GAMBLE: Rule of Cards

CHAPTER 40

“ARE YOU ready for your first day, Dennis?” Denton asked his little brother who was really covered with formal attire, which he inspired from the closet of Denton which he also looked at while his brother was at work. Dennis would not want his first day as the acting CEO of the company to be wasted because of his sloppy look, so he took notes without Denton knowing. Denton looked puzzled as he was really seeing a lot of similarities to the suit Dennis was wearing with the suits he used to wear, and the one he is wearing today. “Anyway, this is not your official first day but was just an assessment. Where did you find that suit? It was smaller but is the same with the suits I have inside my closet.”

“I got it from the same store where you used to buy your suits. Since I am fitter than you, I can’t fit on those large suits that you have, kuya, so I bought seven, one for each of the days of the week, so it won’t be too hard for me when I have to wash it,” Dennis replied. Denton just tapped his brother’s shoulder while smiling. “I like to remind them how good their original boss was, so I purposely chose this color palette. I also chose the store ‘cause I remember how much you talked about that store so much. It looks like I will not be regretting in the first place because the fabric is soothing on skin and is not really itchy,” he added. “We should go to the company, kuya. I do not want to be late on my first unofficial day. Come on! Faster…”

“Sandra, Jannah and Paul aren’t here yet,” Denton replied. Sandra and Jannah who were wearing really-similar clothes and pencil skirts showed up after they were called. Denton’s mouth gaped open after seeing Jannah in a really new look that he has never seen before yet. “Oh, that is super different. You could have told me a trigger warning,” Denton said. Jannah’s brows furrowed and gave Denton a death glare. “I am just kidding, Jannah. You look dashing in that new outfit. You should be used to wearing that since we will be getting used to seeing that after this day. By the way, where’s Paul, he’s the only one missing.”

“Paul went out early because he will be meeting someone. He said that he will be heading straight to the factory after his meeting, so we don’t have to wait for him and just go to the office without him,” Sandra replied. She looked at Jannah who was frozen in her position, still not used to using the skirts and all the things she had on her body. “Isn’t Jannah looking so dazzling in this attire? She told me that she is not used to it but I think she should really get used to it. She even complained about her attire a lot, but I also used to do it. It's natural. You’ll get used to it.”

“What if I didn’t get used to it?” Jannah’s counterattack. Denton and Dennis just laughed at Jannah’s quick contradiction. Jannah just gave the two brothers a death glare that they deserve. “But seriously though, do secretaries need to put on a uniform as sexy as this? This is not even my cup of tea. I really think that I do not suit this attire. Can I just change into something I am more comfortable using? I can see myself panicking later after seeing people in the company looking at my attire.”

“I can assure you that you are safe inside my company, Jannah,” Denton replied. “The people there are decent and are only business-minded. They would not think of something that will not be suitable or will give dirt to the company’s name.” Denton gave Jannah a reassuring smile and told her not to worry much about her clothes. “Also, almost all women inside the company use the same or similar styles or attires. I also assure you that you look good in such attire. You do not have to worry about how people will look at you. Face them while looking up, because that is where you should put yourself.”

“Denton is right, Jannah. What matters is how you see yourself. You will get used to wearing it, Jannah, I promise you,” Sandra replied. After all that chit-chats, they all decided to hop in the car and drive to the company. Since there was no Paul to drive the car, Denton drove the car. Dennis, at first, volunteered to drive to the company but Denton said that since it is one of Dennis special days, it will also be one of the special days that he will drive for everyone. Dennis just gave up to Denton since his willingness to drive is overflowing today. “Oh, we’re here already, guys. Remember that this is where we park our cars and we enter the company at the back entrance, so you must take note of this, guys. Also, as we enter the company using the back entrance, that is when I start giving Denton the first read of his schedule, where he should be by a time or something else. Also, if there is a reported problem yesterday that I was unable to tell the boss, I will tell him this time, as we enter the entrance.” Sandra looked at Jannah and gave him a smile. “This tablet, I am sure you know how to use gadget, is the one you will use for schedules and notes. I will assess you later at home about this.”

