CHAPTER 1

*RAPHAEL*

One could begin with the waves from afar as I sat on my boat with two of my fellow fishermen.

“Raph…I think you got one!”Arturo announced.

I grabbed the rod and slowly reeled it in, watching as the salmon danced along the water's surface.

I pulled it up into the boat and unhooked my line from the jowls,then tossed it into the bucket.

Arturo and Conan came over as the two of us tossed the net into the sea.

“Wow…as usual…you’re our good luck charm,Raph,look at those fishes…I can already smell the cash we’ll make from them today.”Conan said.

I grinned.

I do most of the work when we’re out fishing but I can’t complain…I love fishing a lot…well not more than my mother…maybe a little more than my girlfriend.

************************

After selling off our catch for the day,we shared our earnings and I jogged off to the market.

“Raphie,I told you not to come here anymore.”My mother groaned seeing me.

I shrugged.”I’m done with work for the day.”

“Then go hang out with your friends or your girlfriend…Raph,you’re no longer a kid that keeps helping me out everytime…everyone’s starting to call you mama’s boy.”

I pouted.”But I am my mama’s boy.”

She playfully grabbed a bunch of vegetables and I ran off.

“Fine…see you at home…call me if you need me.”I called out while the other traders laughed.

I am Raphael Suarez…I’m twenty-seven and I live in Puerto Vallarta with my mother.

I was told my father passed away when I was just a year ago.

Growing up without a father figure sucked a lot but my mother tried as much as she could to play both roles for me.

Our lives weren’t easy…and I couldn’t finish high school because of our financial status.

Coupled with the fact that I wasn’t really a smart student…

I love watching the fishermen instead and it wasn’t a wonder how I became one myself.

My occupation had made our lives more comfortable than it used to be.

Seeing an old woman struggling with some bags of groceries,I hurried up to her.

“Mrs Laura,you do know you could ask anyone to help you with these bags,right?You shouldn’t put yourself through much stress.”

She smiled at me as I took the bags from her.

“Oh,Raph…not everyone is a sweetheart like you.”

I beamed at her as we headed for our house.

“I always say that…our neighborhood is blessed to have someone like you.”

I get this a lot.

Everyone keeps saying I’m nice.

I don’t see anything special about it though…

I just think every human being should be like this.

It would make the world a better place.

*************

“Graciella just won’t let Monserrat breathe.”My mom stated as we sat on the couch that evening to watch a telenovela.

“Tell me about it.”I concurred.

This was one of my favorite part of the day.

Being curled up and watching series with my mother.

I stared at the screen admiring the love Monserrat has for Alejandro.

Julia,my girlfriend does not love me like this.

Or sometimes I think maybe I’m the one who keeps expecting our love-life to be like a movie.

She only calls me when she needs something especially money.

We don’t even sit and talk about our lives or go out and have fun.

We’ve been dating for almost a year and I really like her.

I’ve been hurt a lot by girls…

They’ve made me cried a lot…yeah…I’m a fucking softie but I really want things to work out with Julia and that is why I keep doing everything she wants.

But I also want somethings too.

***************************

Lorenzo Moretti alighted from his limo and slipped his arms into the sleeves of a knee-length jacket that Dante was holding behind him.

With that,he walked into the company with his men trailing behind him.

He barely acknowledged the greetings of any of the employees who walked by.

He got into an elevator with Dante.

His other men stood back to get into another elevator.They knew better than anyone that he hated getting into an elevator with more than one person.

While Enzo looked as cool as a cucumber.

Dante was busy with his iPad arranging all the business trip, meetings and schedules for the week.

“Ah…you’re meeting Miss Garcia officially at noon today.”Dante reminded.

Enzo smirked.

His soon-to-be bride.

He had the perfect image of the kind of woman he wanted and he greatly hoped she fits.

*************

Enzo gracefully strode into a restaurant.He had briefly met Monalisa Garcia at a party once so he knew that she didn’t look bad.

He headed off to the reserved table and found her seated already.

“Miss Garcia.”He began,casually.

She lifted up her head and stared at him,sardonically.

“You’re five minutes late.”

“My apologies.Traffic was tight.”

He sat opposite to her and they placed an order.

As they ate elegantly,he spoke;

“I take it as you’re already aware that our wedding is in a month time.”

She nodded.

“If you’re not okay with this.You can let me know.”

“As if you can do anything about it.”

“In as much as I want this,I would not tolerate bedding an unwilling woman after our wedding.I would not want to get into petty fights with a woman because she hates our union.I have no time for drama.”

