MEANT FOR EACH OTHER

CHAPTER 1: The Last Will and Testament

April 1, 2016. Friday. Bryan Lyle Angeles, fondly called as Bry, was already up in the air aboard his private helicopter going to Missi when he received a message that his grandfather, Don Bernardo Angeles, had died from a stroke. So he asked his pilot to go back to Angeles Manor in Ivoire City, Nidiria.

Bry was the only heir of Don Bernardo Angeles. His parents died in a car accident when he was just three years old. so his grandparents were the ones who raised him. Don Bernardo Angeles was the richest man in the State of Nidiria. His grandfather owned 50 % shares of Angeles Coconut Industries (ACI) and several coconut farms in the entire state. The family’s main business was exporting copra, refined coconut oil, and virgin coconut oil. Don Bernardo had prepared him to inherit everything. He was oriented towards all the operations at the farms and the company at a very young age.

Bry also took up the five-year business administration and accountancy program in the College of Business Administration in UF - Vienburg and graduated as Magna c*m Laude. He also played for the basketball varsity for the five consecutive years he spent in UF – Vienburg. He also finished his MBA and DBA programs at UF – Vienburg while already supervising all of his grandfather’s properties and businesses. His grandmother died just a year ago. Since then, his grandfather’s health had gone poor. The last stroke that eventually took his life was already his fourth.

April 3, 2016. Sunday. Immediately after the interment, his grandfather’s lawyer, Atty. Carlos Mallari, read the last will and testament before him.

As expected, Don Bernardo Angeles had left all his fortunes to Bry. But in order for everything to be fully in his name, he must marry the daughter of his godfather, Nidiria Governor Eleazar Monreal, within a year. Failure to do so would mean that the 50 % shares of his grandfather in Angeles Coconut Industries (ACI) would be sold for public bidding.

Bry did not expect his grandfather to include a marriage clause in his last will and testament. But he knew why his grandfather did that. Don Bernardo wanted him to stop his philandering activities and settle down.

His grandfather knew of his personal fortunes. Bry inherited large parcels of land from his maternal grandparents. He also inherited a lot of money when his parents died.

Besides the local media chronicling his dating life with all those socialites, celebrities, and showbiz personalities, Bry had already made a name for himself in the world of sports and business. During his collegiate basketball career, he was a soccer heath throb playing as a striker. He was so famous among young ladies back then. He never entered a professional soccer league because he already had to focus on ACI. He also placed in the Top 10 in the certified public accountants’ licensure examination. Some of the organizations he actively participated in as an officer or as a member were Nidiria Business Club, Missi Business Club, Vascoz Business Club, Davou Business Club, Ilid Business Club, Altagarsi Business Club, and Filipinas Elite Billionaires’ Club (FEBC).

With all the parcels of land and money, Bry developed the vacant parcels of land into sports and recreational facilities with accommodation facilities and function halls. Angeles Recreational Club (ARC) offers VIP services to members but it is also opened to non-members for a much higher free. It already has seven locations – Sourisse City, Missi; Palu Island, Ilid; Ivoire City, Nidiria; Nogut City, Davou; Narvonn, Vaszoz; Roshi, Vasil; and Gofu City, Altagarsi.

Each ARC in its seven locations in the country had a clubhouse with a front office, accommodation facilities, shopping boutiques, and restaurants. Sports and recreational facilities include an Olympic-size swimming pool, a bowling alley, a golf course, an airsoft arena, a camping site, indoor basketball court, a soccer field, indoor triple tennis courts, zip lines, a go kart race circuit, a motocross race circuit, an ATV course, a spa and sauna area, and fitness gym. Every sports and recreational facility has locker and shower rooms, a restaurant, and a medical clinic. Aside from his numerous memberships in several elite business clubs and FEBC, he had also been featured in Filipinas Business Magazine and several business magazines around the world because of ARC.

Bry also had several personal investments in multinational corporations around the world. He was already a multi-billionaire even without his grandfather’s fortune.

His grandfather included such a marriage clause so that he would not have any other choice but to get married. Bry had been deputy CEO of ACI for five years already. His grandfather owned 50 % shares while his father owned 25 % shares and his godfather owned 25 % shares. ACI is important to him, his father, and his godfather. Allowing strangers to own minor shares or more so, half of the company was just unacceptable for him and his grandfather knew it. Bry would not have control over the company if his grandfather’s shares were sold.

Bry then asked Atty. Mallari, “Does Ninong know of the marriage clause, Attorney?”

Atty. Mallari replied, “Yes. Marriage would also mean a possible merger between ACI and El Coco Company.”

