Rivals – Chapter 13
December 1, 2000
By: Umali
Umalific@hotmail.com

Happy New Year to everyone………

Thanks to you all that have been constantly keeping me in check and 
reminding me that I still have to finish this never ending story. And 
believe me with the things I have planned its going to seem like its 
never ending.

I dedicate this chapter to my newfound buds and my premiere readers.  
Takako-chan… Diana… Ghollygina… Tashia… DarkAngel… SilverROSE… 
MIN…(kitty) my absent friend Ming…  Thanks for all your constant 
support.  Also I would like to give my very large hello to CRISSY… I 
have to tell you that she's been with me from beginning till the end.. 
and I mean from the beginning… when I first posted the story in August 
of 99.  Though I haven't heard from her lately she's stuck by me and 
even threatened to strangle me if I don't update rivals. SO HE…LLOOOOO. 
CRISSY and I hope you email me again soon.

Anyways one with the story…………

It was now early summer of the month of June and had been two months 
since Serena's arrival and still her days we're very busy.  Tsukino 
Financial in Tokyo was bursting with many investors.  Since her profile 
circulated among the cities of Japan many influences had introduce 
themselves to Serena, especially eligible bachelors that have taken a 
liking to not only her beauty but her money as well.  Many families had 
set their eyes on Serena and bid their sons to try and court the 
successful beauty.  But to no avail Serena was still not interested in 
such romance.  She still had her goals and felt that it was too early 
to relax, needing to prove to no one but herself that she can handle 
being there.  Serena's schedule away from work was stirring with extra 
activities.  From fundraisers, charity meetings and several hours at 
the gym to wash it all off she was always too tired by the end of the 
day to date.  Besides she was still uneasy about setting herself up for 
another frightening experience.  Her friends would constantly call on 
her making sure she took her time to at lease keep her health steady, 
especially Lita.  Lita was like her mother, worrying and nagging, she 
will definitely make a good mother she thought amusingly.

Monday morning Serena walked into her office with a feeling of 
forgetfulness. She had gone through both her electronic organizer and 
as well as her daytimer but to her knowledge nothing important was to 
happen.  No meetings to tend to nor banquets to host.  'Then what is it 
about this date?' she stated loudly.  The thought of forgetting 
something was driving Serena insane.  She held her head down, closing 
her eyes and rubbing her temples to think and retract her mind of the 
reason to this important day.  Finally giving up she tended to the 
files piled on her desk.  It was hours later when she heard a knock.
"Come In"
"Hi boss" said Mina and Jayson walking in cheerfully.  Serena lifted 
her head and smiled largely to her assistants.
"Goodmorning" she said
"Goodmorning????" said Jayson
"Serena, its 12:30 in the afternoon" said Mina.  They watched Serena 
take one look at her watch and sighed.
"My gosh its lunch time already.  Where does time go?" Jayson and Mina 
smiled to each other as if a plan was made and the obvious to surprise 
her.
"That's why we came, we wanted to know if you will join us for lunch" 
asked Jayson.
"Oh I don't know guys, I've got a lot of things to review and 
calculate"
"Come on Serena, we haven't had lunch together in a while your always 
too busy" said Mina pouting.  Serena couldn't resist, she might be well 
trained to not be bothered by such act from a grown up but Mina was 
just too funny.
"Alright" said Serena standing up to stretch her arms.  "Mina, 
something's been bothering me since I woke up this morning"
"What is it?"
"I don't know it feels like something I don't remember about this day," 
she said walking in to the elevator.  Mina and Jayson grinned. "Was I 
suppose to meet with someone today?"
"No, there's nothing in your appointment book" said Mina
"Don't worry about it Serena" said Jayson
"I'm sure it's not important," said Mina as Jayson looked at her 
jokingly.

"Are they here yet?" asked Ami from the special reserved room on top of 
the restaurant.
"No, not yet" said Molly looking around the corner.
"Can we eat now?" asked Nathan eyeing the appetizers.
"Why do you always just think about your stomach?" asked Rei.
Well its lunch time and my stomach is reacting to the smell of food"
"Well Nate, you're just going to have to wait," said Zen
"Lita do you have the matches?"
"Yep, I got it right here"
"Okay guys she's around the corner" ran Molly as Ami hushed the guests.

