8. Got Her

A/N: The chapter ahead is raw, which means it has not yet been proofread or edited.

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"I'm just kidding, Sir. Please make it clear to me so I can decide."

"G-Good lord, Ms. Montecristo! You can't scare an old man like that!"

Larry Zeno Yzaguirre spin around while holding his frightened chest. Kalonice went back to her seat. Midas is drying himself using his handkerchief. He's not that wet. She poured little.

"I want you to do your internship at YAECC, Ms. Montecristo. Paid internship like the others. And once you graduate, you'll have a regular position waiting for you. Frankly, I'd be an idiot if I let someone else snatch you up. If I don't offer you this, someone else will, and I'd rather not regret losing you to a competitor. You will become a high-value investment. And if you're not aware, there's a line and I skipped it because I am Larry Zeno Yzaguirre. Pretty sure Octavius and Cain did, too. They're unfortunate because I am here and they're overseas."

Kalonice got goosebumps when he chuckled evilly. It was as if he's secured his victory over her. It was satanic and she's genuinely...terrified.

"Look she's terrified. She's probably thinking about going to Ninong Octavius," Midas boredly said when he noticed it.

He smiled, "Eherm! Sorry, Hija. I was just so happy," and it turned evil, "Because they'd be going bankrupt soon! Mwahahaha! They'd be bowing before me soon! I'm the great Larry Zeno Yzaguirre! Praise me! Mwahahaha!"

Kalonice gave the President an 'Am I going to be okay with him?' look, and the President replied, 'Maybe' with an unsure smile.

"But anyways, Hija, if you accepted, I will pair you with my son here. Architecture and engineering are two sides of the same coin. It's about balancing creativity, efficiency, and practicality. At YAEC, we don't just build—we create sustainable, efficient, and innovative spaces. That means architects and engineers work hand-in-hand from concept to completion, ensuring that every project is not only beautiful but also structurally sound, cost-effective, and compliant with regulations."

"What!? You're pairing me with that!? Since when did we have that kind of situation!?" Midas protested when he heard what his father just said.

Larry feigned ignorance, "Uhhm, we have always been like that, though?" He made it up.

On the other hand, Kalonice is looking at the brighter side, the one where Larry is leading her to.

"Basically, a power duo,"

The President nodded.

"Yes, Ms. Montecristo. It speeds up the process. Instead of architects designing something only for engineers to come in later and say, 'This won't work,' they collaborate from day one. That means fewer revisions, lower costs, and a seamless workflow from concept to construction. Clients get faster, smarter, and better-designed projects—without the usual back-and-forth delays. And I will pair you with my son here. I know you can keep him down to his feet. You might be the only one who can."

"No way, Dad! Stop being ridiculous! I don't want to! I'm telling Mom!"

But Larry knew his wife will love that idea, too. Once she get to know her. She will LOVE the girl.

"Pfft. Tell her, coward."

The cub growled at its father.

Midas cocked his head to Kalonice's location. He's surprised to see her think so deeply, as if she's considering and criticizing ways and reasons before giving the final word.

"Ms. Montecristo, you will be paid generously if you're thinking about that. We pay better than other companies, so come with us. Join our family and work with my best son in the world and greatest future engineer of all time here!" Larry teased again and pat his son's shoulders Midas bit him.

"Aww! Whatta dog!?"

She had made up her mind.

"I'm in, Sir. I want to be part of your company."

Larry shouted victoriously and put his phone on speaker near to his mouth.

"Heard that, losers!? I got the girl! Mwahahaha! Bye!"

Kalonice's eyes widened. All this time, he was on call with the other founders!? Oh god, he's insane! She's so embarrassed! No way she'd be able to show her face to them after rejecting their offers to her! Especially to Cain Alterio! Oh, she'd be damned.

"Hija, come here and sign the papers before you change your mind. Hihihi!"

Midas scrunched his nose when Secretary Sean immediately served the internship contract agreement with her. She read it carefully and thoroughly, and they give her the time to read it. All the clauses, the benefits, even the NDAs---she need to know ALL.

Meanwhile, Cain Alterio might be laughing but he's so pissed.

"Call my dumbest son in the world to my office NOW!"

His Secretary immediately left his seat to do it. He searched for Caedmon Alterio at every level in the building, only to find him at the factory wearing a protective suit as he converse with other people while looking at the model they are working on.

It is his first project, his debut model and creation.

"S-Sir Caedmon! Y-Your father---is asking for you!" He breathlessly announced while approaching him.

Caedmon Alterio looked at him with furrowed eyebrows.

"Can't you see I'm busy?"

"Yes, I see, but he's summoning you."

