A Billionaire's Tale

The golden-brown-haired lady walked into the office with two large brown envelopes in her hands. She took quick steps to the table of the expecting older man.

She placed the envelopes on the table, and they both began bringing out the files that were inside as they skimmed through each of them.

Her legs felt wobbly from standing too long, so she took her seat on one of the chairs facing the older man. She adjusts her skirt and puts her hair in a ponytail.

After a moment the man asked. "Joan, anything yet?" His eyes were on her, expecting a response.

Joan looked up from the file she was holding and shook her head with a little furrow on her brow. "Nothing yet, Dad," she answered and went back to looking at the file.

Her dad sighs.

"Let's keep looking, there could be something that we could find that would get us out of this mess," he encouraged, and they kept looking through the remaining untouched files.

A knock was heard.

"Come in," Gary answered, loud enough for the person knocking to hear.

A young man in casual wear, with a troubled look and a small enveloped letter, came inside his office, closed the door, and walked towards Gary and Joan.

"There's a problem, sir," the man spoke, and that made both father and daughter stop to take a look at him, worry evident on their faces.

"What will that be, Robbie?" asked Gary when he took the envelope Robbie handed over to him. He looked at the sealed envelope and back at Robbie before opening the envelope to see its content.

He took out the folded paper and read its content, his eyes widened, then met with Robbie's troubled ones.

"They di-"

"Yes sir, they did."

Gary stood up and threw the paper on the floor in anger. Joan watched her father's reaction, then stood to pick up the paper that lay on the floor. She read through it and could feel her heart race faster than usual.

She turned to Robbie. "They have to be joking," she said. There was a crack in her voice.

Robbie shook his head. "They are not, ma'am."

Joan shook her head. "They can't do this. They... they can't just make such a ridiculous request," she stated, placing the paper on the table. "Yes, we are struggling since the Kingswell project, which turned out to be a disaster, but we are still holding up," assurance lacing her tone.

She turns to her dad, who looked sad and defeated.

"We still have some resources to keep us going. W-we are on the verge of bankruptcy, but we can still hold on, right, Dad?" She asked for clarity, a look of hope, but the sadness on her dad's face told her otherwise.

"Joan dear," he walked closer to her and touched her hair. "We used up the rest of our resources to try and make an alternative, but it failed too," he explained, and she gasped in shock.

'Why wasn't I aware?' She wanted to ask but thought it wasn't the best thing to say now.

She shook her head and paced around the room, trying to think of what could be done to save her dad's company. She stopped abruptly and walked closer to Gary.

"We still own a bigger share, right? We can use some of our profits to keep up for the time being, then refer some of our employees to other companies on a temporary basis depending on when we'll be able to get back on our feet." She turned to Robbie, who shared the same look as her dad.

"I don't want them to suffer because our company is, they have families to feed," she continued, trying to evoke a positive reaction from both men.

Robbie bowed his head, unable to say anything. Her eyes went to her dad, and he looked like he would break down in tears.

"Joan, I am sorry, but we have just a little share from the company." He broke the news to her. "I don't know how that happened, but the Reliso Company was able to get a majority of our shares."

"And they want more?" She asked in disbelief, to which Gary confirmed with a nod. "That's ridiculous." She threw her hands in the air. "They possibly wouldn't just want a failing company except there's something to gain," she stated.

"What more could they want? Power? If they don't notice, this company lacks that," Gary explained.

"No, not that." She shook her head, and then realization hit her. "It's something else." A smile crept on her lips. "And I think I know exactly what they want." She picked up a document and the letter.

Gary, already sensing what his daughter is about to do, asked, "You're going somewhere, Joan?" She nodded in response, the smile still on her lips. "You want to meet them," he didn't ask.

"Trust me, Dad, I know what I am doing. Just let me handle this my way, please," she begged when she saw the sullen look on his face. "I'll try my best to fix this, and things can get back to being the way they have been," she tried to assure him.

Joan wasn't sure about the actions she was going to take, but she hoped things wouldn't go bad.

"Robbie, you heard all that we said. Go make a report on that and put the right team together so that you start work as soon as possible," she said, and he nodded before leaving. "I'll see you soon, Dad." She went to give him a hug and a kiss on the cheek before leaving.

