SANTA MONICA'S BACHELOR SERIES 1: MISTAKEN

AUTHOR'S NOTE: This chapter has been revised for clarity and improved flow. CHAPTER ONE ELISE POV “Good morning, everyone!” I greeted the crowd, a sea of faces representing city and municipal mayors, and agriculturists from both the north and south. My heart pounded a little, a mix of nerves and excitement. These weren't just attendees; they were the key decision-makers, the farmers who would ultimately embrace or reject our company's groundbreaking new product. “My name is Elise Dominguez, and I'm one of our company's agricultural experts,” I said, extending a warm smile. “Today, I'm not just here to tell you about a new type of rice. I'm here to introduce you to a revolution in Filipino agriculture. Let me introduce you to Señorita HermosaF1, named after our company’s CEO, the amazing Dra. Bernadette Hermosa.” I paused and looked towards where our CEO was sitting. “Thank you, ma’am, for giving me the trust and opportunity to speak on your behalf and the team as well.” I said. And she mouthed to me, “Don’t fail us.” I nodded and continued speaking. “This variety of rice has long grains, smooth grains, not too soft, but fragrant and flavorful. It’s the kind of rice that will make your meals taste even better, and your families happier.” “But Señorita HermosaF1 is more than just delicious. It’s a testament to years of hard work and dedication. Over the past two years, our team has conducted extensive research, testing this rice in both dry and wet seasons, in low and high elevated areas. We wanted to ensure that Señorita HermosaF1 could thrive in diverse conditions, just like the incredible farmers we have here today.” I said while tapping my laptop, and what I said flashed on the projector. “As you can see on the projector, we gathered data from sowing the seeds up to harvesting in the said seasons and areas.” “And the results are remarkable. The sown seed germinates not less than 95%, and after a week of transplanting, 2-3 rice tillers have already appeared. This variety of rice can be harvested within 60 days after transplanting, which means you can get your harvest faster and start planning your next crop sooner.” “But here’s the real game-changer: the average yield of one hectare is at 3-6 tons, which has increased almost twice, we can yield 10-12 tons in just one hectare. That’s a significant increase in your income, and a huge boost for the Filipino economy.” I paused, letting the information sink in. “We’re not just talking about a new rice variety, we’re talking about a new opportunity, a new way to prosper. And I’m not just here to tell you about it, I’m here to answer your questions, to listen to your concerns, and to work with you to make this a success.” I scanned the audience for questions. A hand shot up. “Yes, Mr.?” I asked. “Mr. Guillermo of San Isidro agriculture office.” He introduced himself. “Do you think this variety of rice is suitable for high salinity levels in water because most of our rice fields are near the sea?” he asked. “Yes, sir, Señorita HermosaF1 also has high tolerance in saline water. We understand that salinity is a challenge for many farmers, and we’ve addressed it directly. If salinity is a problem in your municipality, I must suggest your farmers should avoid fertilizers containing chloride. Replace the muriate of potash (potassium chloride) with sulphate of potash and use nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) fertilizers which contain sulphate of potash.” I answered. “And I suggest sending us samples to test and measure the salinity level of water to know the right amount of fertilizers to use in our rice fields.” I explained further. “Any following questions, sir?” “Nothing more, thank you, Miss.” “Okay, I’ll send some samples, and hopefully, we’ll get the results soonest.” Mr. Guillermo said. “You’re welcome, sir. Any other questions?” I asked the others. “Me.” A huge man stood up with a baritone voice. “Yes, Mr.?” I said. “Mayor Rooh-----” but he stopped talking when my phone suddenly rang. MOMMY!!! MOMMY!!! MOMMY!!! ANSWER ------- the sound of my phone’s ringtone, and I immediately canceled it. It’s a voice recording of my nephew Allen. My nephew insisted on making it my ringtone so that I would be disturbed and answer the call immediately. And that’s exactly what happened, only it wasn’t just me who was disturbed, but everyone in the function hall. “Oh, sorry, Mayor------” I apologized. MOMMY!!! ------ “s**t!!!” I cursed under my breath as my phone rang again. I forgot I was using a clip-on microphone, so my curse echoed throughout the function hall, which immediately made everyone inside laugh. “I’m doomed.” I said to myself and silently slapped my forehead. Then I quickly muted my phone. “Oh, sorry about that, it’s just a little advertisement,” I joked, which made everyone laugh again, except for the man who had been standing and staring intently at me. I felt like I was going to burn up under his gaze, but I tried to ignore it. I slightly bent down, and I saw my phone, seemingly turning on and off, indicating that the person who had been calling me hadn’t stopped. So I secretly signaled Greg, my assistant, to come to me, then whispered to him to take over for a while so I could answer my call, and I quickly went to the door of the function hall. “Sorry about that, Ms. Dominguez got an emergency call to attend, I’m Greg Gomez, her assistant.” My assistant apologized. “Mayor R------ “No need, just give me her number, and I will ask her personally.” The man said in his signature baritone tone. I stopped as I was about to leave, and I turned to him, catching him looking at me. I don’t know why, but I suddenly felt nervous, but I furrowed my brow as I looked closely at his face. He resembled someone I knew, but it was impossible that it was him. I noticed his lips moving and read what seemed like, “Are you done assessing me???” I smirked at him. “Tss, what a pompous jerk, another one of Adam’s kin who’s fooling around.” I muttered to myself while shaking my head and finally left the function hall. _______________________________________ Who was this man? What was the caller's intention? And what secrets lurked in the past that had brought Elise back to her mother's hometown, Santa Monica? The answers lay ahead, waiting to be unraveled. Thank you so much for reading and your support. I truly appreciate it. ______________________________________ _ tagaIloCosNak