Mr. HOT & Ms. COOL

CHAPTER 7: When She Amazed Him Even More

Kian was just so amazed by Reina's vocal and guitar performance. He did not expect such things from her. He was truly in awe in the same way that the entire crowd was asking for – Encore! Encore!

The members of the band even joined the chanting, so Reina spoke – Okay.

And the crowd just felt so ecstatic.

Reina spoke again – The next and last song that I would like to sing is Beyonce's Listen. Will that just be fine, guys?

The band members and the rest of the crowd shouted – Yes, Miss Rei.

She had hit every low and high note perfectly with her powerful voice and the band and the crowd were all just mesmerized. They were not aware that the daughter of their City Mayor actually had a very beautiful raspy voice. They all had goose bumps as she perfectly belted the highest notes of the song with her voice not even faltering. They gave her a standing ovation and a very loud round of applause.

So her parting words were – Thank you very much, guys. Good night to you all.

She and Kian went down from the stage and joined their group on the table.

Surprisingly, her cousin, Zandro was there welcoming her with a big hug, saying, "I am so proud of you, baby girl."

For a while, Kian felt a little pain in his heart.

He was thinking – Who is this guy? He seemed very close to Rei.

And then suddenly Jennie said, "Kian, meet my fiancé and Rei's cousin, Zandro Costelo. Babe, meet Kian Estrada"

He somehow felt relieved, extended his hand for a handshake and said, "It is my pleasure to meet you, Atty. Costelo."

Zandro responded, "Same here, Mr. Estrada. I have just come here to fetch my fiancé and then the leader of your in-house band just ambushed Rei for a jamming session. His band had never ever won against our band during our high school days. You played the drums really well. You also have a nice voice. Perhaps, one day, we can all jam as well."

He replied modestly, "Just an average singing voice. Rei here is just amazing. I heard her sing a song last Saturday night, but only now have I realized how powerful her voice was. Her vocal range is just mind blowing."

Zandro said, "Four octaves, four semitones to be exact, that's her vocal range. She started her voice lessons at the age of 2. Her voice can transcend through multiple genres, such as Jazz, Blues, Rock, R & B, Pop, Hip-Hop and Gospel. Other than lead guitar, she can also play the piano. But she is most interested in photography, so she did not pursue a recording career even though she received an offer after high school. She then flew to Paris to be with her Mom and then pursue a bachelor of fine arts in photography. After finishing her degree she returned here and then her photography career just continues to flourish. Even if she is already twenty-eight, she will always be my baby sister in my heart."

Kian said, "She is one lucky girl to have a very loving and protective brother like you."

Zandro bragged, "My Dad and my Mom are even more protective of her. They actually did not want her to move out. But then we cannot clip her wings so we just allowed her."

Kian stated, "Well, she is perfectly safe at the Empress."

Zandro said, "Yeah, Dad and I double-checked the installed security system that her father arranged for her residence. Even her balcony has invisible safety grills."

He smiled, "Yeah, but Jack, my cat, can still pass through it."

Jennie conjectured, "So you also have a cat. Rei has Jill."

Reina added, "Our cats have already met. They are both ragdolls, mine is female while his is male."

Jennie shared, "I gifted Jill to her last Christmas."

Kian said, "I got Jack a year ago when my dog died of old age."

As they all decided to leave, Kian and Reina both rode their respective motorbikes going to the Empress. Even their parking garages were next to each other. Reina's father had acquired a big parking garage to fit her personal vehicle and the other for her motorbike, triathlon bike, road bike, and mountain bike. It came with an automatic parking door.

On the other hand, Kian's parking garage was fitted with his SUV, sports car, motorbikes, and other recreational bikes.

As they both entered the entrance from the basement and boarded the elevator, they talked.

He commented, "So you are also a cyclist."

Her response was, "Well, our city has several bike trails. I also do triathlons. I started participating in super sprint triathlon events when I was in France. So, when I returned here after my collegiate studies, I also participated in some triathlon events here in the country. I did Ironman 70.3 in 2016."

He then shared, "I did my Ironman 70.3 just last year. Last Sunday, Ironman 2018 was held. I wasn't able to participate because of my sabbatical leave."

She then said, "I have been becoming much busier, so I only get to swim, run and cycle as part of my regular fitness regimen."

He then informed her, "I am already set to join the Ironman 70.3 race in Davou City by March. I have already included training on my schedule already."

She acknowledged, "Yeah, I was informed about it already. I will also be participating in that event."

He suggested, "We can train together if you like."

As they came out of the elevator, she answered him, "I already started my fitness regimen this morning. M-W-F morning, one hour cycling around the Roscotta City Circle Park, T-Th-S morning, one hour at the swimming pool here in the building doing laps. And then daily one-hour morning fitness training at the gym here in the building, which included a 30-minute run on the treadmill. I do it from 5 - 7 AM daily, and then the rest would all be for my work and some personal stuff."

He reacted, "No wonder you are so fit."