Caedmon Alterio clicked his tongue. His father won't summon him for some dumb reason unlike his Uncle Larry to Midas, so he sent the Secretary back to tell his father to wait for a few more minutes as he get changed.

"What is it?" He asked as soon as he opened the doors of his father's office and got in.

"Larry got her."

"Who?"

"Who else!? Kalonice! He got Kalonice already! She will spend her internship years under his company! Dummy! I thought you will handle it!?"

"What!?"

Caedmon Alterio was as shocked as him.

He cackled in disbelief.

It's like he was betrayed. No, she really betrayed him. Did she really hate him that much to do that?

"You know what's funnier? He paired her to Larzen! Boy, if you can't bring her to our company, the least you can do is bring her in the family! Get the fuck out of my office and go to the Philippines to see her! Make her change her mind or I'm gonna scrap your debut model from the list. MOVE!"

"Wait---what!? So suddenly!?"

They're really the best of friends! Larry and Cain are both insane!

On the other hand, Octavius Lisieux is sighing by himself while coloring the design he's making. Not that he's accepting his defeat, there will always be a way to work with Kalonice Montecristo. He knew Larry, he won't let her go without a fight. Very greedy.

When he can't feel his creative juices flowing he through, he stopped what he's doing and called for his secretary to bring him something to eat. As he wait, he browse through Kalonice's file again and stared at her picture.

The girl is really beautiful. Her eyes are a lot like his and he can see the same fire he have in her eyes.

"Architects knows best. Architects get along," he said with a small smile.

He's definitely gonna make a way to work with her.

When the door opened, he expected his Secretary but found his wife coming with a pleasant smile on her face with his lunch.

"I-I brought your lunch," she said with a soft voice as she come closer. His demure wife placed the lunch boxes gently on his table, making sure that it didn't land on anything.

"What brought you here? I am busy."

His wife smiled wryly at his cold personality. She's used to it. But why does it still hurt?

"Y-Your lunch. And, Uhm, Cassandra is inviting me to a trip to Dubai to see Gwynedd---"

"You can go."

Mrs. Lisieux swallowed the lump in her throat and nodded.

"You're hungry, I will help you."

Octavius Lisieux nodded. As she unwrap his lunch boxes, she didn't mean to pry, but she got a glance of the folder he's intently looking at and saw Kalonice's face.

"W-Who is she?"

"Kalonice Montecristo. The ace of ALY-IC based in the Philippines. Larry got her, though."

"Oh, I-I see. She's beautiful. D-Do you think she can be friends with our Jarrah?" Mrs. Lisieux wondered, and when her husband looked at her, she felt sorry.

"How's that good daughter of yours?"

Mrs. Lisieux smiled brightly now that he's asked about their daughter.

"She's doing great! She debuted two years ago but it'll be her first time to walk at Victorina's Secret runway show. She's already given me an invitation in advance. Would you like to go, too? Our Jarrah will be very happy to see you there! Will you? Please?"

Octavius Lisieux scanned the food on his table and picked the utensils up. Then, he looked at his wife who's hoping. Her eyes were shining.

He looked down.

"I'll see if I can. When is it?"

Mrs. Lisieux giggled. She's so happy and excited!

"Two weeks from now, four days before Valentine's Day. It will be held at Milan. Our Jarrah will be the one opening the fashion show! I'm so proud for our girl!"

"Yeah, while wearing lingerie and underwears."

Mrs. Lisieux gasped. Her husband...was so disappointed about the path their daughter took. If only he had a son... He's just, it's just that---their daughter took the path of modeling. Octavius Lisieux thought that she will follow his footsteps but he's wrong. He thought after drifting away from his family's tradition will mean that he's started a new legacy but he's wrong. Jarrah, his only child, drifted away as well.

What makes him more disappointed is that she can't draw. Draw attention, yes.

"Please don't say it like that. Our Jarrah is amazing, Octavius." Mrs. Lisieux defended her child submissively.

"Delphine, your daughter is a disappointment and you know that. She should be like Kalonice Montecristo instead of shaking her hips and flaunting her body for men."

Octavius Lisieux dropped the utensils even though he haven't tasted everything she had cooked for him.

Mrs. Lisieux lowered her head. Her lips were trembling as she try not to cry. Oh, how badly she want to defend her daughter against him, but there's nothing she can do, too. She's his wife first before she was a mother. She was taught not to speak against her husband.

"I lost my appetite. Bring a chaperone with you when you leave. Buy gifts for Cassandra and Gwynedd. And I'm not watching that damn show anymore."

Oh, she blew it up. Her daughter...hoped, too.