3 The Ball

At the Goldenburg estates, the home of the Fontierra clan. It was six in the morning, Kanna woke up and rose from her bed and took a bath. Afterwards, she sat down in front of her dresser and combed her hair, smiling while staring at the mirror. Minutes later, The Fontierra clan's old housekeeper, Minda struck the little bell and went inside her room.

"Kanna, breakfast is ready!" said Minda.

"Okay, I'm going down," Kanna responded, dressing up to her uniform and went down before sitting in front of the dining table, watching the news while eating breakfast.

"Where are Mom and Dad?" Kanna asked their housekeeper.

"They went off early," said the housekeeper, serving the siblings' breakfast, "They'll fetch you home after school."

"What for?" Ulrich, Kanna's older brother, asked.

"You will attend some kind of party at a posh hotel," Minda answered, handing over an invitation to Kanna and Ulrich.

After eating breakfast, Ulrich, Kanna and Erica-their younger sister were sent off to school, which was thirty minutes away from their home.

---

Meanwhile, at the Marino residence the house bell had rang for half an hour, Riko fumed and went inside each of their children's room to yell and wake them up. All the Marino siblings speedily took a bath and his sibling sat on each side of the dining table, with their father sat in front, reading newspaper and watching news.

"Dad, you're reading the newspaper and you're listening to the news," said Rafael, taking a slice of bread.

"I need to be informed of the events," Karl replied, sipping a cup of tea, "Isn't this obvious? Even your Mom's flowers are also reading the news, Just look at those newspapers near the pots,"

"Stop picking on my plants," said Riko, placing lunch boxes in front of her kids, "I am invited to a party tonight, so I need someone to go with me."

The children silently ate their breakfast while Riko waited for any response from them as to who will accompany her in the party. Her husband shrugged off the invitation and also remained silent.

"Mom, Dad has asked me to join Uncle Arjan in observing company operations," Kyoko excuses herself in an apologetic manner.

"I would love to go with you but I have a fellowship tonight, right Bianca?" Jiena stares at her younger sister, nodding her head in affirmation.

Karl slyly glances at his wife, who was grinning out of frustration after their kids gave reasons they wouldn't go to the party. Riko glared sharply at her husband, clinching his hand. Karl leans his face at her and smiled. "If you think I am going with you at that party, then you already know the answer."

"I'll go with you Mom," Rafael volunteered, causing his siblings to raise an eyebrow, "Stop staring at me like as if I have some disease. I'll go with mom tonight."

Riko stood up and embraced her stepson from behind and at the same time glared at her husband and the rest of the children. "You're really my reliable son."

"The kids are going to be late," Karl told his wife, who hastily sent their kids off to school.

---

Both Kanna and Rafael arrived at their classroom and sat at their respective desks. Before the class started, Rafael had noticed his classmates were busy talking about their respective families' businesses. Eugene arrived and sat beside his best friend.

"Why are they busy flaunting their family business?" asked Rafael.

"A Kuwaiti Sheikh will arrive and all the parents here in our school were invited," Eugene answered, showing an invitation card to Rafael, who just brushed the paper away from him and blankly stared at the window.

"Uninteresting," Rafael gasped for fresh air, taking out a pocketbook.

"The Sheikh invited everyone to a party and he will invest at one of the business if he is interested," Eugene responded, "My Mom will attend but will not take part or please the sheikh."

Rafael scratched his chin and stared at the invitation card once more, "So that is the place where my Mom and I will head to."

Jimmy, Rafael's classmate, heard the conversation and approached him, teasing the young man. "Your father wouldn't go that ball because he doesn't have any investment or corporation."

Rafael blinks his eyes and leans forward on Jimmy, "Is that even necessary?"

"Yes, because that Sheikh is a big shot," another classmate of his remarked.

"Why, your parents can't afford a ticket to that party, because your father is just a Mayor of the little city," another classmate mocked Rafael's father.

Rafael smirked, lying back on his chair and scratched his chin, "Look, even if my father is a mayor of a little town or some kind of crazy billionaire, I wouldn't even bother accepting that invitation, my mother asked me to go with her."

