“Hola, senorita!” Lori beamed as Isra opened the door of her studio. She dyed her hair silver blonde with pink and violet streaks showing underneath as she moved. 

“Lori! God, I’m glad you are here! Finally!” Isra’s grinned widely as she hugged her assistant. Her pixie bob complimented her petite frame and cute height. She always sported crazy hairstyles but this one seemed to fit her overall look. “Come on in.” 

Lori slid inside and sank into the bed right away. “I arrived this morning. And I booked my own room.” She winked as she chuckled. “In a hotel across from here so to give senior Lucas some spaaaace.” she slurred as she propped a hand to her chin.

“Oh, heavens, Lori.” Isra shook her head as she took her boots off, and she could hear Lori chuckling from behind. She just came back from filming the winery’s bodega where all the barrels of wines were kept. She had a great time tasting some of their best wines including the infamous world’s most expensive variety. 

“I know, you’d say that.” Lori chuckled. “But I’m pretty sure, that Lucas guy is already in love with you.”

Isra smirked as rolled her eyes on her friend. “I don’t know what are you up to Lori. But it’s not in the contract.” 

Lori chuckled “Dafuq!”, and burst into laughter. “Well, I can always put an addendum to the contract.” she teased. 

Isra wiped her makeup with wet tissues as she leered at Lori's reflection in the mirror. “By the way, I need a dress for the ball. And you should get one for yourself too. We should shop tomorrow in the morning before we go to the vineyard to film the harvest. The ball will be in two days and we will cover it, I think we have to dress up and silly me" she turned to her with a smug look "I agreed to be Lucas’ partner and I have no idea what to wear. I don't know that happened even.”

 “Hohooo!" Lori exclaimed,  "I know. Don’t worry, I've taken care of it." Lori winked as she playfully tapped her hands on the bed grinning from ear to ear, "Oh, so you admit now Lucas got you by his charms already?"

"No! of course, not." Isra shook her head. She couldn't even explain why she accepted and she felt silly trying to get away with it right now, because she knew she lied. She was falling in love with Lucas."I don't know, really." She turned to mirror again to hide her blushing face and wiped the eyeliner from her eyes. "Did I tell you about the ball?"

Lori pursed her lips as she tried to look for excuses. Of course, Lucas informed her about the ball, and asked what gifts would Isra most likely appreciate. He was planning toleave the ball early and take Isra somewhere, give her the gift and all. Just in time that the project in Florida wrapped up, for Lori to insist she would be a willing accomplice and cover the event so Isra will be free with him all the time.“No. I...” Lori thoughtfully looked at her friend. “ I emailed Lucas about using his vineyard and winery for a movie. And the topic came up, he told me to attend the ball. And just in time, we’re done with Florida, so I flew here right away!” she beamed as she flashed her a big smile. "And sorry, I forgot to mention to you about the movie."

“Ok. Cool.” Isra eyed her dubiously as she proceeded to clean her face. "Are you sure, you are telling me everything?" 

“Of course. Apart from I wanted to surprise you...yes..." Lori smirked. "This ball is going to be their 100th, Georgie told me. And it will be the first time they allow two international publicists to attend. The party is traditionally exclusive for the elites who didn’t want any media presence. Isn't it weird.”

“Well, media are nuisance, anyway. And don’t forget there might be some attendees who just want to have fun and don't want all these attention. They want to be normal for once, you know. Like celebrities and” Isra interjected as she made a gesture with her hands to emphasize “important people.”

 “That’s true.” Lori nodded. “And I understand why Lucas Madiera adopted that practice to himself, especially that he was married to a supermodel who is quite controversial.” She added.

“Hmmm.” Isra mused.

“Also… hey, Georgie told me something. Lucas’ ex-wife actually has an affair for years now, with an Italian model, like openly in an affair. And Lucas knew about everything. The ex-wife was caught several times with this guy. The reason why Lucas didn’t have any social media profile because of that. One time, a paparazzi photo where he was with her and that guy, was circulating the internet. The photo was showing her holding hands with the guy while Lucas was unsuspecting. They were tagging, talking about it him and stuff. That happened a week after their marriage. Sucks, right? They were caught again another time in a party, three of them together, the model groping the wife's behind while Lucas was on his phone. Sucks!” 

Isra’s jaw dropped. “Whaatt? You're the biggest gosipper I know.”

