Alli felt beautiful as she looked at herself sa reflection ng glass wall papasok ng building na pagtatrabahuhan niya. Bahagya pa niyang inayos ang buhok bago tuluyang pumasok sa loob.
She stepped in the automatic door and walked in a very glamorous lobby. It was gold and white everywhere. Isang malaking oval reception counter ang nasa gitna. There were security gates bago makapasok ng elevator hallway. No one can enter without passing by the reception area para makakuha ng temporary passes.
May tatlong receptionist na nag-assist sa mga pumasok. They were wearing a formal black suit. Lumapit siya roon.
"Hello," magiliw na bati sa kaniya ng isa sa tatlo.
She warmly smiled. "Hi. I have orientation today for Carat's." Iyon ang pangalan ng Marketing Firm na papasukan niya.
"Ok. Kindly sign up here," nakangiti pa ring asiste ng receptionist. She sign up sa logsheet na binigay nito. When she's done may inabot sa kaniyang card access para makapasok siya sa automatic gate. "By the way, today would be your first day. So, don't forget to drop by on the security office for your Access ID so you won't be passing here tomorrow."
Tumango lang siya and took the access card na binigay sa kaniya. Tumuloy na siya sa papuntang elevator. She's heading to the 3rd floor kung nasan ang opisina na papasukan niya. She tap the access card sa gate counters. Bumukas ang fiber glass na harang nito. Tumuloy na siya sa elevator. Medyo marami na din ang nakapila sa elevator but she waited patiently. Ilang minuto lang din naman ang inantay niya bago siya nakasakay. Lumabas siya sa elevator when it stopped at the 3rd floor.
Paglabas niya ng elevator, natanaw agad niya ang glass door na may signage ng Carat's. Nag-iisa lang ang glass door na iyon sa floor. Tumuloy na siya roon. It was a mini lobby naman na may isang receptionist counter din.
"Hi," she greeted again kahit nasa may pintuan pa lang siya. Nakangiti rin naman siyang sinalubong ng receptionists. "I have an orientation today."
"Ms. Alliah Rodriguez?" tanong ng receptionist. She seemed expecting her.
"Yes," aniya na sinabayan pa ng tango.
"Ms. Elai is actually waiting for you. You can go straight to her office at the end of the hallway," ani ng receptionist.
"Thanks," she replied then went on sa tinurong direksiyon nito.
Elaijah Soberon or Elai is the owner/CEO of this firm. She met her once on her final interview. Kahit online iyon, she felt Elai's warm. She was cheerful and somewhat carefree habang kausap niya. Matanda ito sa kaniya ng isang taon but she looked younger. In fact, during the interview, tila wala naman itong masyadong tinanong sa kaniya. She judges people based on their aura. Sinabi nito sa kaniyang, she looked very beautiful and would really fit to be her assistant. Dahil sa nature ng trabaho nila, she wants to surrounded by beautiful people. It was kind of informal, but Alli was just thankful that she got hired. She may have the face but she also has this character that she wants to prove she is just more than a face.
Alumpihit na naglakad siya patungo sa itinurong opisina ni Alli. Dumaan kasi siya sa area kung saan nasan ang iba pang empleyado ng marketing firm. It was just a medium size office. Infact bilang lang ata ang mga empleyado dun. She counted seven. They were seated in a cubicle table. The office is somewhat colorful and lively. Si Elai lang ang naka-opisina.
Binati siya ng ibang empleyado as she passeda by. Natanaw niya si Elai mula sa glass wall ng opisina nito. Napatingin din ito sa kaniya. Elai stood up nang makita siya at hindi na siya hinitay na makapasok sa opisina nito. Sinalubong na siya agad.
"Alli!" masayang bati nito. "How are you? I'm excited to meet you personally, finally."
Malapad na ngiti ang sinukli niya rito. "It's a pleasure meeting you, Ms. Soberon."
"Woah! Ms. Soberon? Too formal. Don't call me that. I feel old," anito sa itinawag niya. "I don't do handshakes also. That's for very serious people. Chill lang tayo. Beso-beso kung close. I work with friends not colleagues. So from now on, we will become friend," magiliw na pakilala nito sa kaniya.
She can't help but smile at the way her supposedly boss acts. She loved the thought that she was accepted as a friend. It will be an easy life for her. Sa totoo lang, ramdam niyang madaling pakibagayan ang boss niya. And the office felt warm. Hindi siya mahihirapang mag-adjust.
"Come, papakilala kita sa team," aya nito sa kaniya. To her surprise, inangkla pa nito ang braso sa braso niya just like a friend. Hinarap lang nila ang mga empleyadong nasa mga cubicle. "Everyone," she clap to get everyone's attentions. "I would like you to meet the newest baby of our team, Alliah. Call her Alli and she will be my Assistant. So alam niyo na, if I am not here, you can pester Alli."
Nagtawanan ang mga empleyado and smiled and greeted her one by one. May mga maiikling tanong sa kaniya but it was more of a getting to know her. All in all, masaya naman niyang sinagot ang simpleng tanong.
"Do you have a boyfriend, Alli?" tanong ni Arnold, ang isa sa mga IT nila.
"I am supposed to be engaged by it is quite complicated," she admits. She felt that there was no reason not to tell them the truth.
"Ohhh.. really?" react ni Elai.
Ngumiti siya rito. "It's a long story."
"Was it third-party story? Or 'it's-not-you-but-me' crap?" ani Elai.
Natawa siya sa mga sinabi nito. "Bigger than that. Mas exciting," sagot niya.
"Wow! I would really love to hear it. Can you share?"
"Some other time, may be?"
Elai rolled her eyes. "Fine. Anyways," humarap ulit ito sa team. "Do you have any other questions for Alli?"
Nag-ilingan lang ang mga tinanong.
"Ok," humarap ulit ito sa kaniya. "Your office will be with me sa loob. So pasensya ka na, madaldal ako. just bear with me though. I will endorse to you our projects for this month and I hope you can catch up. Medyo overload na kasi ako eh."
"No worries. I'm excited to start it," she felt sincere about that.
"By the way, Clarisse," tawag ni Elai sa Accountant nila. "I need the billing from Alejandro Trading. Masasapok ko na talaga 'to si JV. He's overpricing us sa renta."
"Sows! Maliit na bagay," turan ni Clarisse as she was handing Elai the billing. "Kayang-kaya sagutin ni Boss Arthuro. Isang tawag lang."
Tumawa lang si Elai as she took what Clarisse is handing her.
"Let's go. I'll show you your office," aya nito sa kaniya. Sumunnod siya rito.