Yes, Ma'am

CHAPTER 4 (KREIG)

CHAPTER FOUR

(KREIG)

This is the first time I am shopping for myself here, and I am at Uptown Mall buying things I need for my condo unit. The sales associate who helped me was very hospitable. I bought a bed, pillows, sofa, utensils, television, and anything I needed. I was very excited some of the things I bought were not essential. I was paying using my black card when Dad called me.

“I forgot to tell you, you will be starting tomorrow at Villa Group,” Dad dropped the call. He did not even wait for me to answer back.

I have school tomorrow; our thesis group needs to report to our thesis advisor about our thesis, update, and such. I will just ask Mark to take my part in the report. Mark has been my best friend since high school, Joan and Karla became our friends in the first year of college, and we have become friends ever since.

I wrote my new address on the receipt to deliver the things I bought to my doorstep.

After my shopping spree, I want to lie on my new bed, arrange and organize the new stuff I bought. I tap my card key, and my door opens. When I opened my door widely, Karla, Joan, and Mark welcomed me. Joan holding a cake with a dedication, wrote Congratulation on Moving Out. How the hell did they enter here?

“How the hell did you guys get in?” I asked, tapping their shoulders. I grabbed the cake in Joan’s hands and admired it. It was a chocolate cake, my favorite.

“I owned this place, Kreig. I have spare keys,” Karla said sarcastically and laughed. “But you can change the passcode on your smart lock and reset the card keys. The duplicate card key is on the kitchen drawer,” she pointed out the kitchen drawer since that is the only furniture attached to this empty condo unit.

The doorbell rang. Mark opened the door, and as I expected, it was the delivery guy, the things I bought had just come in. Things after things were coming into my unit, Mark and Joan were shocked when they saw how many things I bought in a single day, there was a mountain of boxes in my unit now.

“How the hell can you buy this in a single day?... Is that a smart TV? It’s huge, bro,” Mark said with amazement as he approached the box of a 100-inch smart TV.

I raised my black credit card with two fingers holding it like a cigarette. Mark and Joan just rolled their eyes at me, and then they both said simultaneously, “Yeah, a Kilmartin,” and they just laughed.

“Hey, I have a black card, too,” Karla said, and we just laughed it out.

Mark and Joan, their social statuses are lower rich since their parents own microbusinesses. Karla is average rich. Her parents own a real estate business. And me, upper rich. Of course. I thank my granddad for starting it.

“Since you guys are here, help me unbox this stuff,” I asked them, and they sighed.

“Thank us. You have a good friend,” Joan said to my face. She rolled her eyes as she started to unbox some of my things. Mark and Karla did the same.

“I will be starting tomorrow as an intern at Villa Group,” I said while unpacking my other stuff.

“We have a report tomorrow at school,” Mark said. He stopped unpacking and looked at me.

“Please cover for me, Mark,” Mark just shook his head and agreed

“Villa Group?” Karla asked. “Villa Group is my parents' biggest client, and they rent almost seventy percent of our for-lease lands. Especially, the ChikeneyPorkey Fastfood Restaurant,” Karla continued, and she arranged the plates and utensils in the kitchen.

ChickeneyPorkey Fastfood Restaurant is one of the top restaurants in the country. It just started expanding to Europe; it already has fast food branches in the Americas, especially in the USA, Mexico, and Canada.

“Well, Villa Food Corp is where I will be,” I said while I unboxed this 100-inch

smart TV.

“Good luck to you. I heard the boss is like a Tiger.” Karla smiled at me sarcastically.

“Hey, in case you all forgot, we will party tonight. I know a place,” Mark said while arranging the table.

“I want to bar hop, but I remember we have a report tomorrow at school,” Mark said sarcastically, and he looked at me. He would cover my part of our thesis report.

—

We were at the new Club on the new street of BGC. The music was as loud as a horn train, but the crowd enjoyed it. Mark was nowhere to be found, Karla was dancing with a random guy, Joan was at the bar top asking for a drink, and I was sitting at our place that Mark had reserved beforehand.

I was quietly enjoying my drink and watching the crowd enjoying the music. Then I saw a woman enter wearing a strapless peach-colored corset and a white flowy skirt above her knee. Her aura was so regal. She went straight to the bar top and started chatting with that lady bartender. I did not notice that I was staring at her. Her skin is like pinkish porcelain; her long black wavy hair is perfect for her almond-shaped face. And damn, those legs look like as smooth as butter.

I was still staring at that woman when Joan snapped her fingers in front of my face.

“Damn, Krieg. I did not know you were into older ladies,” Joan said loudly, she said still holding a cocktail then she sat across me.

“What?” I asked confused

“I called you many times, but you ignored me. Then I looked where you were staring at,” Joan shouted, sipping her cocktail while looking at me provocatively. “Into older ladies, huh,” Joan teased.

