Finding Love at Biltmore Estate: Finding Through Time (Book One)

Lauryn chuckled softly, shaking her head. "Yes, Mom, I made it safely." Her mother's voice of relief came through the phone. "Thank goodness. I guess I'm just a little nervous with you moving out for the first time." Lauryn smiled. "I completely understand. But this is a unique opportunity, and I don't want to back out just because I'm scared. You know what I mean?" Her mother sounded reassured. "It makes total sense, sweetheart." Just then, Lauryn noticed a man approaching. "Hey, Mom, I have to go. My new boss is here. I love you." "I love you too, sweetie. Good luck on your first day." "Thanks, Mom. Talk soon. Bye!" "Bye, sweetheart." She ended the call and turned to face the approaching man. "Are you Lauryn?" he asked with a curious look. "Yes, I am," she replied warmly. He extended his hand. "I'm Alexander Vanderbilt, your new boss here at the Biltmore Estate." "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Vanderbilt. Thank you so much for this opportunity. Not many people can give me a chance like yours." Alexander smiled. "Everyone deserves a chance to succeed, Lauryn—even those with challenges. You're here for a reason." Her eyes lit up. "Thank you. That means a lot." "If you'll follow me, I'll show you where you'll be staying." Lauryn nodded. "Thank you." They walked together toward her new accommodations. As they approached a charming building, Lauryn glanced around in awe. "Wow, this place is stunning," Alexander chuckled. "We want our employees to feel at home—especially with how expensive it is to live these days." "Exactly. That's why I lived with my parents after graduating high school." "Understandable," he said, opening the door to her apartment. "This is your new space." Lauryn looks around; her new apartment is a stunning blend of elegance and modernity. With large windows offering breathtaking views of the estate's lush gardens, the space feels both airy and inviting. The interior boasts high ceilings adorned with intricate crown moldings and polished hardwood floors. A gourmet kitchen features state-of-the-art appliances, perfect for culinary adventures with friends. The living area is cozy yet sophisticated, making it ideal for both relaxation and entertaining guests. Each bedroom is thoughtfully designed, ensuring comfort and tranquility for her future visitors. Her eyes widened. "Oh wow, it's beautiful!" Alexander smiled. "It's one of our assistant manager apartments." "We like to treat our staff well." She looked around with amazement, then glanced at him nervously. "It's so nice; I feel like I don't deserve it." "You do, Lauryn. You've earned this. Life hasn't been easy for you, but you kept going. That takes strength." Her smile returned. "Thank you. I truly appreciate that." He nodded. "I'll let you settle in. We'll meet later for a tour and go over your responsibilities." "Sounds perfect. What time should I meet you?" "How about half an hour from now in the main lobby?" "That works great. Thank you again." "See you soon," Alexander said with a grin. As he left, Lauryn’s phone rang. She glanced at her phone and realized it was Margaret. "Hi, Margaret! How are you?" she answered brightly. Margaret chuckled on the other end. "I'm doing well, Lauryn. How about you? How was your flight?" "It was great! Smooth and peaceful. I made it to Biltmore safe and sound," she replied with a relaxed tone. "I'm glad to hear that. I still can't believe you're going to be working at the Biltmore Estate," Margaret said with genuine excitement. Lauryn smiled. "Same here. It still feels surreal. I'm just so grateful for the opportunity. There were so many more qualified candidates, but Mr. Alexander said he saw potential in me, and for that, I'm truly thankful." Margaret nodded, even though Lauryn couldn't see her. "I get it. It's amazing that you'll wake up every day surrounded by that kind of beauty." "I know, right? I'm definitely looking forward to it." Lauryn paused, then asked curiously, "How's everything going at your job?" Margaret let out a sigh. "It's going alright. I'm not a huge fan of dealing with the kids' parents every single day, though." "I bet. But I'm sure there are some perks too, right?" "Yeah," she said with a small laugh. "On most days." Lauryn nodded. "I can relate. That's precisely how I felt when I worked in retail—some days were rewarding, others... not so much." "I can imagine," Margaret replied, her voice softening with empathy. Just then, Lauryn glanced at the time. "Hey, Margaret, I have to go. I'm meeting my new boss for a private tour of the estate. Can I call you later?" "Of course! Call me when you're free. Love you, girl." "Love you too, Margaret. Bye!" "Bye, Lauryn." She ended the call and stepped out of her apartment. "Hey, Alexander! Over here!" she called out, waving. Alexander walked toward her with a warm smile. "Hey, Lauryn. Ready for your private tour?" "Absolutely. I'm so excited to get started," she said, practically glowing. "Then let's get going," he replied sincerely. "Sounds perfect to me," she said with enthusiasm. Together, they left the dorm building. Meanwhile—in the Catacombs Angela studied the ancient stone door and turned to the nearby workers. "Any luck getting this chamber open?" "Not yet," one of them replied, wiping sweat from his brow. "But we're close. Hopefully just a few more minutes." Angela's eyes gleamed with anticipation. "I hope so. I'm dying to know what's inside." "What do you think it might be?" one of the workers asked, curiosity evident in his tone. "I'm not sure… but I hope it's something valuable—maybe something tied to the Vanderbilt family." The worker gave her a knowing smile. "Well, we're about to find out." "What do you mean?" she asked, brow raised. He gestured to a small device. "I'm going to use a controlled charge. If it works, it should weaken the stone just enough for us to create a handle and pry the door open." "Will it really work?" Angela asked, intrigued. "There's only one way to find out. Stand back, everyone!" he called out. Seconds later, a sharp pop echoed through the chamber. Angela leaned forward. "Did it work?" The worker grinned. "It did. Ready to see what's inside?" "I'm ready—but let me call my boss first. You guys keep working on widening the opening." "Will do, ma'am. Alright, boys—let's get to it!" "Yes, sir!" the crew echoed, getting to