LOVE ALWAYS WINS

CHAPTER 3: Worldwide Popularity

When Dr. Murillo’s sixteen year old daughter came home that evening after spending the weekend with her mother, she immediately bombarded her father with lots of question.

“Paps, I am home,” then her series of question followed, “Were you able to get my book signed? Were you able to have a selfie with him?”

When Dr. Murillo showed the signed limited edition Fénix hardcover books wooden box set as well as the instant photos, his daughter shout of for joy and tightly hugged him, and then added, “I was selected as the only fan to receive his limited edition trilogy novels right away and we also had several photos with his parents. He even mentioned that he was grateful to me as his doctor.”

His daughter replied, “Thank you very much, Paps. Good thing you are acquainted to him in the past. I don’t think I would be able to get his Fénix trilogy novels if I was the one who attended Tyron’s book signing event. I don’t think I can even open these books, I just want them preserved.”

The very pleased Dr. Murillo suggested to his daughter, “Well, you might as well read them all once. That way you will know the entire story. Then afterwards, preserved them. I can order for a customized glass case after you read them all.”

His daughter agreed, “Yes, let us do that, Paps.”

Dr. Murillo felt so elated that he was able to make his daughter happy in his own little way. In his mind – I might not be able to provide you with all the luxury that your mother is showering you but at least I was able to make you happy through these books. She is using her weekend-visitation rights to tour you around locally and internationally with her family. She even insisted on paying for your expensive cooking classes every school break. You like them so I was not able to refuse. So I was just able to pay for your other extra-curricular activities outside the campus like: community service through the Filipinas Red Cross Youth program; sports activities like swimming and tennis; music classes like voice, piano and guitar; dance classes like ballet and street dancing; arts classes like drawing, screen printing, photography, and crafting; and martial arts classes like kali and judo.

After Tyron’s first book signing event, several book sellers around the world had requested that he also did a book signing event in their countries. The publishing company communicated it to him through his literary agent. By that time his first book had already been considered a bestseller in Filipinas and getting the world’s interest.

There had also been a business proposal from a Filipinas-based multinational company to be the sole Fénix Merchandise production and distribution partner. There were also several international companies who wanted him to be their brand ambassador. Comics companies, TV companies and film companies also wanted to collaborate with him.

Tyron was then advised by his two agents to have his own personal management and support team. He would need a business manager who could manage all his business deals outside modeling and literary deals and supervise and coordinate with his agents and support team. His support team must also include an online and social media officer, an accounting officer, a legal officer, and a personal assistant.

Because of his growing worldwide popularity, he was also forced to leave his apartment unit, and pay for the down p*****t of a two-bedroom condominium unit at Elysium Tower near UF – Vienburg.

Tyron also sought the help of his guardians on the matter. Tyron wanted Tatay Edwin and Nanay Kara to alternately be his business manager since they had just both retired both from active service as police officer and social worker as they reached the early retirement age of 56 and both served for 30 years already. He asked them to move in with him in his new condominium unit so they could be altogether again. They were the two persons that he trusted the most so he could only entrust his business dealings and hiring of support team from them. His guardians had agreed because they also wanted to make sure that their son would remain healthy and grounded despite his busy career and growing popularity.

Tyron told his guardians, “Now that you are already both retired, I want us to be altogether again. I had already purchased a two bedroom condominium unit where we all can live. I want the two of you to also manage my career and business deals. Sir Cenon and Sir Abner advised me to have my own management and support team. You are the two persons I trusted the most so I cannot simply trust my career and other business dealings with somebody else. You can hire competent staffs to do most of the work, but I want the two of you to manage and supervise them as well as coordinate with my two agents. I cannot do it alone, ‘Tay, ‘Nay. I don’t want to drown from my popularity. I need the two of you to keep me healthy and grounded despite by busy career and rising popularity.”

Nanay Kara said, “As you put things that way, how can we say no? We are glad that you are including us again in your life.”

His response was, “How can I not include you in my life? You have always been a part of it since I lost my biological parents. I might have been busy with my studies and was not able to visit you often. But that was just because I don’t want to burden the two of you financially. You have spent so much for me. Now that I am earning well, how can I not think of sharing by blessings to the two most important persons in my life.”

Tatay Edwin lightly commented, “Well, your Nanay had already agreed. We will then help you out, son.”

The three of them had a group hug initiated by Tyron.

Upon receiving his shares from thirty thousand copies book sales amounting to multimillions by the end of that month, Tyron had already asked his parents to have their new home fully furnished. He was also able to pay for the condominium unit in full, and buy a brand-new 7 seating capacity 5-door mid-size CVT sports utility vehicle. They had also finalized hiring their son’s support team and his self-hosted official website was already on the development process.

For the months that followed before the yearend, Tyron had been able to do: six international book signing events (South Korea, Japan, China, France, UK, and USA); twelve multi-million TV commercials/product endorsement deals (shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, purified water, petroleum, men’s watch, bank, skin care clinic, casual clothing, sneakers, acetaminophen tablet, and fast food restaurant chain’s fried chicken). He was also able to complete the first 9 units of his MA in Creative Writing degree program. He had also closed the business deal for the Fénix Merchandise.

