FATED

CHAPTER 1: Business Marriage Proposal

Brent asked his mother with regards to what she had just told him, "Why will the San Carloses want to marry off their daughter to a man like me who is not innately rich? They had just allowed people, who are inborn members of the upper class, to marry into their family. So why is there a sudden change  on their preference?"

Divina told her son, "Only few among their circle know what I am about to tell you. So we must also keep this information confidential."

Brent had agreed, "Okay, Ma," and then encouraged his mother, "So tell me why?"

Divina divulged to her son, "The family business of the San Carloses is facing a tough financial set back. They are willing to have a business partnership to anyone who can help their company financially. Brenda, being one of my close friends, had approached me because you're now very successful as a businessman. You have made yourself a self-billionaire with your actuarial and business expertise. Our family is now the richest in the entire state of Ilid and it was all because of you. Then also add the fact that you are already a member of Filipinas' Elite Billionaires' Club. Even if that organization is nonpartisan, the club still helps the government in their projects. They are the same reasons why other rich families in this state want you to be part of their family through marriage."

Brent reminded his mother, "Ma, you have always told me to marry only for love and not for any other reason.  That's why up to now, I still have not agreed to date any of those single ladies from the rich families of the Ilid."

His mother reminded, "But you are not getting any younger, son. You already turned thirty last January. At some point in your life, you should also think of having your own family. Bern had already finished her college education. And she will also soon work as a news anchor  for MGA Channel 8."

Brent acknowledged such, "I am aware of such, Ma. But if you really want to help Tita Brenda, then you might as well told her to forward me all the financial documents of their company for a review.  I am willing to invest on their company accordingly after the financial analysis that I have to do. They do not have to marry off any of their daughter."

His mother had told such to her best friend, Brenda San Carlos, and so Governor Arman San Carlos agreed on a business meeting with Brent.

May 31, 2018. Thursday. Brent and the Ilid Governor had their meeting at the San Carlos Mansion. Brent had asked his sister, Bernadette to accompany him.

Inside the study room of the Governor in their mansion, they had this conversation –

When they were both already seated comfortably at the sitting area of the study room, the governor started talking, "First of all, I want to thank you for your interest to help our family out on the financial set back that our company is facing right now."

Brent had responded, "I am a businessman and financial analyst as well, Governor. The extent to the help that I am willing to offer will depend on the financial analysis that I had requested to do in all the financial aspects of your company. I will only invest in your company  if I will have the assurance that my investment will be returned. Hence, I am requesting that I may be allowed to do the financial analysis. So the question is  – Will you allow an outsider like me to probe on the financial documents of your company?"

The governor had answered this way, "Can you not just help us after being a member of our family already?"

Brent's answer was, "I have already someone in my mind to pursue, Governor. My parents had always told me to marry only for love and not for any other reason. I just offered my help because of the close friendship of your wife to my adoptive mother as well the close friendship of my sister to Queenie. And I also think that it will be unfair to any of your daughter whom you will marry off to enter an arranged marriage just for the sake of your family business."

The governor had responded, "I understand  your points of view, Brent. And I really appreciate your willingness to help our family. But I can only agree with the business partnership if our family will this retain the majority of the percentages of the LLC interest. San Carlos Electric Company had been with our family for generations. So it should stay with the family."

Brent had countered, "But what if after my financial analysis, I have to demand for the majority of the percentages of the LLC interest."

The governor had countered as well, "I can only allow 50 % and you must be my son-in-law in order to have such privilege. That way, I can also entrust the control over the company to you."

Brent then asked, "If I may know, who between your two daughters will you marry off, Governor?"

The governor said, "Any of them will do. But the first priority is of course my older daughter. My younger daughter is my mother's favorite,. Plus she is still very young. Brianna is already twenty-five years old. So she is already in the right age to marry."

Brent then told the Governor, "But it is a known fact all over the Calginne City that Brianna is the girlfriend of the nephew of my adoptive mother."

The governor had acknowledged such, "Yes, I am aware of such relationship. But they can only get married if Kevin Fortich will invest on our company. I need a dependable son-in-law in times of desperate need. If Kevin has no capability to help our family then I will not allow him to marry my daughter."

