LOVE ALWAYS WINS

CHAPTER 4: The Feisty Young Lady

A lot of events had already happened after the contract signing between Vega Films and Ty Studio.

June 1, 2013. Saturday. Fénix: A World at War, the second installment of this trilogy dystopian fiction novels was released.

Worldwide book signings events had then followed. Tyron also did several fashion editorial photo shoots, TV commercial tapings, magazine interviews, TV show interviews. He also managed to attend several screenwriting workshop around the world as recommended by Mr. Vega.

December 2, 2013. Monday. Tyron also presented and passed his master’s thesis which was the publishable novel version of Detective JD accompanied by a critical essay. He focused on fiction for his master’s degree. He already completed all the course requirements and so he would just have to wait for the graduation ceremony.

Thereafter, he just focused on writing and illustrating Detective JD web comic series. The web development and maintenance team of Ty Studio had already made a web comic platform and smartphone app for Detective JD. A separate digital platform had already made for Fénix World prior to Detective JD platform and app.

In Fénix World, a person could sign in and pay a one-time one dollar membership fee. The member could then be evaluated on his answers to some question and be part of the tribe his/her qualities are best suited. A member can also participate on a quiz and win prizes. It also has an e-commerce feature where a member could purchase genuine Fénix Merchandise produced by his production and distribution partner.

With all the financial success that Tyron had been enjoying, he did not forget to give back to charities. Ty Foundation was set up by Nanay Kara, as he suggested. He had been a patron of every group home all over the State of Piasco, giving out regular monetary donation. He also financially supported an advocacy group for mental health awareness, an anti-crime advocacy group, a nursing home for the elderly, and all the other groups that his mother felt needed their help.

January 6, 2014. Monday. Tyron had already published the Volume 1 Episode 1 of Detective DJ. Each volume would have 16 episodes and an episode would be released weekly. With just reading the free first episode, his followers and fans had immediately been hooked. The first 4 episodes were for free but the next 12 episodes would be pay-to-read costing 2 dollars.

His literary editor had immediately received numerous exclusive publishing rights in printed form to every volume of Detective DJ. They talked about it with the presence of his parents.

His literary agent asked, “So which one do you like, Ty?”

Tyron responded, “I am undecided yet because I have my own printed copy concepts for this comic series. For now, I want you to focus on the novel version of Detective JD that is included in my master’s thesis. It was the prequel of the comic series, the story about the young James and how he became interested to be a detective and eventually become one.”

Abner’s reaction was gold, “Then why did you only tell me now? I like that idea more. As for the comic book, just list down your preferences and conditions. I am sure that we can find someone. Or perhaps you can self-publish them.”

Tatay Edwin said, “Then we would need a literary and pre-publishing team.”

But Tyron’s retort was, “Are you already giving up as my literary agent, Sir Abner?”

Abner cleared things up, “I am not, Ty. You are my most important talent. But you already have the means to publish your own work in printed form.”

Tyron said, “If I will ever do that then I also want you on board. I want you to be one of the critics of my literary works or you might as well join Ty Studio as the head of the literary team. Yes, I might already have the means but I am not the type of person who abandons the people who had helped me out when I was just nobody. If you did not believe in my literary talent back then, I won’t be the Ty Rivera that I am now.”

Nanay Kara said, “We don’t abandon people who do good deeds to us, Abner. We raised Ty that way.”

His literary agent said, “I won’t abandon Ty, madam. I can be his literary agent for as long as he wants.”

June 1, 2014. Sunday. Fé[A1] nix: The Rebirth, the final installment of his dystopian trilogy novels, had its worldwide release.

Book tour around the world had already been scheduled. From time to time he was also able to do print modeling. There were billboards, posters, coffee table book, and magazine front cover. Tyron even sent a copy of his coffee table book to Dr. Murillo with a dedication and an autograph for his daughter.

Dr. Murillo went home so happy one night upon receiving the coffee table book from Tyron, “Sunshine, Ty Rivera sent me a copy of his coffee table book for you. It had a dedication and an autograph.”

His daughter was so surprised and happy that her eyes seemed to have popped out, even jumping to him for a hug from so much joy and said as browsing the book, “This is unbelievable, Paps. He still remembers you and my name.”

July 1, 2014. Tuesday. The film adaptation of Fé[A2] nix: A Rising New World, had its red carpet premier night. Tyron came with his parents. Franco had invited several film critics around the world. It gained positive reviews.

July 2, 2014. Wednesday. The film was released worldwide and it grossed millions of dollar on its first day.

July 3, 2014. Thursday. It was the 24th birthday of Tyron. He had no work for that day. He visited his parents’ graves just like the previous years.

