CHAPTER 1
(KREIG)
It's Monday morning, and I don't feel like going to school today. I am a fourth-year college student majoring in Business Management; this is my last year in college. However, I'm frustrated because I only need to finish my thesis and find a company that will accept me as an intern. I only need a three-month internship to pass my semester and defend my thesis.
I was sitting on the side of my bed, putting socks on my feet, when I heard a knock on my door.
"Kreig, are you awake now? Your mother has been calling you for five minutes for breakfast, your dad and your siblings are also at the table now." Manang Sally, our old lady housemaid. She was my grandparent's housemaid, she also raised my mother. When grandmother died, Manang Sally became our housemaid, she even raised me.
"Yes, Manang Sally. I'll be joining breakfast after I finish preparing for school." I said while buttoning my polo shirt.
Our family is very well off in terms of business. My Grandfather was a tycoon and since my father is an only child he inherited all of my Grandfather's assets.
"Good morning my dear," my mother said once I entered the dining. She was still wearing her nightgown. I just smiled at her and proceeded to put rice, a sunny-side-up egg, and a hotdog on my plate. Beside me is my older sister Ate Alex. Ate is a title given to older sister or older female cousin or even older female friend or any acquaintance. Kuya Vince my older brother is sitting beside Mom. Kuya is a title given to older brother or older male cousin or even older male friend or any acquaintance. And Dad is sitting at the center of the dining. Dad and my siblings are wearing their business attire the other maids are refilling our glasses with water. I'm just focusing on my food and Manang Sally served me a hot coffee.
Going to school just to meet my groupmates for the thesis. I'm thankful that our professor allowed us to group with our friends. Making my part in the thesis is easy for me but finding a company that will accept me is hard. I've been wondering if my father is behind this. I thought applying for an internship was easier than finishing a thesis, but for me, it is the other way around.
"Dad, I have been at the company for three years doing finance and marketing. When will I be enough for you to appoint me as the CEO" Ate Alexandra my older sister suddenly said.
"Alex, I have also been at the company longer than you focusing on the operations. I think I deserve that title since I am the eldest." Kuya Vincent my older brother said while looking at Ate Alexandra and he smirked.
We, siblings, are close to each other, since I am the youngest they babied me so much up until now, they always forgot that I am a grown man now. 25 years old to be exact. My siblings are just teasing me right now. Kuya Vincent just smirked and Ate Alex just rolled her eyes. Mom just sipped her coffee and smiled at us.
"Stop you two, I am still young. I still have so much time to decide. Speaking of company, Kreig, why won't you just do the internship at our company? Like your Kuya and Ate did?" Dad said while slicing his hotdog using a spoon.
"Yes, baby Kreig. You will have so much fun" Ate Alex said then she sipped her coffee and smiled. Kuya Vincent just nods agreeing to Ate Alex.
"Ate Alex, don't baby me. I am a grown man now. And Dad, I don't want to do the internship at the company like what Kuya and Ate did. I don't want special treatment" drinking my coffee since it became cold now. I am done eating and ready to go to school. And yeah, my family also owned the University. Diosdado Kilmartin University, named after my Grandfather. I stood up and ready to go.
"Okay then, if you still having a hard time applying. I know a company, a good company for you. Just ask, okay" Dad said.
Mom, Kuya Vincent, and Ate Alex just waved goodbye
"Yes, Dad"
--
"Bro, did you find a company?" Mark said about the internship while scrolling on his computer. We are at the school library, doing our thesis.
It's been two weeks and no company hired me. I need to find a good company since the deliberation round for the list of graduates is in four months now. It seems I am slowly giving up on finding a company. I have been applying to a different company, big or small. And no reply.
"Kreig, you are a Kilmartin. Your family owned this City. Why did no one hire you, you are only applying for internships. Wait, the University Policy. It is written there that if a student can't find a company for an internship, the University will provide." Klara, one of my friends and thesis groupmate.
Yeah, I know that
"Girl, in case you forgot. His family basically owns this university." Joan said to Klara. And Klara just nods.
"Yeah, dude. Why don't you just do the internship at your Dad's company?" Mark said and the three of them stared at me waiting for my answer.
I just don't, I want to do this on my own. I want to experience at least to become independent from my dad. I have been under his wing since I was born. I think it is just an Asian thing. You are only allowed to move out if you are married or your parents allow you to.
"ego" Klara just suddenly said not waiting for my reply.
"yeah yeah yeah" the three of them simultaneously said sarcastically.
"of course not! Don't bother me, I want to finish this RRL for our thesis. And we are at the library, be quiet."
I just don't want to experience what Kuya and Ate did. They enjoyed their days as an intern because the whole company knew that they were the children of Gerald Kilmartin the Chairman of the KS Group. Even if I want to do the internship there they already know who I am because every time mom visits she always has me along when I was a child.
"Look, It's that Catherine, your ex?" Karla points at the corner of the library.
When I look, it is Catherine. We only dated when we were in senior high school. I loved her but for her, it was not that serious. Oh, I don't want to remember that.
"Catherine? The one who dumped Kreig Kristofer Kilmartin, the son of KS Group." Mark said grinning at me.
