Chapter 2

Jill went out of her latest Audi and sashayed her way to the entrance of their company’s headquarters. It is a 30-storey building that houses her mother’s main office on the top floor. She’s wearing a skimpy red-colored halter dress which accentuates her white creamy skin. An ample portion of her cleavage is showing plus her long shapely legs are on display. A pair of diamond stud earrings is her only accessory.

She flipped her hair and tossed her car keys to the attending valet. 

“Handle my baby with extra care,” she looked at his nameplate on his uniform “Roger.”

He bowed his head in reverence and nodded. “Yes Miss Jill.”

“Good. You wouldn’t want to be fired, would you?” I raised my eyebrow at him even though my wide-rimmed aviators covered almost half of my upper face. “A mere scratch could cost you a thousand dollars. Given your menial job here, I doubt if you can pay it even if you sell your life,” I said condescendingly.  

“I’ll handle this with my life Miss Jill,” he assured me.

“You better be.”

I continued walking until I reached the entrance of the building. A man in uniform opened the door for me. 

“Good day Miss Jill,” he greeted.

I did not respond and I just ignored him. 

With hips swaying and a clutch in one hand, I proceeded to cross the halls towards the private elevator. 

All the employees I passed by bowed their heads and said their pieces of diligent greetings. 

Oh, how marvelous it is to be looked upon.

But I got annoyed when I saw that the elevator is under maintenance. “What a piece of shit,” I muttered against my teeth.

I have no other option but to use the regular one used by all the ordinary employees. The thought of touching the elevator buttons brought shivers to my bones. Who would have known the amount of bacteria it harbor? Geez! But I have no choice! It’s not as if I can take using the stairs. I would never do that to my pink feet and black stiletto!

I sighed and walked to the other elevator. People were already clumping. I can almost smell the pungent smell coming from them. So gross!

 I removed my shades and put them above my head. With hands akimbo, I threw them dagger looks and shouted at the top of my lungs. “Out! All of you! Out!”

Their faces turned white and hurried out of the elevator in a race. Some tumbled but quickly went on their feet again and ran away.

I stomped my foot in an impatient manner. Why can’t they just disappear? These lowly creatures!

“Hey!” I called the last guy who tiptoed away from me. He’s the last one who went out of the elevator.

“Y-yes Ms. Jill?” he asked nervously. He’s hugging tightly the worn-out messenger bag.

“Come here.”

“W-what it is Ms. Jill?” he asked with his head bowed and eyes looking down.

A knot formed on my forehead. “Look at me! How can you possibly understand me if you keep on staring at your shoes? Tell me huh?” 

I am so close to being irritated. This is why I don’t want to come here because of the way they treat me. They act as if I am some formidable person and talk nasty things behind my back so I just lived up to their expectations. I act mean, horrible and bitchy.

He reluctantly looked at me in the eyes. I smirked.

“Good. Now I want you to go to the cleaning department of this building and find someone to clean this elevator. I will not be riding in this device reeking of bacteria and other microscopic organisms.” 

He just stared at my face gaping. His stare went to my boobs down to my exposed legs.

“Satisfied? Now care to do what I ordered you to or should I just do it myself, what do you think Sean?” I asked sarcastically.

His face turned red in embarrassment. “I-I’m sorry Ms. Jill. I-I’ll do it now ma’am.” He fled onto the other hallway running.

“Men. Tsk. But why can’t Von be like that? Silly me. He only does that when we’re doing it. Oh well, it’s because he only got his eyes on that little prim and proper Sandy girl. I don’t really know what he liked about that girl. She’s old-fashioned, too simple and too ordinary for Von.” I talked to myself. “Why her? Why not me?”

“Good morning Ms. Jill. Sorry to keep you waiting ma’am. The staff is underway to clean the elevator ma’am. May I just request ma’am to please take a seat first. This will only take a few minutes,” said the lady in a white uniform. I supposed she’s in charge in the housekeeping department.

“I didn’t see any chair here,” I replied in a monotone voice. “Do you want me to get it myself?”

“No, no Ms. Jill. My apologies. Brian, get a chair for Ms. Jill. Hurry!” she ordered the guy in the waiting.

“Right away ma’am.”

I crossed my arms and waited impatiently. Workers are already wiping the walls of the elevator, sanitizing every part and spraying my favorite scented air freshener. Good. 

“Ma’am, here’s your chair,” the guy came back carrying an ergonomic chair.

“Is it sanitized?” I asked skeptical.

He nodded ardently. “Yes ma’am. I make sure of it.”

“No, I changed my mind. I prefer to stand. It’s been two weeks, three days, and twelve hours since I had my workout. Might as well take it as an opportunity to flex my muscles.”

The guy wiped the sweat on his brows. “As you wish Ms. Jill.”

