The New Boss is Here

"What's going on down there?" Carla asked as soon as she opened the door of their department. "There are lots of people gathered at the entrance."

"I know, right? I also saw Josephine there," Jane said, standing up to greet Carla who was putting down her purse on her table.

"Something's up, I just know it. I just hope they'd tell us what."

"I heard in the elevator that a VIP is coming today. They were cleaning President Enriquez's office very early," Rae butted in.

Carla and Jan looked at Rae, like they were surprised that she joined in their conversation. They quickly pulled their chairs to Rae's table and sat in front of her.

"Okay, girl, spill! What else do you know?" The two ladies said the sentence simultaneously.

"That's all I know," Rae said, not taking her eyes off her computer.

Just then, Maia came in.

"Maia! We are so glad you're here. What's going on? Why are there so many people at the entrance?" Jane said as she pulled Carla beside her and then followed Maia to her desk.

"I heard a VIP is coming today and the people down there are the welcoming party," Maia said.

Jane and Carla looked at each other.

"I wonder who it is…" Jane said thoughtfully.

"Have you guys seen the people outside?" Josh just came.

"We know!" Jane and Carla said simultaneously.

"Okay," Josh looked at them, bewildered.

"A VIP is coming," Carla said to Josh, beating Jane to it.

"So I heard," said Josh.

"From whom?" Jane and Carla said simultaneously again.

"From the people talking in the elevator. Since when did you two speak in duo?" Josh asked jokingly.

Jane ignored his comment.

"I am so intrigued who this VIP is!"

"I think everyone is," replied Josh.

"Okay, I just received a message from my email. Apparently, there IS a VIP coming and there is a big announcement later. The board will be here to welcome the VIP. And we are instructed to make sure our floor is spick and span," Maia butted in the group's conversation.

"Did they say who it is?" Jane asked.

"No, they didn't say. Ugh! I wish I had read this email earlier. Now I feel stressed and it's not even eight in the morning!" Maia said, frustration in her tone.

"Josh, would you mind tidying up a little? At least make it look presentable. I don't want Josephine reprimanding me in front of the VIP."

"Sure, Maia, no problem," said Josh.

Maia was about to go back to her desk when she suddenly remembered something. She turned to the group again.

"Has anyone seen Amanda?" She asked.

Everyone looked at each other.

"Well, have you?" Maia repeated the question.

"I haven't seen her," Rae was the first to answer.

Jane and Carla shook their heads "no".

"Hmmnnn… that's odd. She's usually early," Maia said thoughtfully.

"Maybe we should ask Josh," teased Jane.

"What do you mean?" Asked Josh, trying his best to look as innocent as possible.

"We know something happened to you and Amanda last Friday at the bar."

Josh looked at Jane. He shook his head in disbelief. Why would she even open that topic?

"Nothing happened," Josh said but the answer was directed at Maia.

"Look, you guys, I don't care about your petty issues with whatever it is. Just make sure your issues don't interfere with your work productivity," Maia said and then went back to her desk.

"Why did you have to say that?" Josh asked Jane when he was sure that Maia was out of earshot.

"What? I just said a valid observation. Something happened last Friday. Otherwise, you wouldn't have gone home early and Amanda wouldn't have gone home with Xander!"

"Amanda went home with Xander?" The news stung.

"Well, I didn't see them leave together but they both disappeared. So we figured maybe they were together."

"She must have seen me leave with Alynna," Josh said to himself.

"I beg your pardon?" Jane asked.

"Nothing. I was talking to myself. I should probably start making this floor presentable for the VIP. Excuse me," Josh said. He then left the room and wondered where Amanda was at that moment.

He regretted bringing Alynna to the bar last Friday. He regretted not telling Amanda the truth from the beginning.

He shook his head. This is not the time to think about this. Josh decided to focus on working so that he wouldn't have to think abut Amanda or wherever she is.

. . .

Mandy sat in her father's office, contemplating what she will say at her first meeting with the board later. She has never done anything like this before. Actually she has never even been inside a board room, much less lead it.

She hoped and prayed that the clock would stop and time itself would freeze. She just wanted to stay inside the four walls of this office.