I wanted to punch Mark's nape down to the floor until he lost consciousness. He should thank me that we are at the library. I don't want Catherine to notice that I am also at the library. The sweet moments that we had are starting to come up into my brain and I felt a pinch inside my chest. Her kisses, her hugs, her cuteness. I miss it. No. I don't miss that. Past is past. She dumped me in front of everyone when we were a freshman at the university. That is the most embarrassing moment in my whole life. A Kilmartin is being dumped. Ego
"oh shut up Mark. Just finish your part." I said to Mark.
Then I turned to Catherine, she is still the most beautiful girl here.
I stopped doing my RRL my thesis part. Then, log in to a job-hunting website. I applied for more than 10 and no company even replied. I'm glad that my friends that they already have a company to do the internship. Mark and Joan are already started one week ago at my Dad's company. Karla, started at her Mom's company. Looking at my laptop, I begin to think about my father's offer to me.
I give up. I will accept my father's offer. He said he knows a company.
--
After school still in my university uniform, I went straight to my Dad's building the headquarters of KS Group. The building stands tall in the middle of Makati City. I just stopped my car in front of the building and handed my car keys to the valet. I just went straight to the revolving door and once I entered, the receptionist and the security greeted me. Everyone knows me here.
I went straight to the elevator, it was almost full and everyone greeted me and I smiled at them. I just press the button to my Dad's office.
"Sorry, Mr. Kreig. Your father is currently in a meeting." Dad's secretary told me.
"Okay just inform him, I pass by."
"Yes, Mr. Kreig. You want some coffee or Tea?" the secretary said and offered me a drink.
"No need, is my sister free?" I asked
"I'll ask her secretary" she replied
Then she typed on her computer, I don't know why I want to talk to Ate Alex. Maybe I just want to release this stress that I'm feeling right now, I just want to graduate and have my independence from my Dad. She didn't bully me when we were young and maybe because we do not have a huge age gap. Ate Alex is only 28 and Kuya Vince is 39 almost forty.
"Mr. Kreig, Ma'am Alexandra is free at the moment. You may go to her office" the Dad's secretary said to me.
"Thank you" I smiled at her and went to my sister's office. Her office is below this floor and also Kuya Alex's office.
Every employee who I passed by greeted me I smiled back at them and greeted them back.
I was walking in the corridor when I bumped into Kuya Alex. He seems very busy since he handles the operations of the whole company.
"Kreig, why are you here?" Kuya Vince asked.
"I want to talk to Dad, but he is in a meeting. So, I will just go to Ate Alex." I said to him, but he seemed not impressed with what I said. He really is busy.
"Okay, Dad summons me. Please pray for me." Kuya Alex patted my back and he took a deep breath and left.
Kuya Alex holds the most pressure because he started young in this business. Granddad was still alive when Dad started training him. I was only 10 years old when I witnessed how stressed Kuya Alex was, he was only 28 back then. And Ate Alex and I were only playing at that time.
Ate Alex was just joking this morning about the CEO thing because Kuya Alex and I know what Ate Alex wants. She just wants a job to maintain her lifestyle without stress. She always said she just wanted to be a trophy wife. But she does not even have a boyfriend.
"So, why are you here baby Kreig." Ate Alex said when she welcomed me with a hug and I hugged back.
"Please, don't call me that. You are only three years older than me." Ate Alex just rolled her eyes at me while smiling.
I sat down on the sofa and Ate Alex sat down in front of me, then her secretary put coffee on the center table. When her secretary left Ate Alex grabbed the coffee and sipped it.
"So, why are you here? Kuya Vince has been going to my office ranting about Dad. Don't tell me you will also rant about Dad too. I have enough of that today." She said while putting down her coffee at the center table and she rubbed her side temple.
"It's not about Dad, it's about my internship. You remember this morning. He mentioned a company that would accept me. I was hoping you knew about that company. I was going to ask Kuya Vince after you but he seems busy today" I said to her.
I want to know the company. What company is it, where is it, and how big the company is? So, that I can be ready and review it.
"oh that, you know. Dad has so many connections. I don't know what company he was talking about. Even if you ask Kuya Vince, I am sure he also doesn't know about that. Just ask Dad later this dinner." She said then she grabbed again her coffee and sipped it then she looked away.
Based on her actions, I think she knows something but she does not want to say it to me.
"Please Ate, just the name of the company and I will not bother you. Please I just want to graduate, finish college, and have my independence. You know Ate Alex. I want to travel the world and be an artist. I just took a Business major because of Dad." I said to her begging.
"I'm sorry Kreig, just ask Dad later." She said then she looked at her phone and she stood up.
"Dad summoned me to the meeting. Sorry, Kreig. See you later at home." Then she left leaving me alone inside her office.
--
At dinner, everyone is present. My family is eating their dinner quietly. So. I break the silence inside the dining.
"Dad, I will accept your offer about the company that will accept me to do the internship. But my only request is that I don't want everyone in that company that I am your son." I said to Dad
Kuya Vince and Ate Alex looked at me with questions in their eyes. Mom just smiled at me and Dad just looked at me with a smirk on his face. I don't want to know that I am a Kilmartin, grandson of Diosdado Kilmartin, and son of Gerald Kilmartin.
"Very well then," Dad said