work. While they focused on the chamber, Angela stepped aside and dialed Alexander's number. "Okay, sounds good. See you then," Angela said in an agreeable tone before Alexander ended the call. Turning to Lauryn with a glint of pride in his eyes, Alexander asked, "Hey, Lauryn. How would you like to come down to the catacombs with me? Get a real feel for what we do here on the estate?" "I'd love to," Lauryn replied, her voice full of optimism. "Excellent. Let's go," he said enthusiastically. "Sounds like a plan. Lead the way, Alexander," she replied, smiling with anticipation. "You got it." Alexander grinned, clearly pleased. Together, they made their way into the depths of the Biltmore House. "Angela, are you down here?" Alexander called out into the catacombs. "I'm just a couple corridors down to the right!" Angela's voice echoed back. "Alright, we're on our way," Alexander responded. They navigated through the shadowy halls and soon found the corridor where Angela stood waiting. "Hey, Angela. Nice work getting this corridor open," Alexander said, his expression filled with pride. "Thank you, Alexander," she replied with a smile. "You're welcome," he said sincerely. Angela's eyes shifted to the young woman standing beside him. "You must be Lauryn. I'm Angela Veer—I work with Alexander in the restoration and research department." She extended her hand in greeting. "It's an honor to meet you, Angela. I'm looking forward to working together and learning as much as I can," Lauryn said, shaking her hand warmly. "I look forward to that too, Lauryn," Angela replied, returning the handshake with a smile. Pleased to see the two getting along, Alexander turned their focus back to business. "Now that introductions are out of the way—Angela, have you found anything?" Angela's expression turned serious. "Actually, I've come across something you're not going to believe." "Try me," Alexander said, narrowing his eyes, his tone sharp with interest. "Do you remember the old rumor that's floated around Biltmore for the last hundred years?" Alexander's eyes lit up with realization. "You mean the one about George Vanderbilt being married twice?" Angela nodded. "That's the one." "You're saying you've found proof of that?" She smiled, confident. "Yes. I have." "What did you find?" "His first wife's name was Natalia Horta Vanderbilt. We don't have her birth date, but they were married on January 3rd, 1870, at Asheville Cathedral. The marriage lasted three years," she explained with calm clarity. Lauryn tilted her head. "Only three years? Why so short?" Angela hesitated, her expression darkening slightly. Alexander stepped in, voice firm. "What aren't you telling us, Angela?" Angela shifted, her tone suddenly nervous. "The next part... well, it's even harder to believe." "Try me," he repeated, more intensely. Angela looked at them both and said calmly, "It turns out George and Natalia had a son. " Alexander froze, stunned. "Wait—are you saying my ancestor George had a child with his first wife?" "Yes," Angela said. "They did." Alexander's voice dropped to a near whisper. "What was his name?" Angela met his gaze. "William George Vanderbilt. He was born on April 12, 1873, and the estate welcomed him shortly after completion." "Is there anything else we know about William?" Alexander asked curiously. "Unfortunately, not much yet. But there are documents here. Hopefully, we'll uncover more soon," Angela said confidently. Alexander nodded. "If we learn more about William and Natalia, it could change everything we thought we knew about the Vanderbilt family history." "It really could," Angela agreed. "Absolutely," Lauryn added. "I wonder what he was like... what kind of man he became." Her words slowly pulled us into the past—Biltmore Estate, 1907. William is sketching a portrait of a young woman from his dreams. As he adds the final touches, he can't shake the feeling that she might be more than just a figment of his imagination. Intrigued by the mysterious connection, he decides to attend the upcoming winter garden party at Biltmore Estate, hoping to find the inspiration for her true identity. Then his twin sister Valentina enters his chambers. "William, you’ve been locked away for far too long," Valentina remarked, peering over his shoulder at the portrait. Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she added, "You know the winter garden party is the perfect chance to meet someone special, don’t you?" William turned to Valentina, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his lips. "Perhaps," he replied, "but my mind is set on resolving this puzzle first." Valentina leaned closer, intrigued. "But what if the real mystery lies beyond that door, waiting for you to unlock it?" She gestured toward the garden, her enthusiasm infectious, and William found himself considering the possibilities. "I think I’ll stay in here for now," he finally said, glancing back at the puzzle. The allure of the challenge kept him focused, but Valentina's words echoed in his mind. As he studied the intricate pieces before him, a flicker of curiosity sparked. He continued to work on the sketch. He continues working on the portrait of the woman from his dreams. With each stroke of his pencil, the image became clearer, drawing him deeper into a world where reality and imagination intertwined. He felt a sense of urgency to capture not just her likeness but also the emotions she inspired, as if the act of creation might unlock the secrets hidden within his dreams. As the details emerged on the page, he found himself lost in her gaze, feeling an inexplicable connection that transcended time and space. Every line he drew seemed to whisper untold stories, urging him to explore the depths of his heart and the mysteries that lay beyond the canvas. Valentina turned to her brother and said, "I'm going to return to the party now." She felt a mix of excitement and urgency, knowing her presence would light up the room again. As she walked away, her brother couldn't help but feel a lingering sense of inspiration from her words. Before she goes, she tells her brother, "Don't forget to come to dinner tonight." He nodded, still lost in thought about the conversation they had. With a smile, he replied, "I'll be there." William continued to work on the sketch portrait, not knowing he would soon meet the woman that he was sketching. Not knowing that she lives in the future.