*** Two weeks later ***

Robbie didn't bother knocking when he burst into Gary's office looking really panicked. He walked up to Gary, who had a little furrow on his brow when he saw him.

"What's the matter, Robbie? You were supposed to k-" He was interrupted by the opening of his office door again to see Darken Reliso, the son of Henry and Ansel Reliso, in his usual expensive Gimanni dark blue suit, clean cut and shining pair of shoes.

He had that annoying static smirk on his lips and kept his right brow up. He was holding a document.

Darken walked slowly into the office and stopped just as he was in front of Gary; he nodded in greeting and let himself sit on the chair in front of Gary before placing the document he was holding on the table.

"Good day, Mr. Anderson," he greeted coolly. The arrogance could be heard in his tone. He looked up at Robbie, who had been glaring at him right from when he stepped into the office. "Can you excuse us? We have some business to finish," he smirked when he said the last part.

Robbie made no move to leave, so he rolled his eyes and looked at Gary. "Can you te-"

"What are you doing here, Dark?" Gary interrupts him.

Darken frowned and sat up on his chair. "It's Darken, not Dark."

"Same thing. What are you doing here?" Gary asked, sounding annoyed this time.

Choosing to ignore his words, Darken placed his hands on the table and raised his chin up. "Now I see where Joan got her feistiness from," he remarked.

"What do you mean by that?" Gary asked, a little furrow now on his brow.

"You'll know soon; just tell this man to leave us to talk," he side-pointed at Robbie.

"He is my secretary, so he has to be present in every meeting I have with anyone," Gary defended.

Darken looked up at Robbie, then laughed hard before composing himself. "Too bad good people are too stupid to see who truly is against them," he remarked, and before Gary could say anything, he continued, "Anyways, I came here to seal off the deal I sent two weeks ago," he stated.

"Your offer is ridiculous," Gary remarks.

"What choice do you have? Anderson Tech is going through one of its worst recessions, and you are already bankrupt. Soon some companies will come to buy you guys off and probably turn your company into a children's playground or something better," he joked. "Maximizing its full potential."

"I better watch my words if I were you, Dark," Gary warned, still glaring daggers at him.

"It's Darken, and for heaven's sake, sign the document already. It will be okay if we take over some shares of your company rather than a stranger whom you don't know of, unless..." He wriggled his brows.

Gary got an idea of what was in his mind.

"No!" he protested.

"Well then, sign this paper, or you'll just end up losing." Darken points to the document on the table.

Gary looked at Robbie, who had a defeated look on his face; he knew he was in a deadlock here, and as much as he didn't want to agree with Darken, he was right.

The Resilos might be annoying, but at least he knew them and could probably get back the company if things get better in the future. He still has a little share from the company.

He looked at the front page of the document and signed on all blank spaces and flung it at Darken. "Don't think you can come near my daughter." He pointed at him, a warning look on his face. "Stay away from her," he warned.

Darken stood to his feet with a triumphant smirk. He grabbed the documents from the table and started walking out of the office. "We'll see about that." He did the peace sign and closed the door behind him.

"It's over," Gary cried.

... A month later ...

"I would like to have a blueberry muffin with some whipped cream and that lovely cherry on top," said a middle-aged brunette. The woman had a nice smile on her face as she stared at Joan, who wrote out her order in a small book.

"Will that be all, ma'am?" Joan asked; the woman shook her head, and she turned to leave when the woman called her again.

Joan closed her eyes and let out a sigh before opening them and trying to hide the irritation that was gradually building in her. If the woman would just order at once and not stop her every time she turned.

She turned to the woman and wore a forced smile, then asked in a surprisingly calm tone, "Is there anything else you'd like to add to your order, ma'am?"

"Oh yes, darling. If it's not too much of a bother, I would like some coffee added to it and a slice of cheesecake." The woman chuckled lightly and flipped her hair. "Well, except if you have one made with blueberry." She laughed again, and Joan looked at her in wonder of her amusement.

