Chapter 1

—Sixteen Years Ago—

Ten O'clock in the morning, Marionne Castello is walking on the sidewalk towards the University he wanted to enroll in college. He spent his entire life preparing himself for this day. From grade school to secondary education, Marionne cried, sweat, and bled to have the credentials to be a worthy scholar student of Universidad de Catalina. The best university in town. His palms were sweating when he entered the gate of the university. Mesmerized by the beauty of the surroundings and how grandiose—for his simple eyes—everything is.

After asking the guard where he can find the registrar's office, Marionne sprinted. He wanted to be there in time for the announcement of those who passed last month's entrance and scholarship examination. But the traffic made the travel hard for him. The announcement is eleven-thirty, but six other students are already sitting in front of the registrar's office and waiting. Students are passing by, and it was evident in their eyes that they're not happy about their school accepting poor students.

One particular student caught his eyes. She was walking towards their direction with her long hair slightly dancing with the breeze. Her tall, slender figure makes Marionne gulp hard twice.

"Ava, I think this puppy likes you." One of her friends announces.

"Really?" For a moment, Marionne becomes hopeful after hearing Ava's reaction. "Waste of time, come on." His smile faded.

"Come on, man. Don't mind them," a lesbian wearing men's clothes tap his shoulder. She looked friendly and nice, so he talked to her. "Don't associate yourself with the rich people. They only see us like dirt." If she's not a cross-dresser, she'd be beautiful. That's Marionne's thoughts.

"I don't care about those rich kids. I just want to study and graduate with honor." Marionne said seriously.

"Don't be too serious, man. D.A, by the way." She extended her hand. Marionne looked at the extended hand in front of him. If you didn't notice the chest binder she's wearing underneath that men's shirt,  you wouldn't know that she's a lesbian. Hell, she's even more handsome than Marionne.

"Marionne." He finally took her hand."

-End of Flashback-

"Earth to Marionne." He blinked a couple of times before he realized that spaced out. "The board is already here."

Marionne looked at his best friend and business partner. They both looked so different than their old selves twelve years ago. They no longer live in a squatter's area. They no longer beg for credit so they can have their dinner. Or sleep with even a single fan because they don't have money to pay for their electricity bill. For twelve years, Divina Angela Mendez, a.k.a D.A Mendez is now a well-known liquor brand owner and the other half of the Mendez-Castello Industries. Number four of the most successful company in the world, according to Forbes magazine.

—Fourteen Years Ago—

"Come on, Marionne. Don't you even dare to think that she really likes you?" Marionne's daydreaming was interrupted by his friend's harsh words.

"Why don't you just leave me alone, D.A? I just want to think in peace." Marionne replied while his eyes were closed.

"She will never like you, man," D.A repeated her statement.

They just went out of their classroom after their history class when one of the most beautiful ladies in the university kissed him on his lips. There's was no conversation, no nothing. She just walked up to him and cupped his face to kiss him. Since then, Marionne looked like a stupid kid, smiling without apparent reason and touching his lips.

"You're so gay, do you know that?" D.A teased him while looking at him disgustedly.

"D.A, just focus on that woman you're dreaming about," Marionne teased back.

"I'm not dreaming about her; she's already mine," D.A answered back confidently.

"What! You're kidding." Marionne could not believe what he heard from his best friend.

"How about you, poor little boy?' D.A asked, daring him. Aside from the fact that she kissed you earlier without even saying hi, any progress?"

"Shut up." He turned away angrily.

-End of Flashback-

He believed, for two years, he thought. Only to be awoken from a bad nightmare. That kiss on that specific day started everything for him. Yes, he likes her because she was beautiful, but then she kissed him. She triggered something inside him. She made him believe it was possible. And he was so stupid to believe her.