"Just leave them," Eugene interrupted, "Everyone knows your father is hard to find."

After their class, Rafael and Eugene went into outside the school grounds, standing in front of the waiting shed, waiting for their drivers to fetch them.

"Look to your right," Eugene whispered to Rafael, followed the instruction. The young man's heart fluttered again when he saw Kanna chatting with her classmates.

"Hi Kanna!" Rafael greeted the lass as his forehead sweats profusely.

"Hello Rafael," Kanna responded. Her face was blushing upon seeing Rafael, "I'll be going to my Dad's office, how about you?"

"Ah....I am going to my Mom's office too," Rafael answered, trying to get a hold of himself.

"Good Luck!" Kanna joyfully cheered, giving Rafael confidence before going inside her vehicle.

"Geez, I wish there is a girl who would motivate me like that," said Eugene, tapping his best friend's shoulder before hopping into his vehicle, Rafael followed when the van carrying his siblings arrived.

----

Twenty minutes later, the van arrived at the Capital Cities Tower which is located at the heart of the city. Jiena, Rafael and Kyoko rode the elevator and stopped at the seventeenth floor of the tower, the three entered the spacious office of the combined Penthouse Seven Corporation and the Marino Trading Enterprises.

The office was filled with souvenirs and memorabilia that the couple have acquired either from travelling or given to them as a gift. Riko was inside the office, stamping important documents while Karl was on the video chat and also busy doing paper works on his end. The three kids slowly came in and greeted their mother. Few seconds later, Hirofumi and Harris-his secretary came inside and within just a span of second, the office's ecstatic aura turned into a gloomy one as Karl and Hirofumi engaged once again in a staring showdown.

"You're here," Riko said, trying to ignore her husband and father while asking her children to take a seat.

"Mom, I heard that a Kuwaiti Sheikh is in town today," Kyoko jests, "My classmates are busy bragging their business and that they will attend the ball tonight."

"That's precisely why Rafael is here," Riko replied, pointing at a suit for Rafael to wear.

"Good luck, Rafael," Jiena cheered, coyly laughing at his twin.

"Stop teasing your brother," Riko interrupted, showing Rafael the same invitation card Eugene flaunted "They also sent me and your father an invitation, your dad isn't even interested in rubbing elbows with a Sheikh."

"That's a bummer," Rafael complained, trying to fit the suit that his mother bought for him.

Karl said, removing the eyeglasses from his eyes and mischievously glanced at Riko, "That's what a CEO usually does as far as I'm concerned and I am not even fond of joining parties. Maybe you should know that because we're married for almost a decade."

"How dare you decline Madam Marino's invitation," Harris protested.

"Shouldn't you be joining that ball because you are still the CEO of this poor, third rate trading store?" Hirofumi quizzes his son-in-law.

Karl rolled his eyeballs and gasps for a second, smirking at Hirofumi and Harris, "My presence is not required in that place, I hope I have answered the question."

Hirofumi approached his son-in-law and noticed that he is answering crossword puzzle, unable to control his disappointment, "When you thought that he is busy with government works, here he is, answering a damn crossword puzzle."

"Oto-sama, it's a good day to answer crossword puzzles, it's food for your brain." says Karl.

"How does a crossword puzzle food for the brain?" Harris queried.

"Yes, it's good for the brain, it makes it work," Karl replied "Harris, you can also sell your brain because unused brains have high value than Einstein's brain. Do you know how long can a useless brain lasts?"

"How long can a useless brain last?" Harris repeated the question, "How long?"

"Oh, that's easy, Oto-sama, How Old Are You?" Karl asks his father-in-law.

"Why you fat monkey!" Hirofumi raised his voice, trying to hit Karl, but was held off by Harris, "Let's go Harris, there is no sense in talking to someone like him."

"By the way, the two of you shouldn't be inside this office in the first place," Karl reminded his father-in-law.

"What are you talking about?" Hirofumi queried. Karl stood up and took out a signage near his door, showing it to his father-in-law.

"You didn't read the sign? 'No, pet's allowed'." Karl said, "That includes a Baboon bringing a frog."

"Why you imbecile!" Hirofumi yelled, "Let's go Harris, I think I will die if I still talk to that klutz."

