A biography novel in progress about my first job...(I have decided to move this into the "Stories" section)
My First Job...Continue...Part 4
Although you may say that I was having a lot of fun on my first job, there was a lot of competitions, even though my intention for being there was not to compete with others.
At times I felt like I was this little warrior girl, riding on my horseback, fiercely fighting my battles, trying to beat my opponents down, one by one!
In a short time, I had already learned everything about Miss Ng’s job, I knew I could sit in her spot if she ever would desire to venture out to some other positions.
Mr. Jerard Jr. would often praise me for my good work, he made me feel really special amongst my colleagues. For some odd reasons, Big Miss Chen seemed to be on my side most of the time. She seemed rather pleased, and most approving of Mr. Jerard Jr.'s praises toward me. Sometimes, she would even add in a few good words as well whenever I was being praised. Miss Ng would sit back behind her large desk, looking over at us. Sometimes she would roll her eyeballs, but she was in the least bit worry because she worked directly under Tai Siu Che (Miss Sister No.1, the big boss's wife).
On many occasions Mr. Jerard Jr. would personally come into the sample room, fetching me some of his own work for me to do; and sometimes while I was working inside the showcase room - re-arranging the samples, discarding the old ones, and putting up new ones - Mr. Jerard Jr. would come into the room, stand beside me, and tell me what old samples should be left there, and what new things should be up on the displays.
There were other times when I would be left there to make the decisions on my own, according to the dates when the new products were manufactured, and sometimes I would make decisions according to the popularity of the items.
On one of these occasions, Mr. Jerard Jr. came in to help me with the sample displays, and I had caught him putting a mirror on the floor just beside my shoe, and looking up at my panties from the mirror.
I was embarrassed after I’ve found out, but he made it seemed like it was accidentally left there, and he apologized; so I had not thought any further of the incidence after that. Later, he would comment on what a nice pair of legs I had!
One day, someone named Ms. Ma from the clerical office came into the sample room. She stood beside me and asked me if I would like to go to lunch with her.
And I was like - “Wow!! Why is she inviting me only? What’s the occasion? I’m just a sample room girl!!” -
But I thought it would be impolite of me to refuse her invitation, so I had decided to go with her to see what was on her mind. We went to a restaurant in which the price of everything was too expensive for me to pay, but Ms. Ma reassured me that she would be buying me my lunch.
During lunch, she asked me, “So, how do you like working in the sample room?”
To which I replied, “Oh, it’s okay, I guess! I like the work, but not the dramas in there.”
“Oh? What kind of drama is that?” She gave me a “knowing” smile. Her eyebrows raised and her forehead widened like she was expecting me to say something interesting.
Then I told her what it was like in the sample room now. On a daily basis, Miss Ng (now a much braver 19-year-old) and Big Miss Chen were having a power play. They both would not budge, and Little Miss Chen and I were being stuck in the middle. I also told her how Big Miss Chen was like a schizophrenic, scolding Miss Ng’s empty chair whenever she was not around; and we both had a good laugh out of that.
Ms. Ma was a good-looking woman. She was well-dressed, and would always come to the office in high fashion. I suppose you can say that she was a modern woman, not one who would be satisfied in just sitting at home to cook and clean. She looked rather young to me. I think perhaps she might be in her early thirties - Perhaps between 30 and 32 years old. Her finely-powdered face was smooth and flawless, with peachy blushed cheeks, and light-peachy colored lipstick on her lips. She never did mention to me anything about her husband, or any children, so I must assume that she was still single. I was not aware of what her responsibilities were in the clerical office, but I figured that most likely she would be someone who would draw up contracts for the companies; or perhaps making up Letters of Credit to the banks or something.
Ms. Ma told me there would soon be an opening position for someone to work as an assistant to her, and she asked me if I would be interested in becoming her assistant. She told me she liked the way how I was working in my job; and also told me that someone had referred me to her as being one of the most reliable employees in the sample room. I was so moved by Ms. Ma's comment. I've never known anyone in the other office would even notice how I had been working. I only did my job the best way I could, with the help of Mr. Jerard Jr. and his guidance. Miss Ng had never bothered too much with me because I had learned all I could from her already. Sometimes I felt like she was looking at me as if I was a fool for doing her work and not getting paid the same salary as hers.
I was happy that Ms. Ma would offer me the position. Yet, I was hesitant in accepting her offer. It wasn't for the fact that I was not flattered that she would consider me to be part of her job, it was because of the fact that I was really enjoying my own job and the special treatment in the sample room from Mr. Jerard Jr. I really had no intention of going on to any other jobs yet.
