THE SECRET HEIRESS

CHAPTER 3: The Deal

As soon as Alaric arrived at the Ricarte Ancestral Residence that evening, he was greeted by their married head manservant and head maidservant, Manong Edo and Manang Elma, as he entered the main door of the mansion.  

Their ancestral residence is located in Monarch Village, which is believed to be the first housing development in the country.  Monarch Village is a private subdivision and gated community containing a number of embassies, two parks, a post office, an enclosed pavilion, gym, and courts (basketball, badminton, and tennis). The residences in the village belong to prominent politicians, businesspeople, celebrities, as well as expatriate employees and diplomats working in the country.  

Manang Elma told him, “Sir Ric, your parents wanted to meet you at the study room tonight.”

He nodded his approval, “Okay, Manang.”

As he entered the study room, his parents were not there yet. After a few minutes, his parents, who were already both in robes over their sleeping attires, entered the study room. Alaric did the pagmamano. Then his father motioned him to sit down by the sitting area.

Daddy Antonio asked, “Who is your girlfriend?”

He answered, “Her name is Megan Garcia, Dad.”

Mommy Eloisa asked, “Is she from a good family?”

He responded truthfully, “It depends on how you define good family, Mom. She is not from the upper class but her family are decent people. Megan is an accountant at the headquarters. She is also nominated by her immediate supervisor for the scholarship grant abroad. Her parents are both college graduates. You can look up at her information at our database, Dad,” and then the fabricated lies followed, “We have been secretly dating for more than a year. I didn’t tell you about her because you might disapprove of her.” Then, he declared, “I will formally introduce her to the family tomorrow during my birthday party. I already told her that we need to reveal our relationship coz you wanted my wedding engagement to be announced tomorrow on my birthday. I really do not like Madeline.”

His mother reacted, “She is not just an heiress. She is a third-generation Siazon.  She is a distant cousin of yours. You used to be playmates during your childhood years, and you were very close back then.”

He replied, “Still, I do not like her.”

His father spoke, “We will not accept your girlfriend.”

He responded to his father with firm conviction, “Please try to know her first before you reject her, Dad. She is a very good lady. She cares a lot for her elders. She might not be as sophisticated as any rich heiress you had set me up with, but she is very kindhearted and very intelligent. Have a background check on her if you want.”

His mother then asked, “Donald told me that you were with her at the hospital. Is she sick?”

He said, “Her grandmother had to undergo an emergency coronary angioplasty so I accompanied her at Absedaire Medical Center.”

His mother asked further, “Why did she still allow you to go out on those setup dates?”

He reasoned, “She knows that I am just exercising filial piety by attending those dates. Anyway, I always reassure her that I would not want anyone else for a wife but her.”

His father then decided, “Bring her tomorrow for lunch. We will know her first before making any decision regarding your engagement.”

He smiled victoriously, “I will, Dad.”

Alaric fully understood that his parents only wanted the best for him. He would eventually inherit the control over the 48 % common shares of RGC as a first-born son. Ricarte Corporation is a publicly listed holding company for the diversified interests of RGC. It is the country’s oldest conglomerate and also one of the largest. Its combined total assets and equity are already worth trillions. It has a portfolio of diverse business interests like retail, education, real estate, banking, telecommunications, water infrastructure, renewable energy, electronics, information technology, automotive, healthcare, and management & business process outsourcing.  

Ashley, his younger sister by six years, was on his bedroom when he came in, asking too many questions.

“I heard you have been keeping a girlfriend, an accountant at RGC. Will she attend your birthday party tomorrow?”

“That is my initial plan but Dad wants her to come for lunch tomorrow first. If the family approves of her then I might let her attend the party without any worry,” he told his nosy sister and then he recalled, “Anyway, if everything turns out well, can you be her official shopper/stylist? She is quite conservative with the way she dressed up, so you may guide her when it comes to high-end fashion.”

Ashley approved, “Sure. You just give me your card and I will do the rest.”

He reminded his sister, “No too very revealing clothes, okay?”

Her sister excitedly said, “I will start looking now, a very nice evening gown and shoes for the party tomorrow, perhaps? And lots of matching couples’ outfits!”

He agreed and gave one of his debit cards to his sister, “Yes, please do that. She is almost just the same as your physique. But you may ask Donald about my girlfriend’s exact sizes. He has the list. Then go out of my room already so I can already rest.”

The following morning, Nanay Maia arrived at the hospital with a fresh change of clothes and some toiletries for Megan. Megan did the customary pagmamano.

Her mother was surprised upon seeing the suite hospital room. A basket of get well soon flowers as well as a basket of fruits had also been delivered from the COO as she arrived. .

Nanay Maia immediately asked, “I was driven to your apartment by his secretary last night. Then this morning I was fetched from your apartment. What is your relationship with that COO?”

