Billionaire in Disguise

Chapter 5

Genevieve

I have packed my things last night and Ferdie already bought me a ticket but the only problem is I haven’t told my parents yet. I haven’t told them that I will be leaving today; that I won’t be joining them to the dinner party they’ve prepared.

“Rise and shine birthday girl.” I fell from my bed when Veronica suddenly barged into my room. Behind her are Xia and Steff who’s holding a party popper. I was blinking my eyes when colorful confetti rain down in my room. Great.

“What are you doing down there?” Veronica asks when she saw me down on the floor but when her eyes landed on my suitcase she frowned.

Steff is standing next to Veronica but when she saw the suitcase she asks, “You’re leaving already?”

“This afternoon? My flight is at six pm.” I sounded so hesitant as I answered the question. I know they want to celebrate my birthday with me. We’ve always felt that way towards each other and right now I feel like I’m being selfish.

I avoided eye contact because I can’t bear seeing them getting mad at me and it made me feel worse when I heard a sigh from Veronica. “What are you still doing down there? We don’t have much time. Bring your luggage and let’s keep going.”

I knew it. Veronica sounded so angry---what? I look up only to see Veronica standing near the door frame with Xia holding my bag.

“What are—W-Where are we going?” I am stuttering and confused. I was expecting them to yell at me; to tell me how much of a selfish older sister I am but no. What exactly is going on?

“Let’s go, Evie.” Steff helps me up and drag me out of the room. I see Veronica talking to someone on her phone as well as Xia? What’s going on?

“I can see you’re still confused.” I turn my head to the side when I heard Steff’s voice.

“Among the four of us, we know how excited you are about this because it is the only chance you have to be free. It is not a surprise for us anymore if you wish to leave on the day of your birthday. That is why….”

“Seriously? What’s wrong with you two? Hello? Clock’s ticking. Let’s go.” I still don’t know what’s going on but whatever it is I’ll just have to go along with them. One of the attendants is bringing my luggage down. When we walk out of the door, the car’s ready and one of the butlers took my luggage, placing it in the car compartment.

“Of course, you’re going to follow us.” Veronica said facing our bodyguards. She seemed a little annoyed about it but we have no choice. It’s our parents' orders to have bodyguards follow us all the time.

“Alright, you can follow us but make sure to maintain a ten-meter distance between your car and ours. Is that clear?” the bodyguards are glancing at each other not sure whether to follow Veronica’s request or not.

“Do that or I’ll make sure Evie will fire you when she becomes Queen.” Veronica added. But what? Why did I suddenly got involved?

“As you wish princess.” One of the bodyguards answered. Veronica is actually kind of scary.

“Let’s go.” The four of us got in the car with Veronica sitting on the passenger’s seat while Steff, Xia and I are on the backseat.

“Where are we going again, V?” I ask but she was busy tapping her phone and ended up ignoring my question or is she mad at me?

We reached the seaport and saw the yacht ready with Ferdie waiting on board. Ferdie started the engine right away when everyone was on board including our bodyguards. The yacht is moving rather fast. I bet Veronica told Ferdie to double the pace.

“Xia, do you know where we’re going?” I ask our little sister.

“I don’t know. You should ask Veronica.” I glance at my other younger sister but she was still busy talking to someone on her phone. What’s keeping her so busy? Or was she just ignoring me?

“Don’t you think she’s ignoring me?” I think she probably does.

“Why would she ignore you? We just wanted to celebrate your birthday with the little time that we have and even if our time is limited we want you to bring memories that would make you remember us. That’s all.” Wow. I can my eyes watering. I move closer to my sister and hug her tight.

“Thank you sis.” I whispered tears pooling in my eyes.

“Hey, hey, hey, what is this? No crying until we get to our destination.” I look up to see Veronica standing in front of us with her hands on her waist.

“Thank you for this, V.”

Veronica scoffed. “You just realized that now.”

It didn’t take long for us to reach the harbor and as usual, Tom was there waiting for us along with my car. There are black cars besides mine and I can tell that those cars are for our bodyguards. But why did Ferdie dropped us to the countryside in London? If he took us to the port near the city, it won’t be a long travel.

Tom took all my luggage and placed them in his car. Tom gave me the key and the wink made me frown. My sisters got in the car but the last to enter was Veronica. She is probably reminding them to keep that ten-meter distance. She’s strict; she has always been.

When Veronica entered the passenger’s seat she turns her head to me and said, “Lose them, sis.”

Now I get it. This is the reason why Ferdie dropped us on a countryside far away from the city. They want me to lose our bodyguards tailing us; Veronica and her devious plans. I started the car engine and I sped up the moment I did.

I glance at my rearview mirror and on the sides. Not bad. I can’t believe they’re keeping up at this speed. Let’s see if you can still keep up. I stepped on the gas and to increase the speed. I passed by dozens of cars and made a detour on the underground tunnels.

I smirked. “Way to go sis.” I hear Veronica say.

We continued to travel for two hours until we reached the city of London. We arrived in the city of London with empty stomachs. We didn’t get a chance to have breakfast because they suddenly drag me out of my room and into the yacht then the next thing I knew, we’re in the city of London already.

When we reached the city, Veronica took over the driver seat and they had my eyes covered along the way. Where are these girls taking me?”

