Chapter 3

TATLONG ARAW na ang lumipas simula nang umalis si Keila sa opisina ni Clyde, and still, wala pa rin siyang naririnig mula sa HR manager na sinabi ni Clyde na magre-reach out sa kanya kung nakapasa siya. Habang tumatagal, she’s starting to lose hope. Parang hindi yata umepekto ang ginawa niyang pang-aakit kay Clyde, kahit na nagpakita siya ng extra effort para mapansin.

Habang iniisip niya ito, napansin ng kanyang ina ang pag-aalala sa kanyang mukha kaya lumapit ito sa kanya. “Anak, baka it’s a sign na huwag mo nang ituloy 'yang balak mo. Maybe it’s not for you," sabi ng kanyang ina, halatang may concern sa boses.

“Mama, please naman,” Keila responded, almost desperate. "Ito na lang talaga ang alam kong paraan para makapasok sa buhay nila and finally give justice kay Papa. Hindi ako susuko nang ganito na lang, lalo na kapag ganito na ako kalapit." 

With her resolve strengthened, tumango lang ang kanyang ina kahit halata ang pag-aalala. Pero bago pa siya makapagsalita ulit, biglang tumunog ang cellphone ni Keila, making her jump a little. Napatingin siya sa screen, at nakita niyang unknown number ito. Napalunok siya, suddenly feeling nervous and excited at the same time.

“Keila, baka sila na 'yan!” sabi ng kanyang ina.

Huminga nang malalim si Keila, trying to calm herself. She picked up the phone, hands slightly shaking. “Hello?” tanong niya, trying her best na hindi magpakita ng kaba sa boses niya, pero obvious na nanginginig ang boses niya.

"Good afternoon, Ms. Keila Santiago?" tanong ng formal na boses sa kabilang linya. Medyo kinabahan si Keila, but she tried her best to keep her composure.

"Yes, this is Keila," sagot niya, trying to sound calm kahit parang bumibilis ang tibok ng puso niya.

"This is Ms. Fernandez from the HR department," sabi ng babae sa kabilang linya. "I’m pleased to inform you that you’ve passed the initial assessment and interview. We'd like to formally welcome you to the team. Congratulations!"

Hindi napigilan ni Keila ang munting tili sa tuwa. She clamped her hand over her mouth, shocked and thrilled at the same time. "Oh my gosh, thank you so much, Ma'am! Thank you!" 

She could feel her mama’s curious and hopeful gaze on her, so she mouthed, "Yes, nakapasa ako!"

"We’ll be sending you a welcome packet via email with all the onboarding details," dagdag pa ng HR manager. "Your first day will be tommorow. Please come to the main office at 8 a.m. for your orientation."

“Yes, Ma'am, I’ll be there. Thank you again,” sagot ni Keila, trying to contain her excitement pero obvious sa boses niya ang saya.

After the call ended, napayakap siya sa mama niya. “Ma, nakapasa ako! I got in!”

Her mama hugged her back, but may halong pag-aalala sa mata nito. “Anak, just remember to be careful, ha? Alam ko kung gaano mo gustong mabigyan ng hustisya ang Papa mo, pero sana 'wag mo rin pabayaan ang sarili mo.”

“Don’t worry, Ma. I know what I’m doing,” sagot ni Keila, though she felt a pang of doubt. Alam niyang delikado ang pinapasok niya, but her determination outweighed her fear. 

This was it. This was her chance. And she would make sure she wouldn’t waste it.

As Keila prepared herself for the next step, mixed emotions ran through her. On one hand, masaya siya dahil finally, makakapasok na siya ng kompanyang matagal niyang pinagplanuhan. This was the key para makalapit siya sa mga taong responsable sa pagkawala ng ama niya. On the other hand, alam niyang hindi magiging madali ang mission niya.

Buong araw, she spent it preparing herself mentally and physically. Nag-browse siya ng corporate outfits online, choosing styles na chic pero hindi masyadong halata ang pagiging stylish niya—just enough para makihalubilo sa professional crowd pero hindi rin masyadong loud. She practiced her smiles and greetings in front of the mirror, imagining how she would act sa mga posibleng makakasalamuha niya sa opisina.

"Nak, remember to always keep your guard up," bilin ng mama niya, nakabantay habang nagpe-prepare siya ng mga gamit para sa first day niya.

"Yes, Ma, I know. Pero kailangan kong mag-blend in. Ayoko silang magduda," sagot ni Keila. Her mother looked at her, concern evident in her eyes, but she nodded, trusting Keila’s judgment. 

Monday morning arrived. Suot ni Keila ang simpleng white blouse paired with high-waist slacks and low heels. Her hair was tied neatly in a low bun, giving her a clean and polished look. Pagdating niya sa building, she took a deep breath before entering, her mind repeating one goal: “Stick to the plan.”

As she entered the lobby, her eyes scanned the place. It was grand, with marble floors, elegant lighting, and employees bustling around in corporate attire. She proceeded to the reception desk.

“Hi, I’m Keila Santiago. I’m here for the new hire orientation,” sabi niya, giving her best friendly smile.

The receptionist checked her list and nodded. “Ah, yes, Ms. Santiago. Please head to the 15th floor, Conference Room C. Ms. Fernandez and the other new hires are waiting there for the orientation.”

“Thank you,” sagot ni Keila, and she made her way to the elevators, keeping her composure. As the elevator ascended, she felt the weight of her plan pressing on her. This was it—there was no turning back.

Pagdating niya sa conference room, napansin niya ang ilang ibang new hires na naghihintay na rin. She greeted them politely, giving a subtle smile to each person she met. Hindi nagtagal, dumating na si Ms. Fernandez, na nagbigay ng welcoming remarks at rundown ng mga company policies.

