Chapter 5: Manipulative King

Kyle Sebastian's POV:

The house and lot title of this Hacienda is named after him, at last! I've been waiting for this day before doing anything at the Hacienda.

Don Juan gave me this while we are eating our breakfast.

“Now that the title was named after you, what is your next plan?” Don Juan asked me. As always, he’s reading his newspaper and sipping on his hot coffee here at the dining area.

I am eating my usual breakfast. Ham, scrambled eggs, bread and one hot black coffee.

“I want to impose some new rules. The old one seemed to be a little excessive. Some incentives were unnecessary for a commoner. No doubt that the Hacienda is not earning as much. They have lots of people to pay.” I answered in between meals.

“How did you know all this? You still haven't got the Income Statements, right?” Don Juan asked in curiousity.

“That was the rule ever since. And I bet they haven't changed a single thing.”

“If that was the case, you do whatever you want with the Hacienda. How about Cassandra? Did she applied as an accountant as we assumed?” folded his newspaper and placed it on the table.

“Yes. She will be starting today.”

“Might as well handle the Hacienda for the meantime. We can't risk our plans. She might see you at the office.” He said that as he finished his coffee.

“Okay. I will tell my secretary to send me the reports through emails.”

“Okay then. I have a business trip this noon and I’ll be gone for at least a week. Might as well stay at the Hacienda while making amendments there.”

“Is it okay if I bring Caroline there for a visit? She’s been on to it since she heard about it.” I finished my breakfast and wiped any residues from my lips using a towel.

“Do as you please. But focus on your goals. Our goals.”

“I will Sir.”

He stood up from the corner of the  long glass table. And walked towards the living room. I stood up and  followed him. The driver and a butler was waiting for him as he reached the front door. His things are kept in a luggage carried by his butler.

The driver opened the car door for him. He doesn't say another word as he got on the van. The door closed and I watched as it drove off.

Another car halted in front of me and I boarded it.

“Where to, Sir?” the driver asked without looking at me.

“To the Hacienda.” I replied shortly. The car drove off and slowly, we were far from the mansion.

I got my phone and called my secretary.

“Hello, Sir.” she said from the other end.

“I want you to cancel all of my meetings for the whole week and just send me the reports on my email.”

“Okay Sir.” then I ended the call.

I dialed Caroline’s number after. But her phone was busy so I sent her a text message telling her to come and visit the Hacienda.

* * * * *

After a few hours, we arrived at the Hacienda. Ever since Cassandra and her mother left, I never visited the Hacienda.

The people knew that there’s a new owner but they didn't know who was it. They just continued working. Don Juan probably sent someone to look after them while we are not around.

And for the first time after almost ten years, I’m back as a bad news. For sure some will not recognize me. I am not the poor, rugged, skiny boy anymore. I am a fine young gentleman now. Things they would never imagined I will be achieving.

We stopped at the closed gate. And my driver seems to be arguing with the guard. I opened the car’s tinted window to check what seems to be the problem.

“Hello Señorito Kyle.”

The guard frantically said as he saw me. He was a bit shocked as he opened the gate so our car can get inside. The guard was new and I bet Don Juan asked for another one from the agency.

I closed the window as we drove towards the mansion. The beautiful landscape was seen in a one kilometer ride. I can't help but remember Cassandra and our memories together.

It felt like a sudden flashback of thoughts.

“Hey Casy! Why are you walking all alone?” I asked her as I dismounted from my bicycle and joined her. We were just got out from school.

“Hi there Seb! I asked my driver to go home. I want to walk and see the beauty of the Hacienda from here. A form of exercise, isn't it?”

“Well. Exercise is good for you but too much will give you leg cramps. Why don't you ride with me?”

“Is it safe?” she looked at my bicycle with awe. Excitement was shown on her face.

“Of course, señorita.”

I mounted on my bicycle and tap the back. She sat there and grabbed my waist to hold.

We were laughing the whole time until we reached the Hacienda.

Everyday after classes are over, she rides with me ‘till we get home. This is one of our favorite habit.

“We have arrived, Sir.” The driver said as he opened the door for me.

I didn't noticed that we are already here. I got carried away with my own thoughts.

I got out from the car. The driver closed it as I walked towards the staircase.

The farmers, maids and all the workers in the Hacienda was waiting for me. My father’s attorney is also present.

“He’s finally here. I want you all to meet the new owner, Kyle Sebastian Gargantilla.” The attorney introduced me as I walked towards them.

“Gargantilla? Isn’t he a Sanchez?” I heard one of the farmer said in a low voice. Maybe one of the tenures.

So they recognized me? Good.

“Good morning Sir Kyle.” They greeted me in chorus.

“I believe that the new owner wants to say something to all of you.”

“This way, Sir.” One of them ushered us to the grand living room.

As expected, the living room is filled with expensive things like famous paintings, vases, jars and the chandelier itself is one masterpiece.

The house is indeed a combination of classic and modern designs.

I seated on the couch next to our attorney. The people are standing around us, waiting. I looked at them before saying what's on my mind.

