MY BILLIONAIRE RESCUER

CHAPTER 5: Secret Admirer

November 19, 2018.Monday. It was early in the morning when a delivery man knocked by Lynette’s apartment door to deliver a box of blush pink roses. Her parents had just left and she was already about to leave for her work.

The box of roses came with an envelope. There was something written on the card. It seemed like a love poem, a Tanka to be specific. The note says –

Miss Lyn,

Your divine beauty,

Your free-spiritedness

Your passionate heart

They have made me realize

You’re the one my heart desires

Your Secret Admirer.

The delivery also came with a small gift box. As she opened it a Chanel box containing a pair of four-clover leaf earrings and four-clover leaf brooch gave her quite a shock. The box came with a note saying –

Miss Lyn,

May the four-clover leaf gives you hope, faith, love, and luck. I wish you all the best in your undertakings.

Your Secret Admirer

Such gestures from her secret admirer surprised her big time. The roses and the jewelry definitely weren’t from Dylan. He had never given her roses more so love poem or jewelry. Dylan just usually brings her chocolates and food.

She decided to wear the four-leaf clover earring as well as the four-leaf clover brooch. Then she walked towards the school with a happy mood. Teaching young children had always been therapeutic whenever she was having a bad time. Seeing the smiles of the children gives her strength.

With her 7 AM to 12 NN teaching schedule every weekday, she had been assigned to teach a group of kindergarten level pupils (four-year old children) from 7 AM to 9:30 AM and another group of nursery level pupils (three-year old children) from 9:30 AM to 12 NN. Her teaching sessions had always given her a sense of self-fulfillment and happiness but she still wanted to reach her ultimate dream.

After her last class, she had already returned to her apartment unit. When she saw Dylan by her door, she quickly and soundlessly headed back to the elevator, went down and hailed a cab. She almost forgot about her vehicle.

On her way to the auto service center, she contacted the front office personnel of the apartment complex. She instructed them to include Dylan Tiu on her blacklisted visitors. That was the only way she knew to put an end on Dylan’s madness. Also, she had already blocked Dylan’s number on her smartphone the previous night.

When she returned to the apartment complex aboard her vehicle, she looked around if Dylan’s car was still at the parking area. It wasn’t anymore and so she had gone out feeling much relieved.

As soon as she got inside her apartment unit, she turned on her mini air fryer to preheat it while she peeled a potato and cut them into wedges. Afterwards, she put on the pre-wrapped fish lumpia and the potato wedges on the food basket and then wait for them to cook while preparing cucumber, mango and tomato salsa.

When her lunch was all set, she had started eating while browsing her tablet for new orders on her online store.

After lunch, she changed into more casual clothes, packed the new orders, and delivered them to the nearest courier service center. When she returned home, she started to start with her plans for her storybook. Afterwards, she made more crafts for her online store.

When it was dinner time already, she air-fried some homemade chicken sausage while stir-frying some vegetables composed of broccoli florets, young corn, snow peas, carrots, mushrooms, and red bell pepper.  

After dinner, she turned on the TV for some evening news while making more crafts for her online store. The news still haven’t finished when Alyzza video-called her. She lowered the volume of the TV and answered it.

“Yes, Lyz,” she said.

Alyzza immediately ranted, “The twins told me that you got bruises on your arms. How did you get hurt? You better tell me or else I’ll call your parents. Did Dylan hurt you?”

Lynette couldn’t do anything but to confide, “He came here yesterday afternoon. I broke up with him but he didn’t take it lightly. He went so mad. He pinned me to the wall holding my arms so tightly that they got bruised. I tried to cover them with concealer. I didn’t know that the twins noticed them.”

Alyzza asked thoughtfully, “Are you sure you’re okay. What did Ninong Leon and Ninang Eva say?”

Lynette confessed, “I had hidden my bruises from them. I was already dressed with a long sleeve to cover them when they arrived. Then I wore my long sleeves pajama top afterwards.”

