Billionaire in Disguise

Chapter 4

Genevieve

I flutter my eyes open and roll off my bed with a loud thud. Ouch. My sisters are still soundly asleep. Sigh. I glance at the bedside clock and I walk straight into the bathroom.

When I walk out of the bathroom, I see Veronica fiddling with her phone, Steff is still rolling on my bed and Xia is doing her morning stretch. They’re making themselves too comfortable in my room.

“Thank god you’re done; my bladder’s about to burst.” Veronica places her phone down and rushes into the bathroom. I scoffed. What?

“As far as I can remember, your room is just around these halls.” I make my voice loud so Veronica could hear.

“We had a sleepover in your room, might as well use all its facilities until breakfast.” Veronica yells back inside the bathroom.

“Speaking of breakfast, Mom and Dad are waiting for us at the breakfast table.” Steff inserted. They’re back from their European trip already?

“Then why don’t you go to your rooms and get ready. We don’t want to keep them waiting.” My sisters walk out of my room and I must say we left quite a mess in my room. I walk into my closet and I pick a white crop top paired with denim jumper pants and boots. I walk out of my closet and fix my bed. I gather the trash from the chips, pizza boxes, and everything we ate last night.

A soft knock on the door got my attention and I saw one of our attendants. “Princess, we’ve brought your request and your parents have requested your presence.”

“Thank you.” I am taking the trash with me as I walk out of my room but the attendant stops me. “I can throw those trashes for you, princess and I’ll ask someone to clean your room.”

“No, it’s okay. I can clean my room later.” I don’t feel comfortable letting others clean my own room. It is something I feel so shy about not because I’m too untidy but I just don’t want to burden them with the things I know I can do on my own. I don’t even want to call them maids; I rather call them attendants.

“I insist, Princess Genevieve. We’ve barely cleaned your room and we know you still have to visit the fields.” I feel hesitant but I got no choice but to agree. I place the trash bag down and walk to the breakfast table where my parents await.

“Good morning sweetheart. Did you sleep well?” my Mom asks the moment she sees me.

“A little bit. We had a sleepover in my room last night.” I answered.

“Oh, your sisters probably just wanted to spend more time with you before you leave. They won’t see you for three months.” Yes. Three months and tomorrow is finally my twenty-fifth birthday.

“Do you really need to leave Genovia, Evie?” I look at my father when I hear him asks. He really never wanted me to leave or us to leave Genovia when we reach the age of twenty-five. But if we spend our three months of freedom in Genovia, what’s the point of having such a tradition?

“Dad, we’ve already talked about this------”

“Then at least tell us where you’re planning to go.” That is something I won’t do because they will definitely send someone to watch over me; so much for their so-called freedom.

“Good morning Mom, Dad.” We turn our heads to see my sisters enter the room. Veronica frowns as she sat on her designated seat. “What’s with the faces? Is there something going on? Well, of course aside from Evie’s birthday party tomorrow.”  

“Oh, that’s right. Tomorrow is Evie’s birthday. Are we having a big opening ceremony for her house and a house blessing while we’re at it?” Xia seconded. I glance at my parents with my eyebrows up.

My father looks at me and sighs. “We will have a simple dinner with the family and Evie will be moving into her house when she comes back from her trip.” I am nodding my head as listen to Dad but hearing the last made me snap my head to his direction.

“I’m sorry Evie. I know how much you wanted to move out so bad but there has been a delay to the furniture we ordered for your house.” my dad continued as he looks at me.

“Furniture? That wouldn’t be necessary. It’s enough that you built the house I requested, I can purchase furniture for the house, Dad.” I’ve never seen the house they built for me. They have restricted everyone from entering the property. Mom and Dad said they wanted it to be a surprise which I don’t mind.

“Evie what’s done is done.” My mother inserted. Well then, there’s nothing I could do about it. At least I could leave as soon as possible.

“I was really looking forward to it and see what parties can we do in your house.” oh boy. Veronica had that devious look on her face as she looks at me and I know that look very well. We never had a wild party in the White Mansion before and how could we? This is the house of the royal family of Genovia. Victoria was the happiest person when she heard I requested a house from our parents.

“Stop it, Veronica. As princesses of Genovia, you should show a good example to its people; especially the younger ones.” I was biting my lower lip and took a quick glance at my three little sisters. At the corner of my eyes, I saw Veronica roll her eyes while Steff has a thin smile on her face.

“That’s the reason why we wish we were never born a princess.” My eyes are wide or should I say all of us were surprised to hear that from Xia. The four of us felt that way but I wasn’t expecting Xia of all people to voice it out.

Veronica brings out her phone and her eyes grew wide when she looks at it. “Oh no. One of the horses is about to give birth. I should go. I’m a practicing vet remember?” What? I’ve never heard of that. Since when did she become a practicing vet? Veronica glances at me and winked before she left the breakfast table.

