Roy: Book 3 - Part 8

9:30 am, dumating si Roy sa opisina. Napansin niya na parang nag-iba ang atmosphere sa opisina. Iba ang tingin ng mga tao na parang may alam sila na hindi niya alam. Nagpatuloy si Roy papunta sa cubicle niya kung saan sinalubong siya ni Liza.

"Good morning sir Roy." bati ni Liza pagkatapos ay sinesenyasan siya nito sa loob ng opisina niya. Pumasok si Roy sa loob kasunod si Liza kung saan sinara ni Liza ang pinto.

"Something is going here." puna ni Roy. "Do you know something I don't?"

"Sir Roy, kumalat ang balitang sinisante mo si Iyya Valero. Nagulo ang ibang mga managers. Ngayon kausap nila ang GM natin na si sir Lauro. Pinaplano nila ni sir Lauro na i-override ang decision mo."

"What?" bigkas ni Roy. "I already talked to Eddie about this. Bakit nakikialam si Lauro dito?"

"Mukhang hindi sang-ayon si sir Lauro sa desisyon mo na tanggalin si Miss Iyya Sir Roy. Kaya ngayon nasa Conference Room - D sila at pinag-uusapan ang gagawin nila." sabi ni Liza.

"There's another thing pala sir Roy." habol ni Liza.

"Ano yun?" tanong ni Roy.

Tumingin muna sa likod niya si Liza. "Sir, hahanapan ka nila ng butas. Palalabasin nila na mali ang desisyon mo na tanggalin si Miss Iyya. Gagawin nilang example ito na you are unfit in your position as Vice-President. Ipo-forward nila kay sir Eddie at sa board ang findings nila."

Nagulat si Roy sa narinig. Pagtutulungan siya ng mga managers niya. Napaupo si Roy sa upuan niya. Hindi niya akalain na aabot sa ganito. Pumikit si Roy at pilit na naghanap ng solusyon. Maya-maya dumilat ang mga mata niya.

Tumingin si Roy kay Liza. "Thank you Liza. You've been a very good friend. Don't worry, I'll be alright."

Hinawakan siya sa kamay ni Liza. "Be careful." Pagkatapos ay lumabas na ng kuwarto. Pinindot ni Roy ang number ng HR manager nila.

"Hi Betty. Yeah si Roy ito." sabi ni Roy sa telepono. "Listen, I need the files for the following persons…."

DUMAAN ang ilang oras at merong mga taong tinawagan si Roy. Dumating si Betty at inabot niya dito ang hinihinging files ni Roy. Nag-usap silang dalawa at tumagal ito ng isang oras. Maya-maya biglang pumasok sa kuwarto si Liza.

"Excuse me sir. But sir Richard is asking for you on Conference Room A."

Nagulat si Roy. "Conference Room A? The board room?"

"Yes sir." sagot ni Liza.

SA LOOB ng board room ay nakaupo sa isang mahabang table ang labing-dalawang board members. Sa gilid naman ng board room ay nakatayo ang ilang managers na kumakalaban kay Roy, kasama si Lauro Montave na General Manager at si Iyya Valero na nakatayo sa tabi nito. Sa unahan ng board room na malapit sa pintuan ay nakaupo si Eddie Dungge and Presidente ng kumpanya. Tumayo si Eddie at kinamayan si Roy.

"Good afternoon Roy." pagkatapos ay bumulong sa tenga niya. "I hope you've already prepared for this."

Tumango si Roy sa kanya. Pagkatapos ng usual greetings at pagpapakilala sa mga nandoon ay sinumulan nang tanungin si Roy. Naging mainit ang batuhan ng mga tanong at sagot kung saan pinalalabas ng ibang mga managers na walang alam si Roy kung paano patakbuhin ang sales team. Kinukuwestiyon nila ang mga desisyon ni Roy na hindi subok at kontra sa traditional method of selling nila.

"The real issue here," si Iyya ang nagsasalita, "is that Mr. Rodrigo Caballero is not fit as Vice President of Sales. He doesn't have the management experience nor the sales training to perform to a level that is beneficial to the company. He doesn't understand nor values the work done by his people. For that, he should be replaced by someone who is more deserving."

Tumahimik ang lahat pagkaupo ni Iyya. Nagtinginan silang lahat kay Roy.

"Mr. Caballero, do you have anything to say?" sabi ni Richard Gamutin ang current chairperson.

"Indeed I do." sabi ni Roy pagkatapos ay binigay kay Liza ang isang malaking folder kung saan isa-isa itong pinamigay ni Liza sa mga board members.

"You are seeing the quarterly reports of the company ladies and gentlemen." sabi ni Roy. "You will notice that the third and last quarter are missing a lot of figures. Figures that was not forwarded to me by Iyya Valero who despite of my repeated requests have done nothing."

