Chapter 5 - Marketing Department

Mr. Malibo happily attended my termination letter. They seem very happy to my dismissal, eh?

"You just recently hired, but now, you're fired? What do you think is the reason for that?" Said Ms. Vivian while holding her chin as if pondering for something.

I don't pay attention on her as if I didn't hear anything. Now that I know her deeds, I should stay away from the kind of her while I'm here at the company.

Mr. Malibo laughed. "Maybe she's not really qualified for that position. I told you, didn't I? You should apply for another position. We shouldn't force ourselves into a position that isn't for us. Right, Ms. Magbanua?"

"Um." I answered sparingly. Then I bent my head down so that my eyes wouldn't catch Ms. Vivian grinning face at me.

Mr. Malibo stood up and left. When Ms.

Vivian and I left:

"When you entered the CEO's office, what did you see?" She asked.

I raised my head and saw the look of eagerness in Ms. Vivian face, to know the event inside the office of Mr. Atanante. I didn't answer her, I let her hanging.

She snorted and passed by my side. "Is that what you can do to retaliate against me?" I heard her whispering tone at me. "Let me guess... Mr. Atanante didn't listen to you when you reported about me, did he?"

Ms. Vivian seems to know very well Mr. Atanante, and she used it to get rid of me from my position. It's my fault for trusting and believing at her even though I already know that she also wants to be an executive secretary. I never thought she would bring me harm.

She giggled and proceeded to the door while swinging her hips out of the office.

When I left the CHRO office, I looked at the paper I was holding with 'termination letter' written on the top. I clenched my fist with it. I promise, one day, I will prove myself and return to my position as executive secretary.

*****

The next day I went back to C.A to submit my new application.

When I came in HR, Ms. Vivian was shocked when she saw me, she rushed into me. "What are you doing here? Aren't you already fired?"

Because she is part of HR, I have no choice but to talk to her and tell her what I'm there for. "I'm here to apply for an internship."

Ms. Vivian raised her eyebrow then grinned. "Look, I thought I wouldn't see you here at the company anymore, I didn't think that you're persistent that you'd still squeeze yourself in here, and now to become an intern."

"Ms. Vivian, I'm here to work and not to compete or anything. Also, this is my opportunity. If you were in my situation, wouldn't you do the same?" I retorted.

It's not that i wanted to fight with her, but I couldn't help being irritated when she said that I'm stuffing myself here in C.A. We both have something to pursue, what's her problem with that?

"Hmp! If I were in your situation? If I were in your situation, I wouldn't be so stupid as to immediately believe that it's okay to barged into your boss's office without even knocking." She said while grinning annoyingly and still crossing her arms.

I can't retort with that. Yes. I know I'm stupid. Sigh.... If only I could get those times back. But does she need to say that again?

"Marigold Magbanua? Mr. Villaflores had informed me about you already... This way please." Said the smiling HR manager who was just came to us.

Ms. Vivian mouth agaped, she was stunned by what the manager said, she then looked at me. When we were about to go in HR Manager office, she pull the manager's arm that almost cause her to lost her balance. I was slightly surprised by what Ms. Vivian did. Are they that close?

"M-Mrs. Guiller, who did you say?" Ms. Vivian asked in surprised.

Mrs. Guiller frowned on her behavior, just now she almost fell. She looked at her arm that still held tightly by Ms. Vivian. "Ms. Sandoval! Mind your manners, will you?" Then she violently shook and withdrew her arm.

I immediately followed Mrs. Guiller while Ms. Vivian was left dumbfounded.

Inside the office:

"Ms. Magbanua, Mr. Villaflores said that you do not need to be included in the evaluation, because you are qualified. So, which department do you want to apply for internship?"

"B-but... Wouldn't it be unfair to others if you don't evaluate me?"

"Yes, that's what I thought too. It's just that, this is Mr. Villaflores instructions and arrangement. So choose a department so that we can start to process your application."

It seems that the worries and the big burden in my heart dissipated. I feel that even though I was fired as executive secretary, I was blessed in other ways. Just like getting a support and help from Jonas. And because of this, I will improve my work even more so that Jonas can see that his help for me will not go to waste.

"I choose marketing."

Once my application processed, I was immediately admitted to the marketing department the next day.

"Everyone! listen first!" The marketing manager, Mrs. Valdez called.

People stopped what they were doing and looked at me in the front. When they saw me, some women there suddenly murmured.

"This is Marigold Magbanua, our new colleague here to our department. I hope you can get along with her and be a good team."

"H-hello... I hope I can get along with you guys." I greeted them sparingly. I'm not really use to this kind of introduction. Haizzz...

Even though there were still vacant seats in the front, I chose those at the corner. I feel that I can work well here. When I sat down, I felt satisfied.