I felt the car stopped which probably means that we have reached our destination. I felt a hand on my arm gently pulling me out of the car. “Watch your head, Evie.”

I hear Xia say but the warning was too late because my head already bumped to the car ceiling. “Oww.”

“Oops, sorry. Watch your step.” She warns me again.

“Here we are.” I felt the blindfold loosens and when I open my eyes----

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY EVIE.” My jaw drops and my eyes have tears as I watch the scene before me. I can’t believe Mom and Dad are here along with some of my friends including Grandpa Ben.

When I looked around I realized we are in a garden restaurant, just how I liked it. Nobody knows me better than my sisters. Veronica, Xia, and Steff gathered around me giving me a tight hug. “Happy birthday.” They said almost in unison.

“Thank you, little sisters.” We broke the hug and I wipe the tears away the moment we did. Mom and Dad are standing behind them and they both gave me a bone-crushing hug.

“Imagine how shocked we were when Veronica called us and made such demands. Happy birthday, my dear.” I smiled at my Mom and the six of us gathered in a hug. This is the best birthday I ever had.

~~~~~

We had lunch in a beautiful garden surrounded by sweet fragrant flowers. After lunch, my sisters took me to the mall to buy me new clothes. Each of them bought me bags of clothes and shoes which they insisted that I’ll bring along with me. They even bought a new suitcase in addition to mine but I actually had fun.

I’ve always loved my sisters and I can’t believe that I can still love them more than I already did. I’m really going to miss them. It’s almost time for me to leave thus they see me off to the airport.

“You should call us often.” Steff said as she was fixing my coat.

“Be careful Evie and we will miss you….” Xia added. I gently took my sister’s hand and pulling her into a tight hug.

“Make sure you have fun but don’t forget to use protection.” I snapped my head Veronica’s direction and I had a frown on my forehead. She really has to make me remember the things that I wish to forget.

“Shut up, V. That’s not the reason for this.” Veronica narrowed her eyes at me then she smirked. “Believe me, sis, it will be.”

Shaking my head I hug them one by one then I said, “You better behave when I’m away. Don’t get into trouble too much.”

“Easier said than done sis.” Veronica commented. I glance at the flight schedule displayed on the screen and I guess it’s time for me to leave. “Most of all, I want you girls to stay safe.”

“Safe as in…..” I rolled my eyes at Veronica. She’s always putting malicious thoughts on everything I say. “Safe as in, every way possible.”

“I’ll try to keep that in mind.” the four enveloped into one last hug before I finally left. I will surely miss those little girls. When I finally got settled in my seat, I can’t believe I am finally going to Australia.

I took the letter from my bag and I smiled. I’ll finally get the chance to experience an actual race track event. It is one of the many things I wanted to do and I can’t believe I am almost a few steps away from achieving it.

“Is there anything I can give you ma’am?” I shook my head to respond but then it made me wonder how many hours would it take to reach our first stopover which will be in Bangkok Thailand. “Uhm, how many hours will it take to reach Bangkok?” 

“It takes more than eleven hours to reach Bangkok ma’am.” Wow. Australia is indeed far and it makes me happy that’s far from home.

“That long?” I can’t help but comment.

“Yes. We are already preparing the meal ma’am so if there’s anything you need while you wait, all you have to do is ask.” The stewardess left but not without leaving a few magazines that I could read. I rested my back comfortably on my seat. Ferdie chose the most expensive ticket, I can tell. He should’ve just bought the ordinary one or the cheaper one, whatever they call it. How can I experience a normal life if I can’t experience how normal people travel? But knowing Ferdie, if I try to ask him about it, I bet he already has a supporting argument in case it comes down to it. 

I opened the magazine that I got from the stewardess and the main feature of the article caught my attention. The Segovia Liquors. They are the biggest provider of high-class liquors in all of Europe. I heard they wanted to expand their business to Asian countries. Well, they really do provide high-class liquors and I’ve always been a fan of their product; especially their champagne. Mind you, I stick to one brand.

The CEO of Segovia Liquors is quite popular especially among the ladies; that’s what the article says. Of course, the ladies would go crazy over a rich bachelor even though, I’ve never seen a picture of him from any magazines. He probably wanted to keep his identity confidential. It states here that he didn’t make an appearance at the European Summit; instead, his brother came as a representative of the Segovia Liquors. What could he possibly be doing aside from making his business grow?

Tsk. After reading the entire magazine which talks about 90% Segovia Liquors and 10% random things, I am scanning for another magazine which will be more helpful for me, until my eyes glisten when I saw a magazine that talks about Australia.

I was so busy reading the article that I didn’t notice the food on my table. I blink my eyes when I caught the scent of pasta. I place the magazine down and as I was eating my dinner, my eyes caught a glimpse of the most famous landscape designer in Australia. I read the entire article about a man named Raphael Jackson. He is the highest-paid landscape architect in Australia and there are pictures of his creation in the magazine.

Wow. He lives up to his name. It would probably be amazing if he designs the Emerald Garden I was planning to build Genovia but if I ever meet him can I even afford his service? For someone who creates such beautiful landscapes, he’s probably gay. Right? I scan the whole article about him but there is not a single photo of him. Are men usually camera conscious? Well, it would be nice if we become friends. Raphael Jackson, I will surely remember your name.