CHAPTER 17

"Sis," Blair greeted me with a hug as I entered the room they were occupying.

“How is Mom? What did the doctor say?” I asked and looked at my mother, who was fast asleep in the hospital bed.

“It's still the same, sis. She needs to watch her diet as well as maintain her medications,” she said.

"Are there no complications from her heart attack?" I sat in the chair next to my Mom and carefully held her hand.

"In God's mercy, there are none," she replied.

I breathed a sigh of relief because of that.

"I'll just talk to the doctor." Achetbir caught my attention.

I looked at him and nodded. "Thank you, Sir," I said sincerely.

He just nodded at me too before looking at my sister and saying goodbye with a bow.

"Is he your boss, sis?" Blair curiously said after Achetbir left the room.

"Hmm," I slightly hummed in response and turned my attention to my mother.

"How did you manage to get home so quickly, sis?"

I bit my lip as I remembered how we got here to the hospital so fast without difficulty.

“We took a helicopter. And we landed on the top of this building, ” I whispered.

I heard my sister's hysterical sigh, and she speedily approached me. "Is he your boyfriend, sis?" Blair's mouth dropped open when she asked that.

Something seemed to block my throat, and I took a deep breath. "N-no, he's just my boss," I defended myself.

Yes, he was my boyfriend...back then.

She nodded and moved slightly away from me. “What a waste. You two look good together, sis.” She squealed softly as if she were excited.

My lips twitched. “Look good together? Just which part? He is a billionaire while I am just a humble secretary,” I said bitterly.

I received a weak slap on my shoulder, which made me look at her.

“What is that, a drama series? Do you believe in that?” she asked and sat on the rectangular couch.

“That’s a reality, Blair. The name of someone like him would be ruined if he involved himself with someone like me,” I said.

Her forehead furrowed, and she stared at me. "Do you perhaps have a rich boyfriend, sis?" she asked.

I was stunned and looked away. "Nothing," I replied, trying to strengthen my voice.

"It sounds like you can relate," she said.

I sighed at her and glared. “I’m just telling you the reality of life, Blair. Someone like me will never match a billionaire like Achet—Boss. You can't fight when it comes to your social level, and you can't lift him up when his name falls in the mud. Unlike rich people like him who, with just a finger snap at the media and a little act of love, can clean up and reconstruct their reputations,” I said with a long breath.

“Whoa! Calm down, sis. It’s me, Blair, your sister. I’m not idol Raffy," she said jokingly.

“Idiot,” I sighed and rolled my eyes at her again.

“Aw, you’re so sulky today. You’re treating me like that—does that mean you don’t love me anymore?”

“Sigh! Jesus, Blair, leave me alone.”

“Ew! That’s gross, sis. Be thankful that your name didn’t fully turn into Jessel,” she said.

I laughed lightly and shook my head. "It's much better to hear than Jesus," I scoffed.

"Why are the two of you so noisy?"

Blair and I were both stunned when we heard Mom’s faint voice. Blair quickly approached while I held her hand tightly.

"Mom, it’s sis—she’s teasing me again," Blair accused.

“What? Why me?”

"Will you two stop, or I will make you both kneel in the mongoose?" Mom asked directly to the two of us.

Blair and I quickly looked at each other and immediately hugged. "We've reconciled!" we shouted at the same time.

We all just laughed in the end.

"How are you feeling, Mom?" I asked my mother with a forced smile and stroked her hair.

She softly smiled and held my hand, holding me slightly. "My daughter…I'm fine; I'm sorry that I’ve bothered you," she said.

I shook my head slowly. "It's okay, mom. You've never bothered me."

She stared at me and raised his hand to tap my face. "Are you losing weight, my daughter?" she commented.

I faked a laugh and forced myself to swallow the stagnant air in my throat. "You're just imagining it," I said.

Your future grandchild is making it difficult for me to deceive.

"Are you alone?" she asked.

I shook my head. "I'm with Achet—Boss," I replied.

As on cue, the door opened, and then Achetbir entered. He even bowed when he noticed that my Mother was finally awake and looking at him.