He told them in silence – We could already be altogether ‘Tay, ‘Nay. I already asked Tatay Edwin to arrange for the excavation and cremation of your remains. I want your remains to have a much better final resting place. The private columbarium hall in my new residential home in Revned was already completed. I would somehow feel more at ease knowing that your remains would just be more within my reach. I already made it big as an author. Tatay Edwin and Nanay Kara have been taking good care of me. Thanks for sending them. Thanks for saving my life.

August 4, 2014. Friday. It was the birthday of Franco Vega. Tyron, along with his parents were invited for an intimate black tie dinner among just fifty guests. Tyron arrived earlier because he and Mr. Vega had agreed to discuss the second film before the dinner. His parents would just be following him to the palatial home of the Vegas on the outskirt of Vienbug City near the boundary of Sourisse City.

As Tyron entered the main door, he witnessed the very interesting interaction between Fiona and pretty young lady with naturally light brown curly hair and mestiza features. The young lady’s eyes were also light brown. Her nose ridge was high, her cheeks were slightly freckled, and her complexion was white and pinkish like that of the second wife of Mr. Vega. She was even much prettier than Fiona.

Fiona was with another upper class lady when the young lady, who was just dressed in cute dark purple hoody, white skinny jeans, and white sneakers, came near and seemed to be heading to the kitchen.

Fiona spoke arrogantly, “Here comes the parasite again.”

There was no response or reaction from the young lady. She was just continuing on walking.

Fiona continued speaking, “Hey, freeloader! Why are you here again? Just go back to your cuckold father!”

The young lady then stopped her track and looked angrily towards Fiona and firmly stated, “Take it back!”

Fiona responded, still rude, “What will I take back? Everything I said is true. You are a parasite, a freeloader. And your father was cuckold by your gold digger mother to be with my father.”

The young lady just brought down the paper bag she was carrying by the floor. Tyron did not expect the next thing that the young lady did. She threw the remnants liquid from the paper coffee cup right on the face of Fiona, rendering the latter speechless.

Tyron could not help but smile expressing silently – That serves you right!

Then he heard the young lady blurting out, “Do you honestly think that I like being here in your pathetic palatial cage? But I am obliged to stay here for the weekends to satisfy the visitation rights of my mother set forth by the family court. I would rather stay with my father than be here and be bullied by you regularly. I can handle all of your badmouthing but you have no right to badmouth my father. He has done nothing wrong towards you.”

Fiona seemed to have regained her composure and was about to slap the young lady’s place but then Mr. Vega blocked her hand and firmly stated, “Enough of this, Fiona! Apologize to Klei.”

Fiona’s reaction was priceless, “Why would I apologize to that leech? I am the one thrown coffee at here, Dad!”

The young lady then said, “I don’t need her apology, Tito Franc. But I do prefer to just leave and go home to my father.”

Mr. Vega’s wife then descended from the grand staircase and said, “You will stay here, sunshine.”

Francis, Mr. Vega’s older son by his first wife and Fiona’s biological brother, then joined the scene, addressing the wife of his father, “Why would your daughter even stay here? She is not even a Vega. If she wants to be with her father then just let her be. You abandoned her for my father, remember? She is much happier being with her father. So why not just allow her to do so? That is for her own good.”

Liam, Mr. Vega’s younger son by his second wife, who joined the scene as well noticed and greeted him, “Good evening, Mr. Rivera.”

Everyone then looked at the foyer near the main door, Mr. Vega approached Tyron, while his wife was saying, “Please go back to your room now and change, Fiona. And ‘shine, you have to stay. If you don’t want to attend the dinner then just stay in your room. I bought several new cookbooks for you. You can browse then. And then you can also continue studying for NCAT. Your luggage had been delivered to your bedroom already. I will ask Manang to bring you food in your bedroom.”

Then he saw Liam noticing the paper bag, exploring the contents and then said, “Dad, Ate Kleio brought us our favorites. Baechu Kimchi, Yeolmu Kimchi, Kkakdugi, Oi Sobagi, and apple jam for you, Dad. Laing, Chicken Adobo, and Kombucha Tea for you, Mom. And of course lots of my favorite healthy snacks.”

Mr. Vega and his older son Francis were already in front of him and extended their hands for a handshake.

Mr. Vega told him, “Let us go now to my home office, Ty,” and then told his son, “Son, please entertain the other guests that will arrive for the time being. Ty and I will just have a private talk.”

Francis agreed, “Yes, Dad.”

Mr. Vega then led the way to his home office.

Then he could not help but say, “So, you also like Korean Kimchi, professor.”

Mr. Vega then responded, “Yeah, and my stepdaughter Kleio, whom we usually fondly call Klei, make kimchi just like the authentic Korean ones.”

He expressed, “I also love Korean dishes especially their kimchi.”

Mr. Vega said, “Then I can ask one of our maid’s to bring some for you while we talk.”

