“But isn’t that Romina’s company? She could get you in if she wanted to, right? She’s just acting all high and mighty. She wants to show us that we’re all beneath her!”
At Maxwell, the teacher congratulated Cassie and Marga for their inspiring project. She told them that she had watched their advocacy videos in the faculty room and most of the faculty members liked them.
“Thank you ma’am,” Marga said. “We really worked hard on them.”
“Both videos are gaining a lot of views on Maxwell’s website,” the teacher said. “It’s helping raise awareness among our students.”
“That’s an honor for us ma’am,” Cassie said with a smile. “Right, Marga?”
Marga glanced at Cassie. “Yeah.” She turned to the teacher. “Can I ask a favor, ma’am?”
“What is it?”
“Can you put my name and the link to my vlog in the description? So I can inspire others through my videos.”
“No problem,” the teacher said. “See you.” The teacher turned to leave.
“Ma’am,” Marga said. The teacher stopped and turned. “I wanna know which one is better.”
“What do you mean, Miss Bartolome?”
“Well, because you said the members of the faculty watched our projects,” Marga explained, glancing at Cassie. “Am sure they liked one project more than the other.”
“Marga, do we really have to know that?”
“Cassie, come on. I know you’re also curious about the project they liked more too,” Marga said to her. She turned to the teacher. “So ma’am, can you tell us?”
“Actually, we didn’t really discuss that, but based on reactions, I think the project they liked more was… Miss Mondragon’s.”
At Camila, Daniela approached Mrs. Galvez who was glad to see her back in the office. She asked Daniela if there was no more war between her and her stepmom.
“That’s what she thinks. Am just waiting for the right moment,” Danny girl replied.
Mrs. Galvez was laughing, glad to hear that. “That’s exactly what I want to hear from you. I thought you’d already given up. If the universe would allow me and I replaced your father as president, I would fire that Romina right away. When can I execute my plans?”
“The sooner, the better. And I think I can help you with that.”
“Really?”
Danny girl nodded, smiling mischievously.
Kulas and Myrna came to the mansion to see Carlos. Myrna offered Carlos some food she had cooked. When Carlos refused to take it, she placed it on the table. “I thought you might have missed my cooking,” she said.
“Oh, you know how to cook?” Carlos asked sarcastically. “Am sorry but I don’t remember. You were gone for a long time.”
“Son…I just want to make it up to you.”
“What, before you die? Is that it?”
“Carlos… choose your words wisely,” Kulas warned. “Your mother won’t leave us. She’ll get better, Carlos.”
“Dad, whether she’s sick or not, she’ll still leave us.”
“What if there’s still hope?”
“How?”
“We’ll be spending a lot on her treatment. That’s why I think we should talk to Mr. Robert. He’s very generous, isn’t he son? Am sure he’ll help us out.”
“Dad…”
“He’s a kind man.”
“Dad, he’s already done so much for us,” Carlos objected. “Are we going to rely on him for her treatment too?”
“You won’t do anything to help?” Kulas asked.
“There are other ways. We can ask for government’s help,” Carlos said. He asked whether his brothers knew about it and Kulas told him they didn’t know about their mother’s condition.
“If you don’t wanna help, I’ll ask Daniela,” Kulas said.
“Dad, I’ll just think about other ways. This is our problem, we should not drag Daniela’s family into this.”
At Camila, Bonita was explaining some things to Mina when Daniela came up to them. She reminded Mina that today was the audition for the commercial and the director wanted to know if she could make it. Mina asked Bonita if it could fit into her schedule.
“Yes, but you haven’t had lunch yet,” Bonita pointed out.
“Don’t worry, I’ll just eat in the car,” Mina said to her. She turned to Daniela. “Kindly tell him I’ll drop by.”
“Okay.”
Bonita told Mina that she was worried about her since she hadn’t eaten all day. Mina said she was fine.
Danny girl rolled her eyes. She made a phone call after they had left. “Gino.”
“Daniela?”
“You still do commercials, right?” Daniela asked.
“Yes, Daniela.”
“Good. We’re holding auditions for a commercial. Do you wanna give it a try?”
“I don’t know. It’s a bit embarrassing.”
“Don’t be shy. You can do it. Just tell them that Romina specially asked you to be there.”
