SERENDIPITOUS LOVE

Disliking being cooped up in their family-owned law firm, Jacquilyn Avila tried betting on the grand lottery once with the goal of being totally independent of her father’s wishes if ever she won. Jacqui was the youngest among the three offspring of Atty. Jacques Antonio Avila and Dr. Evelyn Juarez - Avila. Her father was from a rich and famous family of lawyers where some had served as a trial court judge, supreme court justice, senator, and congressional representative. Whereas her mother was from a rich business family owning Sorocon Constructions, the largest construction firm in the State of Sorocon. She lived in Beaunne City, Sorocon with her grandparents, Lolo Josue and Lola Consuelo, her parents, and her older twin brothers, Jeremiah and Jonathan. She was eight years younger than her twin brothers. Her mother had her when she was already about thirty years old, so such could be one of the reasons why she was born with an IQ of 160, which was already considered a genius. She finished double degrees in computer science and business economics at the age of 15, and earned her law degree at the age of 19. Because of her exemplary academic qualifications, she was allowed to take the bar examination despite the age requirement of 21 years old. But her license would only be released when she reached 21 if she passed. As she took the bar examination, she topped it. Then she worked as legal assistant to her father and brothers in their law firm for the time being. November 29, 2010. Monday. She won the jackpot prize of the Grand Lottery amounting to 741,176,323.20 exactly on her 20th birthday. By then she knew that she would already be able to pursue her dream of becoming a fashion designer. Also, she could already establish her own business. She had already thought of a business name, JADE Company. JADE stood for Jacquilyn Avila Design Esthetics. December 1, 2010. Wednesday. She had collected her lottery prize and immediately deposited the check at the nearest branch of JI Pinnacle Banking and Trust Company in their residence in Vienburg City, Missi. She decided to put the seven hundred million on a Certificate of Deposit and then divide the remaining money into two accounts – a savings account and a checking account. Both of these two accounts had been enrolled on an online banking system where she could easily transfer funds even if she did not go to the bank. December 2, 2010. Thursday. She purchased a two-bedroom condominium unit at Pinnacle Tower, located in Vienburg City. She had it fully furnished as well. She also purchased two foreclosed properties: a three-story warehouse with a vast surrounding lot in Beaunne City; and a five-story commercial building in Vienburg City with basement parking in preparation for the establishment of JADE Company. She also donated money to charities. She donated ten million to Filipinas School for Exceptional Learners (FSEL), a nonprofit boarding school in Vienburg City for exceptional children (those children with autism, deaf-blindness, deafness, emotional disturbance, intellectual disability, hearing impairment, multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairment, other health impairment, specific learning disability, speech or language impairment, traumatic brain injury, visual impairment, development delay, gifted and talented). December 6, 2010. Monday. Jacqui decided to go to the bank again. It was very near to Pinnacle Tower, where she had already started to reside over the weekend. She decided to open a foreign currency account because of her plan to pursue a fashion design degree in Paris, France. As she was entering the main door of the bank, she had accidentally bumped into something hard. The leather zipper bag that she was holding fell on the floor. She immediately heard the voice of the man apologizing, "I am very sorry, Miss. I was looking at my phone and I did not notice that you were on the way." As she looked at the owner of the voice, she saw a very handsome man. Her heartbeat started to race. She responded, "It is okay. Somehow, I did not notice you as well because I was checking something inside my bag." The man, who felt so mesmerized by her natural beauty, introduced himself as he handed the leather file bag to her, "By the way, I am Jacob Ivan Tan." Jacqui was aware that the Tans owned the banking company as well as the condominium building where she was residing. She also introduced herself, "I am Jacquilyn Avila." Then the branch manager approached them and greeted her, "Good morning, Miss Jacqui. We can already go to my office. I will personally handle your foreign currency bank account application," then addressed him, "Sir Jac, Miss Jacqui is one of our VVIP clients." Jac voiced out, "I see. Then please serve her very well. It is my pleasure meeting you, Jacqui. I am usually called by my family and friends Jac. So feel free to call me Jac as well should we meet again. My bank accounts are all here as well." She replied, "Okay, Jac." Jacob Ivan Tan, most fondly called as Jac, was one of the three children of Jaime Tan, the Chairman of JI Pinnacle Corporation, one of the largest conglomerates in Filipinas and one of the most profitable companies in the Filipinas Stock Exchange with billions of dollars annual net profit, founded and owned the majority stocks of: Air Filipinas (an air transportation company); JI Pinnacle Banking and Trust Company; and JI Pinnacle Lands (a real estate and property development company which developed five-star hotels, shopping malls, condominiums, golf courses and country clubs all over the Asia-Pacific Region). Among JI Pinnacle Lands’ establishments were: Palais Isabelle – a chain of five-star hotels in the Asia-Pacific Region; Pinnacle Malls – a chain of high-end shopping centers all over the Asia-Pacific Region; Pinnacle Towers – a chain