"A cup of coffee, a slice of cheesecake, and a blueberry muffin with whipped cream and a cherry on top," she read out her order to confirm. "Do you need to add anything else?" she asked.

"Oh no, that will do just fine for me, thank you." The woman appreciated it and picked up her phone to browse.

Joan stared at the woman for some seconds before letting out another sigh and turning to leave. A woman's voice called her before she could take a step.

She whipped around fast and asked, "What?" with her voice slightly raised.

Her face reddened when she realized she yelled at the wrong customer, seeing as the brunette was on a call.

She walked towards the blonde-haired woman. A man with dark hair was sitting in front of her with his back hunched and face dull, like he could be anywhere.

'He could at least pretend to like her company and not act like a douche,' she said to herself but just ignored him and focused her attention on her.

"Good afternoon, ma'am and sir. What would you like to order?"

The blonde looked at the man who now had shades covering his eyes. "I would like a latte and a slice of cheesecake, and he will have black coffee with cheesecake too."

"Just black coffee?" She glanced at the man and then returned her gaze to the lady.

"Yes, just black coffee."

"Okay then, I will get your orders to you soon." She smiled and turned to leave but stopped when the man spoke.

"With sugar, thanks," he added.

Joan paused for a while as she looked at the man for some seconds before turning back and heading for the kitchen.

"Having a rough day?" Camila comes in from the kitchen to help prepare the orders.

"Mrs. Brunette is here with her regular annoying orders, and I've got Blondie and the dark-haired man who is taking this coffee I am making." She glanced at Camila, who looked like she just woke up from a long nap. "You took a really long nap," she comments with a smile, which Camila returned.

"I needed it, to be honest." Camilla yawned. "Need me to take this to Mrs. Brunette?"

"Thank you, I could use that break from her," she flashed. Camilla gave a grateful look and then arranged the coffee and cheesecake on the tray to serve the new customers.

As she approached the table, she noticed that the man had gone already and the blonde lady sat there alone, looking sad. She slowly walked to her and placed the tray on the table.

"Thank you," the blonde said with a forced smile and looked away from Joan. "My date bailed on me, so I think I will just have to discard it," the lady said sadly.

"I am sorry to hear that, but I can have it packed up for you instead," Joan offered.

"No, it's fine... Who likes plain bitter coffee anyways?" She laughed lightly, but it wasn't genuine.

"Strange, eh? Some just like the bitter taste of the coffee with a little sugar." She tried to sound cheerily. "Sorry about your date," Joan apologized and was going to pack up the man's order, but the blonde held her hand.

"Sit with me then; let's have a little girl's lunch," she offered.

Joan smiled politely and was going to refuse when she spoke again.

"Don't worry, I'll pay for it, and I could really use the company. I have to head back to my shoot by four, and it's-" She checked her watch-"three hours to that," she added.

Joan considered her offer, then sat down to have lunch.

"Pardon my manners, I am Stacy, Stacy Helifield. What's your name?" She offered her hand for a handshake, which Joan took.

"Joan Anderson, nice to meet you, Stacy." She smiled, then took a sip from the bitter coffee and sighed.

"Nice to meet you too. You like that?" Stacy asked with her brows raised as she took a sip from her latte.

"Manageable; the sugar seems to improve the taste for me," she said to her.

"If you say so." She ate the cheesecake and made a satisfying sound at how good it tasted. "This is really good; who makes them?" she asked.

"Our very talented head baker, Killian"

"I want to hire him to make me cheesecakes for the rest of my life." Stacy laughed, and Joan joined in.

"Then you will make lots of customers sad because they won't have the chance to get his sweet cheesecakes," Joan joked, and Stacy pouted.

"That's sad, but I'll definitely come here to eat these cheesecakes because they are nice," said Stacy, and then she put her fork down as she looked at Joan, who was enjoying the coffee. "So, tell me..." she began.

Joan gazed at Stacy, a frown settled on her forehead. "Tell you what?"

"How did you get here?" she said.

Joan was taken aback by her question.

Stacy let out a light chuckle. "Oh come on, with how clear and smooth your skin looks and how ungracefully you walk around here-no offense-you seem like an heiress who is looking for love," she explained with a shrug.

