The Corporate life: The last days

It is a typical Monday morning in my world, it’s a new week, my adrenaline is usually in 200 degrees, I am one of those blessed few (if at all they are there..) that love Mondays! I guess it is so because of my colossal adoration for new stuff? High hopes for the new week, fresh objectives and this time, a new petite coral scarf around my neck that my girl, Hannah had got me straight from the New Look store in Dubai over the weekend. I felt very magnificent and that’s all that mattered.

Since I had an end of year performance review (this is the one that determines whether you get bonus or not…) with my boss later in the day, I had to be at my desk earlier than usual to prepare before starting my work. Being a Monday, i have in and out meetings with direct reports, zillion invoices to authorize; i see my inbox filling by the minute and the usual business to handle. I certainly needed this ‘me’ time to plan on how to sway my boss into giving me that bonus!

That’s a beautiful scarf! My boss complimented me. For some reason, he always noticed whenever I had on a new scarf. Thanks Karl, you like all my scarves now!  A friend got this for me from Dubai over the weekend. This relaxed the both of us. We went through the review smoothly, a few challenging situations here and there, but I managed well and finally got exactly what I had prepared for! This was my third year with Karl. Our relationship was very well-built. We both could take a bullet for the other. It always left colleagues wondering. A man of integrity, the coolest boss I know, my mentor, he grew me. With him, there are no impossibilities. I felt indebted. Have you got any response from them on the other job application? Karl had convinced me to apply for this similar role but at our regional headquarters two weeks ago. He actually filled in the most paper work on the internal application forms and made sure I sent them through. No, not yet. I responded.

Friday is everyone’s favorite day of the week in the corporate world. First it’s total dress down, no suits or court squashing shoes just because they are Nine West. Above all, it’s the start of the weekend. I usually hold a team leaders’ meeting at about 0900hrs. My cell phone is vibrating off the hook with a +27XXX number, out of the board room. I flip open the cover, Hell-o?

Is this Gail October? We are pleased to inform you that you have been shortlisted for the job you applied for. For further details, we have sent through to you an email with both Karl and your HR Director in copy. Otherwise, congratulations! I adjourned this meeting to next Friday. I could not concentrate. I was overjoyed! My mind was racing with all sorts of good imaginations; finally i am having a break from this dusty country, all the shopping stores at my disposal, an expatriate just like Karl, all those privileges. I am going to be rich! The happy dance in my mind too.

Before I could sit, Karl was calling my extension! See, I told you! I will have Bacardi on you tonight! We start at the Green one 1800hrs. Congrats mate! The line went dead. You would think my boss is high on placebos. He is just a Friday guy. And he parties till that last song they call ‘goodnight’ is played. On a Good Friday evening, he will make an appearance to all the top bars/discotheques. He calls it ‘roll call.’ He’s almost become a native of this land. While we have each other’s back all the time, I declined to be a part of his Friday errands right from the start.

How will I dodge tonight? My thoughts are interrupted, Karl is calling back. Hell-o? I am sure you know who will be in town by 1500hrs. This is an exciting weekend I can tell. No gym for me today.

But Karl, you have that Compliance meeting at 0900hrs tomorrow? I reminded him. It is not critical, let’s push it to Monday 11am. Also let’s have my driver go to the airport for Kelvin in time.

Kelvin is the younger brother. We met a year plus ago. It was one of those boring Sunday evenings. I had gone by Karl’s apartment to borrow his entertainment card to watch off 2 solo movies and boom! There is a younger, chubbier, really cuter Karl with impeccable eyes. Kelvin was standing next to my door in the parking, holding the card towards me and asking if I am Gail. He never went back to their apartment till the last movie that ended at 0030hrs. And the next morning, Karl was giving me the eyes of what did you do with my brother.

Meanwhile, for every time he is visiting us, he intends to surprise me but because of his big brother’s placebos over doze, I always get to know before his arrival. Today, we had just spoken but he mentioned no visit. Like always, I will pretend I am surprised. So I better suit up for a crazy weekend indeed!

Finally I am settled and working a way. I open that email. I see I have lots of paper work to do. HR has to give them a copy of my file they hold. And of course there is a deadline; one month. This is the last week of September. My stomach cramped.