Chapter 2: Meeting The CEO And Billionaire?

I didn’t expect job hunting to be this difficult in real life.  I realized it’s not easy to be noticed.  I received invites to become salesperson, which I don’t consider a job.  My idea of a job is something that puts me in a 9-5 schedule with desk, computer, and phone, with salary paid twice a month.

I feel sad about being unemployed but I still don’t want to start reviewing for the licensure either. 

All the more I need to get connections.  But where do I get them when I can’t even land my first job?

My phone rang and it’s probably another invite to attend a seminar. I answered it because I have no one to talk to.  I should’ve really stayed in college one more year.

“Hello, this is Dorothy from IT&S.  We received your resume last month.  Can I invite you for an interview tomorrow?  I’ll text you the details,” she said.

I got the text containing the details of the interview.  I am confused because it’s not the address I was expecting.

“Are you sure this is the place?  It’s a high-end subdivision but why is the interview being done here?” I asked her.

“I told you that the role would be directly reporting to our CEO.  He lives there.  He holds office in his house.  He doesn’t go to the office to work,” she said.

“I’m sorry but I have to decline.  This doesn’t sound right,” I told her.

“Oh, I understand but you may think about it until tomorrow.  If you change your mind, please give me a call at this number,” she said with confidence.

My mind keeps thinking the entire night.  I don’t know if I am scared because the invite could be a scheme or I could be having cold feet again.

My phone rang early in the morning.

“Good morning, Audrey.  This is Dorothy again.  I’ve got news for you. Our boss is visiting the office today.  He said he could interview you here at the time I scheduled you for,” she said.

The persistence moved me and since the interview is now taking place in their office located in a popular business district, I feel a little relieved.  Just the same, I asked my brother-in-law to bring me there and wait for me.

I arrived 20 minutes before my interview.  The office is not big compared to what I have in mind. The company must be new or a start-up with few employees for now.

“What role are you applying for?” the receptionist asked.

“Assistant to the CEO,” I said.

“Oh, the role reporting to Sir Joaquim. I thought they stopped hiring for that role because he doesn’t really want an assistant,” she said.

I keep remembering the name of my potential boss. She said it’s “Joaquim”. 

I entered the conference room and I immediately saw a guy typing on his laptop.  He waved at me signaling me to come in.  And to my biggest surprise of all, it’s none other than the gorgeous guy from the booth.  I want to punch myself right now.  I could have missed this opportunity because of my foolish suspicions.

“How are you?” he asked me with his killer smile again.

“Good morning, Sir Joaquim.  I’m good,” I answered in a sweet, college girl tone.

“Oh, I’m Bobby.  Joaquim’s supposed to be here but he forgot that he can’t use his any of his cars today,” he said.

I’m in awe right now.  I’m standing in front of a handsome corporate guy who also seems to be a good human being.  It’s not every day that I get this experience and today’s already the second time meeting him.  Too bad, he’s not the CEO but at least, he’s going to be around.

“I’m actually waiting for you so we can share the ride going to his place,” he said.

And yes, we are riding the same car. 

I told my brother-in-law through text that he can now leave me. Later on l realized that I should have not asked him to go.  I don’t know any of these men I am riding the van with even if one of them is so handsome.

“Are you alright?” Bobby asked.

I am trying stay calm while thinking of an escape plan in case I will need one.  I already sent the address of the place to my brother-in-law but that’s all I could think of and do.

“Relax, it’s just an interview.  I guess, you’ve been invited by other companies before us,” he said.

I just nodded.  I hate that he is charming.

I keep wondering what the leader of their organization look like and the image in my head is not good.

“Do you still want to go?” Bobby asked.

“Ha?” I asked.

“You don’t seem okay.  If you don’t feel good about this interview, we can turn around and bring you back to the office.  I will tell Quim that you couldn’t come today,” he said.

Suddenly I feel embarrassed that I’ve been judging him and the driver as members of a syndicate trafficking women.

“But it would be a good experience meeting the company’s CEO in his home.  He’s a good guy.  He will never intimidate you.  Trust me,” he said.

I feel less worried when we arrived at a beautiful mansion.  It’s not very high but it’s wider and more spacious than most mansions we passed by inside the high end subdivision.

We entered the living room where a sophisticated lady welcomed us.

“You look so fresh,” Bobby complimented her.

“That’s the goal,” she said. “He’s in his office.”

“Where else would he be?  Oh, by the way, this is Audrey, another applicant for the role,” Bobby said.

“Hi, Audrey. I’m Leila. Good luck,” she said to me.