Alyzza inquired further, “Is Dylan still bothering you?”

She responded, “I already blocked his number on my smartphone. I also blocked him on my i********: account and other messaging and videocalling apps. He was by my door when I came home after my classes but I was able to avoid him. I already notified the front desk to include him on my blacklisted visitors.”

Alyzza declared, “I’ll talk to him. I’ll make sure he won’t bother you anymore or else I’ll tell uncle about it.”

She said, “Let’s just hope it will work. I really don’t want to see him anymore. I’m in the process of preparing my literary work for a children storybook writing contest. I don’t need any destruction.”

Alyzza reminded her, “Always bring your pepper spray and stun gun with you. Even if he’s my cousin, I wouldn’t mind if you use them on him. He's really a big disappointment! How could he hurt you?!”

She assured her best friend, “I’ll be fine. The bruises might be gone soon.”

Alyzza voiced out, “You should have reported it to the police. He might be my cousin but I don’t condone violence against women.”

She tried to pacify Alyzza, “I just want him out of my life. Don’t want to make the issue blows out of proportion.  With your threat and with his incoming wedding engagement, I think he will be careful with his next actions. Nonetheless, thanks for your concern. Visit me sometime for lunch. Dad and Mom had brought some of your favorites from the farm.”

Alyzza has her own travel and tours business. She could just spare her lunch break in meeting her friends when she didn’t have to accompany her husband in some official functions that involved lunch.

Alyzza responded, “Yes, I will. I’ll just message you in advance any day I’m free this week. I already miss the Spanish style bangus of Ninong and the homemade chicken sausage of Ninang.”

Lynette imparted, “They also brought vinegar and garlic marinated boneless bangus and atchara.”

Alyzza expressed, “Yeah, I love them too. In as much as I miss Cher and Karen, I got no contender for those foods while they’re still abroad.”   

Lynette voiced out, “Yeah, I miss them too. Cher might be back early December.”

Alyzza then imparted, “As for Karen, I think Dennis got an offer in NYC. They might extend their stay but nothing is definite yet. They would have to return also by December if Dennis decided to decline the job offer.”

After her video call with Alyzza, Lynette already prepared for sleep. She took a quick shower and then dressed up with a tank top and pajama pants.

As she was already lying on her 48 inch x 75 inch bed, she thought of her secret admirer.

She had tried to reprimand herself again – You've just been sent with roses and love poem, then you just easily wear the Chanel earrings he gifted you. You didn’t even know the guy! So what if he gifted you with Chanel earrings and brooch? What if he is as crazy as Dylan? Do not be too trusting…

Then she had just fallen asleep.

On the other hand, her secret admirer recalled that she had an online store. So, he tried to search for LT Atelier online. He had seen it and so he clicked the link that led to her webpage. There was an  hiring ad for a salesclerk/office assistant. Then he browsed the products she was selling categorized as: sewn products; pottery products; hand painted decors; children’s costumes; and toys.

Under the sewn products, she got – hand puppets, Santa hats, elf hats, Christmas stockings decorations, and hand-painted throw pillow cases.

Under the pottery products which were all handmade ceramic pottery and hand-painted, she got – teacup and teacups sets, mugs, bowls, plates, cookie jars, flower vases, and plant pots.

Under her hand-painted decors, she got – wooden hand-painted 3D wall art in various sizes, hand-painted wooden coasters, hand-painted wood slice Christmas ornaments, hand-painted wooden fruit bowl, hand-painted wood slice wall décor, hand-painted ceramic sculptures, and hand-painted wooden sculptures.

Under the children’s costumes, she got – fruit costumes, vegetable costumes, animal costumes, fairy costumes and pirate costumes,                

Under the toys, she got – wooden tangram puzzles, chunky wooden knob puzzles (animals, letters, numbers, and shapes), wooden jigsaw puzzles (cute and colorful animals, cute and colorful vehicles, cure and colorful vegetables, and cute and colorful fruits), wooden doll house, wooden play kitchen and mini wooden playground set.

