March 11, 2023, 10:30 AM - Ermita, Manila, Philippines - SM Manila
Three days had quickly passed since Daniel had started interviewing applicants for the various positions he needed to fill in for his start-up. Those three days had been uneventful, aside from conducting interviews and completing daily missions from the system, nothing really noteworthy happened.
However, what was bothering Daniel was the fact that he hadn't found a suitable candidate for the digital marketing manager position. He had pretty much decided on who to hire for all the other available positions, except for this one.
Feeling a little frustrated, Daniel decided to take the day off and do something fun. He plans to buy that small snack fridge he wanted for his home office and gaming room, and wanted to check out some stores in a mall.
Despite his building being next to two well-known malls, he wanted to take his motorcycle for a spin to a more distant place, but not too far either.
After mulling it over, Daniel settled on going to SM Manila for his day off, as it was famous for its assortment of shops and eateries. He texted Molly to see if she was free to join him, but alas, she replied that she had work and couldn't make it.
"Hey, Molly, you free today? I'm thinking of taking a day off and going to SM Manila," Daniel typed out on his phone.
"Hey, Daniel! That sounds fun, but unfortunately, I have work today. I can't take the day off," Molly replied.
"Ah, too bad. I was hoping you could come with me, but it's okay. I'll still go and check out some stores," Daniel responded.
"Sure thing. Have fun and let me know what you find," Molly replied before returning her focus to work.
With that, Daniel rode his BMW R 1250 GS Motorcycle to SM Manila. The ride was refreshing, and it felt good to be out on the road. He enjoyed the feeling of the wind rushing past him and the freedom that came with riding his bike.
As Daniel arrived at SM Manila, he deftly parked his BMW R 1250 GS Motorcycle before striding inside the mall. He spent the entire day perusing various stores, hunting for the perfect snack fridge to complement his home office and gaming room. His taste buds didn't have to suffer either as he indulged in a scrumptious lunch at one of the mall's finest restaurants. After satiating his hunger, Daniel made a beeline to the department store to purchase the fridge he had been eyeing for some time. He carefully compared all his options, weighing up the features and prices of each model, until he finally found the one that ticked all the boxes. The GE Double Door Mini Fridge with its sleek and stylish design ultimately won him over. He purchased it and even opted for the extra delivery service to ensure it would arrive at his doorstep without hassle.
After purchasing his new fridge, Daniel aimlessly strolled around the mall, unsure of where to go next. He thought about maybe stopping by a few more stores to see if he could find anything else he wanted or needed. As he walked, he passed by an Anytime Fitness gym and heard a familiar voice calling out his name.
"Sir Daniel!" the voice called out.
Daniel turned to see Nhicole, a former workmate who was a social media manager at The Metro Times TV, waving at him.
They caught up briefly, and Daniel inquired about how things were going at The Metro Times TV.
"It's been stressful, to be honest," Nhicole replied with a sigh. "After you left, they didn't hire anyone to fill your position. Instead, they just transferred your workload to the rest of us on the team. It's been overwhelming, and I've been thinking of putting in my two-week notice."
Daniel felt sorry for them, but he knew he had no control over what his former employer did. "I'm sorry to hear that, Nhicole. I had no idea they didn't hire anyone to fill my position. That's unfair to you and the rest of the team," he said.
"It's okay. I'm just considering my options at the moment," Nhicole replied.
"I understand," Daniel said sympathetically. "Do you really plan on resigning soon?"
"Yes, I'm about 80% decided already. I'm just looking for another job since I can't afford to be unemployed for long," Nhicole said. "By the way, Sir Daniel, have you found a new job already? Perhaps they have an opening for a social media manager too?"
"Actually, Nhicole, I might have something for you. I've received a sum of money recently to invest in a new business and I'm starting a start-up creative and advertising agency and have an open position for a digital marketing manager. I know your skillset, and I think you'd be a great fit for the role. I can offer you a little more than your current pay grade if you're interested," Daniel said, taking a deep breath with a tinge of hesitation.
Nhicole's eyes widened with surprise at the offer. "Really, Sir Daniel! Congrats! Yes, I'm interested! I'll send you my CV right away!" she exclaimed.
"Are you sure? I mean, you are most welcome, but I just don't want to look as if I'm poaching you off from them. You know, despite my disappointment with how they let me go, I still want my exit to be amicable," Daniel said.
"Don't worry, Daniel. I am really resigning eventually. I'm just looking for an opportunity for another job since I can't afford to be without work," Nhicole reassured him.
"Alright. I'll wait for your CV then. I'll do my best to send you a good job offer." Daniel replied with relief.
After chatting for a few more minutes, Nhicole and Daniel exchanged goodbyes and parted ways. Daniel felt ecstatic about the coincidence that occurred. He not only helped a former colleague but also found the ideal candidate for the vacant digital marketing manager role he had been worrying about for the past few days. With a new fridge in hand and the perfect addition to his start-up team, Daniel happily headed home.