Megan answered unhurriedly, “He is my boyfriend, Nay. We have been secretly dating for more than a year already.” It was a detail on their fabricated love story.

Nanay Maia asked, “Does his family know?”

Megan responded, “They might already be aware of it.” She knew Donald was waiting so she told her Mom, “I need to freshen up. I need to meet Ric. It’s his 30th birthday today. He will introduce me to his family tonight. Donald, his secretary, is waiting for me.”

Her mother reacted, “They might disapprove of you, Meg.  You are from two different worlds.”

She said, “I already told him such at first, Nay. But he was so insistent. I was not able to decline him anymore. He is a very nice guy, Nay. You do not have to worry. He is a perfect gentleman.”

His mother’s reaction was, “Yeah, he seems to be a very nice man. But I am more worried about his family. You might already be aware that my father was from a rich family and his family did not approve of your Lola. She had to go far and hide from them for us to survive. Before I married your father, your Lola and I had constantly moved around because they had been looking for us.”

Megan assured her mother, “It will not come to such point, Nay. I will not marry him unless his family approves of me. I will  also not get myself pregnant unless I am married. He is very much aware of those things, Nay.”

Her mother then said, “Okay, go and freshen up yourself. His secretary is already waiting for you.”

When Megan came out of the bathroom, her grandmother was already awake. A surgical resident under Dr. Gabriel Altamonte had already checked her grandmother the previous night when she gained consciousness and just now upon waking up.

Megan had already messaged Donald that she was ready to leave anytime.

Her grandmother asked her, “Are you going to work, dear?”

She answered, “No, Lola. I already told my immediate supervisor that I could not do overtime work this Saturday. I need to attend to something else. I will be back as soon as I am done.” The new smartphone sounded. Donald messaged her that the car was already near the driveway. “I need to go now, Nay, Lola.” She hugged and kissed them goodbye and rushed out.

As soon as she entered the car, Donald greeted her and handed her a file folder “Good morning, Miss Megan. The file is the application form for the medical assistance to RFI. I will be processing it by Monday so just give it to me when you are done filling in all the information.”

“Thanks,” she asked, “So, where will we be going?”

Donald answered, “You will see when we get there, Miss Megan.”

After sometime, they entered the basement parking lot of Monarch Tower, a condominium building developed by Ricarte Land, Incorporated.

As they entered the elevator, Donald said, “Boss owned the penthouse unit as well as other condo units here. Her housekeeper had already been instructed to prepare the three other bedrooms at his penthouse for you and for your family. This place is much nearer to the headquarters.”

Megan reacted, “I have my apartment. We do not have to live in his penthouse.”

Donald responded, “Boss, will explain everything to you, Miss Megan.”

The elevator opened up at the 68th floor, Donald led her to the penthouse.

She saw Alaric comfortably seated by the couch in the living room, browsing his company tablet, dressed in Hugo Boss Linen Suit over Calvin Klein green turtle neck, and Polo Ralph Lauren Wes Penny Loafers. Donald left them.

She sat on the couch opposite to where he was seated. He immediately took notice of her outfit comprising on an old blue and white vertical striped button down shirt, old distressed black skinny jeans, and already worn out black espadrilles with her old ecru tote bag she was using the previous night.

She spoke first, “You did not have to arrange an accommodation for my family, sir. We can all stay in my apartment. It is much nearer to Absedaire Medical Center.”

He did not argue with her and just calmly said, “Please drop the sir, Meg. The accommodation here at my penthouse is for your privacy and security as well as that of your grandmother and your mother. Once our relationship became known, there will be a lot of unavoidable repercussions. Edgar, my driver-bodyguard will be driving for you and your family. Your Lola would need frequent follow-up appointments for an entire month. Then if everything went well, she would just need quarterly checkup with a cardiologist. I will handle all the expenses.”

She declined, “No need for a driver. I will also shoulder the expenses for her follow-up checkup. I do work overtime most of the time.”

He disregarded her argument and told her reasonably, “There is also a possibility for you to resign from your work at RGC,” and then handed her the draft of the contact, “That is the draft of the contract. Should you need to resign, as my fake girlfriend you will receive all the compensation of a special assistant. I am just asking six months of your time for this fake relationship. I will ensure your privacy and security as well as your finances. We can review them, add or delete some points while having breakfast.”

He led her to the dining table where two Cosmos breakfast meal boxes were already set. She offered a silent prayer first before eating while reading everything.

Within six months, Alaric’s responsibilities as her boyfriend included: paying for all her existing loans and all the medical expenses of her grandmother; providing her and her family an all-expense paid accommodation and security; providing her with clothes, shoes, bags and other accessories; and securing her another job if ever she needed to leave RGC after their breakup. Her responsibilities as her girlfriend included: the possibility of resigning from her job; acting as girlfriend to him in front of everyone; attending business and social events with him; and attending family events with him.