“….and I’ll be late for my music class. If you’ll excuse me Mom, Dad.” Well as for Steff I knew she was teaching music to the young children of Genovia who have the passion for music as much as she does.

Most of my sister left then I guess I should go too. “Uhm… Mom? Dad? I’m going to Geraldine’s flower field to check if her flowers are doing great. Excuse me.”

Before I completely left the room I heard Xia said, “See? Told ya.”

Shaking my head I walk out of the White Mansion and have the butlers get my motorbike. I drive my way to Geraldine’s flower field with a black car behind me. Of course. I should leave on the day after my birthday.

I can already see Geraldine’s flower field from a distance so I step on the gas to speed up. I entered Geraldine’s flower field and park my bike on the side. Most of Geraldine’s workers greeted me as I walk into the flower field. I can see Geraldine in her shed, sorting out the flowers she got from her field.

“Am I interrupting?” when she heard my voice she gasps and turn her body around to face me.

“Princess Genevieve. You should’ve told me you were coming.” Geraldine says offering me a chair at the same time.

“I was just visiting.” I turn my head to look at the flower field. The flowers will wither if they don’t absorb enough water and they need it more especially now that the country is experiencing intense heat.

“Geraldine do you not have any water sprinklers installed in your flower field?” I ask but my eyes are still fixed on the flower field.

“The Farmer’s Association has run out of it, princess. Most farmers had it installed in their fields especially at this time of the year. Unfortunately, we were the last one to make a reservation”

“I’ll work on it, Geraldine. In the meantime, just tell your workers to bear the heat and water the plants especially at noon when the sun is high up.” Geraldine nods her head and before I left she gave me a bouquet of white stargazer lilies which she knew was one of my favorite flowers.

“Thank you, Geraldine.” I drive back home when Madam Rose called me saying that I have a mail. What could it be and who is it from?

I went straight to my room and saw the letter on my bed. Taking the mail, I was frowning when I read Tom’s name. He should’ve just called me through my phone. Why did he bother mailing it to me?

I open the mail and my eyes grow wide when I see what’s inside. A race track invitation? Really? For me? I read the whole letter and I literally had tears in my eyes when I saw my name on it. When did this happen? I can hear my phone ringing and I was smiling like a crazy lady seeing Tom’s name on it.

“Tom? What the hell? When did this happen? I mean, how did this happen? It’s for me? For me?” I can hear Tom chuckling on the other side of the phone. He must’ve finds it funny how I am getting hysterical about this. “Calm down. I knew you’ve always wanted to join a race track event and it so happens that they are inviting new drivers to drive their cars so I recommended you.”

“But how did you do it? They can’t just casually accept me---“

“As for that, I used my connections.” Oh, he had connections. Why didn’t I know that?

“Did you read the whole thing already? I think they are expecting you to be there three days before the event so I suggest you go as early as tomorrow.” I lift the letter up and read the entire letter and he is right. I need to be there three days before the event for drive testing. This will be fun. “I got it. Thank you so much, Tom.”

“Anything for you but please don’t get yourself into trouble. Ferdie and I will not be there to back you up.” I nod my head and said, “I will brother. I need to get ready. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

The call ended and I am jumping on the floor then on to my bed happily. I can’t believe I’m going to a race track event but wait I still need to call the Farmer’s Association of Genovia regarding Geraldine’s water sprinklers.

I dialed the number of the secretary and after a few rings, she finally answered. “Farmer’s Associations office, how may I help you?”

“Dahlia, it’s me.” I can Dahlia gasps when she recognizes my voice.

“Princess Genevieve. How can I help you m’ lady?” Dahlia asks.

“Dahlia I need the list of farmers who failed to install water sprinklers in their field.” I hear flipping of papers on the other side of the phone and moments later Dahlia says, “There are three fields with no water sprinklers yet Princess. I have their names for reservation in case the equipment arrives.”

“I’ll try to contact the store and see if I can have them delivered after a day or two. I’ll just call you again later. I’ll see what I can do.” As much as I am excited to go to Australia, I can’t just leave the farmers and their fields just like this. I should make sure everything is in order before I leave.

I dialed another number talked to some of the hardware store owners I know when I was strolling in the streets of London and luckily, they have available water sprinklers in their store. I know farmers have a lot of things to do. These water sprinklers will be a big help for them. They do not need to water the plants manually; they can just turn on the water sprinkler and have it do its job. They can focus on other things they needed to do and if it helps them become more productive then I am more than happy to assist them.

I called Dahlia again and when she picks up, I was the first to say, “It’s done, Dahlia. The water sprinklers will be delivered there tomorrow. We’ve already discussed the payment so all you need to do is wait for the delivery and have them installed on the fields with no sprinklers. Thank you.”

Sigh. That’s it. My work here is done. My eyes catch a glimpse of the letter making me smile. Australia, here I come.