Working Under Mr. Black (Boys of Chicago Series #1)

Chapter 1

“What’s happening?” I asked Yena as I arrived at the office tonight. The whole office is in chaos. Everyone is frantic and panicking like something bad is going to happen. Yena and my other friends are all crying.

I work in a telecommunications agency as a customer service representative for about two years now. It is my main job as I have a side line in a café near my apartment.

Yena went to me and hugged me while crying. “Big Boss is going to jail because of tax evasion! And now, the investigators are in his office. Team leader says the whole telco will stop operating starting today.”

My eyes widened at what she said. Mr. Penthone, aka Big Boss, is known to be a diligent tax payer! How can this happen now? More than anything, I can’t believe that this is even true!

“What are we going to do now, Heaven?” Yena bawled as she hugged me tighter.

I understand why Yena is this devastated. Her mom is in the hospital because of a weak heart. Her insurance is the only thing saving her mom. And now that our job is going to be taken away, how could she help her mother?

I tried to console her. “Don’t worry. You’ll get another job soon,” I told her.

But that didn’t make her feel better at all. She cried even more.

I sighed and just hugged her. I don’t know her pain. I shouldn’t be the one to talk.

The door of Mr. Penthone’s office opened and the investigators came out of it one by one. Mr. Penthone came out last with two police men tailing him. He told something to his secretary before being dragged by the police.

Mr. Billy, Big Boss’ secretary, walked to the bulletin board and posted a notice. With the way I see it, I think it’s the memo that the office will be shut down starting tomorrow.

Mr. Billy sighed and faced us. “I have a memorandum from Mr. Penthone,” he started. “This is to announce the sudden closure of this company effective tomorrow morning, Tuesday, March 28, 2017. In line with this, all employees will receive their monthly salary with corresponding bonuses.”

He, then, took out several envelopes from his bag and called out our name one by one. That’s the salary and the bonuses. We can’t really do anything about this now. This is all prepared. We don’t have any other choice.

After getting the envelopes one by one, we all emptied our tables, taking everything we own.

My heart is so heavy as I packed my things. This job has been my main source of living for two years. And now that I have lost it, I need to look for another job that’s going to pay me as much or even much more than this.

We all walked home dejected and sad. From here, most of us don’t know how to start again. My colleagues even stayed in the company longer than me. They have dedicated their lives on the telco. And now, it closed suddenly. It’s like losing one portion of their lives in a blink of an eye.

I sighed and walked home. Normally, walking makes me think clearly. But this time, it only made me think about the uncertainties in this life. I’ve thought that job is my life line so now, I feel like I’m not going to push through life again. How will I be able to start again?

Will I be in the slump again?

“You only have until this Friday of this week to settle your dues or I will be forced to kick you out of the building, Heaven.” Mrs. Oliver’s words were marked with finality.

I nodded and sighed as I fixed my sling bag that’s been looking older than me. I’ve been out the whole day to look for another job because the current one I have now isn’t paying me enough to afford to eat three times a day. How can I expect it to pay for my rent, too?

I opened the rusty door of my apartment. I planned on having it painted on the first time I got here but until now, it’s still rusty—it’s even rustier to be honest. The salary I have from the job I have now is just enough for me to eat a good breakfast and dinner. How can I even afford a good paint on the door?

And besides, I’m always out so I don’t have to paint it anymore. I’m not at home most of the day, anyway.

It’s a miracle that I have lived through this slump for so long. After my father died and all the inheritance went to my evil stepmother and her evil daughter, I got nothing. My Dad was a businessman. He owned one of the convenience store chains. He’s intelligent but then thing is, he doesn’t know how to love right. Or maybe, he was a slave for love.

His love and loyalty for my stepmother is through the roof. Everything my stepmother says, he does it without questions and reservations. He would always put her first—above all else—even before me.

Most of the time, it makes me think about if he’s ever loved my mother like this. My mom died when she gave birth to me. According to my nanny, Nanny Bela, it was a difficult choice for my dad. He doesn’t want to lose mom but he doesn’t want to lose me either. In the end, it was me who was saved…not because it was Dad’s decision but because it’s Mom’s. It was her wish—technically, her death wish.