“How did you know? She's… ugh… old?” I said, stuttering because that woman did not seem old to me.

“I heard her talking with the lady bartender. They seem close,” Joan said. “I think they are friends,” Joan added.

“Well, she looked not old to me,” I said, smiling and looking for the woman I admired. Joan just laughed.

Then, as I was looking for her, I saw she was dancing with the crowd. I enjoyed watching her dance, but she began to stop dancing and looked uncomfortable. Then I saw a random guy harassing her. I did not hesitate; I stood up, walked into the crowd, and punched the guy harassing this beautiful woman.

“Are you okay?” I asked worriedly. She began rubbing her temples, and she did not look okay to me. I wanted to touch her face to see if she was okay, to see her reaction, but I restrained myself from doing that.

I moved closer to her to talk and know her name, but the lady bartender approached her. The lady bartender called her name, but I could not hear it because the music was too loud.

“Kreig, let’s go,” Karla grabbed my arm and pulled me out of the crowd. We are now outside the club, Joan is too.

Mark’s Chevrolet car stopped on the sidewalk in front of us, and he rolled down the window.

“C’mon, It’s late we have school tomorrow,” Mark said, and we hopped in his car.

I still want to stay. I saw an angel at the bar. This is the first time I've admired a woman since Catherine and I broke up four years ago. I want to know her name. Joan said she was old, but I don’t care. I hope we meet again.

“Krieg punched a guy at the club,” Karla said, she was in the back seat with Joan, and I was in the passenger seat.

“What?!” Mark shockingly said while driving.

“Why?!” Joan asked. “I should not have gotten out early, so I witnessed it,” she added

“Yeah, Krieg. Why?” Karla added.

I crossed my arms and sat confidently in the passenger seat.

“I saw a hot woman getting harassed,” I said.

“Was that the old lady you were staring at the club?” Joan said.

“You are into older women?” Marked said, and he laughed sarcastically.

“Focus on driving, dude,” I said.

The three of them just laughed, I didn’t care about them. The face of that woman is playing on my mind. Damn, I want to see her again.

–

As soon as I woke up, I got myself ready for duty as an intern. I am wearing a navy blue suit that I bought from Brioni when I was on vacation in France. I grabbed my Cartier watch, maybe a Rolex. I was contemplating what watch to wear, but I remembered that this was my first day at Villa Group, so I should wear simple. So, I grabbed the Casio watch I got as a gift from my sister instead.

Villa Group Headquarters is only a six-minute walk from my apartment, but I still decided to use my car. I hopped on my Mercedes and drove to Villa Group. I almost forgot that I was not going to my Dad’s company. I nearly parked my car at the entrance and called a valet. The security guard assisted me in parking my car at the employee’s parking area.

The receptionist expected me and told me to wait in the lobby and someone would assist me. I was sitting on the sofa in the lobby, and I observed the employees going in and out of the building. I noticed this lady my age holding a paper bag; I assumed it was food. Her other hand was holding a phone, talking to someone. She was almost running. I hope work-life balance is implemented here.

An old lady wearing cat eyeglasses approached me and introduced herself as the Director of Human Resources.

“Good morning, you must be Mr. Kilmartin,” she said. “I’m Gloria So, the Director of Human Resources. " She offered her hand for a handshake.

“Yes, good morning,” I said and shook her hand

“Follow me,” she said, and I just followed her.

I noticed some of the employees were looking at me, and when I caught them looking at me. I just smile at them. I want a good impression on my first day.

We are now at her office. It is a mess—papers everywhere, a whiteboard at the back with doodles, and a schedule of applicants for interviews. She sits in her place, my god, her table is full of crumpled papers, and my intrusive thoughts want to clean and arrange this office.

“The chairman told me. I already know that you will work here, but your identity is classified,” she said and sipped her coffee, which I think was already cold.

I nod in response to what she said. Thank goodness I don’t want any special treatment.

“Only the chairman and I know your identity. Well, you only need a certificate, yes?” she said

I nodded again.

“Alright, my staff will assist you. You will be in the Operations Department,” she said and called her staff using the telephone on her desk.

“Thank you, Ma’am, for keeping it a secret,” I said.

“My NDA is on the line, Mr. Kilmartin,” she said, smiling.

Her staff went inside the office and assisted me to the Operations Department. She is holding a paper, I guess my CV, my fake CV.

—

“Good morning, everyone. I am Kreig Kristofer Kilmartin, and I will be an intern here for three months. I hope we get along well,” I said standing in the middle of the office as I introduced myself.

“Hi, good morning; I’ve been expecting you today. The HR noticed me yesterday. I’m Lovey Gonzales, General Manager of the Operations Department,” The middle-aged woman told me.

