1

"I heard you admitted a student from London."

One of the Board of Directors remarked as he took a sip of his jasmin tea.

"Oh yes, yes. A transferee from University of the Arts London."

Suprise reactions filled the board room and follow up questions were raised after the Headmaster confirmed it.

"Wow! That institute is considered an elite in fine arts! What's her name, Headmaster Zen? I would like to meet this student."

The Headmaster calmly placed his hand on his cup's handle.

"Her name is Lexine Vielcueva. She's indifferent and does not socialize much but her works are magnificient. I've seen them myself."

His confidence could be felt and bores a great pride to have this student in his bucket. It's like scoring the jackpot to have such a student study in Imperial Academy International.

Fifteen minutes later, a screen showed the profile of the new admitted student in IAI and as they went through her records and pictures of her artworks, fashion and interior designs and photographs, words of surprise and approval could clearly be heard inside the room.

"How did you admit such a talent, Headmaster?" One curious business man couldn't help but ask.

The Headmaster nodded to his colleague before answering. "The President called me last week about this and asked if I could do him a favor."

The businessman's confusion mirrored the others and so the Headmaster decided to clear it out.

"President Franco Verzales."

The room fell silent for a while and then after, the chatterings became louder this time as the Philippine President's name was actually involved in the admission of a student. The President doesn't have a daughter! Does he? Who is she?

'Mission completed, sir. Miss Vielcueva's identity is now confirmed in the university.'

The Headmaster thought.

"The information you're seeing aren't her personal records and those are some things you shouldn't even investigate on, I'm telling you."

He looked at her picture and from there, he knows she's someone that they can't trifle with.

"There's one request the President has made for the rest of you. He's hoping you would hear him out." His calm demeanor, befitting of the Headmaster's position for the most prestigious school in Asia, bore through the whole room.

The whole room waited for him to talk.

"The young miss is a very private person and President Verzales dots on her the most. There's nothing the President wouldn't do for her.

'The President is valuing a child! A student from an elite school in London being admitted in IAI? What kind of identity does she have?'

The people in the room had the same thought about it and kept listening.

"The only people who knows that Miss Vielcueva is related to him are the people inside this room and the President wants to keep it that way. She wants to study in peace so if any rumour spreads out about her identity and young miss gets upset about it and leaves the country, even if it's only one person who talked, the President will shut down this school."

Blank.

Their minds went blank at what the Headmaster said.

Shut down the school?

For him to go to such lengths, is this young miss an ordinary person?!

They had different thoughts inside their heads but chose to keep it to themselves. As the Headmaster said, it will cause a storm if a word goes out so even if they're dying to know who this child is and why she has so much power over a country president, they would just keep quiet and not do anything.

The cost might not be worth it for a mere curiosity.

L Patiserrie

3:00 PM

"It's still the same. Hanggang kabilang street yung line this time at sobrang puno yung cafe!"

"I heard some girls talking while I was on my way here. I panicked kase they said they're disappointed, yun pala disappointed sila because they were expecting that people were just over hyping the food!"

"It's  been two months since we opened and the people are still coming back and nagrerefer sila sa mga kaibigan nila. Bloggers and food enthusiast are calling to feature our cafe daw! Nag full inbox na yung emails ko dahil sa offers!"

The staffs were talking about how sucessful the cafe was and how good the feedbacks were from the customers when Azranna opened her office door holding a piece of document on one hand and a coffee on the other hand.

"Boss Azzy!"

Inangat naman ng dalaga ang kanyang ulo at maluwag na ngumiti sa kanilang mga empleyado.

"It's past lunch! Have you eaten?"

And that's when she noticed that the place was still jam packed and even the line is still long.

When she looked back at them, they were smiling shyly at her.

"Naku Miss Azzy mamaya na ho. Marami pa ding tao." Shiela, an intern answered.

Azranna felt good that their shop was an internet sensation and even astists are ordering drinks and decadents from them however, it's also taking its toll on their employees as they don't have time to eat nor rest because of the load of people waiting for their fill of desserts.

Azranna was about to say something when the wall behind her opened, revealing Lexine hugging her laptop with a lollipop inside her mouth.

Her amber eyes looked sleepy.

"I already ordered food. 1,630.75 pesos in total." Lexine said in a groggy voice and pouted her lips pointing at the delivery guy who just came in. "He's here. Pay it. I don't have money."

The staff and Azranna did not have the chance to answer her because she went inside the hidden door without looking back.

'Kaya natatakot sayo tong mga empleyado mo eh.'

Naiiling na lamang si Azranna.

"Great! May food na pala eh." She went inside her office and took two one thousand peso bills and paid the delivery guy.

"Keep the change Kuya." Maluwag na ngumiti si Azranna at inabutan ito ng special frost drink na si Lexine mismo ang gumawa that became their top 1 best seller and one box of Sweet Nothings mainly truffles, brigadeiros, cheesecake bars, chocolate sand, red velvet and walnut cupcakes.