“Sandra is doing all the work, but anyway…” Denton said, as they entered the back entrance with the guard helping them open the gate. “The reason why we enter the back entrance is for safety purposes. Also, since this is a company, this place is big. The nearest way to the office of the CEO is the back entrance,” he added. “This way, I can save a lot of energy, and this is also the fastest way to the parking lot, so this back entrance helps a lot in so many ways.”

“That’s the guards, I am sure you know,” Sandra added. They entered the office and there greeted the office workers of the company at their tables, each. The regular employees of the company each have tables in the wide second floor of the building. The office is in front of another room, but is a closed space for the board members. On the third storey of the building, there was the office of the CEO and the conference room. While the CEO room is on the third floor, they first stepped on the second floor to formally introduce Dennis and Jannah to the workers. “These are the workers of the company. They might be little in the eyes now, but they are many. Some are working in maintenance, some in the factory and here they are, the office workers.”

“Sandra explained it to you, Dennis. For formality, I am here to introduce you to the office workers. For you, I even told them to wear the name tags that they used when they were just starting their job. You can just know them by looking at their name tags,” Denton added. Dennis just nodded his head twice as a response. “I bet that you already heard about the adjustments and changes with the company today, guys. Today is the first unofficial day of my brother, Dennis, who will be replacing me for a moment as the CEO of this company. He is here with Jannah, his newly-appointed secretary. They will start working here, as soon as I leave the company for a moment. Please take care of them. Please help them improve more.”

“We will do our best to help, not just the new CEO, but the whole company, sir,” that one worker nearest to Denton said before giving Denton something. Denton was surprised to see that happen but was still conscious enough to receive the present that was given to him by the worker. “We all contributed to buy you a piece of necktie, sir. I know that it is not that much but we hope that you will still appreciate it, however. We don’t know whether you will use it or just keep it but either way, we’ll be happy about it.” Denton smiled. It was just a little gesture of appreciation but it means a lot to him. “We do not know what will happen to you while you are taking your indefinite leave but we will be rooting for more of your and your company’s success. We will give as much support to the new CEO as we gave you, sir. Please be back safely.”

“You do not know how much this means a lot to me, people. It is a simple present but it totally made my whole day complete already. Thank you for this and I will surely use it,” Denton replied. All of the workers smiled as soon as they heard the statement from Denton. “I am glad to hear that you are all going to willingly help towards the improvement of the company. I am glad to hear that you are also welcoming about the changes and all that happens inside the company. I will still be visiting in my spare time, guys. I am not totally vanishing, and you will expect to see me wandering around here.”

After the talk with the office workers, the four of them entered the third floor and came inside the office of the CEO. “You see how your brother is loved by the company, Dennis?” Sandra asked Dennis who was smiling awkwardly. “I see that you are kind of pressured, but do not. They are just really welcoming to everyone. They will surely love you if you give them good treatments, just like how Denton gave them. Please do your best and prove to them that you can actually be a good CEO.”

“You know, Dennis, I am doing this not just because of my new venture, but to prepare you for future instances. As you know, I am getting old. Few years later, I will be retiring. Once I reach the retirement age, nobody will take charge of the company but you, my only relative who is at the legal age. Take it as a preparation for you taking charge of the company sooner,” Denton said as he patted Dennis’ shoulders. “For now, we should first focus on the assessment, you two. As you both know, both our jobs are hard, not as it seems they are, really. Being a CEO does not mean you will just sit on your chair, waiting for every work to be done by your workers. The workers may be responsible for factored work, but I, as the CEO, am responsible for the overall operations of the company. The CEO must know everything that happens inside a company. Also, the CEO is the telephone of the workers to the board. They are the ones responsible for the communication of the mass workers to the board. That is the exact reason why there is a conference meeting at the end of the month. You are also going to be strategizing in making the company’s improvement, together with the department involved. Being a CEO is a job that needs to have a lot of things for you to excel. With all these responsibilities, do you think you can do it?”