Bry inquired further, “And my godsister actually agreed with this?”

Atty. Mallari answered, “She still has no idea. Your grandfather and godfather wanted it to appear that the two of you would get married the old-fashioned way. You have to court your godsister, get engaged, and get married within a year.”

Bry asked, “And what if she disagrees with this?”

Atty. Mallari assured him, “Your godfather would make sure his daughter would agree. Dr. Airia Elisse Monreal had no interest in managing El Coco Company and your godfather could only entrust El Coco Company to trustworthy hands. So marrying his beloved daughter off to you is his best option. Anyway, such a merger had long been planned in the past. Once the marriage is final, the merger of the two companies would also be final. The new division of shares among the stocks would be 60 % shares for your grandfather and father, 40 % shares for your godfather.”

In his mind – Lolo, I have not even seen Iya for years in person and here you are insisting on my marriage to her. She has been very occupied in pursuing her dream of being a pediatric surgeon. I did not even get to see those annual calendars and live Christmas greetings from Ninong, where she has always been included along with Ninang because I am not here most of the time. What were you thinking about including a marriage clause in your last will and testament? You even involved Iya in it. What if she disagreed then? She is just like a younger sister to me. She even calls me Kuya because I am two years older than her. Yes, I know that you want me to settle down, but I can do that on my own terms. You are aware that I value ACI so much. And so you used such to make me stay here in the state even more and you even included the marriage clause just to be sure that I have no way out. You even made sure that I cannot buy out your shares at ACI with my own fortune. Why did you choose Iya for me, Lolo? Yeah, she is kind, but she is also stubborn. Even Ninong and Ninang cannot stop her when she sets her mind on something. So how sure are you that she will agree to this arranged marriage? I even heard that she is rejecting all of her suitors. Yeah, this merger will secure ACI and El Coco Company, but you did not even consider our feelings. I want to be married for love. But then I have not found the right lady yet. All of those ladies I dated are just after my fortune.

That late afternoon, Bry had visited his godfather at Monreal Mansion. They talked privately at the home office of Governor Eleazar Monreal.

His godfather started, “You probably know already about the marriage clause in your grandfather’s last will and testament.”

Bry acknowledged it, “Yes, Ninong. And I really wonder why you agreed with that. Iya and I deserved to marry for love and not some kind of arranged marriage.”

Governor Monreal agreed, “That is very true! But you and Iya had not seen each other for ages since she left the state for her medical studies. I am sure you will definitely be drawn to my daughter once you lay your eyes on her again. She just qualified as a full-pledged pediatric surgeon. She would be coming home for good towards the end of the month. She would have a private practice at the hospital owned by my wife and her family along with her on-call voluntary service to all the provincial hospitals under Filipinas General Hospital all over the country. Expect an invite for her homecoming party. You should start courting her then afterwards. So I suggest you stop dating random socialites, celebrities, showbiz personalities or models from now on.”

He asked his godfather again, “Are you sure about this, Ninong?”

His godfather answered, “I am very sure, Bry. Your father and I had really thought of such an idea when he and your Mom were still alive. Our parents also liked the idea of joining the two families in marriage. Iya had no interest in managing El Coco Company while you had known the coconut business for a very long time. The two companies that would eventually be one upon your marriage should always stay within the family. You know that. That is why I agree with your grandfather’s request regarding such a marriage clause. It is about time you got serious about life, Bry. You will be thirty by May. Your parents will not be happy if you just continue in your philandering ways.”

Bry reasoned out, “I am aware of such, Ninong. I am just playing the field because I have not still found the one. I think you are being unfair to Iya by agreeing with this marriage clause.”

“Well, I just want the best for my daughter, Bry. I cannot just allow her to marry some random guy. But with you, I know that the future of ACI and El Coco Farm will be safe and I also believe that you will be able to take good care of my daughter.”

Airia Elisse Monreal, very fondly known as Iya to her family, relatives and friends, was the only daughter of Governor Eleazar Monreal and Dr. Aurora Navarro-Monreal. Iya was two years younger than Bry. She had been accelerated several times in elementary and high school. She finished the seven-year INTARMED medical program at the age of twenty-one. Immediately thereafter, she had her four-year general surgical residency at Filipinas General Hospital followed by a two-year pediatric surgical residency at the same medical institution.

April 30, 2016. Saturday. Bry attended Iya's homecoming party. True to his godfather’s words, he was drawn to Iya’s beauty. Gone were her thick eyeglasses and dental braces back when they were still young. He and Iya had been school mates from pre-school to high school. She had become much prettier. His grandfather chose a very suitable lady for him.