She grinned.”It’s good to know.Mr Moretti.Marriage of conveniences aren’t a big deal anymore and I’m aware how this is richly going to benefit our families.I want this union.”

“Great.We might meet up one or two times before the wedding but before that I would like to ask you this.What should I expect from you as my wife?”

She shrugged.”I’ll give you babies whenever you want them and spend the right of my life doing everything you want.“

No talk about love?

A thrill ran through him.

He had been low-key scared about this topic.

He stared at her eyes…they were cold…and at the same time,she looked bored.

She was definitely his perfect match.

**************************

*MONALISA*

A life where I do not have to worry about that silly emotion called love.

Yes…that’s all I needed.

Love is an illusion.

And knowing I’m going to spend the rest of my life with this man didn’t make me feel miserable.

I didn’t kick against this arrangement when my father brought it up because it was what I wanted.

My life might get darker and uninteresting than it already is but I was too bottled up with anger to care.

********************************

“How was your date with Mona?”Allegra asked her son.

Enzo wasn’t surprised.

She knew everything.

“It wasn’t a date.Miss Garcia is okay to be my wife.”

“Miss Garcia?”She probed.”Oh Enzo,you two are getting married soon.You should be all over each other…what’s with the…”

“Mother.”Enzo cut in,warningly.

“You know if you don’t want this.I can talk to Grandpa.”

“What makes you think I do not want this?”

Allegra sighed.”It’s just that I’ve never been a fan of arranged marriage.I want you to get married for love,Enzo.Your father would have wanted that too.”

“I do not need love from a woman.I do not believe in it.And I want this marriage.Ever since Manuel acquired some shares through Grandpa,he’s been trying to level up to me.Father contributed a lot to our family’s conglomerate…He founded it out of nothing.I would continue doing everything to maintain my place.Now if you will excuse me,I have a business trip to prepare for.”With that,he stormed off.

Allegra stared at him,sadly.

Sure she felt glad that he was just as successful as his father.

She was glad that he would do anything to protect his father’s name…his father’s wealth.

But when she lost her husband seven years ago.

It felt as if she lost her son too.

Her sweet boy.

****************************

Allegra laid on the chaise lounge in her massive living room.

She tried to think positively about her son’s upcoming wedding.

Maybe it might turn out well…

She had done her research on Monalisa Garcia…

The twenty-four year old was beautiful and smart.

She was sure Mona was a good person…maybe she might teach Enzo how to love.

Allegra smiled at that…they might just end up having a sweet love story.

Hearing footsteps,she sat up to see Max,Pedro and Dante walking into her living room.

They were Enzo’s men.

Was he back from his trip already?

She frowned when she saw Manuel.

Manuel and Enzo were cousins but they never got along so it was kind of weird that he was in her house.

Just as she stood up to ask what he wanted,Grandpa Andre rushed in.

“I saw the news.How could this happen?!”

"What's going on?"Allegra asked, curiously.

"You haven't told her yet?"Grandpa Andre asked the other men.

"What's going on?"She asked again,moving closer to them.

“Enzo’s helicopter was found close to mount Holten…it crashed.”Dante announced.

Her world stopped spinning.

And just like that.

It felt as if it was seven years ago when she was told that her husband didn’t make it.

“No…it didn’t crash.”She argued not wanting to believe that something might have happened to her son.

Manuel picked up the remote control and turned on the TV.

Allegra shakily turned around to meet news of her son declared missing.

Photos of his now damaged helicopter surfaced.

Her lips parted.

The pilot had been found dead while Enzo and two others on board were nowhere to be found.

She couldn’t speak…couldn’t scream…this just felt like a terrible nightmare.

And suddenly everywhere went blank.

**************************

Two weeks passed by and Allegra had cried herself to sleep each passing night since he went missing.

But she held onto a glimpse of hope.

As long as his body wasn’t found…she was certained that he would return home.

He would come home to her alive.

She refused to think otherwise.

And even if Grandpa Andre and Manuel were already contemplating replacing the CEO.

She dismissed the issue repeatedly.

Her son would never be replaced…her son would come back to her no matter what.

Her joy knew no bounds when Dante presented her pictures.

“The police as well as our private investigators has combed the whole of Mexico and we found him in Puerto Vallarta.”

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she stared at her son.

Finally!

She knew he wouldn’t just leave her all alone.

She sniffed.

But then,there was something wrong with this picture…or was it his face?Or his clothes?

“Why does he look so haggard?”

“Something seems to be off with him.We saw him fishing and communicating with a lot of poor people.I thought I should report that to you first while our men continue to keep an eye on him.”

“Well,the most important thing right now is to bring him home.Make sure you do that.”

Dante nodded,curtly.