Behind That Mask

Numbed

KABANATA LIMA

Isinama ni Daddy ang mga bodyguards ko sa opisina. Pinangako ko na sa kanila na hindi na ako tatakas, but he insists. Para daw ito sa proteksyon namin.

Proteksyon mula kanino?

Am I missing something here?

"Cindy, this is Albert Lim, he's my assistant. Albert, I'd like you to meet my only daughter Cindy Anne Lopez." Inabot niya ang kamay niya. Tinanggap ko naman ito at nakipag kamay.

Sa palagay ko nasa mid 20’s siya. Mukha naman siyang mabait.

"Welcome to the company Ms. Cindy." sabi niya habang hawak pa ang kamay ko.

"Salamat Albert." Tumingin ako kay Dad. "Nasaan ang opisina ko?" tanong ko.

Ngumisi lang siya.

"Albert, please guide Ms. Cindy to her office and tell her job description then follows me to the conference room." tinapik ni Dad ang likod ko at iniwan kami sa opisina niya.

"Let's go Ms. Cindy. Please follow me po." Binuksan ni Albert ang pinto para sakin. Sinundan agad kami ng tatlong bodyguards ko. Seriously?

I rolled my eyes.

"Puwede ba kayong mag-stay sa lobby? Paano ako makakapagtrabaho kung sinusundan niyo ako?" I crossed my arms in front of them.

"Ms. Cindy, that's our job. To follow you. I'm sorry." One of the guards said.

Sobrang nakakainis.

May ilan sa mga empleyado ang tumitingin sa amin habang naglalakad. Who wouldn't? I have three large men at my back. Daig ko pa ang preso.

Albert opened a door. Inaasahan kong isang maluwang na silid ngunit may nakita akong anim na cubicle sa loob. I roamed my eyes. Wala akong nakikitang pribadong opisina dito.

"Ms. Cindy, ang silid na ito ang magiging opisina mo. You will be seating in the last cubicle at the right. This is the OJT room." Wait, what? OJT? I'm a trainee?

"Seryoso ka ba? Ako? Trainee ako?" tanong ko.

I shook my head in disbelief.

"Yes Ms. Cindy. The president personally gave your resume to the HR and asked if we have an available slot here. You will do some clerical works -----

"Of course alam ko kung ano ang ginagawa ng isang trainee. I need to talk to my dad." I marched away. 

How can he do this to me? Nakakahiya ito. Hahayaan niya akong gumawa ng mga clerical works? He will let me do clerical works? Oh my God! I'll be taking business management in college, get my MBA to help him with our business then I'll be a trainee now? I can't believe this.

"Nasaan ang conference room? Kakausapin ko siya ngayon." Humarap ako kay Albert. Asar na asar ako.

"Sorry Ms. Cindy, we can't go there. Kung mayroon kang anumang problema sa iyong trabaho, maaari kitang isama sa HR Department." He simply said.

"Maghihintay ako sa opisina niya." Sabi ko at iniwan sila. I thought I'll be having a great day.

I opened my bag and reached for my phone. I tried to call Arriana but her phone was out of coverage. Same as Stefanie. What the hell?

I reached for my dad's office door but it's locked. It has a fingerprint scanner and keypad to open it. Great.

"Alam mo ba ang code?" Tanong ko kay Albert.