CHAPTER THREE
(AMANDA)
I walked out of my Dad's office. He was mad at me for not attending dinner with a guy I did not know. My Dad wanted me to marry the son of his friend, the Chairman of Finance Bank Corp. Before I closed the door, I raised my voice at him.
"In case you forgot, Dad. I am 33 years old, I will choose who I want to marry," I closed the door angrily. My secretary followed me.
I was walking towards the elevator when I bumped into my brother.
"Hey Amanda, got Dad mad?" Kuya Virgil asked, he raised his brow while grinning. "Don't get Dad mad, my little sister. Just in case you forgot, Dad will be retiring soon," he said. I rolled my eyes at him without saying anything. I went inside as soon the elevator opened, my secretary pushed the button to our floor, and I smiled sarcastically at Kuya Virgil when the elevator door closed.
Kuya Virgil is my half-brother. Dad cheated on my Mom before Mom got pregnant with me. I am not close to my brother, actually I hate him. My Dad wanted a male heir, and Dad will be retiring soon. Kuya Virgil and I are competing to become the next chairperson. I hated the fact that I was a legitimate child and needed to compete with an illegitimate. Mom died in a car accident when I was still in college. Mom knew that Dad had a girl pregnant.
When I was in high school Dad randomly brought a woman with a boy at our home claiming that the boy was his son. That Mom and I should just accept it. Mom became quiet after that. The woman became the at-home mistress and she was proud of that. She was proud that she was the other woman of Mathew Villanieves, the Chairman of Villa Group. I had to call that woman Tita Marie and the boy Kuya Virgil out of respect for Dad. I had to live with the strangers.
"What is my next schedule?" I asked Darla, my secretary.
"You will be randomly checking the Food and Development Department for the new product launch next month," Darla said.
We walked towards the FDD Office and I soon as I walked inside, the Manager obviously did not expect me. Their office was a mess, it had a divider for administrative work and a kitchen for food development. In the middle, there are four different chicken dishes.
"Ma'am Amanda, good afternoon. I did not expect you will come today," The FDD manager said.
"It is a random check since we need to launch new food next month," I said. "Are these the sample chicken recipes, where is the in-house chef?" I asked and walked towards the table where the four different chicken dishes were served.
I picked up a fork and tasted all the dishes in front of me, the FDD manager attempted to stop me but he failed. He saw my face that I was not satisfied with all of the dishes.
"These are all bland, and some are very salty," I exclaimed "Where is the chef?" I asked angrily.
"Ma'am, he leaves early. He said he has an emergency at home." the manager said shakingly
"What?!" I said angrily. "The launch is next month we have almost 400 branches nationwide, this is important. Just say to him that his team needs new perfect dishes. I will give him three days and report to me" I exclaimed "Understood!" I said raising my voice. The manager and his team agreed simultaneously. Darla and I walked out of the FDD Office and went to my Office above this floor.
I owned Villa Food Corporation, a subsidiary under Villa Group. My company business is a fast food and frozen food product. I started this company as soon as I graduated college, I was only a Director here. But now I am the CEO and President. My brother has his own company wherein he is also the CEO and President. His business focuses on retail and I do not care.
-
I had a long day, I need to cool myself off. I went to my best friend's bar on the street of BGC. My office is inside BGC and this is near.
I walked inside the bar and it was very loud, the music was rummaging in both of my ears. I sat in front of the bar and ordered cocktails. Kristina, my best friend served me the cocktails.
"Why are you here?" Kristina asked screaming behind my ear for me to hear her clearly.
"I just need to cool off from a long day," I said behind her ears. Kristina laughed
"Girl, I think you are in the wrong place, look at the crowd. It's for youngsters only." Kristina teased. I rolled my eyes at her.
"Girl, I don't look like I am in my thirties. And I have free drinks here," I smirked at her and sipped my cocktail.
Kristina laughed at me, I raised my glass and moved towards the crowd. Kristina became busy serving drinks at the bar top.
I just dance and enjoy the night, screaming at the top of my lungs as I sing. As I was dancing, I felt something poking at my back, I turned around and a guy was smiling and pressed his crotch at me. I stared at him angrily and moved towards the corner but he followed me and he again pressed his crotch at me. I got scared, I didn't have any energy to fight back since the drinks had already kicked in my head.
I was looking at Kristina hoping she noticed me but she was busy, I called for a bouncer but the bouncer was already busy he was carrying a drunk lady outside and the friends followed. I turned again to the guy behind me and I screamed at him to stop what he was doing to me. But he just smiled and pressed his body more to me. I slapped him for him to stop but then again he just grabbed my waist and I fought back but he was too strong. I cried inside.
Then I noticed the guy who was harassing me was on the floor. Someone punched him.
"Are you okay?" The young guy asked me. I nodded. The whole place became quiet.
"Oh my gosh, Amanda. Are you okay?" Kristina asked worriedly "Bouncers, get this bastard out of my bar," Kristina said and the bouncers followed. Then I was rubbing my temples because I was very dizzy.
"Kreig, let's go." I heard a lady then the group of them went out of the bar.
"I saw that guy, punch that bastard who was harassing you," Kristina said while we were walking outside to go to this office above her bar.
"Oh, I forgot to say thank you," I walked towards the guy and his friends to say thank you but they were already inside the car and they drove off.
I was very tipsy, I don't know how many cocktails I drank.
Kristina and I are inside her office and she also lives at her office. I headed to the sofa and I slammed my whole body and grabbed a throw pillow. Kristina offered a beef soup for me to cool down.
"So, what is your problem?" Kristina asked. "Is it about your family, again? I can't believe Tito Mathew is still controlling you. You are already 33 years old, Amanda" she added.
"I don't know," I said and sipped the soup.
"Look at me, we're at the same age. My dad just let me do what I want. I have my own Bar. He even teased me because alcohol ruined me in college, you know that," Kristine laughed as she remembered her college life when she nearly failed all of her classes because she always partied.
I guess I will spend my night here, I do not want to see Dad, Kuya Virgil, and Tita Marie today.
-
It is another day at the office. I was headed to the conference room when a guy bumped into me and the papers he was holding were scattered on the floor. He seems new here, he does not even wear any ID lanyard and just a name tag on his polo pocket.
"Good morning Ma'am. I am sorry, I am new here" The guy said looking down and picking up the scattered papers on the floor.
He won't look at me he just picks up the papers.
"What is your name?" I asked with a straight face. He is still arranging papers, gosh he is slow.
"Kreig, Ma'am" He said looking down.
"What department are you on," I said. "And will you please look at me, you know it is disrespectful when someone is talking to you and you are not looking at them. Now. Look. At. Me." I said angrily, he is slow at his work and very disrespectful.
The guy finally looked at me but he seemed shocked or something. I don't care, I have a meeting to attend.
"I am an intern at the Operations Department, Ma'am," he said and he still like examining my face.
I just nodded and left that intern. He seems familiar, but I do not remember.