Access Denied!

"Here are what you asked for, Miss Mandy," Jenny said as she handed a tray to Mandy.

Mandy looked up from what she was doing. She smiled at Jenny when she saw the wet wipes and the small bottle of alcohol on a small, white tray.

"Thank you, Jenny. But next time, just give me the paper bag, no need to put them in a tray," said Mandy. She took the items and then placed them beside the neatly stacked pile of documents that need her approval. Jenny had carefully placed them in separate folders for easy reading. Mandy had sighed loudly when she saw the papers earlier. Josephine gave her a disapproving look.

"Oh, sorry, Miss, but President Enriquez prefers it like that. I hope you won't mind if I continue to do the same to you. Besides, if he finds out I hand you things inside a paper bag, he might fire me, you know," Jenny explained.

Mandy laughed.

"I think you will be the last person he will ever think of firing from the company, Jenny. Come to think of it, I think he would fire me first before he fires you."

Jenny smiled. She took the empty tray and hugged it lightly on her chest.

"That will most certainly not happen, Miss." Jenny smiled as she continued her sentence. "Your father believes in you. And I think it's time you believe in you, too."

Mandy looked at Jenny but didn't really know how to react to the unsolicited advice.

"Thank you, Jenny," was all she found herself saying.

"Sure, Miss." Jenny backed off. She stepped out of the room and softly closed the door.

Mandy slumped back on the executive chair. She swung it from left to right, thinking of what Jenny had said. Maybe she did need to believe in herself and start acting like the boss she is.

She started tapping the pen on the table. She saw the stack of papers that need her attention. It's a good thing Jenny had segregated the piles into urgent and less urgent. At least she would know which ones to do first.

She stood up for a while and walked the length of the room. Her father's office was not bad at all. The room was spacious enough to have a small meeting with a handful of people, maybe 5 or 6. The furnitures were of dark wood that made the room feel formal rather than homey. But it still added warmth to the room. The pillows matched the couch set where his father, she imagined, would meet guests or business partners. There was a conference room adjoining the office. This was where they had bigger meetings, usually with the board or with some managers or directors. Mandy was impressed of the office.

As she turned around, she noticed the magnificent view of the city that she didn't notice that morning when she came. She might have been so nervous to look and study her surroundings that morning. But now that the board meeting was done, she felt more relaxed. She breathed in. She could smell the faint scent of roses in the air. She moved closer to the glass wall and took in the breath-taking view of the city skyline.

Meanwhile, on the other side of her office door, there was quite a commotion starting.

"I'm here to see Miss Mandy Enriquez." Josh had just come in from outside. Jenny could smell the cigarette from his breath.

"And your name, Sir?" Jenny replied calmly.

"My name is Josh, from Purchasing Department. Aman—, I mean, Miss Mandy knows me," replied Josh.

"Do you have an appointment?" Jenny asked again.

"What? No, of course not! I'm telling you, she knows me. I just need to speak with her for a couple of minutes."

"I'm sorry. If you don't have an appointment, I cannot let you in."

"Why would I need an appointment, anyway? I work here. Appointments are for visitors, right?" Josh insisted, his voice starting to raise now.

"Look," Jenny said, as calmly as she could, "I remember you. You're that guy from the convenience store right? You said you're from Purchasing, right? I know you and Miss Mandy must have been friends when she was working in your department but things are different now. You can't just talk to her anytime you want. If you need to tell her something, you can tell it to me and I'll make sure she gets the message."

Josh breathed heavily now. He was trying so hard not to be mad.

"I'll just be a minute, I promise," Josh continued to insist, like he didn't hear a word Jenny said.

"I'm sorry. Either you tell me what you need to tell her or you can just leave. Please don't make me call security."

Just then, the door swung open and in came Xander.

"Good afternoon, Jenny. I'm here to see Miss Mandy," Xander looked over at Josh. Josh's arms were folded across his chest, his face red.

"Hey, Josh. You okay there, buddy?" Xander asked.

"We are not buddies," Josh replied coldly.

"Good afternoon, Xander. I'll let Miss Mandy know you are here." Jenny then turns her back towards the two men and presses a button.

"Miss Mandy, Xander is here to see you."

"Okay, send him in," replied Mandy over the intercom.

"How come he gets to see her and I don't?" Josh demanded.

"Josh, you need to calm down," Xander put a hand over Josh's shoulder.

Josh pushed Xander's hand. "Don't touch me."

"Okay," Xander said as he put both his hands to the air and he backed down.

Josh walked towards Mandy's office door. Jenny quickly ran in front of Josh to stop him. Xander followed.

"Sir, you CANNOT go in there. If you keep insisting, I WILL call security." Jenny warned.

"Come on, Josh, don't make a scene here," Xander said.

"I just need to talk to her for 1 minute," said Josh through clenched teeth.

The door suddenly opened and the three of them were all surprised.

"What's going on?" Mandy asked. "I could hear you guys all the way from my table."

"I'm sorry Miss Mandy but this man is insisting to see you but he doesn't have an appointment," explained Jenny.

Mandy looked at Josh. She couldn't make out if he's angry or what.

"I just want to talk to you," Josh was close to begging.

"I'm sorry, Josh. Things are different now. If you need to tell me something, you have to tell Jenny first."

Josh was stunned. He couldn't move. He simply stared at Mandy. Xander walked past him and started to close the door. As the door was closing, Mandy whispered, "I'm sorry."

As soon as the door closed, Josh banged on it, just once, to let out his frustration and then turned and walked out the door.

Jenny watched him walk away while holding on to the phone's receiver, ready to call security. She breathed a sigh of relief when Josh was out of sight.

Josh went back to the floor of his department.

"Where've you been? Maia has been looking for you," Jane said as soon as Josh walked in the door. She noticed his heavy steps, his long face.

"What's gotten into you?" Rae asked him. Josh was slouching as he walked, completely ignoring his coworker's questions. He was in deep thought. He passed all the ladies and went straight to Maia's desk.

"What's wrong with him?" Carla said, joining Jane as she stood and watched Josh's back.

"I think knowing that Amanda — or should I say, Miss Mandy — is President Enriquez's daughter was too hard for him to handle. I gotta admit, he obviously has feelings for the girl. Remember last Friday?"

And with that, Jane and Carla started gossiping about Josh and Mandy. Rae, as usual, rolled her yes and tuned off their conversation. She went back to work, without any care of what had just happened that day.

"May I speak with you?" Josh asked Maia.

"Where have you been?" Maia asked, ignoring Josh's question. "You left earlier while Aman—, I mean, Miss Mandy was still here! Do you think that makes me look good as your superior? Of course not! It made me look weak and it made you look disrespectful!"

Maia wasted no time reprimanding Josh.

"I know, I'm sorry. I didn't mean any disrespect or insubordination. I was just, just…"

"You were shocked, I know! So was I! But you don't see me walking out on the daughter of the president!" Maia was clearly upset.

"I have no words to explain my actions, I'm sorry. I really am."

Maia looked at Josh. Maia began to calm down when he saw the pain in Josh's eyes.

Maia put her hands together, the way a person would if she would pray, and then leaned closer to Josh. "Tell me, Josh. Why did you walk out?"

Josh sat down, he looked at Maia, contemplating if he was going to tell her why he walked out.