Chapter 5 - Interesting Woman

I

The first thing Atty. Wilgreg did when he arrived at his new office was to call the Director for Human Resources. She is an old, strict-looking woman; most probably around the early fifties.

After greeting her back, he started to give instructions. “Ms. Salvacion, here are the things that I want to see today. Please list them down; Company policy, an actual organizational chart with names of staff per position; a list of all employees with each corresponding important information and salaries, the Company’s list of benefits, team building activities, and civic and social activities. I want that on my desk before one o’clock in the afternoon. By the way, look for an Executive Assistant for me. I will do the final interview before the contract signing. That’s all for now. You may go.”

The next one who entered the office of the CEO is the Finance and Accounting Director. He is in his mid-forties. A licensed CPA as he previously learned.

He looked at him in the eye and stated, “Mr. Soreco, I wanted to know the latest financial statement of the company, the unedited or for internal purposes and edited or for BIR purposes; Income and expenses for the last five years; Assets and liabilities. I need the documents before one in the afternoon today. That’s all, you may go.”

Atty. Wilgreg called next to the Sales and Marketing Director. She is an attractive woman, most probably in her late thirties.

“Ms. Rosauro, what is our latest sales report? New sales and marketing strategies as compared before? Give me the list of staff whom you considered as our assets in the sales and marketing department; list of our brokers and sales agents and top grosser for the last year and this year and of course our most saleable properties or projects and your opinion as to why they are more saleable. That’s it for now, please go.”

The roll call continued until the last remaining one is the Legal Department. The Director for Legal Affairs is an old scholarly-looking man. Per his research, he graduated from the University of the Philippines with high honors and ranked ninth in the BAR Examination.

“Panyero, glad to meet you,” the old lawyer said after he offered him a seat.

Atty. Wilgreg smiled. “Indeed Panyero. By the way Atty. Moran, how many lawyers do we have now in the Company and how many retained law firms?”

Atty. Moran, think for a while then answered, “We have six lawyers now, including me; two seniors and four junior lawyers. We recently hired a new lawyer, a recent passer; actually, she placed second to you in this past BAR examination. We have three retained law firms.”

“I wanted to meet our recently hired lawyer, who placed second to me in the Bar Exam. Please tell her to come at around one-thirty in the afternoon, if she has no hearing or meeting outside, Atty. Moran. Thank you.”

"That is very well-noted Panyero. Atty. Ninia Salamera is striking, with a big thinking head aside from being physically well gifted," The old lawyer smiled while saying these things about the newly hired lawyer.

After Atty. Moran left his office, she called the HR Manager and asked her to bring to him now the 201 files of the newly hired lawyer of the Company.

II

Atty. Ninia Salamera made it a point to come to the new CEO’s office on time.

By one-thirty in the afternoon, Rowell, who temporarily served as Atty. Wilgreg’s Executive Assistant while serving the Chairman at the same time, came knocking at his office stating that Atty. Salamera is already outside.

“Let her in Rowell. Thank you.”

“Good afternoon Atty. Monaro.”, Atty. Ninia Salamera’s greetings, which made the new CEO’s eyebrows to raise.

Wilgreg scanned through the appearance of the woman. In his mind, the new CEO assessed her. Hmm, she looks so relaxed compared to some of the directors who came to his office this morning. For a lawyer to be still beautiful even with or without eyeglasses, this woman is something.

“Atty. Ninia Salamera, congratulations for placing second in the recent BAR Examination.” Wilgreg extended his hand to the lady lawyer in front of him, for a handshake.

“Thank you, Atty. Monaro,” All that Atty. Ninia said then took gently Wilgreg’s offered hand for a handshake.

Unfortunately, Atty. Ninia did not congratulate Wilgreg back for topping the BAR Exam and the latter secretly smirked. Either she forgot that he is the BAR Top notcher or she does not want to emphasize the fact that she only placed second to him. Well, if the latter is the case, this woman has an unfathomable pride.

In her mind, Atty. Ninia knows that he wanted her to congratulate him back as the BAR top notcher when he congratulated her as the second placer. Well, she will not give him that satisfaction.

“Well, Atty. Salamera, I called you because I learned that you are the latest addition to the legal department. You think you were hired because same with our Director for Legal Affairs, you are a graduate of the University of the Philippines and placed second in the Bar Exam?” The new CEO is keenly looking at the young woman.

“Most probably those factors helped the HR Director and The Director for Legal Affairs to decide to hire me, but I believed, I still have other characteristics that most probably the other applicants did not possess.” With confidence Atty. Ninia Salamera answered.

“Wow, the way you answered Atty. Salamera, you can actually win in the Ms. Universe Pageant, but I hope, when you are in court, you should be more specific in answering.” The new CEO retorted after making an amused laugh.

Atty. Salamera will not let that mockery pass without giving the young CEO a dose of his own pill. “I will remember that Atty. Monaro. Please be reminded however to refrain from giving leading questions, as you may be overruled in court.”

The new CEO bursts out in laughter after hearing the woman’s reply. “What a nice refute. Alright, make me more amazed Atty. Salamera by winning our cases. I don’t need words but results.”

“Will do Sir. By the way, I refused before to join the Ms. Philippines Pageant, as my intelligence might overwhelm the beauty in me and I might not win because of that.”

Atty. Wilgreg’s forehead narrowed but he remained silent and just looked at Atty. Salamera with a quizzical look.

“It is a beauty pageant Sir, not a quiz bee contest.” She replied nonchalantly.

Again Atty. Wilgreg bursts out in laughter after getting what she meant.

"Hah, this woman is really something!" he thought while giving her an interesting look.

Atty. Salamera looked at the Company's new CEO and was mesmerized by the way he boyishly and carelessly laugh, which is in total contrast to the coldhearted CEO he portrays in front of everyone.  

Seeing her watching him intently, Atty. Wilgreg slowly stopped laughing and intensely looked in return to Atty. Salamera. 

Their eyes locked and for a moment, silence ruled them while their eyes shone brightly and their hearts beat wildly.