Commitment

Chapter 26

"This is regarding the unexpected promotion of a rank & file employee under Glaq. Alena, a mere field team leader has been promoted to a junior officer even when she's just started working 8 months ago." a senior officer started.

Hindi ko masiyadong maalala ang posisyon niya pero pamilyar siya sa akin. Actually, siya lang ang pamilya, the rest ay never ko pa na nakikita. s**t! Ibig sabihin ganoon talaga kalaki ang agwat na itinaas ko?

The way he describe me— a mere employee does sound right to me. Totoo ngang ang posisyon na ito ay masiyadong mataas. I never once saw their faces, because I have never been into a meeting.

"I and the rest of the senior officers thought it was wrong to promote someone whose only been working for 8 months."

"Bukod sa hindi pa sapat ang karanasan niya, hindi naaayon sa tamang posisyon ang pinaglagyan sa kaniya."

"He's right! At least two junior rank ang nilagpasan niya."

"She even had a failed transaction that lose us 5 million. Doon pa lang hindi na siya dapat na sa ganitong posisyon agad. Marami pa dapat siyang matutunan sa ibaba."

Halos sunod sunod ang rants ng bawat officers and they look very frustrated with what happened. Parang sobrang naka-apekto ang nangyari sa akin sa buhay nila.

Lumapit ang isang babae na palaga'y ko ay isang secretary ng mukhang senior officer. May binigay siyang papel sa mafia boss.

"Glaq, why did you signed her promotion? You knew it yourself that she's not fit—"

"Maybe because of indebtedness? His relative did horrible things to the woman."

Naguusap sila na parang walang ibang nakakarinig sa kanila. Nakita ko kung paano mainis si Silvana at nais na sanang magsalita ngunit pinigilan ko siya. Hindi makakatulong kung sasabay kami, makikita lamang na hindi kami totoong propesyunal sa larangan.

Nagtiim naman ang bagang ng dalawang lalaki sa tabi ko. I can see that Rehan's just controlling himself, kahit bakas sa mata niya ang galit habang si Dario naman ay sadyang hindi lang gusto ang mga naririnig.

"He signed the promotion for personal reason and that is a violation of our law."

They all lookat at Glaq na tahimik lang sa isang tabi. Maliwanag ang paligid kaya naman hindi ko mapigilan ang matawa sa isip kapag tumatama ang reflection ng liwanag sa skin head niya.

If I know, hindi niya rin alam ang isasagot niya. Rehan recommended me and this bald signed it without hesitation either because of fear for Rehan or dahil sa utang na loob.

"How dare you ruin your name for this woman? You must face right and justful punishment!"

"I am the Head of Contario, I see things the way I see it sa paraang alam ko na tama. I wouldn't sign it kung alam kong hindi ito nararapat sa kaniya. Personal reasons? Even our mafia boss knows me. Alam niya kung gaano ko pinahahalagahan ang propesyonalismo." Glaq finally answered.

Natahimik ang ilan, hindi nakasagot. Totoo rin naman, Glaq is a good leader and trustworthy. He is also a man of principle kaya nga noong nalaman niyang sangkot ang kamag-anak niya, kahit gaano siya ka-demonyo ay hindi niya ito kinampihan.

"Perhaps you were scared of Rehan?" one senior officer asked.

Kinabahan na ako at natigilan. Talagang mao-open ang tungkol sa amin ni Rehan. Wala naman din kasi na ibang posibleng dahilan kundi siya lang at ang desisyon na ginawa niya.

"Rehan have a romantic relationship with our subject. It already explains everything why she was in that position when she doesn't really deserve it."

"Don, have you heard of this? I'm sure you do but your son is having a petty relationship with her and he's using his power to take advantage of getting her girlfriend in to a higher position."

"Or maybe that woman is just using your son to get to the top without a sweat."

"I and the rest of Senior officers are requesting for reconsideration of her promotion. By facts we conclude, she did not deserve any of it and must face justful punishment for violating our law." one senior officer declared.

Natahimik sila at binigay na sa mafia boss ang atensyon.

"Are the defense ready?" the mafia boss asked, ang baritono niyang boses ang lumagabog sa silid.

I could almost hear my heart beating so f*****g fast.

"Yes, sir." Dario answered.

Dario stood up at may iniabot ito kay Don Henarez. Isang puting folder na naglalaman ng mga papeles. Hindi ko alan kung ano ang mga iyon, hindi nabanggit sa akin.

Don Henarez opened it at isa-isang binasa ang bawat pahina.

"Sir, that is Alena's track record since her training and her transaction record since she started working. She excels in different martial arts and gunnery. She self studied the history of de Contrares mafia and had it memorize for just three months.

Since she started working, all her transactions were done smoothly and neat. She worked fast and quiet. Sa lahat din ng nang galing sa posisyon niya, siya ang may pinakamabilis na natapos na misyon base sa record ng Contrares."

"And she failed her last transaction." singit ng isang senior officer, sinusubukan barahin si Dario.

"Because she was ambushed. Somebody from the inside sold her to the Riverle. Glaq formed an investigation team for that and we are close to identifying the mole."

"Even so, if she's really doing her job and as smart as what you're implying, should she figure it out ahead if there's suspicious in the transaction?"

Nakita ko kung paano mag-igting ang panga ni Dario, halatang naiinis.

"An evil and wise plan of an enemy even how smarter you are if there's a mole inside, you can never know." then he looked at Don. "Alena is smart, she's even smarter than those higher than hers. Based on data and her statistic, and how she manages the operation are all excellent. Just now, her five transaction succeeded smoothly."