“Ms. Jill, the elevator is ready for your use ma’am,” said the lady in white.

“Oh, good.” 

I waited for the staff to vacate the elevator before I stepped in.

“Hey lady in white!” I called her.

“Yes Ms. Jill.”

“Check the footage of the CCTV and send me the names of the people I encounter starting from the valet outside and down to the last employee I talked and interacted to including you, understand?”

The lady turned pale. “Forgive my asking Ms. Jill but for what?” She bowed her head. Too low that I thought she’s going to kiss my feet. “Ms. Jill, please. I have a brother in college and my mother is sick. Please don’t fire me ma’am,” she pleaded. All the other employees also bowed down their heads.

I waved my hands at them. “Nonsense! I’m asking the names for the purpose of promoting them. Geez! I may be a brat sometimes or maybe always or most of the time but at least I know how to appreciate someone’s effort. I’m not like him who still refused to see all my sacrifices for him. Anyways, as I was saying, expect to be promoted tomorrow. Ciao!” I pushed the top floor button and the door begins to close but not before I caught the look of shock and happiness plastered on their faces. I smiled at myself. Maybe I can still be redeemed. Maybe I am not a lost cause as everyone says.

“Hi mother Earth!” I greeted my mother who is seated behind her immaculate mahogany table as soon as I flung open her office door. I smiled sweetly at her and kissed her cheeks.

“Mom, guess what? I just got myself signed up to one of the biggest and most sought-after modeling agency in the world, the Moderna. I’ll be starting the photoshoot next week so I’m here to give you a heads up that I’ll be in the US in case you’ll look for me. And oh, I’ll bring Cathy along so no need to worry, okay?” Cathy is my cousin and partner-in-crime. She is also my mom’s trusted assistant, practically her chief-of staff.

My mother took out her reading glasses and put it on the table.

“Honey, take a seat. I have something to tell you.” She motioned me to the chair in front of her desk.

“Okay.” I obliged.

I settled myself on the chair, crossed my legs and twirled the chair from side to side.

My mom heaved a deep sigh and clasped her hands.

“Did you receive my message?”

I nodded enthusiastically. “Yes.”

“And what does it say?”

I pause for a second. “You want to see me.”

She shakes her head. “Did you really receive my message?”

I bit my lips. “Well, sort of. Look mom, I lost my phone last night because I was too drunk. Maybe I forgot it at Nadia’s place or maybe I dropped it from my car. I don’t know. I can’t remember anything from last night. Sorry.” I did a peace sign.

Mom closed her eyes in annoyance. “Jill Buenaventura, when will you grow up and take responsibility for your life? When will you stop all these petty night outs and drunk sessions as if you are still in your teenage years? When will you think for your future honey?” She asked exasperatedly.

I puckered my lips. “Mom, seriously? Are we having this conversation again? We have already talked about it right? You agreed to give me my freedom.”

“Is this what you call freedom? Partying? Endless going out? Selling your pictures? If this is what freedom means for you then I’m revoking our agreement.” Her eyes go serious. “It’s time for you to be in the company Jill. It’s time for you to assume a position here. After all, this is all for you.”

“No mom! You can’t possibly do that! You gave me your word!” I stood up.

“Exactly. My word. I gave you my word and now I’m taking it.” She leaned on her swivel chair.

“But I can’t mom. You know I hate office jobs. I can’t do what you are doing. I hate expectations. You can’t let me handle the affairs of the company unless you want it be bankrupt!” I exclaimed.

“No dear. I made up mind. With what you are doing to yourself now, I believe you’ll be bankrupted first before the company and I can’t just watch you ruin your life. You will cancel that modeling stint of yours and work yourself up in this company where you truly belong.”

“No. I won’t. This is my life. I won’t take orders from anyone even if she is my mother,” I said with finality.

“Okay, very well. From now on, I’ll cancel all your cards and freeze your accounts. I’ll take your car and your condo unit. I will also order all your memberships in different organizations to be banned. How do you like it?”

I shrugged my shoulders. “I knew you would do that but suit yourself. I have friends I can depend on.”

“And I also know you would say that. Good thing I still have some cards hidden in my sleeves.” She looked at me intently. 

“Trevor Scott.”

I gasped in disbelief and my eyes widened. Shit. How did she know about Von? “H-how did you know..how  did  you know about him?” I asked in a whisper.

“Did you forget who is the person you’re looking into? I am Divina Buenaventura, one of the most powerful women in Asia. I am the CEO and the matriarch to the largest mining company in Southeast Asia. I have connections left and right. On top of it all, I am your mother. Now ask me again why did I know about your relationship with the guy I consider to be my son?”

My jaws dropped. What an idiot for me to think that I could hide my mother in the dark. This is the woman who can request for an audience in the palace where the President resides and yet I thought I have successfully kept this part only to myself.