"Hi Serena, long time no see," said Andrew hugging her.
"I've been really busy"
"You don't say"
"Yeah we all figured that, Andrew can we get a table, I'm famished"
"Sure, but you have to go upstairs, I'm having a large party coming 
over at 1 and it might get rowdy down here"
"Thanks Andrew" winked Mina.  Serena lead the way, knowing her way 
around the restaurant quite well.  She descended up the stairs to find 
it pitch dark.
"Gezz you would think Andrew would turn on the lights" said Mina loudly 
and on cue the lights turned on as the crowd sang Happy Birthday.  
Serena jumped back surprised, her eyes wide as tea cups as her hands 
covered her mouth. 'Its my birthday' she thought stupidly rolling her 
eyes.  As the guest sang, she recognized many people.  The rest of her 
assistants, the Chiba assistants, close investors, employees and Mr. 
and Mrs. Kina.  Once her initial shock left she smiled with watery 
eyes.
"Oh MY Gosh! It's my Birthday!" she said still holding her mouth "WHY 
didn't you guys tell me?" she said looking at Jayson and Mina.
"You guys, 'SHE' forgot it was her birthday," said Mina
"Yeah, she was asking is she had something important was of this day?" 
said Jayson.
"So we're you surprised?" yelled Andrew
"SURPRISED, are you kidding, of course I was.  Thank you everyone," 
said Serena as she began to roam around the room acknowledging many 
guests.  The workday was now lost and an on going birthday party went 
throughout the whole day.  Serena smiled and happily laughed at her 
forgetfulness, she couldn't believe she forgot her own birthday.
"SO how old is Serena" asked Zen
"She is 27" said Rei as they watched Serena coming closer to their 
table.
"Hi guys, thanks for coming," said Serena noticing their boss not being 
present.