“Oh, okay, sure. Thank you Daniela.”
Gino arrived at Camila for the audition. An attendant asked for his name and Gino told her.
“Sorry, you’re not on the list,” the attendant said. “What agency are you from?”
“I don’t have an agency. Mrs. Romina asked me to come.”
The attendant was skeptical about letting him in. Gino saw Neil and told him that Mina had told him to audition.
“I’ll just call Romina,” Neil said.
“No need,” Gino said. “Do you think I’d lie to you? Wow, Neil, you’ve changed. It’s as if we’re not friends. Would I come here if she didn’t ask me to?”
Neil went ahead to call Mina anyway but she didn’t pick up. “Alright, fine.” Neil told the attendant to add Gino to the list.
At Maxwell, Kristoff asked Marga why she was alone since she had already reconciled with Nadya and the others.
“Like hell, I care,” Marga said.
Kristoff sat by her and asked why she still hanged with them after what they had done. “You don’t need friends like that. Come on, Marga, you’re better than that.”
“I need to be close with them to stay on top,” Marga explained. “I need people like that on my side. It’s my way of making sure that they never do what they did again.”
“But you can look for new friends. Real ones,” Kristoff suggested.
“You mean like LJ and Fatima? Or Cassie? Kristoff, you don’t know my mom. She always says I can do better, even with chosing my friends. She’d rather have Nadya who has connections than Fatima who’s a loser.”
“Marga, just because they’re not like Nadya does not mean they’re losers.”
“Well, tell that to my mom.”
“You know, my dad is like that,” Kristoff admitted. “Even though he knows my passion is music, he doesn’t care. He’s always pushing me to excel, to be better but sometimes it’s too much. Is it so wrong to be who I am?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Neither do I. You know what, you’re actually kind of cool.”
“Huh? What do you mean?” Marga asked, confused.
“Let’s talk like this again sometime,” Kristoff said.
The audition for the commercials at Camila had began. Gino took a bite of the sardines and said his lines. “Mmm. Camila Sardines; the sardines forever one.”
“It’s for ‘everyone’,” the director corrected impatiently.
Gino took another bite and said his lines wrongly again. “Hmm Camila Sardines; the sardines forever one. Forever one.”
“We’ll give you a call Gino. Thanks,” the director said, signalling him to leave.
“Let me try one last time.”
“I said we’ll give you a call!” the director yelled this time, springing up to his feet. His co-workers asked him to calm down. Neil looked on sadly as Gino left the room.
Mina arrived at Camila. Neil told her that the director was really mad. The director told Mina that they had been waiting for her.
“I was at a meeting earlier,” Mina explained. “Is there a problem?”
“That guy you recommended, I can’t stand him,” the director said.
“What guy?” Mina asked.
Gino appeared on the scene and stood some distance away, waving at Mina.
“He said you told him to come here,” Neil pointed.
Mina shook her head. “No, I did not.”
“We’re looking for someone who’s clean. That guy had tattoos all over his body. He looks like a vagabond. Am sorry Romina, but you’re the only one who approves of him.”
“Alright, let me talk to him directly then. Am really sorry.”
The director left and Gino came up to her excitedly. “Hey, Romina. Thank you very much for asking me to audition for this commercial.”
“Am really sorry Gino, but we’re looking for something else.”
“What do you mean?”Gino asked. “Do you want me to do something else? Let me show you… Camila Sardines…” Gino began.
“Gino, we’re really looking for someone else for this commercial,” Mina said. “You said someone told you to come here right? Who did?”
“It was…”
“Hi,” Danny girl said, walking up to them.
“It was Daniela,” Gino pointed.
Mina couldn’t believe it. She glanced at Danny girl.
“So you’re still here. How was the audition?” Daniela asked.
“Daniela, did you tell Gino that I asked him to come here?” Mina asked.
“You told me to come here because you said I was perfect for the commercial, right?” Gino asked. “That’s why I came here today.”
Danny girl feigned surprise. “I said that? Now why would I say that, Gino? All I said was they would be holding auditions here and you might want to try your luck since I know you want to be a star someday. Why would I tell you that Romina asked you to come here? I would never say that.”
Gino was left speechless. Mina stared at him.
“I guess you misunderstood what I said,” Danny girl went on. “Anyway, how was it? Romina, I hope you gave Gino a chance. He’s talented, and we’re a family after all.”
