Chapter 6 A Friend, A Lover And A Protector

• Thinking back, she could not forget how Remo made things look so easy when she has gotten into trouble at the school one day. After the family driver drops her in front of the campus, she needs to walk a few more buildings to reach her class.
• While walking from the pathway, waiting for her arrival were three aristocratic teenagers who wasn’t only rich heirs but also very handsome.
• Stanley Ayala is one of them. He is tall and the son of her father business partner. They already met a few times attending some odd weddings parties and business gatherings with family associates.
• Astrid learned that he is a martial artists practitioner who they call him by the name of “Skull” from his friends due to his tattoo that was inked into his arms that goes up until his broad shoulders.
• It was said that his abilities has improved significantly when he was mentored as the only disciple by a Chinese expert beginning on his early teens and now has excelled in an ancient dragon technique.
• I am not privy of knowing more about his background since I was not interested in martial arts. The information was shared by another classmate during a lunch break at a fast-food center.
• Stanley has been pursuing her ever since she reaches adolescence.
• However, Remo Hunter had already pinched her heart. Not only that the young man immensely won her feelings, but also had the honor of being recognized as the most competent and intelligent student in their class.
• “Can I help carry your things Astrid?” Stanley readily approaches with an extended hands.
• “Since when did you care about me Mr Stanley? Just because you are stronger when facing little girls like me you have already forgotten your father instructions?....”
• Astrid sneered expressing his reluctance to indulge nonsensical talks with him.
• Her arrogant expression displeased Stanley, but he continued to walked over and stand in her way.
• “Okay, Okay, since I’m no match for you when it comes to facing dangers, can you even consider my request since we have known each other a long time now? I can explain why I left the hotel during the commotion.”
• The corner of Stanley’s lips curled into a faint smile while explaining his cause…
• He recalled what has been a good summer break that became unforgettable for him when both their families travelled together in a trip to Europe.
• It was the third anniversary of the new hotel and restaurant both families of the Ayala’s and Lopezes put up in Paris as joint venture with her father and his dad.
• They joined forces by forming a JV company operating a new entity under the so called “LA Super Hotels” launching a three 4-star hotels headed jointly by his father Don Alfonso Lopez and Antonio de Ayala Associates acquiring a fifty-fifty sharing with no majority shareholder.
• The joint venture company had achieved earnings of over 100 Million dollars by mid-term on the first year and over the last three years, the revenue soared to nearly a billion dollars.
• Needless to say, the two families have to taken care their businesses at home and abroad successfully. Hence, naturally they will have to celebrate by becoming unrivalled players in the hospitality industry in another country.
• As soon as they arrived in Paris, two presidential suites at LA Super Hotel were booked on the 25th floor. Among the two suites, the de Ayala families will stay at the far side of the building while the Lopez family occupied the middle suites fronting the Eiffel Tower.
• Don Antonio is a widower. He lost his wife with an ovary cancer three years ago. He travelled to Europe with his son and associates to attend the anniversary. He did it in purpose to give his eldest son a chance and opportunity to flirt with the daughter of Don Alfonso.
• However, recalling the mistakes of his son, everything was put into waste.
• Astrid, meanwhile, was staying in her own separate exclusive room at the presidential suites.
• Although she was still very young and only daughter of the Lopez family, deep down inside, she’s just a normal teenager with no common interest in the business world of her dad.
• They never spend any time together. Astrid suspects that the gap between them has something to do with the stressful work of his dad. Therefore, she has to live her own life with a nanny. She was the only daughter.
• Sometimes it even left her thinking whether she could build a closer relationship with his father and how close will it be --- or too close not to disturb his dad. They never spend time together anyway, ever since she was a child. Fortunately, she could understand the kind of business their family were up into.
• As she was in her trance, her phone suddenly vibrated and rang. She looked on her phone and the call was coming from his mother, Dona Althea Lopez.
• “What’s up mom, why did you call?”
• “Astrid, Stanley just called me a minute ago. We have a dinner arranged by Don Antonio de Ayala at eight o’clock below the hotel restaurant. However, your dad and Don Antonio will extend the board meeting with the shareholders probably until after nine o’clock. Therefore, we cannot come on time. Please go meet Stanley and have dinner together ahead of us.”
• “Mom, please tell him that I will just wait for both of you to finish the meeting. Kindly tell him to forgive me.”
• Astrid had a relatively introverted personality and do not enjoy socializing with Stanley. Even at the school, he was always acting too good to be true for himself since he belongs to an aristocratic family.
• While Astrid was a very simple and innocent young girl, her gentle and quiet temperament do not match Stanley’s behavior at all. Every young lady like her get to know a gentleman who has good manners and handles himself in a principled way.
• Stanley is the exact opposite.
• “Stop it Astrid, everyone here knows that our families are both business partners.” Dona Althea snarled back.
• “We have a very close relationship with Antonio de Ayala and a very, very important business collaboration is underway for another overseas project. You are not young anymore so quit staying away from the opposite sex all the time. As the only young lady of the Lopez family, you should maintain that characteristic of a young lady. How can you just avoid meeting him?”
• “Don’t be so stubborn Astrid.”
• After that Dona Althea hang up directly her phone.
• Astrid was speechless and a loss for words. Even though she had grown up with a silver spoon, she had to strictly follow her parents’ wishes.
• Especially in terms of business partnership, conflicts are the most potential cause of disagreement between partners. Disagreement may arise issues such as division, roles at the company, responsibilities or even contract dissolution.
• And she does not want to be the cause of that conflict.
• Besides the fact that she is one of the most beautiful girls in the high school, Astrid felt that she has nothing to do with Stanley. Her current goal in life is very simple, finish her secondary school, go to University and graduate successfully with her studies.
• “However, if it was Remo who was inviting --- by all means, she would willingly go to dinner with him since she enjoys his company.”
• Faced with no other choice --- she knows her mom strict character and does not dare to overstep the boundaries. Astrid has to respectfully follow the rules since birth of what a strong family does in any way.
• After the conversation with her mother, she called Stanley helplessly.
• “Stanley, mom just called me that they could not come to dinner on time. I need to take a shower first and will arrive shortly at the lobby before eight.”
• “Ohhh, okey Astrid. Please take your time. It’s only seven o’clock, I will wait for you.”
• Upon learning that Astrid is finally ready to meet him for dinner, Stanley felt excitement deep within his heart.
• About thirty minutes later, Astrid, who was wearing a casual simple white T-shirt with a black shorts appeared at the door of the elevator and walks towards the lobby of the hotel.
• Stanley could not help but admire the simplicity of her. She looked so beautiful, and her eyes were so pure, flawless face and refined nose with soft lips that were pink and tender.
• She was so dignified and gentle but looking a little bit cold in her eyes.