1 CHAPTER 1 - HER

Do you wonder why we are in this world? Do you question God? The society we live in?

These questions stock in my head....over and over again............especially when I'm alone and contemplating about life itself and our existence.

Ohhhh well.......I think I just have to stop, for now, you know.....questioning the Universe.

By the way, I'm Althea Castro Guevarra, a 21 years old woman with too many responsibilities in life....... that’s what I think thou.

Here I am again, on this rooftop…….thinking of my past, my present, and future, I don’t know why I do this all the time but........I’m always ending up doing it.

Well anyhow......first and for most I'm a lesbian, a lipstick lesbian. A very proud one, of course, my family accepted me for who I am.....and for that, I am so grateful to have them.

I have a brother......his, name is Anton Guevarra, his 30 years old and happily married. He had one child......my niece whom I love so much, my sweet little angel Veronica. Veronica Chantel Guevarra is 3 years old.

My brother is the one helping my dad in our businesses right now.

About my parents......well my parents are a well-known power couple, not just here in the Philippines but also abroad. Mr. Felix Guevarra and Andrea Guevarra.

They understand, support, and accepted the choices I made in my life, that's why I love my family so dearly.

But nobody knows I'm a Guevarra, and I want to keep it that way, It doesn't mean I hate my family name......... it's just that, I don't want people to expect something from me.

I want to stand on my own and build my name. I want people to recognize me for who I am and what I'm capable of........not because of the family name I’m attached with.

I'm an architect, an entrepreneur, a doctor, a pilot, and an artist. You may ask how I achieve these professions?

Well.........let’s just say I'm quite smart......I don't want to brag, but sometimes people who knew' me are trying to categorize the capability I poses.....it's very difficult to avoid such misconception, but I have to handle it with grace.

I have an IQ of 350 and I'm fascinated by things that people do or can't do, so pushing myself to the limits is what I crave.

With my favorite coffee in my right hand and my favorite book in my left hand, seating here feeling the breeze of fresh air is heaven to me.

"Ms. Althea I’m sorry for interrupting you again but the meeting is going to start in 5 minutes." Joanne my secretary interrupted me from my reverie.

I forgot to mention that I'm working at the Tanchinco Group of Companies, I know what you think, ‘why not work in our own company’?

As I have narrated earlier, I want to be known as Althea Galura, not Althea Guevarra.

By the way, I am using my mom's mom maiden name, my grandmother........just to be safe.

"It’s okay Joanne, I’m sorry that you have to come up all the way here, knowing you’re afraid of heights, thank you, Joanne." Apologetically uttered the

young Guevarra to her secretary.

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As they were heading to the conference room, the staff personnel and the people they pass are mesmerized by the beauty of Althea.

She just smiles and nods to them, let’s just say she’s a goddess personified.

They couldn't take their eyes off her....she's been working at TGC for six months but the people surrounding her still captivated by her beauty........not to mention she’s beautiful inside and out.

As Althea open the door to the Conference Room, the room became quiet.

The room that was chaos before....... now became solemn. 'The Goddess is here' they thought.

"Hi, everyone, are everybody here?" Althea on her professional tone.

"Not yet Ms. Galura, still waiting for Ms. Tanchinco". One of the board members answers her.

This is the first time Althea and the heiress of the TGC will probably meet.

It's supposed to be Althea's day off today, but since Mr. Tanchinco is out of the country......the tycoon asks her a favor to attend this meeting. Concerning the multi-billion project, they have in Japan, which encounter a big problem.

The Architect, who handled the project, was not committing to his responsibilities, and these cause delays.

And Althea is known to be meticulous in all of her work, sharp and keen......a woman with her word put the responsibility to her by Mr. Tanchinco.

He knows she would solve these big circumstances they encountering right now.

Althea wants to decline the mighty Tanchinco but since he was begging her and she hates when the man does that to her.

Mr. Tanchinco never begs, he never shows his true emotions to anyone, even to Althea......until now.

This situation is taking a big toll on his health, it will make the entire Tanchinco legacy drag to the pit if this will not be resolve as soon as possible and they are out of time.

The Japanese are nearing to pull out them on this project, they were already given an ultimatum and if they will not finish this project on a dated turnover, which is three months from now, they will be in great sue.

MR. Tanchinco was the first person who accepted her and giving her the big break of her life and Althea will always be grateful to the man whom she considers as the second father to her.

Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard a woman's authoritative voice. Althea is seating at the far side of the conference table, she's just here to observe and listen.

"Morning ladies and gentlemen I couldn't say today is a good morning, so how's the situation in Japan!? How come it just came to us right now!? Does anyone monitoring the projects there!?" Jade, the Tanchinco heiress....the one and only daughter of Mr. Oscar Tanchinco and Mrs. Clara Tanchinco booming with anger, as soon as she steps inside the room.

"Mr. Lim, you are supposed to be our lookout there and report the daily progress on the project, as I have learned it was doing smoothly, how come it came to this point!?."

"Ms. Tanchinco, Architect Dominguez who was handling the project there came to a gambling problem, and his design of the interiors was disapproved by the Japanese client, they said it's inconvenient, unethical, very expensive and the worst part was the design is so an original". Mr. Lim a tall dark man in his late 50s, reasoned and bowing his head.

"And you just report this yesterday!?". Jade with greeted teeth, her hand is in a fist, slamming the table.

"My father trusted you, all of you"!!!, pointing to Mr. Lim then to the people in the conference room, but when she is about to talk again, her eyes caught a beauty that she never thought existed

Jade encounters numerous.....different beautiful women and handsome men but nobody, no one can compare to this beauty in front of her, no one caught her attention in just a second like now.

You could say that Jade is a beauty to die for, every man and women worship her existence, her beauty can launch a thousand ships as they compare her wholeness to Helen of Troy.

To be continued.................