Chapter Six: Valley of Pearls

"Good day everyone!" Josephine greeted the sea of media who waited for everyone who exited Napoleon for some information about the party.

The press immediately gathered around her but the security blocked them enough to have the space in between. They threw her questions after questions.

"Okay, I don't think we have all day here so let's take each question at a time."

"Where is Joseph Huntington? Is it true that there was a private engagement party that happened on the ship?"

Josephine flashed them a smile. "My son doesn't want the media to jeopardize his private time right now."

"How about the party? Is it true that he's engaged?"

Josephine is internally laughing hearing the questions.

"I don't think I am in the right position to confirm or deny that." she answered that earned whispers and confused looks from the media people. "But if he is, I don't think there's anything wrong with that. In fact, I'm wishing for grand kids this christmas. Who knows, I might get my wish this year." she said jokingly

Deep inside Josephine is truly rooting for Meria and Joseph to give her the grandchildren she wanted.

The next questions are more professional and she answered some of it patiently before leaving.

"Who could possibly spread the fake rumor about the CEO's engagement? It doesn't make sense, don't you think?" Josephine's secretary said inside the car

"Of course, it doesn't." she said not pulling her attention away from the crowd of media outside her window. She looked at them with a mischievous smile before telling her chauffeur to take her home.

***

Meria was amazed at the thing they entered the moment they exited the ship.

"What do you call this thing?" she asked Joseph beside her while bouncing in her seat.

"This is a car." Joseph answered, amused by her behavior. "We use this to go from one place to another."

Meria nodded. "So where are we going?"

"Somewhere far away that I can keep you all to myself." he said that made Meria look at him in confusion. He laughed.

"Kidding." he said, "Of course, I'm going to help you get to your mother first and save the world before I do that."

"You're going to help me?"

"I think it's my responsibility now to help you. I mean, I love seafood. How will I satisfy my cravings for sashimi if I let a witch poison the ocean?" he said smiling

"Humans take a great advantage on the glory of the sea but don't give so much importance in maintaining its richness." she said with sadness evident in her voice

He knows he should be guilty for not caring how bad humans can cause destruction to the ocean but he can't help but to focus more on her words and how she says it with full compassion. She's a princess of the ocean after all.

"I'm sorry on behalf of all the human race."

She looked at him. "If I can't find the cure to save Oceana, then humans who depend on the sea will fall along with it."

He knows what she means. Huntington is in the cruise line industry and without the ocean, ships cannot venture. Thinking about the sum of people who work with him that will be affected once the ocean falls is making his stomach sink. The problem Meria is trying to solve is not just about their kingdom and the whole Oceana but technically it's saving every race and the whole world.

"Then we better hurry up and save the world." he said trying to lift up her mood. He knows she's risking everything she has in stepping on a land she hasn't set foot once before to save the ocean.

He didn't expect his life to take a full twist on the night she pulled a naked, silver haired lady from the water. Everything happened so fast that he himself doesn't have enough chance to absorb it all, but if it means saving the world-- that's a big deal. Another thing is, he's doing it alongside the pettiest woman he had ever seen. There's no way he's not taking the greatest opportunity of his life.

***

The car pulled in front of a jewelry store that screams elegance and beauty even from the outside.

There's a sign outside the store that says: VALLEY OF PEARLS by Mellisa Turner

Meria released the breath she'd been holding the moment she faced the store. She looked back to Joseph and found him looking at her.

"We're here." he said which she nodded

Meria can no longer hide her anxiety. She doesn't know how to face her mother. They haven't seen each other for a long time. Will she recognize her? Her chain of thoughts was interrupted when a warm hand held her cold one. She looks up at Joseph that is now beside her. His eyes are encouraging.

"This is for Oceana." he reminded her

She took a deep breath and nodded. There's no way she's thinking twice about saving the sea.

They entered the store hand in hand.

"Good day!" a lady in white greeted them as soon as they stepped in recognizing the billionaire who just stepped inside the store. "What can I do for you?"

"I'm here for Mellisa Turner." Meria said straight

The smile of the lady who greeted them fell. And she scans Meria thoroughly. When she realized who she was, her eyes widened in total stupefaction.

"This way please" she said the moment she recovered from her shock. She led them to a short hallway. The store was huge and is full of different jewelry that is designed to perfection.

"I'm sorry, sir. I don't think you are allowed to come in."

Joseph nodded. "It's fine." he said and looked at Meria, "I'll be waiting here."

"There will be a room for your accommodation while waiting, sir." the lady in white said and another lady in white walked in telling Joseph to follow her that he did.

Meria followed the first lady she saw as she stop infront of a white door and knock. Someone said open on the other side and the lady bowed at her while opening the door.

The light coming from the inside is almost blinding that she needs to partly cover her eyes to adjust.

A moment later the light seems to fade out and she's inside the room. Infront of her there is a glass table and behind it there is a woman sitting on a chair. When she looked up at her, their eyes met and she instantly knew she found her. Her mother. Mellisa Turner.

***

Joseph was led to a private room inside the store which contains different kinds and designs of jewelries.

"These are the collections that are to be released to the market next month, sir. Do you mind staying here while waiting for your company?"

He shook his head, "I don't. Thank you."

"Feel free to look, Mr. Huntington. I can say that the collection is truly magnificent. We are showcasing the pearls of the ocean this time and the designs are also under the sea inspired." the girl with a nameplate that says Mika said.

He nodded, pleased to hear her explanation. He walked around the room and scanned the different beauty of the jewelry. He stopped in front of a glass case that caught his attention.

It's a necklace that has pearls that are inch apart from each other by a gold chain and has a small crown in the middle that has little diamonds.

"It's the mermaid necklace. It's designed by Miss Mellisa herself with gold, pearls and diamonds. It's inspired by the princess of the ocean." Mika explained

Joseph can't help but smile when a face comes into his mind.

"I am Meria, princess of Oceana. Protector of the sea and a guardian of water."

"It's perfect.. " he said, "I'll take it." he continued that made Mika's eyes widen in surprise before smiling.