THE SASSY LADY & THE NOT SO GENTLEMAN

CHAPTER 4: Neighbors

After lunch, Neil visited the last property, that he became interested in checking, among the properties that Darius had presented to him. It was a ground floor condominium unit at Hampton Homes which was quite near to the business center of Mellin City. It was close enough to the headquarters of Monteverde Corporation, Monteverde Hotel, Monteverde Ancestral Mansion and Monteverde Leisure Park in Mellin City. He already decided to finalize his purchase. He wanted to move in the soonest possible time so the next thing he did was to ask Darius to tour him around in all the shops at Mellin City where he can buy stuffs for his new residence. They used the sports car that his grandfather gave to him as a welcome home present. But in reality, he was aware that it was some sort of his grandfather's token of appreciation for his offer of free business and financial consultancy to him.

But as it turned out, he could not fully avoid getting involved with the family business of the Monteverdes because his father decided to buy back his shares and assigned him as his representative to the Board of Directors. And he could not possibly say no. His father had already decided to help out his grandfather in cleaning up the mess that his Uncle Jun was doing at the family business. Thus, he had no other choice but to help out as well.

As they left Hampton Homes, Neil saw a familiar car entering the vicinity of the compound on the other side of the guardhouse/main gate. He even saw that the car was parked just opposite the unit he just purchased.

In his mind - It seems that Miss Slow Driver will be my neighbor. Well, at least I got a pretty neighbor! She seems to be so serious about life. How can a young beautiful lady like her just focus on her studies and charity works? Boring! Anyway, why did her father just allowed her to use her mother's surname? If I were in his shoes, I will not allow such. There seems to be something fishy about it. Why did she just opt for a low key life away from the happenings in the upper class society of Zaramala. The Montelibanos were well known at throwing grand parties at their palatial mansion. Why did she decide to just turn it into a safe haven for underprivileged people? I just could not believe that a young lady from an upper class society like her will do such thing. She must be so generous to do such. She is even selling scented candles as fund raising campaign. What else is she doing to raise funds for that save haven she established for those underprivileged people?

Then all of a sudden, Darius spoke up, "I am wondering why a young pretty lady from the upper class society like her will opt to live an ordinary like focusing on her studies and doing charity works. Coz typical upper class young ladies like her is supposed to be splurging themselves with all the luxuries in life that they can possibly have. Rumor has it that she inherited a lot from her mother. But she became estranged with her father after the death of her mother."

Neil told the personal secretary of his grandfather, "I did not know that you are a gossiper, Darius. Living in a place like Hampton Homes is not what you may call an ordinary life."

Darius pointed out, "But she chose to live her instead of their palatial mansion. She even converted it into a safe haven for those underprivileged people. I even heard that she had spent most of her inheritance helping those people. She was just 18 when she started that project. And soon enough she will be graduating by May with a double degree in economics and psychology. I even heard that she has plans of pursuing a law degree immediately next academic year. She must be very rich to be able to do all of those things without even working."

Neil responded, "Well, that is her life! Who are we to judge? Anyway she is selling scented candles. Lola purchased so much."

Darius added, "She also sells pastries, sir. And all the proceeds goes to the fund for her safe haven."

Neil then asked, "Who makes those candles and pastries?"

Darius answered, "I heard that she makes them all with the help of all those battered women living at the safe haven and their former household employees. They are all selling very well. She has helped a lot people already through that safe haven."

Neil commented, "At least they are not just soliciting donations from rich donors. They seem to be producing quality products in exchange for money what will be used as funds for the safe haven," then he asked Darius, "Do you know how old is she now?"

Darius said, "She was just 18 when her mother died and that was more than three years ago. She is probably around 21-22 years old, sir."

Neil asked further, "What about the chain of restaurants owned by the Montelibanos?"

Darius' answer was, "The second wife of her father is now managing them and I don't think they are doing very well compared when they were managed by Madam Kristina. I heard that her father is open to the idea of having a business partner just to rehabilitate the restaurants to their former glory."

Neil then made a request to his grandfather's personal secretary, "Will you be able to do a due diligence assessment for me regarding those chains of restaurants, Mr. Rosas? I am planning to make some investments and I need to know those restaurants are investment worthy."

Darius' reaction was, "It is a sinking ship, sir. Don't waste your time and money on them. Atty. Melchor Santos, the husband of Madam Kristina who now owns those restaurants had already proposed to your Uncle Jun to invest with the help of his brother, Mr. Mario Santos, one of the hotel managers at the Monteverde Hotel here in Mellin City. But your uncle declined. Their former restaurant managers and chefs had already resigned. The new chefs that were hired could not recreate the signature dishes of the restaurants. The recipes of the signature dishes are duly patented. Even those former chefs who had worked into those restaurants are not allowed to recreate them on their other workplace. And Atty. Santos does not seem to have the access to those recipes."

