Chained Destiny

Chapter 1

RELAX. I told myself and breathe in and out before knocking on the door three times. No one answered, guess I’ll open it. A cold air brushed my face and the darkness welcomed me as the door swung open. After a few seconds, my eyes adjusted, I went inside to open the thick curtain and let the rays of the sun into the room. I’ve been inside the huge room so many times, with my eyes closed, I can perfectly find my way in and out.

A frustrated moan came from someone lying on the bed.

“What are you doing here, Siggy? It’s still early.” A naked woman rose from the bed and gave the two sleeping men beside her a peck on cheek. She grabbed her red silk robe from the chair and put it on. She’s like a goddess in human form, light brown eyes, pointy nose and natural red lips. The freckles on her cheeks are too distinct due to her fair skin which made her more appealing. Her long black locks draped from her shoulders down to her waist.

If you’re asking who’s this naked goddess, she the only and only Destiny Lauchengco , CEO of Lauchengco Investments and Holdings, one of the most prominent business empire in the Philippines. She’s the female version of King Midas, she can turn a simple chewing gum into gold. And my role to her life, a faithful executive and personal assistant. Yes, I am a male secretary. The world is different now, gender roles doesn’t exist anymore.

“You have an early meeting with the board.” I followed her with my eyes when she entered the bathroom. An email popped on my phone screen, another endorsement proposal from one of the fashion magazines, asking if my boss can be their August cover. I just ignored it. The thing with Destiny, she turned down every endorsement offers, she doesn’t want to be exposed to other people, especially huge crowd. She prefers the peace and quietness of her office rather than attending photoshoots.

“Meeting? I checked my schedule before sleeping and I am one hundred percent sure that I don’t a meeting with them,” she left the bathroom door open. “Read my schedule here.” Of course, she started stripping and stepped on the shower. I composed myself and stood on the door, I don’t know why I still get startled whenever this thing happens every morning. I swear, I’ve seen her naked multiple times! I read her schedule on my Ipad while she’s lathering her hair with shampoo. There’s a glass partition between the shower and sink, but still, I can see her. I think that panel was anti-fog.

I graduated with a business degree and tried putting up my own business but I didn’t succeed. I needed a real-world experience when it comes to business, a mentor who can teach me the way of the world that’s why I decided to apply as an executive assistant. It’s my second anniversary as her executive assistant.

My mind was racing as the HR manager led me to my final interview with the CEO. It was out of my expectation that I’ve passed the initial interview and then I will be facing the biggest person in the company. The office wall was black while the couch, coffee table, cabinets were white. There’s a big glass office table on the two-stepped elevation. The papers and folders were neatly stacked and arranged side by side next to a laptop. The throne for the queen was empty.

A floor-to-ceiling glass window was welcoming the sun making the office brighter. I sat on the couch and there’s a black bookshelf beside me. The office was too spacious. There were three doors inside, one was by the office table and the other one was on the far corner, plus the main office door.

Before leaving, the HR manager left me with a cup of freshly brewed coffee and pastries. I patiently waited for three minutes when I heard a click and the door from the far corner opened. A woman wearing an all-white office dress came out, she stood taller with her red heels. Her long hair was neatly combed and straightened. A one-inch scar on her right eye brow was noticeable. I didn’t know much about make up but I think she has a natural make up on. If I’m not mistaken, that’s the boss. She’s Destiny Lauchengco. I stood up. Her authoritative aura filled the entire room. There’s a smile on her face but still I felt inferior. There’s a strange look on her eyes.

“I remember you, Segundo Arevalo.” She talked as if she knew me.

“Sorry?”

Destiny offered me to sit down, so I took a seat. She positioned herself on a single-seater sofa across from me. She crossed her legs and gave me an amusing stare.

“I remember you from many years, ago. How could I forget that face?”

“I don’t follow…” I am certain that we haven’t met before. Maybe she mistook me from someone else?

“You are the one who saved me from the verge of death in Occidental Mindoro eons ago,” a flash of memory flooded my mind. I remember the girl from the bush! It took me three days to realize that the girl that I found was the same girl who’s missing for four months. A ton of media rummaged the place and I had to go with my parents back to Manila just to escape the reporters. I heard from my parents that a man came by to our house giving us a huge amount of money but my parents did not accept it.

“You mother did not accept that reward.” Destiny took a piece of baklava from the plate.

Before the school year started, my father announced that I will be transferred to a certain school, a prestigious university to be exact and I wondered why. I was to have my own in room in a high-end boarding house because the university was a two-hour commute from my house. My dad said that my cousins will be going to the same university.

After that incident, I never had the chance to meet the girl. I didn’t ask my parents as I was too busy studying.

“I trust you with all my life,” she said with a smile. You’re hired.”

And that’s how my story started as an executive assistant. Destiny came out of the shower wearing the same red robe from earlier. As she sat down in front of the vanity mirror, I started drying her hair with the hair blower and she was applying make up on her face. Working for her for two years made me an all around handy-man, from office duties, getting her groceries, drying her hair, up to scheduling her self-care sessions.

“We have to go,” she finished her look with a bloody red lip and low ponytail and she stood up.

“You’re not dressed yet.” I roamed my eyes from her head to toe.

“This will do.” And she stepped on her favorite Louboutin’s.