"Walang bayad yan Kuya. Pa thank you namin sa iyo tsaka sa galing mo magtrabaho."

"Naku mam w-wag na-----"

"I insist. We have a special room where you can sit down and enjoy these first since 20 minutes in advance mo namang na deliver yung pagkain namin. Sige na Kuya, mukhang pagod ka na oh."

Azranna gave him a an assuring smile that made the guy flustered. Azranna looked at Kacy, one of her employees and the latter assisted the delivery guy to the special room.

Their customers saw their kind gesture to the delivery guy and the other customers recorded the whole scene and posted it in social media, causing their shop to trend instantly.

The captions on the cutsomers' videos were:

I came to the right place! Nakakataba ng puso!

They not only serve amazing food, they're also kind people! All the love to L Patisserie!

Stoked! Hindi ko inakalang may ganito pa sa mundo. Ang bait nila!

P. S: Their Sweet Nothings isn't a treat that you can buy. They give it to special, chosen people and Kuya Delivery Guy happens to be that special one today!

L Patisserie! Your women rock! 

While they were busy sharing the video to their online platform, someone was sitting on a reclining chair infront of 11 computers watching every scene outside as she chewed her lollipop with boredom.

A notification alert popped on her 5th computer. There was a message from Core Technos. It's their current COO, Liam Raval.

'L, I need to track down a traitor who sold our company's new software to our rival. Name your price."

Oh, it seems like someone's in a hurry. Usually they would place an offer she can reject or accept or negotiate with but the guy's letting her name her price.

-Core Prime, you said?

'Yes.'

-$8000000, I'll create a new software. 100x better in 48 hours

'What?!'

-I can track him with no sweat, but it doesn't change the fact that Polar Communications has your new software now.

'You're not scamming me right?

-Send me the payment after you win the TechCon in 3 days. If YOU scam me of my money, you know what'll happen

'I wouldn't dare,  L.  I'll make it $10,000,000 for the new software and proof that Polar stole our software. I'll have them go bankrupt after the TechCon.

Of course Liam Raval will be furious about the stolen project. They invested hundreds of millions of dollars on that software only to be stolen by a mere employee.

From then on, she started encoding and all the screens started lining up with codes as she worked with a speed no one can catch up to.

Core Prime was Core Technos' pride for the TechCon. This international convention will determine the ranks of Telco empires all around the globe. Core Techno is always number one because they have talented, skilled and determined employees and their risks are well calculated unlike Polar. She's been reading into Polar's files and the company itself is just pure scum.

This is the kind of company that as long as you give pleasure to the benefactor, you'll get in the ranks.

She did not notice the time as she kept herself focused on the algorithm of the software and it' detailed functions.

She heard the door open but did not budge since she knew who it was. Other than her, only Azranna has full access to this room. Not that she does not trust her employees but anyone can be vulnerable to threats and her safety might get compromised so she had to be extra careful.

"It's already past 6. Uwi na tayo." Azranna leaned on the wall and watched Lexine as she worked with her computers. Eight screens are now filled with codes running up non stop like they're in sync with her expert hands.

"I might not go home tonight. I have a $10,000,000 deal with Core." Lexine simply answered.

With the way she was working with her computer, Azranna was expecting this. She said a sinple 'okay' and switched on the remaining lights as the room was dim.

Even with her turning the lights on, Lexine didn't budge. Azranna went inside the room's closet and took a comfy pair of pajama and cotton tshirt Lexine could change into later on. 

The whole set up of Lexine's space is like a condo unit which is three times bigger the size with 2 bedrooms, a huge fridge, sink, a fully functioning kitchen with dining table and oven, a huge couch that has a flat screen tv, a huge space for her computers, a space where she can paint, dart, and play her piano.

She pulled the bed from inside the wall and arranged the sheets, changed the pillow cases and comforter. After she did that, she went inside the bathroom and pulled out Lexine's supplements and placed it on a little cup holder. She placed it on the table beside her pajamas so she would not forget.

Lexine doesn't eat dinner but she has food on the fridge in case she gets hungry. 

"The mall closes by 10. I'll go buy some groceries to stock up in your fridge. Do you want me to buy you anything?"

Azranna changed from the denim jeans and knitted turtle neck top get up to simple cotton shorts and black t-shirts. They both grew up abroad so that means, it's rare for her to bring cash that's why she brought two credit cards and tucked them inside the phone holder.

"Fresh strawberries, lemon, zuchini, pomegranate and almonds."

Azranna made sure to take note of those on her phone. Speaking of which, she hasn't opened her phone the whole day. She'll probably do it while she's out grocery shopping.

"Use the Tesla."

Lexine clicked on the car button on her office table and the car key section behind her opened up. Azranna smilingly took Lexine's new Tesla keys and excitingly went to the garage to drive off.