Things run smoothly for few weeks. Collet loaned Darryl the money and in exchanged, Darryl partnered with Collet in one of L Empire"s products. Collet was determined to learn and perform well so she had spent the last few weeks shadowing any of the Lagdameo siblings, learning something from them."President D," Dannah entered Darryl"s office with Collet and found Darryl tapping something on his laptop.
"What is it Dannah?" Darryl asked without lifting his head.
"We have good news," Dannah announced while Collet was standing relaxed parallel to her. "The researchers have already found the person we are looking for,"
Darryl immediately levelled his eyes to his sister. "You mean the one who was able to grow strawberries?"
"Yes, turned out the information was legit and they were lucky enough to have found the person," Dannah approached Darryl"s table and put a brown envelop at the tap, "These are the data they gathered from such person. They also saw the field of strawberries and said it was of good quality,"
"What are we waiting for? Throw an offer and bring the person here," Darryl instructed immediately. He was once doubtful about the information about the person who can grow strawberries like Xhemin and the news that Dannah brought was gave him relief. They were lucky by then, he thought.
"Consider it done," Dannah closed off the topic. "By the way Collet, you have something to give Darryl right?"
"Uhm yes," Collet nodded. Although Dannah had some reservations with it comes to Collet, she had seen her efforts and she considered a.s.sociating with her as part of her job, so things went easy between them. "This is the program for the memorial. Its CGC"s founder 26th death anniversary,"
Since Martin had not been well, Collet had to organize the memorial alone being the CGC heir. Although she didn"t particularly find the memorial significant, she didn"t want to be branded as an incompetent heiress so she pushed through the memorial, as it was annually scheduled.
"Dannah, fit in the memorial in my schedule," Darryl instructed Dannah. Being the new president of L Empire and Collet"s business partner, Darryl felt obliged to come as Aviona"s memorial was one of the business industry"s highlights each year.
****
When Collet came home that night, she was particularly tired. She hoped to get a hot bath to calm her tense and tired nerves so she called the maids on the Golden Villa while on her way home to prepare a hot bath for her. Immediately when she arrived, she undress and plunged herself in the water and lavished herself with the hot water, while some maids attend to her in the bathroom.
Three maids where there, one was was.h.i.+ng her hair, the other was cleaning her nails and the last was busy gently scrubbing her skin. Seeing how she cannot do a bath routine without her maids, it was a miracle how she survived running around in L Empire while shadowing the Lagdameo siblings. Truth was that, she hated the job, especially since she doesn"t have an a.s.sistant to tend her personal needs and most of the time, it looked like she was either Dannah or Dian"s a.s.sistant instead of being Darryl"s partner. She previously hoped that since it was Darryl whom she had partnered with, he will be the person she will be with most of the time, but then Darryl told her it would be better if she learn things from the low rank positions, like Dannah and Dian"s positions so she a.s.signed her under his sister"s care and instruction. Regardless, Collet felt like things were coming back how it was before—she was becoming a part of their family—Darryl"s family.
"To get Darryl"s approval, I can go through anything," Collet swore to herself on bath.
"Sweetie," It was her mother"s voice that pulled Collet"s thought back to reality. "Don"t forget to straighten your hair up, dye it again if you must. I already asked the maids to change your wardrobe,"
"Mother again?" Collet protested while on the tub. "I thought we have agreed that it was no longer necessary for me to act up like Aviona"s daughter again. Besides, father recognizes me still so there"s no point in pretending anymore,"
"Who says you are doing this for your father?" Salsa barked back as she dragged herself near her daughter"s tub.
"What do you mean?" Collet asked, a little confused.
"Lady Portia is attending the memorial," Salsa announced and Collet almost rose from the tub from what she had heard. "She missed Aviona"s 25th death anniversary last year because of her poor health and so she intended to attend this year,"
"Without hearing news about her for a long time, I totally forgotten about her. I almost thought she died already. Isn"t she too old to travel?" Collet was real surprised with the news. Lady Portia is Aviona"s great aunt, her only living close kin and the one who was holding the entire Leigh estates as of the moment.
"She is, but we should be thankful she"s coming, shouldn"t we?" Salsa eyed at her daughter cunningly. "You know that old lady had no other family but Martin and us, and all these years when she comes and visit, she was always kind,"
"Well she"s naturally kind," Collet agreed.
"That"s the point Collet," Salsa hinted. "Now can be our best chance. She"s already dying soon. Not that we are praying for her demises but that"s certain to happen any days from now. We must show to her that we truly cared for her and for whatever Aviona left so she would not hesitate to give Martin his share with Aviona"s wealth,"
"The Leigh estates," Collet"s eyes bulged out just thinking about how big and grand the Leigh estates was. It"s just far beyond any elites" dream, as being the Leigh heiress meant like you are one far grand than being a princess. The Leigh"s are practically rich abroad and their wealth stretched as far across the globe, having big business in almost all of the rich and highly industrialized countries.
When Aviona died, all that Madam Portia did was donate and make charitable organizations to help those in need and the poor, and even after 26 years had pa.s.sed, the Leigh money had never dried out once, it only doubled for the last 26 years.
"Also, wasn"t she particularly fond of you?" Salsa reminded Collet. Lady Portia used to visit the country every five years to attend CGC memorial and visit Aviona"s grave. When she did, she comes and visit the Golden Villa as it was until that day, remained in Aviona"s name. Martin was then afraid of having the property under his name, as he thought it might offend Lady Portia, and that was the last thing he could ask for.