22.12.06 - I Finally Said It!

It was last Friday that I finally managed to tell my boss that I was leaving. It was 15 minutes before 1pm, he called me to his room. I then thought to myself that this was the best time for me to break the news.

As I knocked and entered his room, I asked him....

Me: Ada apa doc?

Boss: Eh u minat tak nak pergi conference? Overseas!

Me: Huh? Conference?(Dalam hati: Amende bos aku merepek time time camnih?) Conference apa doc?

Boss: I got an invitation to go to this annual conference in Vienna, Austria. I went last time, so I thought I would like to nominate you to go this time....Its a good opportunity, very interesting, u get to meet so many interesting people from all over the world.. bla bla bla.....(he went on rambling about meeting a lawyer from Singapore)... bla bla bla....

Me: (I felt a bit weird about his timing but somehow I sensed his plot of trying to divert me from what I was about to say) Hmm, menarik tuh... bila conference tuh, doc?... But I have to discuss this with my wife....

Boss: Well, u have to write a paper and present it during the conference. Surely u boleh punya. Takkan tak boleh kot?

Me: Huh? Write and present a paper at an international conference?! (Biar betul boss aku nih!!) hmmm....

Boss: Alaaaa, takyah fikir lagi. Nanti I nominate your name, ok?

Me: But when will this conference be held?

Boss: Sometime in the middle of next year.

Me: (Ok, here's my cue!) Well, I might not be around in this company by that time, doc!

Boss: Huh? Why?

Me: I got a job offer recently.

Boss: ......... (there was a brief silence) Aku dah agak dah (He mumbled)....(He then started to fiddle around his laptop, opened his mailbox.) (He then took off his glasses, wiped his eyes. I noticed they were turning red. Is this guy about to cry??? No way!!!)

Me: Well remember last time u told me to think about my future and career options. Well I took up your suggestion and started to look for other options....

Boss: So where are you going?

Me: Petronas

Boss: Well, I think you better go for it. Its a good offer I'm sure. Anyway, its a good company. U'll have better exposure. I can't stop u from leaving.

Me: Well, doc. It is a good offer. Rezeki anak2... I intend to tender my resignation on 26.12.06.

Boss: (He then turned to his laptop and started to show me this video clip in one of the attachment sent to his mailbox) Haaa you tengok ni, kelakar betul....(he then started to laugh out loud, as if trying to cover his feelings).

Me: I've been meaning to tell you this news since yesterday but u were busy.

Boss: Its ok, I somehow suspected it was coming sooner or later. So how long is your notice period?

Me: 2 months. I should be leaving by end of February 2007. Unless you can release me earlier.

Boss: I ingat nak mintak u extend until March 07. Boleh?

Me: Eh mana boleh doc. By 1 March 07 I need to report at the new place.

Boss: Oklah. I'm not going to release you earlier. Eh why don't u join me for Solat Jumaat.

Me: (Sensing that I didn't have much choice, I had to agree) Ok.

Boss: I nak gi ambik wudhu'. See you downstairs.

Me: Ok, doc.

That was it. It was a huge relief. After exactly 2 years and 3 months at this company, I finally informed my boss that I was leaving. He somehow knew about it. Either this guy had 6th sense or someone had already leaked the news to him. Anyhow, that part is done now. I'm glad it went well, although I was surprised about the overseas conference offer which came out of the blue as if he had sensed that I was about to tell him that I was leaving and tried to bribe me with this opportunity. To me, it was just one of his "sandiwara" ploy. A red herring, trying to deflect any proposition that I was about to say to him, with a view that the discussions will steer to another direction.

Working with him for the past 2 years plus, I know almost all of his trickery. This man is a master negotiator, I must admit that. Very skillful and sly at times. But this time around, he can't fool me....

There's nothing to negotiate anyways....

I've already made up my mind...