Chapter 1
Chapter 1 — The Opportunity
The smell of fried chicken and freshly baked buns filled the small fast-food restaurant as Janilla wiped the counter for what felt like the hundredth time that evening.
Her feet were aching.
Her shoulders were sore.
And her eyes were desperately asking for sleep.
But she kept moving.
It was already past ten in the evening, and tomorrow morning, she had an eight o’clock class.
Being a working student wasn’t easy.
But Janilla had learned not to complain.
She glanced at the small clock hanging behind the counter.
10:47 PM.
“Almost done,” she whispered to herself.
Her shift would end in a little over an hour.
After that, she would take the bus home, review her Accounting notes, finish her assignment, and—if she was lucky—sleep for three or four hours before going back to school.
Sometimes, she wondered how she was still standing.
But whenever she remembered why she was doing all of this, she pushed the exhaustion aside.
She wanted to graduate.
She wanted to build a better life for herself.
And most importantly, she wanted to prove that she could do it without depending on anyone.
Especially not on rich people.
Her phone vibrated inside her pocket.
She checked it quickly.
Bella: Jan! Don’t forget our study group tomorrow after class.
Janilla smiled.
Bella had been reminding her about the study group for the past three days.
Janilla: I won’t forget. But I have work after class.
Almost immediately, Bella replied.
Bella: Just come for a while. Please? We’re reviewing Accounting.
Janilla sighed.
Accounting.
Her most difficult subject.
She typed a reply.
Janilla: Fine. One hour.
Bella: YES! See you tomorrow! ❤️
Janilla put her phone away and returned to work.
One hour.
She could manage one hour.
She had survived worse.
The next morning, Janilla sat at the back of the classroom with a cup of coffee beside her.
She stared at the numbers on the board.
Debit.
Credit.
Assets.
Liabilities.
Equity.
Her professor continued explaining the lesson, but Janilla’s brain was still trying to wake up.
She quietly rubbed her eyes.
“Janilla.”
She looked up.
Bella was standing beside her desk.
“You look dead.”
Janilla raised an eyebrow.
“Good morning to you too.”
Bella laughed and sat beside her.
“Did you sleep?”
“Of course.”
Bella looked at her suspiciously.
“How many hours?”
Janilla hesitated.
“That’s not important.”
“Janilla.”
“Three.”
“Three hours?!”
“Maybe three and a half.”
Bella shook her head.
“You’re going to kill yourself with all that work.”
Janilla smiled.
“I’ll survive.”
Bella knew her friend well enough not to argue.
They had been classmates for years, but their friendship had grown much deeper during their college years.
Both of them were graduating Business Entrepreneurship students.
Both had the same major subjects.
And both were currently struggling with the same Accounting requirement.
But their circumstances were very different.
Bella never had to worry about whether she could afford her tuition.
Janilla did.
That was why, after classes, while most students went home, Janilla went straight to work.
Sometimes, on weekends, she accepted tutoring jobs for elementary students.
Every peso mattered.
Every extra hour of work mattered.
Because graduation was getting closer.
And there was one more requirement she hadn’t solved yet.
Her OJT.
After their afternoon class, Bella gathered several classmates in a small study area near the library.
Janilla reluctantly joined them.
For the next hour, they discussed their Accounting exercises, argued about answers, laughed over mistakes, and complained about their professor.
Eventually, the conversation shifted.
“So, where are you guys doing your OJT?” one of their classmates asked.
“I already have mine,” another answered.
“My aunt found me a company.”
“My father’s friend owns an accounting firm.”
Janilla quietly looked down at her notebook.
She didn’t have a company.
She hadn’t even found one that was accepting trainees.
Her chest tightened.
She couldn’t graduate without completing her OJT.
Bella noticed her silence.
“Jan?”
Janilla looked at her.
“You haven’t found one yet?”
Janilla shook her head.
“No.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I was trying to find one myself.”
Bella frowned.
“Okay. Do you want me to ask around?”
Janilla hesitated.
