SGANF #3: Shh, I Have A Secret

Chapter 12

"WELL, Miss Sandoval, what can I say, you're already hired. Malakas ang back-up mo eh." Kindat niya sa akin. Nagtatataka ako subalit hindi ko nagawang magpakita ng reaksiyon.

"Here's the contract, just put your signature here, here and there." Turo niya sa dapat kong pirmahan.

"But just like any other company, you will be on probation for three months supposedly, but in your case, you will be working here till the secretary you're replacing comes back from her maternity leave. So Miss Sandoval, you will be a temporary until she comes back and when a new or different position opens up, you will be on top of the list of the waiting applicants depending on your job performance. What do you say?"

"I will be happy to accept the job Ms Reyes but, hindi nyo ba muna titignan ang credentials ko? If you did not notice, I am a fresh graduate with no experience, at tanggap na kaagad ako?"

"Like I said, you were already hired by the big boss and not by me. He must have seen something in you that I am not aware of so you're lucky because it's not easy to get hired in this company. One word, Miss Sandoval, be grateful by showing what you can do best in this company." Muli niyang itinuro ang papel na dapat kong pirmahan, naghihintay.

Kahit atubili, pumirma na rin ako. Kinuha niya ang mga iyon matapos kong pirmahan. Ipinasok niya sa computer system ang aking profile at saka sinilid sa isang cabinet file ang hard copy. Pinasunod niya ako at sinabing io-orient na niya ako dahil darating daw yung boss namin bukas ng hapon. Ituturo daw niya yung mga dapat kong gawin but my main job is to be the boss' personal assistant, tending to everything he needs, mapaliit man o mapalaki, mapadito man o out of town, trabaho kong sumunod dito dahil masyado daw itong busy at kailangan nitong may nakabuntot dito lalo na sa mga lakad nito at meetings. Sounds tiring and hard work. Well, okey lang, ilang buwan lang naman hanggang sa bumalik na yung totoong P.A. nito. Hindi rin ako sigurado kung magtatagal ako dito dahil nga susunod na rin ako sa ate ko sa Amerika.

"And lastly, his office." Tawag niya sa pansin ko. Pumasok kami sa pintong nilabasan nito kanina, it's the boss' office.

He has a big table, big computer screen at dalawa pa sa magkabilang dulo ng mesa, mga nagkakapalang documents at mga scrolls of blueprints sabi ni Ms Reyes. Nakataas ang blinds na nagsisilbing kurtina ng mga salaming dingding. Sa harap ng mesa nito ay ang glass made center table na pinalilibutan ng white leather seats. At sa likod ng upuan nito ay isang pinto na marahil ay banyo sa hula ko but according to Ms Reyes, bawal daw pumasok doon at tanging ang boss lang daw ang puwedeng pumasok doon.

"And Miss, Sandoval.." tumingin siya sa akin. "You will be dealing calls from women looking for the boss at isa lang ang lagi mong isasagot, he's not available and he is never free. At kapag may umakyat dito para siya hanapin, make sure that they can't go to his office bothering him lalo at busy siya. Our boss is very obstinate, firm in whatever he does. He does not like to be questioned, and he likes to get things done quickly and immediately. Gusto niyang laging nakabukas ang blinds ng kanyang dingding, ayaw niya sa madilim at ayaw niyang maingay. The phone has to be answered at the first ring, not twice, not thrice, but the very first ring. If you notice walang phone sa mesa niya so lahat ng calls ay sa ating dalawa dadaan and if the matters are very important, just knock on his door, three times, kahit gaano siya kabusy he'll let you in to discuss the matter."

Kinabahan na ako. Para namang nakakatakot itong boss namin. Gusto ko ng umatras, hindi yata ako confident na magagawa kong magtrabaho under his condition. Hinawakan ako sa balikat ni Ms Reyes.

"But Miss Sandoval, Mr Rojas is very understanding and reasonable. He is approachable and one good thing about working here is the good benefits you can get. If you do your job well, he'll appreciate it and he'll commend you on it, and it's a good references when you decide to work in another company."