She said, "You are so fit as well. But then I had not done this kind of workout during my two-week trip. So, after adjusting my body clock over the weekend, I started again."

He stated then, "I just usually have a three-hour workout three days a week. But I guess I can do the one-hour cycling with you ever M-W-F morning, and the swimming T-Th-S morning."

She told him, "I do it from 5 - 6 AM. So if you are an early riser, then you may join me."

Then they reached her door.

He said, "I will join you starting tomorrow then. Good night for now."

She replied, "Yeah, goodnight. And thanks again for the dinner."

As she reached the privacy of her residence, she received a call from Jennie.

She replied with – Yes, Jen.

Jennie said – I have already been through the work agreement and I have already discussed it as well with Zandro. You can already sign it as it is. Copyright of all photos will be with you. Working conditions are excellent. And your talent fee is quite generous, which is above your regular hourly rate. All travel fees will also be shouldered by his company. Accommodation will also be provided should there be location shoots. The duration will be July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019.

She responded – Okay then. I will talk to him then regarding the schedule for signing the agreement. I will be freshening myself already and sleep. Good night, Jen.

Jennie replied – Okay. Sweet dreams, Rei.

Reina messaged Kian after she had a very quick shower while choosing the pajamas to wear – Jennie and Kuya Zandro had already gone over the draft copy of the work agreement. You can already schedule the signing of the agreement this week. Just let your staff coordinate with Anika for my available schedule.

He replied when she was already in bed – Okay, we will do that then.

June 5, 2018. Tuesday.

Reina woke up on her alarm at 4:30 AM. She washed her face; brushed her teeth; did her morning toilet rituals; got into her one-piece sleeveless black and fuchsia triathlon suit; readied her gym bag with the bathrobe, towel, goggles, swim cap, water bottles, and fresh change of clothes; had banana for breakfast; and then went to the 50-meter lap pool on the ground level. The sun had not fully risen yet. Kian arrived ahead of her. He was already doing some stretching, wearing his black with some silver trim sleeveless triathlon suit, black swim cap, and with his goggles by his head.

She greeted him, "Good morning."

He looked at her and greeted her back, "Good morning."

After putting on her swim cap and goggles, Reina already plunged into the water and did her laps.

Kian plunged into the water as well. Kian noticed that Reina was a steady swimmer, not too fast, not too slow. But he was much faster than her so he was able to catch up with her in just a short time.

In one of their rest breaks while still in the water, he told her, "I already asked Faith to coordinate with Anika for a lunch appointment today for the signing of the work agreement. My production staff will get a video of the signing ceremony and your photography staff might also take videos and photos for documentation."

She said, "I think that will just be fine. Jennie will definitely have the time. Will it still be at your restaurant?"

He affirmed, "Yeah," and then asked, "Will you have other appointments today?"

Her answer was, "None that I know of yet. The three clients who came yesterday scheduled for a meeting for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Then my meeting with the art director of the gallery will still be next week. So if I have not forgotten any schedule for this day, then most likely Anika will be able to accommodate a lunch meeting into my calendar."

He said, "Good! My schedule are full for this week. We are in the process of conceptualizing more reality shows other than the ongoing productions by my fellow travel vloggers around the world who are doing the pilot episode of the shows we agreed on. Viajero Productions will be co-producing the shows with their own production, and then the airing will have to depend on the pilot broadcast."

She then commented, "Yesterday, while I was having lunch, I saw a teaser of Mr. and Ms. Outdoorsy where you are inviting real outdoorsy couples to do outdoor challenges in different outdoor recreational tourist spots in the country. Who will host the show?"

He said, "Our creative team are asking a celebrity couple who are into outdoor activities too. They had three options."

She commented, "Well, that will definitely be a show to watch."

He said, "And you get to do the photo shoots for that show. The target airing for the show is by August."

On the other hand, Faith had no other choice but to contact Reina's assistant at around 8 AM for the lunch meeting that her boss wanted to be done immediately for the signing of work agreement with Reina.

In her mind – I would have no time to stop this work agreement. I have not even found a loophole in her side and they already decided to sign the work agreement. I did not even get to see the draft of the agreement because boss usually let the legal team handles them confidentially. Boss only involves me regarding management aspects, in the execution of all of his plans. It seems that I am just indeed an employee in his eyes. Although Boss asks my ideas on some occasions, he still follows what he thinks would attract to the viewers. Reina Joya was not even one of the photographers I recommended to him and yet he immediately hired her with just a few days of meeting. Yeah, her credentials are superior to the credentials of the male photographers that I recommended. I didn't even cross my mind that he would consider a female photographer. Because among all the female employees in the company, he just usually interacts with me. The head of the creative team is male. The head of legal team is male. Almost all of the vice presidents, general managers, and department heads are males too. I have been his assistant since he created the small management team and small production team for his travel video blogs. Being a Top Star for YouTube and V+Tube was too much for him to handle anymore that he already started hiring regular employees to work for him. But now, Boss seems to spend his private time with his neighbor. Their cats met. Why do they even have the same breed of cat? I don't even like that cat. He had scratched me one time when Kuya Jeffrey asked me to bring him for his scheduled checkup to the vet. I don't even like pets. Yet they seemed to have common interests aside from having a pet cat. They both love travelling, Boss for his travel video blows while Reina for her photography career. They were even both into music. I never even knew that she could sing very well. The crowd definitely loved her last night that her performance was now trending online. A netizen uploaded the video of her superb performance. What else do they have in common? This is really quite frustrating.

