Chapter 1

"Engr. Summers, the board of directors would like to see your presence in the meeting today. The meeting will start at 2 in the afternoon. Please be there 30 mins prior for Ms. Avery would like to have a word with you." Alexis, my boss's secretary, approuched while I'm doing my inventory. 

"Thank you Alexis. I'll keep that in mind." I smiled at her.

"I'll message you at 1pm just incase. I'll get going. My papers are piling up." She smiled back at me and walked away. I finished my inventory and checked the equipments in the plant. 

Everything seems to be working well in my station. I saw Thalia waving in her station and gestured that we should have lunch together. It's almost 12 in the afternoon. So i prepared for lunch. I saw Engr. Albert so I instructed my workers that I'll be off shift. 

"Engr. Summers". He teased me.

"Drop the formalities, Al." I rolled my eyes at him and started giving him reprts about my shift. It didn't take long and I went straight to my office to check the papers that need signing. 

"Gab!!" Thalia walked inside the office together with Bea and Tracy. They are my coengineers in the power plant that I'm working at. They are also my college friends.

"We saw Alexis approaching you. Is there any problem?" Bea looked so worried.

"I don't really know but the boards wanna see me in the meeting this afternoon and Ms. Avery want to have a word with me before the meeting." I told them while I'm cleaning up the mess in my desk.

"What's the fuss all about? Omyghad!!" Tracy shouted that startled the three of us.

"What?!" I asked her with confusion.

"Was it because of the incident with the system last time? Are they firing you?  I told you. You shouldn't have taken the blame. It was no one's fault." I remembered last week's tragic event. One of the systems stopped running and I troubleshoot it. 

"I'll be fine. Should we eat?" I was fine but now I'm not. I'm so nervous right now. I cannot lose this job.

I tried to conceal my nervousness as I walk in Ms. Avery's office.  She welcomed me with a smile.

"Engr. Summers have a seat." She pointed the chair in front of her. The first time I sat there was during my first day when she welcomed me in her department. Will it be my last time here? I'm gonna miss my office.

"I want to talk to you about last week's incident." She paused and I took that opportunity to speak up.

"Ma'am I'm really sorry that the company lost a lot from that incident. I know how important time is for every company. It was a system's failure that cannot be predicted nor be controlled. I know that it is not a big deal but I cannot run a defective system specially under my watch. I am not risking the safety of my workers and the quality of energy that we give." She smiled at me.

"I know that, Engr. Summers. The board of directors seem to applaud your work as well. I just want to talk to you to tell you that as your boss and mentor, I am proud of what you accomplished. This company is very pleased to have you. Don't be so nervous" She's trying to conceal the laughter as she speak those words. 

"What do you mean by pleased? Am I getting a raise or something?" I know that confusion is painted all over my face right now. This is not what I expected.

"Better. Remember Mr. Miller?" She asked, trying to clear things in my mind.

"Of course I remember our head engineer." I know that Mr. Miller is the head engineer of the main branch of the power plant that I am working with but I never really got to know him beyond that.

"He committed misconduct that I cannot disclose and is under investigation right now. The board members are concerned that the investigation might affect the quality of work he will give." She air-quoted quality of work and gave me a sarcastic smile.

"What does it have to do with me being here and there in the meeting later?" I am still lost with what is happening right now.

"Let's go there then you'll see." She gave a meaningful smile and stood up. 

She made her way to the conference room and I just followed her despite the nervousness and confusion that is eating me alive. I am not a fan of surprises specially this kind.

They are already seating when we arrived. The board of directors smiled at me and they started discussing the agenda for the meating.

"Replacement of Engr. Miller as the head/chief engineer of the AM POWER PLANT MAIN BRANCH" The secretary of the boards emphasize this matter. 

"Engr. Summers, it has come to the attention and knowledge of the board that last week's incident was handled by you. Would you care to explain to us what really happened?" The president pf the board of directors said. I am so nervous but I tried to speak. I had to.

"One of the machine was not running smoothly at that moment. I told one of my workers to look closely to it while I monitor the whole section for errors that cause that little problem. Nothing in particular caught my attention so I check the monitor to see if there are any changes. The energy supply that the section is giving is less than the usual standard so I ordered to shut down the section for monitoring and troubleshooting. My team preformed it and it took us 3 hours to finally figure it out and fixed it." I explained to them while trying to avoid my voice to shake.

"Did you know how much money that the company lost during that hours?" The blonde, tall young man from the members asked.

"Yes I am aware of that." I said.

"Then do you think you should be held accountable for that?" He asked again. Is he seriously going to make me millions when I am the one who saved their asses from loosing more?!

"That's where I think you're wrong. What I did took a three million, according to my estimation but my actions over that small problems in a standardized process saved the company for lossing more. If I hadn't fixed that problem, it might've collapse the whole plant for nobody knows how long. That would cost the company more. So no, I don't think I should be punished for lossing millions while protecting billions. Initiative, accountability, and responsibility is an engineer's quality, a good one, performing that is not wrong. It is wise." I said in straight face. I lost all the nervousness that I felt a while a go.

"Engr. Summers, this board is happy to tell you that we agree. With that initiative, we decided to choose you as the new head/chief engineer of AM POWER PLANT MAIN BRANCH. Once accepted, will be effective immediately." I was shocked with what I am hearing. They handed me the contract and I read the terms and condition. I am still in shock but I signed the contract and smiled at everyone. 

"We will be announcing this promotion tomorrow. We are very happy to have you here. You may vacate your old office and proceed to your new one. Ms. Avery's secretary will be telling you the rest." They soon dismissed the meeting and I faced Ms. Avery who is smiling from ear to ear.

"Congratulations Head Engineer! Alexis please assist her." Alexis walkesd and I just followed her. We arrived in the 14th floor of the building. My office is in the end of the hallway. 

"Engr. Summers this is going to be your office starting tomorrow. You are supposed to hire an assistant but it is up to you. I will let you look around for a while. I just have to accomplish some papers." I nodded and she hurridly closed the door at my back.

I tried to suck in all the emotions that I am feeling right now. This is such a big step for me. I left the office and went to my old office. I grab my things and went to the parking lot.

I drove my car home and let myself rest. It has been a long day for me. Tomorrow will be a new chapter for me. It feels like a dream right now but I guess I am destined to rise above.