"Alena also cares for her people because she's been there in the field, like we all were, but she's different. Trust is the most important thing in this line of work Don, and her people trusted her with all their lives and she has gain their respect by this short period of time. Simply because she treat her people fair and even. For her, kahit na ano pa ang posisyon, pantay-pantay lamang sila ng mga tauhan niya." Nagulat ako ng magsalita si Silvana.

Hindi ko inaasahan ito pero para akong maiiyak. These people is defending me, I feel grateful. Paano kung nandito si Wren? Siguradong gagawin din niya ang lahat maipagtanggol lang ako.

"Why are you all here, anyway? You're friends, I keep hearing a biased statement." reklamo ng isa.

"They shouldn't even be here."

"I came here as the head of the Richardson, what are you talking about, old hag? Wala na rin ba akong karapatan tumapak sa isa sa pagaari ko rin?" galit na pahayag ni Silvana.

Damn it! Of course, she's a board member also, head of their own famiglia at hindi iyon biro.

They all looked at Dario, well kahit anak siya ng malaking agency ng Contario, ewan ko. Napatingin na lang sa malayo ang kaibigan kong mayabang kanina.

"I keep hearing justful words and fair treatment, does it even really happen here?"

Finally, Rehan spoke. Lahat ay natigilan at mukhang maging sila ay hinihintay ang sasabihin ni Rehan.

"What are you implying, Rehan?"

Ka-level ni Rehan ang mga senior officers na ito. Hindi ko alam ang eksakto pero tingin ko ay kasisimula pa lang niya kaya ino-observe pa siya ng mga ito.

"I'm saying that if we are keen on following the law, shouldn't you be in that chair?"

Nakita ko ang ilang seniors na napaayos ng upo, ang iba naman ay tumikhim at hindi makatingin.

"Every each of you avoided the right process of hierarchy. Kaylangan ko pa ba kayong isa-isahin?" madugong litanya ni Rehan.

"I'm sure you have proof Rehan because if this is just an allegation I would be really disappointed."

Natawa si Rehan sa narinig. "You think little of me then," ang ngiti na iyon ay napalitan ng ngisi. Dario handed another set of documents to Don, he opened it with bored look like he's just doing this because he has to.

"Complete details are in there, even the time you were assigned by your friends. Lahat kayo, hindi rin nagdaan sa rank&file position. And you know what disappoints me? You were incompetent since the beginning and still incompetent until now."

"Numbers of failed transaction, you all had lost million dollar worth deal and you know what's worst? I found a very large discrepancy in the financial auditing. The errors significantly began and still continues during your time."

Natigilan doon si Don Henarez. Nananatili siyang nakatingin sa papel pero nakita ko ang pagtigil niya saglit, naiwan ang kamay nito sa ere ng ilang segundo hawak ang papel na ililipat sa susunod na pahina.

I can feel the tension growing inside the room. Ang kaninang matatapang na seniors ay natahimik at waring pinagpawisan. Nakikitaan ko rin ng pagka-balisa ang ilan sa kanila.

Nakita ko naman ang pag ngisi ni Silvana.

"Alena here does her works perfectly without collateral damages. Her first ever failed mission was because of a rat trying intentionally to ruin us. I don't think we should even consider that as her failed mission. Compare to these senior officers, Alena even though she's been here only for eight months has showed us her amazing capabilities."

Isang senior officer ang sumagot. "Kahit na! Lumabag—"

"I don't remember appointing her to being chief manager is a violation of our law. What the law says, if one is capable enough, achieved enough to be in that position, he/she can be given early promotion. Once his/her track record exceeds to be in that suppose position, he/she can be transfer to a higher position in accordance to this person's achievements."

Natulala ako ng marinig iyon kay Rehan. Hindi ko nga kabisado ang mga batas ng Contario, I mean yes iyung mga basic ay alam ko na pero ang mga ganitong batas, hindi ipinaalam sa amin at tanging na sa matataas lang ang dapat makaalam.

"In regards to rumors of our relationship, I in behalf of my family name never used my power as advantage for someone even how much dear she is to me. Itinataya ko ang karangalan at pangalan ko, to swear and also to prove that I and will never do such thing to the mafia."

Tinignan niya isa isa ang mga senior officers na ngayon ay hindi na maka tingin sa kaniya.

"We successfully handed the evidence of Alena to Don Henarez as proof of its importance to the promotion. Data and facts presented are legit and approved by the de Contrares mafia lawyer." Dario stated.

"If you want to contest her promotion, go ahead. But one thing is for sure, I will drag you down first until everyone of you will be left with nothing from the mafia." Rehan

Iyon na ang pinaka final na sinabi ni Rehan. Hindi na rin umimik ang lahat ng senior officers. Lahaf ay tahimik at naghihintay na lamang sa magiging desisyon ni Don Henarez.

Patagong hinawakan ni Rehan ang kamay ko. Malamig ito dahil sa kaba na nararamdaman ko.

"The evidence presented to me by the senior officers were poorly written and it lacks of concrete details. The defense' presented evidence are enough keep her. I accept the validated facts and data therefore the Chief Operation position will remain the way it is."

Don Henarez declared. Napa-palakpak si Silvana at kaagad akong niyakap ng mahigpit. I saw a small smile on Dario and when I look at Rehan, he's got nothing to show like he expected this was going to happen.

"All senior officers will be called again for tomorrow meeting at 2 PM sharp. We will discuss the discrepancies I read that involves every one of you!"

Nagulat kami ng pagalit na nagsalita ang mafia boss. Nakatayo na ito, galit at malamig ang boses. Pagka-sabi niya non ay hindi na siya naghintay ng anoman, tumalikod na ito at lumabas kasama ang limang mafia reapers.

Rehan snatched my arm to Silvana. I looked at the face of the man I fell in love with. And I remember him saying he's going to play the game for me. He didn't just played it, he even wins it.