Lauchengco Towers was the tallest building the Philippines with seventy floors occupied by offices, restaurants, boutiques, and other businesses. Its structure was based from Japanese buildings which made to stand earthquakes. On the thirtieth floor of the building is where the queen sat on her throne. Floors sixty-eight to seventy was the main highlight of the tower, it houses the multi-level five-star restaurant, bar and lounge. I’ve been there several times and I can say that the place lives up to its standards.

A silk robe and a pair of Louboutin’s was her power outfit when she entered the boardroom. The room was huge, with a twelve-seater rectangular table in the center, an sixty-inch LED screen in front. The window blinds were closed and the doom was lit in a warm yellowish light.

As for me, I’m holding her actual suit encased in a garment bag. Astonished faces of the three old board members welcomed her, well not really welcomed. The other three younger ones were amazed.

“You are not properly dressed,” the same words came out from Augusto Riviera’s mouth. He’s the second major stock holder of the company, next to my boss. Also, one of the people who craves Destiny’s power.

“Because someone called a sudden meeting out of nowhere.” I pull out her executive chair for her to sit on. “What’s this all about?” She’s irritated because of waking up early, her office usually starts at nine am, it’s still seven in the morning.

“You are not yet dressed. You can prepare yourself and we can wait.” There’s a smug look on Augusto’s face.

“Siggy,” Destiny pointed out the garment bag that I was holding. She’s ready to go to war. She turned her back from everyone and let the robe slid down from her shoulders down to the floor revealing her smooth skin. Her noticeable rose with thorns tattoo was engraved on her upper right back. I handed her the black pouch with her undergarments inside and then the red jumpsuit.

The board members were too shocked to react having the CEO get dressed in front of them. This is how eccentric my boss is.

“Siggy, I like the robe. I want to buy stocks from that company.” I made a mental note of that. When she was finished with the jumpsuit, she wore her white blazer and then faced the board member with a naughty and pissed smile. How can she do that smile? Talent? Destiny admitted that she’s a hundred percent b***h and more, I am not surprised when she started undressing earlier.

“We don’t have anymore problem with how I look now, right?” She sat her ass back down. “Let’s proceed to your concerns.”

“We want to know about your future engagement with Herbert Chui. Speculations were already made about your marriage because there will be a huge impact for the two companies. If you are to be married with Herbert, the two largest companies in the Philippines will merged.” Augusto’s always pushing this commentary. As far as I know, Herbert is the nephew of Augusto. And Herbert Chui is the son of another business mogul who owns a techno-company.

“I am not marrying a man who doesn’t know how to respect women. Don’t expect me to be a housewife rather than being a CEO of this company. If I’m going to be married, I will make sure that you are not to be my family member.” Two points for Destiny.

“We just want you to settle down and have a family of your own,” another board member, Gerry Angeles, butted in. 

He’s known for being a Mr. Good-goody but a true greedy monster inside.

“You want me to settle down so you will have the power over the company.”

“No! A woman like you should settle in one guy, it’s not good for your image dating left and right. I even heard that you are seeing two men at once. Give your future husband respect.” Gerry was not concern, he wanted to catch Destiny off-guard and shame her.

“If I am really getting on your nerves, you have two options. Pull out your shares and leave the company or suck it up because I own seventy percent of the company, hence your CEO.” She tapped her fingers on the table, signs of her being so irritated. “Don’t give me your moral lessons, Gerry when you’re having a younger model and a beauty queen for mistresses.”

Gerry’s face reddened.

“If your father was still alive, I am so sure that he will not tolerate you mouth!” Benito Jimenez, one of the three oldies stood up.

“Lucky for me, he’s not.”

The door swung open and another man came in with authority. He was Maximo Lauchengco, Destiny’s uncle. Retired but still a shareholder who attends meeting when he’s needed.

“Mr. Launchengco, have a seat.” Gerry welcomed him and showed Maximo to his seat. Augusto came to the newly-arrived and showed something on his phone.

“You took a video of my niece while she’s getting dressed?!” Maximo’s forehead knotted while looking back and forth between the phone and Destiny.

“She has no decency!” Benito exclaimed.

“The one who doesn’t have any decency here is you, Augusto. You have no right to take a video or picture of someone without their consent. I will delete this and if this ever came out, you know what will happen.” Maximo turned his head to his niece. “Explain.”

“I was wearing this,” she lay down the robe on the table. “Those three insisted that I was not properly dressed.” Destiny answered with a casual tone. It felt like I was watching a TV series. After a few moments, Destiny dismissed the pointless meeting.

“Let’s have a breakfast. Join us, Siggy.” My boss decided to eat out and I eventually searched for a restaurant who serves breakfast. We went to a hotel nearby.

“You are truly my brother’s daughter.” I’m not sure if Maximo’s reprimanding or being proud of her, maybe it was the latter. They were seated and the waitress handed us the breakfast menu. Before arriving at the hotel, I requested that the table and chairs will be sanitize first. My boss is a germ freak.

I scanned the menu, their basic cheese and bacon omelet looks good paired with french toast. I will be having that and a cup of coffee, too. The order was made and we chatted while waiting.

“Those old men should retire and let the younger ones flourished. See, I am enjoying my retirement!” The coffee was served and Maximo still telling tales of his retired life— golfing, goofing around with the wife, trip to different countries. “I hope that my niece is not giving you a hard time, Siggy.”

“No, sir.” For two years, I already know the likes and dislikes of my boss and I learned the hard way. Destiny held the butter knife and took a good look at it as if she can see all the germs in there. When she found a water spot, she asked for a replacement.