The frown on Joan's face was slowly replaced by an amused one. "Heiress looking for love?" A grin settled on her lips.

"Oh, don't mind me; I read lots of those kinds of books, but tell me, is that the case?" She rests her elbow on the table and waits for her response. She looked like a little child who asked if Santa can come in June as she waits for a positive response.

"You really read a lot of those books." Joan chuckled and then thought about telling Stacy her predicament and what led her to working here.

She hasn't discussed what happened with anyone aside from Camila and Henry, who has been by her side all through the mess.

Joan let out a sigh and then began talking. "My dad's company went bankrupt. We were working on this model that failed mysteriously, and it cost us our customers' trust, loss of partners, investors, money, and our company as a whole," she said, and then began explaining further all that happened.

After some minutes of explaining, Stacy held her hand; she had sympathy written all over her face.

"I am so sorry that it happened to you; no one deserves to have their hard work of many years snatched by some greedy people." She frowned. "Darken and his family were wrong to have made you guys go through that too; they would have helped if they truly wanted to and not tried to rip you guys off."

Joan shrugged. "It happened already, and I want to do all that I can to take back my dad's company from those greedy people. I know they have no use for it; they just want to punish us for reasons known to them," Joan sighed.

"I hope you do, or is there a way I can help, maybe provide funds?"

Joan frowned at that. "Oh no, please don't bother; I will figure things out soon. I just shared with you because I wanted to, not to ask for help."

Stacy looked at her. "I see that you are an independent woman, and I appreciate that, but remember, women raise women." She wriggled her brows, and Joan laughed.

"I appreciate your concern, but thank you." Joan smiled.

"Okay then, just let me know if you need my help, and I'll be there," she sang the last part with a grin and handed Joan her card.

"Thank you, I will." Joan collected it and put the card in her pocket.

Stacy checked her watch, then smiled. "This is my cue to leave; it's almost three thirty, and I need to be there before four." She stood on her feet as she helped Joan with packing the used cup and disposable plates.

She paid and bid Joan bye before leaving.

Joan walked back to the counter to cash the money and throw away the plates and wash the cups. When she went behind the counter, she saw Camila sitting on the floor, her legs raised up to her chin.

Frowning, she crouched to her level and took her hand. Before she could ask, Camila spoke.

"The hospital called now that my mom is going through another surgery in the evening, and I need to be there now," she told her.

"Let's go then," Joan said, but Camila stopped her.

"No one is here to attend to the custo-"

"Then go; I will cover up for you." Camila was alarmed.

"I can't let you do all these by yourself; you've been covering my ass for so long now," she pouts.

"I'm not complaining." Joan pats her head. She held Camila's hand. "Please don't think too much about this. It will be alright soon." She kissed her forehead. "I will come as soon as my shift ends," she said and helped Camila to her feet, took her apron off, and handed her bag to her before walking Camila outside to hail a taxi for her. "I'll see you later, okay?"

Camila hugged Joan before entering the taxi. "I'll see you later."

"See you later, bye." Joan waved and watched the taxi leave before heading back inside the café.

Santiago knocked on the door and entered his dad's office when he heard a faint 'come in.' His dad was engrossed in looking over the documents in front of him on the table.

He walked closer to the table and sat down in front of his dad as he waited for him to state his reason for calling him.

Julian was still going over some papers when he spoke. "You asked for my presence."

"Yes, I did." Julian briefly looked up from arranging the files on his table. "There is a very important matter I want to discuss with you." He stacked the document on the side of his table, then entwined his fingers while looking straight at Santiago. "It's about your future," Julian continued.

Santiago didn't need his father to spell the words out because he knew this talk all too well. It was too familiar.

"Dad-" Julian raised a finger to silence him.

"I don't have to keep going over this with you," he pointed between them. "We've gone through this over and over, and I think I am tired of saying the same thing." Julian sat straight, his shoulders squared. "You are probably tired of hearing it too."

"I don't want to get married," Santiago breathes out.

"Your mom would be glad about this."

Santiago glared at him.

"Don't bring Mum into this," Santiago warned, his voice sounding dangerously low.

