Chapter 1 - The Unexpected Meeting

I watched the swaying trees as they fade out in my rearview mirror. I've been driving for almost four hours now and I can feel that my body is starting to feel exhausted. 

Elise let me took a break from modeling but she never thought of sending me off. She didn't care for me and my whole being. She was just using my face and body to earn. What a bad talent manager she is?!

I was busying myself with thoughts of how I can take a revenge on my bossy talent manager, Elise, when my phone rang. And speaking of the little devil, she is now calling me.

I turned on my earphone to accept her call.

"Are you missing me now? Or are you just missing the chance to earn from me?" I annoyingly asked her on the phone. I heard her soft chuckled over the line.

"You are so childish, Sandro. You are not a baby anymore so better act as a man. You are every girl's dream man so better be responsible for their dreams. Haha! Don't ruin their imaginations!"

"Dreams don't always come true," I jokingly replied at her joke. We've been teasing each other since I met her. She was older by me but she is also childish like me. That is why I signed a contract with her.

I cannot find peace with other girls around me. They will end up confessing to me. And I cannot just act high and reject them directly because it will lead to malicious rumors about me. Being born in the lineage of the Mercado, I cannot taint and disgrace our bloodline. My great grandfather is the nation's hero. People have the greatest respect on our clan and being the only male descendant for this generation, people expect no less from me. 

"By the way, I will meet you there tomorrow. You are invited to attend the grand ball that will be held on the Gonzalez' old mansion. Let's just keep in touch, baby boy!" That was all I heard from Elise before she ends the call.

She is indeed making me a cash cow. She is so lucky I always tolerate her bossiness. I thought I would get a cityscape in our town but the great Elise ruined my plans. Cityscape is my short term for "city escape". It became a trend and people around the country especially the youth are now using that term. This only showed my great influence on the youth nowadays. Proving my power as an ambassador and influencer. These are just a few of the special abilities of being a Ferdinand Alexander II, born with overflowing good genes. Almost to a perfection is my definition.

After four hours of travel, I finally reached my destination. I walked around our old ancestral mansion while waiting for a call. I was told that my grandmother will arrive today that is why I decided to surprise her with my presence. I am sure she misses me, her one and only handsome grandson.

Everything was preserved in this old mansion. When you entered the old bronze gate, you will feel like you have entered the past. You will see the glittering small lamp posts lined along the walkway. And you will be then greeted by the green trees swaying in the rhythm of the wind.

I was almost on the end of the walkway when I noticed a small abandoned house few meters from my location. This is the very first time that I noticed that small house while I am here. I suddenly heard a small voice that seems to be calling me. Out of my curiosity, I went there. The front door was locked but I noticed that the padlock is the same with the ones used on our mansion. As the sole heir of the Mercado, I inherited a golden key which I now used as a necklace pendant. This key has all access to the doors inside the mansion. I tried opening the door using my key and luckily it fitted.

I opened the moss-filled wooden door, and slowly walk inside the small room filled with some scent of oil and paint. The place was dark without any windows, and I couldn't clearly see what's inside. I searched for a light switch in each side of the walls but I couldn't even find one. I continued touching the walls when suddenly I happened to feel a rectangular object hanging in the left side of room. I think it was a portrait or something close to it. I did remove it from the wall and brought it outside the room to see.

As I walked outside the house, I found a very beautiful lady standing in front of me.

"Oh, my pretty boy! Why are you here?" I saw my grandmother smiling widely.

"Granny! I want to surprise you but I think I failed." I put down the thing in my hand and run to hug my lovely grandmother.

"I missed my little pretty boy." She smelled my hair. "You have grown a lot. You are taller than me now."

"I also missed you too, Granny." I hug her more tightly this time.

"What's making my pretty boy busy? You said you are supposed to surprise me," Granny asked as she sip her tea.

We are now sitting in the balcony covered with hanging plants. Granny loves to plant so this place is filled with greens.

"I was wondering around and forgot to check the time. I should treat you with something to compensate," I clamped my arms around her like a child asking for something. "Let's have a date. I will tour you around the city."

"No." She quickly shakes her head. "I want to meet your girlfriend. You should bring her in here."

"Girlfriend? I don't have one. I only have my Granny." I shook my head and tightly hug her once more.

"You're still a baby..." She patted me. "I want to rest so you should find a girlfriend now."

"I'll find one for you," I winked and she laughed at me.

Granny headed to her room to rest since she's tired from the flight while I decided to stroll in the garden to feed my boredom.

"Flowers are indeed beautiful." I keep on talking to myself while walking around. But a sudden strange noise coming from the back startled me.

I went to see what is happening but to my surprise a young lady wearing a torn golden dress was struggling to climb the back gate. Her golden-brown hair with a half bun tied with a yellow ribbon was gorgeously flowing. She's like someone who came out of the fairytale books. Very extraordinary and enchanting.

"Hey!" I shouted but she became more desperate to climb when she saw me. "I can open the door for you." I came to her and offered to open the gate

She stopped climbing. The hem of her dress got torn by the metallic bars of the gate.

"Will you really let me escape?" She seems terrified but I am also terrified to hear what she is saying. Escape? What is she talking about?!

"We are not holding any hostage here. This is our place and no one is making any illegal activities here." I tried to be calm while talking with her. I should let her understand that she is safe in our place.

This place is forbidden to any stranger. We never allow any visitor to visit this place because my family wanted to preserve its beauty. I am the only one who can access all doors in this place. So how come someone be here? Granny is away for almost 10 years so who had brought her here in?

"How did you get in here?" I hold her to question but she just shrugged. It seems that she also doesn’t have any idea.

"I want to get out! Please let me out!" She pleaded like a prisoner.

"I wanted to help you but please answer me. I should know what is happening here and to you."

"I don't have time to answer you. I should get out of here." She continued to climb back the gate.

I can see her struggling. She really doesn’t want to give up! She now looked like a spoiled princess running away from her royal guards.

"Just tell me your name. I will let you out of here." I told her.

"Open the gate first," she commanded.

"Okay." I raise up my two hands to show her that I am willing to let her out.

I removed my necklace around my neck and held the golden key pendant. This key pendant serves as the master key of this whole mansion.

I unlocked the padlock and she immediately pulled my hands off so she can get out but I'm quick to prevent her.

"Now, tell me your name," I commanded with I serious voice.

I am holding her right arm to stop her. She's a mess right now but still beautiful to see. I am delighted by the way she stared at me. I can't help but stared back at her but she started to look angry.

Why is she angry? I'm not kidnapping her! I was raised to be a decent man. In me, runs the blood of a hero.

"I am Yvette Veronica, so let me out now!"

"What a beautiful name you have," I smiled at her before finally opening the gate for her. "We should meet again one day, my fairy.