8 8

“Okay, that’s all for today. Meeting adjourned.”

Senior Designers and Team Heads started to leave the board room. I swung my swivel chair so I could face the skyscraper of the city. It seems like it’s just yesterday that I was a Junior Designer.

“Ma’am Nicole? Miss Andrea is waiting for you in your office and Sir Leig wants to see you at 4:30 this afternoon.” Rosella, my secretary, said.

I sighed and looked for my coffee atop the table. “What does Sir want?”

“He needs the updates of the department. The deadline for the Quarterly Report to the BOI (Board of Investors) is nearing. That is the only thing that Liezel said.”

“Okay, sure. Thanks, Rose. Go ahead and take your break. I’ll be back by 2. You know it’s ‘cause Andz is here.”

Rose softly laughed. “Yes, ma’am.”

We both went to my office and saw that Andz is really focusing on her phone while sitting on the sofabed. She smiled that smile that I know the meaning of, long ago. I nodded my head towards Rose when she gave me a sign that she was going ahead to take her break.

“I know that smile, Andz. And you also know my answer to that. No.” I said while getting my wallet and cellphone from my secret compartment inside my table.

“Niks, it already happened a long time ago! You need to move on and venture again. It’ll look ugly if you grow old single.”

Blind dates are not the solution to my being cold. I just decided that I don’t want it anymore. I already learned that loving hurts. I mean, I knew that before, but it still hurt.

I looked at Andz with a meaning so that she can just keep quiet. I don’t want to have bad vibes against her especially now since she is just visiting me. But, her, on the other hand, is just making puppy eyes towards me. I just rolled my eyes because I know that the place we are going to for lunch is where my blind date would be. Good thing I told Rose that I’ll be late.

“Just this time, Andz. Make it fast because I need to go back to the office. I have a conference call with the President later.”

“YAAY! Yes, Niks! Trust me. I think this guy is worth it. Come on!”

She pulled me from my office which is on the 10th floor until we reached the next building which is a hotel. Looks like this blind date of mine is rich. Well, Andz does have good taste. The only problem is the guys she introduces me to don't last long under my thumb.

When we arrived at the restaurant, the head waiter led us to a semi-private booth where I could see a seated man. He looks tall and looks decent because I can see that he is wearing a collared shirt. But the previous dates are also like him. Let’s just see if this person will last.

When we arrived at the table, the man had his head down, focusing on his phone. Andz cleared her throat softly, signalling to the guy that we are here. The man immediately looked at us and my eyes rounded.

“OMG! Jason!” I laughingly said while hugging him. It’s been a long time since I last saw him.

I faced Andz. “You told me it was a blind date! This is just Jason!”

We sat down around a round table. “Niks, I wanted to surprise you here. I learned from Andz that she’s visiting you. I decided to join her but I told her that my visit should be a surprise to you.”

“What? Why keep it a secret? You can just say that you are visiting the branch as an excuse. That’s okay, right?”

Jason scratched his nape like he’s shy about something. “Um, Niks. I got promoted. I’m the new President of the main branch.”

My eyes widened. That’s a big promotion! “HEYY!! Congratulations, Jason! Is it why you wanted to surprise me? I guess that’s why you aren’t pestering me. Hahaha”

While we were eating, I suddenly thought about it. If Jason is the new president of the main branch, then what is the new position of Jerk? Wait. Never mind. I don’t want to think of him because it might cause my indigestion. Before we parted ways, I told them that I will treat them before they go back to Manila. They requested that I bring them somewhere expensive and not the cheap ones. I laughed at what they said. Those cheap places have really good food and have regulars, like me.

“As you can see in your screen and copy, we have doubled the positive response of consumers on 80% of our products in the last few months.”

“I’ll have to stop you there, Nicole. I know that you have done a good job for the past years.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“Rose, please leave the room. I have to Nicole alone.”

Rose and I looked at each other with a hidden question before I nodded that she followed his instruction.

“Sir? Why did you ask my secretary to leave?”

“The main branch’s General Manager is retiring within this year, and the BOI and I have been looking over candidates who can replace Mr. Elcom. Altogether, we have decided that you are the best candidate for the job.”

I was shocked. I can’t look straight at the screen so I looked first at the floor. This is really a big blessing! My salary will be raised. But, this would also mean that I will go back to Manila. Am I ready for it?

“Nicole, take it. It’s high time that you come back to Manila. Besides, many years have passed.”

I faced the screen again and nodded. I never thought that I’d go back to Manila. Can I really do it? Well, it’s true that many years have passed.

“Thank you, sir. I’ll take it. When do I need to go back?”

“As soon as you are done training your replacement. You will decide who will fill your spot. As long as he or she came from that same branch.”

“Alright, sir. Anything else?”

He looked at me through the screen. “Congratulations, Nicole. And, welcome back to Manila.” Then, he ended our call and Rose went back in.

“Ma'am! Congratulations! You’ll be going back to Manila!” Rose greeted me as she sat down back to her place inside my office.

“Thank you, Rose.” I smiled at her. “Tomorrow, let’s start on finding candidates for my position. Let’s also start on liquidating the projects and clients that I’ve handled so we can store them in the archives and so I can have copies.”

“Ma’am, what will we say to the HR as the reason we are looking for your replacement?”

“Let’s keep it a secret first, Rose. Let’s just tell them after we have found our candidates.”

She nodded while typing on her tablet. “Ma’am, just a reminder: you have a meeting tomorrow with the big client. 9 am sharp at Board Room A.”

“Thanks, Rose. You can go ahead.” I smiled at her again before she went out of my office.

I immediately got my cellphone and called Andz.

“Andz! I got promoted!”

“OMG GIRL! Congratulations! Both you and Jason got promoted! Let’s celebrate tonight!”

“Yeah, I know! I didn’t even expect it! Call Jason to tell him we’re going out. I’ll go home first so I can refresh. I’ll meet you at your hotel lobby.”

“Sure. I’ll see you later!”

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