Light beaming through the window on a warm morning, the

glittering gold from the music box that my grandma got me that resemble the

music box from the movie Anastasia because I was so distraught after seeing how

easily it was to be separated from your family. Despite it being a movie, I

could not stop crying, thus grandma got me the music box in promised to never

part with me. – Spoiled? Yes, I am.

I was woken up by the brightness and the commotion in the

house. The eve of my 21st birthday celebration, I honestly prefer a

small party to a big event but my family has other plans. Hosting a party is

not essentially to celebrate a person or the occasion, for my family it is more

about cementing our status in the society. The hidden agenda of it all being

the influence each party we hosted, have on the market for example the share

price of different companies we invested in which could range from lifestyle

products like shoes, bags and dresses to the latest technology being introduced

to the market at the party.

Back track, let me give you a snap shot of what my family

does for a living. For over 8 decades we have our hands on everything oil,

automobile, fashion, entertainment, technology, etc. my family likes to slap

our name behind everyone major company in all industry. Therefore, it is not

easy being the only girl bearing the “De Le Nou” name. So yes, I am born into a

multi-billion dollars family but do not ask me how because I never had the

chance to ask how my mother did it. Unfortunately, my mom passed away after

given birth to me. My grandma has been a mother to me ever since because my

father never marry – not even to my mom.

“Hey princess” – Grett burst into the door with at least a

dozen lily and purple roses wrapped together in a beautifully made bouquet of

flowers.

“Wrong room, I thinking your mistress is in the other room”

- said as I reached out for the bouquet.

“Really, have I ever called anyone else princess ever?

Because I want to know where my sister would get the idea?” – raising his one

eyebrow like a creep

I could not help but laugh, that is my second brother from

another mother of course. I have a total of three brothers all from different

women. My eldest brother is a self-made millionaire who left drop out of

college and started his own company with nothing by lobbying investors and not

taking a dim from my dad. After his 5 years success he continue his degree in

medical school looking to be chief surgeon one day.

As for my second brother he is senior executive director at

my father company while my third brother is currently the new CEO. Bear in

mind, these two are also the office chief of pervert and chief of playboy. The

two Casanova is notorious for being in the highlight for allegation like

shutting down the club and fighting over hit celeb.

“ so you like the flower?”

“yes, but I also like my beauty sleep so get out”

“how can you sleep with all that is going on? I feel like

the party is to show you off more than actually celebrating your birthday”

“touché.”

“how are you feeling? You know that this is not personal right?

We understand you want a small intimate party and we can have that later this

party is important to the company –“

“and also your idea!” I cut him off knowing this marketing

move was mainly to introduce our latest JV with a Korean Cosmetic company.

“In my defense, I wanted to do it on the eve of your

birthday not on your birthday. It was your CEO brother who called the shot”

I did say anything, nothing worth saying. They means well. In

any case, does it even matter a celebration is a celebration no matter the

scale – it is NOT SO BAD.

------

Family - De Le Nou

Grandma: Lurcia Watt De La Nou

Father: Fan De Le Nou

Mother: not sure ...

Brother: Lee De Le Nou

Brother: Grett De Le Nou

Brother: Wyaat De Le Nou

Me: Leslie De Le Nou