I let out a deep breath and shook my head. I can’t think about the past now. I’ve gone through that part of my life. It was this job that saved me then. I can’t let that happen again. I have to look for a job now before my savings run out.

“Good day, Heaven!” Mrs. Oliver greeted me as I entered the place.

I smiled at her and nodded that I have to go. She’s in a good mood today. I wonder if the tenants paid the bills on time. Ah, I have to pay her rent tomorrow before I go job hunting.

I stopped at the door of my unit. It’s been new. When I got the job as a Customer Service Representative, I swore to myself to buy myself a new door. I did not just paint it. I bought a new one—with multiple locks.

Little by little, my life has been better. I got promoted four times in those two years that I have been in the company. I earned enough savings after paying for all the debts I had. Perhaps, my life was kind of stable. It is only now that I am scared of the future.

I brought out my keys and unlocked the door. I entered my unit and threw my bag on the floor as I lied down on the couch.

What to do next, Heaven?

I sighed and did my normal routine at home before heading to bed. Tossing and turning around, I couldn’t find my position to sleep well.

So, I got up and took my laptop to search for jobs online.

Thirty minutes later, I was scrolling down at the ads and the jobs posted on a certain website but I haven’t come across something that would pay me well. If possible, I would want another CSR position since that’s what I have been used to. But then, anything that would do as long as it pays well and I qualify to the requirements.

I was scrolling absent-mindedly when a five thousand dollar sign came across my sight. I stopped there and clicked the link to know more about the job.

Secretarial Position: Black Realty and Construction Company

Monthly Salary: $5,000 (Excluding overtime and benefits)

Qualifications:

(1) Female: 23 to 28 years old

(2) At least High School Graduate (With GED)

(3) Computer literate

(4) Can work under pressure

(5) Willing to work overtime, during some holidays and on-calls

Requirements:

(1) Curriculum Vitae

(2) 2 whole body pictures

(3) Transcript of Records

(4) Diploma

(5) Medical Certificate

Interview Date: April 2, 2017

Please wear your corporate attire.

I gulped as I stared on the screen. This job offers the best out of all the secretarial jobs I have browsed so far. Normally, it would be around two thousand to three thousand dollars. But this is huge. I wonder if it’s because of the company name.

I listed all the requirements and noted to get them all by tomorrow. I need to visit a medical clinic for the Medical Certificate. I need to obtain two whole body pictures. I wonder why they need it though. Won’t 2x2 be enough?

But then again, I still finished the requirements on time.

On the day of the interview, I wore my cream button down top and a black pencil skirt. I finished my look with a black blazer and black closed shoes. This should be corporate enough.

I researched on the Black Realty and I was in awe of how it stood on the economic sector of the government. It is one of the biggest construction companies in the whole of Illinois. It has been around for more than fifty years and is proven and tested. Most of the nicest buildings in Chicago were all projects of the Black Realty.

I smiled to myself as I remembered the new CEO of the company. It was passed over to the only son Mr. Leonard Black, Sage Othyus Black. I also researched about him. He’s an uptight and a serious man. Well, that’s how the media described him.

Black Realty’s Sage Othyus Black, an uptight and serious CEO.

Black Realty’s New CEO, Sage Othyus Black, the hottest Bachelor in town.

I shook my head and sighed. I’ve seen his pictures from the press conference and also from the night of the turnover. He’s dashing and handsome. But there’s something more to the handsome features that this man has.

However, that’s not my business anymore. I just need to land this job to end this slump.

When the cab stopped in front of the Black building, I was in awe. It was as if I was looking at a metallic building or a base from a sci-fi film. Is this for real?

I paid for the fare and stepped out of the cab but my eyes never left this magnificent building in front of me. Big bold letters are written and encrypt on the façade. BLACK REALTY AND CONSTRUCTION. Damn. Can I handle working here?

Ah, dammit, Heaven. You have to work here or you get broke again.

I snapped out of my thoughts and started walking to the entrance. If I wanted to work here, I have to get used to the sight of this marvelous building. So, I gathered all of my strength and focused on acing this job interview.

Or so I thought, I could do so.