“Good morning. I know that most of you know me and wondering. To be fair with you all, let me start by introducing myself. I am Kyle Sebastian Sanchez, son of Julio Sanchez.” I paused as I heard gasps from the crowd.

“After we left the Hacienda, I was legally adopted by Don Juan Gargantilla and made me his heir. Don Juan legally got the Hacienda from Cassandra Regaña. And as the new owner, I want to say a few things.”

I paused, looked at our attorney. He nodded and I continued.

“I want to set some new rules and make ammendments to it.

First, I want to emphasize that starting today, ‘No work No pay’ rule will be implemented. Meaning, no more monthly salaries. You will be paid weekly and according to your working labours. Any objections?” I asked them

An old man raised his hands, so I nodded. He walked in front of the others before he spoke.

“Good morning Sir Kyle. My name's Danny. Sir, if you wouldn't mind me asking, but how about those farmers? After planting rice, it will take three to four months before harvesting. How will we survive those four months without pay? No offense meant Sir.”

“None taken Danny. If that was the case, I will make sure that all of you will have something to do for a living until the harvest season. Anymore questions?” I answered dear old sweet Danny in a calm voice. I know what his real concern is, he’s old enough to have another heavy job.

No one dared asked another question so I continued on my rules.

“No other concerns? So let me continue. Second rule. All things will be accounted for. Sacks of rice will be evaluated and recorded accordingly. Even the mangoes, coconut and other fruits to be exported will be recorded. As I checked the Income Statements, no records were found on fruit-bearing plants.” Everyone is silent and I can feel that the tension is rising across the room.

“Third rule. Everyone will have their daily time records to check if they’re present or not, including the guards, maids, anyone who works at the Hacienda.

Fourth and final rule. I want to implement a curfew. No one is allowed outside their homes past nine in the evening. ”

I can see disappointed and angry faces. Some are worried about the new rules.

“I won't change other things aside from those things I mentioned. If you have have other concerns, you can approach me anytime. Have a good day.” I got up and handshaked with our attorney. The people are starting to get out of the mansion.

“Oh! And one more thing, I will be staying here for the meantime.”

“See you around Sir Kyle.” Old Danny said that and left. Others didn't say anything at all.

“Do want anything for breakfast, Sir?” Susan approached me. She’s been with the Regaña family ever since.

“Yes please. A black coffee and ham sandwich will do.”

“Okay Sir. I will inform Beth to prepare the master’s bedroom and the things you will be needing.”

“Thank you Susan.”

“Welcome back Sir. You look great and I am glad to see you again.” she said that as she walked towards the dining room.

I am bit glad to hear that from her. I thought that no one cares about his achievements. I am half-hearted to treat Danny and Susan this way. They're very kind to me even from before that I have nothing.

She came back with a ham sandwich and black coffee, placed it in the glass center table. And left without saying another word.

I was left alone here in the living room, with thoughts of Cassandra and our past on my head.

“I forgot how to solve this. What is the formula again?” I said to myself as I stoop down on my math notebook.

“Having troubles again?” It was Cassandra. Looking at my notes. I am doing my assignment here in the living room’s center table.

“Er–Yes. I forgot the formula on how to get the time involving two people.”

She sat beside me and scanned my notes.

“Let me read the question. Peter can mow the lawn in forty minutes and John can mow the lawn in sixty minutes. How long will it take for them to mow the lawn together?”

“I forgot the formula, it was quite long.” I said sadly.

“There’s a short cut for that,you know.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. You can use the MAD or the Multiplication, Addition and Division Method. In this case, You can multiply Peter’s time, forty and Johnny’s time which is sixty. The answer will be two-thousand four hundred.”

“Okay, yes. I get that.” she said that as she wrote something in my notebook.

“Then add, forty and sixty equals to one hundred.”

“Uh-oh” I nodded, listening intently.

“Then divide. Two thousand four hundred divided by one hundred is equal to twenty-four.”

“So the answer is twenty-four?”

“Yes. Easy, right?”

“How come that I didn't know about that? Here I am feeling so stupid because of not memorizing that formula.”

“I came across it by accident. I was looking at my father’s old notes in our library. Hoping to get something useful. You know” then she laughed

I stared at her with amazement. This is the exact reason why I liked her. She’s very kind and down-to-earth. She treated us workers as equals. And that’s something likeable.

“Sir? May I?” Beth suddenly came to me. She’s referring to the utensils I used. I didn't realize that I am already done with my breakfast.

Staying here brought back lots of memories.Why can't I forget my memories with Cassandra? It’s been years and yet, here I am, being nostalgic about the past.

But I cannot be emotionally weak. We are aiming for our goals. We must not fail.

“Sir? You have a visitor.” a young man said as he ushered the said visitor to the living room. He carried a luggage and placed it near the couch.

“Hello hon. I missed you.”

Caroline walked towards me and gave me a kiss on the lips. The young man excused himself and leave us alone.

“Is it okay if I stay here with you?” she asked sweetly.

“But of course. You are most welcome hon.”