7 Getting to Know the Cold Louis by Hard- to-Get Maria

Tessa announced a small thanksgiving celebration to be held at the small Villa near the Montfort Castle. But since my team needed to work on the finishing touches on the front lawn and fron t face of the main building, they are left behind and will follow me, Louis, mom, and Rodolfo a week or two. I didn't really have a say on this, for when mom agreed to this invitation, I was just a mere pawn in a chess game, maybe because Rodolfo, Tessa and mom is still hopeful on saving Montfort lineage by hooking me and Louis after all these years that Grandma Aunt Gisel messed our supposed engagement when we're just little. I think I am falling in love with Louis but I still hated him when he plotted to hurt me and my mom. What if he goes mental when we're together, I don't want to end up in a morgue even before I get laid and experience wonderful sex, and life with my prince charming ,,, haaaa! stop it Maria! Hihi!, Well! it's like marrying a boy next door but with past issues or carrying excess baggages.

Hey!, Em...Maria...Ma..., Victoria called out for Maria, merely shouting when she hasn't heard her once, then twice. Yup!, sorry, mom!, I replied as if waking up from a day dream, coming out of the car, we're using my Hummer since we needed to carry mine and my mom's personal stuff. Help me with these please, Victoria added while carrying our baggages up the stairs. It's about 12 stairs tops, so it's not an easy task hehe. Rodolfo held more than we can, he is like handling four bags all at the same time. But he is running up the stairs like it's nothing. Well, his muscle toned arms and bod can tell he can even carry me and mom on top of those luggage.

Wooah! this villa is an old but refined place. I like the peace, calm and greenery. Flowers everywhere, birds chirping, trees whistling and fishes swimming, goldfishes fill the little swamp-like figure with a beautiful lady water fountain in front of the villa, Where's Louis?, I thought. Then my eyes caught Tessa in the kitchen which is overlooking the stairs of the villa on the right wing, prepping herself up wearing an apron and all, preparing our meal for the day maybe.

Hi!, a familiar voice said on my ear., O mother f....cking , god!, I yelled and almost jumped to slap the person standing behind me. Haaa, Louis,, it's you!, I added smiing a bit while I went back to carrying the two heavy luggage up the top of the crazy stairs. I'll help you with those, he said pulling them from me. No, thanks, I'm good, holding a strong grip on the luggage.

It's okay, I can....Louis is still pulling one luggage when caught off guard, the weight of the baggages pulled me in to Louis and landed on his chest. Making him fall losing his grip on the one baggage which flew over his head and fell on the ground near the car. We fell and I was left on top of Louis, my front was resting on top of his chest and his back hit the ground harshly. Ahhhhh!!, we both yelled out which ended in a catastrophe, my thigh and front facing him his face too close, and his hands cupping my breasts accidentaly. Ahhh, huh, huh, huh! Louis is now gasping for air since my whole weight is blocking his air passage. I yelled,, eeeeeekk!, why are you holding my ....b...b..., I shouted then slapped him on the face again and again,which he tried to cover using his hands now in front of his face. I..I'm sorry, Em, Maria, it;s not my intention, I just wanted to help out!, he added shamefully. You!!!, I said in a snob. Hmp!.

Em, please, get off. of me, now, I can't breaaaaathe!!!, Louis ended up saying since I was still on top of his chest and blocking the air to pass his lungs, I bet. Actually, since I was angry I wish he die now, hehe!!, I'm just kidding. Oh, okay, sorry! I said standing up immediately when he mimed that he can no longer breathe. I helped him pull his self-up while he gasped for breath like an asthmatic searching for oxygen.

Then seeing the crazy state we're in now, we ended up laughing at each other, just like old times when we were kids at the castle. Haahahahahahahahhah!!!

What happened to us, Em? In spite of all that happened, I still miss you and us when we were kids, Louis said sitting up and spreading his legs to relax them then looking right straight toward Maria who is also seated beside him with legs crossed since she’s wearing a skirt but with long socks underneath it. Hmm! I don’t know! Grand ma Aunt Gisel isn’t a very nice old lady but she sure is loving. I never thought of her as someone to curse a family especially your family, who she grew up with, with my dad and every one. So it was hard for me to accept in the beginning, but mom said she was possessed or something like with an evil spell. Cause when she woke up after the battle at St. Pio. Maximillian Castle was unharmed and the people in it. I think Aunt Gisel was protecting it. So I don’t really understand why your family hated her when in fact she saved you and your kinsfolk then, Maria added now facing Louis with worried eyes and a sad tone.

I’m sorry Em, maybe my family didn’t realized it until now how your family suffered from our anger and revengeful acts, that even I can’t revert back to when we were so close and all. But I’ll try my best to do that, now. Ah, uhuh! Okay, we were busy chatting that we’re still left with stuff to carry up stairs and our rooms. So, I’ll see around em?!, Louis said shyly then backing up while he gave an honest grin and held Maria’s hand swiftly but gently. Oh, yes, se yah!, maybe at dinner later!, Maria added smiling, now more compassionate than before. Louis then ran to the car and carried more bags than he usually does and looked at Em happily, as if he was never been so glad in his life. Maria then turned her back away from Louis for she felt something sparked in her, her heart, a light, hope, that Louis have forgiven her and her family from their past transgressions and he is willing to move on from it. She is happy and feeling hot, very, very hot, for Louis was so warm, when he held her hand, that she can’t almost breathe from his warmth it burned her inside.