Neil inquired, "Who has access to them then?"

Darius' answer was, "Miss Keren Montelibano."

Neil asked, "Is she not allowing her own father to have the access?"

Darius' answer, "Well, the father has not asked the daughter for the trade secrets, that is what I heard."

Neil queried further, "Why?"

Darius replied, "I have no idea, sir. They have been estranged from one another ever since Madam Kristina died. The real reason for the estrangement between the father and daughter has been a puzzle to all of the gossiping citizens of Zaramala. Some said that Atty. Santos had decided to unplug Madam Kristina from life support even if Miss Keren disagreed. Some said that Atty. Santos marrying the mother of his illegitimate twin son and daughter just a few weeks before Madam Kristina died could be the reason for the fall out between the father and the daughter. Some also suspected that Miss Keren might not be a biological daughter of Atty. Santos. But then it was debunked by a lot of people because Madam Kristina had been a devoted wife to her husband all through our their marriage. The three of them was a picture perfect family."

Neil gave his assumption, "In my opinion, it could be the second reason that you mentioned."

Darius affirmed, "I believe so as well, sir."

Then Neil reiterated, "Anyway, I still want you to do a comprehensive due diligence assessment regarding all those restaurants. I could just buy them out and turned them into totally new food establishments if they are indeed business worthy, and asked my sister to manage them. My sister finished culinary arts in Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. She also had a barista training in one the top barista and coffee schools in the world located in Italy. She owns a coffee and pastry shop in London."

Darius then stated, "I suggest that you just wait for them to file for bankruptcy, sir. I heard that they might file it soon. Then you can just purchase those restaurants as bank foreclosed properties. I heard that it is also the plan of your Uncle Jun."

Neil insisted, "Nevertheless, I still need a comprehensive due diligence assessment done to all those restaurants. Will you be able to do that for me, Mr. Rosas?"

Darius responded, "I will do it, sir."

Neil even added, "I need the comprehensive report in a week."

Darius replied, "Duly noted, sir."

On the other hand, Keren and Tiffany were also talking about the passengers of the car that they had just encountered.

Tiffany excitedly asked her, "Did you see the handsome driver of the luxurious sports car that we just encountered by the gate?"

She just answered casually, "Yes, why?"

Tiffany asked, "Well, he is handsome. I hope he becomes our neighbor. There had been a lot of prospective buyers checking on that vacant unit opposite yours along with the other vacated units that were just for short term lease."

She told Tiffany, "Well, you just have to wait and see if he will indeed be our neighbor. For now, let us just focus on studying for our examinations.

October 9, 2017. Monday. Early in the morning, aboard his brand new sports car, Neil and his father went to the headquarters of Monteverde Corporation along with the convoy of his grandfather. The other members of the family was still not aware that Simon had purchased back his shares and assigned his son to be his representative to the Board of Directors. It had been a big shock to everyone especially to Jun Monteverde, the eldest son. Neil's three aunts were also present with their respective husband. Aunt Sylvia, the second offspring of his grandparents, was with her lawyer husband, Atty. Bienvenido Diez. Aunt Selena, the third, was with her accountant husband, Restituto Samonte. Aunt Susana, the fourth, was with her politician husband, City Councilor Enrico Resus. And Simon, the youngest among the brood of five of his grandparents, was with him, the eldest grandson. His father gotten married the first among the five siblings and then he was born thereafter. His father was taking up his MBA in University of Oxford. Then Simon met Natasha. They fell in love and got married even without the consent of their parents. His father was just almost 24 years old when he got married . His father was of the same age. They had him within the first year of their marriage.

In Uncle Jun's mind - The prodigal son has returned. What are they doing here at the headquarters? Why are they attending the meeting of the Board of Directors. Simon had already sold back his shares to Papa. Don't tell me that he had bought them back! This cannot be happening!

Aunt Sylvia was thinking - The archrivals had faced of again. Simon would not be back for nothing. Perhaps Papa had already convince him to buy back his shares. Anyway, Neil has planned to stay here for good according to Mama. His son can represent him at the board of Directors while he continues helming his investment banking company in London.

Aunt Selena was feeling energized - This will be fun to witness - the battle between the eldest and the youngest. All of Kuya Jun's plan to control the corporation might not happen. Simon has returned and it seems that he will use his son to fight his battle. Neil is already a self-made millionaire and he is not even 30 yet.

