THE BILLIONAIRE'S REVENGE

CHAPTER 2: New Beginnings

November 11, 2013. Monday. As Daniel started working as the CEO of CRDF, Leila started making preparations for her new business.

In the morning, she had called up the lease manager of the vacant business space just across the commercial building where Perez Events Planning Company’s (PEPC) business space was located. She finalized the one-year lease contract with the lease manager paying all the required three-month initial rent. The business space had its own restroom, kitchen with top and bottom cabinets, a centralized air conditioning unit, telephone and internet line, CCTV system, light fixtures, and parking space. It had been newly-renovated by the leaser when the former lease terminated its contract to look for a bigger space for expansion. All the walls and divisions had been painted off-white. The wooden kitchen cabinets were painted off-white as well. Tiles on the kitchen and comfort room, toilet and sink were all pearl white.

Then she readied all the requirements needed to secure a business permit from the City Hall from morning until the afternoon.

Afterwards, she finalized the drawings for the design layout for every room in Daniel’s house and sent them to his email address. She also ordered her office furniture and electric appliances; set up her business website; posted an advertisement on the glass door of her office about her need for an office assistant; confirmed the deliveries for Daniel’s house; and shopped for the linens for Daniel’s house.

At around 6 PM, she met up with Raoul, a good friend and a contractor with all-around handyman's service, to discuss the work he and his employees would have to do for Daniel’s house.

After the meeting, she returned to her business space to arrange the pieces of office furniture that were already delivered – a glass office desk with a built-in steel cabinet, and a high back red office swivel chair; glass drawing/drafting table and a low back red rotating stool; glass computer desk; glass display shelf; round glass conference table; glass console table for the 40-inch LED TV; glass wall fountain; white sofa set with glass coffee table and red round throw pillows; L-shape office furniture with red office swivel chair for her personal assistant; and six red chairs (four for the conference table and two for her office desk. Likewise, she also arranged the delivered electronic appliances such as a 40-inch LED TV, a refrigerator, a coffee grinder, a coffee maker, and a microwave oven.

When everything was done at around 8:30 PM, her mobile phone rang. It was a call from Daniel.

She answered the call, “Yes, Daniel.”

Daniel replied, “I have already gone through the final drawings of the design layout for every room. I love them. So when will you start?”

She responded, “I will start with my team with all the wall paintings and preps tomorrow at 7 AM. You can drop by anytime you want.”

“Good!” he uttered, then asked, “So, where are you now?”

She shared with him, “I am in my new business space just across from the PEPC’s business space. I have already finalized the lease. My business permit will be released tomorrow.”

He was really happy for her, “Nice to hear that! What is the name of your business then?”

“Leila Adrielle Interior Designs or simply LAID,” she replied.

He suddenly asked, “Where did Adrielle come from?”

She informed him, “Leila Adrielle is my full first name. Adrielle is a fusion of my parents' names Adriana and Manuel.” Then she asked him, “How about your first day as CEO of CRDF?”

“Frustrating! I had a meeting with all the senior executives. They are too traditional with all their approaches. I am not sure if they will support me with all the modern changes I wanted for the firm,” he felt free to open up to her.

She replied, “I can understand your predicament. That is where Mia and I disagreed. She is more for modern designs and I am more for the fusion of modern and traditional designs. There should just be a perfect fusion of two contrasting ideas. I am sure you will find that right combination. I have seen some of your work in an international architecture magazine. They are just perfect! Great precision, creativity, and aesthetics have been applied to all of them.”

“Thank you for the compliments,” he expressed.

“Well, I have got to close my office now and go home. Bye,” she informed him.

“Bye,” he uttered.

When she arrived home at around 9 PM, the entire family was present in the living room in the main house.

She immediately asked, “What is the meeting all about?”

Aunt Angela replied, “I decided to retire by the end of the month. We are discussing who would take over the business.”

Kuya JR replied, “You have been the heart of the business, Lei. We all think that you are the best person to take over the reins of the family business.”

Her oldest cousin was right. She knew all the operations of the family business. Uncle Martin and Aunt Angela even enrolled her in short-term classes on flower arrangement, table setting, food service, bartending, and culinary arts to harness her skills. She was being groomed to take over the family business because her two cousins had no interest in it. As for their wives, they intended to have their own business venture once their children were all at school age already.

She told them in all honesty, “But I have just started my own interior design business. I leased the vacant business space just across PEPC’s business space for a year. My business permit will be released tomorrow. I already have my first client and I will start designing an entire house tomorrow. Can Ate Luisa and Ate Irish just work together in running it?”

