Chapter 39 Fresh Start, Sweet Heart
THE SOFT chime of the elevator woke Magdalena up from her reverie. The beat of her heart was too loud in her ears. Her breath caught in her throat as she stood frozen inside the elevator.
"Are you getting out, Miss?" A man, wearing corporate attire, said. He sounded so annoyed because she was standing in his way.
"Ah!" Lena gasped and stepped back, giving way. "Sorry."
The man fixed his specs and looked at her with furrowed brows and cold stares. He didn't say anything. Just a swift look before he walked past her.
Swallowing hard, Lena stepped out of the elevator. She looked around. The lobby was wide and sleek. The modernity of the design made it look elegant, every edge was intricate, every line felt properly thought.
Behind the information desk in the lobby was a big set of letters in cursive. Blackwood Shipping Co. Every letter gleaming under the fluorescent lights.
Lena sucked her breath again, adjusting the strap of her tote back as she walked towards the front desk.
"Good morning," Lena greeted politely.
"Good morning, ma'am." The front desk staff smiled at her. "How may I help you?"
"Uhm... I'm a new applicant. I received an email instructing me to report today. I'm looking for the HR office. I was directed here by the security guard on the ground floor," Lena answered, her heart felt better now that the staff conversed with her normally and with a smile.
"Yes, ma'am. Just go straight down the hallway and turn right. You will see a door that will lead you to the office you're looking for," the woman answered, still smiling.
"Thank you so much." Lena smiled sweetly.
The fresh start she desperately asked for seemed to be granted now.
Her heels clicked against the marbled tile as she walked down the hallway. She turned right and saw three doors, one that had an HR Office on the door.
Lena knocked twice before she pushed the door open. The office was sleek and professional. There were tables and everyone inside looked so busy.
"Uhm...excuse me?" Lena approached the woman on the first table.
She was busy, but she looked at her. "Yes?"
"I'm the new applicant. I was told to-"
"CLARA!" The women shouted, interrupting Lena.
Another woman in a corporate uniform came.
"She's the new receptionist. Brief her about her responsibilities. Teach her everything she needs to do."
Clara nodded. "Yes, ma'am." She turned to Lena. "I've been waiting for you. Let's go."
Lena followed Clara silently. They were walking side by side out of the HR office as Clara started explaining the details to her.
"We have a total of seven receptionists here. One on the executive floor, three in the logistics department, and three in the main lobby. You will be assigned to the Executive floor, so you'll be working with the executive staff. And it's a very important job. The President hates mistakes, so I will train you very strictly to be one of the best," Clara explained in a strict tone but with a touch of kindness and patience.
Lena was amused. This shipping company is operating globally, so I would be understandable if the employees here are a bit impatient since they're busy every second of the day. But Lena hasn't been treated badly since she stepped inside the building. The security guard earlier was also polite.
"What's your name, by the way?" Clara asked, stopping in front of an elevator.
Lena's heart skipped a beat. She's always been afraid of saying her name because people would always remember her as a murderer and a prostitute. "Magdalena...M-Mendoza."
Clara paused for a second, her brows furrowed. "It sounds familiar. I'm Clara Flores. I'm one of the receptionists in the logistics department."
Lena offered a handshake. "Nice to meet you, Ma'am Clara."
Clara chuckled, accepting the handshake. "Nice to meet you. Just call me Clara. Let's go. Your contract is with Miss Winnie. She's the President's strict secretary. Very meticulous and impatient. Probably because she's still single at the age of fifty-nine."
Lena's lips parted. She followed Clara inside the elevator. "Am I going to start today?"
"Yes. The company is very busy this month. We had a transport delay this month, so the President has been very irritable lately." Clara nodded, taking her ringing phone out. "Yes, Flynn? Okay...I'll just send the new receptionist to the executive floor... Okay."
"You seemed very busy," Lena said. "You can go. I'll just look for Miss Winnie."
Clara stared at her. "Are you sure?"
Lena smiled. "Hm. I just need to look for Miss Winnie and sign the contract, right? I know how to answer the telephone. So don't worry."
Clara chuckled and nodded apologetically. "Okay. I'll stop on the next floor and go back down. Just tell Miss Winnie that you're the new receptionist. I'll come back later to explain to you some things about being a receptionist."
The receptionist role was demanding, Lena knows. Answering a constant stream of calls, greeting clients, managing schedules, and juggling last-minute requests. Mistakes could be costly, and she was determined not to make any.
Clara mentioned that the President hates mistakes. So Lena won't make any.
Miss Winnie was not hard to find. She was on the table in front of the President's office, and Clara was right. She's not very patient, so strict.
Miss Winnie was not hard to find. She sat at the desk in front of the President's office, her glasses low on her nose as her fingers clattered sharply against the keyboard. Every click was like a warning.
Lena swallowed, clutching her tote bag. "Excuse me... Miss Winnie?"
The older woman's head jerked up, her sharp eyes narrowing over the rim of her glasses as brow shot up.
Lena's throat went dry. "I-I'm the new receptionist. Miss Clara sent me-"
"Of course she did." Miss Winnie's voice cut like a knife, flat and impatient. She shoved a folder across the desk. "Sign. Don't waste my time with introductions. Just read the contract."
"Yes, ma'am," Lena whispered, scanning through the document, and quickly signing the contract.
"Now, listen carefully." Winnie leaned forward, her tone low but firm. "This is the executive floor. Mistakes are unacceptable. You answer the phone by the second it rings. You document every call. You do not keep guests waiting. And you never ever disturb the President unless I say so. You understand?"
Lena nodded quickly, determined to impress the strict secretary. "Yes, Miss Winnie."
"Good." Winnie's gaze lingered on her for a beat too long, before she waved a dismissive hand. "Go to your table. Let's see if you're useful or not."
As soon as she sat on the swivel chair, the telephone rang.
Lena answered the call with politeness. She was nervous but excited. She made sure that she spoke with confidence even on her first day of work.
As the workday drew to a close, Lena packed her things with a tired but satisfied smile. She knew the road ahead wouldn't be easy, but today had proven to herself that she was stronger than the past trying to define her.
"Miss Winnie, I'll go ahead," Lena stood in front of the busy secretary.
"Go." The fifty-nine year old woman answered without lifting her face at her.
Her phone beeped as she entered the elevator. She tried to hide it, but a smile still crept on her lips after reading the message from someone new on her contact list.
'We want ice cream. Buy some for your babies on your way home.'
It was Lucian, and he's being playful again. There was even a wink and heart emoticon at the end of his message.
So silly.
Lena smiled and bit her bottom lip. Her heart was lighter than it had been in months. She pushed her phone inside her tote bag, and yes, she went to the convenience store to buy ice cream.