Calle Maganda Series: Grazzle Maila Rudero

Chapter 1

     "GOOD MORNING, MA'AM!" bati ng guard na si Barry pagkadating niya sa restaurant.

Alas nuwebe y media na at alam niyang late na siya sa trabaho. Pagod siya at walang tulog simula pa kagabi. They were worried about Mitchelle's welfare. Kagabi pa ito iyak ng iyak. Alam niyang mali pero hindi niya mapigilang mag-alala simula palang nang sabihin nitong bumalik na si Nathaniel. And now she's hurting, again.
"Good morning din, Barry. Pasensya na't late ako. May inasikaso lang kasi ako." aniya dito. Nakapag call in naman siya na mahuhuli siya nang pasok ngayong araw. Mabuti nalang at competent ang mga empleyado nila sa restaurant.

"Naku, Ma'am! Wala naman pong problema. Eh minsan lang naman kayo ma-late." nakangiting saad nito.

She grinned and went on her way. Sa ilang taon niya na kasi bilang manager ay mabibilang lang sa kamay kung ilang beses na siyang nahuli at um-absent. She is that dedicated in her work.
College pa lang kasi siya nang mag-OJT sa Exquis, a restaurant that specializes in Greek cuisine. May ilang Filipino cuisine din naman na isine-serve doon.
She took up Business Management and Administration and was absorbed by the restaurant after her OJT.
Naging part time job niya ito habang nag-aaral.

Napamahal na din sa kanya ang trabaho at restaurant kaya ganon nalang ang atensiyon niya dito. Ni hindi niya nga tinanggap ang promotion na ibinigay sa kanya ng kompanya, the Montenegro's restaurant chains na siyang may-ari.
Now she's still here in one of the branches of Exquis as a branch manager.

"Morning, Grazz. I've got all the records that you requested for last month's sales. And some other stuffs with customers feedbacks and comments." bungad sa kanya ni Arlene pagkapasok niya nang opisina. "And here's your black coffee, no cream and sugar."

Napangiti siya at inabot ang mug of coffee while taking in its scent. "Thanks, Arlene. I'll take a look at those files." saad niya sa assistant na lumabas naman kaagad matapos siyang paalalahanan ng mga schedule niya today.

She finished her coffee and started checking the files.
Nine years ago when she had her OJT in an Exquis branch. Hindi sa branch na pinagtatrabahuan niya ngayon. She worked five years on that branch before she was transferred as a branch manager of one of Exquis' low income generating branch.

Nang mailipat siya sa branch na ito di kalayuan sa Calle Maganda ay hindi maganda ang rating nito. They had crappy customer service and a different ambiance. It was a challenge for her to change the tables. Dahil kung hindi niya naayos ang lugar ay isasara iyon at mawawalan ng trabaho ang mga empleyado.
Although they offer great food, the service is downright awful, no customer would ever want that. And she was able to fix it, with the cooperation of the employees as well.

Now, they're branch is one of the branches that has high annual sales. Kaya nga ayaw niya nang mailipat sa mas mataas na position sa kompanya. Napamahal na siya sa lugar at mga kasamahan pati narin sa kompanya. And she'll do her best to contribute to the company's success.

Halos isang oras na siya sa loob nang may kumatok. "Pasok." aniya.

"Sorry to disturb you, Grazz. But we've got a situation." pagbibigay alam nito.

"Ano 'yon?" tanong niya na ang buong atensiyon ay nandito. Minsan lang sila magkaproblema doon kaya naman nakapagtataka.

Arlene fidgeted, "It isn't really a situation.. Kasi.. Nandito kasi ang may-ari ng kompanya. Mrs. Amanda Montenegro is here for a surprise assessment of branches." Paliwanag nito.