Brent was aware that the shipping company of his adoptive mother's family was also in some  financial crisis. Enrico Fortich, the brother of his Mama Divina, who is the CEO of Fortich and Associates Shipping Lines as well as Kevin's father, had already approached him to invest on the company. He only agreed to purchase the maximum shares that Enrico Fortich was willing to sell, which was the 9 percent shares of his current 60 percent shares.  In his mind – Life is indeed like a wheel. Sometime you're above and sometimes you're below. When my family was still not very rich, my adoptive mother's family as well as her other friends had  turned their backs on her. They could not accept that Mama Divina had given Papa Julian another chance after his series of extra-marital affairs with random ladies. When Papa Julian was having some financial set back on our family business, Mama Divina had asked Tita Brenda for help, but she was not able to help us. But at least they remained friends because Mama Divina was aware that the San Carloses controls the money of the family. Now that they are in big trouble, they are now asking my help.

Their conversation with Enrico Fortich went like this –

His adoptive mother was really surprised when her eldest brother visited their humble residence. His adoptive parents had insisted to stay in their four bedroom ranch style house even if he was willing to buy them a bigger house.  After the pleasantries his mother had asked, "So why are you here, Kuya Enrico?"

He, his sister and their father were just listening from the background unseen by Mama Divina's brother.

Enrico Fortich said, "I will go directly straight to the point, Divina. Our shipping line is in trouble and so we need your help."

Mommy Divina's response was, "Brent owns 50 percent of our import/export business. The revenues Julian and I are receiving are just a little more than enough. His medication and therapy are very costly. Brent has invested the money he had inherited from his biological parents to our import/export business and luckily he has been able to make it a stable business enterprise. When it comes to his own money, Julian and I do not interfere. We are even rejecting all the luxuries in life that he was willing to provide for us. So if you really need help,  you can ask my son. He is the billionaire and not me nor Julian."

Enrico Fortich responded, "But he is known to be a very shrewd businessman. Will he be willing to help our family business."

Mommy Divina answered, "He might with me being his adoptive mother. But you need to discuss it with him. It will still be his decision if he is willing to help you or not."

Enrico Fortich had asked, "Is he here right now?"

Mommy Divina affirmed, "Yes. Julian, Brent and Bernadette are just at the garden. We can join them now."

And so after the exchange of pleasantries, Brent had talked to the eldest brother of his adoptive mother at the privacy of his father's study room.

Brent had asked Enrico Fortich, "So what can I do for you, sir?"

Enrico Fortich corrected him, "It is uncle and not sir, Brent. You are family, so do not be too formal on me anymore.

In Brent's mind – So now, you are already considering me as a nephew. In the past, all the members of the Fortich Clan had turned their back on Mama Divina because she chose to stay with Papa Julian and decided to adopt two strangers as her adoptive offspring. You have not recognized me nor Bern until now. 

Nonetheless he said, "Okay, Uncle. You can tell me now why  you suddenly visited us."

His  hypocrite so called uncle responded, "I will go straight to the point. Fortich and Associates Shipping Line is in big trouble and we need your help."

He then asked directly, "In what capacity do you need my help, Uncle? Do you need me for my business expertise? Or do you need me for my money?"

Enrico Fortich knew that the adoptive son of his sister was a shrewd businessman but he did not expect him to be very blunt in communicating to him. So his response was, "Both."

Brent said, "Then if that is the case, I need to be a shareholder of your company so I can be designated as member of the board of directors. That is the only way I can help you both on the two aspects.  So the question is –  How much shares are you willing to sell to me, Uncle Enrico?"

It took a little while for Enrico Fortich to give an answer. Nevertheless he responded, "I can only sell you up to 9 percent shares."

Brent then sated, "I am fine with it, but as for the monetary value of those shares, I need to do a financial analysis of your company before I can make an offer. The sooner you provide me with the documents I needed then the sooner I can make an offer."

Enrico Fortich had come prepared. He immediately got a USB flash drive from the inner chest pocket of his business suit and provided it to Brent. 

Brent accepted such and said, "I will get back to you as soon as possible, Uncle."

Enrico Fortich asked, "When?"

Brent answered, "Today is Saturday. I can have my offer by Monday. Will that just be fine?"

Enrcio affirmed, "Yes. It is perfectly fine."

After their conversation, Enrico Fortich had already decided to leave after expressing his departure to his adoptive parents.

