MY BILLIONAIRE RESCUER

CHAPTER 6: Her Store

Lynette had continued receiving daily love poem and gift(s) from her secret admirer. Such had really make her smile every morning and be inspired all throughout the day.

Over the weekend, it wasn’t only her brothers who came to help out. Her sisters-in-law, Cindy and Rina also came with her nephew and niece. Her parents also came to help.

November 25, 2018. Sunday. After attending the morning mass, Lynette and her parents directly went to her business space. Her parents had already packed food and drinks on the cooler. They brought a portable butane gas stove so they didn’t have to go back to her apartment just to cook and eat. Her brothers, along with their respective wife and child also, arrived after a while.

Unexpectedly, Dylan also came.

Daddy Leonardo approached him. Lynette was definitely not at all happy of his ex-boyfriend’s arrival. She even went to the workshop area just to avoid him.

Daddy Leonardo asked his daughter’s ex-boyfriend, “What are you still doing here, Dylan? My daughter already broke up with you. Can’t you see? She didn’t even want to see you anymore.”

Dylan said, “I just want to talk to Lyn, Tito.”

Daddy Leonardo pointed out, “You’ll soon be married. Please stop bothering my daughter.”

Dylan explained, “I haven’t cheated on her, Tito. She's the only one I want to marry.”

Mommy Evangeline approached and then said, “We'll never ever let our daughter marry you. Your parents don't even like her. We know all the bad things your parents are saying about Lyn behind her back. But we stayed quiet because we thought she was happy with you. Your parents clearly had no respect for Lyn. We're not that pathetic! She had already ended it so just accept it. She's way much happier now without you.”

Kuya Leo also approached escorting him out of the door and saying silently, “Alyzza already informed me that you had physically hurt Lyn when she broke up with you. I got a video from the hidden security camera installed at her apartment unit to prove it. Lyn hadn’t said anything to us. I'll let that pass. But let this be your warning, if you don’t stop bothering Lyn then I’ll make sure that you’ll get the taste of being jailed for harassment. So please leave now while everyone is still being patient with you.”

Dylan decided to leave. Somehow, he felt threatened by the veracity of the words of Lynette’s brother. After all, he works as public prosecutor. Their father is also a lawyer. He must be cautious with his actions from then on. He had almost forgotten that Lynette was the baby in her family. They were all protective and supportive of her.

Over the lunch, Lynette’s mother brought out the topic regarding her secret admirer.

Mommy Evangeline asked as they were having boodle fight on top of the cashier counter top, “Sweetheart, since when did your secret admirer start sending those love poems and  gifts? I love those potted orchids and succulents he had sent you.”

Kuya Ed remarked, “You just had a breakup and now you already have a secret admirer!”

Lynette answered their mother, “Just last Monday, Mom. After you and Dad left, the delivery came.”

Daddy Leonardo asked, “Did the Chanel earrings and brooch also came from him?”

Kuya Leo exclaimed, “Chanel! He must be rich.”

Lynette replied to their father, “Yes, Dad.”

Ate Cindy, also a lawyer, had asked her, “Do you have any idea who he is, Lyn?”

She responded, “I got none. But he seems nice and he’s not at all a bother, so I’ll just let it be.”

Ate Rina, a real estate agent, advised her, “Stay cautious, nonetheless.”

She assured everyone, “I’m being very cautious. My focus now is continuously reaching for my dreams. And if ever that secret admirer reveals himself already, then I'll be very careful in dealing with him. I'm even planning to return those expensive Chanel jewelries.”

Their mother teased her, “Oh retain the Chanel jewelries, sweetheart. They're gifts, anyway,” then seriously stated, “I also feel that he gave such to you as good luck charms. Anyway, four-leaf clover symbolizes good omens for faith, hope, love, and luck. With those love poems, he has kept on encouraging you to reach for your dreams. He seems to be a very sweet and thoughtful guy.”

Ate Cindy teased her too, “Let’s just hope, he's handsome too.”

Ate Rina seconded, “Yeah. You should run and hide if he’s ugly.”