“Kilmartin… Are you related to the Kilmartin Family,” She asked. “The tycoon Gerald Kilmartin, are you related to him?” she added.

“No, Ma’am. Just the same surname,” I lied and just smiled at her. That is actually my Dad. I want to say that to her. But then again, be simple.

“Alright, Ms. Darlyn Ho will train and teach you. She is the supervisor here,” she said, and she called the supervisor.

“Ms. Darlyn, this is the new intern. It is up to you on how to train him,” Ms. Gonzales said, and she went inside her office.

“Okay, Mr. Kilmartin, I know your name. I just heard it. I have so much to do. So, just read this,” She handed me three thick books and pointed to where my desk was.

She did not even let me speak or introduce myself to her, so she left me standing in the middle, holding three thick books. Okay, I smell a terrible attitude inside her. She even looks like the turtle from the Kung Fu Panda Movie.

I went to my desk and read these books in front of me. The context of these three books is history, manual, and company policy. I am starting to get bored.

“Hey, I am Aaron. I am also an intern, but I only have a month to render,” A man tapped my shoulders and he introduced himself.

“Hi, I’m Kreig,” I said. I closed the books and faced him. His place is just beside me, in my cubicle neighbor's office.

“Ms. Darlyn Ho, is very… uhm, her attitude is worst. Believe me, I’ve been here for two months,” Aaron said.

“Oh, I felt that her looks are appropriate to her attitude,” I said, grinning.

“Dude, wtf!” Aaron chuckled and laughed. I feel this will be my office friend.

“Mr. Kilmartin” Ms. Darlyn called me.

“Xerox this and give it to Ms. Gonzales. She is at the conference room,” Ms. Darlyn instructed me, but I didn’t know how to use the Xerox machine. Growing up, I asked our house helper to do this task.

I asked Aaron for help. We were on the last page when Ms. Darlyn approached us.

“I told you to do it, not Aaron. Why are you helping him?” Ms. Darlyn asked angrily. “You only need to photocopy it, It does not need two people to do it,” Darlyn said frustatedly.

“He does not know how to operate the Xerox Machine, Ma’am,” Aaron said to Darlyn.

“Oh shut up, Aaron!” Darlyn said, and I faced her. She is the supervisor, she was supposed to teach us interns. And she was scolding us just for this simple task. If she works at our company she will be fired for doing this.

“What are you looking at?’ Darlyn said. “Are you done? Go now, Ms. Gonzales need that documents,” Darlyn said, I want to scold her that she should not treat her subordinates like a slave. But I stopped myself.

“I don’t know where is the conference room, Ma’am,” I said to her with my straight face.

“Tsk, Walk straight then left,” she instructed me pointed her hand outside the office.

“Ma’am, maybe. I should come with him?” Aaron asked,

Yes, Aaron accompany me. I am not yet familiar with this building.

“No, he should find it himself. Now, Go.” Darlyn said, and I went outside.

I was walking at the hallway and turned right but this path is towards the Finance Department. I went back again to the Operations Department for me to start again at the hallway but this time, I turned left. But, again this is towards the Accounting Department, I bumped onto an employee who was walking opposite to me and I asked where is the conference room. And I right that I turned left, the conference room is beside the Accounting Department’s office.

I knocked twiced and went inside. The conference room is packed, I assumed are Managers and Directors. Then I noticed Ms. Gonzales, raised her hand and I approached ber.

“Ms. Gonzales, these are the documents that you asked,” I said to her,

“Are you lost? The meeting is about to start; I asked Darlyn to instruct Aaron to do this. He knows where the conference room is,” She said as she flipped the documents I gave her.

“Sorry, Ma’am,” I apologized.

“I don’t need this part. Now, Go. The CEO is coming,” Ms. Gonzales said.

I went outside the conference room holding the papers Ms. Gonzales did not need. I was so curious about these papers that I was reading them while walking. Then suddenly, I bumped into someone, a woman.

“Good morning, Ma’am. I am sorry, I am new here,” I said while picking up the scattered papers on the floor.

“What is your name?” the woman asked, but I was still picking up the papers and arranging them by page.

“Krieg, Ma’am,” I said while counting the papers. I don’t want Darlyn to scold or raised her voice at me if one of the pages got torned.

“What department are you on?” the woman asked and I am still arranging papers.

“And will you please look at me? You know it is disrespectful when someone is talking to you, and you are not looking at them. Now, look at me,” the woman asked angrily.

Darlyn is the only attitude lady that I want to encounter here on my first day. I don’t want to add another.

I looked at her, and my mind went blank for a bit.

It’s her. It really is her.

“I am an intern at the Operations Department, Ma'am,” I said, staring at her.

The angel that I met last night, the angel that I saved last night. I did not expect to meet her here. She is beautiful as a goddess.

Why is she here?