Chapter Eight: Paparazzi

Susan Mabini

Quiapo, Manila Philippines

Joseph stared at the piece of paper that Meria handed him asking if he knows how to get to the place. His forehead creased before he look back at Meria that is waiting for his answer.

"Philippines is more or less than fifteen hours flight from here." he said which made Meria look at him with confusion. "I mean, yes. I know the place. This is a country in Asia. If you want to go there, you need to take a plane."

Meria's face brighten at his answer. "Can you help me get there?"

He look at her with disbelief before looking back at Mellisa that he already met before in one of his mother's parties. He can't believe the fact that the woman has a mermaid daughter but he set it aside for now.

"She's the only person we know that can give us the answers." Mellisa said to Joseph. "I want to go with her but I can't, I need to stay behind and gather informations about the other witches."

When Meria exited the room with the white door, she's accompanied by Mellisa that introduced herself as her mother. Mellisa is truly grateful for Joseph's help. She recognize him as one of the youngest billionaire bachelors in the country. She can't believe the big coincidence that brought them together. She smiled to herself thinking that it must be faith. She wasn't even surprised that Joseph knows about Meria's identity.

When it's time for them to go, Mellisa handed them a silver band charmed ring that will keep them safe from any harm while traveling. They both wore it and it fits perfectly on their fingers.

"I wish you both good luck." Mellisa said before hugging them goodbye.

The moment they step out of the store, a sea of paparazzi run to them. When he realize that they're trying to get to him, he immediately pulled Meria close to him and cover her as much us possible. Panic and terror is clear in her expression. Paparazzi started to take pictures and camera started fashing, startling Meria in his arms. She hold him tighter, wrapping her arms around his waist and burying her face to his chest.

"Keep your face covered." He instructed that she followed.

Questions are thrown towards them. He don't even understand why are they here.

Good thing, Mellisa's guards are there to escort them but before they can enter the car, the final question reached his ears.

"Mr. Huntington, is it true that your engaged? Is it her?"

***

It's been fifteen minutes since they left the the Valley of Pearls and the sea of paparazzi that seems to be possessed by some kind of demon.

Meria's arms are still wrapped around him--not that he's complaining, knowing the scare she just went through when the paparazzi doesn't seem to care if they cause serious damage. The paparazzi and the reporters are driving him crazy.

The last question he heard echoed in his mind. He doesn't know if he should feel delighted about the idea that he's engaged to the woman that is in his arms right now or be annoyed by the crazy assumptions which drove the paparazzi crazy and that seems to traumatize her.

After a while, he felt her breathing steady. He smiled knowing that she's already asleep. Stroking her hair, he pulled the piece of paper in his pocket using his free hand and look at it.

After the commotion that happened, something tells him that it isn't the last time that something like that will occur. Maybe going out of America is just timely.

Taking his phone out, he sent a message to his private pilot, his secretary and his mother.

After contemplating on what to do and how to make things work, he finally sighed and look down at the sleeping silver haired beauty in his arms.

"Joe, take us straight to the airport." he said to his driver without tearing his gaze away from Meria. "We still have a world to save." he whispered before kissing her hair.

***

"Please take your seats, we'll be taking off shortly." the pilot's voice echoed through the speakers.

When they reached the airport, Meria is still sleeping not showing any signs of waking up soon. Instead of shaking her awake, he decided not to disrupt her sweet slumber and carry her into the private plane instead. Good thing, not a single paparazzi showed up. He put her in the cabin inside the plane and let her sleep. She seems so tired. The last time she's unconscious, she gained a tail. Even if he's astound by the beauty of it, he doest want to risk Meria showing it.

He buckle up in one of the seats. The plane finally take off and he unbuckle his seat belt. A brunette steward approached him asking him what does he want with a flirtatious smile.

"I'll have a black coffee please and prepare some food also for my guest." he said with a kurt smile that the lady nodded to before turning around to the plane's mini kichen.

Moments later when he's sipping his coffee, the pilot approached him.

"Hey!" he greeted Brad, his pilot and a good friend. "I haven't seen you for months. How's your wife? I heard you have twins. Congratulations!"

Brad took a six months vacation to attend her wife and newborn twins.

"Hey!" Brad greeted him back with a brotherly hug. "I know! They're fine. I think I'm doing fine with this whole 'daddy' thing so far." he said that they both laugh.