And they all just laughed when Ella suddenly said, “Saying ugly is too mean, Mommy.”

Ate Rina said, “Yes, baby. Please pardon Mommy’s words.”

They had already finished almost everything at the store within that weekend. Even the Cash Register Point of Sale Machine had already been installed. Lynette had saved all online store income just to be able to open up an actual store. Her income from teaching job as well as some modeling gigs, and private art and music tutorial lessons among young kids had really sufficed more than enough for her monthly rent, monthly bills, school fees, and daily living expenses.  The food supplies from her parents had also helped a lot. 

Lynette just needed to create more stocks for the opening.  So the following week, she had spent her afternoons creating more arts and crafts at her new workshop. Most of the equipment and tools she had used for the past few years which were in the workstation corner of her bedroom or in the living room were already transferred to her workshop at the store the past weekend. She needed to create more stocks for the opening on the coming Saturday. She focused more on creating Christmas arts and crafts. From the molds, she had already mass reproduced the hand-crafted and hand-painted polyresin figurines for her Christmas Nativity Scene set. She had also made the rustic wooden stable. Once in a while, she got some help with her sisters-in-law and Alyzza with the hand painting of the figurines.

Lynette was also able to hire a salesclerk/office assistant, who had also helped out. She had also posted an online ad on her website about hiring workshop assistants who have artistic backgrounds in painting, sculpture, pottery, and sewing. She also posted online about the grand opening of her store by December 1. A banner had also been installed outside her store for the announcement of her grand opening.

She still received her daily dosage of love poem and well-thought of gifts from her secret admirer. Thus, she had continuously been inspired to work on the preparations of her entry for the children’s storybook writing contest as well as the opening of her actual store for LT Atelier.

December 1, 2018. Saturday. At exactly 8 AM LT Atelier had finally opened after the blessing. The opening was attended by her family, friends, and work colleagues. 

That same morning, she already received a confirmation email from SPC that her story qualified for the final round, where only one winner will be chosen.

Lynette didn’t her usual love poem and gift that morning. Instead, a large flower arrangement, a cute potted Feng Shui money tree, and a gift box were delivered directly to her store that same morning. There was a short love letter that goes with them.

Miss Lyn,

I know you're already wondering who I am. I decided to just admire you from afar for the time being because I know you just came from a breakup. I also want you to have an undivided focus on reaching for your dreams.

Congratulations on the opening of LT Atelier. I wish that hope, faith, love and luck keep coming your way. I'm also looking forward to see your literary works get published. Please continue inspiring young children and the young at hearts. In time I'll introduce myself to you.

Stay safe always. Take care.

Your Secret Admirer.

For the second time, there was again a gift box containing a jewelry box. It was Cartier jewelry box that time.

Her entire family and two best friends all exclaimed, “Wow! Cartier! Open it!”

The box contained a Cartier 18K yellow gold diamond clover pendant necklace.

Cheryl, the other one of her three best friends who just came from her modeling stints abroad as a supermodel, voiced out, “Gosh! You’re smiling and blushing, Lyn.”

Mommy Evangeline asked, “Is that another love poem at the accompanying note, sweetheart.”

She answered, “No, it’s a love letter his time, Mom,” she even handed the note to her mother.

Alyzza remarked, “Your secret admirer is really spending much on you, Lyn. Chanel jewelries the first time, then Cartier jewelry this time!”

Cheryl was unaware, questioning, “Secret admirer! Chanel? Cartier? Why didn’t I know any of these?”

Ate Cindy expounded, “A day after Lyn broke up with…”

Alyzza supplied the words, “…my douchebag cousin.”

Ate Cindy continued, “A secret admirer had sent her a box of blush pink roses, a pair of Chanel four-leaf clover earrings, a Chanel four-leaf clover brooch, along with a love note and a love poem.”

Ate Rina added, “Since then she has been receiving daily love poem and gift or gifts. They're usually delivered at her apartment. But today they're delivered here.”

Cheryl assumed, “He seemed to know you very well.”

