Chapter 1: Keisha Joli's World

#### **Chapter 1: Keisha Joli's World**

Keisha Joli sat at her desk, surrounded by piles of documents and folders, the low hum of the city outside her window fading into the background. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard as she typed out an email, her mind racing through her to-do list for the day. It was only 8:00 AM, but the stress of work already weighed heavy on her shoulders. For someone like Keisha, though, this was nothing new.

_"Keisha, nak, kumain ka na ba?"_ Her mother’s voice echoed from the small kitchen of their two-bedroom apartment. Despite her success in the corporate world, Keisha still lived with her family, helping them make ends meet. Her father had passed away years ago, leaving her as the primary breadwinner for her mother and younger brother.

_"Opo, Ma, maya na lang."_ she called back, her fingers still flying across the keyboard. There was no time to sit down for breakfast—not with the mounting pressure at work. Keisha had always been like this: focused, driven, and independent to a fault. She had dreams of moving up the corporate ladder, of one day becoming the CEO of her own company, but life had other plans.

Her phone buzzed on the desk, a message lighting up the screen. It was from Angela, one of her three best friends.

**Angela:** *Girl, lunch later? I need to escape this office for a bit! 😩*

Keisha smiled slightly, tapping out a quick reply.

**Keisha:** *Sure, I’ll join you. Need a break too!*

Angela was the easygoing one in their group, always up for an adventure or spontaneous plans. Then there was Maria, her childhood friend, sweet but a bit more cautious when it came to life’s challenges. And lastly, Clarisse—the no-nonsense, protective one who never hesitated to tell Keisha what she needed to hear, whether she liked it or not.

Together, the four of them had navigated the ups and downs of life, their bond unshakeable despite their differences. Keisha needed them more than ever now, especially with the mounting tension at work.

She leaned back in her chair, staring at the screen. Lately, her mind kept wandering to one particular issue that had been bothering her more than anything else: Jarren.

Jarren Villarreal, the CEO of Villarreal Corporation, and the man she had come to loathe with every fiber of her being.

Keisha couldn't pinpoint exactly when her hatred for Jarren began, but every interaction with him seemed to reinforce her feelings. He was the epitome of arrogance, walking around with his tailored suits and expensive watches, as if the world owed him something. His wealth, his status—it all rubbed her the wrong way. In her mind, Jarren symbolized everything she had fought against. He came from privilege, while she had worked tooth and nail to get to where she was.

They had crossed paths for the first time a few months ago during a business meeting. Villarreal Corporation was a major player in the industry, and Keisha's company had been negotiating a deal with them for weeks. Jarren had walked into the room, shaking hands with executives, flashing that smug smile of his. He barely even looked at her, dismissing her like she was just another face in the room.

Since then, every encounter with him had been a reminder of the massive divide between their worlds. It didn’t matter how competent or hardworking Keisha was—Jarren always had the upper hand, simply because of who he was.

_"Anong problema ng lalaking ‘yon?"_ Keisha muttered under her breath as she glanced at the latest email from Jarren's assistant, requesting another meeting. Just the thought of having to sit across from him again made her blood boil.

Her phone buzzed again, this time with a message from Clarisse.

**Clarisse:** *Don’t forget about our meeting later. You know who’s going to be there. Don’t let him get to you, Kei.*

Keisha rolled her eyes. Of course Clarisse would remind her. Clarisse had seen firsthand how much Jarren irritated her, and as usual, she was offering her no-nonsense advice.

**Keisha:** *He won’t get to me, promise. See you later.*

Keisha sighed, closing her laptop and standing up. She walked to the kitchen where her mom was finishing up breakfast for her brother, Jonas.

_"Kei, anak, magpahinga ka naman. Sobrang trabaho mo na,"_ her mom said, concern laced in her voice.

_"Okay lang po ako, Ma. May mga kailangan lang talagang tapusin."_

Her mother gave her a knowing look, but she didn’t press further. She knew Keisha well enough to understand that once her mind was set on something, there was no changing it.

As Keisha grabbed her bag and headed for the door, her mind wandered back to the upcoming meeting with Jarren. She hated how much space he took up in her thoughts, how just the mention of his name could ruin her day. She had worked too hard to let someone like him get under her skin.

But deep down, Keisha knew that her anger wasn’t just about Jarren’s wealth or his arrogance. It was about what he represented—a world she would never be a part of, no matter how hard she worked. A world where power and privilege dictated success, not merit. And that’s what infuriated her the most.

Stepping out into the bustling city streets, Keisha took a deep breath. She had made it this far on her own, and she wasn’t going to let anyone, especially Jarren Villarreal, stand in her way.

---

As the morning passed, Keisha found herself seated in the familiar conference room, waiting for the meeting to start. Her fingers drummed against the polished wooden table, her gaze locked on the door.

And then, like clockwork, Jarren walked in.

Dressed in a perfectly tailored charcoal suit, his confident stride commanded attention. He greeted everyone in the room with ease, flashing that infuriating smile. His eyes barely grazed over Keisha, but she noticed it—the briefest flicker of recognition, the smallest hint of arrogance.

_"Miss Joli, a pleasure as always,"_ Jarren said, his voice smooth and condescending.

Keisha forced a smile, though inside she was fuming. _"Mr. Villarreal."_

The meeting began, but Keisha couldn’t shake the feeling of irritation that followed Jarren's every word. He had a way of speaking that made everything sound like it was all part of a game, a game where he always came out on top.

As the meeting progressed, Keisha found herself biting her tongue, resisting the urge to snap at him. She had to stay professional. She couldn’t let him see how much he bothered her. Not today.

But as she watched him talk, that familiar frustration crept back in. She hated him for how easy his life seemed. She hated him for not having to struggle the way she did. And most of all, she hated the way he made her feel—like no matter how hard she tried, she would never measure up in his world.

When the meeting finally ended, Keisha stood up, ready to leave, but Jarren stopped her with a casual, almost teasing comment.

_"Until next time, Miss Joli. Let’s see if you can keep up."_

Keisha’s jaw clenched, but she forced a smile. _"Don't worry, Mr. Villarreal. I always do."_

As she walked out of the room, she made a silent vow to herself. No matter how many times Jarren tried to belittle her, no matter how many times he looked down on her, she would prove him wrong.

Keisha Joli didn’t back down from a challenge. Not from anyone—especially not from Jarren Villarreal.