Mina gave Danny girl a look before turning to stare at Gino again.
At Maxwell, Cassie was happily checking her facegram account. Kristoff came up to her. “You’re smiling,” he said.
“Hi Tope.”
“Who are you chatting with this time?” Kristoff asked.
“No one. I was just reading the messages of the group chat of the people I met at the street art. They added me to their facegram group. They’re really nice, especially Maki. He keeps sending me glowy messenges. Look.” Cassie showed him her phone. ‘Welcome Cass’ it said in glowing letters.
Kristoff took her phone and checked it out.
“All clear?” Cassie asked.
“Yes, but be careful,” Kristoff warned. “Try not to trust people so easily. Especially those you meet online.”
“I think you’re being too judgemental. You’re the one who encouraged me to go online, right?”
“Am not being judgemental. Am just concerned about you.”
“But why?”
“Because you’re my friend, right?” Kristoff replied, messing up her hair.
At Camila, Gino was coming out of the washroom when he heard some workers gossiping about whether he would be hired since he had connections. He later asked Neil if they had a company car to give him a ride home so he didn’t waste anymore money.
“Am sorry for what happened,” Neil said. “But you shouldn’t have come thoughtlessly. Honestly, you’re good, just that we’re looking for a different person for this commercial.”
“Woah, sorry. They asked me to come, so I thought I… I didn’t know. I was just humiliated.
“It wasn’t that bad,” Neil said.
“It wasn’t? Am not good in English, but am not blind. Am not dumb to not understand what happened there.”
Neil then asked where he was going and Gino told him that he was going home since everyone would keep laughing at him. Neil asked for his number, saying that he knew people at the agencies. “And if I hear about an audition, I’ll contact you.”
“You will?”
“Yeah. Trust me.” Neil gave his phone to him. “I’ll call you.”
At the mansion, Carlos talked to a doctor on the phone. The doctor promised to give him the number of her friend who was an oncologist. (A doctor who treats cancer). She told Carlos to get a copy of his mother’s medical history.
Daniela came in. “Was that your doctor?” she asked
“Yeah.”
“Why did she call? Has she scheduled your therapy?”
“She did, but I also asked her to recommend me an oncologist.”
“Why do you need an oncologist?” Daniela asked.
“My mother has cancer,” Carlos explained. “We’ll lose her for good if I don’t get her treated. I know she wasn’t a good mother to us, but she’s still my mom.”
“Don’t worry. If it’s just money, we can help each other,” Daniela said. “I’ll take care of it.”
“What? Ask help from your father?” Carlos asked. Outside, Mina was passing by the door when she heard them arguing. “You’ll use his money? If you do that Daniela, you’re going to tear our marriage apart.”
“But Carlos…”
“Don’t treat me like am useless. I’ll take care of this myself.”
An attractive young woman came to Kulas’ shop and asked if he was still open.
“For you, ma’am, we are,” Kulas replied. “What’s the problem?”
“There’s something wrong with the engine,” she explained. “And I need to travel tonight.”
“I won’t take long. Have a seat first.”
Myrna came out as Kulas was about to work on the car. She told him that it was getting late and Kulas said the woman would be his last customer. The woman batted her eyes at Myrna, giving her some kind of signal.
It looked like they knew each other. Gino arrived later on and stayed outside to get some fresh air. The woman was busy with her phone. She got up and left.
“Why the long face?” Kulas asked Gino.
“Well…I auditioned for this commercial at Daniela’s company but I failed. Romina told me that herself too. They need a different person for the commercial.”
“But isn’t that Romina’s company?” Kulas asked. “She could get you in if she wanted to, right?”
“Dad, she said am not the one they’re looking for,” Gino explained.
“Oh please, she’s just acting all higher-mighty. She wants to show us that we’re all beneath her!”
Cassie sat painting in her rooom. Marga asked Cassie not to keep on painting in the room because the smell of the paint was distracting her from studying.
“Sorry, Marga. I was trying to exhaust myself.”
“You’re going to bed?” Marga asked, incredulous. “Aren’t you going to study for our quiz tomorrow?”
“I already studied earlier at school,” Cassie said. “So I guess that’s enough.”
