Rise Up

CHAPTER TEN

“Did you receive the announcement?” I nodded as I was walking, no, I mean jogging to the conference room with Dalen. We received an announcement that all interns are needed to report. It’s already time for the department rotation; I decided to take financial department this time.

“Okay interns, it’s time for you to sign up on your next department assignment. Remember we have four departments: Secretariat, Management, HR and Finance.”

            The supervisor distributed a paper for us to write our names to which department we want to go next. After collecting those papers, those who are willing to take the next department will be teamed to someone who will leave the department. It is done to turn over the unfinished tasks before the rotation. Surprisingly, Dalen chose the marketing and I was teamed up to him to turn over my task. The same thing happened to me, someone from the financial department thought me how to do the job. Our day as interns ended up like that.

            The next day is for us to report to our next department.

“Good morning ma’am.” We greeted our new department supervisor, Miss Patricia. She smiled. She is different from my previous department supervisor, Miss Marj. Miss Marj is a bubbly person. She loves teasing her juniors while Miss Patricia looks strict and scary

“Everyone, into the conference room in five.” She entered her office. The employees scrammed and hurriedly picked up papers in their desks, some are leaving the room and some faced their computers. We, interns, are confused. We don’t even know if we are part of the ‘everyone’. We just stood there.

“What are you doing, hurry.” One of the employees called us. We hurriedly followed him.

“My name is Mark. I supposed the last interns didn’t tell you. We should arrive at the conference room before her or else we are all doomed. She’s a time conscious type of a person. So if she said in five minutes, it’s really five minutes. Also, if your habit is to be late then you should never be late.” He explained us other things about our dos and don’ts in the finance department. Including that all department supervisors are engineers.

            When we arrived at the conference room, everyone is so tensed and alarmed.

“I just had my meeting yesterday. We have a new client and it’s not on government affair this time. If you are familiar with the King’s Hotel the rising hotel company, they are our client. The design and budget estimation is now on my hands.” She distributed a folder to everyone.

            The folder handed was the budget computation and estimations. I was shocked at the total budget needed, big money indeed. I scanned the materials, I thought buildings were just all about cements and steel rods but I think there is a lot more in it.

“But as you can see, we need to reduce that one hell of a big budget to a more justified one. Study that computation and after three days, we will discuss the proposals and questions we need to present next week. Dismiss.” She then left, after that I felt that everyone was relieved. I flip the pages.

“How are you?” I glanced at Patrick

            Yes, I’m at his office again. I thought I am not needed to eat lunch again with him. He became so busy. But when I was about to eat at the cafeteria, he called me saying that he is waiting for me so we can eat lunch together.

“I’m fine.” I plainly said and drank the water. I’m finished eating. I looked at him, he is not even touched anything in his plate.

“What department are you in right now?” He stared at me and then he ate

“I’m at the finance.” I stood up and went to the sofa

“Finance huh. Did Patricia already announce the new project?”

“Yes, she did. She said to study the budget.” I rested my head at the sofa

“The client wants an extravagant design but at the same time economical. We need to consider the design visuals, the material’s strength, and of course the budget.”

“Tell me, does all business consider those?” I sit properly and looked at him.

“hmm, not really. But in broad terms, I’m sure you studied the terms quality and quantity.” Oh yes, I remember those in one of my class. I nodded then he continued

“As business man, we need to assure product quality to gain clients. The better-looking your product is, the more clients you will have. We also need to assure product quantity. In terms of price, the product should not be over-pricing or else no one will buy the product. If the price is lower, you’re just killing your business.” I just nodded and agreed to all he said. We didn’t talked after that, I was about to go back at my office when he called me

“Chai, I want to give you something.” He walked at his table. He handed me a paper bag and I looked at him and at the paper bag and at him.

“What is this?” I slowly opened the paper bag.

“Just a dessert.” My eyes sparkled at the chocolates inside the paper bag. I’m a natural sweet tooth, I’m so happy right now

“Thank you, wow. You made me happy right now Patrick.” I said and thank him again and again. I almost hugged him, good thing I stopped myself.  I left after that.