Bitter Sweet and Strange

Chapter 6

Beleza

Napakagat-labi ako habang nakatayo sa harapan ng desk ni Sir Buendavid. Tulad ng inaasahan ko, kinuha na nga niya ako agad mula sa opisina ni Ma'am Arkanson. He's really serious with me being his 'personal assistant'. Wala na akong nagawa pa kundi sumama na sa kanya lalo pa't halos ipagtulakan na ako ni ma'am kanina. The smile on her face is enough for me to know what she's thinking. She's trying to be a matchmaker.

"Okay. Where should we start? I'm particular with numbers, so maybe I should start with your salary rate." He cleared his throat.  "As promised, you will have 99,000 pesos per month. You will work for me 6 days a week. Monday to Sat. 10 hours a day. 7am to 5pm. You will make 380.75 pesos every hour, so don't disappoint me with your service."

Napalunok ako. I can't find the courage to defy his decision, not when he speaks his every word with too much finality.

"A-and what are my tasks, in particular, sir?"

"Excellent question." Napatayo siya sa kanyang swivel chair at nilapitan ako sabay abot ng isang audio recorder. "Record what I'm about to say, I don't want to repeat myself."

Napatango na lang ako at kinuha na ang device mula sa kanya sabay on nito.

"Pumapasok ako sa opisina around 8. The first thing I want to see when I enter my office is a coffee on top of my table. Prepare it for me around 7:50, so it's hotness will suit my preference. I only drink espresso, wala nang iba pa. At kung sakaling lagpas alas otso na wala pa ako, itapon mo na lang ang kape, dahil ibig sabihin no'n ay tapos na akong mag-agahan."

"Since the company's main buildings are outside the country, my day is usually filled with video conferences, so make sure no one will interupt me, and that includes you."

"Thirty minutes before eleven, ask me about my lunch schedule. I'll inform you if I want to eat in a nice restaurant, so you can make a reservation for me. Or there are times that I want to eat here, so you just have to order my meal. I'll decide whether food delivery, or you get it personally. And if you don't receive a response from me, it means I don't want to eat lunch at all."

"I'll give you 30-minute break during midday, but it's still paid hour so don't complain when I ask you for an errand during that time."

"At noon, that's usually my time to supervise the executive building. I'm very critical to that, I don't want distractions, so I will not need your pressence in that span. You can just sit here doing what you like."

"But, everything will be different when I come back from supervising. My mood actually depends on the performances of the departments. If it's bad, expect the worst from me. If it's good, I'll just sit silently on my swivel chair eating my snacks."

"That's right! I almost forgot. Communicate with Cion's Selections for my snacks, they'll process everything, so you don't have to pump yourself up with that."

"I leave the building 15 mins after 5. But you can go first at exactly 5. That doesn't matter to me."

"Just some requests and errands for you, and that's it, that's all. Those are all your tasks."

Agad ko nang pinatay ang audio recorder.

"But, sir, how about your meetings? Diba dapat ako yung mag-aarrange ng appointments mo? And I can also prepare your minor reports and activities. I'm really good at that also. Sir, just because I don't have an academic edge doesn't mean I'm not capable of working efficiently," pagrereklamo ko sa kanya dahil base sa kanyang mga inatas na trabaho sa akin, mukhang hindi siya nagtitiwala sa aking kakayahan.

Napatingin siya sa akin nang may pagtataka. "And your point is?"

"My point is, I can be of help to you in terms of business matters."

"Ms. Quirino, didn't I make myself clear? I hired you as my personal assistant. Your job is to assist my personal activities, and in my terms and perspective, business-related task is excluded when I say personal."

"But, sir- -"  Ma'am Arkanson wants me to help you. Hindi ko na ito naisatinig dahil pinutol niya ang aking sasabihin sana.

"I hired a secretary three days ago. She'll be the one to assist me in terms of my job. You don't have to worry."

Eksaktong pagkatapos niyang banggitin iyon ay siyang pagbukas naman ng automatic door ng opisina. Napalingon ako at pasekretong napaismid.

Isang maganda at matangkad na babae ang pumasok habang may dalang notepad. Blonde ang kanyang buhok at maputi ang kanyang kutis kaya masasabi kong isa siyang foreigner, o may lahi. Hindi rin nakalagpas sa paningin ko ang mababang neckline ng kanyang damit at ang uniporme niyang palda na ginawa na niyang super-mini-skirt.

Napatikhim si Sir Buendavid.

"Speaking, here comes my secretary, Ms. Alexa Devon," pagpapakilala sa akin ni sir.

"Good morning, Sir Buendavid. The Xiu and Chan Holdings just informed me that they want to move today's meeting for tommorow. Is it amenable to you?" magalang na wika ni Secretary Alexa.

Base sa kung paano siya kumilos at magsalita, masasabi kong professional siya. Medyo kabaliktaran sa kung paano siya manamit. Though, it doesn't matter to me a lot. Maybe it's her own self-expression.

"Perfect. Schedule it for tommorow, same time. I'm now free the whole morning, right?"

"Yes, sir."

Napatango lang si Sir Buendavid. Ngayon naman ay sa akin na napatingin si Alexa. Pinasadahan niya ako ng tingin.

"You're an employee here? From what dept'?"

"She's Ms. Beleza Quirino, my personal assistant. I hired her just an hour ago." Si Sir Buendavid ang sumagot sa kanyang tanong kaya napatango lang siya nang bahagya.

"Alexa, communicate with the Technical and Construction Team, I want them to set additional workspace in my office."

"Yes, sir. But, may I know what's the additional space for?"

"Ms. Quirino and I will share same office."