We entered a spacious room.  There are cans of energy drinks and coffee paper cups in the garbage cans.  There’s not much inside besides the long white table with desktop computer, dual monitors, laptop, wifi modems and a landline phone.  Just across the working table is the conference table with projector.

“Quim,” Bobby called the guy who is so focused looking on the monitors.

The guy looked to us and no way he is the CEO but he is! He doesn’t look like he could run a company.  In my head, Bobby is the image of that young executive who exudes both charm and authority.  I don’t mean disrespect but Joaquim could be mistaken for one of those guys who drowned themselves in their jobs and never bother looking at themselves in the mirror. 

His hair could use some brushing.  His skin doesn’t look rich.  His shirt – I imagine him putting his business suit while on video calls but underneath it is that plain shirt and shorts he’s wearing right now. 

How did this guy become the most powerful person in the company?

“Audrey,” Bobby called my name.  I am sure he called me many times and I’m really embarrassed.

“Don’t worry so much.  We are not bad people. You can leave this place anytime you want to,” he said.

“Oh, but why would I do that?” I asked.  I’m not sure why he arrived at the conclusion that I think of them as bad people.

“Quim is not a fan of the corporate life.  He prefers to work here and in his most comfortable attire, which I suppose shocked you,” he said. 

“Enough of that, Bob.  It’s fine,” Quim said.

“I’m sorry but I’m just amazed of how big this room is,” I told them.

I knew that it didn’t make sense to them when I commented on the size of the room but I just didn’t know what to say.

“Good morning, Sir Quim,” I greeted him.

“Just call him Joaquim, without Sir but full name,” Bobby whispered quickly to me.

“Hi, Joaquim.  I’m Audrey,” I said.

Quim smirked.  I want to melt right now.  I don’t think I’m not handling this first encounter situation with the CEO well.

“Please let her talk to Leila.  I’ll leave the selection and hiring processes with her,” he told Bobby like I wasn’t there.

Bobby turned to me.  “I think that’s it.  You may see Leila now. We can leave after an hour,” he said,

I thought Joaquim wouldn’t intimidate me but that’s not true because he just did. I don’t feel like pursuing my application any longer but I don’t know how to tell them that I want to leave now.  I figure it’s okay to just go with the flow while waiting for Bobby.

Leila told me to wait for a few minutes while she finishes some transactions over the phone.  While waiting, I searched for Joaquim’s profile.  I learned that he graduated from a prestigious tech school abroad.  He successfully developed softwares that he sold to some small and medium sized companies in many places mostly in Asia, giving him a hefty sum of money that he used to start a company.  His earnings combined with his inheritance from his grandfather are estimated at more than five hundred million dollars but since he moved to the Philippines, his net worth is now estimated at more than one billion pesos due to the exchange rate.  He’s a billionaire! That guy is a billionaire?

“Anything wrong?” Leila asked. 

I was caught in my deep thinking again. 

“I’m sorry.  I am just amazed at how beautiful this house is,” I said.

I praised the house for the second time today.

“Preparing for Quim’s meals including his snacks will now be handled by our newly hired personal chef but his assistant must also ensure that he eats on time and consumes healthy food,” she said. 

I just listen to her. 

“Managing this household will be taken care of a cleaning agency,” she continued.

I actually don’t know why she’s telling me all these non-sense.

“Basically, what you will do is to make sure these people come here when they should and do their tasks.  Other than these things, your tasks are mainly corporate stuff such as adhoc reports that he may ask from time to time,” she said.

“Wait. Am I hired already?” I bravely asked. 

She smiled. “Yes, you are.  I thought you knew,” she said.

I feel so thrilled hearing that from her.  My interest to pursue the job is back.

“That’s amazing to hear,” I told her.

“Good.  Shall I proceed to the rest of the remaining instructions I need to turnover?” she said.

“You’re the one I am replacing?” I asked.

“Yes but not entirely.  I told you, we hired new chef and contracted other service agencies to man this house and his other matters.  Yours will be mostly reminding these people of their tasks plus some corporate stuff,” she said.

“So if you were doing more of these things before, then you must be someone who’s worked for him for very long time,” I asked because it’s evident how much Quim trusts her in everything.

“You guessed that right,” she said with a nice smile.

“Wait, you must be good friends or even best friends, I assume,” I said tactlessly.

“Ah, let’s say I live here too,” she said.

I was shocked when I heard that. If this lady lives here to perform her duties, does that mean I should live here too? With the billionaire boss?

“I don’t think I want to live here.  I don’t want to live with the billionaire.”