JIEGO
The room started to fill up the moment I walked in. The long rectangular table and the seats were filled by department heads and vacant seats for our potential investors, which I was notified were on their way. Nora was on my left, checking the documents the legal department has given her earlier. On my right was Tina, avoiding eye contact with anyone. She was sitting beside me with her clipboard between her two hands, gripping it with much force. Under the table, our knees brushed a little and she didn’t seem to mind.
“Tina, can you please check with Rebecca if the investors are already here? She’s on the first cubicle outside.”
“sure, sir.”
She pulled the chair quite loudly, making the other people in the room stare at her. She muttered an apology and got out. I haven’t introduced her to the other employees yet but I know after they saw her earlier, the news already spread out. Still, that doesn’t count as introduction, I know. I was thinking of doing the introductions later, when the meeting was over and we got the deal.
The door slammed open and Tina came back. She walked towards me and whispered, “The investors are almost here, sir. Rebecca said they’ll be here any minute.”
Her face was too close that I can smell her perfume. It reminded me of cherries and vanilla. I inhaled, breathing it in.
“thank you, Tina.”
I cleared my throat and stood up. Everyone’s attention was on me as I instructed them to set up the projector for my presentation. Tina, on the other hand, stood up to fix the askew chairs. Once done, she came back to her seat and asked if I need anything. I shook my head. I can’t take anything, even coffee, when I have a big presentation at hand. It makes my nerves jump.
The projector was turned on and the logo of Sy Group of Companies was on the screen. I prepared my presentation and minimized it. It was a long one, contains the company’s backgrounds, performance for the last three years and the different businesses we offer. For all I know, this might take us the half of the day.
And then the anticipated knock on the door happened, and I knew they were the ones we were waiting for.
Four people entered the room, and one of them was a woman. The men were a usual look of a businessman. Royal blue suit, white undershirt and matching pants. They only differ with the ties they use. The only rose among the thorns was wearing a bodycon fuchsia pink dress, her straight hair pulled up in a high ponytail. I stood up and shook their hands individually. Representing Freud Global, they are the best investors we needed to bring our company into international operations. Hopefully, this is the day that happens.
“welcome, sir, madame. I am Jiego Sy, the CEO of this company. “
The men looked at themselves, but the woman gave me a smile.
“nice to meet you. you look exactly like your father. I’m Mariane, this is Daniel, Marco and Jayson.”
“please take a seat, gentlemen. And you, madame.”
As they did, I cocked my head to Shawn who was standing at the side, waiting for my cue. We have prepared them coffee and lemon pies. He went to the kitchen to get them.
“shall we start? I’m afraid we have to hurry. We have somewhere to go to this afternoon.” – the lady said and crossed her legs.
I nodded. Behind me, the presentation I prepared showed the first slide. Let this begin.
TINA
For someone they said is a newbie in this field, I have to say, Sir Jiego knows what he’s doing. The three years of business school he got his education surely flourished into this confident and impressive man. He was halfway on his presentation now, on the growth of the company, on how one branch in Metro Manila grew into hundreds all over Philippines.
“…it’s because Sy Group of Companies does not only focus on improvements or technicalities. It listens to its customers. It does not focus on the luxury, but also on the comfortability, security and safety of the people. Those who choose our hotels and residences have rated us 5 stars on our assessments. That is an inspiration to our company, something which made us dream of reaching greater heights… and we believe Freud Global would be the best partner for that.”
I looked at the investors as Mr. Sy paused. It was hard to decipher what was behind their poker faces. The woman, however, raised her hand.
“hmmm… that looks promising. How many years have the company been operating?”
“more than 100 years, madame. It was started by my grandfather, Rodrigo Sy.”
The woman nodded. The man with a thinning hairline beside her whispered something and she smiled.
“right. anyway, you just knew you’re a Sy three years ago, right? People says you haven’t even met your father when he was alive. Is that correct, Mr. Jiego?”
I frowned. What the-
“it is, Madame. But I don’t see how that is relevant with my proposition.” – Mr. Sy said, his jaw clenched.
The woman smirked. I felt uncomfortable. I looked at the other people in the table and well, I knew I wasn’t the only one feeling off.
“it is. I mean, if we were to invest and partner with this company, of course our stockholders would like to be assured that the CEO himself is well-acquainted with it.”
With that, I saw Mr. Sy’s confidence waiver. He opened his lips to say something, but no words came out. Whispers came from the men again, and for the first time on that meeting, one of them spoke.
“She’s right, Mr. Jiego. We do not base our deals with bloodlines. We want to see the company in all its forms and foundations. We want to see it from all angles. You seem like you only memorized all these information. It’s something we can see at first glance.” – the man on the woman’s right said, using a lot of gestures as he speaks.
“ask away, sir. I believe my knowledge about my father’s company is sufficient to answer anything you might want to say.” – Mr. Sy said. Despite the coldness of the room, he was sweating. Beads of sweat form on his forehead.
I got a tissue from the table and sneaked in beside him. I handed him the tissue and he wiped his forehead. I haven’t gotten back to my chair when another question popped up.
“well, as you said, the company has been operating for over a hundred years. Ours had been in existence longer than that. if that is the case, why didn’t your father, or his father before that, reached out to Freud Global? Why just now? you said one of your company’s goals is to reach international market, but why did it only decide to reach us this year?”
The man looked proud of his question. Beside me, Mr. Sy cleared his throat. Five seconds of silence filled the air. 8 seconds…. 12…
The woman stood up.
“I think we’re done here.”
Oh no. This isn’t what it’s supposed to be.
I turned to Mr. Sy, who looked like he was shot in the heart by the sudden turn of events. As the investors stood up and head to the door, the other employees whispered among one another. Nora rushed after the investors in hopes of stopping them. They were almost at the door when I-
“sir, madame, stop!”
…and then the whole room froze. Even Mr. Sy was shocked of what I just did.
I… everyone was looking at me. Especially the people at the door. Nora gave me a “what do you think you’re doing?” look. I gulped. I guess this is crazy, but I knew I had to take this shot.
“I’d like to answer your question… (Nora’s eyes dilated. My. Sy moved beside me. I can feel his stare on my face.) I… I know this may not be my right to answer but… I know this because Sy Group of Companies has been my inspiration through business school. What I can say about your question is that to reach international market is not something that any company can rush. Seeing this company’s growth and persistence through the years has prepared it for that. of course, it has set its eyes long ago on Freud Global. Mr. Daniel Sy has said that in one interview. However, that doesn’t mean he can just jump right into it. Mr. Sy, Mr. Jiego Sy has studied and prepared for it these past three years… Yes, he’s new to the company but experience does not equate to passion and competence and everyone of us here believes in him. The entire Sy Group of Companies is on the hands of a very competent and enthusiastic CEO, and with the performance of the company under his leadership, we know we’re now ready to take our business into greater heights.”
I said… with my heart beating like a drumroll. The air in the room also stilled. Mr. Sy was still staring at me and I was too afraid to meet his eyes. I don’t know if what I did helped or made the situation worse. Hopefully, it was the former.
The woman looked at me with no expression, but then…. Like most unexpectedly, she smiled.
“I like you, young lady… shall we all sit down and talk about the deal?”