“We really have different priorities. Don’t you feel pressured to get higher scores?”
“Not really. Mama and daddy said that I don’t always have to be perfect. What matters is that I always try my best.”
“Yet you always get perfect scores.”
“That’s just a coincidence. Okay sorry Marga. I’ll just paint in the study room.” Cassie grabbed the drawing board and some supplies and went out.” Marga seemed frustrated.
Continuation of the heiress episode 24.
Carlos stood by the pool. Mina came up and warned him that he could fall into the pool since he was standing too close to the edge. Carlos drew back from the edge and Mina told him not to worry about the things Daniela had said to him.
“Wait…you heard our conversation?” Carlos asked.
“I was just passing by your room,” Mina replied.
“What makes you so sure that she didn’t mean what she said?”
“Because I have a husband too, Carlos. And no matter what challenges come our way, I never once thought of hurting Robert’s feelings. Help each other out. Place your trust in Daniela, and soon you’ll see that your relationship will strengthen.” Meanwhile, Danny girl stood by the door, watching Carlos and Mina.
Daniela stormed into her room and found Marga there. Marga told her that she needed her signature for her test papers. Daniela took the papers and went through them. “And Cassie? Who got the higher score?” she asked.
“I don’t know, mommy.”
“Then find out.” Daniela said. “You should always have an advantage over your enemy and not cover up for her everytime. What did I tell you Marga? You have to know Cassie’s weaknesses to be able to bring her down. Don’t let her take more things from you.”
“Mommy, I can bring her down without knowing her weaknesses.”
“You’re not thinking like a Mondragon. If you want to win, you have to do everything. Do you understand, Marga?”
Marga nodded.
The next morning at the dining table, Carlos serve Cassie some food. Danny girl and Marga seemed annoyed by the gesture. Kulas came in with Jude. Daniela invited him to join them but he declined.
“We’ll just get humiliated if we just push ourselves in,” Kulas said.
“Dad, you said you wouldn’t make a scene,” Jude whispered to him.
“I just wanna say the truth,” Kulas said. Cassie and Marga left for school.
“What’s the matter?” Carlos asked.
“It’s about Gino,” Kulas began. “He auditioned for your commercial,” he added, pointing at Mina.
“And?…”
“He got rejected. And humiliated.”
“Mr. Kulas, that’s not what happened,” Neil pointed out. Danny girl rolled her eyes in annoyance. “We were there yesterday, right?” Neil asked Mina.
“Yeah, and I clarified everything to Gino,” Mina explained. “I didn’t humiliate him. I talked to him properly.”
“Was that how my son felt?” Kulas asked.
“I’m telling the truth, Mr. Kulas. Please don’t make me look like the bad person.”
“Can you blame me? You act all high and mighty now that you’re rich. It pisses you off whenever we come here. You make us feel unwelcome.”
“Mr. Kulas, I think what you’re doing is not right,” Neil pointed out.
“Dad, you’re going too far,” Carlos said.
“Am just expressing my feelings, so just hear me out.”
Mina stood up. “Mr. Kulas, I apologize if Gino felt that way, but that’s all I can do. My decision is final. Besides, we had a decent talk. I explained and made things clear to him with Daniela.”
Daniela told Kulas that Gino had misunderstood what she had said to him on the phone. “He really thought he passed the audition, but that wasn’t the case.”
At Maxwell, Marga and Cassie were standing in front of the Maxwell Prime leaderboard. Marga told Cassie that she was getting too close to her father.
Cassie seemed hurt. “Marga?”
“What?”
“Nothing.” Cassie walked away.
Marga stared as Cassie left. She had a flashback of what her mother had told her last night about finding and using Cassie’s weaknesses against her.
Mina arrived at Camila and went into Robert’s office. She told Robert that she had a meeting at 4pm and she would later go to the marketing department to see how the commercial audition was going. Robert asked whether she was hurt by what Kulas had said earlier.
“I’m used to him being like that, Robert,” she said. “And I’ll respect him as much as I can. But I don’t like him speaking to me that way in our own home. He’s part of Daniela’s family and I don’t want us to fight because of that. I don’t want them to think am doing this to get back at their family. You saw what Mr. Kulas did right?”
“Yeah.”
