My lips curled up in a satisfactory grin. I felt triumphant inside as I imagined the fury of Mr. CEO. I would even be luckier if a news reporter would see this vandalism before Mr. CEO's men would take the signage down. I knew it would be difficult to take my revenge this way anymore because I was sure he would then assign some guards to secure the area.
I slumped my body later on the bed beside Andy, but my mind wandered off. I began recalling those days where dad kept complaining about those business tycoons wanting to buy Hacienda del Fierro.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Cruz! As I have told you a hundred times before, I would never sell Hacienda del Fierro." My father's voice still slipped through the closed doors of his office. I was in the sitting room, waiting for this fifth guest to come out. All of them came for the same purpose.
As soon as I saw Mr. Cruz coming out with a scowl on his face, I met his gaze with a smirk. The man's eyes bulged out in suppressed anger as he saw my mocking face.
"Tell your father to open his mind. He's wasting such a generous offer." Mr. Cruz already knew I was Mr. Sam del Fierro's daughter because dad always brought me with him to his functions.
"I think it is you who needs to widen your understanding that dad is never selling the hacienda, Mr. Cruz."
The door to my dad's office opened, revealing dad's massive figure, wearing an exhausted gaze. Mr. Cruz's next word remained stuck in his tongue as he looked up to find dad on the door frame. He twisted the doorknob with a firm grip, pulling it forcefully that the impact made the door swing, sending him stumbling backward.
I covered my hand as I giggled, watching Mr. Cruz fled away in shame.
"Nana, I'll never sell the property to anyone. Someday, I will be able to find a way to make my dream come true. I'm too old already to see the day, but while I am alive, I won't stop. This project is for you and Andy." Amused himself, dad told me again his same old story with a wide grin on his tired face.
My father was born a businessman. Ever since I was a child, dad was already running the small lumber business that he named as West Mountain Timbers. Later on, he put up hardware stores that became large centers for home and hardware depot. However, because of his wrong choices and decisions, or perhaps his lack of business strategies, his company didn't grow big enough to sustain his long time dream for this family legacy.
He neither wanted other investors to help him actualize his plans because he was afraid of their possible cunning ways. Basing on his annual profit, no bank would ever grant him a loan huge enough to complete his project. As there were too many business innovations that he failed to compete, that dream remained vague, if not impossible.
Unfortunately, as the years went by, I noticed that dad became moody. The items displayed in our stores reduced, and there were also fewer deliveries. I also saw that those old employees I had known no longer reported to duty. Only to learn later that they were forced to resign. My father opted for contractual workers to save his business.
"Dad, I promise to help you build your dreams someday," I said, smiling at him. This dream, being told a hundred times, had also become mine, eventually.
"Focus on your studies first. You want to become the most renowned doctor in our country, don't you?"
"Yes, dad," I answered with a big grin plastered on my face. I was already on my pre-med course, and to become a fulfilled physician was my highest goal.
"You will be. I have faith in you," he replied, brushing my hair.
"Shall we go, dad?" I asked, too tired of these endless guests who drooled over Hacienda del Fierro.
"Last guest, sweetheart," he begged, cupping my face.
"Who is he, this time? Mr. Cruz from the airline company, Mr.Lim from city-wide retail stores, Mr. Reyes from-"
Dad cut off my recital with his burst of laughter. I have already memorized his long list of suitors.
"Mr. Tan. He owns 70% of the business establishments in this city."
"Wow, really?" I rolled my eyes. "If not for his wealthy ancestors, he wouldn't become the famous business magnate he is today." Of course, I had already heard about Mr. Tan.
"It's a big factor, but this man is brilliant and industrious. How I wish you'll marry someone like him in the future."
"What?!" I couldn't believe dad would bring up this subject. These things about love and infatuation didn't occur to me yet. We were only three in the family, and dad's great love for us was more than enough to sustain us.
"Yes, dear. Richard is such a brilliant and handsome guy that many women are dying to get near him. Do you want to hear him discussing his proposal?"
My eyes widened in horror that I fled out of the office.
"Call me if you're done!" I yelled over my shoulder before closing the door, shutting off daddy's peal of laughter.
I rushed out of the main entrance and went directly to a coffee shop. I needed something sweet and cold to calm down my nerves. Dad was just too horrible!
As I was queuing for the counter, the man ahead of me was on his phone. His voice was soft, but I could still hear him well.
"Sir, I already came thirty minutes ago, but your secretary said you're still talking to Mr. Cruz. Don't worry. I'll be there in three minutes."
The name he mentioned was too familiar that I got tempted to think he was talking to my dad. I ran his eyes on his back and assessed him. He was lean and tall, wearing an expensive suit. His pair of shining, leather shoes even looked like it was a designer brand.
Staring at his back while he put his phone down, I got caught off guard when he did an abrupt turn, sending me crumbling to the floor!