The Willing Executive

Chapter 1

Balancing a folder of reports in my right hand and a cup of milk plus a medium size box of cookies from a well known bakeshop in the other, I skillfully made my way into the lobby of Benilde Publishing.

Hindi na bago sa akin ang ganitong senaryo. Sa halos anim na taon kong pagtatrabaho bilang Executive Assistant sa isa sa mga prestihiyosong kompanya dito sa Canada ay nakasanayan ko nang solusyonan ang tambak at paminsan-minsang palpak na gawain ng iba.

It's already past nine in the morning kaya rinig na rinig ko na ang maingay na tunog ng mga takong at sapatos. Sanay na man ay kakikitaan pa rin ng pagmamadali ang iilang empleyadong nandito. We have an event for the important visitors tomorrow. A big one.

"Hey! Watch out," kaagad na saway ko ng kamuntikan pa akong mabunggo ni Gwaine, a pure Filipina too, and a Copy Editor.

"Sorry, Tat," she said before apologetically smiling at me

I nodded at her.

Luminga-linga ako. Pilit na hinahanap ang tao na nagdala ng maling order sa akin. Mabuti nalang at kilala na nila ako kaya malaya kong naibabalik kapag iba ang naipadala dito.

"Excuse me.. This isn't my exact order. I'd like to replace the milk with black coffee and the bread with a medium size box of rowies," kaagad na sabi ko bago iniabot ang hawak ko sa kanang kamay sa baguhang delivery boy

Nagtaas ako ng kilay ng makitang titig na titig ito sa akin, tila nabigla sa diretsahang pagsalita ko. Well, the things that was being delivered to me just awhile ago is totally the opposite of what I've ordered.

Who would serve a huge man a cup of milk and small brownies? He's my boss and not my child!

"If you could bring it here before eight-thirty, the better. I will personally receive it. Or you can just simply leave it to that person," sabi ko bago itinuro ang taong nasa reception desk na kasalukuyang nakatingin sa gawi namin.  Tinanguan ako ni Ysmael, tanda na siya na ang bahala.

I smiled before walking towards the elevator. Napawi lang ng makita kung sino ang makakasabay. The most paid model of Dior, Kaye Morgan. The rumored girlfriend of my boss, Seymour Rafael Benilde. That professional, reserved, and workaholic CEO of Benilde Publishing.

How do I know? Well, it's all over the news. And besides, I've been working for him for years now, which I intend to make into decades, but I doubt the news are true.

I was about to enter the 21, but it's already pressed. I slightly glance at her. She's going to the last floor too.

"Good morning, Ma'am," bati ko

Lihim akong napairap ng parang wala man lang itong narinig. I don't really care though. Hah, she's wearing a six inches pink ankle strap sandals while mine was just three inches white stiletto and yet, I am still beyond taller than her. So why would I care?

Ilang sandali pa ay bumukas na ang elevator. Ipinagpatuloy ko ang pagkukunwaring pag-aayos ng mga reports na hawak at pinatiuna na siya. Napailing ako ng lagpasan niya ang pinto ng aking office at diretsong pumasok sa private office ni Sir Seymour.

She doesn't have an appointment. But she is the rumored girlfriend, so I didn't stop her.

"Hi, love," rinig ko pang bati niya bago isinara ang pinto.

Pagkapasok sa sariling opisina ay maayos kong inilapag sa loob ng aking drawer ang mga dokumentong hawak.

"Five minutes," hula ko sa itatagal ng babae sa loob bago umupo at tumipa sa desktop computer.