“And am sure it’ll happen again the next time they visit Carlos,” Mina said to him. ” Lövê… how long will they be staying at our house? I know that the townhouse you bought for Daniela is ready, and it’s not like am trying to rush them to move out. It’s just that, now I feel uncomfortable at our own home.”
“I know,” Robert said. “And am sorry that you had to adjust to their situation. I think it’s better if we wait for Carlos to heal. I also don’t want them to move out with his condition.”
Robert then told Mina that Daniela had already seen the townhouse and wanted to make some changes. Later that night, Carlos told Daniela that he was frustrated that he still couldn’t walk.
“I know it’s frustrating for you, but please let me take care of you for the mean time,” Danny girl said to him. “There’s no need to rush your recovery. We can get through anything as long as we’re together. And about your mother, whatever decision you make, I’ll support you.”
Kulas went to Myrna’s room to change the bedsheets. Myrna told him that he didn’t have to do it and Kulas said she was back in their lives now and he wanted to make things work. “But that doesn’t mean I’ll forget what you did. I just want our family to be whole again.” Kulas gave her some money for her checkups and medicines.
“When are you going to see the doctor?” Kulas asked. “I’ll go with you.”
“No, no,” Myrna said quickly. “You don’t have to. I can go there myself.”
“Come on, Myrna, I’ll go with you,” Kulas insisted. Myrna stared him.
Marga talked to Savannah on phone. Savannah told her to let her mother know about everything she had told her since she would find out the truth eventually. Daniela approached, unnoticed.
“I’m sure she’ll come up with some ways to help you,” Savannah said.
“Yes but please keep this from mommy first.”
“What are you keeping from me?” Daniela asked, announcing her presence.
“Mommy…”
“Answer me, Marga. Who are you talking to?” Danny girl took her phone. “What is it Savannah?”
“Just talk to your daughter,” Savannah replied.
“Fine.” Danny girl hanged up and turned to Marga. “What did I tell you about lying to me?”
“Mommy…”
“What you keeping from me, Marga?
Marga sighed. “The leaderboard for Maxwell Prime was updated this morning. Cassie’s still number one, but I promise you it’s just for now. Am sure there’s only small difference between our points.”
“It doesn’t matter if it’s only a few points,” Danny girl ranted. “You still lost. I already told you to look for Cassie’s weaknesses but you’re just not listening to me.”
“I just want to beat her with my own strength,” Marga pointed out.
“And look what happened. She’s still number one.”
“You really don’t believe I can beat her, do you?” Marga asked. “That’s why you want me to play dirty.”
“That’s not what I meant Marga. I just want to be sure, that’s why am doing all this, so she won’t have any chance to beat you.”
“But that’s what you’re making me feel, mommy. I just want to win fairly. And that way, I’ll know that am better than Cassie, but even my own mom doesn’t believe that I can do it.” Marga walked away, leaving Danny girl to her thoughts.
Kristoff tried calling his mother several times but she didn’t pick up. Bernard came up and told him not to waste his time because his mother was probably asleep after a late night gig.
“You should know better son. How many times has she made you wait for nothing in LA just because she was having gigs somewhere. That’s why she let you come stay with me here.”
Kristoff gave his father a look.
Bernard sighed. “Kristoff, am not saying this to belittle your mom. You should know that am telling the truth.”
“I know dad, but it doesn’t hurt to try.”
“I want you to have a better life. The one you had in LA. You deserve a better life here, okay? I don’t want your mother dragging you down while she reaches for her dream without even considering you.”
Cassie was in the living room when she received a text message from Kristoff : Mommy’s still not answering my calls, it said.
Cassie texted him a reply : Are you okay? Why don’t you try calling her in the morning?
Carlos came up to her and told her that it was late, asking if she wasn’t going to bed yet. Cassie told him that he was messaging with Tope since he was a little upset that his mother was still not answering his calls.
“I don’t want to intrude, but you’re still young. Is Tope courting you?” Carlos asked.
“Cassie laughed. “Carlos, Tope is not my suitor. We’re just really close friends because we have been friends since childhood. If they hadn’t moved to the US back then, am sure we would have grown up together. He and his father used to come here often back then.”
Carlos smiled. “Are you sure about that?” he asked. “I’m just worried about you. There are guys who befriend you with some other intention in their minds.”
“Tope is not like that,” Cassie said. “Even mom and dad have no problem with him.”