of condominiums all over the Asia Pacific Region; and Pinnacle Golf and Country Clubs – a chain of world-class golf and country clubs all over the Asia-Pacific Region. It also has minor stakes in companies like Filipinas Telephone Company (5.7 %), MGA Media Network (9.5 %) and Missi Power Company (10.7 %). After high school, Jac studied Computer Science and Engineering, and Business Analytics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and had his MBA degree at Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Afterwards, he joined his father and brother at JI Pinnacle Corporation but later left to establish his own business enterprise. His first business venture was A1 Gym. It was then followed by Zenith Enterprises, which operated a vending machine business. It also started offering storage rental services, and moving services. Much later that afternoon, Jac and Jacqui met again in A1 Gym near Pinnacle Tower. She had just finished a high-intensity kickboxing workout with their female kickboxing instructor, Zaida, who was into professional kickboxing before. Whereas he went there to check the status of his gym business. He greeted her, "Hi there, Jacqui. So we met again. Are you already done with your workout?" She responded, "Hi. Yes, I am already done with my workout." He then assumed, "It seems that you just live nearby. We met this morning at the bank and now we meet here," and then asked, "May I ask where you live?" She confirmed, "Yes, I just live nearby. I just recently purchased a two-bedroom unit at Pinnacle Tower." He was surprised by the coincidence, "I also live there, in the penthouse unit." She responded, "I see," and then asked, "So why are you here? Will you also work out?" Zaida informed her, "Sir Jac owns the gym, Miss Jacqui." Jac then said, "But I also do my workout here during early mornings." Jacqui then expressed, "Well I have to cut our talk short. I still have an appointment for 3 PM." Jac acknowledged, "Okay. You should go ahead. Don't let us delay you." After she left, Jac asked Zaida for more information. He started with, "Is she taking kickboxing lessons with you?" Zaida confirmed, "Yes, boss. But only for a month. She will be leaving for Paris by January to study fashion design. She just wanted to learn some self-defense moves and at the same time stay fit. She is also enrolled in a yoga class here." He said, "Well, be sure to provide her with the best services. She is a VVIP client of our bank." Zaida informed him, "She also availed a VVIP membership here, boss. We will provide her with remote fitness instructions when she is already in Paris. She is in the process of executing her long-term business plan which I think has its main office here in Vienburg. But it will still be launched and fully operated upon her return from Paris. She mentioned that her business sites will still be renovated and other facilities will still need to be built." They had met again several times at the gym, at the bank, and at Pinnacle Tower before she left for Paris. Jac, who was then scheduled to visit the family of his mother in France, decided to arrange his flight to coincide with that of Jacqui. He even arranged adjacent seats. So Jacqui was surprised when she boarded the plane and saw Jac in the first-class seats. She expressed, "You are here! It seems that you are also headed to France." He confirmed it, "Yeah, I will be visiting my mother's side of the family in Paris and some other parts of France," and then asked as if he did not know, "How about you?" She answered, "I will be studying fashion design and technology at the International Fashion Academy in Paris." He asked, "How long will it be?" She responded, "Three years. But I am also thinking of continuing taking an MBA in Fashion Business for 15 months after that. Then I will be back to the country to launch JADE Company with a fashion line business and many others." They still talked about so many things. When they reached France, Jac even escorted Jacqui safely to her rented apartment when he was fetched by the butler of Chateau de Blanchet, Mr. Dubois. When he and Mr. Dubois were already on their way to Chateau de Blanchet, he told the butler, "Mr. Dubois, I want you to do me a favor. Please secretly watch over Miss Jacqui's safety for me. She will be all alone in a foreign country to study for almost 5 years here. I am worried about her." The butler had agreed, "Oui, maître." While Jacqui was in France pursuing a bachelor's degree and master's degree in fashion, Jac had been busy expanding his own business empire outside of his family's conglomerate. When he turned 25, he was able to access the trust fund that had been set up by his father for him. His older brother James, and younger sister Belle had the same trust fund. He established Zenith Technology, a tech firm which focused on the production of electronics and electronic components for use in the information technology, communications, automotive equipment, automobile, precision molding, and consumer electronics industries. Along with that, the construction of his brainchild had also started. Zenith Tower, a skyscraper for commercial purposes in which the floors of the building would be leased to professionals, businessmen, small companies, small firms as their offices or workplaces, was a business proposal he presented to the board of directors of JI Pinnacle Corporation but it was not approved. His older brother invested in the project as well. When Belle was able to access her trust fund, she also invested in the project when it was already operating. Jac then established this New York-style bar/loungeestaurant on the 72nd floor, the top floor, of Zenith Tower. He called it Club Zenith. The club had an inside lounge and bar area; a restaurant area; an outside roof deck terrace with a full bar; and a party area with