She tapped the balls of her fingers on the table. She had asked herself a million times why she had agreed to her dad to take over the company.

She noticed a photo frame just by the upper right corner of her father's executive desk. She picked up the frame and studied it close. Her mother was carrying her while her father looked at her, not minding the photographer. She guessed she was between 2 or 3 years old in the photo. She sighed. Life had been happier and so much simpler then.

There was a soft knock on the door, interrupting Mandy's thoughts.

"Come in."

"Miss Mandy, we are ready," said Jenny, her father's secretary.

"Okay. Can you, uhm, just give me a minute?"

"Of course, Miss Mandy. You may just come out whenever you are ready. We will be here waiting." Jenny closed the door softly.

Mandy inhaled deeply and then let the air out slowly.

"If this is a bad dream, please let me wake up from it!" Mandy said out loud.

But she knew that this was not a dream and she was definitely not asleep.

The day she dreaded was upon her and at this moment, there is nothing she could do but embrace it.

. . .

The first order of the day was for Mandy to see all the floors so that she can familiarize herself with the departments and divisions of their company. Mandy didn't think it was necessary but her father had insisted on doing this. He said it will not only make Mandy familiar with the business, but it will also be a way for her to be known in the company. Though the employees of EGC are aware that Donald Enriquez had a daughter, she has remained faceless until this day.

A handful of people were with Mandy as she went around. Each time Josephine introduced her as Miss Mandy Enriquez, daughter of Donald Enriquez. She felt uncomfortable each time.

Her feet started to hurt but she endured it. She didn't want the employees to think she was a weakling or a complainer or a brat.

She suddenly remembered Josh. He told her not to wear heels to work or she will never last the day.

Josh.

Mandy felt nervous all of a sudden. She realized that, before the day ends, she will have to face Josh and her co-workers.

"I wonder what they will say," Mandy said out loud.

"I beg your pardon, Miss Mandy?" Josephine asked. She tried very hard not to look annoyed that Mandy wasn't paying attention to what she was saying.

"I said it's wonderful to meet the hard working employees of EGC. I hope we all have a good working relationship, for the company."

"Whew!" Mandy thought. She had better be careful about her thoughts and her habit of saying her thoughts out loud.

"Well, then, Miss Mandy, let us go to the next department."

"Great. What's next?"

"Purchasing," Josephine said. She looked directly at Mandy. Purchasing Department was where Mandy worked.

"Maybe we should make that our last stop," Mandy suggested to Josephine, although she prayed Josephine will take it as a command.

"I'm afraid we cannot do that. We have arranged your departmental visits in such a way that will be most productive time-wise," Josephine said, her face did not even change expressions.

"Okay then, if that is what you think is best." Mandy didn't want to argue with her in front of everybody so she decided to let it go.

. . .

The hallway was empty. Mandy had walked this hallway many times during the previous week but she had never noticed how tight the space was. Or maybe because there were a lot of them walking with her that day.

Josephine walked in front of her and then some other followed. Mandy looked back to check if they were still there. She caught the eye of some people as she looked behind. Embarrassed, she quickly turned her head and looked forward.

As they neared the door of the Purchasing Department, her heart raised. Josephine stopped in front of the dark wooden door to wait for Mandy.

"Are you ready?" Josephine asked.

Mandy wanted to say she wasn't but she nodded anyway.

Josephine knocked lightly before she opened the door, not waiting for an answer if she could come in.

Everyone inside looked up. Maia, at that moment, was talking to Josh.

Josephine motioned for Mandy to get inside.

Mandy slowly dragged her feet through the door.

"There you are!" Jane exclaimed. "We've been wondering where you were!"

"Yeah, you didn't call in sick or anything," Maia agreed. Then she noticed that Josephine looked horrified by what she just said.

"Is there something wrong?" Maia asked Josephine.

"Everyone," Josephine began, ignoring Maia's question. At that moment, Mandy looked at Josh like he was the only person in the room.

"I would like you all to meet Mandy Enriquez, the only daughter of President Donald Enriquez. She will be taking over the company while the President is on a business trip."

The bomb has dropped — and there was dead silence.