Crazy Rich Bea (JiBea fanfic)

Prologue

17 years ago...

Makati, Philippines

10-year old Bea de Leon let out a sigh of relief as they finally reached the elevator area of a building.

She's been here a lot of times and she frowns at the security proceedings every time. There are exactly 3 security checks that you have to go through before reaching the elevators. Another security check will be conducted upon reaching your destination floor.

But she gets it. The building houses many international organizations and the protection of many prominent people is very important.

To be honest, you'd barely see Filipinos in this building. Instead, it's as if there's always a United Nations meeting happening. One time, she even sat with whom she later learned is the Prime Minister of Canada in the cafeteria. Yes, without any security guards.

It's that safe.

The building is not just a physical structure-- it's a system built on trust and respect for each other. It's what the building is selling. It's why many prominent personalities are eyeing to have a space inside it. Some of them are even renting a whole floor.

Today, her Mom is attending a quick meeting in the building. They will later fly to Hong Kong to have dinner with her aunt and two cousins— Andre and Kobe, so her Mom thinks that it's better to just fly from the helipad of the building instead of going to the airport.

Andre and Kobe are being rowdy with each other as always, so Bea let out a sigh of relief when the elevator door opened. But before any of them can step in, two bulky men wearing suits went to the elevator door to stop them from entering. Bea looked at her mom and her aunt, and realized that they were as clueless as her to what's happening.

Then, a sound of heels walking down the marble floor startled them all. They all looked at the direction of where the sound is coming from. Bea's jaw dropped. She knows this woman! This is the President's daughter! Bea could swear that this is one of the most beautiful woman she ever saw!

She once watched a documentary about the first family... but the charming character of the first daughter on-screen is far from the one she's currently seeing. The President's daughter has her chin hold high up, and she didn't even glanced at them as she made her way inside the elevator. The two guards followed her inside.

Rude.

Her mother shook her head disappointingly and started pushing the kids inside. When Kobe's about to enter, the elevator door started closing, so her aunt put her hands at the door to keep it open. They quickly entered.

The President's daughter whispered at the bodyguard.

"Uhmmm, Ma'am, I'm sorry, but can you please take the next lift instead?" of the guards explained. "Miss Mercado is not comfortable in using the elevator with other people."

"That's nonsense," her Mom replied, almost with a laugh.

Miss Mercado, who was way taller than her Mom, looked down. "Didn't you hear what my guards say?"

"I did. I just think it's pointless."

"Don't you know who I am?"

"I do."

"'Yun naman pala. So what are you still doing? Get out of this elevator."

Her mom lead the way outside and her Aunt is livid. "Why did you let that happen?"

Bea, too, was surprised that her mom just let it go. It is so not her mom. Her mom loves winning— in all aspects of her life. That's one of the truths she learned growing up. But she saw a smirk in her face, and Bea knew that her mom already won. She just doesn't know how right now.

They took the next elevator, which took another 10 minutes of waiting. The ride going up was silent. As they reached the door of her father's office, she saw two bodyguards of the President's daughter outside. Then she overhears the voices inside.

"I am very delighted to hear about your offer, but you see, it's not me who make the final decision," my dad said. "Oh, andito na pala sila oh."

The chair turned and Bea saw the smiling face of the President's Daughter, but quickly vanished when she saw us.

"Ms. Mercado, meet my wife, Det, and my sister-in-law, Lyxen Paras. Det and Lyxen's husband, are actually the owners of Paras World Building. Det, Lyxen, this is the President's daughter. She wants to rent a floor and she just give us a very generous offer," my dad continued, obviously clueless of the awkward glances going around. Kobe and Andre both have a grin in their faces.

My mother walks close to Ms. Mercado. "Get out of this building. Oh, wait. I meant, get out of our building."

Kobe and Andre gave each other high-fives.

Right.

They own this building. Well, technically, her Mom and Andre and Kobe's father inherited this building from their grandparents.

She is Isabel Beatriz de Leon, the only daughter of Det Paras de Leon— the richest woman in Asia and one of the richest in the world.