Louis went to his room and took a shower. He was contemplating on everything that Maria said about her family and about her Aunt Gisel, which is in fact his aunt too, not by blood but by right. Em, if only I can forget everything, but I will try, for you. I think I am falling in love with you and I am beginning to think this thing we are in now is a set up. Haha!, Tessa and Rodolfo really are something. I love those guys. When did they think that I would accept this invitation especially with the girl I hated the most, which in turn I am so much in love with now. I should thank them for this great opportunity ti be with the girl I love and cherish for the longest time.

Louis Leopold has a twin brother named Louis Leonardo. He is the one checking up and giving Maria uncalled for visits every now and then. He too was the one Maria spoke with before wearing his mask on and the one she had a date with, when kissed for the first time by a Louis. Maria thought she was speaking with the same Louis Leopold before but in fact it was his twin Louis Leonardo. Tessa mentioned that Louis had an accident before and had several surgeries on his face why he needed to wear a mask on to hide the disfigures. But little that Em know, the Louis she is falling in love with is the twin who is indeed handsome and the arrogant who was mentioned who travels a lot when she first met with him with Rodolfo at the castle bar and dine in. He is always out seeing and scouting the world for animals and rescuing them for his leisure. I think he never hated Maria’s family but Louis Leopold does. And where is Louis Leopold? He is still wearing his mask on but lifted it up to check on the room Rodolfo gave him, and it’s near Maria’s bedroom. Why did he do that? He knows I hated her and her family. And now Louis Leonardo is here too to join in the fun and problem. Haaaaa!!! I could punch that middle aged man right on the chin to make him sleep for a while. I can take off my mask but the scar is still there. The doctors were able to align the bones on my face but it’s not the same as before. Maria, didn’t see me like this and she knows how I look for we were so close when we were kids. That Leonardo is a hopeless intruder, as my twin, he can really make Maria’s heart flutter for he is indeed handsome and a lady’s man with his romantic side shows. Haaaaa!!! Why am I so crazy about you Em??? I don’t really know what to do now. And Rodolfo gave me the room adjacent to you so I can hear you breathe or snore maybe, and listen to your chatters and when the water from your shower room gushes through and through. My heart is pounding, wanting, desiring for you. Yet, my anger, hate and revenge is still there to haunt me. The reason I got this scar was when Aunt Gisel was cursing our family at the castle I was rescuing a squirrel on top of a tree near the castle. And when I heard the people inside the castle scream for help, I panicked and fell from the tree, my face caught up a large pointed rock below it, and was scarred for life. However, it healed pretty well so as if the scar is just a tiny birthmark on my cheek. But I am still ashamed Em would not accept me for I have been her perfect prince charming. But now her worst enemy and a not so charming prince after all.

Maria, Maria, uhhh! Louis Leopold stopped when he heard the water gushed from behind the wall he is where at. He is in his bedroom and it is the wall where Maria’s bathroom is located. I can hear her sing, she is happy, “ when I fall in love, it’ll be forever, and I’ll never fall in love…..hmmm!, wow! An old song, but I heard this when she sang it when we we’re at the a castle garden. Yes!, when she was picking flowers at the garden to give her mom and Aunt Gisel. I was with her but checking out on the spiders and bees near the flower beds and bushes. That was a fun day, the day I learned I love her and I am falling deeply in love with her. Ahhhhh!!, stop Louis , stop it, I shouted at my thoughts while I hugged the wall where Maria is and closed my eyes listening to her sweet and lovely voice. I miss her so much, I miss you Em!

As if in a sudden eerie feeling came to her, Maria felt she was being watched or touched. Hmm!, that’s weird the shower is not that warm but now it is. As if someone touched arms and neck then my waist. Haha! Okay is there anybody here? I shouted on the empty, silent bathroom. It is old and a bit creepy yet very refined maybe because this was used by the royalty before. And Louis’ family was indeed royalty. Okay maybe it’s enough shower for me and need to get ready for dinner.

Louis Leonardo was needed in the Safari land that he bid his goodbye to Tessa, Louis Leopold and Rodolfo. He'll definitly be gone months after this. Victoria was in the mini bar near the kitchen, smoking and making a face while the others are not surprised for he never stays in one place a day or two since he loves adventure and the wild animals. So much for the handsome suitor, he always rolls like a moss and gathers no girls because of it, Victoria added smirking inside.

I don’t think he’s the perfect guy for Maria, she needs someone she can lean on and be with forever, Victoria chatting like she is tasting every word with gusto. We know that, Tessa added, taking the apron off and heading outside the front door. And where are you going Ms? Victoria asked flipping her hair out. Yes, back to the castle, Maria’s team need to be supervised, she is indeed preoccupied now, right, er, because of the proposal. Since Louis Leonardo is out, Louis Leopold will take his place and there’s nothing we can do about it now. So Rodolfo, do your thing about him and I need to scoot and finish the task at the castle. I think the renovations going to be done in no time. Adieu!, Tessa said and was gone like a wind after.

Ha Ha ha!, meeeee!!!, well, I placed Louis Leopold near your daughter’s room, if you don’t mind so we will have an edge. I bet Leopold is desiring for Maria now as we speak, Rodolfo added losing a devilish laugh after. Hmm! Make sure he will not try to kill my daughter or I’ll shoot you first, Victoria said threatening Rodolfo who is smiling sheepishly now.

Wait, I know that Louis has a twin. hmm, what ever happened to him sure is a myth. They said he is really handsome and a playboy. But well, my Louis is unlike him. Maybe a bit cold and grumpy but a gentleman and sweet guy. Maria thinking about the Louis who helped her with her luggage this morning. And not to dissapoint, she'll be meeting with the real Louis Leopold later at dinner with his famous mask on again. I wonder what will be her reaction to this and will she buy this act, and know the true Louis inside Leopold? Let's see.