From his accumulated multimillion income during the months that had passed, he got a comprehensive medical and travel insurance from him and his parents. He also purchased a vast parcel of land of about ten acres for the his new residence with his parents at Revned, a municipality in Piasco, which was bordering the south of Vienburg City and the east of Dessaun City of the State of Missi. Revned is the northernmost town/municipality of the State of Piasco

He also purchased the headquarters for Ty Studio, a three-story building near the boundary of Vienburg City, Missi and Revned City, housing his management and support team. It was a foreclosed property that they discovered from the banking company that he had a TV commercial. The building had a basement parking and a rooftop which he asked to be transformed into a zen garden for all the employees to relax on. The first floor would be for the HR office reception/lobby, clerks work area, security personnel locker room, cleaning personnel and cleaning materials room, kitchen/dining area, and restrooms. The second floor is for the website development and maintenance team, online and social media personnel, kitchen/dining area, and restrooms. The third floor is for the combined office of his guardians/business managers with receiving area, conference room, management staff work area, kitchen/dining area, and restrooms. Aside from the stairs, the building also had a service elevator from the basement up to the rooftop.

His office website ty.com was already operational. All of the updates on his literary career as well as on his modelling career and other business deals were being posted there. He especially liked the description on his profile page at the website which stated –

Ty Rivera

He was the only son of Ronaldo and Teresa Rivera and also the only living survivor of a gruesome m*ssacre when he was just six years old. Orphaned after surviving three gunshot wounds, Ty lived in a social welfare group home in Lano City, Piasco until he was12 and then fostered as a legal guardian by the police officer, who discovered him from the pile of dead bodies, along with his wife, who was also Ty’s former social worker.

His literary skills and talent had discovered by his teachers early on. His guardians, whom he considered his own parents, had even carefully and meticulously collated all of his literary creations since second grade. He was also a consistent top 1 student since kindergarten and he also graduated Summa c*m Laude at UF – Vienburg for Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing. Fénix Trilogy was part of his undergraduate thesis.

He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in creative writing and attending several screenwriting workshops to enrich his literary knowledge and skills as well as broaden his literary range. He is already in the process of developing a detective graphic series with Detective James Durano as the protagonist which he would both write and illustrate.

Yes, Ty Army, our idol is not just a prolific writer and model but he is also skilled in comic drawing.

The planning and construction of their new residence in Revned had also been on-going. It would be their family home/vacation home. Tyron fell in love with the traditional Korean architecture when he had a book signing event at South Korea and had a tour in some of its historical sites. Thus, he asked the architectural firm that he hired that he wanted a hanok-inspired residential compound. The plans included two residential buildings with the bigger main house and his foster parents’ residence; a private columbarium hall for the remains of his parents, which he had already requested to be excavated and cremated; a third building with a small indoor swimming pool, a sauna, a dojo, and a kitchen & dining area; a fourth building which is an apartment for his employees and guests; a stone wall fence; a gate; and a gazebo. Everything would be hanok style but with modern touch especially on the interior. The other remaining vacant areas would have the vegetable garden, fruit trees garden, chicken coop, duck pond yard, goat house and pen, a trail going up to the gazebo; a stone-paved grassy front lawn; and a driveway leading to the very spacious garage.

When they had not found yet a headquarters for Ty Studio, their two-bedroom condominium unit also served as temporary office for the first few employees that they hired. More employees had just been gradually hired as the headquarters had already been ready for occupancy. Nanay Kara and/or male personal assistant/driver had also often travelled with him whenever he had book signing events, TV commercial taping, and photo shoots. But whenever he went to UF – Vienburg for his graduate studies on Saturdays, he just drove on his own aboard the old MPV of his guardians and dressed up low-key.

January 5, 2013. Saturday. It was the first day of his classes for his second term in his graduate studies. He was already about to enter his vehicle when he was approached by a seemingly rich young lady.

The lady said, “Good afternoon, Mr. Rivera. I am Fiona Vega, from Vega Films. I am also a huge fan of yours. I am here to…”

He cut off the lady from further taking, “I am sorry, Miss Vega. I don’t talk about business matters. You can go to Ty Studio for that. So if you’ll excuse me, I have to go home now. I don’t want to be late for my family dinner.”

He entered the MPV, and Fiona wasn’t able to talk further anymore.

As he drove the MPV away, he noticed that the lady felt so irritated in his mind – If you are the one representing Vega Films then perhaps Tatay doesn’t like your attitude, spoiled brat!

During the family dinner, Tyron asked his parents.

His question was, “Anyway, about the film adaptation of Fénix Trilogy, have you already decided which company to have partnership with.”

Tatay Edwin responded, “The top three recommendations of our lawyer and business consultant are Vega Films, MGA Films and LMC Films.”

He inquired, “Which is the best deal then?”

