Minerva, the largest architectural design company in the USA, initially belonged to the Iverson family, it was named after the Roman goddess of wisdom, learning, art crafts and industry.
My parents were fine architects, Jack and Lea Iverson, they started everything with this company, they developed their industries and soon built their own empire——the Iverson Group, they became one of the leaders of business in Chicago.
Since young, I dreamed of becoming a great architect like my parents, I read my books about the history of architecture, I played with building designing simulators, I visited every museum, gallery and exhibition about all the architecture in the world, I even did my research about the best architecture school in the world so that my dream would come true.
Most importantly, I promised a girl when I was ten, that I would become an architect like my parents, build my own house, and invite her over to stay with me. For it, I had to study hard, become an architect, and inherit the Iverson Group so that I could earn a lot of money to build that house.
Unfortunately, before I could ever inherit any of the companies from my parents, a tragic accident happened. One rainy night when I was home alone with my butler and maids, we received a call from the hospital.
They said there was a plane crash accident happening that night during a flight back from New York City to Chicago, and the plane was confirmed to be my parents’ private jet. My butler told me that my parents had just landed in another place far away from us, but I was twelve back then, I knew what death means.
At the same night, Peyton Group announced their acquisition against all of the property registered under Iverson Group, including Minerva. In just one night, I lost both of my parents and everything that should belong to me. My parents and all of our businesses were not the only ones that had been taken away from me, but the girl too. I was casted out of the aristocracy after my parents died, I never had the chance to see the girl again, though I hope she remembers the promise we pledged that night under the white moonlight.
Using the money my parents left me, I tried to pursue my dream of becoming an architect, I studied hard and successfully enrolled in the most well-known art school in Weimar, Germany——the Bauhaus, one of the most influential schools in modern design, contemporary architecture, and architecture education.
After I obtained my certificates for both my bachelor degree and my master degree with first-class distinction, I returned to Chicago and worked for some small architecture firms for quite a long time, so that I could acquire some experiences and knowledge, and also to help build my route towards the attainment of my professional AR license.
When I thought I was just a step away from my dream of becoming a licensed architect, chances came. The flyer I picked up from a guy at the front door of my penthouse earlier that night had led me to a new route of pursuing my dream——the retake of Minerva.
In a rather serious expression, I mentioned to Victor, “If there are any chances that I can retake any of my parents’ properties, this competition is the one.”
Victor took a second to ponder over it, he then nodded, “Fair enough.” whereas he then gave me a dubious glare as he put a pout up on his lips, “But do you think you can win it?”
Duh! “Of course I can!” this competition could be what I was always studying so hard for! And not to mention, “I inherited the best architect’s lineage from my parents, how would I not win the competition?”
Yet Victor didn't seem like he was going to give me a better suggestion on that, “Well, I hate to lie to you my friend, but I’m certainly not very confident about what you’ve just said.”
“Victor!” I frowned as I grabbed tightly onto his shoulders, “You said you’ll help me when this day comes! And this competition is due in one month, I can’t do this alone, I need your help!”
However, Victor chose to react to the less vital words I said, “Told you to call me Vivi Baby!”
As Reiss watched us fight, he suddenly pointed at the flyer I brought and mentioned, “My friend happened to have the chance to meet the CEO of Minerva once, and I’ve heard that he is a tasty one.”
“What?” Victor’s expression turned bright.
“Jamie Lee Peyton.” Reiss introduced, “The second child of the Peyton Group, the chairman of the board, and at the same time the CEO of Minerva. He is definitely low profile, not many people have seen him before, he refuses his photos to be taken in big events too. But we’ve heard rumors that he is cold yet smart and capable, and most importantly, he is a very fair and handsome man.”
As Victor heard Reiss, he turned back to me and gripped onto my arms, “Will Jamie Lee Peyton attend the awarding ceremony for the competition?” in an excited tone he asked.
I shrugged, “I guess so?”
A bright grin was then seen on Victor’s face, “Then I’ll help you, Henry Baby.” he said confidently, “We will make sure you win the competition and go to the ceremony. And that will be our chance to take a glimpse of the true face of the CEO of Minerva, Jamie Lee Peyton.”
Seeing Jamie Lee Peyton’s true face was never the main objective for me to win the competition, but if that’s what helps me earn Victor’s help, sure, why not?
I don’t really like to look at beautiful guys, you know, just because I am not like Victor, but if Jamie Lee Peyton is the one who took Minerva away from Iverson Group and me, then I will make sure that I at least would know what he looks like.