the DJ’s booth, ledge, and the dance floor. All areas have amazing views of the city. Club nights were from Wednesdays to Saturdays. They serve food and drinks from Mondays to Saturdays. They also hosted events and parties. Local and international DJs took turns at playing a wide array of party music in its state-of-the art party area. Then he also met Anna Reyes, a young and beautiful interior designer working for Leila Perez, Daniel Cardenas' girlfriend turned wife. Anna was the maid of honor at the wedding of Daniel and Leila, while he was the best man. Daniel Cardenas was one of his best friends. Daniel was the one he hired to do the architectural plan of Zenith Tower, Zenith Technology Headquarters Building, Zenith Technology Manufacturing Plant. Back then, Daniel was still in USA. When Daniel returned to Filipinas, Zenith Tower and Zenith Technology were already both fully operational. Jac and Anna just dated a few times and then she explicitly expressed that she did not fit in his world and she just wanted to focus on her career and taking care of her brother. He did not pursue another lady after that. He just focused on his numerous business endeavors. On the other hand, Jacqui, while still staying in Paris, had executed all the preparations for JADE Company. Her brother, Jon, with the help of their maternal cousin Patrick Juarez, had facilitated all the renovations and construction needed at her commercial building in Vienburg City, and the warehouse compound in Beaunne City. Madison, her chemical engineering sister-in-law/best friend, had been in-charge of overseeing the construction of the chemical laboratory beside the warehouse. Whereas, Krista, her botanist sister-in-law had been in-charge of overseeing the development of the botanical farm on the vacant lot behind the warehouse and the chemical laboratory. Jacqui also commissioned Madison’s CPA Lawyer-brother, Maynard Castillo, to do all the accounting and legal aspects of JADE Company’s preparatory stage. June 13, 2015. Saturday. Jacqui boarded a flight back to Filipinas. She was finally returning home for good. Although she had made a few trips back to the country during the duration of her studies, that was the final moment when she would be returning for good. In the past, she returned to secure her lawyer's license when she turned 21. Her other return trips also included attending her brothers' weddings in two different years, and attending important family events. In all of her quick return trips, she also made it to the point to check on the ongoing renovation, construction, and development processes involving JADE Company. She was on such a train of thoughts about her past return trips when Jac sat beside her in the first-class area of the plane. She was surprised, "You are here!" He said, "Yes. I arrived last Monday for a series of business meetings for JI Pinnacle Corporation." She had then assumed, "So you are back working for the family business," because he had mentioned to her before almost five years ago that he left working for the family business to build his own business empire. He confirmed it, "Yes. My brother is already the CEO and his wife, who used to be his chief-of-staff, had to leave the corporation. She was being groomed to be the Deputy CEO but then she left all of a sudden. After sometime, we all discovered that she was the missing Lucero Heiress. The Luceros owned the Missi Power Corporation. She and Kuya James had been betrothed even when she was still a baby and then went missing." She said, "I see. So Georgina Lucero was Zoey Dizon?" He affirmed, "Yes. When she left to search for her real parents, Kuya and Dad requested that I return and be the Deputy CEO." She then asked, "So how about your own business empire?" His response was, "Oh, it is still existing. I also established Zenith Enterprises, Zenith Tower, and Zenith Technology. A1 Gyms are already under Zenith Enterprises. Zenith Tower, which I established with my two siblings, is being managed by my sister already since I took the Deputy CEO position at JI Pinnacle. Club Zenith is an exclusive club that I have established and it is located on top of Zenith Tower. As for Zenith Technology, I am still its CEO," and then he informed her, "And I also don't live anymore at Pinnacle Tower. But I still own the penthouse unit. I opted for a much bigger private residence with a much larger surrounding area, an actual home in the suburb area of Vienburg." She said, "Well, I still own the condominium unit there. I intend to live there as I formally launched JADE Company this July. But then I will need a temporary office space for some other preparatory processes." He stated, "Well, you are in luck. Zenith Tower had vacancies. I will message Belle now to reserve it for you. And then I will give you her contact details so the two of you can talk about all the formalities." She expressed her gratitude, "Thank you very much then." He said, "Anything for you, Jacqui." But in his mind – Now that you are finally back, I can already go on with my original plan of pursuing you. Perhaps Anna was really not the one for me. I had been sidetracked by her beauty and forgot about you for a while. When Mr. Dubois informed me last Tuesday that you are finally coming home for good today. I immediately finished all my scheduled business meetings and arranged my return flight to coincide with yours. You have become even much prettier. And you have long hair already. Long hair looks good on you as well. Mr. Dubois already told me that you have not entertained any suitors during your entire stay in Paris, even if a lot of guys have attempted. I just hope you do not have any special someone yet waiting in the country. Mr. Dubois also informed me that you had returned to the country a few times. So I hope that the man you like has not pursued you yet.