Lori chuckled. “True story. I am not making it up. Georgie used to work for Lucas as a PR manager for a year. He told me some stuff. For the whole year he was working for him, all he did was clean up the media from his photos. He called and sued many people who posted photo or stories of him and his wife. Lucas refused to go in public with her after that. Everybody thought they were not in good terms even long time ago, by the way, because his wife was seen partying here and there, with different guys every time. Then she got pregnant. And Georgie didn’t know anything more after because he had to leave his job to join his boyfriend in L.A.” 

Isra sighed. “Tragic.” How could someone do that to Lucas? How could Lucas let things like that happened?

“And you know, Lucas doesn’t deserve all that. He is such a kind, humble guy. Georgie told me he is a secret philanthropist. He donates a lot of money to charities worldwide and he didn't want people to know about it. He lives a simple life. He is so talented. He is a poet, an artist. And he never had any girl in his life except his ex-wife. Like uuuugggh….” Lori threw her hands in the air as she sprung to her heels and walked towards Isra.

Lori stood beside Isra and looked into her eyes from the reflection in the mirror. "This guy is an angel. And not to mention, he is so fucking hoooottt! He deserves someone like you.” 

Isra smirked. "What? Really? I don't understand why are you so pumped up for this idea of Lucas and me, Lori." Isra rolled her eyes as she put a robe and slipped out of her pants. "What? Are you playing God or something? What's all these matchmaking game of yours? How sure are you that I am the one for him? And you said it, he is an angel. So who am I? And look at me. With the age between us, I'm just his auntie." 

“What are you talking about! Age is just a number. You are not old! C'mon, you know that. And you know, I think anybody can see you’re a female version of him. That is why I---” Lori bit her lip. She was worried said too much.

Isra looked at her suspiciously. “That’s why what?”

“That’s why I’m really rooting for your love tandem. I think you'd make a good couple together." She chuckled.

“Oh, God, Lori. Stop it. It's not gonna happen, okey.” Isra shook her head as she went inside the bathroom.

"And besides, you really have to find a partner now, Izz. You've been alone all your life. Yeah, I know, what difference will it make now, if you are to say, blah blah, but I'm telling you, the nursing home is a lone place!” 

****

People started arriving to the mansion before the ball. Franco and Andrew had settled in the guest rooms Lucas assigned for them, and started their work planning the menu for the banquet. 

Lucas’ sister, Jacinta, arrived on the same day to arrange the mansion’s banquet hall and garden for the reception. She hired people to do the decoration and lighting, andset up the tables and tiffany chairs. She also hired waiters for the day and assistant chefs to help prepare the dishes. Every year, it has to be perfect and this year should be exceptional. This is a monumental year of their winery’s tradition. More influential guests will be coming and a member of royal families from other countries were also coming. They doubled the number of guests this year, from usually around 40 to 50 to 100. Since Lucas took over, the ball was usually held in hotel ballrooms because he reasoned out that it will be convenient for the guests, but to Jacinta's distate. She always wanted to hold the ball in the mansion at it had been the tradition. But also she can show off her décor expertise. She loved organizing events. Infact, her resort became famous for extra-ordinary event concepts. Lucas on the other hand, was a typical male who don’t want to deal with all the after- party hassle. He just wanted to get it done, and leave. The mansion looked festive now, adopting the theme of a scene from Great Gatsby, as she added red carpet and a photobooth for visitors, crystals cascading through the vines on the well- manicured garden, a giant replica of their most expensive wine, several installations of chandeliers and lamps all over the garden and courtyard. The extension of the hall was opened and now a massive 2,000 indoor ballroom that opens to the Moorish courtyard on the side, and an al fresco dining on the other side where she puts the wine bar, dessert and grazing table and decorated tables will be put. The main dining will be indoors where an 8-meal course will be served to their guests. The floors and walls were scrubbed and restored to its original glory. A raised platform was also set on the middle beside the fountain where the customary speech from their father will be delivered. On the other side,  and a live orchestra will be playing.

Lucas’ cousins Alejandro and Marko also arrived later that night and joined Franco and Andrew finished a bottle of wine over the tapas. Lucas excused himself as he had to drive early to pick up his parents from the airport in Seville. 

On the morning of the following day, the day of the harvest, Lucas’ parents also arrived. In the fields, harvesters arrived in a big bus. Aside from their inhouse farmers, Cassandra hires a company that supplied grape plantation workforce who were trained for winery job. Some only work for the day while others will remain to sort out, wash and man the wine production until the finished product. Trucks arrived one by one as they lined up on patches ready to be filled up with the harvest. Lorenzo and Cassandra were already there serving coffee and chorizo omelets under the tents they set up a to serve breakfast for everyone. In the next moment, Isra and Lori arrived.