Luisa, JR’s wife, had worked for the family business ever since she resigned from her nursing job after giving birth to their first child, Louie. She managed their employees on field operations. In her free time, she pursued an online teaching certification program for early childhood education. She wanted to have her own daycare center once their youngest, Martina, started nursery school in the next school year in August.

Irish, Angelo’s wife, worked on all the accounting and other paperwork for PEPC. She could also manage their employees on field operations if needed. After giving birth to their first child, Angelique, Irish had to resign from her job in a famous beauty salon. She was a skilled hair and makeup artist aside from having a business administration degree. She wished to open up her own beauty salon after she gave birth in January 2014. Angelique was already at nursery school age as well.

Ate Luisa replied, “We do not have that charm you possess. I’m only good at the actual management of the field operations and Irish is only good at the accounting and paperwork and assisting once in a while on the field operations.”

Leila assured the family, “Well, my business space is just across the business space of the family business. I can always assist the two of you. I will not stop being the management and creative consultant of the family business. I am being paid for every job I do in the family business anyway, whether it is managing field operations or designing decorations for our events.”

It was true. She was eighteen when she started doing odd jobs for the family business. She had done flower arrangement, table setting, food service, bartending, set decorating, and even cooking. And she was compensated for all the work she had done through the years, whether big or small. All her compensation was spent on the transformation of her B & B.

Aunt Angela then decided, “It is settled then. Luisa and Irish will take over the company together. Luisa will be in-charge of the operations. Irish will be in-charge of the office. Lei will remain the management and creative consultant. We have two regular events specialists and a lot of on-call employees.”

Kuya Angelo then stated, “Mama wants to spend her retirement at your beach house, Lei. Kuya and I are partial regarding it because the house is too big and we only have the weekends to visit her. By the way, when do you intend to open the B & B? It is almost done. You just need to secure a business permit. We can do the repainting of the outer walls.”

Leila replied, “Initially, I planned to open it this coming December 1, in time for Gurvan Christmas Festival, but I was fired at Futuriste. And I am now just starting my interior design business. I have this huge house to design starting tomorrow. I will be busy.”

Kuya JR remarked, “Open it as planned anyway. It had been sitting unused for a long time already. The earnings you will have from the B & B can help finance your new business. We are also almost done restoring your father's pickup truck.”

Aunt Angela volunteered, “I can oversee the management and operations. You just need to hire an all-around office assistant, an all-around cook, and an all-around errand man just as you planned beforehand, Lei. You can still continue your career here. Anyway, the management and operation systems are all in place. With your laptop, you can always monitor the operations of the B & B. I will just be your eyes and ears there. You also need to activate the website you prepared. Recipes for your menus have long been set up as well. Open it on December 1.”

Leila reminded her Aunt Angela, “Auntie, you are supposed to rest and not work again. I am not even agreeing yet that you can stay at the beach house upon your retirement.”

Her aunt reasoned out, “I need a calm and clean environment there. You visit the property regularly anyway.”

She responded, “I will only agree on one condition.”

Aunt Angela asked, “What is the condition?”

She answered, “You need a companion. Kuya JR, Kuya Angelo and I would have to screen and approve a competent companion for you.”

Her two cousins chorused, “Agreed!

Aunt Angela settled, “Okay, hire a companion for me. But you need to open the B & B on December 1.”

Leila replied, “Okay, I will go there for all the remaining Sundays of this month for last minute decorations. I will spend all the Monday mornings of this month securing the requirements for the business permit, and doing the hiring of the employees. I need to finish my first interior design project by the end of this month as well. Guess, I really got a lot on my plate this month.”

That evening, she called her other childhood best friend, Diwani. Diwani hailed from the indigenous tribe in the mountainous area of Gurvan, Arcella. Diwani’s tribe had world-class weavers. The clothes and tapestries the tribe wove using their hands using a traditional loom were for export. Diwani was her classmate from kindergarten until elementary. Diana, Diwani’s mother, was not from the tribe but a regular Gurvan citizen who was a close friend of her mother and her confirmation godmother, while Imanu, Diwani's father, was the tribe’s current leader. Diwani was a struggling fashion designer.

“Yes, Lei,” Diwani had replied.

