MEANT FOR EACH OTHER

CHAPTER 6: Family Feud

July 4, 2016. Monday. Aboard Bry’s helicopter, Bry and Iya went to El Coco Company Building together. After the signing of the documents for the merger, Iya had announced the merger to all the employees on the ground floor’s lobby.

Her speech went like this – Good morning, everyone. You might all be worried about what will happen to ECC now that my father is already gone. He left the company to me and my Mom as well as the shares at ACI. My father knew that me and my mother’s passions were both for medicine. But he also knew that we would protect his legacy. And he told us in his personal letter to consider a merger with Angeles Ccoconut Industries if my Mom and I really can’t focus on managing it. Thus, we had already agreed on a merger with ACI. The documents were already signed this morning. We will not be selling the company and the farm. You will not lose your jobs. The merger means a better future for ACI and ECC under the capable hands of Mr. Bryan Angeles. I will still have a say in every management decision with the merged company. Rest assured that the best interest of the merged company and all of its employees would be our utmost concern. Thank you very much for your time. God bless us all.

All the employees gave her a round of applause. They all seemed to be happy about it, knowing that they would still maintain their job and ECC would not be sold because the daughter of the former CEO did not know anything about the coconut industry or it would not fall into the hands of the other family of the former CEO who was known to be connected to a crime lord. The merger was quite a reprieve to all of them. ECC would be in good hands as it has already merged with ACI, which is a much bigger company.

Iya and Bry went to their respective workplaces. Lacey was left at the company to prepare all the documents that Bry and Iya needed to discuss in the coming days.

July 6, 2016. Wednesday. Iya, along with Bry and their two lawyers, went to the City Court for the hearing of the petition filed by her half-siblings.

Eleazar Monreal II (more known as Zar) and Leanna Monreal were with Zar's wife and their mother when they arrived at the City Court. The petition of Iya’s half-siblings against their father’s last will and testament was dismissed. All the supporting documents, that Atty. Cortez and Atty. Malari had prepared and submitted to the court, were more than enough for the judge to dismiss the petition of the other family of former Governor Eleazar Monreal.

After the reading of the court's decision, Iya had come face-to-face with her father’s other family in the corridor.

Leanna spoke up irritably, “ACI shares, ECC and the farm would be better with us. You do not even know anything about business.”

Iya replied calmly, “They belong to me and my Mom. Dad left them to us. Just be glad we are not contesting Dad’s last will and testament because if we do, then your mother will not even be entitled to an inheritance.. You and your brother just received what the law provides. Let us all just respect what Dad wants.”

Leanna responded heatedly, “You and your Mom do not deserve them. Papa just married your mother because of their parents’ arrangement.”

Iya countered calmly, “As you said, Dad married my Mom. So we are his legal family, and not you, your brother, and your mother. Let us all just peacefully co-exist independently, even for Dad's sake.”

Leanna was about to say more but the media entities had already approached and Iya and her companions had walked away from them already.

Iya did not answer any questions from the media entities. She preferred that her father’s reputation would not be tarnished further by the issues regarding such a family feud.

Next, they went to the hospital. Bry left immediately after sending Iya off to attend to his work, leaving behind Gener and and incognito security team for Iya.

She first visited her mother.

After the pleasantries, her mother inquired, “The merger and the dismissal of the petition against your Dad’s last will and testament have already been reported on the news. How do you feel now?”

Iya answered, “I am fine, Mom. But I will feel much better if you are not in this hospital bed anymore. They had succeeded in hurting you. What would have happened if Manong Herman was not able to save both of you?”

Mommy Aurora assured her daughter, “I and Herman did n’t die, dear. In a few more weeks, we will recover completely. Everything would just be fine. Bry is helping us to keep you safe.”

Then she asked, “Why do they want us dead? They could not have the firm, the farm and the shares even if they succeeded in killing us.”

Her mother said, “Lavinia hated our very existence. Your father learned to love me in the course of our marriage. Then you came. Your father adores you very much. He had given us more time and attention when his relationship with Lavinia soured. They had seen us as their competition in everything involving your father. They might not get all the fortunes your father left us by killing us, but I think it will give them happiness knowing that we are not enjoying any of what your father had bestowed on us.”

Iya asked her mother, “Do you think Lavinia and her offspring are really the ones behind the attacks on us?”

