6. I Said No

"The brand must be exclusively tailored to what the client wants despite adding a few details here and there. That is the aim of this project. We've worked with the same client before and have met their needs therefore the same goal will be met this time round."

"I'm not satisfied with the intro-presentation. Do you have examples of similar findings so we can see what to omit without leaving out too much?"

"That is a good suggestion. All that will be left is appending before making a final cut powerpoint to the C2C and C2B proposals."

"Fantastic. Team leader Mun, have you selected the team you wish to work with?"

"Since this is a competition between departments, I move to suggest we maintain the teams we've been working with since the department was shuffled after the new staffs came in."

"But that leaves some of us understaffed. Besides, not all newbies are equipped for this kind of sensitive assignment. Allowing them to shoulder such a huge responsibility while on orientation is expecting too much."

"I move to suggest the following who have shown exemplary performance over the last couple of weeks." One of the other department team leaders went on to call out a number of names that Mun could care to pay attention to until he heard Ray's name mentioned.

"I thought that staff resigned. Kindly update your list."

"Which staff?"

"Mr. Rey from the marketing team."

"Oh, I know who you are talking about. He was moved from your department to ours a few weeks ago. I'm surprised you weren't aware. Our department thinks he is no joke. He has worked overtime on several occasions. Initially, we thought he was shrewd and pretty arrogant for a newcomer but as it turns out, he is just diligent in his work."

"I concur. I've noticed he operates solo but soon enough he will learn the value of being a part of a team with the incoming projects."

'Didn't Ari say he worked three other jobs?' "Are you sure about this? As his team leader, I didn't receive his department transfer letter yet."

"Apparently it was kept under wraps by the management. You're close to one of the top manager so we assumed you knew."

Mun seemed to be in deep thought for a brief moment before he declared, "He was one of my best men. This will be a stiff competition but I shall not fail my manager. I intend to outwit you yet again. Our department has won the last four projects simultaneously."

"We have Rey and judging from your reaction, it appears he is a hard person to give up."

"I'll have you swallow your words when my team gets the bonus. Tell that rookie he left the the winning team."

"We'll see about that."

For the next coming weeks, everyone was up on their feet that those who couldn't keep up were forced to step up. With Ari's approval, Mun brought in external support to expand his team but that only made everything chaotic since a lot of brilliant ideas were brought foreword hence making it a challenge to choose which way to go foreword.

"Will branch manager accept our final report?" One of Mun's team members asked after they'd completed their final draft.

"Well, to tell you the truth, he isn't the person to tolerate anything out of the ordinary and I believe we've gone above and beyond in our work. I'll leave our presentation at his desk. He will communicate via mail so I will give you the verdict tomorrow. It's been one heck of a week therefore I hope our final draft is accepted."

Just then, one of the support staff who'd been focused on his laptop excused himself saying words that the rest of the team members dreaded to hear. "We seem to have an issue with the file. I can't open it."

"What do you mean issue?" Mun retorted, rushing to where the staff sat.

"I-I wanted to send it for printing..."

"Who was in charge of appendix specifications?" Mun bellowed, creating a cold air in the room that the rest of his team members froze but no one confirmed. "I need to know who was in charge of the appendix edits not to scold you but to confirm if edits were properly done and saved before sending to print. There is a chance we are dealing with an overwrite situation so someone speak up before the branch manager starts looking for you and you know he will find you."

"I-I was in charge of it..." Spoke a timid voice. "I-I remember being able to access the file before confirming completion."

Mun was about to yell but then decided against it. He took a deep breath after slapping his forehead and regretted slacking off. "This is what I get for putting so much trust on new staff. Either way, we have no time to slack off. Our deadline is tomorrow evening so between now and then, I want all of you to work like you've never worked before. We must figure out how to send the file to the printer and hand it over to the branch manager who I'm sure will be waiting for the document before end of day."

"Team leader Mun, does that mean we are going to work overtime?"

"No. We have two hours before end of day. There is no way I'm accepting this loss, neither do I have the strength and time to fault anyone...!"

"What a ruckus we have here. I could hear your yelling inside my office." Ari appeared looking rather calm, which was quite unusual for everyone since almost everyday, it was a habit of his to check on ongoing projects, following up on them and offering guidance to those that asked for his assistance. "Are we loosing this time round team leader Mun? You look panicked."

"And you appear oddly relaxed branch manager. We have a situation we intend to fix so let it not concern you."

"I'm usually the one bursting arteries but your bellowing can be heard everywhere. We can't have the enemy think we are defeated already. Bring me the findings you have so far however disorderly it is. I'll find my way out of it and send everyone the draft. Once you are done, go home and go through it as soon as you have received it. Any suggestions and recommendations are welcomed before I make the finial draft."

"Ari, you can't take responsibility for this, I will as the team leader. Give me two hours and we will be done..."

"Team leader Mun," Ari looked at his long time colleague in a manner that only they understood the severity of the situation they were in. "I'm not loosing to another department. I may be the branch manager but this project and this client has brought us business for years which means he likes how our team works and I intend to keep it that way. I ask that you do not take lightly this responsibility."

"I'll stay behind with you and work overtime too. It took us weeks to get our findings"

"It will take me seven hours to finish it. I'm more efficient and familiar with this project so listen to me and go home. I want you all fresh and ready tomorrow when we do our presentation with the others infront of the client."

Arguing with Ari had been a futile attempt. After a while, Mun gathered everyone's findings and presented them to Ari who immediately began working on them.

"It's going to rain tonight. You shouldn't stay here alone Ari. I feel bad for the mishap."

"It happens with new staff sometimes and as team leader, I understand how you feel. I can handle this. You know I can."

"Well, I'll stay close to my phone just in case. I'm just glad you aren't the only one burning the midnight oil here. I heard the other teams are behind schedule too especially the one Rey is in."

"I told you not to mention that name again."

"Yea yea. It is none of my business how other teams run their errands but your crush seems to be bearing the project all on his on. As a team leader, I find it unfair. I wonder what you would think as the branch manager."

"What is your purpose for telling me this? He is the one who sought the transfer. Let him carry his cross."

"I figured you'd say something like that considering you never informed me of his transfer. Any way, I'm off but do me one favor. Keep an eye on him for me will you?"

"No."