in time

9th chapter

"Ma'am Dale,  do you heard the news?", balita ni Anne.

"News about what?",  takang tanong ko. Maybe I'm the CEO but I don't have time on any gossip.

Tuloy tuloy akong naglakad patungo sa office ko habang nakasunod si Anne.

"According to gossip, may newly appointed chairman daw dito sa company natin", sabi nito.

"Why? What happened to Mr. Wong? ", takang tanong ko. Mr. Wong is our chairman of the board. And as far as I know, no one from the board are against him.He's though but have a good heart. He can make you mad and hate him but surely...Everyone will love him.

"Well...I heard ma'am na secret lang daw to. Bilin daw kasi ni Mr.  Wong. Pero alam niyo naman, walang nakakaligtas na balita dito", dagdag nito.

"And who's the new appointed chairman? ", curious na tanong ko.

"Well ma'am,  yan ang hindi ko po alam...Sige ma'am I'll get back to work. Baka po ako din palitan niyo " hihi",  nakangiting sabi nito.

I smiled at her. " Ok back to work", sabi ko. Madaling ka trabaho si Anne.  Hindi ako nahirapang pakisamahan  siya kaya there's no reason para palitan ko siya. And she's professional when it comes to work.
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"Hello", as I answered the intercom.

"Ma'am, may urgent meeting daw po...according to the board", tawag ni Anne sa kabilang line.

"Ngayon na?", kunot noong tanong ko.

"Yes maam", sagot nito.

"Ok...I'll be there. Thanks Anne",
Nakakapag tataka. Biglang nagpatawag ng meeting ang board. Is it about Mr. Wong?... I mutter.

Good afternoon everyone", as the board speaker started.

Everyone is concerned about this meeting. As we all know, Mr. Wong is the chairman of the board. Unfortunately...he left his position due to some personal matters. But don't worry ladies and gents, we have our newly appointed chairman. But he can't make it today so he called me to tell you this.....

CEO's,  Presidents, MD's and other employees with higher position under their supervision  will be needing to attend a conference which will be held in boracay. It will take a week so I guess everyone's need to prepare", as the speaker continues.

"He never asked all of us about that", says Mr.Kashimura .

"Yeah, and what is this conference about?", says Mr. Alfonso.

"What about us...We're the directors, and he didn't consult us about this matters", Mr. Tan added...tone of dismay.

"He told me about that gentleman. He asked if you can meet him this afternoon at the Golf Club", speaker said.

I was keenly observing and listening...but I didn't say any word. Biglaan naman kasi kaming magkakaroon ng conference , and malayo pa.
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"Ma'am ", si Larry. My personal assistant.

"Oh yes Larry,  tuloy", sabi ko.

"Ah ma'am sorry po if istorbohin ko kayo",

"It's ok, may sasabihin ka ba?", tanong ko.

"Eh ma'am, bago po sana ako mag file ng resignation, gusto ko po muna sana magpaalam sa inyo", sabi nito.

"Huh...bakit ka mag re-resign. May nagawa ba ako? ...tell me para makapag sorry ako",

"Nako ma'am Dale wala po kayong nagawa. Napaka buti niyong po kaya nga po gusto ko magpaalam ng maayos sa inyo...eh kasi po sinasama na ako ng mga magulang ko sa Canada. Para doon mag trabaho",

"Ah ganon ba, ok lang naman sa akin. Hindi ko naman kayo pwede pigilan.  Pero can you stay at least two days para naman maayos yung mga maiiwan mo saka hahanap pa ako kapalit mo", pakiusap ko.

"Ay yes po naman ma'am", nakangiting sabi nito.
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"Hello",

"Oh May , napatawag ka", tanong ni Marco sa kabilang line.

"Marco...are you ready to be my assistant? ", well blessing in disguise ang pag alis ni Larry since Marco needed a job. So I called him right away.

"Of course. It's my pleasure. Thank you so much May. I owe you this one", sabi nito.

"It's nothing. So tomorrow ready ka na mag start?", sabi ko.

"I'm always ready", tumatawang sagot nito.

"And oh by the way. Ask mo si Vivoree if free siya this week",

"What for?", tanong ni Marco.

"Secret. And pati si Kisses at Yong", hindi ko muna sasabihin kay Marco pero gusto ko sila isama sa Boracay.

"Yes ma'am", sagot nito.

"Anong ma'am?",

"Syempre ikaw na ang bago kong boss kaya ma'am na tawag ko sayo", sagot ni Marco.

"Ay nako Marco,  pag tayong dalawa lang Maymay parin tawag mo sa akin. Ayaw ko ng ma'am ",

"At bakit ayaw mo?", takang tanong nito.

"Ha ahhh ehhh pakiramdam ko kasi tunatanda ako",  pag amin ko.

I heard him laughing" Hoy Marco, gusto mo I fired agad kita", pabirong sabi ko.

"Ang serious mo naman Ma'am. Kaya walang lumiligaw na iba sayo eh",

"Hoy meron ah",

"Sino si Troy. Nako isang araw mabagok ulo non at maghanap na nang iba. Bakit ba kasi ayaw mo pang sagutin?",

"Hey Marco Gallo. It's not part of your work", kunwaring galit na sabi ko.

"Ok ma'am sungit. Parang gusto ko na mag resign", natatawang sabi nito.

I laugh when I heard him say those things " your such such a pilyo Mr.  Gallo. Report to me tomorrow. No late, no excuses, no absences, no girlfriend ",

"Nako ma'am wala na. I fired mo nalang ako. Di ka kayang iwan si Babe ko",

"I know. You're lucky to have her. So kailan talaga kasal niyo?",

"Pag may boyfriend ka na", madiing sagot nito. Ba bye ma'am sungit ",

"Hey Marco ", pero binaba niya na ang phone niya.

Hay kundi ko lang kaibigan si Marco,  tanggal agad sa trabaho. Kayanin ko kaya ang kapilyuhan ng kaibigan ko? Napangiti ako sa mga na iisip ko tungkol kay Marco.

Well, I'm excited to work with him.