June 7, 2018. Thursday. It took Brent a week to be done  with the financial analysis of San Carlos Electric Company. He had seen so many financial anomalies that he had to review the documents over and over again. Their family business was really in big trouble. Even if he invested an amount equivalent to the 49 percent of the LLC interest, there would be no assurance on the return of his investment because of the stealing being done by  Arthur and Archie San Carlos along with their subordinates. He just did not know if the Governor was aware of such. He is only willing to invest on the company if he will have the control over it. But it would mean marrying Brianna. He really didn't like such idea because Queenie was the one he wanted to pursue even if they had an age gap of eight years. 

He felt attracted to Queenie years back when she was still just five years old like his sister. She was very pretty. At first, he thought that as young boy, he was just appreciating her beauty. But such admiration had lasted up to the present. He did not simply like her beauty, he also had come to like her sweet demeanor. She was also generous and empathetic. She might not be a consistent honor student like his sister, Bernadette, but she was also very smart and creative.

After his financial analysis, Brent had another meeting with Governor Arman San Carlos. Their conversation went like this –

The governor had asked him, "So what were your findings, Brent?"

Brent had told the governor honestly, "Two offices are stealing money from the company. It might be unnoticeable on monthly revenue reports but with quarterly and annual reports they are noticeable already. I have just checked the financial documents three years back. But such cold be happening for more than three years already that is why tour company is already experiencing the financial crisis, Governor. Even if I wanted to help, I'd rather not if I will not have the management control of the company until my investment is returned."

The Governor expressed, "I am aware that my two sons had been mishandling some funds for quite some time. But as a father, I cannot do that much. I am too busy with duties and responsibilities as the Governor of our state and so I entrusted them the management of the company," then he reiterated, "But you can only have the management control of our family business if you are already my son-in-law. I know that you are an excellent businessman and that you will be able to handle my two sons very well."

Brent answered, "It will then be your problem, Governor. Brianna will definitely not like marrying me. His boyfriend had already confronted me and asked me to back off. And your younger daughter is off limits. If one of them agrees, then I might reconsider it. 

 The Governor responded, "Consider it a done deal, Brent. I will make sure that one of my daughters will agree to marry you."

In Brent's mind – Your older daughter will definitely not agree on this marriage, Governor. I had just taken this risk because of the possibility of marrying Queenie. I think that the odds are in my favor.

He could still recall his exact words to Kevin Fortich  – You are barking up the wrong tree, Mr. Fortich. Tita Brenda had approached Mama Divina to ask for my help. And because of Mama's friendship to Tita Brenda as well as my sister's friendship to Queenie, then I had agreed to meet with the Governor. When I asked him of the daughter he was willing to marry off, his answer was Brianna was the first choice. It seems that Queenie will just be the last resort because she is somehow off limits because she is the favorite of San Carlos Matriarch. When I pointed  out your relationship with Brianna, he told me that he will just allow Brianna to marry you if you will be able to help their company's current situation. So if you really want to marry Brianna, then find away for her not to got through the arranged marriage that his parents are willing to do. Even If I declined the Governor, then he will just look for my replacement, Mr. Fortich. I have no intention to steal your girlfriend. I already pointed out to the father of your girlfriend that Brianna will definitely not agree on marrying someone else other than you. So you should better go home and think of the best way to prevent such.

June 8, 2018. Friday. Brianna had visited the residence of his parents because he had been staying there for a while. Papa Julian had requested to see him more often and so he usually comes home during weekends.

Brianna had requested to talk to him privately. So he led her at the privacy of the study room of his father.

Brianna immediately said as the door closed, "I thought you and Kevin had already reached an agreement that you will decline my father."

He corrected Brianna, "I have never told Kevin that I will decline your father. What I told him is that your father first choice on the daughter to marry off was you and Queenie was just the last resort because apparently she is your Lola's favorite. Thus she is off limits. So I told your boyfriend that me declining your father is not the solution because your father will just find my replacement if I decline. But as you can see, I cannot just blatantly declined your father. I know that you will definitely not agree to marry me and I have no intention of stealing you from her. After all, he is still the nephew of my adoptive mother so somehow we are still relatives by name if not by blood. So I just told your father that I will only reconsider the deal if one of his daughter will agree on it. You still have a way out if you really want to be with Kevin. You and Kevin should think of a way to remedy this problem. I declining your father is definitely not the solution. I just wish you luck on this."