“Yeah, good evening, Di. I know it is late but I have already decided to open the B & B by December 1. I need 3 more sets of those blankets, bed pillow cases, throw pillow cases, bathroom hand towels, and floor rugs I ordered before, the same colors but different designs. For the throw pillow cases in the grand lobby, I would also need 3 more sets with different color schemes and designs. Also, 3 more sets of table placemats and doilies of similar color schemes and designs to that of the throw pillows in the grand lobby. Finally, I want you to come up with the design of a unisex vest and apron for my employees.”

Diwani acknowledged all her requests, “Okay, I will send you the sketches of the patterns I will come up with. Good to know you are finally opening that B & B. Can I recommend some of our tribe members for work?”

She agreed with Diwani’s request, “Sure, I will send you the list of qualifications and requirements. Tell them to forward their curriculum vitae to you, then you can send them to me. I will conduct interviews on Monday mornings starting next Monday.”

“I will,” Diwani uttered.

That evening, when Daniel went home to Cardenas Mansion, everyone was asleep already.

He was not sleepy yet, so he browsed the internet regarding Leila Adrielle Interiors Designs. He was surprised to see a website for it already. It seemed that Leila really dreamed of having her own interior design firm. The motto of LAID – We laid designs you dreamed. Her profile included – her personal information, work experiences, and educational background.

Among the services offered were: home interior design; office interior design; restaurant interior design; landscape design; and customized decorating (Halloween, Christmas, Wedding, Birthdays, Anniversaries, etc.)

He saw the newly uploaded photos of an office design of white and red contrast with furniture pieces of glass, aluminum or stainless steel, and leather. Every part was so sleek and clean.

It had its relaxing charm with all those decorative pieces which seemed to be custom made or hand made. What captured his attention the most were the decorative pieces made of bloody red clear glasses inside the four-layer glass display shelf; the three different colorless clear glass containers with sands, small plants, white stones, and selection of shells beautifully laid on white and red patterned hand woven round, doily on top of the glass rectangular coffee table with a red S-shaped metal stand; the colorless clear small glass fish bowl aquarium with red stones and real mini fortune plant stems with leaves and red ribbons perfectly laid on another patterned white and red patterned hand woven square doily on top of the glass round conference table; the miniature orchid terrarium inside a glass lamp-shaped jar laid on a smaller white and red patterned hand woven square doily on top of her office desk; another different miniature orchid terrarium inside a glass cylinder laid on a smaller white and red patterned hand woven round doily on top of the refrigerator; the three hanging indoor plants in three different sized glass containers by one corner of the comfort room; and different photographs in frames as wall decors.

He also loved her window display area with the LED TV having a background of wall fountain with welcome plants on dark clay pots and dark clay jars fountain at each side.

The plants gave the traditional homely feel of the office. The modern glass and metal furniture pieces gave the modern feel of the office.

Afterwards, he saw different parts of a home which seemed to be parts of her renovated B & B in Gurvan, Arcella. He loved that place for its eclectic design, which according to Leila was built by her father. He could still recall the time she had toured him around it. She was so proud of her father’s creations.

The changes that Leila had made were very noticeable. All the mahogany woods (bed frames, tables, chairs, sideboards, side tables, chest drawers, door jambs, door frames, window frames, ceiling cornices, and wall baseboards) were stained with dark mahogany varnish. And all the floors were already tiled with natural wood-effect ceramic tiles. There were no wooden ceiling cornices and wooden wall baseboards before.

Each bedroom had a different monochromatic color theme. Light hues of colors for the walls and dark shades of colors for the curtains and glass vases. The linens (blankets and pillows) were made of hand-woven cloth with cream and dark shades of colors. The color themes were: pale red & bloody red; light coral & dark maroon; powder blue & navy blue; sky blue & royal blue; pastel green & dark green; light salmon & rustic orange; lilac & deep purple; light grey & jet black; and light daffodil & egg yellow. There were four bedrooms with one queen-sized bed and five bedrooms with two twin-sized beds. Each bedroom had a different modern small crystal chandelier on the cream painted ceiling and a different modern glass table lamp on the wooden bedside table. All the bathroom fixtures were of pearl white color and the fittings of silver finishing. There were also different miniature orchid terrariums on the center table of every seating area in each bedroom. Different small plants in different glass containers with sand, small white stones and shells topped every bathroom sink countertop of each bedroom. The walls were decorated with 18 in x 24 in framed random beautiful photos.

He also loved the modern kitchen appliances with silver grey finishing and cream marble-top island counter contrasted with its dark mahogany stain wooden cabinets and wooden stools with low back. There was no marble top on the island counter before.

