In one of the private rooms in the establishment of Clover, a rowdy crowd was waiting for the never been late before President. It was a first, and they feel like something must have happened to their ever handsome and strict boss.
"Secretary Rod, do you think someone kidnapped boss?" A stout middle-aged man asked.
"That is unlikely. This establishment has high security." Rod stated with conviction.
"Then, why the boss isn't here yet? He is late. I'll reprimand him later. Hahahaha" A skinny freckled man in his 30's joked.
"Yes, we will reprimand him for not walking his talk. Right guys? Heh.." A senior and head of the marketing department said.
"Right." The rest of the team agreed.
They weren't really worried that something bad happened to their boss. He knows self-defence and Clover is a highly secured establishment. Maybe something unexpected cropped out.
If only they knew what that something was.
"To set the record straight, we arrived here before you all. And besides, you were all late by 3 minutes. He just went to the lavatory a few min..." Rod looked down at his watch and became worried.
The president is a stickler for time management. Being late to an appointment is one of his pet peeves, so he was always on time. He reached for his phone and decided to call the president. The call went through. Rod was about to talk when the boss started talking.
"I'm late. Is the team already here?"
"Yes. They're getting rowdy. Wondering why you're not here yet."
"Hmm."
"And President, I just want to let you know that they wanted you reprimanded for being late." Rod looked at the horrified faces of the advertising team. Although it didn't show on his face, he was elated and felt a bit sadistic in their discomfort for being snitched on.
"Hm.. noted. And.. tell them to get ready." And the call ended.
"How could you do this to us, Mr. Rod?! Do you want us dead?" Wailed the despairing team.
"Well, I do. And the president wants you all to get ready." A noticeable smirk graces his usually stoic face.
At that moment the panicked team knew that they are screwed. Now they all wanted to slap their mouths. They were now hoping that the President got delayed again. They need that extra time to prepare themselves for the incoming typhoon. But alas, fate wanted them screwed.... because the door opened and the almighty President Angelo Tan walked in.
"I apologized for being late." He sat down and looked at the team one by one. Due to this action of his, the atmosphere in the private room became suddenly still.
"I heard you want me reprimanded. Hmm?" Angelo looked at them one by one again. This time, all the team members got chills down their spine. All of a sudden, they couldn't breathe. Like someone is squeezing their throats.
"Bo...Boss that is... that is not true! Right guys?" The head of the team stammered and looked at his team for support. He needs to stir away his team from annihilation. A team is a team - a family. No matter what, they will be together in the best and worst times.
"Oh? Then are you saying that my ever loyal and strict secretary is lying to me? Hmm?" Angelo inquires with mirth in his eyes.
"Boss it is all the head's fault." Suddenly, the stout man said it as if he got nothing to do with the situation.
"Yes boss, it was the head who was maligning and looking down on you boss. We even tried to stop him from spouting nonsense" The skinny man said with all righteousness he can muster.
"Right boss. It was all the head. We are innocent." The rest of the marketing team nodded so quickly as if hens pecking for food.
While all this is going on, the head felt like all his energy was being sapped out of his body. What a fucking team he has. What a good fucking family this team is. Good, they want him to be the scapegoat? He will fucking kill them when they got back to the company.
"Boss this.." the head tried to formulate excuses to defend himself but the president cut him off.
"Enough. We came here to discuss the new project that you all are currently handling. I was late and you as well. Although I want you all to get a reduction in your bonuses this month for insubordination.. that wouldn't be nice of me. Right?" Angelo looked at them, liking the team's horrified faces.
"Right. Boss is so magnanimous." The team nodded enthusiastically and sighed in relief. Their bonuses are safe.
All ordered their lunch and while waiting for their food they began discussing the project. Although most of the members of the marketing team are goofballs/eccentric, the team is one of the best. While in the middle of a discussion, Angelo started asking if they already have a list of names that can be the face in their new campaign.
"Well we do have a list but it isn't complete yet. We were still looking for a few more possible faces for the campaign. We wanted to look for someone who isn't mainstream...yet. Although there is a high risk if we do manage to get someone that is not well known, there is also a high chance that we can turn this campaign into a successful one. Besides, there's always gonna be a risk in every move that we make.. so why not just go for it." They proposed in detail and with confidence.
"I do agree with what you said about getting a fairly unknown model for this campaign. The theme that we are going for is Captivate at First Sight. And that.. is a dead giveaway that getting a famous ambassador is not gonna work. Famous models are everywhere, on the news, in magazines, on tv & etc. The people are already so used to them." Angelo agreed and stated his views firmly.
The team nodded as they listen to their President.
"In this campaign, we wanted the consumer to be captivated at first sight. And that will only happen if we get someone fairly unknown but has the charisma to captivate you with just her gaze... a gaze so enchanting that you lose yourself... she has to have hazel eyes that can appear grey in certain lighting... has to have a distinctive feature on her face.. maybe a beauty spot in the corner of her mouth.." Angelo continued but at the end of his statement, he began to remember and describe the features of the lady he met in the hallway.
"Uhh, boss.. that is a bit specific no? We can't possibly find someone with all the features you are saying." Said the head.
"I was just saying if we can get someone who can be so captivating. For our campaign to succeed, we need to get the right person. By the way, do you have the list of unknown models that you guys are debating on?" Angelo asked, trying to not look flustered with the sudden remembrance of the enchanting lady.
"Yes, we do have made a list of names along with brief introductions and a photo from their agency is all in there." The skinny man passes the folder to Angelo. "Please do open it halfway - in the middle, because the list is there. The one with the black tab." The skinny man added not knowing that he triggered something to his boss by using the magic words "open halfway."
"Ugh.." Angelo palmed his face out of shame. He suddenly remembers the shameful event that happened in the hallway.
"Boss are you ok?" Asked Rod who was beside the president. He thought Angelo was having another migraine.
"Yes boss, are you ok?" Seconded the advertising team.
"I'm ok. I'll read this when we go back to the company. The discussion is done. Let us eat." Angelo said firmly as if he doesn't want to get caught being embarrassed.
He sighed.. if only a single facepalm can wash away shame.
While Angelo is stewing in his embarrassment inside the restaurant, a lady at the entrance of Clover can be seen happily humming.
"What are you smiling about? Did you get it?" A cute and petite lady tapped the humming lady at the shoulder.
"No, I didn't get it," the lady said nonchalantly.
"Then what got the mighty empress in a good mood?"
"Well, I just met Mr. Fly," The taller lady smirked.
"Huh???"