"Rafael, let's go, let's leave that lazy fat dick," Riko frowned at her husband and took her bag and slammed the door of her office while Rafael silently followed her.

-----

It was six o'clock when Riko and Rafael arrived at the five star Intercontinental Hotel, which was just a few blocks away from their office. Socialites, politicians and businessmen attended the ball, many wanted to have a favor with the Sheikh. the place was fancy, food was first class and the wine came from the highest quality of Grapes in Greece. Riko went inside, wearing a black cocktail dress while Rafael was wearing a beige suit. The two sat in the farthest table, away from the crowd.

"I thought we were here to mingle?" Rafael asked, sipping a glass of grape juice.

"I came here to check on who that Shiekh is, not to exchange some fake pleasantries," Riko answered, sipping a glass of wine when a lady wearing a red cocktail dress approached her.

"Riko!" the lady exclaimed.

"Sylvia!" Riko reciprocated, kissing the lady's cheek. "It's good to know you are here."

"Me too," Sylvia responded "Gustav and Eugene couldn't come here tonight because there was a problem in our hometown."

Riko frowned, shaking her head out of frustration and gulps another glass of wine. "My good husband, yes he is so good that he is dick refused to come here because he got fed up meeting sheikhs and emirs."

Rafael got bored while standing behind his step-mom. he walked away from Riko and took a stroll towards the hallway, trying to kill the time. Suddenly, she noticed a familiar girl sitting at the lobby and without hesitation he approached her.

"Oh Rafael, you're also here!" Kanna smiled, much to Rafael's surprised as he was about to greet the young lady.

"Uh...ah, nice seeing you here," Rafael stuttered, sweating profusely, Kanna grabbed his hand and dragged him in the hallway towards the ballroom.

"The party hasn't started yet, I think we should take a walk near their swimming pool" Rafael told the lass.

"Sure," Kanna smiled, and the two went into the hotel's poolside and sat at one of the benches, staring at the bright moon.

"It's been a while since I got a chance to look at the moon like this," Kanna said, Rafael glanced at her with much astonishment.

"Damn, the way she looks, her eyes, her lips, her puffy cheeks, she's so perfect," Rafael murmured into his mind, aroused by Kanna's rosy scent.

"Is there something in my face?" a curious Kanna asked, glancing at Rafael.

"No," Rafael answered,"I'm just so happy to see you."

After hearing those words, Kanna blushed and radiantly smiled, glancing at him again with so much interest.

"I forgot to ask this when we went out several weeks ago," Rafael said. "But what kind of guy do you like?"

Kanna smiled as she started to speak. "Well, I like tall guys, but it's okay if he is average, I like a man who is responsible enough and caring enough for me, you can add a person who is humble, I'm not particular of the looks though, how about you?"

Rafael stared at her once more, smiling and profusely sweating as he lowered his head and peeked at her with a smile, "A woman with a bubbly and optimistic personality."

Kanna glanced back at Rafael and smiled. "Let's go back to the Ballroom."

-----

Walking side-by-side, Rafael and Kanna returned to the ballroom. Everyone was standing outside the place, and the police were also at the area. Much to their curiosity, they went inside the banquet hall, Kanna went into her mother's side while Rafael approached Riko who was scratching her head in disbelief.

"What's going on?" The young man anxiously asked.

"They're arresting that fake Shiekh," Riko answered, still gulping another glass of wine. The chief of the elite police force went inside the hall and approached her.

"Are you Missus Marino?" the chief of police asked, to which Riko nodded affirmatively while drinking a glass of whiskey.

"Please send our deepest appreciation to your husband," the chief of police requested, causing Riko's eyes to grow big and raise her eyebrows.

"What did he do this time?" Riko put down the glass of wine and threw a sharp glance at the chief of police, who was taken aback by her gesture.

"He tipped us of this fake sheikh who wants to solicit or kidnap key business people and put a ransom on their head," the chief of police explained before turning his back at the Marino matriarch.

Riko was feeling dizzy and was about to pass out, Rafael carried her step-mother on his back as they went down the grand staircase.

