C5 - Clerical.

Lara couldn’t believe it. 

She graduated Summa Cum Laude but she was given the position of Assistant to the Assistant? Clerical! 

She wanted to walk out. What did her brilliant husband think of her? Did he think she knew nothing? Given that she was a fresh grad. She could still accept an Assistant position.  

But to be the Assistant of the Assistant, did Migo think so lowly of her abilities? 

What insulted her more was what the HR Manager told her. They gave her that position because there was really no vacancy. That if not for her backer, she wouldn’t have been accepted into the company. 

Yes! The HR Manager was that straight forward! Lara felt like the latter was being personal with her. 

"I have no idea who endorsed you, but you are referred directly from the office of the CEO. So, I guess he’s someone not to be taken lightly. But don't mistake that because you have an influential backer, you will receive special treatment here," Ms. Salvacion lengthily said. 

What if she told her that she was the wife of their boss? Lara got more annoyed when she remembered Migo’s last instructions to her on her way there. 

"You are not allowed to tell anyone that you are my wife, understand?" he said, as if the idea ever crossed her mind. 

She wasn’t even using his family name! 

Nevertheless, she agreed. She still didn’t know at that time that he was going to make her an Assistant to the Assistant. 

In her heart, she was still hoping that he would give her a good starting position based on her credentials. Take, for example, a position that would allow her to see him at work.

But because she was made to be the Assistant to the Assistant that was considered one of the lowest rank and file positions in the Administrative Department, she would not have the chance to even shake the hand of her mysterious husband. 

Lara was gritting her teeth secretly. She was annoyed with the manager, who was obviously thinking that, because she was just referred to in the company, she was someone ignorant.

'Very unprofessional,' she thought. To think that she was a manager, but the way she was raising an eyebrow was like she was ready for a petty fight. Did she go through the right process of employment? 

Did Migo know of his employee’s attitude? 

"I understand, Ms. Salvacion," she said when the Manager already looked pissed at her unresponsiveness. 

"You will start formally tomorrow. For now, I will ask somebody to orient you with the company policies. You’re lucky that you are not required to submit the pre-employment requirements." There was that tone again that was annoying Lara.

"Although if I'm the one to decide, I will still require you to provide the necessary documents," Ms. Salvacion added, as if challenging her.

"I can submit the requirements if needed. If you would kindly give me the list, Ms. Salvacion," she said courteously. 

The Manager raised her artificial eyebrow once more. If Lara could guess her age, maybe she was in her early thirties or maybe late twenties. She was young for such a managerial position. She couldn’t understand her mean attitude but Lara decided to just let it slide.

Hoping that after that informal interview, she wouldn’t see her again.

Ms Salvacion didn’t express disapproval and gave her a long list of required pre-employment documents. 

“I am not forcing you. But everyone in this building submits their documents first before starting their jobs.”

‘Fine! Fine!’ She thought irritably, wanting to slap her face with police clearance the very next day. It was one of the requirements that she saw in the list. 

"Okay," Ms Salvacion closed the folder that she gave her earlier with her academic records. She even seemed doubtful of her credentials. "I'll pass you to the person who will orient you. You will start formally tomorrow.”

When the annoying manager was already out of her sight, she took her phone out and called Uncle George.

“Miss Lara, are you allowed to use your phone at work?” the old man asked at once.

“Uncle, did Migo tell you that I’d be an Assistant to the Admin Assistant?” she grumbled.

Even if she wanted to complain directly to her husband, she didn’t have his number. He was very uncommunicative that even that small matter must be kept a secret from her. If she needed anything, she should let him know through Uncle George. 

“He didn’t tell me what your job would be, Miss Lara. But if he thinks that it’s what is best for you, then just obey him.”

Uncle George was never really on her side. Lara wanted to roll her eyes. But she just sighed in defeat.

“I will send you a list of clearances that I need to submit here. Please see how you can help me, Uncle,” she told him instead. She saw Ms Salvacion talking to someone through the glass wall. Maybe it was the person who would orient her next.

“Okay.”

Lara spent the next two hours of her life listening to the company’s history, policies, vision, mission, objective, etc. The other parts were already memorized by Lara by heart since. Of course, she’s expected to know, right? Like hello? She was the wife of the owner!

But it’s still funny how she knew the history, the company’s humble beginnings, and yet, her husband, who currently holds the highest position, remained invisible to her in the last sixteen years. She couldn’t understand that. Why was Migo so mysterious? 

“I’ll introduce you to your Department in the afternoon,” Ms. Dizon told her. Compared to the manager, the former was diplomatic and gentle. “It’s already lunch time. Did you bring your own lunch?”

“I’ll just buy outside, thanks,” she answered.

“Okay. Please be back by one o’clock.”

She didn’t go far. Because beside Migo’s office building was one of the malls he owned. It was the one farthest to their house. They lived in the north of the city while Miguel held office in the south.

Lara didn’t even know that Miguel owned the sky scraper where his office was. And here she was thinking that she knew the company’s history. She was not able to account for that building. Or maybe because, just like what Uncle George said this morning, Migo was venturing into real estate as well. 

She heaved a sigh as she crossed the street. She would obey Migo for now. She would see how her employment under him would go. 

—

Lara’s task was to assist the Admin Assistant, whom she had already met as Kylene. The latter was okay, she was also friendly. And her duties and responsibilities were document filing, answering the phone, sorting out emails, photocopying files, and anything clerical. 

Lara was depressed because she knew she could do better than those things. She was sure that if she were to apply to another company, she wouldn’t be given such a kind of job. She was not being arrogant, but she knew she deserved better. She could do better.

But she would prove to Miguel that she could be wherever he would put her. Lara will do her best. He would let him know she was capable of anything!

She thought it was just that easy. 

What she was not prepared for was that Migo had a lot of mean employees. And Lara’s patience was just about to be tested.