It seemed to him that Lynette’s artistic talents were too many, she could write value-laden children’s story, sing, play the piano, compose music, paint, do pottery, sculpt, design costume and toys, and many more.

But why is she hiring a sales clerk/office assistant? Does she have plans to establish a physical store for LT Atelier soon? Has she considered joining the children’s storybook writing contest?

November 20, 2018. Tuesday. In the morning, Lynette received another love poem from her secret admirer along with different pots of succulents. The love poem which was specifically a haiku reads –

Miss Lyn,

Your artistic skills

Amazing and outstanding

Keep on creating

Your Secret Admirer 

After her classes, she had finalized the lease for her business space. She also formalized the business registration of LT Atelier as a sole-proprietorship business enterprise; secured a business permit for her physical store; andregistered her trademark with her logo and tagline/slogan – creating boundlessly.   

In the past, her parents suggested her to take short-term courses on entrepreneurships if she would have an actual physical store for LT Atelier. She did follow their advice and so she had taken online courses at Summit Business School for business planning, basic marketing strategies, basic accounting, and online selling.

November 21, 2018. Wednesday. In the morning, Lynette received another love poem from her secret admirer along with a miniature terrarium in a glass fish bowl. She liked it very much. She also started to realize that her secret admirer seemed to know that she loves plants. His thoughtful messages across his poem also warms her heart.

The haiku love poem states –

Miss Lyn,

Never stop dreaming

Continue persevering

Keep on believing

Your Secret Admirer

After her classes, she went to her leased business space and do some wall painting. She also painted a mural on one of the cashier counter wall. The mural more realistic depiction of the logo of LT Atelier – a flower garden with its centerpiece as the white daisy flowers with a few lady bugs on it. Above the mural she would fancifully arranged the large personalized wooden engraved letter blocks clearly showing the letters of LT Atelier and then below the wooden letter blocks  are smaller connected fancy script wooden letters showing the tagline/slogan. She would install and arrange the letters and the shelves (made from repurposed wooden crates) by weekend with the help of her two older brothers.  The wooden crates had already been delivered that afternoon on her business space.

She also arranged the workshop and storage area at the back part of her business space. She would just transfer her tools and equipment by the weekend.   

November 22, 2018. Thursday. In the morning, she received a love poem again from her secret admirer. It came with a potted orchid – White Phalaenopsis.

Miss Lyn,

White orchid conveys

Your beauty and elegance

Stay sweet as you are

Your Secret Admirer

After her classes, she immediately went home to cook. Alyzza would come over for lunch.

As Alyzza entered her apartment unit, she immediately noticed the white orchid plant which she put at the center of her dining table.

Her best friend asked, “It’s so pretty, Lyn. Where did you buy this?”

She divulged, “It's a gift given to me by my secret admirer.”

Alyzza exclaimed, “You have a secret admirer?! Since when? Why haven’t you told me?”

She answered, “He started sending me love poems and well-thought-of gifts last Monday. He has been sending them regularly since then.”

Alyzza was so happy for her, “Wow! That’s amazing. May I see the love poems?”

She responded, “Yes. They're all inside the craft box at my vanity table. Go in and have a look.”

When Alyzza came back, she asked her, “When did you buy those Chanel earrings and Chanel brooch? Don’t tell me that they were given as well by your secret admirer?”

She confirmed it, “They're from him.”

“OMG!” Alyzza shouted and then said, “He must be very rich, Lyn! And the poems, they’re so endearing! And I also saw the rose petals. He sent you roses, right?”

She affirmed, “Yes. The jewelry and the roses came last Monday.”

Alyzza asked, “So what’s your plan?”

She just said, “I think I’ll just enjoy it. He hasn’t revealed himself yet anyway. His messages are inspiring me more to reach for my dreams. As for the jewelry, I might just return them if it turns out that I’m not attracted to him once he reveals himself. But I'll keep the poems and the plants that he has sent.”