That morning while Reina was busy on the gym, her families and admirers were browsing the video of her vocal and guitar performance at Viajeros the previous night.

Her half-brother, Duncan, asked their father during breakfast, "Dad, Ate Rei is trending online at the moment. She had jammed with in-house band of Viajeros Bar & Restaurant that night. She seemed to be with Kian Estrada, her best friend and her assistant."

Daddy Diego immediately viewed the video that his eldest son showed on his phone.

Daddy Diego then said afterwards, "Well, I was aware that she took voice lessons and some musical instruments lessons when she was younger, but I did not expect her to be this good. I missed majority of her school programs back then because I was too busy with work."

Dustin then joined the conversation, "Well, she is definitely a rockstar as well as a diva. Not to mention that, she is also good in motorcycle racing. We did bond once in car racing and she definitely has a potential for it."

Daddy Diego said, "Well, I just know that she is into triathlon. I didn't know she is into motorcycle racing as well."

Dustin stated, "She does not compete on racing, Dad. But she did join me in those motorcycle race and car race hobbies of mine after I asked her one time to watch my race. I just told her some techniques and she easily got them."

Daddy Diego reacted, "Guess, I got three sons and no daughter at all. She is too free-spirited. She does not even want to get married.”

Mommy Elaine asked, "Will Robin Estrada not pursue her anymore? I might as well introduce him to my niece, Faith."

Daddy Diego answered, "Well, I don't think Rei is interested in him at all. She is too focused preparing for her photo exhibit, and doing some photography work for some clients who can afford her talent fee. She even mentioned to me last Sunday that Kian Estrada offered her a long-term photography job for all of the projects of his company. Ronaldo actually met his eldest son after so many years when we visited Rei last Sunday afternoon. Kian and Rei are neighbors. They both have a cat. Kian's cat often trespasses on Rei's balcony. He was there in her residence to get his cat but ended up helping her out as well installing the wall-mounted play area for her cat. They were having an afternoon snack together when we arrived. Kian immediately left upon seeing his father excusing himself only to me and to Rei. Ronaldo and Robin left afterwards. Kian had never opened his door for them. Ronaldo felt disheartened so they just decided to leave and not interact with me and Rei anymore."

Mommy Elaine then asked, "Do you think the two of them are dating?"

Daddy Diego answered, "Rei denied any romantic involvement with Kian and I believe her. They are neighbors so interaction between them is unavoidable. If Rei would agree on Kian's job offer then they might have professional interaction as well. My daughter is so focused with her career and hobbies. The Roscotta City Circle Park manager had even informed me that, she had resumed her cycling regimen around the park yesterday morning."

Duncan said, "Perhaps she might join a triathlon event again. Her last participation was in 2016. There is one in March at Davou that I will join."

But on Mommy Elaine's mind – Yeah, I think that it is much better that she just focused on her career and hobbies. That way, she would have less time visiting her grandparents here. Then the less time I will saw her too. I hate her. She often gets the attention of everyone when she is here.

Meanwhile at the Costelo Residence ...

Mama Zola said, "Rei is trending online, Zandro. She is even in the early morning news. Did she really jam with a live band last night?"

Zandro confirmed it, "Yes, Ma. A former nemesis on battle of the bands when we were younger is the leader of the in-house band performing at Kian's restaurant, where they had the business meeting last night. They had just finished the dinner meeting when the leader of the band invited her and Kian to jam with them. A netizen might have uploaded her performance. Rei definitely brought the house down last night with her amazing vocal and guitar performance."

Papa Rueben then said, "Well, she might have already been a famous recording artist if she didn't decline that recording offer to her after senior high school."

On the other hand, as Robin watched the video and read the comments.

His thoughts were – So you had a dinner meeting with Dad's other son, Reina. Guess I also had to offer you a job just so you can have a meal with me.

Arthur had also seen the viral video of Reina’s performance with the band.

His thoughts were – Yeah, I almost forgot that you used to play with Zandro and his bandmates as vocalist and lead guitarist and sometimes pianist. But then I didn’t get to use those talents of yours in the election campaign because most of the rime you were away. If not, you need to sleep early for a photo shoot appointment the following morning. Despite both not having celebrity statuses, of course Rei is now more popular than Valerie. But Rei is not all the time in TV. Valerie is also much better in bed. Rei is way too conservative, and a bit passive. Perhaps because I was her first. I am now having second thoughts about pushing through with the wedding. But how can I tell it to Valerie? How can I also explain in to the voters? My relationship with Rei was very private. But with Valerie is not.