The sun was about to rise. As we pass by the famous Eifel tower, I realized that somehow we're simillar to each other. Both sturdy as high that touches the sky. Resides to someone powerful that holds and protects its back. And there is something foolish about me that I haven't realized up until now.
"Xavier, If we or father owns 55% and mom owns 10% together with 65% both prefferred and common shares of our companies stakes then how much the others own if we hold half of it and it was divided to almost a million stake holders?" I looked at him and thanks to the documents that were handed to me a while ago that were still with me. I brought it out. As I flip through the pages trying to find the list of the share holders, I was in awe. Austin also looked at the folder.
"Well, here it says that there are exactly a 1,000,000 stake holders. 900.000 owns common stakes with 4,500,000,000 shares that values $14,472,000,000,000.00 and 100,000 for prefferred stakes with 500,000,000 shares that values $1,918,500,000,000.00. And the treasury shares which the company holds is 500,000,000 worth $1,768,500,000,000.00. All in all, the authorized shares are 5,500,000,000 and worth $18,159,000,000,000.00. Mr. Cruz told me. Among of the hundred stake holders, four holds the biggest stake holder that holds 55% prefferred and common which is your father. Mom which owns 10% prefferred and 10% common shares. 3% prefferred and 8% common shares from a man named Mr. Aldreen Ignacio. He was the person I met that dad made an arrange marriage for his daughter to me. He is also the founder, chairman and CEO of Asiatic Group. The company is diversified in port handling and trading related business worldwide." I catched my breath, paused and resumed reading and summarizing the contents for Austin to easily understand. "What is this? I haven’t read this." I was curious, "There was a person who owns 4% of the prefferred shares and 1% common shares who is addressed missing for 11 years. It says here that his either dead or missing and there was no relative to claim the shares."
"What the hell is that? Do you know where the shares went?" Austin said and looked very puzzled.
"I don't know also." I grabbed the phone and called Mr. Evangelista. I asked him and after a couple of minutes, Our question was answered. "He said that the person who was missing or dead was unidentified and only dad knows who it was. But he said that the shares unclaimed was at the government treasury department, monitored by the Founier group and was handled through a private lawyer by dad to find the person or the heir/s. He said that it will remain in there unless claimed by a legal relative." After that, half an hour of silence filled the vehicle.
As we came to our destination, Mark opened the door. We procceed to the studio where the shooting will take place. We arrived at the dressing room and we saw Sophia who is wearing a royal red evening gown that fits her body well. It made her more attractive that Austin and Lester began to drool when she came out of the fitting area. Lester on the other hand is wearing a navy blue colored coat. Khaky pants, eggshell colored long sleeves, brown tie and black leather shoes. As soon as Austin saw him, he began laughing. I guess it was in their nature to tease each other and sometimes I am involved.
We had not wasted any time because and hours now we should be on a jet on the way to the Philippines to arrive on time for the Christmas Gala. Austin and I were brought in the fitting room. The fitting room isn't what you expected to have in a department store or a clothing outlet which are relatively small but the fitting room was almost a mini dressing room which I couldn't understand. They gave me the clothes I will wear. As usual, Mark and Arlene along with out 8 body guards stood beside the fitting room door to 'ensure' our safety. I had put on the clothes and looked at the mirror. I was still the same except I was wearing a black coat and tie, trouser, leather shoes, except for the long sleeves which was the traditional white one, a brown military inspired trench coat and a black scarf hanging to my shoulders. When I went out, Sophia looked at me and clapped, "You look so handsome." I wasn't aware that I was blushing until only when I sat down the dressing table for the hair stylist and maku up artist to fix me. Both of the female stylist and artist were looking at me until when I looked at the mirror and our eyes met. They began to do their job when Austin went out wearing an all black coat and tie, trousers, leather shoe, military inspired trench coat. He procceeded to the dressing table beside me ignoring the same situation I was in a while ago.