I sighed and went back to the seat. I tried to collect my composure.  “So? What about Trevor Scott?”

“Honey, I know a girl when she’s only playing and I know one when she’s crazily on love.”

I blinked twice to keep myself intact. I’m so close to losing my defenses. “Nah, it’s just a casual relationship. I’m just fascinated with him, that’s all.” I forced myself to sound unaffected as I always does.

“No one will buy that Jill.” She lets out another sigh. “News of you stalking Trevor has already reached me. You even helped him get the contract for that German investors. Don’t even try to deny it. I talked to your dummy man.”

I closed my eyes and curled my hands into a fist. Damn that guy! I should have been more cautious.

“So what if I am crazy about him? I see nothing wrong with that. I love him for all I am and I am willing to do anything in my power just to make him love him too. I don’t care if I sounded too obsessed but I only want him mom, just him.” I met her eyes. “I love him mom so please whatever you’re thinking of doing against him, just drop it.”

“Your opinion doesn’t matter at this point of time Jill. Now let me give you a proposition. Stop wasting your life with your lifestyle now and work here,” she said.

“And?” I asked holding my breath.

“I will not intrude on your relationship with him just as long as he’s treating you well.”

“And what if I refuse? What will you do?” I asked nervously. I can feel my palms sweating.

She stared at me with that infamous look on her face she uses whenever she negotiates a deal. It’s the look I always see when she’s arguing with my dad when he was still alive. “I’m sorry but he has to say goodbye to his chairmanship. I can easily back up the vice president of his construction company to arrange a change of command. If that won’t work, then I will sabotage his company’s contracts with my company subsidiaries.”

“That’s absurd!” I blurted out. “Why would you go that far just to force me to be here? How can you see your only daughter mess up everything you worked hard for? Why are you doing this? Can’t you see I’m not happy with this mom? Can you at least respect my decision? Is it too much to ask for that?” My eyes begin to sting.

“You are my child Jill, my only one that’s why I know you will never fail me. If only your father is still alive today, he would have also done the same thing.”

“If dad is here, he will be the first one to support me.” I stood up. “It’s a no for me mother.” I turned and begin walking.

“I’m giving you two months to decide Jill. Take it or leave it.” I heard her said but I already walked out of the door. It’s my life mother. No one can tell me what to do.

I put on my shades as I wait for the elevator to go up and typed on my phone. I’m stressed so I need a release and there’s no other way to do it but go barhopping.

“REALLY? Tita Divina knew about your extreme penchant for Trevor Scott? What did she say about it? How did she react?” Her friend Rhianna spurted out the questions like bullets.

I gulped down my ladies’ drink and laid the empty glass on the table. We were in a VIP bar exclusive only for the likes of us. It takes a membership card for you to get in. Socialites, celebrities and politicians, and other famous and wealthy figures are everywhere.

“Mom gave me a warning. She said he will ruin Von’s reputation if I don’t give in to her whims.” I rolled my eyes and refilled my drinks on the attending waiter. “As if she can scare me. I’m a big grown ass woman who knows what she wants. Office and corporate stuff is not for me, you know that. I’m a woman of the world. You can’t just put me in a box and get away with it.”

Rhianna emptied her shot glass before glancing back at me. “I think this time you should heed your mother, Jill. Just a piece of advice from someone with a mother like Tita Divina, it’s better to obey her. I mean, it’s not like every day you got your mother threatening a person like Trevor. I mean, come on. I think you know she’s serious this time.”

I played at my glass and stared at the transparent liquid inside it. “You think so? Do you think mom is really serious about her threat? But I doubt if she can easily do that. Von is not just an ordinary businessman. I’m sure he also got connections.”

She nodded her head in approval. “Yes, and his connections will cost you.”

I squinted my eyes. “What do you mean?”

“Trevor will know it’s your mother who’s trying to sabotage him. If that happens, he has all the reasons in the world to end things with you.” Rhianna leaned over to her. “Trevor is a businessman, Jill. If he knows that the great Divina Buenaventura is hunting him, what do you think will he do? The business world is all about addition. You want people to be on your side especially Tita Divina. He can’t afford to be your mom’s nemesis at this point of recession. Either he will drop you like a hot potato and leave you weeping or he will sack everything off and be with you which we know is very close to impossible from happening. Trevor in the first place just sees you as a short-term sexual partner. Nothing more, nothing else,” she said.

Her words hit me like an avalanche of sharp knives. It hurts because everything he said is true. I know Von will not hesitate to stop whatever we have right now just to be at my mother’s good side. I let out a sigh and drink the last drops in my glass.

“No, I will make sure Von will not have his way. He will not leave me. He’s mine and no one can change that.”