Chapter 3 || Maevelline

London, 2007

THE moment Maevelline Lawrence stepped into Shiela's library, the Lady Tremayne already saw that her oldest best friend was just as wonderful as her youth. But if she hadn't look past the dazzling façade, she wouldn't have seen the true Maevelline Lawrence at the moment. There was a shadow at the back of Maeve's charming smile and captivating gray eyes which Shiela had not seen since forty years ago.

Maeve had something troubling her, Shiela decided. Is it Jean Moreau? That man could be problematic. Or was it Paul or the other men? Maeve Lawrence was an intelligent woman, genius at that. But when it comes to love and lust... Shiela shook her head. Whatever troubled Maeve, I must help her. That's what best friends are for.

"I overheard John and Paul talk about business the other day," Shiela began. She moved from her spot and stopped beside Maeve who was sitting at the sofa.

Maeve casually tipped the glass to her mouth and drank the remaining wine. That was a lot. "I never imagined John Tremayne as a man of business, Ela."

Shiela laughed. "Oh, he's just jealous of my extension in Quezon City."

Maeve's eyebrows raised. "That's good news! It's worth a celebration, Shiela." She stood and went to the console where the wine bottle was. "Here's to your growing success in the Philippines, my dear friend."

"Thanks, Queen." Shiela took a sip from her wineglass and stared at Maeve who stood quietly and distracted at the center of the library.

Maeve hadn't always been like this. Not even when two girls from the other section in their elementary days came up and called her different names, trying to get on her nerves. Boys would always hit on her and girls would try to humiliate her because of that. Maeve had stood up, fists balled, gray eyes lit up in a dangerous flare.

Shiela, being the ever supportive best friend, stood at that moment to back Maeve up. But then the beautiful maiden took a deep breath, her shoulders squared, her head held high, and she unclenched her fist. With her gray eyes boring holes against the perpetrators, she started to walk away; pride and dignity were intact like a shield around her. Those who were watching parted in silence, intimidated by her sudden change of demeanor.

Shiela had asked her why she didn't fight back but Maeve kept silent about it. Evening came and as the lights went off and they were in bed, Maeve finally spoke about the incident that day. "Those witches aren't worth fighting with, Ela." And then in a hushed whisper, she added, "I will become rich, Ela, you'll see. I'm a nobody now. But I will become somebody on top someday. I will have everything."

And she did. True enough, Maeve Lawrence achieved everything she vowed before, probably beyond what she dreamed or hoped for. She became the very core, the brain, of the eMpress Corporation with several successful businesses around the world. She had the world under her feet as they speak.

Shiela was brought back to reality when Maeve spoke. "What was the business that John and Paul talked about?" she asked.

Shiela Tremayne sat at the recliner and faced Maeve's standing form. "They're looking at the W&J Factory in U.S. I researched about it, it's a paper factory. It could be a great investment."

Maeve nodded. "I heard about W&J. It's a tough factory with wavering profits. They should be careful with what they might lose if it doesn't become successful."

"What are you planning with Louie De Luca's offer?" Shiela suddenly brought up. She then grinned mischievously. "Am I hearing another success from you?"

Maeve snorted and smiled as she turned to her friend. "I'm still thinking about it. I'm not after the success rate. I am rather asking what I am going to lose."

Shiela sat up straight and put down her glass on the table full of books. "Well, there's nothing to lose, amiga. You know that we are entering the technology era. With a timely launch and right partnership, I'm sure you'll get through it."

Maeve nodded. Yes, of course, she'll get through this.

~O~O~O~

IT was seven thirty in the morning, and Maevelline Lawrence was back on her track. John Tremayne, indeed, arrived last night and bombed her with questions about businesses. He didn't pry on her personal life, not as much as her best friend, Shiela.

Now, Maeve sat in her personal study at the second floor of her cozy house in St. John's Woods. The rays of the sun peeked at the heavy beige curtains of the window and bathed the whole room with light. The sun brought heat and warmth inside the study, she didn't even have to turn on the heater but at the very core of Maeve, she felt cold and empty.

She had just finished studying the financial reports and results of the conducted researches about the Deluxe World which Allison dropped off to her study before Maeve arrived from the Tremaynes' Residence.

Maeve had always been the articulate businesswoman and that's what brought her to the top of the hierarchy. Her ability to analyze financial statements quickly is one of her greatest assets. After reading the reports of the Deluxe World, she determined that the company was indeed going to be an excellent investment on her part.

But why can't she feel the excitement? Why can't she feel the quick pulse, the thrill of going after such good opportunity?

These days she had to admit, with a surprise, that the thought of running around like she used to became dull for her. She lost interest in conquering those territories and expanding it to a double-triple success which she normally enjoyed.