The project brief of the competition was to build a contemporary art and cultural gallery at any existing site within Chicago.To have a deeper understanding about contemporary art and culture, I visited the state library to do an enough amount of research and information collection. After that, I travelled through Illinois to visit every art gallery that could be found, especially in Chicago, in order to study the visual and sensory impact that the inside and outside spaces brought to both the environment and the people.I listed down a few key points to the spaces I wanted to present in my project. Afterwards, trying to find the perfect site for my project, Victor and I travelled to everywhere within the first week of the competition duration.After we set our boundary in
A week after we received the invitation, we attended the awarding ceremony of the competition right at one of Jamie Lee Peyton’s properties in Chicago——the Blue Horizon Hotel.Victor dressed himself in a slim fit pink suit with a floral shirt and a white tie inside, while I dressed up in a navy blue suit with a classic white t-shirt underneath. We chose a seat not too close to the front to keep ourselves low profiled, while not too far away from the stage so that we could take a good look at Jamie Lee Peyton’s face.As the ceremony started, the CEO of Minerva——Jamie Lee Peyton, was invited in by the host to give an opening speech. At the moment as he stepped up onto the stage, Victor and I finally had our opportunities to fetch his true appearance in sight.
“If you’re paying attention, like you should, because you’re a man too.” Victor mentioned, “A man like Jamie Lee Peyton, the CEO, decent on the outside, but on the inside, he is just as simple as every guy on earth!”My face turned blank, “What do you mean?”Victor clicked his tongue as he slapped his forehead with his palm, “I’m telling you, Henry Baby, unless Jamie Lee Peyton is a gay like me, he won’t be able to resist the seduction of a hot pretty lady!”I sneered, “And... so?”“So!? Seriously!?”Victor sounded a little furious. Before I could realize w
After deciding my female name, Victor began my makeover session first thing next morning.First, he took me to the beauty treatment. I was forced to undergo hair removal treatment, they plucked my facial hair and nose hair with tweezers; they waxed my armpits, chest, legs, and even my private part! Believe me, you won’t want to know how painful that felt!After the hair removal treatment, they gave me a relaxing facial and spa treatment. Glad it was free of charge.Afterwards, Victor took me to the malls he often shopped to get me some essential clothes and accessories for Henrietta Chandelier.We went to the office lady session right away. Victor chose plenty of clothes in different styles and colors with the
Victor came to me and put his hands on my shoulders. He looked into the mirror as he exclaimed, “You are a Goddamn sexy hot blonde, Henrietta.”I chuckled, “I know.” hell I am.There, Victor swept my hair to the back and hooked them across my ear. He touched my left face and laid his fingers at the spot right below the tail of my left eyebrow, where my only mole on my face is.“This mole is the most sexiest trait on your face, use it wisely as I would say.”After finding myself a perfect wig, we chose a pink leather handbag on our way to our next stop. For our next stop, Victor took me to the cosmetic department.Before c
April, 2021. Today, the time has finally come. After I ensure I am one hundred percent prepared to step on the route of my revengeance, I set off from my penthouse for Minerva. As I arrive at Minerva, I look up to the beautiful contemporary high rise building that my parents built. It was a long time ago I last had the chance to take a glance at it. It now looks a little bit different from what was printed in my memories, but I think it is alright for now, because once I take Jamie Lee Peyton down and take over the company, I will turn the building back to how it looked like during its earliest days. Deeply, I take a breath. Once I pick up my courage, I take my step and walk into my battlefield.
My name is Henry Iverson. On my first day at work as the architectural designer of Minerva, I find myself becoming the CEO’s secretary instead.Now that I recall, I finally understand their odd feedback they gave me that day during the interview session on my decision of applying for THAT position on that application form.And I see why they need a new CEO secretary, because the one who was interviewing me is expecting a labour, and I am here to take her place as the new CEO secretary!While I am still sinking in my thoughts, the huge wooden doors next to the desk are suddenly opened, pulling me back to my senses.There, as the doors are opened, a fair man in short blonde hair comes out from the office. I&rsqu
Just as I am immersing myself in my thoughts, Jamie Lee Peyton who is sitting at his table suddenly coughs twice. Perhaps he wanted to clear his throat, but his face is telling me that he was trying to gain my attention.Putting up a wry smile, I slowly walk away from the door and come to his front. I cover my crotch with my handbag as I stand straight on my high heels, trying to prevent my bulge from shaping out from under the skirt.As I look prepared to listen to him, with the end tip of his pen, Jamie Lee Peyton points at the analogue clock hanging against the wall.“What time do you think now is?” he asked.I turn my head to the clock, I remember I learned how to read an analogue clock when I was in