LenRisa AU.
Money is the reason we exist.
Being affluent gives one enough power to make the world revolve.
Falling in love with such wealthy person is alike to playing a game: Either you win the jackpot or be left with nothing at all. In a deal whe...
"Ana, isang iced caramel macchiato daw." Loren, my co-worker said. "Wait lang, ate."
What could possible go wrong now? I've been working in this cafe for over two years. I prefer the name Theresia, but everyone here calls me Ana.
Loren is a coworker of mine. We were the only baristas there. Grace, another barista, wasn't able to come today. We are working in parallel shifts. She does the mornings and I do the nights, but we meet in the afternoons.
"Here, ate. Made with love yan ha," I said as I handed her the order, to which she laughed. She remarked, "Daming mong nalalaman."
"Mas mabuti nang marami kesa sa wala," I mumbled once again. Loren said, "Sige na. Dami mo nang say. Next order, cold foam iced espresso." I had no choice but to follow. Konti na lang, matatapos na shift ko. I went on finishing my final order for today.
-----
When my shift was finally over. "Bye, ate! I'll see you tomorrow!" I said as I gathered my belongings to leave. "May booking tomorrow. Ni-rentahan at ipapasara daw itong cafe. Kailangan natin ng manpower bukas," she said.
I wasn't informed, but I wanted to know that we'd be opening earlier tomorrow. "Bakit? Sino daw guest?" I inquired.
"Sabi ni ma'am, yung may-ari ng MLG," Loren replied. "Ha? Eh 'di ba isa sa pinakamalaking kumpanya yun? Kaya naman nilang maghanap ng mas magarbong venue." I responded to what she said.
"Malay mo kasi gusto nila ng chill lang na meeting place." she said to me. "Sus, crush mo lang yung boss nila eh!" I teased her and I poked her shoulder. "Gaga! Hindi. Nagagandahan lang ako sa kanya." she defended herself.
I just know that Loren falls in love quickly so there's no doubts she does the same to the boss. We receive customers daily and sometimes she's dumbfounded by 10 of them.
"Atsaka, bilib lang ako dun. Isipin mo bilyonaryong babae. Dito sa atin, kadalasan lalaki lang ang ganun." Loren said. "O, ayan na! Ang dami mo nasasabi. Yieee!" I said, trying to irritate her.
Clearly, it's working.
"Bahala ka! Umalis ka na nga. Bye!" she laughed as she handed me a cup of coffee.
"O? Para saan 'to?" Nalilito kong tanong kung bakit may kape pang i-aabot ngayong uwian ko na nga.
"Para sayo yan. Dami nating customers today, deserve mo yan," she smiled.
"Sweet mo 'te! Thank you!" I said as I hugged her.
Loren filled in for my older sister here. I arrived in Manila knowing no one, so when I met her, she took me in as her younger sister. We have a solid bond.
-----
I headed home to my bedspace in QC. My phone rang with notification. It was a text from Grace.
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Right now, I'm not searching for a relationship.
The last time I tried, it failed. They want me to fall for the billionaire right now. What gives you the impression that a connection I have with a rich and famous person will succeed if my relationship with a regular person didn't?
Their lives, I've been told, are more convoluted. Most of them are purely motivated by financial gain.
As I arrived home, I did a few research about this woman they're telling me. According to the results, mayaman nga.
"Maria Leonor Gerona." I whispered her name as I scrolled through some articles about her.
"Asia's top-earning woman. Talaga ba?" I questioned in my head.
Now, I'm more curious about her. Paano nagiging ganun kayaman ang isang tao? Kriminal ba siya? Baka naman may dirty agendas kaya ganito kayaman?
I want to know about her.
"My God, Theresia! This isn't worth... your time!" I mumbled to myself so I closed my laptop and laid flat on my back. The ceiling was everything else I could see.
I came to realize that I got nothing to do so I called my younger sister who is currently residing in New York.
"Hi ate. Bakit ka napatawag?" she asked me when she picked up.
"Ah, wala naman. Kakatapos lang ng shift ko so wala na me gagawin." I said to her and she sighed. "Kumusta ka?" Pia asked. "Ito. Very bored. Bukas, may VIP daw sa cafe. Yung MLG owner daw." I shared to her and she screamed.
"HA?! ATE?! DID I HEAR THAT RIGHT?!" she exclaimed shouting at the phone's speaker.
"Aray ko naman! Mabibingi ako sayo. Oo! Ano bang meron dun? Ba't parang baliw na baliw kayo dun?" I asked her. Pati pala itong kapatid ko, may alam din dun.
Bakit ngayon ko lang 'to nalalaman? Do I live under a rock?
"Ate, she's a businesswoman. CEO siya ng MLG. Currently known as Asia's top-earning woman. Napapanuod ko siya sa reality shows here sa NY. Sikat na sikat kaya yan dito!"she told me as if she was catching her breath.
"Eh bakit hindi ko yan kilala?" I asked her in a serious tone. "Malay ko sayo, 'te. You're clearly missing out. Bukas din ata arrival niya dyan sa Pilipinas. Galing siyang abroad now." My younger sister said and I'm surprised that she's very much updated.
I do not understand how they find her attractive. I admit that she has the money and looks, pero is that how low their standards are?