Iya was not just intellectual and beautiful, she was also very kindhearted. Ever since she returned to the state the previous week, she had already gone to several remote places in the state to perform medical missions for poor people, and feeding programs for undernourished children. She had also performed pro bono medical surgery on three poor children.

That night, Bry took the opportunity to have a dance with Iya.

They talked while dancing.

Iya immediately asked him, “It had been a while since you have been seen on a date at all your public appearances. Has my playboy godbrother finally stopped playing around?”

He answered casually, “Well, Lolo had never approved of my philandering ways anyway. It was his dying wish for me to become more serious about my personal life and eventually settle down. So, yes. I had stopped playing around and already started looking for a very suitable lady to marry.”

Iya had casually asked, “So, how was the search?”

Bry casually replied, “I think I have finally found the one to court seriously tonight.”

Iya, not knowing Bry was hinting at her to be that one, asked, “Who?”

Bry mouthed a short, “You.”

Iya was shocked, “Me?! You must be kidding. Is this another of your pranks, Bry? I had enough of those when we were kids. So drop this and be serious.”

He looked into her beautiful thick-lashed bluish grey eyes and said, “This is not a prank, Iya. I am serious."

With such, Iya had walked out on him from the dance floor. Such an incident was noticed by everyone, most especially Governor Eleazar Monreal.

Bry approached his godfather.

His godfather immediately asked him, “What happened?”

He answered, “She had asked me why I had not been seen on a date in my previous public appearances and if I had finally stopped playing around. I told her that it was Lolo’s dying wish for me to put a stop to my philandering ways and to start searching for a suitable lady to marry. She asked how my search was. I told her I had finally found the one to court seriously. She asked who the lady was. I said it was her. She thought it was just one of my usual pranks. When I said I was serious, she just walked out on me.”

His godfather challenged him, “So will you surrender now? You should use your charm to win my daughter’s heart, Bry. I am counting on you as well as your folks up there.”

Bry had responded, “After seeing her again tonight, I am fully convinced you and Lolo made the right call about joining our families in marriage. I will try my best to win her, but what if I fail to do so? Iya knows how I played around.”

His godfather assured him, “When such happens, I have got your back, Bry. Whether she likes it or not, the two of you will be married within a year as planned.”

Bry had inquired, “How, Ninong?”

The governor said, “Just try to win her in your own way. If you still fail, I have a backup plan.”

By's thoughts were – Iya is really very attractive. How did I not even notice that before? But her stubbornness just came out again, walking out on me like that. Winning her heart will not be easy. She is not like the other ladies that I dated before. She knows about my philandering ways and it seems that this past of mine is catching up on me. She is the one. I can feel it. I have never been drawn to other ladies like this before. Even if she walked out on me, it only makes me want her more. Why is it like that?! Never would I think that I would actually be attracted to her. She was not even this pretty and sexy before. But I have always liked her kindheartedness and her sassiness. Such a weird combination, but such traits have always defined her as a person. She is never afraid to speak her mind, but not in a rude or disrespectful kind of way. She is confident, energetic and spirited. And she does not give a damn if I am rich or not. She has lived a privileged life and yet she remained grounded like her mother.

On the other hand, Iya was thinking – Are you really being serious, Bry? Why me?! You are a pathological playboy! Why should I believe you? You threw so many pranks at me in the past. There is no doubt that you are handsome, intelligent and rich. But who will want such qualities if a man cannot be faithful to me? I want a marriage like that of my Dad and my Mom. They respect and love each other so much. Dad supports Mom's career and Mom is a very good wife to Dad. They are the best parents. Dad will definitely not approve of you for me because you are a playboy. None of my suitors passed his scrutiny. But that is just fine with me because I have really never liked any of those suitors of mine. They just see me as eye candy. None of them truly understands my passion to help as many children as possible through my medical career. But then why does Bry seem so sure of himself when he tells me that he is serious about me? I don't think he is lying. Is he really attracted to me? Is the most notorious bachelor playboy in the country getting serious now about settling down? This is quite unbelievable coming from him. His dating life has been chronicled in the tabloids and broadsheets. Yes, he is very well known as a successful businessman. But he is even more well known as a playboy who dates different ladies every other week or month, and sometimes even a different lady every day. Is he really capable of being serious with just one lady? I highly doubt it. But why am I so affected by his revelation? Oh gosh! Do I actually like the idea of him wanting me? No! This is not good! I cannot fall for his charm. This cannot be happening!