Lynette tried to change the topic by announcing everyone about the confirmation email from Sunshine Publishing Company, “So much for my secret admirer. I got another good news. I got a confirmation letter from SPC as a finalist.”

She handed her smartphone to her father, who was very happy, “Really, sweetheart?!”

Her Kuya Leo casually stated, “Guess, the four-leaf clover jewelries from your secret admirer are doing their magic!”

Her Kuya Ed had another idea, “I think, it is still her perseverance doing the magic!”         

At lunch time, Lynette’s family had all convened at her apartment for lunch and to rest. Lynette, Cheryl, and Alyzza were left at the store while Lyzette’s salesclerk took her lunch break.

The three of them were not that hungry yet because of the finger foods and drinks that had been served that morning. They would just go to her apartment when her salesclerk had returned. They talked

Cheryl asked, “Will you be ready to take on another relationship if this secret admirer of your finally reveals himself, Lyn?”

Alyzza eagerly waited for her answer.

Lynette answered, “I don’t know.”

Alyzza assumed, “I think your secret admirer is taking his time because he didn’t want to be a rebound.”

Lynette agreed, “Yeah, perhaps. He knew that I just came up from a breakup based from the letter.”

Cheryl pointed out, “He seems to know so much about you. Perhaps, we know this guy.”

Alyzza said, “Well, I think I had already seen his handwriting but I really can’t figure out when and where.”

Cheryl teased Alyssa, “Lyz, are you sure that you’re not setting up Lyn on another guy?”

Alyzza countered, “I've learned my lesson already, Cher! I won’t ever backup a guy on her. And correction, I didn’t set him up with Dylan. He just happened to get interested with Lyn when he met her again in one occasion at home.”

Cheryl then asked, “So, what's your jerk cousin up to, now?”

Alyzza imparted, “Well, Arnold and I are invited to the wedding anniversary celebration of Mikaela’s parents, tomorrow evening at their mansion. Dylan’s wedding engagement to Mikaela might already be formally announced there.”

She shared, “He came here last week. I didn’t talk to him. My family just requested him to leave.”

Alyzza asked, “Are you really over him already, Lyn?”

She confessed, “Honestly, I felt more relaxed now. I'm also much happier with my life. As for Dylan, we had some good times together but they're not enough for me to hold on. Letting him go was actually not that difficult.”

Cheryl added up a reason for her, “Probably because, he hadn’t been supportive of this store as well as your writing pursuits.”

Alyzza had seconded, “I agree,” and then sighed, “I hope Karen was also here to share this momentous day with you, with us.”

Cheryl then recalled, “Speaking of Karen, we met in NYC. She told me that she would be home for the Christmas Break with her husband and their son.” Karen Cabral-Molina is the fourth member of their group married to a corporate lawyer, Dennis Molina.

Alyzza asked, “How about Dennis’ job offer there?”

Cheryl answered, “They're still undecided whether to accept it or not so they’ll go here back first to celebrate the holidays with family and friends.”

Lynette asked, “How about Karen’s job there?”

Cheryl said, “She can work at their branch here just like before.”

Alyzza commented, “That’s exciting news! She had been so busy with her career and family life, we seldom communicate nowadays.”

Lynette then cheered up Alyzza, “Well, you’re a supermom! No matter how busy you are with your family and business, you're still able to find time for your friends. And I truly love you for that Lyz! I appreciate that you’re always there for me, for us.”

Alyzza was touched, “Oh, don’t make me cry, Lyn.”

Cheryl added, “Lyn is correct! You’re the gel that bind us all four. We had gone to different schools in college and we already have our own respective career but our friendship remained solid because of you. By the way, Karen had given some sort of sorry gift for the three of us because, she hadn’t been able to reach out lately. But I forgot to bring them. Let us just all meet at the coffee shop near my place tomorrow afternoon. I also got something for the two of you.”

After a while, Lynette’s salesclerk returned. She was also carrying a quite familiar rectangular rattan basket.