"This is what you get when drinking too much wine," Rafael murmured, slowly approaching the exit and entered their vehicle, speeding away towards their home.

---

At the Goldenberg Estates, Kanna arrived home and went into the kitchen, took a glass of water, sitting in front of the dining table, physically exhausted by the commotion in the hotel. Minda, their housekeeper went into the kitchen and handed her a piece of envelope.

"I heard what happened at the hotel," the housekeeper said.

"If it weren't for Missus Marino, Mom could've fallen for that diamond fraud," Kanna replied taking out the documents from the envelope, Ulrich went into the room and sat down with her. While his sister continues to read to read the documents, Ulrich took one page and read it, much to his surprise.

"You instructed a background check on the whole Marino clan?" Ulrich asked.

"Yes," Kanna answered, "I'm curious of what they do."

Kanna's eyes grew big upon reading the third page of the report, "Karl Marino formerly served as chairman of the Republic Broadcasting Systems Corporation, one of the major television content producers in Asia with a Television Network established both in Tokyo and Seoul, In addition, he was vice-chairman emeritus of the Penthouse Corporation, an investment company whose portfolio involves mining, urban development and countryside planning for Africa and South America; and other investments in Europe and Pacific. He left the Penthouse Corporation with a healthy stash of wealth and influence before settling down in the Philippines and forming his small conglomerate in the south. Slowly, the Marino clan invested with various start up corporation which increased their wealth by three folds."

"Riko Minomoto Marino, the matriarch of the Marino clan was an A-list celebrity, her vast experience and skills in the entertainment world landed her to a lucrative position in the entertainment arm of the Penthouse Corporation." Ulrich read

"I heard that Mr. Marino fathered fifteen children," Minda added

Kanna replied, brushed off Minda's remarks, drinking a glass of water. "Well, I don't see any problems about it."

"Your eyes are locked on Rafael Marino," said Ulrich, glancing at his sister.

"I am just curious about them" Kanna replied, lockin her eyes on the paper that she is reading.

Ulrich left the dining area while Kanna continued reading the fifteen page report about the Marino clan.

"You're smitten with Mr. Marino's eldest son," Minda said, slyly glancing at Kanna whose face blushed, the old maid of the Fontierras has been with them ever since, so long that she knows the behavior of the kids and even her masters, "I know it when you are hiding something."

"Well..." Kanna stuttered, looking away at the old housekeeper.

"Kanna, do you like Rafael Marino?" Minda straightforwardly asked the young lady.

"He's a gentleman, he has good looks, he's kind and silent, who wouldn't fall for such a guy?" Kanna answered, still blushing because of the sudden question.

"My little princess is now a grown up" Minda added, playfully fondling Kanna's cheeks before leaving the young lady alone at the dining area.

---

At the Marino residence, Riko and Rafael arrived just before midnight and went to the living room, where Jiena was sitting on the couch, waiting for them to arrive.

"Where is Dad?" asks Rafael, carrying her drunk-doused step-mother who went down and went to her room

"Dad is sleeping already," said Jiena, browsing at her father's folders. Rafael noticed a folder on the side, labelled "Fontierra". He swiftly took the folder and sat down, reading the whole content.

"You knew all along that their family is quite affluent," Jiena said, glancing at the document that her brother is reading.

"It's not bad to check get some information on them, isn't it?" Rafael asked, while Jiena took some pages of the report and read some excerpts.

"The Fontierras are full owners of the Goldenberg Realty and Resorts, that consists of properties in the east and western part of the Philippines, and a vast corn fields in the north, their jewelry collections makes them a sought after fried in the high society."

"Don Menardo Fontierra and his son Albert founded the conglomerate, using their connections and skills, they steered their fortune and businesses into one formidable group in the country, with their clients such as the prince of Brunei, the prime ministers of Laos and Cambodia."

"They are one secretive family," Jiena said, handing the documents to Rafael.

"Not as secretive as we do, sis," Rafael replied.

"Everything that we have is a product of secrecy," Jiena answered back, taking back the documents and placing it at the table, "Go to sleep, you have a class tomorrow."

Rafael nodded and waited for his sister to go into her room, before settling down in his own room.