INCUBUS

CHAPTER IX

SPG AHEAD! READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!

CHAPTER IX  

It was Wednesday when the HR department announced that there will have an employee's outing at the company. At syempre, isa si Jecca sa mga unang nakarinig ng balita para sabihin sa kaibigan.

"It's a three days and two nights outing sa Sorsogon at sagot ng kumpanya ang lahat ng gastusin!" Jecca excitedly told Ara.

"Kailan naman daw 'yan?" tanong niya.

"This week. Friday afternoon tayo aalis, tapos Sunday afternoon tayo babalik. So ano, are we going?"

"I don't know kung papayagan ako nila Mama at Papa. Saturday and Sunday is my scheduled therapy, eh," nanlulumo niyang sabi.

"Well, a little getaway is a therapy. Ako ang magpapa-alam sa'yo sa pamilya mo," pamimilit pa nito kaya napangiti si Ara.

"I'll see what I can do. Pero kapag hindi ako pinayagan, hindi ko sila pipilitin," sabi niya at tumango naman ito.

"Okay, okay! Oh, my God! I'm so excited!"

Nginitian lamang ni Ara ang kaibigan. And just when she was about to open her computer, her officemate, Mae, entered their office. Panting as if she run the stairs from ground floor to seventh floor.

"Guys, have you heard?!" sabi nito na hinihingal.

"Na may company outing? Oo na!" sagot ni Joan pero umiling naman ang dalaga.

"Our company is being sued! Haven't you read the news?"

Everyone inside gasp. Si Ara naman ay agad na binuksan ang browser at sin-earch ang sinasabi ng ka-opisina.

"Hala! Ano'ng nangyari?" she heard Jecca said from her cubicle, probably reading the news online.

'Abbys Advertising Company—Philippine branch, an international corporation, is being sued by H.N. Advertising Lineage, a local company, for plagiarizing a commercial slogan. However, base from the network media, Abbys is the first to release the commercial before the H.N. Atty. Sta. de Leones, the current CEO of H.N made a statement that Abbys not only plagiarized the slogan, but copied the commercial from a certain software company. Abbys hasn't have released any comments about the issue but already pressing charges against H.N.

"First time 'to!" Ara heard Jerry said.

"Baka hindi matuloy ang outing dahil dito," sabi naman ni Joan.

"Ara..." mahinang tawag sa kaniya ni Jecca kaya lumingon siya rito.

"I know. This is bad, Jec. Marketing department will be doomed," she said but Jecca shook her head.

"Not that..." umusog ito gamit ang swivel chair at tumabi sa kaniya. "Attorney Sta. de Leones is the owner of H.N. at siya ang nag-aayos ng problema. Sa palagay mo kaya...lalabas din ang big boss para linisin ang pangalan ng Abbys?"

"Jec, Abbys is an international company pero kahit kailan ay hindi pa lumabas ang may-ari nito. Sa palagay mo ba itataya niya ang security niya para lang harapin ang accusations ng H.N?" aniya at nagkibit balikat lang ang kaibigan.

"Eh, malay ko ba. At saka, chance na natin 'yon para makita ang guwapong mukha ng CEO natin. Remember 'di ba, sabi ni Thalia nakita na niya ang bossing natin?" Jecca said giggling.