Maeve frowned as she looked at the glassy figurine on top of her table. It was a gift from one of her business associates, but that was not what she was looking at. She was looking at the reflection of an elegant, charming woman staring back at her. What was wrong with you, Maevelline? Did this thing become boring for you? But how and why? Business had been her life ever since. Even Paul told her so.

The moment her first husband came into her mind, Maeve cringed. Her eyes closed and she shook her head distractedly. She took a deep breath and exhaled loudly, opening her eyes and staring right at the carved ceiling of her study.

She became conscious of her emotions. She had been like this even before. She began to be aware that she had not been herself lately.

Of course, she kept that charming mask on. The sweet, and charming Maevelline that the world had seen and expected. Even after the leakage of her affair with Jean Moreau.

She shivered. The room was not cold; in fact, it was warmer. But right inside her, something seemed to crack open and a huge amount of winter air seemed to seep through her soul. For a reason she didn't know yet, she felt empty and lost.

What the hell was happening to her?

She felt a chill running from her spine down to her feet and it made her shiver. Maeve now realized the feeling that the others described, a feeling that someone had walked over her grave. She then felt goosebumps from her arms and face. She had to close her eyes and take deep breaths to calm herself.

Frightened and yet irritated at the sudden attack of emotions, Maeve walked to her inlaid chest and pulled out a bottle of cold white wine and a glass.

As she poured the wine into her glass, someone knocked on the door and then it opened. "A wine in the early morning?"

Maeve turned around and saw Allison coming in. She went back to her wine and experimented on it before she took a sip. "It's the jittery feeling," she answered, as casual as she could. "It must have been the Deluxe."

Allison smiled and put down the clipboard and her iPad on the coffee table. "I understand it's not my place to say but you really have to find time to rest."

Maeve smiled at Allison fondly. She regarded the younger woman as a younger sister that she never had. "I am doing fine, Al. What do we have today?"

Allison sat at the sofa in front of the coffee table. She then gathered her iPad and scrolled to see the schedule of the day. "You don't have an appointment but you do listed here that you'll be visiting Azarias and Mr. Lawrence."

She took a long pause and nodded. "Thanks, Allison. And please call De Luca of the Deluxe World. Tell him we will be meeting him on Monday." The said woman nodded and stood up before leaving.

Maeve took a long drink from the wine and then she sat back on her office chair, leaning to rest her back and stared at the curtained window where the sun was trying to blare inside the room. Now that Allison was gone from the room, she fell back to her thoughts. She was calmer; threading through all the days when she started to feel such void in her heart.

There was no point in denying it any longer. Maeve wiped her face as she felt hot liquid ran down her cheeks. She could no longer continue living like this, with her personal life in shambles. But she didn't know what to do with it.

She's aware that the world thought she knew everything. Yes, she knew when to make a business bloom and when it comes to successes in life, she's at the top. She had power, fame, money, large properties, several cars in several countries, a private plane. But none of these accessories of privileges filled the void in her heart.

She was lonely. Isolated. She was lost from the people she wanted and needed to be close to. The men she was involved with just made everything worst. Her children was estranged from her. And now she felt as if her work - her greatest pleasure and triumph, one she was passionate about ever since she grew up into a fine woman - was beginning to fade in her.

It frightened Maeve that she had to stand and rushed to the window. She opened the Victorian style window with her two hands and as if waiting for a long time, the wind seemed rushing in, slightly pushing her away. She inhaled the air, feeling her lungs with it and closed her eyes as the sun's light kissed her face.

Well, Maeve, she said to herself as she opened her eyes and stared at the blue and white sky. You are emotionally bankrupt, no matter how appalling that sounds. You have been unhappy, but hasn't the most of your life been unhappy?

Maeve gripped the edge of the window, allowing her thoughts to be drifted to the men in her life, then and now: Mason Scott, her third husband. And Jean Moreau, her lover.

Jean exposed his intimate relationship with her to force her into a deep trouble with media and to admit that they were something more than friends. Mason wouldn't acknowledge such thing as divorce, even if she offered him money and would take care for Annika's education. She's not sure with herself anymore. She was too caught up between their personal agendas.

In her mind, Maeve saw the other men in her life and how they view her.

Mason viewed her as a wife wanting to escape their marriage.

She was a lover to young Jean, a money provider, a fame holder, but less caring.

Paul Christian. Sweet Paul saw her as a best friend, perhaps only a friend.

To her children - Azarias, Allen and Annika - she's a tycoon, a mother who's not even worthy to be called as the light of the house.

To her father and brother, she was the daughter and sister whom they were proud of. Their princess and yet, disapproving of the way she led her life.

Why am I even alive? she asked herself. What was my purpose? Is it merely growing money?

Truths, realities are hard to stomach for Maevelline. And she staggered to accept that she eventually has to face it.

Nine in the morning and she came to a firm decision. She would fly to Philippines. She wanted to spend time with her son, Azarias. Now that she acknowledged the fact that she was breaking, she needed to put things right with her eldest son.