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.
IAt the Lincuja’s mansion, Lucia is marching back and forth, thinking about how she could be able to change the situation now. Her eldest son, Marco Raguya, who is currently the Executive Vice President of the Lincuja Real Estate Corporation, should have been the new CEO of the Company, where if not for the bastard of Carolina!Lucia all of a sudden got her mobile phone and dialed Marco’s number. “Hello, Marco how are you? Are you in the office now?”“Hello Ma, yes, I am here and trying to finish something as required by the new CEO.” Marco’s voice has no enthusiasm.“So how’s the bastard?”Marco laughed a little and answered his fuming mother. “Well, trying to terrify everyone here on his first day.”“Hah! He will have his downfall, soonest!” Lucia is too furious to notice the Mayordoma, who was able to hear her words.After putting off her cell phone, Lucia changed her clothes, got her bag, and called her driver.“Bring me to Lincuja’s Real Estate Corporation!” she ordered to the d
IAtty. Wilgreg, opens again the 201 files of Atty. Ninia Salamera. From grade school until she finished law school, she has been at the top of her class. “Wow, excellent! Sobra Saliente!” he whispered.Atty. Ninia’s father was a farmer. Was because his father died already two years ago. Her mother is an elementary teacher. Basically, Atty. Ninia Salamera came from a poor to a middle-class family. No wonder, she is very simple. As far as he knows, she does not even have yet her own car. Atty. Wilgreg called Rowell through their Company’s internal landline phone and asked him to come to his office.“Rowell, I am just wondering what was the cause of the death of Atty. Ninia’s father? The HR department failed to take note of that in their summary of interviews about her.”Rowell secretly smiled upon seeing the interest of the new CEO in the newly hired lawyer of the Company. “Sir, I am not so sure about my info, but I heard that his father had a heart attack upon knowing that a land grab
IIn his yahoo e-mail, Atty. Wilgreg, saw information about Atty. Ninia Salamera. It was from Atty. Ferrer. The old lawyer had already found out who grabbed the farming land of Atty. Salamera’s father.He immediately called Atty. Ferrer. “Atty. Ferrer, Sir, another favor, please. Just bill me with the expenses and costs. Can you please send the best lawyer in your firm to the land grabber’s home? The land should be returned to the rightful owner as soon as possible. Either he will be threatened with a lawsuit or worst offered to buy the land from him at a minimal cost.”“Got it Hijo. Don’t worry, I know what to do. I will let you know in a few days' time of any development.” Atty. Ferrer is smiling. He smelled something. Damian’s so much interest in the Company’s new lawyer is something that cannot be set aside. It will be such big news if it will develop into something greater in the coming days.“Thank you, Atty. Ferrer.” The young CEO’s appreciation of the old lawyer’s help is sinc
IThe Finance Director visited the office of the Executive Vice President of the Lincuja Real Estate Corporation. He has some documents in his hands.“Sir Marco kindly takes a look at this report. The new CEO already noticed the unexplained Millions of expenses. I hope you are ready now with your liquidations for these expenses.” The Finance Director laid down the financial report over Marco Raguya’s executive desk.“Just put it down there, I will take check it tonight.” Marco Raguya retorted.The Finance Director nodded, “Sir, I hope you have your answers tomorrow. The next day would be our special meeting with the new CEO; all directors including you. I hope you know it already.”“Yes, thank you. You may go now.” Marco Raguya said trying to dismiss now the Finance Director out of his office.He checks the financial report and his knees weaken. How can he explain these expenses? He has even no receipts to support these expenses. He lost these tones of money in the Baccarat and Blackj
IThe appointment of Atty. Ninia Salamera as the new Vice-President for Finance became final and has been implemented the next day after the meeting with all of the Directors per Department.Some were happy and congratulated her, but of course, like any other office politics, some were questioning her immediate promotion.Atty. Ninia does not want any issues in her life especially when it comes to working, so she promised herself to really prove her worth for the said promotion.By Saturday, as agreed upon with Atty. Wilgreg, they were at the book launching of Ms. Carolina Monaro’s latest book.Atty. Wilgreg seemed so proud of his mother. He was there standing beside her, assisting her and even trying to smile and help some guests and customers who would like their books to be signed by Ms. Carolina Monaro, the author.Atty. Ninia upon seeing the busy CEO, decided to help, which was highly appreciated by Atty. Wilgreg.After the book signing, Atty. Wilgreg’s Mom treated them to lunch
I Atty. Ninia felt her body quiver because of anger. She cannot forget the insulting words that Mr. Marco Raguya threw at him yesterday. Right now she is holding the report that will make his life miserable. She stood up from her executive chair with the report and supporting documents in her hands. She can do nothing but submit these reports and documents to the CEO. She cannot hide the truth that has been found out both by the Finance Team and Legal Team. She smiled at Rowell when she reached the office of the CEO, who just nodded when she motioned that she will knock on the door. “Come in” The CEO voice inside answered upon hearing the three knocks of Atty. Ninia Salamera. “Atty. Wilgreg, I came to submit these documents to you.” She handed him the report and the documents regarding Marco Raguya. “Thank you.” The CEO said upon receiving the documents from the new Vice-President for Finance. “I will now leave Sir so that you can concentrate on reading it.” Atty. Ninia excused
I While in his car going back to his mansion, Damian is thoroughly thinking. He does not want to dismiss the thought that Lucia might want to harm her now, considering that he is trying to transfer everything already to Wilgreg, his only heir. If his presumption is true, then God forbids Lucia will receive his wrath. Hey Hon, according to our maid you visited your Doctor. Why? Are you not feeling well? Why did you not call me, I should have accompanied you.” Lucia immediately runs after seeing him enter the door of their mansion. “Oh nothing to worry much, I’m okay now. I just experienced some palpitations in my heart so I decided to immediately have it checked. So far, my doctor said that there is nothing to worry about.” Damian glanced at Lucia after saying his explanation and keenly observed her reaction.Lucia tried to feel worried and tried to assist Damian by holding on to his arm. Secretly a smile broke her lips which did not pass unnoticed to the observant eyes of Damian. T
IAtty. Ninia was fetched by Atty. Wilgreg from her apartment going to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. They boarded on a business class seat with the Cathay Pacific. Atty. Ninia feels uncomfortable because she and Wilgreg are seating side by side. Wilgreg on one hand seems so relaxed and enjoying the moment.Unconsciously Atty. Ninia falls asleep during the half-time of their more than three hours flight. Their flight was around 10:30 in the morning, so she woke up at around six o’clock in the morning to prepare herself and some other stuff. At around eight o’clock in the morning, they were already heading to the airport.Atty. Wilgreg, would glance at the sleeping woman beside him from time to time. He can clearly see her whole face features as she removed her eyeglasses before sleeping. Looking at her intensely, Wilgreg truly appreciated her long eyelashes, well-defined eyebrows, pointed, cute nose, and a bit pouting red lips. After a while, he too falls into his deep slumbe