Is that her?"

"Yes, that's her. I can't be wrong."

"Why is she's here?"

I heard some faint whispers from the girls very close to my seat. I also saw them glancing casually at me.

I bowed my head and started reading and reviewing the files given to me by Mrs. Valdez. I don't want to explain to them. It will be up to them to discover what happened and why I came here.

I felt a pain in my neck and back because I bent over for so long, so I first straightened up my seat and twisted my neck to the left and right.

When I turned my head to the other end, I noticed a woman who is wearing a glasses that is simply peeking at me. When she saw me looking at her, she suddenly covered her face with a folder.

I laughed at her, she's so cute to look at. I resumed what I was doing. Mrs. Valdez said that we might have team building this coming week so I would like to finish reviewing the files right away to catch up with them.

When I took a break, I was surprised when some girls suddenly approached me. "Hi Marigold, can we chat?"

I Just nodded.

"Marigold, why are you here in our department, aren't you papa CEO's executive secretary?"

I don't know how to answer. Shall I say that Mr. Atanante's fired me because I barged on his office without his permission, and saw him and his woman doing something?

"W-well, I'm... I was fired." I answered. I just hope they will be satisfied with that and stop pestering me.

"Huh? You're getting fired? Why?"

I feel like I might've getting a headache thinking about my excuse. What else can I say to them?

"The reason why she was fired because... She is incompetent as an executive secretary. Means, she is not qualified and she has no ability." We all turned to the woman who suddenly spoke and saw that it was Ms. Vivian.

Some women approached her as if they were already familiar with her. "What do you mean vivian? And isn't the applicant for executive secretary evaluated strictly? And it was Mr. Villaflores who interviewed the applicants, right?"

Ms. Vivian looked at me with a hint of malicious meaning and grinned. "That's it. That's why she was hired because, Mr. Villaflores is her backer. So don't wonder how she's hired as executive secretary."

I stood up and immediately explained when I saw the way the girls in the department seemed to look at me differently. "Mr. Villaflores did help me, but I still pass the evaluation and went through the proper process before I was-"

"Really?" Ms. Vivian interrupted.

"But why did I learn something different from HR yesterday?... Didn't you go through the evaluation and were hired directly in the marketing department, because of Mr. Villaflores's notice?"

The girls gasped and looked at me at the same time.

"Wait, that's unfair, isn't it?"

"Yes! We stood in line and went through the proper process, then we waited for two weeks, but she..."

I can't say anything now, What should I say? This is the problem I might encounter that I'm talking about ... Huhuhu(cried)Jonas... I don't know if you really helped me.

From that day, I seems became a mean and bad person in our department, and from then on, no one girls came to talk to me again.

Days have passed and our team building came:

"Everyone, good luck to all of you... But before you start, I just want to announce something that will motivate you even more in your work and task." Mrs. Valdez said in a loud voice.

The attention of the noisy women who had already gathered in groups were aroused.

"Mr. Villaflores said that the CEO agreed to have a company outing, if this project were going to be successful. So... Do your best!"

My colleagues enthusiasms ignited and they cheered happily.

When I was about to take an empty seat, a woman stopped me. "Someone is sitting here." Then she put her handbag in the vacant seat.

When I was going to another seat, she stopped me again. "Someone is sitting here too."

I looked at those who's already sitting and saw their bags on some empty chairs. I saw them chatting happily and they didn't seem to have any intention of paying attention to me. It looks like I'm the only one standing and looks there's no place for me.

After a while I felt a faint tapped on my shoulder. I turned around and saw the woman who wore glasses that I caught looking at me. She seems to shy to approach me.

"Um... I-if you want, you can join our group." She timidly offered.

I immediately agreed and joined them in a corner.

"Hmp! They think they're so good that they don't want us to include on their group because we're newbies. Let's prove that we don't need them too! Who do they think they are?" A woman spoke irritatingly when we sat down. She talked about those in the table that seemingly refuse to give me a seat earlier.

I greeted the others at the table. I found out that like me, they are also new. We introduced each other one by one.

We quietly started to plan our activities while we could hear the loud conversation from the other table while they're laughing.

"So noisy!" Carla complained loudly. She seems to intend for the other group to heard it. "This group seems like a market women." She murmured.

Mrs. Valdez came clapping to get our attention. "Attention! Everyone... Look who's here who's voluntarily visited our department." I turned around and saw Mrs.Valdez with Jonas while smiling face at me. What was this guy doing here? Also, his smile seem sinister eh.

The women stood up and immediately surrounded Jonas. They're blushing and looked thrilled in excitement.

"Hello~ actually I'm here for marigold for something... Can I borrow her for a while?" Jonas said with a wink at me.