Mommy Aurora answered, “It could just be Lavinia. Nevertheless, it would be better to avoid all of them. You are Eleazar’s favorite among his three offspring. Because despite all the luxuries he provided, you did not grow up to be condescending and materialistic. You remained a very sweet, thoughtful, generous, kind-hearted and down-to-earth lady.”

Iya gave back her gratitude, “You and Dad raised me very well. I would not be who I am if not for the two of you. Dad’s genuine love to serve the citizens of Nidiria and your genuine concern and care for all your patients have kept me grounded.”

On the other hand, in the residence of Lavinia Tecson, their dismissed case and the merger between ACI and ECC had been the topics of their conversation.

Lavinia told her son and daughter, “I already told you that this legal case will not work. But you still went on with it. The farm and the company were very important to your father. And he loved his legal family more than he loved us. He would rather entrust those properties to his legal family than to us, even if you both have business backgrounds. Just enrich what your father had bestowed upon us.”

Leanna reacted, “So we will just give up! They got more than what we had from Papa’s fortunes.”

Lavinia answered, “The court has already decided. We are not his legal family. I am not even entitled to have an inheritance. We got more than enough as mandated by the law.”

Zar’s wife, Vanessa, stated, “Zar is his eldest and only son. So, we will just let these things be. You will all just let them have the most important properties of the Monreals.”

Lavinia then asked her daughter-in-law, “And what do you think we should do next? The court favored them because they are Eleazar’s legal family. They also signed a prenuptial agreement. So even if Eleazar had helped out his wife at the hospital, that was not part of his assets. Do not speak as if you know more about the law than the court.”

Vanessa just stayed silent. Her mother-in-law had a point. She knew not much about the law regarding inheritances.

Leanna then divulged, “We can still get even with them. I have a plan to win over their most formidable ally. I am already making my move to Nidiria’s billionaire playboy. Should I succeed in having him as my husband, then I will have ways and means to make their connection to ACI go sour.”

Lavinia wished her daughter luck, “I do hope you succeed. But with the way I had seen that man when she was with Eleazar’s favorite daughter, he seemed very much enamored with her. There is no doubt on my part anymore why he has been so protective of her. I heard she has been staying at the Angeles Manor since the attack on their mansion. Just be sure to make him marry you if you ever succeed in winning him. Do not repeat my mistake I made by not demanding your father to marry me. I had allowed him to marry another woman. Thus making you and Zar his illegitimate offspring. I should have been more assertive about him taking responsibility when I got pregnant with Zar,. but I did not. He chose to marry Aurora not just because of their parents’ wish, but also because she was more worthy to be a politician’s wife. I was just a daughter to a farm laborer. I do not have enough education. Our family was not as rich as Aurora’s family. When he married Aurora, I even chose to go on with my relationship with your father against my parents' wishes, only to be discarded later on because your father had learned to love Aurora more than he loved us.”

Zar then stated, “They are all in the past now, Mama. We should just now prove that even if we are not Papa’s legal family, that we are worthy of being a Monreal. We should try to make a name for ourselves. Be successful on our chosen paths. Even if Papa is not here anymore, we should prove to him that we are far much better than his legal family.”

That afternoon, Leanna, along with Vanessa, visited ARC in Ivoire City in the hope that Bryan Angeles was there.

Vanessa asked, “Do you think this plan will work, Leanna?”

Leanna answered, “I really hope so, Ness. Although he had rejected me the previous night, I flirted with him at Club Zenith I will not stop until I get what I want.”

Vanessa then said, “He does not seem to be here.”

Leanna responded, “Yeah, but at least we can relax. I need to be back to Missi tonight. Perhaps I will just see him around there. He often stays there anyway. I am a member of ARC so I have lots of ways and means to encounter him.”

Vanessa voiced out her suspicion, “He stopped playing around ever since his grandfather died last April. He had not been seen dating any lady since then. Mama had noticed that he was so enamored with your half-sister. So, what if the two have already been dating in private?”

Leanna replied, “If your suspicion is true, then we should do everything to break them apart. She cannot have all the luck in this world. She already has the farm, the company, and ACI shares. She cannot also marry the ACI CEO.”

At that time, Bryan was in his office there in ARC – Ivoire City. He knew that Leanna and her sister-in-law were there. He also knew that they were trouble as soon as they walked into the premises of ARC, so he avoided encountering them.