Alyzza expressed, “I do have a feeling that we know him personally. He seems to know much about you.”

Lynette agreed, “I have also thought of such. But for now I’ll just enjoy it while I focus on reaching for my dreams.”

Alyzza said, “I’ll support you on that.”

Lynette already served the dishes and so they started eating already.

Alyzza asked, “How's the preparation for your store?”

Lynette answered, “I’ll go there after lunch. I’m still not done with the mural. The signage will be delivered and installed this afternoon.”

Alyzza volunteered, “I'll go with you. I’m free this afternoon. I'll help out. Just bring food.”

Lynette expected it, “Nice!. I already steamed some chicken siomai for us. I also baked some chocolate chip cookies last night and I also prepared fresh fruit salad. I'll just drizzle it with honey later on.”

Alyzza recalled, “We all took cooking and baking classes when we were young but it seems that you’re the only one who has developed some cooking skills.”

Lynette said, “Well I’m living alone. I cannot just buy cooked food or dine out every time. Plus I have fresh produce from our farm so I really had to put those lessons into actions. I can cook but not at par with those professionals. I also only cook the dishes that I personally like. It just happened that you like them too.”

Alyzza shared, “Well, I’m so pampered by my husband. I don’t get to cook at home.”

Lynette commented, “You married young and immediately had the twins. Good thing they are now schooling. You already have ‘me time’ again.”

Alyzza agreed, “True! I was also able to establish my business.”

Lynette asked, “Do you and Arnold still have plans for more kids?”

Alyzza said, “The twins would just be enough. We already agreed not to have more kids. What about you? Will you already consider settling down once your literary work get published?”

Lynette’s answer, “I'll settle down with the right man even if I’m not a published author yet. Look at you. Arnold supports your endeavors. Dylan wasn’t like that to me.”

Alyzza admitted, “Yeah. But I only realized such lately. Have you even loved him truly?”

Lynette’s reply was, “I’m really not sure, if I really did or I just got carried away because of his persistence. But I had been faithful to him all throughout our relationship. And I really tried my best to be a supportive and caring girlfriend to him.”

Alyzza countered, “But he hadn’t been a supportive boyfriend to you. I guess, I’m partly to be blamed. You trusted him because you know he is my cousin. I also thought that he couldn’t go wrong.”

Lynette assured her, “Well, it’s over now. No more bruises too. I’m much happier. I'll open up my store soon then I get to have a chance to join a writing contest without minding a skeptic boyfriend.”

From his work at Absedaire Medical Center going home that night, Dylan saw the lighted signage of LT Atelier. He realized – So she really has an actual store. How could I not know of this?

He recalled then what Alyzza told her during their confrontation last Tuesday. His cousin actually slapped him on the face upon seeing him that day.

“That’s for physically hurting Lyn. How could you, Dylan?! You’ll soon be getting married yet you still don’t want to let go of her even if she had already broken up with you,” Alyzza had ranted.

He responded irritatingly, “Did she tell you that I hurt her?”

Alyzza was so disappointed to the point of hitting his cousin’s head with her bag, “No! My twins just saw the bruises on her arms that she had been trying to hide with concealer. I supported you in your pursuit of her and then you would do this! Are you really a doctor or a gangster?”

He had reasoned out, “You should understand that I never ever wanted that arranged marriage. I want Lyn to be my wife.”

Alyssa countered, “So you just asked her to elope! And that’s it?! It will already solve your problem. You didn’t even support her in her dreams. Do you even know that she would actually be opening a physical store for LT Atelier? Have you even supported her in her journey to be a published author?”

He wasn’t able to answer. Coz every time Lynette says something about it, he would just say – Why not just focus on one job, honey? You’re a good teacher, so have it as a fulltime career instead. A store won’t give you a steady income. As for being a published author, you have tried and have been rejected so many times. So just stop trying.

On the other hand, Lynette’s secret admirer also saw the lighted signage of LT Atelier on his way home.