In the meantime in the office of Mr. Semi Xio of Xio Electronic Co. of 
Tokyo and a very generous investor in Chiba Corporation held a meeting.  
He along with Denny Langley, Jun Nichting and Cirrus Jeng make very 
ample investments to Chiba Corp making them the backbone to Darien's 
company.  All of the men held their own names in the business in Tokyo 
and they are men of great importance to the Chiba Corp.
When Darien was of a mere man, he had no interest in the farming 
industry as it had been through many Chiba's.  His ancestors for 
generations had always made much money this way, making them well noted 
around the region for their plentiful crops and fresh produce.  His 
father although tied within the family business ventured in other 
businesses as well, the liquor industry.  Making and producing products 
very popular not only to Japan but internationally as well.  When his 
father died, his interest in the business was of none and when came of 
age sold it for a wondrous sum of money.  Being the only grandchild in 
both sides of the families, Darien received much money from inheritance 
and estates, mainly from the Anderson's for he was the last remaining 
survivor.  As for the Chiba's, he is the sole heir of the plantation 
and Chiba fortune.  With inheritances and hefty allowances from his 
fathers trust made him one of the richest man under the age of 21.  
Using his resources to its advantages, he attended school and excelled 
as an Ivy League student..  He breeze through his courses without 
difficulties, he majored in Finance and ranked top among other 
graduates.  An entrepreneur looking for a business he can thrive and 
sink his teeth into.  He found his own niche in finance making 
possibilities endless.  The men impressed with such brilliant mind 
hired him immediately.  With the help of the men before him, he was 
taken under their wing and taught him what the books failed to teach 
him.  Darien thrived and learned his ways from these men, they taught 
him power and greed enabling him to be dominant over the finance 
industry. Darien's certainly made a name for himself without the help 
of his respected bloodline.  Thanks to Darien's vivid mind the men's 
companies flourished its earnings and ruled the financial world in 
Japan.  Proud of their trained bondman it was to no surprised when 
Darien wanted to fulfill his own dreams and open his own company.  His 
teachers we're also very aware of Darien's pull among women and in all 
taught him the endless meddling with women's hearts for successful 
deals.  They hardened and corrupted his heart in a sense brainwashing 
his sense of having to love on and only one as his grandparents had 
taught.  The men themselves we're taught the same way by their fathers, 
they have many mistresses and married several times for good 
reasoning….money!  Grateful of their teachings Darien now stood among 
one of the most prominent in Tokyo along with a reputation that depicts 
his womanizing ways.
"Darien, please understand we are very concerned about where are money 
is being invested on"
'We have not had any decent returns in months" said Mr. Jeng eyeing 
Darien requiring answers.  Darien knew of the efforts he and his 
assistants had put in gaining many clients and even researching their 
companies well before investing, but for reasons unknown to him, as 
great and certain as it looked on paper it didn't bid as well as it 
seemed.  Therefore the investor's money usually diminishes over a 
course of time or pulled out by the owners themselves.  Chiba Corp's 
rates had also been raised to help the cost of many fluctuating fees.  
Absurd services were billed to customers and bit by bit his bank was 
loosing its many clients and moving to either local smaller banks or 
larger ones like Tsukino Financial. Therefore less saving were being 
invested and no revenue to reinvest.  Not to put more into his troubles 
but $85,000. Of company profits were missing and unaccounted for.  
Putting him and his investors deeper and deeper in to despair.
"Mr. Langley, it is not like we invest your money shamelessly, my 
assistants and I do our homework thoroughly before any move and it is a 
surprise to us as well when it doesn't fall through as we have 
calculated" The group of men were being very grim towards Darien and as 
he too was being very irritable and fussy.  His attitude towards these 
men right now was not in any way professional.  They spoke of the 
chains of the company's slow descending move down.  Darien bidding that 
it is only a phase and will pick up soon, so he hopes.  He could not 
lose his prized investors now.  An outlined and a compromise were made 
to keep them at Chiba's backing and to this came the very sedated idea 
of false manipulations.
"Darien, our sources tell us that our Rival Company is doing very well, 
in fact too well," said Mr. Xio.
"Their new leader has done a superior job in her elected position.  
Making her investors and clients very happy.  Now, what is it that she 
does or know that we don't?" he asked blowing a puff of smoke from his 
cigarette. Irritating Darien's vision and breathing.
"I have spoken to a few of her clients and very pleased with her 
professionalism and returns"
"Yes, I've heard many compliments myself, enough for me to give them a 
try BUT Mr. Chiba, I have good faith in you as we have in the past"
"WE know you'll over come this hump by any means" said Mr. Xio.  Darien 
stared at his wrinkled face and said nothing but was fully ware of his 
nudge. "Darien, why don't you find out what makes her so successful"
"You might even have a little fun with her" smiled Mr. Jeng "I hear 
she's still very much a child between the limbs".  The men laughed as 
Darien looked away in disgust. His reputations couldn't be denied 
although he still was a man with honor.  His ideas of being with women 
for mere sexual pleasure had never been hidden.  True that he has 
manipulated most of his women investors but he wouldn't dare touch a 
young mere over an experienced one, he still held that sense of right.  
For all the women he had been with had experience only they can account 
for many nights with other men.  He always chooses his women freely and 
never had he even thought of breaking any barriers that kept a woman 
pure. Keeping the in-experienced away for to him, they are more trouble 
than having one evening of crazed excitement.
"Mr. Chiba, we suggest that you make good with Miss. Tsukino".  Darien 
stared blankly to the men around, he couldn't believe he allowed them 
to manipulate him the way they had throughout the years.  But where 
would he be if it weren't for them and what would he do if he looses 
them now, at a time where his company is losing its investors.
"Yes Sir, Ill see to it that Miss. Tsukino and I are well acquainted," 
said Darien as he stood and headed for the door.

Stay TUNE for Chapter 14…………………

Dumm da dummm dum DUMMMMMMMM!

Hahahah couldn't help it ?