SERENDIPITOUS LOVE

CHAPTER 2: The Granddaughter

At the Avila Compound in Beaunne City, Jacqui had just arrived with her father. The compound has three houses, one for her grandparents and parents, one for her Kuya Jer and his family, and another one for her Kuya Jon and his family. Avila Compound is located near the boundary of Beaunne City and Vienburg City.

Madison, her sister-in-law/best-friend by her Kuya Jer who was a year older than her, immediately talked to her privately in her bedroom as soon as she finished taking a quick lukewarm shower.

Madison immediately asked Jacqui while blow drying her short natural straight dark brown hair, “Are you aware that Lola will be matching you with her best friend’s grandson?”

She exclaimed while dressing up in a black cotton spandex off -shoulder long sleeve top, and flowy mid-calf length black-grey-blue-red geometric shapes and color-blocking skirt over her black undergarments, “I knew something was off with this dinner!” Then she concluded, “So this is more of a matchmaking dinner. Do you have any idea who the guy is?”

Madison replied while getting her ankle strapped red stiletto heels shoes with bow detail at the back, “Negative! I do not even know the name of Lola’s best friend. So, what do you intend to do about this?”

She answered while putting the shoes on her feet, “Well, you very well know that I only have one man I truly like.”

Madison acknowledged it, “I know that you like Jacob Ivan Tan very much ever since you bumped into him at the bank more than five years ago. You also met several times prior to that and he had always been a perfect gentleman towards you. And yet you are not acting on your attraction towards him.”

She admitted, “Well, I do not have the courage like you. You made the first move on Kuya Jer. Plus, we have not met again since that flight back home here last June. He was not able to attend all the events of the company because he had been busy on all of the business trips abroad that he had to do on behalf of his brother. I have also been very busy these past few months with the company's operations."

Madison agreed, "Yeah, that is very true! You are such a workaholic," and then asked her again, "So what do you intend to do with this matchmaking scheme of Lola Consuelo and her best friend?"

Her response was, "Guess, I just have to be civil about it and find an excuse not to date the grandson of her best friend. I have only been romantically interested in one man all my life. That man is Jacob Ivan Tan. If we are not meant to be together, then I would rather be an old maid."

Madison's reaction was, "Do not say something like that, Jacqui! He is not the only ideal husband material out there. You will still meet a lot of guys. You are actually being pursued by so many as you returned but you have been rejecting all of them. Even when you were in Paris, you did not entertain any suitors."

She agreed, "I know," and then pointed out, "But he is the only one I am drawn to. And I was for my studies in Paris and not anything else. I just don't feel anything special about those men who pursued me in Paris as well as those men, who had pursued me here upon my return. It seems that no one else is better than him in my eyes, in my mind, and in my heart. Who knows?! If we happen to meet again, I might already have the courage to act on my attraction towards him."

Madison said, "Yeah, go girl!"

She even added, "Well you have done it with Kuya Jer. Perhaps I can also do it with Jac. I really like him a lot. I just hope that he does not have a girlfriend yet."

Madison said, "Well, he is not appearing that much on the society pages of broadsheets or the lifestyle news online, unlike his other friends. He is just often seen with his siblings and friends," then she recalled, "Well, I think there was one lady he dated in the past. It was posted online once, but after that, no more. Perhaps the lady was just a friend. A lot of female celebrities also had a crush on him, but when he would be ambush-interviewed and asked about his reaction to a certain celebrity's crush on him, he would just always say, 'Oh that is really nice to know that she has a crush on me,' and when asked if he would pursue the celebrity, his answer would be, 'I have to think of it.' The guy you like is one of the most eligible bachelors in the country, Jacqui. He does not even have that playboy image. That is why most female celebrities had a crush on him. They had even applied for membership in the gyms he owns in the hopes that they will encounter him there whenever he works out."

Jacqui said, "He does his workout during early mornings when the gym is not yet open for the members. He also mentioned the last time we met in June that he does not live anymore in Pinnacle Tower. He opted for a more private residence with a much larger surrounding area. I think that he is so busy with all of his business endeavors that he has no time for his love life anymore. He even returned to working for their family business a few years ago. As the Deputy CEO of JI Pinnacle Corporation, his load of work had increased immensely."

Madison then asked the unthinkable, "Could he be gay?"

Jacqui remarked, "There is no way he could be gay!" She then recalled and asked, “By the way, what is the status of the eau de toilette we will release at the same time with my line of undergarments.”

Madison responded, “Everything is ready.”

