Ana Karylle Madrigal was seated at the head of a long conference table holding a very important meeting with managers from different departments in her dad's company. As the newly designated Deputy General Manager of Operations and Project Management, she has been given a much bigger role and a lot of responsibility that will be crucial to Madrigal Corporation's future growth and success. She is under the direct supervision of her two uncles (her dad's siblings). Uncle Benito Madrigal who is VP for Operations and Uncle Jaime Madrigal as VP for Project Management. Her stepsister, June, was given a Managerial role in the Marketing and Sales Department while a few of her cousins were also given higher positions in the Legal Department and HR Department. Nonetheless, Karylle, at such a young age, is the only one holding a top tier position in the company. Everybody in the company is well aware that in due time she will inherit and lead the company as President or CEO once her dad, Manuel Madrigal, decides to step-down or retire.
The CEO, Manuel Madrigal and the company's board of directors had been so impressed with her contributions and work that she easily breezed through the ranks in the corporate hierarchy of Madrigal Corporation. Manuel, Kay's dad, beamed with pride at his daughter's achievements. He knew that he could count on her. He was also confident that Karylle will one day continue his legacy and continue his dream of spearheading a leading corporation in the real estate world. She will become one day, be a woman of power, hard to topple down or beat. An iron lady, so to speak.
The Madrigal group of companies' business ventures were initially into hotels and resorts in different parts of the Philippines. It became highly successful that its growth had reached far and wide and has now expanded into other parts of Asia. They have also tapped into building high rise condominiums and high- end housing units located in thriving urban cities in the Philippines.
Karylle, never thought that she had it in her. She loves the challenge and excitement that her job requires from her and she takes great pride in her work. "That business sense and acumen that people talk about probably runs in my blood, " she thought. Her dad, two uncles and a few relatives have been part and parcel of the growth and success of the company. She was glad that she had accepted her dad's challenge and offer that fateful day, seven years ago in his study. At that time, she did not know what to expect.
At the instigation of her mother, Isabelle, she only thought that meeting with her dad was only to sign legal documents to secure her inheritance and future as his only legal heir. Isabelle, Kay's mother, was afraid that Manuel's second marriage would put Kay's inheritance and position in the family at risk but instead it became the turning point in Kay's life.
She had always thought she will forever hold a spot in the entertainment world just like her mom as a theater actress. She was a rebel at that time and did not want any part of her dad's business. She never thought that in seven years' time, she would reach this stage in her life. She now has power, wealth and beauty. However she is also very much aware of what she lacks in her life. It is something that she chose to set aside and ignore. She refused to marry. Her parents and relatives had made several attempts to pair her with eligible young men but she always finds a way to get away from them. At other times, it's the men who finds her too intimidating and too perfect for them to pursue in marriage.
She will soon reach the ripe age of thirty-two but she is not at all bothered by it. She kept reassuring herself that she still has plenty of time to settle down and marry although her body clock is telling her otherwise. And of course, nowadays, there is always a number of options with the help of medical science to save the day...'egg freezing, artificial insemination, hormone therapy and the likes.' Marriage though is a totally different ballgame. She thought, she would only do so if she finds the person she loves. If only she could meet him again. Her thoughts brought her back to that island somewhere in Negros they call...Isla Amore. Perhaps, all this time "I might have just waited for him in vain. I was hoping he would come look for me. I know that he also felt the same way I did. I could tell from the way he looked at me and the way he kissed me. Where is he now ? "
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Seven years had passed since she left that small island in Negros and a lot has already happened in her life. The memories she had at Isla Amore bugged her all day today and continued on as she was getting ready for bed. She tried to distract herself by listening to music but it did not seem to work.
She got up from her bed and don a thin silk robe. She used a remote to part the blinds that covered the glass doors. She then manually opened the doors and stepped out into the veranda. The night was dark but the garden down below her deck was being illuminated by lamp posts and they seem to cast a light on some areas of the garden that were beautiful to watch even from a distance. She stared at it but was not really looking at it. Her mind was elsewhere. She was preoccupied. There was a chill in the night air and she shuddered and rubbed her arms instinctively.
A beep from her phone caught her attention and she went back inside her room to pick it up. An email from her personal secretary was just sent. It was the itinerary of her trip to Cebu tomorrow. I wonder why this was sent so late. She looked at it and sighed. Well, I guess, Anne was unable to book a much later flight for Cebu tomorrow or ...wait ...is it today? What time is it now anyways? She looked at her phone again and noticed it was already close to three in the morning. Daaang...I thought it was still midnight. I need to really rest and sleep. I have an early flight today. It's at eight in the morning. I still have to pack.
She's used to packing her own clothes and stuff whenever she travels. The maids are there only on standby to assist her or to carry some of the heavier bags for her. 'And anyway, helllooo, it's Cebu. My mom lives there. I can just drop by her house and say hello to her then quickly snatch a few clothes from my room there.'
She laughed at the thought that her mom would be so furious for not letting her know about her trip to Cebu this time. 'Well, sorry mom... this is purely a business trip. I will be busy meeting with some clients and potential partners in the business. But who knows, I might end up surprising you mom. So, watch out.'
And with that, she closed the glass door and blinds in her room, set the alarm on her phone and snuggled in her covers to sleep.
BINABASA MO ANG
ISLA AMORE || Vicerylle
FanfictionLove isn't something you find.. Love is something that finds you.