"That good?"

"That rewarding, you mean." Brad corrected before plopping down the the seat across him. Joseph smiled and sipped his coffee. "How are you, man? I bet your great. Who would not be after being the CEO and being engaged at the same time?" Brad said, sending him a knowing look and a accusing smile.

His brows raised at his statement. "What are you talking about?"

The word 'engaged' itself didn't register as much as the other words did. It's the second time today that someone accused him of engagement. If they're talking about Meria, how the hell did the people know about her?

"C'mon man!" Brad nudge him. "You didn't even tell me you have a girlfriend and you didn't envite me to your engagement. At least don't keep the details from me."

Joseph chuckled and stared at his friend. "I don't know what your talking about, Brad." he smirked

"Bloody hell, Joseph! C'mon!" Brad whined. "If you don't know what I'm talking about then should I head for the cabin and fill my curiosity instead?" he challenged

Joseph's smile falter instantly.

"You think I didn't saw the silver haired woman your carrying while entering the plane?"

Of course, he did! But that's not even the point. Meria and him isn't engaged. They're not even in a relationship to begin with but he can't deny the attraction he has for her.

"I'm not the only one curious to know who she is though." Brad said that made Joseph stop and look at him.

"Who else?"

"See for yourself." Brad answered sliding off the iPad across the table.

He took it, he started reading the article news and slowly his jaw tightened. The next one is a video report of a gossip channel. He tap the play botton and started watching it.

HEADLINE: JOSEPH HUNTINGTON IS ENGAGED!

"That's right ladies! One of our youngest billionaire bachelors has decided on tying the knot soon. I know most of you is now mourning for your broken heart by his decision but what can we do? The man is taken by a silver haired woman who most of the people saw described as 'exceptionally beautiful'. Wow! I'm curious. The whole world is curious to know the identity of the girl who caught one of the biggest fish in the sea."

Pictures that seems to be taken by the paparazzi flashed on the screen. Most of it is when they were mobbed by paparazzi outside Mellisa's shop.

"We didn't even know that the young bachelor is dating someone yet all of a sudden he's caught entering the Valley of Pearls in California holding hands with a silver haired girl. Mind you, she even looks good from behind."

Joseph and Meria's picture holding each other's hand while walking up the step of the shop started to fill the screen.

"There has been a rumor that there was a secret engagement that happened when they boarded the Napoleon. This wasn't confirmed nor denied by Joseph Huntington's mother. According to her, she doesn't think that she's in the right position to confirm nor deny the issue. With that, Mrs. Huntington is surely leading us somewhere there.

But wait! There's more. The moment they walk out the famous Mellisa Turner's shop, they seem to not expect any paparazzi at all. Too bad no one has taken a full head shot of the silver haired woman but what the paparazzi didn't miss is the ring band that is around her finger while clutching him."

Another picture appear with Joseph's back facing the camera. Meria is unseen in front of him but not her arm that is wrapped around him.

"If you think that we might just assuming things up, wait till you see this..."

Another picture flash on screen this time. It's a picture taken from the side while Joseph's hand is cupping the back of her head while her face is burried in his chest. His other arm seems to keep the paparazzi away from her.

"Can we take a moment to appreciate how protective he is to her? We can, but right now that's not the point. See his hand on her head? He's wearing the same ring as her."

The picture zoom in and focused on the ring on his finger. Two pictures are now side by side showing each hand with the ring. Meria's and Joseph's.

Not wanting to see the rest of the video, he throw the iPad back to the table, lean back to his seat and pressed the bridge of his nose. He's starting to get a headache.

Brad just sit there amused by how distressed Joseph look after watching a part of the video. He haven't seen him like this about his personal life. He's now even more curious to meet the lady that Joseph is persistently keeping.

Joseph groaned. Why is he being pestered by media? He's not even a celebrity. Now that the media thinks that he's engaged, he can't even think of anything to do.

Truly, the media will make a story out of everything.

Rising up from his seat, he left Brad alone and head to the cabin where the girl the world seems so curious about is resting. He wasn't bother for himself or the news. He is bothered on how Meria will react to the news and how will it affect her. Revealing her identity in humanity doesn't seem appealing with her current situation but a slight pang of hope is tugging him to just let the rumor spread and make the engagement real.