion is back in his jungle. He wore his black and gold corporate suit and even had his intimidating aura.

Compared sa satellite office, sobrang linis ng office niya rito sa corporate building—and when I say "malinis," that means walang kalaman-laman ang loob. Malaki kung malaki at puwede pang makapag-tennis sa area. Maliban sa office table, isang mahabang couch, center table at dalawang visitor's chair, wala nang ibang laman ang office niya. Ang living file cabinets niya, nasa labas at nagtatrabaho para sa kanya.

"Good morning, Ninong," Cali greeted.

"Ano na naman ang problema?" tanong ni Ninong na tutok sa desktop niya.