THE BILLIONAIRE'S BEST KEPT SECRET

BLURP: I am my family's well kept secret! Everyone walks on eggshells around me: I guess they feel Asperger's syndrome makes it hard for me to comprehend things. My Father sees me as something incomprehensible, while my mom treats me like a 5 year old;a fragile china ware. My Older brother is the only one who truly understands me, I've seen him search and read diligently to understand my condition; He knows I have difficulty maintaining eye contact, my social skills are low, but I do enjoy predictability in my activities. This has made Isabella tell people I'm slow, insignificant: I am sorry, I forgot to introduce myself;I'm Carlos Mendoza de la Souza. I’m the youngest son of the De la Souza shipping conglomerate family, And I'm on a mission to find my brother- Antonio Sebastian Mendoza de la Souza - a wife , before New Year’s Eve. EXPOSITION: Penny Lane is a 25 year old woman who has lived in Palmero since she was twenty. She moved with her widowed father from Wiltshire, England. They run a thriving cafe that caters to the needs of the indigenes and tourists. She never knew that her young unassuming friend is the brother to the most Eligible bachelor in Sicily. Antonio Sebastian Mendoza de la Souza is every woman's dream- A Tall drink of dark chocolate - involved in every fantasy imaginable: but he's a cynic , who believes everyone is after the enviable position of being his bride by getting in his brother's good graces. INCITING INCIDENT: A twist of fate causes Penny to pick Antonio's call to his brother. This prompts Antonio to seek her out with the plans of seducing her out of his brother's life! But the tables turn , when He finds his feelings getting in the way of his plans. RISING ACTION: After a series of botched plans, Antonio is finally able to lure her into attending his brother's 18th birthday party. There he dares to match him drink for drink in a bid to get her drunk and force her into spilling her game plan - an action that results in them waking up in his bed with faint details on what occurred the night before. Isabella walks in on them in their unclad state: screaming loud enough to wake up the dead! This attracts his parents and Carlos into the room. In the ensuing melee, Penny sneaks out clutching her clothes and shoes, with tears streaming down her face. On getting to the foyer, she is confused on which direction to take, seeing Bernard, the butler , she hurries in his direction and is finally able to exit the mansion. Mr Lane is worriedly pacing the floors, Penny is not picking up her calls. Pondering what could be wrong, he tries dialling her best friend Eunice, but her number is unavailable. Penny walks in, head bowed, to hear her father anxiously trying to reach friends on the phone. DILEMMA: It's been six weeks since that incident, Penny can't seem to shake off this incessant bug or flu that's been making her ill. Her father insists she get I'mtreated at the local clinic, but she doesn't want to. He has finally convinced Eunice to take her there. After a series of tests, the doctor announces to her that she's six weeks pregnant: leaving the hospital in a befuddled state, years clouding her vision; different though racing through her mind- what am I going to do? How will Daddy feel if he hears this? So Antonio and I had s*x? How? When? Why? CLIMAX: It's been 8 months- months filled with joy at the thought of the tiny lives growing within her. Rushing out into the dazzling sunlight,she is momentarily rendered blind, she bumps into a hard firm surface that feels brick-like: “watch your step!” Said a strangely familiar voice. “Do you mind not bumping into my fiance with your disgusting belly? Isabella interjected, while flashing an engagement ring with a diamond the size of a goose egg. Oh my Goodness! It's Antonio, Carlos and her! “I'm sorry I wasn't looking where I was going”, saying this she hurriedly moves out of their part, swivels around with the voice of Carlos calling out to her. Antonio walks on ahead , while pondering about the fact that she was heavily pregnant, “I wonder who the father could be”. On the other hand, Carlos is concerned about Penny, she has been avoiding his calls, their favorite meeting spot too. Could it be because of the pregnancy? Telling Antonio she would meet him ahead, Isabella quickly calls Natalie to inform her that she saw Penny heavily pregnant and could it be Antonio's, since she caught them in bed together, but they seemed not to remember about their night together. Penny gives birth to the twins,in her delirious state- because the labour was intense- she hears the nurses discussing the huge star shaped birthmark on the baby boy and how only the males of the De Souza's are born with that mark; it is an age old confirmation of their legacy and testament to their birthright. As soon as she was able to get her strength she rips off the catheter, grabs her twins and quickly exits through the service doors. Barely 3 hours later, Antonio arrives, to confirm the authenticity of the statement. This leads to discovery that the twins and their mother are missing! DENOUEMENT: After a 3 month search, Antonio finds her hiding in a disreputable area with his children, he immediately takes them home and orders Penny to prepare for their impending wedding. Assuring her that it would be a marriage in name only: having no option than to accept, Penny wonders if she would ever be the love of his life; with Isabella still having full access to the family's Palatial home, and also being Antonio's mum's favorite goddaughter and intended bride for her son. CHARACTERS: Penny Lane: she's the female lead character, A young ethereal looking young woman. She helps her father out in his cafe- THE ENGLISH TEA. She marries Antonio, after he finds out he is the father of her twins. Antonio Sebastian Mendoza de la Souza: He's the Male lead character , A young man with typical olive skin of the Mediterraneans; with shocking ice gray eyes. He married Penny after he discovers He fathered her twins after a drunken one night stand. Don Esteban and Donna Felicia: Antonio's parents - His father is a free spirited soul, who cares only for the happiness of his children and his work, while happily avoiding societal chains and responsibilities his position demands. While his wife is a judgemental hypocritical, snobbish woman, who believes that pedigree is all that matters. Henry Lane: Penny’s widowed father. He's trying to find peace again, after losing his wife to a bout of recurrent pneumonia. Carlos Mendoza de la Souza: Antonio’s younger sibling; A high functioning individual with Asperger's syndrome. Isabella Maria Santini: Antonio intended bride, a young lady from one of the prominent families. She's desperate to force Antonio into marrying her to hide her family's financial woes. Estrella Rivera Santini: Isabella’s younger sister. Sometimes used as an unwilling pawn in her sister's quest to get Antonio. Eunice Barley: Penny’s best friend and confidante. She also works as a part time waitress at the cafe. CHAPTER ONE: Penny's point of view. “This is the second time he has ordered a cup of cappuccino, and left it unattended, while trying to bore holes through you with his eyes,” Eunice said in a theatrical tone. Since she started attending night classes on acting, she's been taking every opportunity to force it down our throats. “Don't you think you should put him out of his misery?” She kept on droning in my ears. “Fine! I will find out what he needs or wants” I replied, while taking off the mandatory apron that needs to be worn while working. “ Hey! Are you satisfied with our service so far?” I asked, while discreetly observing him. He is a good looking young man, his clothes, hair bespoke of affluence. We usually don't see his type around this neighborhood. Is he lost? He seemed normal, though he had some endearing mannerisms. “I, I ,I, I am sorry, are you married?” he asked bluntly. Woah! Where's this coming from? Do I know you?