“Good morning, Kate!” Gavin cheerfully greeted his secretary, who looked up from her desk, shocked.
“Ah…good morning, sir!” Kate furrowed her brows as her boss entered his office. “Himala!”, she muttered to herself.
“Kate, do I have meetings this morning?” Gavin called out from his office.
“Sir, may emergency meeting with HR sa 5th floor conference room in 5 minutes… tapos may pinapabigay si Ma’am Fran – alam mo na daw kung ano yan.” Kate handed him a small envelop containing some money.
Gavin nodded, placing the envelop in his pocket. “Sa 5th floor ako.” He decided to take the stairs three floors down. As he neared the 6th floor, he saw Fran busy texting while slowly walking down the stairs. He quickened his pace to catch up with her but she was too engrossed with her phone to notice him.
“Ahem! Baka madapa ka, Ma’am Fran.”
She quickly looked up. “Ay…good morning.”
Gavin smiled faintly. “Kasama ka din sa meeting with HR?”, he asked her.
Fran nodded while he opened the door for her. They made their way to the conference room where there were several executives already seated. She chose an empty chair in between Albert and Ms. Beng, the head of finance. To her surprise, Albert moved to the chair on the left and let Gavin sit next to her. While waiting for the others, Fran chatted with Ms. Beng while Gavin chatted with Albert.
“Good morning everyone.” Ms. Nancy, head of HR, cheerfully entered the room. “I know all of you are busy so I’ll keep this short. As you all know, JSL’s birthday is in exactly six weeks and the company anniversary will be the week after that. Since JSL is going on a three-week leave from his birthday, we decided to have a two-in-one celebration of his birthday plus the company anniversary. This celebration will be five weeks from now. We’re already making the hotel reservations and all other arrangements. Now, since this is a double celebration….all of us executives and managers will present a special number….a dance number.”
“What?”, Fran muttered. Most of the men, and some women, grimaced.
Ms. Nancy went on. “Don’t worry…we’ve hired a professional dance instructor to teach us. We’ve agreed that it would be a ballroom dance…not too complicated. So please, we need your cooperation. The first practice will be tonight at 6 PM at the 10th floor auditorium. And then subsequent practice sessions will be around two or three times a week. Okay? Any questions?”
Albert raised his hand. “Ma’am, is everyone here required to join?”
Ms. Nancy nodded and smiled. “Yes, everyone…unless you’re sick and in the hospital, you have to join….Remember, JSL is retiring next year…so we have to make this a memorable affair. Next year, mas bongga pa ang gagawin natin! Besides, matutuwa ang mga staff niyo na makita kayong sumayaw, di ba?”
Then, she focused her gaze on Fran. “Ms. Fran, are you the only one from IT? Nasaan ang ibang project managers?”
“Ma’am, Norman is in Cebu for a project….Lala is on maternity leave.” Fran explained.
“That means, you’ll be the lone representative from IT.” Ms. Nancy said it like some pronouncement of doom. “So, if there are no more questions, we’ll see you later at six!”
With that, the attendees started leaving the room, with some mumbling to themselves, and others seemingly in a trance. Fran excused herself from Ms. Beng and got up to leave, having received a text message from Henry to see him in his office. Gavin, then in quiet discussion with Albert, eyed her as she slipped out of the room.
