Bonus Chapter: Part 1

**Bonus Chapter: Part 1**

**Another day** was set to start in the city of New York. As the sun began to soar towards the peachy skies surrounded by candy-like cotton clouds, gradually turning the cold and crisp dawn into a prickly sunny morning. The birds performed the dawn chorus ritual, singing chirps in the early morning to announce their respective territories. Others flocked their wings and went along singing, finding a potential mate while parking on sturdy branches. The wind blew against the evergreen trees, pushing dead leaves to depart from the branches and swing down slowly until they arrived at the ground.

However, rather than reach the ground as it was expected to be, a minibus suddenly drove its way through the undisturbed road, causing another gust of wind that made the leaves be driven away and perform another waltz in the air.

"Good morning to our enthusiastic parents and babies! We are back at The Dadlicity, episode 31st! We are here to meet a family that is known for... ugh! I suck at reading when in a car!" actress and television host Janine Gonzaga asked. She used to be a small-time actress who had minimal roles in primetime shows and films. However, her extraordinary makeup skills and funny skits that led to relentless content posting on Youtube made her viral and known to the point that one could hear or read her name on a daily basis, giving her the most awaited debut to stardom that she had always been dreaming of.

"You're supposed to do the narrating tomorrow, so you have more time to practice," said Haroun, the director and show's producer, while wiping the pearls of sweat persistently forming on his forehead and rubbing tired eyes that had large bags underneath. The man was sleepless the entire week coordinating with the scriptwriters on what they should input on this episode's screenplay while recording his first indie movie that was close to its release, in which he had invested countless dollars in.

Today was a special day for the crew. Their television show The Dadlicity, a reality-based television show that features famous notables turned fathers bonding an entire day with their children, would be featuring one of America's leading businessmen. Hades de Vries. The show featured countless actors and stars along with their children, but a tycoon? This was their first time, and they would hate to spoil it. Especially since Mr. de Vries was one of the company's major shareholders, displeasing him would mean displeasing their boss.

"Why are you here, anyway?" he then popped a question. The host wasn't really necessary to be part of the recording with the crew since they were only designated in the studio to watch the entire episode and pull out comments, jokes, and compliments.

"I wanted to see Mr. de Vries in person!" the excited actress immediately retorted, crossing her arms and looking up as her eyes began to sparkle dreamily. "I heard that he's such a catch in person."

"You're speaking about the man as if he isn't married."

"Doesn't matter. It's just a small crush anyway," the actress immediately put up her defense. "And divorce is legal in this state anyway," she added, her voice fizzling in a sunken fantasy.

The tired director could only sigh and roll his eyes at her, praying to the odds that her annoying antics would disappear. The woman was a good actress and entertainer. However, she had this unlikely antic of being annoying with everything she did. May it be her side comments, her sudden attitude changes, the way she would change her tone, and the likes just to get all the attention on her. "Dream on, Janine. Dream on."

"I heard that Mr. de Vries is very doting to his wife. Is that true?" a voice behind them asked. It was Padgett, an assistant scriptwriter who just got into the management a year ago. It was rumored that she had connections with one of the most prominent screenwriters in the industry. It was a wonder to the crew why she chose to be part of them when she could have gone with her aunt and assisted with a big film if the rumor was true.

"That's what I heard," it was the head scriptwriter, Camilla, who answered her question. "They say he's crazy about her, as crazy as their story before they got married." Before she became a head scriptwriter, she was once an entertainment journalist. Almost a decade ago, the couple's so-called "love story" was a controversy in the showbusiness. It started with a scandal, but unlike any scandal, it didn't have a bitter end.

"I saw her pictures on the internet once. Chick's fine as hell. No wonder man's a crazy doting husband," the camera operator, Jamaal, stated.

"Oh, I think I was in high school at the time of their controversy. How crazy was it?" the newbie now became more inquisitive with the sudden disclosure of events.

"I think we've arrived." The team's driver suddenly announced before pressing on the brake to bring the car to a halt.

"What do you mean 'I think'? It's almost 6! We need to capture a shot of Mr. de Vries being asleep!" Haroun, who sat restlessly on the furthest seat, stood and made his way to the front to ascertain the driver. However, seeing the view outside the windshield made him change his mind.

Right before them was an enormous gate attached to marbled pillars, fully embraced by a bunch of green vines. It seemed to look like a classic Greco-Roman entrance built in a modern setting. Behind the thick and lustrous gates of steel was a stash of pure greenery, but despite the thick greenness, Haroun could catch a glimpse of infrastructure on its farthest side. Just as the sun continued to rise to the peak, its rays extended and flashed against the gates, giving a finishing act of exposing it entirely like a spotlight highlighting its glossy beauty.

"Are you sure this is the place?" the stunned director proceeded to ask. The place looked like an entrance to heaven rather than a millionaire's gates!

"It's what Maps told me, and this is already the end of Fresh Oaks. There is nothing else left after this," the driver stated in his defense, shrugging his shoulders.

"Right," Haroun mumbled under his breath as he rubbed his cold hands, subconsciously convincing himself that he wasn't nervous but excited. "I'm heading out and use the doorbell," he said before stepping out of the car.

As soon as the ray of fresh sunlight hit his eyes, he squinted them as they stung, and his body felt stiff. He felt like a vampire committing suicide by bathing in the sunlight. He made a slight stretch and did a little exercise to improve his circulation after sitting in the car for hours, to which the crew members who were witnessing him thought that their director was probably nuts for a reason.

"What are you waiting for? Ring the bell!" Jamaal shouted from the car.

Now getting annoyed, he shouted back, "Yeah, yeah. On it!" before taking one last stretch and walking towards the pillar to press on the familiar-looking doorbell. He stiffened the moment he pushed the small button. 'Is this thing that one doorbell made from jewels?!' he thought. No wonder it looked familiar! He read a magazine about a doorbell encrusted out of sapphires, gold, and diamonds that only a few had, with its picture featured. He didn't expect to see one in real life!

"Good day, this is the de Vries estate. How may we help you, especially in this lovely early morning?" a gentleman's voice suddenly came out of nowhere that grabbed Haroun away from staring mindlessly at the priced doorbell.

"Hello! We are the crew from Helios Media. I'm Al Haroun Sangcopan, the director of The Dadlicity. We're here to shoot our 31st episode featuring Mr. Hades De Vries," he explained awkwardly, and silence followed. The poor man was now drenched in sweat, the morning was cold, but his hands were colder. Silence followed after his introduction, making the situation more awkward than how it previously was. "I am assuming we are at the correct residence…? Is… my anticipation correct?" Another moment of silence, lasting for seconds, minutes.

"Gah!" he gasped, and his heart jumped off his chest when the gates suddenly opened like it was pushed open by a strong force, and a queue of maids suddenly came into his sight!

"Good morning, director Sangcopan. I apologize for the late response. Your crew had come earlier than expected." A man suddenly came into sight, walking towards them in an astonishing and graceful manner, looking dashing in a neat tuxedo. He seemed pretty old, probably in his 60s with his grey hair and wrinkled face, yet his physique was ripped and healthy like a gym rat. He looked healthier than anyone else in the area.

The sweaty director remained standing awkwardly on his spot, clutching his chest in sudden surprise. "Please to meet you, director," the elderly offered his glove-covered hand for a handshake.

"L...likewise," was what a dumbfounded Haroun could only state.

"Very well." The elderly butler then said, raising an arm to guide them inside the villa. "I suppose the rest of you may leave the vehicle. The master has been waiting for you. Please follow me," he said. The fazed crew was quite hesitant to step in such glamorous gates and marvel at the heavenly-like area kept behind it.