Nanay Kara answered, “Vega Films. You can be the co-screenwriter as well as co-executive producer. Ty Studio would also be on the forefront along with Vega Films on the beginning and ending credits. You will also have a say on the actors, costumes, and set design. But…”

He finished for his mother, “Their representative is rude.”

Nanay Kara was surprised, “How did you know?”

Tyron explained, “She approached me this afternoon at the campus as I am about to go home. Her father, Franco Vega, was my Introduction to Film professor for the interdisciplinary elective that I took for my bachelor’s degree. I also attended his two-day weekend annual screenwriting workshop last July at the Development Academy of Filipinas Conference Center in Sourisse City, just near the boundary of Vienburg City. He even gave me a congratulatory call when the first installment of Fénix was published and told me that he would propose a film adaptation for the entire trilogy. Kindly tell Miss Fiona Vega that I will accept the deal but I don’t want her to have any part on the contract signing and film production. If my screenwriting mentor would not agree to it then we might as well counter the same deal with MGA Films or LMC Films.”

Nanay Kara reacted, “Don’t you think it is cruel on her part, son?”

Tyron replied, “I know the likes of her, ‘Nay. She is just another rich arrogant spoiled brat. She is very much different from his father, who is a very down-to-earth man despite his success as an internationally acclaimed multi-awarded scriptwriter, director and producer. I bet she had been rude to both of you and our staff. Just wait until she finds out that you are not my employees but my parents. She will definitely try to be on your good side. She was so proper and respectful when she approached me but as I already drove away, I saw her true attitude from the side mirror. She claimed being my fan yet I saw clenched her fists and stomped her feet as I left.”

Tatay Edwin commented, “You are usually accommodating and casual with your fans. Don’t you think you are being rude to her as well?”

Tyron said, “I am already rude to those people who are approaching me with ulterior motive, ‘Tay. She made a huge mistake by invading my personal time. My weekends are for my studies and rest. Plus she had been rude to you and our employees at Ty Studio.”

January 7, 2013. Monday. Tyron received a video call from Mr. Franco Vega.

In his mind – He might already have heard my conditions before closing the deal.

So he answered the video call – Yes, good morning, professor.

Mr. Vega’s immediate response was – If my daughter have offended you then let me apologize personally, Ty.

He told his screenwriting mentor – You don’t need to apologize, professor. Your daughter should be the one apologizing because she had been rude to our staff at Ty Studio, as well as my parents, who are the ones supervising Ty Studio on my behalf. She also violated my ‘me time’ by approaching me at the campus last Saturday just as I finished my classes. I usually don’t deal personally with the business proposals offered to me. That is why I got agents as well as my own management and support team.

Mr. Vega then stated – I am serious about the film adaptation of Fénix Trilogy, Ty. So I assure you that my daughter will not be involved in this project. I will also make sure that she apologizes to your parents and your staff at Ty Studio

Tyron responded – I don’t think she will apologize, professor. For as long as she is not involved with this trilogy film adaptation project then I am already fine with it. You can already coordinate with Ty Studio for the date of our contract signing.

After the video call, Franco Vega had asked his daughter to come in to his home office.

He told his daughter, “You won’t be involved in any way in the Fénix Trilogy project.”

Fiona flared up, “So you are siding with that rude orphan! I am your daughter, Dad.”

Franco emphasized, “It was your fault in the first place. Do you even know that the ones supervising Ty Studio are the two most important people in Ty’s life after his biological parents passed away? They are the police officer and social worker described in his profile. You were rude to them as well as to their staff. You even violated Ty’s ‘me time’ when you approached him at the university campus last Saturday. His weekends are the most precious time to him because those are the only times when he can rest. He did not set up Ty Studio for nothing. He entrusted to his parents the supervision of Ty Studio because he just wanted to focus on his jobs on weekdays and rest on weekends. If you really want to succeed in this business then you should try to be humble.”

Fiona’s impertinent reply was, “Are you done now? Can I leave now?”

Then his wife came in with a cup of coffee. So Fiona just walked out of the door.

His wife then asked, “Is it about the Fénix Trilogy project, hun?”

Franco answered, “Yeas, hun. As usual, Fiona had been her usual arrogant self. I almost lost that deal because of her rudeness. Ty felt so offended by her attitude towards his parents and their staff.”

His wife was a bit confused, “I thought he was an orphan.”

Franco informed his wife, “His legal guardians, whom he considers as his own parents after losing his real ones, are the ones supervising Ty Studio.”

His wife then recalled, “Anyway, I just heard when Liam and my daughter was talking yesterday that she has already a limited edition set of the entire Fénix Trilogy.”

Franco then asked, “Do you think we can borrow it?”

His wife said, “Well, my daughter wanted to preserve it after reading, so her father had asked someone to build a sealed glass case for it. You know, my daughter. She is quite sentimental. She really treasures the things she loves.”

Franco commented, “You are very lucky with your daughter, hun. Kristof has raised her very well. She does not even hate us.”