He was also astonished by the overall feel of the dining room. The 12-seat wooden oval dining table, which already had a glass pad, was complimented by the wooden chairs already upholstered with cream leather seats. The wooden sideboard was still there adorned with three red glass vases of different sizes and shapes laid on a cream hand woven square doily, and the wall behind it had a framed 24 in x 36 in photo of the beach.

Leila had spruced up the dining room with a modern glass chandelier. Dark brown clay pots of different sizes planted with indoor plants adorned one corner of the dining room by the French doors leading to the back patio. On its other side was a dark brown clay jar fountain. On the opposite side of the doorway leading to the main lobby, the two corners were adorned by hanging plants on round glass containers of different sizes.

He was also amazed by the comfy mahogany wood framed cream leather sofa seats in the living room area with different colored round and square throw pillows. The pillow cases of bloody red, and dark green colors were all made of solid color hand-woven cloth. The square glass coffee table with mahogany wood frame was adorned with miniature orchid terrarium and plants on glass containers, which were all perfectly laid in bloody red and dark green patterned hand woven round doily. Square glass side tables with mahogany wood frames were also adorned with cream marble vases. The grand lobby furniture pieces were not her father’s creations. They were new additions.

And the front office was exquisite in bloody red and white. It had a glass top. The entire view was enlivened by the green plants and a framed 24 in x 36 in photo of the façade of the B & B.

The vacant front lawn of the B & B was already beautifully landscaped with a wrought iron gazebo, pergola and garden seats complimented by a grey stone wall fountain, dark brown clay pots planted with green plants and hanging transparent clear glass containers planted with hanging plants. The ground was covered with Bermuda grass and grey stone steps.

The former plain rooftop surrounded with square recessed panel posts with wrought iron railings was already covered with wrought iron pergolas slightly tapered with a clear fiberglass roof. There were lots of dark brown clay potted plants as well. The top of the posts were already with outdoor wrought iron lamps.

Seeing her design ideas on her official website as well as the final drawings for his house made him admire her creativity even more. He fully admired the depth of her knowledge, not only in interior design but also in architecture. He fully understood her concept of the perfect fusion of modern and traditional ideas. He realized that he could also apply such a concept to managing CRDF.

November 12, 2013. Tuesday. Aware that Leila would start working on his house that day, Daniel personally dropped by at a flower shop and ordered a bouquet of white tulips and violet hyacinths for Leila and asked the flower shop to have it delivered to his home address. He composed a handwritten note –

Leila,

I know I have already apologized for my behavior more than three years ago. I would like to apologize again for my rude behavior last Sunday. You are too kind and it is quite frustrating seeing you let others just abuse that kindness.

Anyway, have fun working in my house!

Wishing you all the luck,

JDC

Leila knew that white tulips and violet hyacinths were apology flowers, but the white tulips were usually given to loved ones. She could still recall the way Daniel had looked into her that night with so much passion and concern in his eyes. She did not want to invite any further thoughts about it. She sent him a message – Thank you for the flowers. You apology is accepted.

That had made Daniel smile the entire morning. Daniel also encountered Mia and other interior design firm bosses at the meeting for their newest luxury housing project. Each of the three interior design firms had presented their pitch for an interior design concept for every part of the five model houses.

The design concepts were all beautiful but it lacked the comforting feel of a home that Leila was able to bring out in all her designs, whether it was just an office or an actual home. There were more interior design firms to present their design concepts in the following weeks. He had to approve only one company towards the end of the year.

Mia had wished to talk to him privately after all the presentations. He agreed on it. They were left by the rest of the people in the conference room.

He asked her civilly as soon as his personal secretary/assistant, Sandro, left, “What do you want to talk about?”

“I would like to personally apologize for running away from our wedding more than three years ago. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me,” Mia seemed sincere with her apology.

With the same civility, he responded, “I have already forgiven you, Mia. I had already moved forward a long time ago.”

Then Mia asked him about Leila, “Are you really dating, Leila?”

He told her the truth, “Last Sunday was a work date, although I really find her very interesting. As I said, I hired her to do the interior design of my new house."

She asked, “Why did you not hire Futuriste? We have a lot of interior designers there.”

He then felt that Mia had an ulterior motive in apologizing. He said, “Well, she was the first interior designer I encountered as soon as I returned. I like her design ideas for my new house. She knows how to incorporate my preferences.”

She commented, “So you like her traditional ideas.”