The housemaid then knocked at her bedroom door and then said, “Miss Jacqui, Ma’am Madi, the guests have already arrived. Ma’am Eve asked both of you to join everyone.”

Madison replied, “Yes, we will be there,” and then told her sister-in-law, “I will go ahead of you. I am sure Jer is already finding it difficult to look after our son.”

She uttered, “Okay. Please tell everyone that I will be there in a short while. I will just make a quick call with my executive assistant for some last-minute instructions.”

As Madison came out of her room, her two-year old son already ran towards her with Jer just behind.

Jer asked her, “Is Jacqui ready?”

Madison responded, “Yes, she is just making a quick phone call with her executive assistant.”

As they descended the stairs, Jacqui was just a few steps behind. Jacqui almost lost her footing when she saw Jacob Ivan Tan, so handsome in his navy suit over a light blue dress shirt, and brown leather dress shoes, in their living room. Good thing, her eldest brother had come to her rescue.

On the other hand, as Jacob Ivan Tan and his grandmother entered the house, he was very surprised to see Senator Jack Avila but he tried to calm his nerves.

In his mind –This must be fate! Belle seems to be correct in her assumption that this is a matchmaking dinner indeed. I must take advantage of this opportunity to finally pursue Jacqui. I must ask the permission of her parents to pursue her. That is the proper thing to do. I do not care anymore whether or not or grandmothers will be playing matchmakers. This is already an opportunity to meet her personally again after almost seven months. I only get to see her within that time on magazines and online fashion news. I do not even have to set an appointment to meet her. My grandmother brought me here. I still do not know her real intention. Nevertheless, I will not let the chance to pursue her pass by again. I just hope that she is not yet in any serious relationship, that the guy she has been interested in has not pursued her yet.

Lola Agnes and Lola Consuelo did the introductions.

After the pleasantries, everyone had agreed to call him Jacob so as not to create confusion with the nickname of Jacqui's father, Jack.

Jac then said, “We have brought French pastries, herbal tea and wine,” all of which were carried by his diver/bodyguard/butler, Arman, who had just entered. Arman had followed with his other car. He had already instructed him beforehand to deliver his grandmother’s luggage in advance to his uncle’s residence after carrying all the goods he purchased.

The Senator and his wife accepted them and handed them to their housemaid.

Jacqui's mother also instructed the housemaid, “Please tell Jacqui to go down already.”

Jac was thinking – Guess, this is indeed a matchmaking dinner meeting! Oh God! Thank you very much for this opportunity. Who would have thought that our grandmothers were the best of friends? Plus, she and her best friend really seem to be planning about matching me to Jacqui. How can I be so lucky?!

Lola Agnes added, “Jacob’s chef-sister, Belle, made all those French pastries upon his request and also bought those herbal tea and wine.”

Lola Consuelo acknowledged it, “That is so thoughtful of you, Jacob.”

Jac smiled and said, “Well, I just hope everyone will like them. Honestly, I was not aware that we would be coming here. I could have brought more if Lola just informed me much earlier. It is quite an honor to be here at your residence.”

“No worries, hijo. And try not to be too formal.” Lolo Josue then asked, “Anyway, how old are you already, Jacob?”

Jacob answered, “I just turned 30 a few days ago, Lolo.”

Senator Avila then spoke, “I heard that aside from working for your Dad’s corporation, you also have your own business endeavors.”

Jac acknowledged it, “Yes, Tito. Aside from Zenith Tower, which I have established with the help of my brother and sister, I also own a number of fitness gyms, a New York-style bar/loungeestaurant, and several businesses under Zenith Enterprises. I also founded Zenith Technology.”

Dr. Avila commented, “You seem to be working very hard. Do you even have time to date?”

Jac answered, “I want to establish myself first before getting married, Tita. I did pursue someone a few years ago but I somehow failed. She had clearly pointed out that she did not fit into my world, so I just focused on my career.”

Jon remarked, “I had experienced the same thing with Krista. But look at us now, we are already married and have a son.”

Krista, Jon's wife, added, “He was so persistent so he eventually won me over.”

Jac casually bantered, “Then perhaps I should be more persistent once I court a lady again.”

Lola Agnes commented, “If two people are fated, then things will just fall into their right place at the right moment.”

Jer then immediately ran after his two-year old son Joshua as the toddler ascended upstairs.

Lola Consuelo then asked Jac, “So Jacob, do you have any plans on settling down?”

Jac responded, “Yes, Lola. I already have my own house, stable businesses, and more than enough savings to support my future wife and children.”

Lolo Josue mentioned, “We heard that you finished double degrees in MIT and had your MBA at Wharton.”