"Why is that?" tanong ng chairperson. "Are you telling me hindi pa updated ito? You've been sending us reports every month. How did it come to this?"

"Why don't you ask Iyya." sabi ni Roy.

Tumayo si Iyya at nagbunot ng sariling documents niya. "You mean this?" Pagkatapos ay pinamigay sa mga board members ang sales reports na wala sa records ni Roy.

"Very good Miss Valero." sabi ni Roy. "Why didn't you submit those reports to me?"

"Those reports are confidential and should be handled by a competent person that's why." sagot ni Iyya.

"But I am your superior Iyya. You are supposed to send those figures to me!" sabi ni Roy. "You are withholding these figures to get at me don't you?"

Tumingin si Iyya sa board members. "Ladies and Gentlemen. This is the reason why we must find a competent person to replace Mr. Caballero. He could not handle his own sales force. He allowed himself to be dictated. He could not decide on his own. Is this the kind of person you want to head the sales force?"

"Sales is the company's life blood." patuloy ni Iyya. "Without it, babagsak ang company. Look at the figures I gave you ladies and gentlemen. We managed to reach our quota. It's a very hard job. But we managed to do it. However we won't be able to surpass it unless Mr. Caballero is replaced by someone who is competent and more deserving for the job."

"We deserve someone better ladies and gentlement." huling hirit ni Iyya bago ito umupo.

Tiningnan ng mga board members ang figures sa documents. Maya-maya tumingin ang isang board member kay Roy.

"As vice-president of sales, you are the department head." sabi nito. "So why is it that you fail to manage your sales force?"

"On the contrary, Miss Valero did withhold information." sabi ng isang board member na medyo kampi kay Roy. "The sales manager's responsibility is to report their sales performance to the VP of Sales. The VP of Sales must be informed since siya ang nagre-report sa President in regards to sales. That is a very vital information. Miss Valero withheld information, how can we fault Roy for that?"

"First rule of leadership ladies and gentlemen, is that everything is your fault." sabi ng chairperson pagkatapos ay tumingin kay Roy. "Roy, I'm disappointed. I expected you to be able to manage the company's sales force. But turns out, ikaw ang napapaikot. I'm sorry but I'm beginning to think you are not cut out for the job."

"Sir," sabi ni Roy, "wasn't it clear to you that they are trying to sabotage me? From the beginning they were already hostile to me. Do you think anybody can fare better than me when their people are trying everything to discredit them?"

"No I don't think so." sabi ng isang member. "If gusto ka nilang i-discredit gagawa at gagawa sila ng paraan para mangyari yun. I smell a rat. And it's coming from the sales manager."

"Management is the issue here." sabi ng chairperson. "In my point of view, Roy failed to properly managed his sales force. For that, I think he should go."

"Go! Go! Go!" nag-echo ang tinig ng mga kalaban ni Roy sa board room. May ilan na kampi kay Roy at nakikipag-argue sa mga gustong patalsikin siya sa posisyon. Pero mas malakas ang tinig nga mga gustong magpatalsik sa kanya. Kalmado ang mukha ni Roy habang tinitingnan ang mga accusers niya.

Nung tumahimik na ay tumayo ang chairperson at humarap kay Roy. "I will write a memo validating the petition to replace you Roy. I'm sorry. But it's for the company."

Tiningnan siya ng matagal ni Roy bago sumagot. "I'm sorry too. For your sake Richard." Pagkatapos ay sinenyasan ni Roy ang isang attorney na lumapit at nagbukas ng attache kung saan may kinuha itong mga papeles. Ibinigay niya ang mga papeles sa mga board members.

"What is this?" tanong ni Richard..

"That is the current stock percentage of the company." sabi ng attorney. MARIKKIT CLOTHING COMPANY is owned 55% by the Caballero's who we all know were the founders of the business. Mr. Gary Caballero owned 30% while Miss Minda Caballero owned 25%."

"But Mr. Gary Caballero has since unloaded his stocks." sabi ng chairperson.

"Correct." sabi ng attorney. "He unloaded his stocks to his son Mr. Roy Caballero who has since reached the right age and is now the major stock holder of the company. It's been on the report for years sir."

Nagulat ang lahat sa announcement. Nagtinginan ang mga board members at napangiti ang mga members na kampi kay Roy. Napatingin ang chairperson kay Roy.

"So now you're…"

"Yes Richard." sabi ni Roy. "I am exercising my vote from now on. Petition DENIED!"

Nagsigawan ang mga kakampi ni Roy. Hindi ngumiti si Roy. Matalim ang mga titig niya kina Iyya at kay Lauro na napaupo sa narinig na announcement.