Habang nag-eexplain si Ms. Fernandez, hindi maiwasan ni Keila ang mapatingin sa paligid. Observing her surroundings, she noted every detail—how the employees acted, the structure of the company, and even the security measures. Every bit of information counted, because it would help her later on.

After the orientation, lumapit si Ms. Fernandez sa kanya, offering a handshake. “Welcome officially, Ms. Reyes. We’re glad to have you onboard. For your first assignment, you’ll be reporting to Mr. Clyde Suarez He’ll brief you on the projects you’ll be assisting with.”

She forced a calm smile. “Thank you, Ma'am. I’ll make sure to do my best.”

As she walked out of the conference room, one thought crossed her mind: This is just the beginning. She was now inside their world, and she would do whatever it took to find the truth.

After her conversation with Ms. Fernandez, Keila made her way to Mr. Clyde's Suarez office, taking every step carefully. The weight of her mission bore down on her, but she maintained her composure, making sure to appear as any other eager new employee.

Keila stood at the doorway of Mr. Clyde Suarez’s office, a confident smile on her face that hid the intense determination underneath. As she stepped inside, she noticed how Clyde looked at her with this super calculated expression, parang he was assessing her, like seeing if she was really fit for the job—or if may iba pa siyang agenda.

“Welcome to Suarez Corporation, Ms. Santiago,” he said, his voice all smooth pero may sharp edge, showing his strong personality. There was this slight smirk on his lips, like he was sizing her up, figuring out kung kaya ba talaga niya ang trabaho.

“Thank you, sir. I appreciate the opportunity,” she replied, keeping her tone steady and professional, kahit super intense na yung nararamdaman niya—halo ng kaba at excitement. She knew this was her moment to get close to Clyde and to those people na may kinalaman sa pagkamatay ng kanyang ama.

Clyde gestured to a chair in front of his desk, so she sat down, keeping her posture relaxed. She noticed the office was so lavish but minimalist rin, with gray and white walls, a huge mahogany desk, and super neat files. Everything was organized, reflecting Clyde’s strict and meticulous reputation.

“Before we begin, I just want to make things clear,” he said, crossing his arms and leaning back a little. “I expect a lot from my team. I need people who can keep up with the pressure and aren’t afraid to go beyond expectations.” His gaze was intense, parang testing if she was really up for it.

Keila nodded. “Understood, sir. I’m ready for whatever challenges come my way.”

"Good." He paused, his smirk widening a bit. “I’m sure you know, this role isn’t just a regular position. We’re looking for someone with drive and loyalty. Do you think you can deliver?”

“Absolutely, sir,” she replied confidently, meeting his gaze head-on.

Clyde looked amused, like he enjoyed watching her accept the challenge. “We’ll see. For now, I’m assigning you to assist me with some sensitive projects. Confidentiality is crucial. Clear ba?”

“Crystal clear, Mr. Suarez,” she answered, steady pa rin ang voice niya.

“Perfect. Start by familiarizing yourself with our current projects. I’ll need you to compile reports on our ongoing partnerships. Make sure everything is accurate,” he said, handing her a stack of folders. “I expect a summary by the end of the day.”

Keila took the folders, keeping her hands steady kahit medyo mabigat yung mga documents. “I’ll get started right away, sir.”

As she walked back to her desk, she felt Clyde’s gaze on her, like a predator observing its prey. She knew he wasn’t easily fooled, so kailangan talaga mag-ingat siya. Every move, every word, kailangan calculated. One wrong step, and everything would fall apart.

She settled at her desk and started going through the files, absorbing as much information as she could. She quickly realized just how vast Suarez Corporation’s network was—grabe ang connections nila sa iba’t ibang industries, even ones she didn’t expect. With every file she read, her resolve grew stronger. Ito yung mga tao who held secrets, and now she was in the heart of their empire.

By lunchtime, her eyes were tired from reading so many reports, but her focus was still there. Her heart raced as she found little bits of information that might connect sa pagkamatay ng kanyang ama—subtle lang, but familiar names and places came up. Parang puzzle pieces that she was sure would lead her closer to the truth.

Just as she was about to head to the break room, Clyde approached her desk. She straightened up immediately, maintaining her composure.

“Ms. Santiago,” he said, his tone both formal and slightly mocking. “How are the files?”

“They’re very comprehensive, sir. I’ll have the summary ready as requested,” she replied, keeping her cool.

“Good. I like your enthusiasm,” he said with a faint, almost sarcastic smile. “Remember, here at Suarez, we reward those who exceed expectations—and eliminate those who don’t. Kaya mo ba ’yun?”

Keila nodded, masking her nerves. "Yes, sir. I fully understand."

“Excellent. Keep it up,” he said, smirking as he turned to leave.

The moment he was gone, she let out a quiet breath. His words served as fuel sa mission niya. If she was going to survive in this high-stakes environment, she would need to play her part perfectly.

By the end of the day, she finally finished her summary, ensuring every detail was spot-on. She took a deep breath as she walked back to Clyde’s office. He was on a call when she arrived, so she waited until he signaled her to come forward.

Clyde scanned the report with an impassive expression, keeping her on edge. Finally, he looked up and said, “Impressive work, Ms. Santiago. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but you’ve managed to meet my standards—for now.”

Keila kept her expression humble. “Thank you, sir. I’ll continue to do my best.”

“See that you do. We don’t tolerate mediocrity,” he replied, his words layered with warning.

As she walked out of his office, her heart raced, but she felt a sense of triumph. She was in. She was finally in Suarez Corporation, closer than ever to the truth. This was her shot to uncover the secrets and give her father justice—and nothing would stand in her way.