As they entered the home office, Mr. Vega pressed a button on the intercom, “Manang, please send someone to bring every sample for tasting of the food that Klei brought here at my home office.” Then his mentor sat opposite him at the receiving area of the office and bragged, “My stepdaughter is a culinary genius. She is also very smart. She has gotten both of the best genes of her parents. Beauty from her mother and brains from her father. She might even be a doctor like her father someday. She is also well-pampered but not a brat like my daughter. This is the first time I had witnessed her talking back to Fiona. She just usually ignores my daughter. I do apologize that you have to witness our family drama.”

He commented, “Well, one’s patience can reach its limits especially if the other party crossed the line. It seems to me that your stepdaughter loves her father so much.”

Mr. Vega responded, “Yeah. She also loves her mother and she is very respectful and thoughtful towards me.”

The maid then knocked by the door and entered the office with a tray filled with small side dish plates with food samples, two pairs of chopsticks, two table cloth napkins, two other small plates, two shot glasses, and a bottle of Makgeolli, a traditional Korean rice wine that Kleio also brewed herself.

Mr. Vega reacted, “So, Klei also brought Makgeolli for me.”

The housemaid responded, “Yes, sir. Miss Klei brought three small bottles like that. I will go now, sir,” and the housemaid left them.

Mr. Vega said, “Taste them now.”

As Tyron tasted the different types of Kimchi first, he was quite amazed, “They really tastes like the ones I had when I was in South Korea. Does she accept orders?”

Mr. Vega answered, “She does not. She only cooks for family and friends. Her father just wanted her to focus on her studies and numerous extra-curricular activities outside the school. She is also busy preparing for the NCAT. She is now in her last year in the senior high school department of UPVIS. I believe that she wanted to qualify on the accelerated medical program of UF – Vienburg.”

Tyron then led their conversation to business, “So are the plans for our second film finalized already, professor?”

Mr. Vega said, “Yes, my pre-production team had already finalized them. I think that they had been sent to your business email last minute this afternoon. I had also read the initial screenplay that you prepare for the first stage of film. You have been improving greatly. How do you even manage to accommodate all the things you do in your work schedule?”

Tyron stated, “I am very strict with myself, professor. I usually work at most 16 hours daily during weekdays, and routinely sleep from 10 PM to 6 AM every day, except when I am abroad. I do all my writing at home. Once, my vacation home in Revned is already completely done, then I am planning to spend most of my time there whenever I don’t have book tours or modeling gigs. The property is not that far from Ty Studio. I can just stay at my condo if the need arises.”

Meanwhile, in her assigned bedroom at the palatial home at the Vegas just beside the bedroom of her half-brother, Liam, Kleio could not believe – Ty Rivera, my literary idol, just saw me splashing cold coffee on Ate Fiona’s face and talking back at her. That’s embarrassing! I cannot even see him again during the dinner. I don’t feel like attending it anymore after what just happened. I just want to leave this place. How can I mess up in front of my idol?

Then someone knocked at the door and entered it. Liam came in with a box.

Liam said, “This is for you, Ate. You won’t accept the money that Dad is giving you for the purchase of all your ingredients so I just asked him to buy you these stuffs instead. I also have similar items in black. Yours are all in deep purple.”

She asked, “What are inside?”

Liam encouraged her, “Just open them.”

As she opened the box, she saw a 12-inch brand new tablet, an 18-inch brand new laptop, a video action camcorder, a monopod, a tripod, a vlogging kit (all attached – a 360° mobile phone holder, a brand new smartphone, a microphone, a fill light, a three-head hot shoe and a tripod/holder, a DSLR camera with other lenses, several spare batteries, and several memory cards, and a handbag as an all-in-one storage.

She reacted, “These are too much, Liam. I cannot accept them.”

Liam said, “Well, Mom also mentioned that you are planning to go on blogging and vlogging for all your food adventures and cooking, and so I suggested them to just buy you these stuffs in preparation. You can use them in your blogging and vlogging activities then use your other stuffs for other personal and school matters. Dad had even been asking around about the best webhosting company. As for the other techie stuffs that you are not aware of then I will help you out,” and then recalled, “By the way, Manang will soon be bringing dinner and snacks. Once she left, then Mom asked me to remind you to lock the door so Ate Fiona would not be able to get back at you.”

She smiled and assured her brother, “Okay, I will do that.”

Tyron was not surprised at all when he did not see his screenwriting mentor’s stepdaughter at the dinner. Somehow he felt sorry for her – It must be hard for her having separated parents. Even if my mentor seems to be treating her very well, his older offspring are not. Well, all her dishes were impeccable, even the snacks are awesome. The grease is very less in every dish that it cannot even be noticed. She is already a very accomplished cook with several international cuisines certificates under her belt and she is just in senior high school. Her name sounds familiar. When did I first heard of it? I cannot even recall. Wait, am I really thinking of lady right now? Well, it has been a while since a lady piqued my interest. She is too young for me. She still needs to finish her collegiate education. So I cannot pursue her yet.