Gener had already reported to him that Iya had been called to perform emergency surgery in Filipinas General Hospital. He had insisted that they board one of his helicopters for security purposes.

When Leanna and her sister-in-law left, Bry had already left his office and flew to ARC – Sourisse City. Iya would be assisting a cardio-thoracic surgeon with a very long and delicate procedure for a young boy. So she would finish late. He had already instructed Gener for them to go to ARC – Sourisse City and stay there for the night.

For the time being, he contacted Ken, his gay stylist, to instruct him to prepare an extensive wardrobe for Iya. He knew Iya would not have the time to shop because of her very busy schedule. Once they came out in public regarding their relationship, they would be expected to be seen together in attending important social gatherings. With Mommy Aurora’s current condition, she would not be able to prep Iya for the charity gala that coming weekend. But he also instructed Ken to consult Iya’s mother on Iya’s fashion preferences.

It was already very late when Iya arrived at the executive suite of ARC – Sourisse City with Gener and her security team in tow.

Every executive suite Bry had in every branch of ARC was composed of: a living room area; his personal office space; a dining area; and four bedrooms, each with an ensuite bathroom.

Iya was surprised to see Bry when she arrived. Bry was in the living room area watching late night news on TV.

Her exact words were, “You are here?!”

He responded, “Yeah, I had to check on some documents. I also want to personally check that you will be comfortable here.”

She sat down beside him on his right side and leaned back on the backrest of the sofa. “Anything else?” She could sense he wanted to say more.

He shared, “I am kind of avoiding your half-sister. I think she is following me around. She flirted with me a few days ago when I was with my friends at Club Zenith. She has also been visiting ARC here in Sourisse as well as in Ivoire frequently. She has not done it before though her membership started a few years ago.”

Iya’s reaction was so calm and collected, “She is pretty and sexy. I heard she is also quite the liberated type. Did you flirt back with her?”

He looked into her eyes and told her, “I did not flirt back with her. Ever since I set my eyes on you, there has been no other woman I dated or even played around with. I am really serious about you, Iya.”

Iya looked at the TV after his declaration and then said, “I really do not know what to say, Bry. Yes, I agreed on the merger, which means that we have to get married. But I am still confused about all the things that might involve that marriage. Yes, we agreed to announce being in a relationship by the end of this month. But I am not sure if I can perform well as a real girlfriend should.”

He reached for her left hand and said, “You do not need to feel pressured about this, Iya. Do not also overthink of this arrangement. Let us just enjoy each other’s company just like in the old times. We have been good friends even before I formally courted you. So just let me do the rest to win your trust when it comes to this marriage issue at hand."

But she still brought out some of her worries, "Do we have to be somehow intimate once we have already announced our relationship?"

He smiled, "Yeah, we have too. But I will just limit it to a kiss on your forehead or your hand until you become ready for more. We will also have to hold hands or walk arm in arm. People should not know about the marriage clause. We should play the part of a normal couple in front of everyone. Aside from our parents and grandparents, only Atty. Mallari and Atty. Cortez knew about the marriage clause."

And then she asked, "And once we are already married, do we have to share a bedroom?"

Bry was already anticipating that she would ask for those sorts of details. So his answer was, "You can ask your Mom what happened to her and your Dad when they were already married. You will be the one whom I will marry. So, you will also be the only one I will have my children with. Whether you want them through natural means or artificial means, then I will respect your decision. But since we will be married for the rest of our lives, I suggest that you have already come to terms, even with just having a s****l relationship with me, if you really cannot find it in your heart to love me. I am a man with physical needs and I only intend to do it with my wife once I am already married. We can set up the wedding early next year. That way you will still have enough time to get used to being near me. I will not make any s****l advances on you while we are still not yet married. We are both adults already, Iya."

Then she blurted out, "But you are my first boyfriend. I have never been intimate with any man before. I have always just focused on my studies so I can be a pediatric surgeon."

Then he tested the waters and asked her, "Do you want me to teach you everything about intimacy then?"

That question had prompted her to look at his face once again. Then he put his right arm around her back and drew her body much nearer to him. As he inched his face near her face, he saw her close her eyes, but she was not resisting and just allowing him to do whatever he was about to do.

She agreed, “Okay.”