"Now." sinenyasan ni Roy si Betty. Lumapit si Betty at may binigay na mga papeles sa mga board members. Mga documento ito ng mga supervisors na under ng mga managers na gustong patalsikin si Roy.

"Before you now are the names of the persons who will replace the managers mentioned." sabi ni Roy. "For the company to grow and become prosperous, I need a unified sales force. Hell, I need my employees unified under the company's vision. I don't need people who cares only for themselves. Especially you Iyya."

Tinuro ni Roy si Iyya. Shocked si Iyya at hindi nito magawang magsalita. Pagkatapos ay tinuro ni Roy si Lauro na parang maamong tupa ngayon.

"Lauro." sabi ni Roy. "I am very disappointed in you." Hindi nakapagsalita si Lauro at tumungo na lang.

"I don't think we should vote on this. Since there is a clear violation of the company's code of conduct." sabi ni Roy. "And even if we do vote on this, hindi din naman kayo mananalo since I am the biggest stockholder." Pagkatapos ay lumabas ng conference room si Roy.

SA LABAS ng Conference Room hinabol si Roy ni Richard.

"Roy. I… I…" medyo nauutal ang salita nito.

Tumigil si Roy at hinarap si Richard. "Who were you before you came to our business Richard? Nothing. My father gave you a chance, gave you the career that you are longing to have. And now you turn against us, against me?"

"How much of the company do you own?" tanong ni Roy. "5%? Expect all your proposals DENIED from now on. You won't get any help from me."

AT THE end of the day. Nasa desk na ni Roy ang resignation papers ng mga managers na pinag-resign niya. Huling dumating ang resignation paper ni Iyya at sa pagkaka-describe ni Liza ay nakikiusap ito kung maaaring kausapin si Roy. Ngunit nabigay ng specific instruction si Roy na hindi siya makikipag-usap kay Iyya kaya't napilitan na itong i-surrender ang resignation papers niya kay Liza. Sa loob ng office ni Roy, pinulong niya ang mga bagong managers niya.

"I personally picked everybody in this room, not to get back to your former superiors but because I believe in you. You've spent many years in the company and I'm confident that you can do the job. All I ask is that you trust me and believe in me. I want a unified sales force. Can we do that?"

Nag-pledge ng loyalty ang mga bagong managers ni Roy at nagpasalamat sa kanya sa pagtitiwala nito sa kanila. Paglabas ng opisina ni Roy, sinalubong siya ni Eddie ang Presidente nila. Binalita nito na pinagre-resign na rin niya si Lauro dahil nawalan na rin siya ng tiwala dito. Nagpasalamat si Roy kay Eddie dahil hindi ito kumampi sa mga kalaban niya and in fact ay nagbigay pa ng tip sa kanya kaya nakapag-prepare si Roy ng gagawin niya.

"You're on your own na Roy." sabi ni Eddie. "Go for it."

"Thank you." sabi ni Roy.

SA CONDO NILA, nag-sex ang magkasintahan kung saan inubos ni Roy ang kargada niya kay Via. Pagkatapos nila ay kinuwento ni Roy ang mga nangyari sa opisina kung saan gulat na gulat si Via.

"I can't believe you pulled it off. Ang galing mo!" sabi ni Via sabay yakap sa kasintahan.

"Well, I did have some help." sabi ni Roy.

"Pero kahit na." sabi ni Via. "Nagawa mo lahat yun ng hindi mo man lang in-involve si Tita. Bakit pala hindi mo isinama diyan si Tita? Major stockholder din si Tita di ba? Hindi na tatagal yan kung isinama mo siya."

"No, I purposely did not include her because…" tumigil sandali si Roy. "Because this is my fight. I want to win this on my own. I want to show them na hindi ako bata na katulad ng iniisip nila. I have the resources to do it and I did it."

"Another thing." patuloy ni Roy. "I want them to know that I'm serious and that I'm also tough. I want them to know that if they ever try to cross me again. Hell will break loose and they will end up on the losing end."

"You're the man!" sabi ni Via pagkatapos ay tumahimik ito at tiningnan ang tiyan niya. "Maliit pa siya ngayon. After three months, lolobo na ang tiyan ko. Kailangan na nating magpakasal sa madaling panahon."

"I just have one thing left to do." sabi ni Roy. "There will be a clothing convention sa WTC Pasay. My new sales manager and his sales force are preparing for it. Dito masusubok ang leadership ko. We need to attract new clients. Once it's over, let's set ang date ng kasal natin."

"I'll support you all the way." sabi ni Via. "My husband."

Ngumiti si Roy at hinalikan ang labi ni Via. Nagtakip sila ng kumot para sa isang round pa.