She did not have anything more to add but it did not stop her to speak her mind regarding the terms and conditions of their fake relationship. “Do I really have to resign?”

Alaric responded, “You might not be able to handle the workplace gossip once our relationship became known to the public. The press might dig every detail about you being my first ever girlfriend. That is why you need to sign some documents for Donald to process the termination of your apartment lease as well as the payment for all your loans. They should be done as soon as possible. You also need to sign documents for the smartphone plans for yourself and your elders. You might as well fill in the online resignation form today. It would be immediately forwarded once the need arises.”

She expressed honestly, “Why do I have a feeling that you are buying my freedom for six months?”

He liked her directness. “Yeah, you might put such that way. But honestly, I just want to protect you at all costs. Being linked to me is not a small matter. I am also in the process of planning all the details of your compensation once our deal ended after six months.”

She answered, “The benefits you listed on the contract are way too generous already, R-ric.”

He countered, “You would have to start anew after six months, so I will provide you with everything – a townhouse, a car, and a certain amount. As for a new job afterwards, I will hire you as my personal accountant for all of my personal assets. I do have a lot of personal investments and other business endeavors other than being the second-in-line heir to RGC.”

She felt uncomfortable, “There will be no need for those things.”

He contended, “I insist. I dragged you into this situation. I mean what I said last night that I will take care of the aftermath of our fake relationship.” 

She voiced out, “But I am receiving way more than enough compensation on this deal.”

He imparted, “You will not be able to say that anymore once the repercussions are already existing. My family might approve or disapprove of you. Both scenarios would be too much to handle. The media attention would also be major issue at the beginning as well as at the end of our fake relationship.”

She asked, “In your personal opinion, will your family approve of me? I just have a very modest background.”

He replied truthfully, “Honestly, I have no idea. My only thought for now is to stop all the setup dates. Let us just face the what-ifs as we go along.”

She inquired, “What should I expect upon meeting your family?”

He said, “They are very cordial people. Even if they disapprove of you as my girlfriend, they would treat you with respect. But they would be very honest to express their disapproval. There would be no pressure on your part to win them over. Just be as you are. You do not have to pretend as somebody else. Stay true to yourself. The only lie we have to pull revolves around our fake relationship. Everything else will be true.”

After the breakfast, they already signed the contract. Megan also signed the necessary documents that Alaric mentioned regarding the termination of her apartment lease, the payment of all her existing loans, the smartphone plans, and the resignation form. A fund transfer had already been forwarded to her personal ATM/debit card for the payment of all her loans and smartphone plans. She also signed an authorization for Donald to transact everything on her behalf.

Alaric then toured her around the penthouse. Her bedroom would be the one beside the master bedroom. Her bedroom had a hidden safety deposit box behind a painting. He said, “You can store the contract here for the time being. You just need to have your biometrics scanned first.” He guided her with the process.

Then they heard people coming in. It was Rey, the head of his personal security group, escorting the employees from JADE and QANZ. JADE and QANZ are two local fashion brands which are also famous internationally. 

He told her, “You need to try on clothes and other stuff. You may also choose stuff for your grandmother and your mother.”  

Megan had to try on so many clothes, shoes, and bags for his approval which included: formal evening dresses, cocktail dresses, day dresses, work outfits, workout clothes, casual clothes, and house clothes. She was also asked to choose sleepwear, swimwear, undergarments, accessories (belts, socks, stockings, sunglasses, scarves, handkerchiefs, etc.), bags, wallet, skincare products, beauty products, cologne, and perfume. She did not choose much. So, he did most of the choosing.

She asked him afterwards when nobody was around anymore, “Do I really have to change the way I dress?”

He answered, “Not really. You can still maintain your simple and conservative style. We are just merely upgrading your outfits.”

She responded, “But, I am just basically at work five days a week wearing office uniform except on Fridays.”

He declared, “You will need them in the future.”

Afterwards, an optometrist arrived with an array of eyeglasses and contact lenses. She was provided with many sets of contact lenses.

She complained again when the optometrist had already left, “So many sets again. One of each would do.”

He just said, “I hate your ugly black-rimmed eyeglasses. You also look prettier without the eyeglasses so you can use the contact lenses when meeting any member of my family and when attending events with me. A pair of contact lenses and a pair of eyeglasses should always be available on your bag. You need more to mix and match.”

Then an employee from Monarch Bank with a cash card was also escorted in. When Rey and the bank employee left…

Alaric gave her the cash card, “You would need it especially if you’re with my family. You should use the card in all your expenses involving all your actions as my girlfriends. You can also use such in buying stuffs for your mother and grandmother, and buying food and other supplies you needed here during your stay.”

“Okay,” she sighed her approval. She knew that complaining won’t work anymore.

Then he told her, “We will be meeting my family for lunch. You still have time to freshen up. Wear one of those day dresses.”

She felt anxious, “What?! I thought…"