Her salesclerk said, “Ma’am, I saw your parents at a coffee and tea shop near your apartment building when I was already on my way back here. I volunteered to bring these lunch basket for the three of you.”

Lynette had thanked her salesclerk, and then she and her two best friends already went to the small kitchen at the back of the workshop area to eat. Her parents had packed brown rice, dinengdeng, pinakbet, rellenong bangus, sautéed tilapia fillets with garlic herb butter sauce, and mixture of fresh fruits. There were also three bottles of carbonated water, three cups of cold milk tea, and a two-liter jug of fresh pineapple juice.

Cheryl had unfolded a table while Alyzza unstack the chairs. Lynette got the tableware on the cupboards. The plates, bowls and mugs were all her own creation while the cutlery set was a prize she won from the teacher’s day celebration raffle at AMS. It contained twelve sets of stainless fork, knife, spoon, teaspoon, and chopsticks.

Cheryl said, “These are what I miss whenever I travelled abroad! We’re really spoiled with Ninong and Ninang when it comes to food.”

Alyzza agreed, “True! It seems like Ninong and Ninang are levelling up with their dishes. We have this posh tilapia fillets recipe.”

Lynette shared, “They have been experimenting with so many dishes lately. They loved watching cooking shows at Cosmos TV especially that of Meg Ricarte. Her restaurant here in Absedaire is always full. Her meal bowls food stall in the food court of the supermarket where I buy my groceries also has a long line of customers always.”

Alyzza stated, “Yeah, I also watch that show. All her guests are famous celebrities. Arnold usually books her restaurant for lunch meetings. I especially like the mango pie in her store and the brewed coffee in her café. They rarely use processed ingredients on their food. The products they sell at their store are all home-made. Then the bake products and other delicacies they sell are always made within the day. Her food establishments had received several accolades already.”

Cheryl imparted, “I had modelled for the jewelry brand of her sister-in-law. I met her personally because I had the pictorial in their beautiful nature-embraced private residence just beside the ancestral residence of the Ricartes. I specifically like her greenhouse garden with unique pendant lights. It also has a swing, a seating area, and an ideal-date table for two. I heard that her husband designed their entire residence just for her. She's very humble even if she is a multibillionaire herself. She's like you when it comes to fashion, Lyn. Simple, classic, elegant yet conservative. And she's very hands on as a Mom, like you, Lyz.”  

Alyzza said with conviction, “We should try her restaurant sometime. I’ll try to have a reservation when Karen is already here.”

Lynette agreed, “Yeah, please do that. I might as well pick up a thing or two with her recipes. I don’t have much time to watch her cooking show anymore. Perhaps, I could also add some recipes on my existing list just like Dad and Mom.”

Cheryl agreed, “Yeah, you should, Lyn. I miss your cooking too. And it will be nice if you learn new recipes for us to try whenever we hang around at your place.”

Alyzza then changed their topic, “Anyway, have you already hired workshop assistants, Lyn. Your Christmas Nativity Scene is selling so well. Good thing that I already reserved one yesterday when I helped you out. I already paid it before I went in here. She's already packing it.”

Lynette answered, “I already hired four. They would all report to work by Monday from 8 AM to 5 PM. I had also hired two more sales clerk who will also report on Monday. My online orders had also increased so I need more manpower. I cannot do everything alone anymore. But they would all be here tomorrow morning for the contract signing, orientation and advanced briefing. That way they would already know what to do by Monday. I cannot afford to miss my classes. I’m already preparing my kids for their presentation for the Christmas Program before the holiday break.”

Suddenly, they heard a commotion outside. It was Dylan demanding to see Lynette.

Alyzza came out to the store area to handle the situation.

Dylan said upon seeing her, “Oh good thing you’re here, Lyz. Where is Lyn? I need to see her.”

Alyzza was firm, “She didn’t want to see you anymore so just please go. Her family might return anytime soon. She also has a CCTV system here, Dylan. Didn’t Kuya Leo warn you already not to bother Lyn, anymore?”

Dylan begged, “Lyz, I beg you. Let me talk to her.”