He retorted, “I like the way she plays with the modern and traditional vibes. We are on the same page about those things. But most importantly, I like the way she listens to what the client wants. She has been very patient with my meticulous way of choosing every detail for my new house. Last Sunday, she even accompanied me to all the shops she knew all around Missi so I could find those pieces that will satisfy my preferences.”

Then Mia asked his personal opinion on the design concept presented by her firm, “So what do you think of Futuriste’s pitch?”

His answer was, “Our creative team will make their recommendations as soon as all the pitches have been presented. The top three choices would be presented to the board as well as our prospective foreign business partners who would come this December. The creative team will consider all the comments and suggestions of the board as well as our prospective foreign business partners before recommending just one firm to me.”

She then told him, “CRDF and Futuriste had a good working relationship on several projects in the past. I hope we can also work together despite our past.”

He knew she was hinting at him about choosing Futuriste, so he said, “We always exercise fairness here at CRDF, Mia. My creative team and I will still see all the presentations from the different firms before we make a decision. So, do you have anything else to say? I am off to my lunch appointment.”

Mia stood up feeling disappointed, “I got none. Thanks for your time.” She then left.

He phoned Esteban, a multi-skilled driver/bodyguard in his 30s that he had newly-hired, to ready his SUV. He wanted to visit his house and see the developments Leila had made.

He arrived just as Leila and her three-man team were unpacking their lunch boxes by the island counter of the kitchen. The flowers he had ordered for her were on a high glass tumbler of water in the middle of the island counter. They had already finished all the wall paintings upstairs. Leila introduced Daniel to Raoul and his team.

Leila had packed so much food which she shared with her team. She had plain rice, beef broccoli, pumpkin soup, fish fillet, fresh vegetable sticks (carrot, cucumber, and turnip), fresh small wedges of fruits (pineapples, watermelon and kiwi), and jars of water and freshly squeezed orange juice. They had all invited Daniel and his diver/bodyguard to eat with them. They were all surprised when Daniel removed his jacket and ate with them. Esteban followed his boss. Leila provided them with the extra plates, cutleries and drinking glasses she brought. They all sat down on the foldable chairs brought by Raoul.

He tasted the beef and broccoli first. “This tastes great. Who cooked it?”

Leila replied, “I did. Being in the family’s catering business since I was eleven, I learned how to cook from my aunt. I usually bring a lot of food for my team whenever I am doing a project.”

Raoul agreed, “That is true, sir. Miss Leila is a very thoughtful and generous boss. She has been like that ever since she hired my small company for her first solo interior design project.”

“I see,” Daniel acknowledged, then said, “By the way, I have already emailed you the videos, photos and files of the model houses for our newest luxury housing project. All the details are there. Can you come up with a pitch by December 16? I will schedule your presentation by then along with the last batch of interior design firms presenting their pitch.”

She replied, “I think Futuriste has a pitch for that project.”

He retorted, “So what if they have? I browsed LAID’s website last night. I like the changes and interior designs you made for your B & B in Gurvan. I think you should open it up already.”

She replied, “I will open it up by December 1, in time for Gurvan Christmas Festival. I just need to secure the business permit, hire employees, and do some last-minute decorating.”

He reminded her, “Also, do not forget a pitch for CRDF’s newest project. LAID could make its mark on the interior design world with this if your pitch is chosen.”

“I won’t forget about it, Daniel. Thanks for all the opportunities you’ve been giving me,” she expressed her gratitude.

He expressed in a lighter note, “Well, you have the talents and skills. Anyway, a meal like this will always be enough as a reward.”

Leila and her team left the house at past four in the afternoon. Leila went to her office to interview the applicants for the office assistant position. There were five applicants who sent their resumes to her email address. She phoned all of them the previous afternoon and scheduled the interview for 4:30 PM onwards.

She was done by 7:00 PM with all the interviews. She gave her verdict after all the interviews.

She hired one with a lot of skills and a friendly aura. Her name was Karen Anglo, a single mother who had three-year experience as an all-around office assistant before she fell pregnant. Karen had a bachelor’s degree in computer applications and office management. She also needed the job the most to support her three-month old daughter. They talked about her salary and tasks for LAID and also for Leila Adrielle B & B or LABB until 8 PM. Karen’s office hours would be 8AM – 12NN /1 – 5 PM from Mondays – Saturdays. Karen would receive a little more than the government prescribed basic monthly salary, and basic benefits and bonuses.