LEONA
" Nevermind. How about we get practical?"
"Sure."
He moved leisurely to his shelf and grabbed some documents, he walked back to me and placed them in front of me.
"These are the records of this company for the past five years. I'd like you to go through and pinpoint the shortcomings. "
" But this is an auditor's work? "
" What? Is it not part of being an accountant? "
" Yeah but this is really gonna take forever. "
" Is that a complaint coming out of your mouth? "
" No but... "
" Do you want this job or not? " he began to roll his sleeves up.
" Yes... "
" Then keep quiet and do as you were told. "
" Alright, can I have all the receipts? "
" Sure, why not? " He brought them to me.
As an audit of a bank, which I am currently, I have to provide users such as lenders and investors with an enhanced degree of confidence in the financial statements.
To form that opinion, I have to gather appropriate and sufficient evidence and observe, test, compare, and confirm until gaining reasonable assurance.
After doing all that, it is then I can form an opinion of whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement due to fraud or error.
So much work to be done in just a day.
I know why he's doing this but I won't give in so quickly.
I got to work, there was an air conditioner in the office but I was sweating profusely. Should it be under his hot gaze?
It's been a while I studied and I have to recollect all of them and used it to judge whether the financial statements recorded by the accountants are true or false.
God. I don't even have any experience.
Two hours into the work, I still haven't made any progress.
"Are you sure you can do this?" He asked.
"Yes," I assured him.
After another three hours, I was almost done with a year's recording. I could feel his eyes on me the whole time.
I wonder if there haven't been any auditors in this company.
The errors in the record are just too much.
After the next hour, I was through with year one.
I checked the time and it was 2 pm.
I yawned tiredly. I am so hungry.
"Are you sure you can do this?" He asked again.
"I'll manage," I stated firmly.
"Alright." He shrugged and went back to sit.
"I'm hungry." I blurted finally.
"You can go. It's not like I tied you here." He said boringly.
See? He's a devil.
I got up and went to the canteen after following the directions given by one of the workers.
After getting something to eat, I came back only to find the office empty but it was a relief. Finally I don't have to work under those eagle eyes of his.
At six pm, I was still struggling with the second year.
Did he want to kill me? This work is difficult than I thought.
And since he didn't return,I picked my bag with the intention of continuing tomorrow.
I wonder what kind of interview he was taking me through. It looks like he's doing this intentionally so that I would back down.
But what could be his reason?
Once I stepped out of the office, I met him.
"Given up already?" He asked teasingly.
"No, it's late and I need to go home."
"That's incompetence and laziness, miss Grande. You can't go home without finishing up your work"
Work? I thought I came for an interview?
" Please I have to. I promise to finish it up tomorrow." I pleaded.
" Why are you in so much hurry to go home? Is there someone you're missing so much? Is it a baby?"
My eyes widened.
Is this guesswork or he actually knows.
I met him only today and even though his voice sounds familiar, that doesn't give enough reason for him to know something as such about me.
Who's he?
This is the second time he's talking about a baby in just a day. What's with him?
I scrutinized him, trying to take in every of his features.
"Do you mind explaining what you said just now?" I asked.
" What?" He asked with an innocent look.
" Love you, mum, talk to you later." He said and pinged on a phone I just saw him holding.
I looked at him and realized that he had an airpod in his ear.
Oh, so he was making a call?
Why didn't I notice earlier? And why does his call coincide with my life?
Why am I even trying to believe him?
"Sorry about that. Was on a call." He apologized.
"I noticed, may I go now? I promise to finish the work tomorrow if possible."
" You may." He agreed and walked away.
For all I know, he could be lying.
I walked on the long passageway towards the exit.
My eyes adjusted to the darkness outside as I walked to the roadside for a car.
After ten minutes, I still couldn't get any Taxi that would convey me home. It was then a black G-wagon passed in front of me.
I realized that it was from the bank's driveway.
The weather was cold and am glad that I wore a long sleeve shirt and a long skirt if not I'd be a shivering mess.
The G-wagon took a backward reverse as if it was coming to me then stopped.
After some minutes, a tall figure emanated from it and began to take some steps towards me.
I didn't see the person's face but I couldn't mistake the familiar fragrance that has lingered around me the entire day.
It was my new boss of course.
He ceased moving when Raymond's Pajero stopped in front of me.
Raymond, who must've been worried because of how long I kept rushes out of the car and hugged me.
"Hey, what took you so long? I was worried. Are you okay?"
" I wasn't okay until you came." I pulled back but with my hands wrapped around his waist.
I could sense someone's glare on me.
" Thank goodness."
"Gosh Ray, stop acting like a woman. I'm fine I'm just tired okay?"
" Alright, shall we?"
" Yeah." We parted and got into the car.
I craned my neck to check whether the G-wagon was still around but the place was empty.
I couldn't help but think about what he was coming to ask or why he was coming towards me.