Daniela joined them and asked Cassie why she was still awake. Cassie told her she was just messaging Tope and Daniela asked if he was dating her and whether her mother knew about it.
Cassie laughed again. “You and Carlos asked me the same thing, but he’s not dating me, Daniela. Am still too young. That’s not on my mind yet. I’m just focusing on my studies right now.”
“I heard that you’re number one on the Maxwell Prime list,” Danny girl began.
Carlos seemed surprised. “She is?”
“Yeah. Marga told me herself.”
“Thank you Daniela, but Marga’s at the top of the leaderboard too.”
“I know,” Danny girl said. “That’s why I am very proud of you too. Am so proud to be your sister.”
Daniela and Cassie exchanged smiles. Carlos was smiling as well. Daniela hugged Cassie, rolling her eyes. Meanwhile, Marga stood on the stairs, watching angrily as Cassie still smiled. Robert had a meeting with some shareholders. They suggested to him that they start exporting some of their products outside the country.
Robert told them he wanted to focus and establish their core market in the Philippines before venturing abroad. One of them gave Robert their proposal and Robert told them that he would present it to the board and have the legal department review the contract.
“We believe in you, Robert,” one of them said. “After meeting your beautiful and businesswoman wife, and that’s why we’re back here in Camila.”
“We’ll make this decision much faster then,” Robert said.
“Marga baby, can we please talk?” Daniela asked, walking into the room.
Marga turned to face her. “Mommy, if this is about Cassie, then there’s no need. After all, you’re super proud to be her sister, right?”
Daniela walked up to her. “Listen Marga, that is all an act. Remember I told you, we need to find their weaknesses so we can get rid of them forever. That’s the only reason why I did that.”
“Mommy it’s okay. I just have one question.”
“What’s that?”
“Once aunt Romina and Cassie are out of here, will you spend more time with me?”
“Of course, baby. We’re only doing this so we can reclaim what’s rightfully ours. That’s why I need you to stick to the plan.”
“No. Mommy, I’ll beat Cassie in my own way. I just hope you can have faith in me because I can do this. I am a Mondragon after all. I can win. No. I will win, even if it is against Cassie.”
Back at Camila, Robert showed the proposal of the shareholders to Bernard. Bernard told him that it was a good proposal since they were giving Camila full control of production while they focused on marketing.
“Well I agree,” Robert said. “My only concern right now is that… who will handle the project?” He added that Mina was handling another project.
“Did they say they wanted Romina to do this?” Bernard asked.
“Well, not directly but you know those guys. They don’t easily trust someone if they are not sure of the person. Even Romina had to prove herself to them in the beginning in order to win their trust.”
“Why don’t you give Daniela this one?” Bernard suggested.
“Not just yet. I think I’ll wait for the Camila Hunt campaign to end.”
“I think this is a good opportunity for Daniela to prove herself. And since you’re planning to leave Camila in the hands of Romina and Daniela, this is a good time to prove to everyone that they can handle all the responsibilities.”
At Maxwell, the teacher gave the class another project, saying that the performances from the Maxwell fair would be part of their standing on Maxwell Prime. Later on, Marga and the Mean Squad went to check the Maxwell Prime leaderboard. Cassie was still in first place.
“Marga…” Nadya began.
“Don’t even say it, Nadya” Marga warned.
“Okay. Fine.”
“OMG, Nadya, you’re one of the top five students. Look,” Maureen said.
“Like that’s even surprising,” Nadya said.
“You’re welcome,” Marga said.
“What?” Nadya asked.
“Do you think you would have made it to the top five if it weren’t for the advocacy at Novatas? It’s the same advocacy that pulled your grades up, even though you didn’t help me at all.”
“Oh no. We should have paired up on that project, Marga,” Maureen jumped in. “I could have made it to the top five too.”
“Dream on, Maureen,” Nica mocked. “Nadya has always had high grades.”
“My name was already on the list before we did that project,” Nadya pointed out to Marga. “I can even win Maxwell Prime.” Marga gave her a look. “But Cassie’s tough to compete with,” Nadya went on. “Am sure she won’t give up that easily.”
“Yeah, right,” Marga said. “Now the Maxwell Fair is coming up. And after that, I will make sure I end up on top.”
