Chapter 13

MONTICELLO mansion where Shola and Alexis stayed."Really, you're going to fix this, Shola?"

"Yes, because this is my house, Alexis."

"But what if Fernan finds out you're a Monticello?"

"He won't know, because I'm a Padilla, not a Monticello right now.

"Yes, but I'm sure he's going to investigate you. He will know who you are, Shola."

"He will find nothing about me, Alexis. He will know if you tell him." Shola looked at him.

"I'm not stupid to tell him, Shola. Even if he kills me!"

Shola smiled at what Alexis said. Yeah, he will not, and she can feel it. And he will go to protect her.

"What you're about to do is very dangerous, Shola. You don't know Fernan; I told you, didn't I, you're doomed?" The concern for the woman was in Alexis' voice.

Shola faced Alexis. Because she could feel his concern for her, that made her heart tickle."Why did you worry about me so much, Alexis?" she still stared at him."Tell me."

"Huh-eh..." Alexis avoided looking at her, who was staring at him.

"Why, huh?" She followed Alexis's face where he turned; she was smiling."Alright, are you shy?"

Alexis looked away again. Shola was following him. Wherever he looked, she followed. They both seem to be playing. Alexis smiled. 

"Oh! Oh! Say it!" Shola's head is turning.

Alexis was smiling earlier; now he laughed."You're really cute! Like you're a little girl." He held Shola's head so that she stopped moving her head. Stop, your neck might hurt."

"I made you laugh! But is that your only reason? Then I can take care of my head, huh?

He removed his hand from Shola's head. She moved her head again, and he quickly grabbed it again."Psssttt! That's enough; I'm going to be angry."

Shola followed what he said like a child: Okay, sir. So you tell me now."

Alexis shook her head and took a deep breath."Fine, you are a woman with weaknesses, Shola, so of course I will worry about you."

"I know that you are by my side, right?"

"Yes, he replied quickly.

Shola smiled sweetly."Then there's no problem, because we stick together."

Alexis wanted to answer, that Yes, I will be with you even for the rest of my life; I will take care of you. And no one can harm you. He smiled at the girl in agreement with what she said.

"Come in, Alexis. Come with me."

"Huh? It's locked, huh?

"Let's open it."

"The key was in the municipality."

"Huh? Why is it there?"

"The mayor took it."

"Is that so? No problem; let's climb the wall, okay?"

Alexis looked at Shola did he heard right that they're climb together to the wall. Of course he can how about her the wall Abit high.

Shola know why Alexis looked at her. Maybe he thinks that she can climb to the wall."As for me, I'm used to climbing, no matter how high it is." she said.

Alexis smile because what Shola said. "I'll go first, so that I can support you." he just said.

"Yes, You go first, Alexis."

"Alright." Alexis approached the wall, wondering how he could climb it.

Shola smiled as she thought he could not climb the wall as she approached him.

"Oh, Alexis. Why are you still standing?"

He scratched the back of his neck.

"You can't do it? I'll just go first. I will open the door for you."

Alexis just nodded.

Shola turned her back on him and walked away. She bowed slightly and put on the mask. She is like a catwoman crawling up the wall.

Alexis was stunned by what he saw."What the heck, how did she do that?" he asked himself.

After Shola fell to the ground, she headed to the gate, which was small, just by pulling the lock. When she opened, she removed the mask and came out. "Alexis," she called him.

"What? How did she open it when it was locked? What is going on? is the question in Alexis' mind.

He approached Shola, went inside, and looked at the padlock.

In the distance, someone was watching Shola and Alexis. He took his cell phone and called someone.

Fernan looked at the cell phone that was sitting on his table. He was currently in the library. This is his office inside his house; he took it and answered, Hello."

"Hello, Sir, I have something to tell you."

"What is that?"

"I'm here right now outside the Monticello mansion, Sir."

"So, what happened in that abandoned mansion of the Monticellos?"

"Sir, Captain Alexis came inside with a woman."

"What?" Fernan stood up.

"Yes, Sir."

"Who is the girl with him?"

"I don't know her, sir; I just saw her today."

"Slut! Find out who Alexis is with him—maybe a Monticello!" he shouted angrily.

"Isn't there a single one left of the Monticellos, sir?"

"There is, but I'm not sure it was dead because they fell off the cliff, the youngest child of Leiden and Clara."

Alright, Sir, I'll approach them."

"Do it!" The vein in Fernan's neck was bulging with anger.

"Yes, Sir."

After Fernan turned off his cell phone in anger and threw it, the door opened just in time."Dad, what's happening to you?" Enrique asked.

Ferna suddenly calmed down when he saw his son."Oh nothing, hijo." Then he sat down.

Enrique looked at the broken cellphone. He picked it up and put it on the table."Nothing, Dad. Maybe it wouldn't be like this without it. What's wrong?" he asked while sitting down.

"It's just a simple problem, son; in my business, you know I'm hot-headed because your dad is getting old," he said.

"Is that so, Dad?" but he is not convinced.

"Yes, son. By the way, do you need anything from me?"

"Yes, Dad."

"About what, son?"

"At the party tonight, Dad."

"Don't worry about it, hijo; everything is going smoothly. I've talked to everyone about the catering and the costumes of the people here at home."

Thanks, Dad, you really are the best."

He smiled."Of course for you, my children. I will do everything to make you happy. Go ahead, son, rest. I know you are tired from what you did earlier."

"Okay, you too, don't be angry, Dad; it is bad for your heart, he reminded her.

Yes, hijo, I'm just going to finish what I'm doing; I'm going to rest."

Enrique stood up and left the library room.

