Chapter 3 : The Interview and The Naughty Interviewer

Nahulog yung resume ni Athena sa sahig. Nagkalat.

"Ikaw????" Yun ang unang lumabas sa bibig ni Athena, hindi "Good morning Sir" ulit, hindi professional, pero gulat na gulat. Nakatayo pa rin siya sa p***o, hawak pa rin door handle, parang gusto tumakbo pabalik sa elevator.

Si Gregory Imperial, nakaupo sa malaking upuan, hawak yung kwintas niya na letter A, nakatingin sa kanya. Naka dark navy suit, buhok maayos, pero yung mata, yun pa rin yung mata nung gabing yun. Matalino, dominant, mailap.

"Hello, Irish," sabi ni Greg, boses malamig pero may ngiti. "Or should I say, Athena Sebastian? I've been looking for you."

Si Athena hindi pa rin makagalaw. "Ikaw yung CEO? Ikaw yung... yung sa..."

"Yung lalaking binigyan mo ng fake na pangalan? Yes. Ako yun. At ikaw yung babaeng iniwan akong tulog. First time nangyari sa akin yun."

Pinulot ni Athena yung resume niya, isa isa, nanginginig kamay. Umupo siya sa harap ni Greg, pero isang metro layo ng upuan niya sa table, parang takot lumapit.

"Sir, hindi ko po alam na kayo pala may-ari ng Imperial Holdings, hindi po nakalagay name niyo sa post," sabi ni Athena, boses mahina.

"I know. I keep my name private. Mailap ako sa media. Pero ikaw, hinahanap kita for three days. Tapos nag-apply ka pa sa company ko, gamit tunay na pangalan mo. So fate, Athena?"

"Sir, trabaho lang po pinunta ko dito, hindi po yung..."

"Anong hindi? Yung gabing yun? Wala akong maalala na gabi. I only remember a girl named Irish who said she needed money. Are you here because you need money again, Irish?"

"Sir! Athena na po, hindi na Irish! At interview po ito diba?"

"Yes, interview. So let's start. Why do you want to work for me?"

"Because qualified po ako, cum laude po ako, Business Ad, magaling po ako sa analysis..."

"Wrong," putol ni Greg. "The real answer is because you need 35k. Just like you needed 500k that night. Honest ka dati, bakit hindi ngayon?"

Namula si Athena.

"Sir, pwede po ba professional lang?"

"This is professional. I'm interviewing you professionally. Professionally asking why a cum laude like you left a man sleeping after taking 500k. That's very professional question for me."

"Sir!"

"What? I'm just asking. You're the one thinking naughty things, Irish. I'm just talking about sleeping. You left me sleeping. Literally sleeping."

Si Athena mas lalo namula, "Hindi po ganun yun!"

"Then how is it? Tell me, how was it?"

"Sir!"

Tumawa si Greg ng mahina, first time. Hindi malakas, pero kita na nang-aasar.

"Relax, Athena. I'm just teasing you. You look cute when you're shocked. You looked the same that night, remember? When I asked you if you're sure."

"Sir, pwede po ba wag niyo na lang po i-bring up yung gabing yun? Tapos na po yun, transaction lang po yun."

"Okay, done. Tapos na. So you're hired."

"Po?"

"You're hired. 35k. Start tomorrow, 7AM. You're intelligent, you have pride, you don't beg. That's what I need. No more interview."

"Ganun lang po? Hindi niyo po ako tatanungin ng mga usual questions?"

"I already interviewed you that night. And you passed. You were scared but you were brave. So you pass again now."

Tumayo si Greg, kinuha yung kwintas na letter A at nilapag sa table, malapit kay Athena pero hindi binigay.

"One more thing. Don't tell Malaya that I'm the man from that night. That's our secret. If you tell her, or anyone, you're fired before you even start. Understood?"

Tiningnan ni Athena si Greg, at tumango.

"Opo."

"Good. And Athena, rule number one in my office, when I tease you, you don't run. You stay. Like now, you're still here even though you want to run."

"Hindi po ako..."

"You are. Your hand is still on your bag, ready to run. But you stay. Good girl."

Namula ulit si Athena, tumayo at kinuha yung kwintas ng mabilis.

"Akin na po yan!"

"Take it. I kept it for three days. Now you can have it back. But next time you leave something in my office, I will not return it that easily."

Lumabas si Athena ng CEO office, pulang pula mukha, hawak yung kwintas at resume na gusot na.

Sa labas, sinalubong siya ni Malaya.

"Bes, anong nangyari? Ang tagal mo, bakit namumula ka? Anong ginawa sayo ni Sir?"

"Wala! Natanggap ako! 35k! Bukas start ko na!"

"WEH? Ang bilis! Ano tinanong sayo? Stricto ba? Gwapo ba CEO?"

Tumingin si Athena sa p***o na nakasara, at narinig pa niya boses ni Greg sa loob.

"Mailap sa media. Heartless. Genius. Workaholic. At nang-aasar," bulong ni Athena.

"Ha?"

"Wala! Ikaw na next, good luck!"

Pumasok si Malaya sa loob, at si Athena naiwan sa waiting area, hawak yung kwintas na letter A, at sa phone niya may bagong text.

Don't be late tomorrow, Irish. And don't tell Malaya our secret. Or I will tell her what you wore that night. - G

Nabitawan ni Athena phone niya ulit.