In Aunt Susana's mind - The rebel has returned and with his rebel son. This is not good for Kuya Jun. Simon has always been a much better business executive that he is and Neil has inherited such. I bet that Papa will push for Neil to be the next CEO of the Monteverde Corporation. Neil is the eldest grandson and a way much better businessman than Third.

Then the patriarch and also the Chairman of the Board of Directors had spoken up, "I called upon this special meeting of the board of directors to announce that Simon had purchased back his 10 percent shares of the corporation and his son will represent him at the Board of Directors. Neil has already decided to stay here in the country for good and establish himself as an independent businessman. But Simon has asked him to represent his interest on the corporation and so let us all welcome a brilliant addition to the Board of Directors. Neil, I am looking forward hearing your ingenious business ideas that could help our family corporation to prosper even more. So Jun, I do expect that you give Neil the leeway in analyzing all the financial documents of the corporation as well as all the executive reports from all the departments, branches and subsidiaries of the corporation. I also want him to review all the project proposals and hear all of his insights regarding them before we execute then. We must make use of his business and financial expertise. Send all those documents at my office at the mansion. Neil will be analyzing all those documents there."

Uncle Jun then asked Neil, "Neil, since you are planning to establish yourself as an independent businessman, how will you be able to give this corporation your full attention?"

Neil had answered confidently, "I always give more than 100 percent dedication in everything I do, Uncle Jun. Dad's investment banking company is what it is today because I have been a very dedicated, diligent and rational investment banker. And I was able to do such while I am analyzing, investing and trading in the London Stock Exchange. Actually, I am still very much active in stock trading. I am even studying now the Filipinas Stock Exchange for my future investments. Monteverde Corporation is a privately owned company and is not publicly traded. So it does not have either a share structure through which it can raise capital. The shares of the company are also being held and traded without using an exchange. These are two different matters but I have more than enough knowledge, skills and experience on how I will gain lots of money. As for the Monteverde Corporation, I will closely protect my father's shares and so I will do my best to be of help in maintaining its goat in providing excellent service for maximum revenues . You just have to observe how I work, Uncle Jun. You are always free to keep an eye on me."

Uncle Jun was thinking - You are directly taunting me, Neil. You are even worse than your father. I will never ever surrender my control over this corporation. I will make sure that all my sisters will side on all my business decision than yours..

But he opted to say, "Then I will be glad to see how you work If you want, I can ask Third to be your executive assistant."

Lolo Sixto had butted in, "I already assigned Darius Rosas as his executive assistant. Third should just focus in his duties and responsibilities as the Managing Director of Monteverde Hotels. We are already in the last quarter, the revenues of the Monteverde Hotels must increase not only just because it is peak-season. The competition among the hotels here in Zaramala is very tough. We must always be on top of our game," and then instructed Neil, "Neil, prioritize assessing the hotels first. I want you to work together with Third and give your insights so he can perform his best."

Neil gladly complied, "I will do that, Lolo. Mr. Rosas and I will go to the Monteverde Hotel here in Mellin first thing in the morning. We will also visit the other hotels in the entire state tomorrow. But I will need a young company driver to be assigned to me. Mr. Rosas does not seem to know how to drive very well."

Lolo Sixto replied, "I will assign you one of my personal drivers. You can use the company vehicle that I am using. You will be able to do some paper works there while you are in transit. I will also assign another support staff to you."

Neil said, "Make it two, Lolo. And they should all better be as efficient as Mr. Rosas. I have no patience with slackers and incompetent staff members. Time is of the essence here so they should be able to keep up with how I work."

At the back of Simon's mind - That is my son, Kuya Jun. You will never ever win in any business argument with him. I cannot even tame him down. So how will you be able to handle him? He even knows how to defy Papa's wishes. The two of us need to join forces just so he will get involve with Monteverde Corporation. You cannot have your way all the time, Kuya. There should be someone to put a stop on your greed. As siblings, we should just be contented with equal shares. Don't ever think that just because you are the eldest that you deserve a larger piece of the pie. I might not be here to stay at the country, but my son will take care of Papa and Mama for me. You cannot take advantage of there old age for your own personal gain. I am not only his mentor back in London but all of his three maternal uncles who are all superb businessmen as well. My son is a true blue alpha male. He can negotiate and persuade others with class and respect. He sets firm boundaries in his life, stand up for himself, and prioritizes his own well-being yet he is still kind, compassionate and respectful to the needs of others.