When the son was gone, the ferocity returned to Fernan's face. He took out his phone and called someone. Just one ring and someone answered, Hello."

"It's me, Mayor."

"Sir, Fernan. What about us?"

"Mayor, someone came to the Monticello mansion, a woman, and she was with Alexis."

"Sir Fernan, maybe just look at the mansion of the Monticellos."

"Mayor, I have a different hunch now that she's a woman; take note of this."

"What do you think, Sir Fernan? This is their daughter?"

"Yes."

"Sir, she's dead, isn't it?"

"Dead? Is there a body? Isn't that right?"

"Yes, sir, but it's been a long decade."

"Just find out who she is, mayor."

"Okay if she's. What do you want me to do, Sir Fernan?"

"Of course, kill whoever this girl is."

"Sir, don't do it now; isn't there going to be some fun at your house? It's difficult, Sir."

"Alright, not now; find out who it is first."

"All right, Sir Fernan. I'll take care of whoever it is."

"You should call the governor and congressman and let them know this."

"Yes, Sir."

"Whoever you are, Monticello OR not, you must disappear." Fernan stood up and left the library room.

"SHOLA, let's get out of here in case someone sees us."

"We're not doing anything wrong, Alexis? And this is my house; I'm going to live here."

"Yes, we'll fix everything first, Shola."

"What's up, Alexis?"

"Let's get out of here first."

Shola took a deep breath. She really didn't want to leave the house for him; she would follow what he said first: Okay."

They were already outside when the man who had been watching earlier approached.

"Captain Alexis, what are you doing here?" it asked, looking at Shola.

"Oh, Mario. Just looking at it, because this woman had a plan to buy this land." Alexis lies.

"Alexis, you know it's illegal to enter here, and this place is not for sale."

"Why not?" replied Shola.

"This property is not for sale, Miss, and is prohibited. Any person who enters here can be shot; didn't Captain Alexis tell you?"

"I'm not telling him, because we'll just have a quick look, Mario." Alexis caught what the man said.

"Even so, Alexis."

Shola clenched her fist. Because of his anger, she could feel the movement of the mask as if it would move from her face at any moment.

He grabbed it. Do not!" she said.

"Shola... why?" Alexis asked.

The man also looked at her.

"No, come on, Alexis." Shola even pulled him so they could leave.

Fernan's staff just looked at the two.

When they got into the car and Alexis drove it, she said, "Where shall I take you, Shola? I have to leave you first; I still have work to do."

"Stop the car."

"Huh? Why, Shola?"

"Don't you have a job? I'll take care of myself."

"But, Shola."

"Stop it."

Alexis turned his car over."Where are you going, Shola?"

"Don't worry, Alexis. I'm just around the corner." She came down.

Alexis sighed; she didn't want to leave her. It might be ruined.

"Alright, get to work, Captain Alexis."

Alexis could do nothing but leave Shola. When Alexis was at the precinct, her cell phone rang. He looked at it. It was the mayor. He frowned. Now that he had called him, he wondered why. He answered, Hello, Sir."

"Alexis, the Morales need you at the house tonight."

Alexis knows why: Sir, I can't go."

"I said, you're needed, right? So there's no reason for you not to go; you probably know this is a party; dress appropriately; I ordered you to do this so that there's someone there to guard; we know there might be someone; won't it be a troublemaker?"

Alexis frowned. Who is the crazy person doing it? He wants to kill himself."Sir, this is Sir Fernan's house; who else would dare to make trouble? It seems that he took a stone to hit his own head."

"I know that, Alexis. But we can't tell if some crazy person will pick up a rock and hit him on the head. You get what I mean, Captain Alexis."

"Okay, Sir," Alexis said, doing nothing but follow his order. When he remembered Shola, he scratched his head. He had planned to take her to the mall to buy clothes and other things, but he forgot because they entered the Monticello mansion.

Shola was walking around town when she was looking in a boutique. She looked at the dress on display, which was a Rosy Red Sleeveless Long Evening gown. She didn't know what it was for. Taking the flashlights found in Alexis' car, she took them secretly. The dress on display looks just like the picture. Looking at the dress again, it also included red high-heeled shoes. She smiled and went inside to buy the set of clothes. She went into a grocery store to buy something else.

Shola first hung out at a food shop to pass the time. When it was getting dark, she left and quickly headed for the Monticello mansion. She did the same as before when she got in.

She was on the stairs when she was met by butterflies again, and one of them pointed out where the parents' wealth was hidden. She got ready to go to the Masquerade ball. She headed to the bathroom to see if he had any water to use. The bathroom was dusty and dirty; she just moved the cobwebs around. She looked at the tap, wondering what it was for. She grabbed the handle, moved it, and raised it. Water came out."Wow! It's beautiful, like a small waterfall?" she asked. Good."

Even though no one has lived in the mansion for a long time, everything is still okay here. Water, Light. Shola just doesn't know how to use the light, so it's dark. With the help of the mask, she can see clearly. Shola explored everything inside the bathroom as she grabbed the shower handle right across from her."Ahhh!" she screamed because the water that poured over her was cold. She removed the mask so that he could take a bath. Even though the surroundings were dark, it was okay with her because she was used to the dark.

After finished a shower,"This is the night for our meeting, Fernan Morale, wearing a red dress with a mask, Look at yourself in the mirror. She almost couldn't recognize herself from the look she saw."Is it me?" She spun around. Even though she is innocent in everything, when she wears the mask, her mind runs strangely. It's like today, if the mask doesn't have it, she doesn't know how to wear the clothes she bought. She just let her shoulder-length hair hang loose. It's still wet; just let it dry. She has a messy look but is stunning.