"Good evening," Achetbir politely greeted my mother.

"Good evening too, son. Thank you so much for bringing my daughter here," my mother said.

Achetbir smiled slightly and walked closer to us. “It doesn't matter. It's my duty to make sure my employees are safe, especially those who are carrying—"

"Ay! Sir! Do you want coffee? ” I quickly interrupted what he was saying.

Nervously, I stood up and approached him. He frowned at me and examined me with his stare. I faked a laugh and scratched my neck due to the rapid pounding of my chest.

Shit! Mom’s high blood pressure might rise again if she found out that I was pregnant, especially when I didn't have a father to tell her about.

“What’re you doing, Jessel? You didn't even allow your boss to finish his speech before you’ve spoken,” my mother said, insulting me with her nickname.

I bowed a little. "I'm sorry, Mom." I bit my lip as I apologized and secretly looked at Achetbir, who was still staring at me.

I shook my head slowly with my don’t-tell-her-about-my-pregnancy look.

He gave out a deep sigh and glanced at my mother again. "It's okay, ma'am," he said thinly to my mother.

“Oh my! Just call me Mom too, son. ” Achetbir and I both coughed because of that.

The two of us caught each other sight and then avoided each other’s eyes at the same time.

"Did you two catch some cold, sis?" Blair asked.

I sneezed, and we settled down. "My throat just itches," I replied.

"I think my throat went dry," Achetbir replied.

I bit my lower lip as I remembered how many times he had drunk water earlier on the plane.

“I'm sorry, son, that our first meeting was at the hospital. I can't even serve you,” my mother apologized.

Achetbir hurriedly shook his head. "I-it’s okay," he stammered and hesitated at the end.

My mother smiled and then turned to look at me. "Is your boss a lover of yours, my daughter?" she asked curiously.

My eyes widened in shock, and my heart began to pound with nervousness.

Oh my God! Please don't make me bleed because of the repeated shocks.

"No." I shook my head in denial.

“I warn you—don't ask sis. She threw some words at me; you won't believe how she was so emotional about the state of a rich ma—"

"Jesus! ” I widened my eyes when I threatened Blair.

She opened his mouth, and she pointed at me in disbelief. "Look, mom, sis is shouting at me," she complained.

I rolled my eyes at her, which made our mother laugh.

“I apologize, son. They are often like dogs and cats every time they’re together,” said my mother to Achetbir.

"I know," he replied.

Both frowned. "You know?" my sister asked.

I bit my tongue inside my mouth, then simply looked at Achetbir as I sweated with unease.

"I often hear Miss Mendoza talking to you in the office," he explained.

My face wrinkled, and I couldn’t help but wince. You mean in the condo.

Blair nodded and turned her gaze to me. She raised an eyebrow at me like she was searching for something.

"Has the doctor told you when I can go out?" my mom asked Blair and me.

"If you desire to, you can go home tomorrow if you want," Achetbir replied.

It was only then that I remembered that he had talked to the doctor. My mother nodded and looked at me.

"Jandie, my daughter, how long are you going to stay here?"

I sneezed and simply looked at Achetbir. "Maybe tomorrow—"

"We'll be staying for a week," Achetbir interjected, cutting off my answer.

My lips parted as I looked at him with disbelief. 

Did I hear it right? He fucking said, “We’ll.”

He raised an eyebrow at me and gave me a don't-you-dare-complain-look. I heard Blair shriek in joy. Then, she hugged me tightly.

Achetbir's eyes widened quickly. “Hey! Don't push her," he said.

Blair was stunned and startled. She stared at Achetbir before slowly parting from me. I remained distracted by what was happening.

It looked like soon, my family would find out about my pregnancy because of this guy.

"Will you stay with us too, son?" my mother asked.

Achetbir's eyes widened as he looked at her. "May I?"

I blinked twice and let my jaw drop in shock. He secretly looked at me and smirked.

"Of course, son. My house is wide open for you," my mother replied with joy.

I closed my eyes tightly and took a deep breath.

Lord. What temptation is this?