“Do you know any company that’s accepting trainees?”
Bella thought for a moment.
“Hmm…”
She tapped her pen against the table.
“I don’t know.”
Janilla sighed.
“That’s okay.”
“But…”
Bella suddenly stopped.
Janilla looked at her.
“But what?”
Bella’s expression changed.
“I might know someone who can help.”
“Who?”
Bella hesitated.
“My brother.”
Janilla immediately froze.
“No.”
Bella blinked.
“I haven’t even explained yet.”
“I know enough.”
“Janilla.”
“No, Bella.”
Bella laughed.
“You haven’t even seen him.”
“I’ve known your brother for years.”
“Exactly. So you know he can help.”
Janilla crossed her arms.
“Your brother and I don’t get along.”
Bella rolled her eyes.
“You two have never gotten along.”
“Exactly.”
“But he owns several companies.”
Janilla didn’t answer.
Bella continued.
“And one of them definitely has an internship program.”
Janilla looked away.
She hated admitting it, but Bella had a point.
Richard could probably solve her problem with one phone call.
Richard.
Bella’s older brother.
Thirty-two years old.
A billionaire businessman.
The CEO of one of the largest companies in the country.
And, unfortunately, one of the most arrogant men Janilla had ever met.
She had known him for years through Bella.
And somehow, every conversation between them eventually turned into an argument.
Richard thought Janilla was stubborn.
Janilla thought Richard was controlling.
Neither of them had ever bothered to change their opinion.
“I’d rather find another company,” Janilla finally said.
Bella stared at her.
“Why?”
“Because I don’t want to owe your brother anything.”
“You wouldn’t owe him anything. You’re applying for an internship.”
“Still.”
Bella sighed.
“Janilla, you need an OJT.”
“I know.”
“And you don’t have one.”
“I know.”
“And my brother can help.”
Janilla gave her a look.
“Are you done?”
“No.”
Bella smiled.
“I’ll ask him.”
“Bella—”
“Relax. I’m not asking him to hire you. I’m just asking if his company accepts trainees.”
Janilla opened her mouth to protest again.
But Bella was already pulling out her phone.
“Bella.”
“Too late.”
“Don’t.”
Bella pressed the call button.
Janilla stared at her best friend in disbelief.
After a few seconds, Bella’s expression changed.
“Hi, Kuya.”
Janilla immediately looked away.
She didn’t want to hear his voice.
She didn’t want to deal with him.
She especially didn’t want to ask him for a favor.
Bella continued talking.
“Yeah, I’m with Janilla.”
Janilla’s eyes widened.
She mouthed, Why did you tell him I’m here?
Bella simply smiled.
A few seconds passed.
Then Bella asked,
“Do you have any companies accepting OJT trainees?”
Janilla watched her carefully.
Bella listened.
Then her eyebrows lifted.
“Really?”
Another pause.
“Okay.”
She smiled.
“Thank you, Kuya.”
The call ended.
Janilla immediately asked,
“What did he say?”
Bella put her phone down.
“He wants your résumé.”
Janilla stared at her.
“What?”
“He said his company is accepting trainees.”
Janilla’s stomach twisted.
Bella smiled.
“And he wants to interview you.”
Janilla slowly leaned back in her chair.
Of all the companies in the city...
Of all the people who could help her...
It had to be him.
She looked at Bella.
“I hate your brother.”
Bella laughed.
“I know.”
Janilla gathered her things.
“I’ll find another company.”
Bella shook her head.
“You have one week.”
Janilla stopped.
“One week?”
“Our OJT coordinator said applications close next Friday.”
Janilla’s confidence disappeared.
She needed this.
She needed to graduate.
And whether she liked it or not...
Richard might be her only opportunity.
Bella smiled knowingly.
“Just go to the interview.”
Janilla sighed.
“Fine.”
She looked down at her notebook.
“Just the interview.”
She didn’t know it yet, but that one decision would change everything.
Not just her career.
Not just her future.
But her relationship with the man she had spent years trying to avoid.
Richard.