—Twelve Years Ago—

Graduation day. D.A and Marionne were both very excited. They may not be getting any awards, but they graduated with honors. As they positioned themselves on the walkway towards the stage to receive their diplomas, they both looked at their families. D.A's mother can no longer walk while her father is weak and sickly. She had to do two jobs so that she can support her family and her studies. She even entered some relationships with older women who promised to help her. And they did. They gave her allowances, but none of those were permanent. And there's Crisanto Castello, garbage collector, and part-time construction worker. His wife left him the day Marionne was born, so he was forced to be a mother and a father to his only son. Even in those days, he could no longer feel his hands and feet; he would stand up from his stiff and uncomfortable bed to work.

"Mr. Marionne Castello, Bachelor of Science and Business Management, First Honorable mention." D.A was already with her family and Mr. Castello. They were all looking at him happily as he accepted his awards and diploma.

After graduation, he went to see the woman who gave him so much inspiration: Ava Rothschild, the eldest daughter of a business tycoon, Gregory Rothschild. He learned that she would be having a graduation party at their estate. Even though she was not telling him about it, he didn't mind.

"Hey, congratulations." Ava greeted him casually.

"Hi! What time is your graduation party?" Marionne still asked.

"Can you not come? My dad is going to be there, and I don't want any scene at my party." Ava said insensitively.

"Why? Are you ashamed of me?" Marionne asked directly.

"Well, no, but—"

"It's okay. I was just teasing you." Marionne said, trying his best not to look hurt.

 "Okay, bye." Ava left just like that.

By eight in the evening, Marionne was already drunk. They've been drinking since they arrived home after graduation. Cheap gin and powered juice were enough for them to celebrate. As they liked to say, they'd drink expensive drinks when they are rich. Then for some reason, Marionne just left to attend Ava's party. He didn't even manage to fix himself because he was too drunk.

"Oh, my, God!" One of the rich kids exclaimed. "Who is that?"

"Gate crasher!" Another one roared.

"Can someone call security?" The others suggested.

"Don't worry, ladies. I'll handle this." They all looked satisfied when a man walked towards Marionne. He looked like in his mid-40s, yet still, look formidable and elegant. "I know you, Marionne, right?"

Marianne felt like he was showered with ice-cold water. The man in front of him was the father of Ava. "Uhm—yes—yes, sir." He struggled to answer.

"Look around, Marionne. Do you think your fit this life?" Marionne gulped. He felt insulted. "The kind of my daughter was born into? You're not the right man for my daughter, so leave her alone. I will not allow my daughter to associate herself with worthless people like you." He bowed out of shame.

"Maybe your rich, but you are far worthless than poor people like me." Marionne held his ground. "You just have the money. But you are not worth anything."

Because of his braveness, Marionne was beaten by Mr. Rothschild's bodyguard. A minute into the beating and his face were already swollen and bleeding. What Marionne didn't know is that D.A arrived few moments after he left. She immediately knew where he'd go, so she followed him, with Marionne's father and some of his childhood friends. They saw Mr. Rothschild's bodyguards brutally punched and kicked him even if he's already on the ground.

Marionne's father was the first to run towards his son. He pushed the men around him, but one of them pushed twice as hard. He fell hard to the ground hitting his head first. Marionne's almost unconscious body witnessed everything. In his weak state, he crawled to reach his father while his friend call for help. Luckily, one of Ava's friends was kind-hearted enough to help them take Marionne's father to the hospital.

"Aren't you going to help him? He's you're boyfriend, right?" He heard someone asked Ava as they passed by.

"What? No! He's not my boyfriend."

Six words. Six simple words. Yet they broke Marionne into pieces and turned him into something else.

- End of Flashback-

But that Marionne died that night, and a new one was born. Determined, focused, and cold-hearted.

"Good morning, Boss."

"Good morning, Sir."

"Good morning, Boss D. and Boss M.

Today, Marionne is the owner of the fourth most successful company in the world based on Forbes magazine, together with his best friend and most loyal ally, D.A.

" Good morning, Mr. Castello, Mr. Montez."

Montez-Castello Industries handles almost every type of business, from yacht to cruise ships. From infant apparel to adult clothing. From snacks to fine dining. From small construction to major housing developments. D.A and Marionne used their wits, their guts and their past to build what they have today.