Chapter 3 - Trapped

"Oh! Are you with someone tonight, Mr. Mercado?"

A young reporter immediately went to us while I opened my car's passenger door to let Yvee out. And not long after, all reporter gathered around us.

Flashes of lights are now pointed at Yvee's face which made her very uncomfortable. I felt her small hands cling around my right arm as she tries to hide from the cameras.

"Is she the lucky girl? How did you meet?"

"Are you breaking your bachelor image now, Sandro?"

"Can you tell us your relationship?" 

"This is a very big news. We can't wait to hear you!"

I was bombarded with questions from the reporters. None of them plans to blink for a second. Their eyes and hears are all set on me just to hear my answers.

I tapped Yvee's hand around my arm and took a deep breath before saying.

"She wants to remain unknown. So please let us respect her decision." 

I smiled at them before taking a step to walk pass them.

"We will figure that out on our own Mr. Mercado. You can't hide her forever!" a woman on her twenties holding a camera shouted. I was caught off guard by her statement. 

Yvee will be caught up with me if I don't clarify things. She will be under the eyes of all the people in this country. I think I made a wrong decision. 

"Hey! How can we get in? I keep on pulling this damn door but it won't open," Yvee said while panting.

I did not notice that we already reached the main door. Only the invited guests can open this door since it is powered by fingerprint technology. The old mansion is restructured to build in modern technology that will keep the security level at its best. This technology is not new to me since this was introduce years ago.

"Are you living on a cave?" I teased her while I put my index finger on the blue plate. And a few seconds, we heard a beep and a voice command that opened the door.

"Wow! That's magic." Yvee looked so amazed as if she is seeing a magic trick.

"Are you serious?" I am surprised by her pure reactions. She is a legit caveman.

"I thought that only witches can open that door," she arched her bows before entering the main door looking so happy.

I can now see her smiling prettily. Her face before seems so scary with eyes full of anger and annoyance. I am relieved that she is now slowly learning to be comfortable with me. This is a magic that a Ferdinand Alexander Alonzo Mercado can only have. The gift of trust.

"I will find some things here. You can do your own thing. Thanks for letting me inside!" Yvee shouted as she run on the long stairway. She seems to know the place.

"No--No! You need to accom---" I did not finish my words since she just went up so quickly and I was left alone.

I went to the balcony where the people are busy chatting. I let her inside to accompany me so I won't be bothered but she just left me. How ungrateful she is!

"You are finally here, Sandro. I've been waiting for you." A woman, looking drunk came to me and cling herself like I am her boyfriend.

"Sorry, but I need to meet my friend," I said as an alibi to get away from her. I don't have any close friends in here except that woman who left me. She was supposed to be my cover but she just chooses to leave me.

"Oh, the ever-handsome prince of our country is here. Let's have a toast!" A male holding a microphone announced as I came into the pool of dancing people. 

Everyone is looking drunk. Their dresses are not for any ball. They looked like they are attending a night club. 

They are wildly dancing to the beat of some electronic music. Now, I realized that this is not just a simple party. They made it look like a formal event but the truth is they are hosting a very exclusive night party. 

I saw someone pouring white powder on some of the drinks. They might be using some illegal drugs in here. 

Where did the politicians go? I saw them enter the mansion just earlier but are now nowhere to be seen. 

They trapped me in here. The politicians might be in another place here.

I need to go out in here before it will be too late for me. I will be associated with their illegal activities if news about this will come out. 

"Sorry, I think I am in a wrong party," I told the crowd as I took a step out of their circle.

When I am on the hallway to the exit, someone just pulled me.

"No, you are not going out yet Mr. Mercado." The drunk woman that I met before quickly grabbed my arms and pushed me into the walls. "Not going to let this night end and miss a chance to get a kiss from you, Mr. Mercado." 

I tried to pushed her gently so I cannot hurt her but she keeps on. She tiptoed to reached my face. I looked around and no one is there. I pushed her when she tried to hold my face and right after I suddenly heard few steps towards us. There are people coming in from the exit. 

I ran in the opposite direction and find myself running on the long stairway that led to the second floor.

"Oh crap! I need to think of a way to get out of this place," I said panting. I am catching my own breath when I reached the second floor.

"Why are you running like you are being chased?" I heard a voice from behind and I saw Yvee. Her face was covered with dust. Spider webs are also entangled with her long silky hair and long gown.

"And what happened to you? You look like you crawled on a dusty floor." I came closed to her and helped her clean up by picking up the spider webs around her head.

"I am looking for my old...I mean I tried to look for some old paintings in here. And I happened to come inside a dusty room," she explained as she looked straight in my eyes. 

Those deep brown eyes caught me off guard. I suddenly want to caress her cheeks but as soon as my hands reached her face, she pulled me to the side to hide.

"Why are we hiding?" I asked her but she covered my mouth.

Our faces almost met. And I can feel my heart beat racing. Her hands feel so warm.

"Where did that woman go? She heard us talking. She must be caught before she destroys me." 

"Don't worry, we will catch that b*tch."

A group of women passed by our side and luckily, they did not notice us.

"Are you the one they are looking?" I asked Yvee and she just nod before holding my left hand and started running.

I can see her back and her hair looks so beautiful flowing freely.

"Can you run faster?" she complained.

I stopped and she turned around.

"Why did you stop---" I immediately switch my right hand to hold her left hand before she can finish talking.

"Let's run properly this time, baby," I told her as I grip her hand tightly and started running.

We reached the balcony where we can see the people outside busy partying like there is no tomorrow.

"How can this place be like this over time?" Yvee asked as she gazes at the crowd just below us partying like wild animals.

"You said that you are a Gonzalez, but everyone said that the great Gonzalez don't have any descendants. Are you some illegitimate descendant of the Gonzalez?" I bend a little to level her height to face her. She is now in the side, cornered and can't escape my gaze. "This mansion is no longer owned by the Gonzalez. You can't find any Gonzalez here,"   I whispered on her ears. Now, I wondered why she needs to be here when in fact this is already an abandoned mansion.

"Me? An illegitimate? You should study more of your history, Mr. Gonzalez." She arched her brows before pushing me away from her.

"Sandro. You call me Sandro. There are a lot of Mercado. I want you to call me by my nickname," I started to come closer to her again. I can't help but to keep my sight on her brown and dazzling eyes.

"Okay, listen to me Sandro. I came here to know more about the place. I am a Gonzalez...but I don't know how I am directly related to Nataniel Gonzalez. I grew up as an orphan but before my foster parents died, they told me that I came from the Gonzalez clan that might be connected to Nataniel Gonzalez. I want to know more about myself. I am now alone so I want to at least find my roots and....." she said while keeping her eye contact away from me. I still have doubts about her.

"So how did you come into our mansion?" I interrogated her. I did not let her escape my sight so I cornered her again. She pushed me but I keep my place and pinned her. "Now, tell me," I asked her with commanding voice.