Julian pointed at him. "Don't ever use that tone on me," icy cold eyes glared at him.

Santiago hunched back with his head hung low. "I'm sorry, Dad."

Julian leaned back and adjusted his tie. "I don't like how wayward you've become since..." He paused, and for a moment Santiago thought he saw a wash of regret in his eyes, then he cleared his throat and continued, "She wouldn't be happy with how you've turned out to be."

"I have been trying my best to cope."

"You're a man; you don't cope. You own up to things whether they get hard or not"

Silence filled the room briefly, then Santiago spoke.

"I've been managing your company for a few months now; that should give me credit."

"Credit? Like this is some high school project?" Julian scoffed, "This is your life. Your future and your responsibility. You need to handle it."

"I can very much handle my responsibility."

"Then you agree you need to get a wife."

"I handle the affairs of the company fairly and responsibly; I don't need to marry a woman to be responsible," he said in annoyance.

"A wife will make you more responsible. I experienced it when your mum was alive." He looked up at the ceiling, a small smile on his lips. "You'll never know what it feels like having someone who will love you for you till you have one."

"Well, I do have one who should love me as his own, but he doesn't care to do so," Santiago snapped.

Julian looked at him, his brows furrowed.

"You are getting married, Santiago, and that is final."

"I don't agree with you."

"Then when Director Chen comes to collect his dues, you shouldn't have a problem handling him?"

All the color drained from Santiago's face at the mention of Director Chen.

"Yes, I know all about your little secret." Julian patted a document he retrieved from his drawer. "I don't get how you could be so stupid to do that, but then again, you're not your brother." Julian looked like he was in pain. "He was always the bright one."

Santiago felt a sting in his heart; the tips of his fingers felt cold.

"If you don't comply with my terms, I will put the word out and expose what you did, and everything, everything you worked hard for, will go down the drain."

Santiago had no word to defend himself. His body still felt cold from this little revelation of his secret.

Daniel promised it would never resurface.

"I did everything you ever wanted, even when they were inconvenient. I did it to please you, to prove that I am not as worthless as you think I am," Santiago said in a small voice, unable to express the mix of grief, pain, and fear he was feeling.

"I don't think of you as that, son. I want you to be responsible."

"I manage the company well, and I didn't need a woman to keep me in check," Santiago argued.

Julian's face hardened. "You have two weeks to get yourself a wife, or I am pairing you up with a lady of my choosing."

"Mum will be disappointed in you," Santiago muttered bitterly.

"You have two weeks to make a decision," Jullian said.

Santiago opened the door, got out, and slammed the door hard; the hinges would have given way for the door to fall off.

...

It's been two days since his dad gave him a deadline to bring a wife home, and as much as he doesn't want to take it seriously, he knows his dad well enough for that.

He is a man of his word and would make sure he goes ahead with all of his threats if he doesn't take steps now.

Santiago had no plans to settle down with anyone now or in the near future. His ex-girlfriend taught him the hard way, and the few affairs he had didn't raise any ray of hope for love.

He didn't want to meet with any girl who would be matched to him by his dad but would rather look for a girl who he can have a contract with, strictly business and nothing more.

He slowed down when he noticed the long line of cars waiting for the lights to turn green. A sigh left his lips; he rolled his eyes at how long it might take for the line to move.

If he had paid attention earlier and not let the threat of his dad distract him, then he would have avoided this and taken another route.

Santiago relaxed back on his chair as he thought about all the things that had been happening in his life lately.

The memory of his past flashed through his eyes, and he groaned, then banged his fist on the steering wheel but was glad that he didn't hit the horn.

He thought of the argument he had with his dad about getting married and finally settling down. He groaned again at it and saw that the line was moving, soon he was able to get to where he could make a right turn.

He was thrown out of his reverie and had to hit the brakes quickly to prevent himself from hitting a young golden-haired lady who was crossing at that time.

Fear went through Santiago as he thought of what could have happened if he hadn't hit the brakes on time.

He was about to get out of his car to check if she was okay, but she walked away from his car fast after glaring at him for five seconds.

Santiago wondered what he did wrong but shrugged it off because it wasn't his business where she went. He continued his journey back home.