Jac admitted, “Yes, Lolo. I majored in computer science and engineering, and minored in business analytics at MIT.”

Senator Jack Avila imparted, “My daughter also finished double degrees in computer science and business economics at the age of 15. Afterwards, she took up law and passed the bar exam. But her interests are more in fashion design and software development.”

Then Jer, along with his wife and son, descended the stairs. They were followed by Jacqui, who lost her footing and was rescued by her brother from a possible fall.

Everyone looked at Jac as he stood up and looked intently at Jacqui with a smile on his face. They also observed Jacqui’s cheeks blushing as she locked eyes with Jac and with a smile on her face as well.

Jac could still recall the first time he saw Jacqui.

In his mind – Bumping into you back then was serendipity. Seeing you again at the gym was fate. I had never acted on my attraction towards you before because you were still very young. You also want to reach your dreams of becoming a fashion designer rather than staying here and practicing your vocation as a lawyer. I have failed to remember that overwhelming I had felt when we first met until I came to Paris again and Mr. Dubois told me that you were coming back home to Filipinas for good. Your beauty is still quite mesmerizing. Every time I see you back then, I cannot help but admire your fair complexion which now I believe you inherited from your half-Chinese grandmother, your square face which is perfectly complimented by your beautiful brown eyes, high yet small nose, naturally pouty and rosy lips, deep dimpled cheeky, and slight cleft chin. You do not have those long locks I saw you with last June. Your hairstyle is back to that short bob which really emphasized your pretty face. And I failed to notice as well. You are not wearing dental braces anymore. Oh! I almost forgot. I have to personally apologize to you for not being able to attend all the important events of JADE Company. That is a very important note to self! Anyway, you seemed very surprised to see me again. Seven months had passed and yet you had become even more beautiful and fit. I hope that your heart belongs to no one yet. Well, perhaps, you still do not have a boyfriend yet. Your elders will not agree with this matchmaking dinner meeting if you have one. But I doubt if you do not even have suitors. You have been back home for almost seven months already. Guess, I am just too lucky! Oh God! Thank you very much for this moment!

On the other hand, Jacqui was thinking – Oh God! Please tell me this is not a joke. Jacob Ivan Tan is the grandson of Lola Consuelo's best friend! Oh, this is just awesome! I really do not mind the matchmaking scheme anymore for as long as it is with Jac. But do I look just fine? Did he notice that I almost fell upon seeing him? I should compose myself. But wait! I just told Maddie a while ago that...Oh! Will I really have the courage this time to act on my attraction towards him? That boyish smile of his is really very attractive! And he is looking at me, even smiling at me. Bumping into you more than five years ago at the bank was serendipity. But meeting you over and over again after that must be fate. Our grandmothers being the best of friends must be fate as well. We did not get to see much of each other when I was still in Paris, but when we met again on the plane, the connection was just beyond belief! But then my attempts at seeing you again through those invitations I had sent you for the events of JADE Company did not work out in my favor. It always coincided with the business meetings abroad that you had to attend on behalf of your older brother. Belle told you that you were indeed very sorry. But brother duty calls! Your sister-in-law was very pregnant by the time of the grand opening of JADE Company, so your brother did not want to leave his wife behind. You eventually had to do all the international business trips for your brother. A few days ago, you just turned 30. You had been stuck in Paris due to some airline problems. So you celebrated it there without your family and friends. That trip was for your own business. Belle even invited me to a surprise birthday that she and your brother planned, but it was cancelled because you were not able to come home on time. It has been almost seven months since we last saw each other on our flight back home here. I was coming home for good and you were coming home from a business trip. You are here now! Did you actually agree with this matchmaking scheme of our grandmothers? I hope you do.

The moment of silence was quite deafening. It was Lola Consuelo who broke that silence. "Jacqui, come here and let me introduce you to my best friend and her very handsome grandson."

As Jacqui approached Lola Consuelo, her grandmother started the introductions, "Agnes, this is Jacqui, my one and only granddaughter. Isn't she very pretty like me?"

Lola Agnes responded, "Yeah, Consuelo. She is very pretty. She got your complexion and your square-shaped face."

Jacqui spoke up, "Thank you, Lola Agnes. It is my honor and privilege to meet you."

Lola Agnes exclaimed, "And she is so sweet and respectful!" Jac's grandmother then introduced Jac to her, "Anyway, Jacqui. This is my grandson, Jacob. He is still very much single."

Jacqui responded, "I already know him, Lola Agnes. We already met several times before."

Their grandmothers remarked in unison, "What?!"