I told her I might need to consult Miss Ng first. (This was a lie. It was Mr. Jerard Jr. that I had really wanted to consult first)
She agreed, and we both went back to the office after the luncheon.
In the afternoon, Mr. Jerard Jr. came into the showcase room with some work for me to do while I was re-arranging some of the sample displays there. I told him about Ms. Ma's job proposal to me. To my surprised Mr. Jerard Jr. seemed rather upset. For a moment, his face seemed flushed and then became red for some unknown reasons.
He said Ms. Ma should have consulted him first before she made the job offer. I almost had a heart attack! I was so scared for Ms. Ma! I did not expect Mr. Jerard Jr. be upset over this, and I was afraid for Ms. Ma. My mind was foggy and confused, and my heart was racing! In my young mind, I thought Ms. Ma was going to be fired over this. I was worried for her. I did not understand the connection between her and Mr. Jerard Jr.
Mr. Jerard Jr. said he would talk with Ms. Ma about the job offer. He asked me not to accept it. He further told me that he already had a position in mind for me for quite some time. He asked me if I would like to be his personal assistant; if so, I would only have to work for him, and helping him with his work.
I was overwhelmed! Two job proposals to me in one day! This was just too good to be true ! I was feeling totally over the moon!
I told Mr. Jerard Jr. that I have not even had a raise in my salary over the year already, even though I had been doing most of Miss Ng’s work, and he reassured me that my salary would be raised and that I would be moving into his office. An extra desk and workstation would be set up there for me in there, and I would be working beside him.
I could not believe my ears! A real desk and a real workstation! I thought about the little “thing” that I had to sit in front of to work in the sample room. I didn’t even have a desk in there; and now not only would I have a desk and a chair, but also a workstation as well!!! I could not believe what I’m hearing!!!
I have been only working in this company for a little less than two years, and now I’m supposed to be moving into one of the boss’s office already!!! That is almost too good to be true for me, but apparently, it is!!!
Wait 'til I tell mommy and daddy about this! I said to myself inside my head.
Suddenly, I felt a sense of superiority already over Miss Ng, and Big Miss Chen. I even felt a sense of superiority over Ms. Ma right now. Oh silly me! What else would I say to a job offer such as this?...Except to say..."Yes!"...to accept it.
Mr. Jerard Jr. gave me a smile. He seemed rather pleased with my acceptance.
I went home that evening and proudly announced the news to mommy and daddy. They were both very happy for me, and I also thanked God for this miracle.
"So May, how much more in salary will you be getting in your new job?" Mom asked.
Oh darn!! Once again, I had forgotten to ask!! Mommy is going to hate me for this!!
"I don't know," I answered stupidly, "he never really told me about that yet. Only told me my salary will be raised."
Once again, Mommy looked at me with that wide-eyed wonderment look, wondering what had been there inside my head.
I went to bed that evening but was wide awake. I thought of Mr. Jerard Jr., and thought about what it would be like to sit in his office together with Saam Siu Che, (Miss Sister No.3 of the boss’s sister). I supposed I might even be working for Saam Siu Che as well since she had once been giving me much of her work too a year ago before Mr. Jerard Jr. began giving me his. Once I received the work from Mr. Jerard Jr., then Saam Siu Che had stopped giving me hers. She began giving her work to Miss. Ng instead. I liked Mr. Jerard Jr. I thought he was rather handsome, regardless of the age difference between us. I secretly wished him and I could be friends, because we got along so well at work, and we had no troubles at all in communicating with each other. My head was filled with lovely dreams and possibilities. I even prayed to God that Mr. Jerard Jr. be my friend forever.
@Hi Ron: I was in Hong Kong at the time, not in China, so I don't think your Ms. Ma, and the Ms. Ma in my story are the same person. Oh, perhaps it was the way you dressed that she would mistake you for the head of the department. Sometimes, like it's a natural thing to do we would always judge a person by the way he/she dressed. Sad, but true. Although we would often say to others, "Don't judge a book by its cover," but seriously... a book with a colorful and good cover always is more appealing to the eyes. - Just my own opinion.
My memories as an immigrant professional woman in Ottawa, Canada 47 years ago. A new life after having survived the liberal war of a new country Bangladesh on December 16, 1971.
The story of Ron Hull, paralyzed in a surgical accident back in the dreaded polio epidemic days, was able to overcome most of the stigma and stereotypes and "pass for normal" for 30 years. As Ron's paralysis increased gradually through the next 20
My First Job...Continue...Part 4
