Boss Lady #1: Playing Wild [COMPLETE]

I. For A Better Day

Songs po ang magiging chapter titles. 'Yung song po ang representation ng mangyayari per chapter. Don't forget to play the song while reading each chapter para mas feel na feel! 😉

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CLARA anxiously pulled her skirt down and fanned herself using her left hand. This is going to be the first time in five years that she is going to have a job interview again. Una niyang naranasan 'yon nang nag-apply siya sa Key Creatives five years ago bilang junior copywriter. Doon niya na-apply ang skills and lessons na natutunan niya noong college pa lang siya.

Clara grew professionally in Key Creatives. From being a junior copywriter, she became a senior copywriter after a year. Naging assistant brand manager na siya two and a half years matapos noon. Ang dami niyang na-achieve na recognitions and lugar na napuntahan dahil sa pagiging hardworking niya. She almost became a brand manager, but she had to quit the job.

And now, here she is. Inside the car she booked, on her way to Castle Corporation. Clara's interview will happen in 10 minutes pero mukhang malabong aabot siya. Kung sinunod sana kasi ng driver ang instructions niya about sa shortcut papuntang Makati central business district, eh 'di sana kanina pa siya nasa Castle Corp. Pero heto, mukhang interview pa lang, bad impression na siya sa punctuality.

"Kuya, matagal pa ba tayo?" Clara asked the driver. Private car na nga ang binook niya instead of carpool pero agrabyado pa rin siya. It looks like it's not her lucky day today. Heck, it's probably not her lucky month.

"Mga 5 minutes na lang, Ma'am. Pasensya na ho. Traffic talaga pag ganitong oras lalo na't pa-Makati tayo," sagot ng driver. Pinasalamatan na lamang ito ni Clara at nagdasal nang mataimtim. Tinatawag ko lahat ng santo na meron! Nagmamakaawa ako, 'wag ngayon! Kailangan kong umabot sa interview na 'to!

8 minutes later, Clara arrived at Castle Corp. Agad agad siyang bumaba ng kotse. Buti na lang, charged sa credit card niya ang payment kaya hindi na niya kailangang magtagal pa. Baka pag nagtagal pa siya roon ay mapag-initan na niya nang tuluyan ang driver.

Agad agad na pumunta ng reception desk si Clara at humingi ng visitor's pass saka nagmamadaling tumungo sa elevator. Sa 30th floor pa ang office ng HR officer na mag-interview sa kanya. 8AM ang interview ni Clara, at naging ganoon kaaga dahil kung sakaling makakapasa siya sa initial interview, tuloy tuloy na ang magiging proseso. Kumbaga, one day processing lang ang hiring dito sa Castle Corp. Nabalitaan 'yon ni Clara sa dati niyang college batchmate na dito rin nagtatrabaho. Ayaw daw kasi ng CEO ang pinapatagal ang mga bagay, gusto nito na kung kayang gawin agad, bakit hindi?

Paglabas ni Clara ng elevator, tinakbo niya ang HR office. Kiber na kung naka-5 inch stilletos siya, basta on time siyang aabot sa interview niya. Kahit ba mukha siyang nasagasaan ng ten wheeler truck, ayos lang.

"Good morning. I'm here for my initial interview for the position of brand manager," Clara said. "Oops, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm—"

"Miss Clara Therese Montenegro. Yes, we've been expecting you," wika ng babaeng HR officer sa kanya. The girl smiled sweetly at her then led her to a small conference room. Naupo siya sa harap ng babae at nginitian ito pabalik.

Nagsimula na ang interview niya. Tinanong siya tungkol sa educational background niya at work experiences. Malugod niyang sinagot ang lahat—Summa Cum Laude graduate siya ng Communication Arts na agad nagtrabaho sa Key Creatives at the age of 20. She was one of those students whose parents were too excited to get their child in school. Maaga siyang nakapag-aral kaya sa edad na dalawampung gulang ay college graduate na siya.

"It seems that you are fit for the job you're applying for, Ms. Montenegro. I would highly recommend you to do the next step of the application," sabi ni Elisa, ang HR officer.