Chapter 27 – Take it or leave it.

"Nate," Hannah didn't know where she got her courage kaya nakatayo siya ngayon sa harapan nang malamig ang tingin na si Nate.

It was barely twenty minutes after that mind boggling kiss and yet it was as if she was with a totally different version of Nate Sarmiento. Making her wonder if the kiss really happened or not.

Wala siya sa suite ng NS kanina but in the very penthouse where the GM holds office. Ang ginawa lang niya ay lumabas ng silid tapos pumunta sa opisina nito kahit walang permiso.

"I- I don't know what you're up to, but I just want to beg you- na 'wag ng idamay ang mga kasamahan ko sa trabaho. I- I'll leave the company if that's what you want... Wala na rin ako sa apartment, I'm sure na-report na sa 'yo ng mga tao mo–" she paused dahil nakita niyang naningkit ang mga mata nito. "It's alright. I understand. I already found a place to stay- ahm so you can have your apartment."

"What are you talking about?" he asked.

"The apartment? The one you bought five times the price just so I will lose a home?" she reminded, avoiding to sound bitter. Hindi pa rin niya kasi matanggap that he would go to that extent para ma displace siya. "But don't worry. I understand if you need it so badly that you even asked your staff to throw my things out."

"I didn't ask anyone to do that," mariin nitong sabi and even when he's trying to conceal his emotions, may nakita siyang sincerity sa mga mata nito. "Now, what else do you need to tell me other than accuse me of things I didn't do?"

Napatingin muna siya sa binata. Seryoso ba ito? Nagpakapagod siya para pigilin sana itong gawin ang isang bagay na hindi ito ang nag-utos? Then who?

Her landlord clearly said that it was Nate Sarmiento who bought her apartment.

"The company—"

"It's business."

"People will lose their jobs, Mr. Sarmiento! I will lose mine..."

"Everyone will be properly compensated. Perhaps more than each one of you will earn in a year." Ibinalik nito ang atensyon sa ginagawang trabaho bago siya dumating. "I believe that should be enough."

"You don't understand, we need our jobs." Desperado niyang sabi. "Okay, kahit 'wag na ako, kahit sila na lang. They need their jobs."

"Why do you care so much about them? Why would you bother to come here even when you know that I won't change my mind about this?" Nag-angat ulit ito ng paningin, this time, gone were the cold stares. Napalitan iyon ng sakit. Pain she didn't have any idea why he would have. "Huh, Hannah?"

"They're my family." Yumuko siya. Hindi niya maintindihan but it pained her to see the hurt in his eyes. "They stood by me when I needed them. I couldn't just watch and do nothing to at least help them be heard out. I had to try. Besides," she risked looking at him again. "I believe you're a good person, Nate. But if you hate me so much that you want me to lose my job, please 'wag mo na silang isali. They can still work for you. They've been in the industry longer than I have. Hindi ka magsisisi sa kanila. I'm giving you my word." She held her breath as he just stayed looking at her, those deep scrutinizing eyes she never got used to. "Please, I'll do anything... Aalis ako. Magpapakalayo. I will even make sure we're not gonna be breathing the same air—"

"You're willing to do anything?" he asked.

"Everything." Matapang niyang sagot.

Muli pa siya nitong pinasadahan ng tingin mula ulo hanggang paa at pataas ulit. Bago tumigil ang mga tingin nito sa kanyang mga mata.

"Nate, lahat. Gagawin ko. Just give me your word na hindi mo isasara ang kompanya."

"Well then... Work for me."

"Work for you?" Hindi makapaniwalang ulit niya.

"You have a problem with that, Ms. Rodriguez?"

"I- I don't understand," amin niya. "I thought— I thought you badly wanted to get rid of me."

"Be my personal assistant," he said, ignoring her remarks.

"B-but you already have one."

"Take it or leave it. Your choice, Hannah," dismissive na nitong sabi na hindi na siya ulit tiningnan.

"A– I'll take it... Of course. But you will not close Mrs. Everett's company, right?"

"It's already my company, Ms. Rodriguez," he reminded kahit busy na ito sa kakatipa sa keyboard ng laptop nito. "If you don't have anything more to say, please report to Sarah downstairs. She'll guide you."

"Y-yeah. Of course..." hindi pa rin siya makapaniwala. Hindi niya maintindihan actually. Why would he want her to work for him? "Mr. Sarmiento," she called when she was already at the door. Hindi ito nag-angat ng paningin but she continued anyway. "Thank you."

-----

"So, you're going to start tomorrow, Hannah," Maiksi lang ang orientation ni Sarah sa kanya, pointing out that her experience as Mrs. Everett's assistant was more than enough. Wala naman daw siyang masyadong gagawin because Nate Sarmiento was a very organized man at naroon pa rin naman daw ito para mag-assist sa GM.

"I don't think there is a need for my position," sabi niya, Sarah was the elderly woman whom she talked to earlier that day.

"I told you, he's so unpredictable," nakangiti nitong saad. "Hannah, he put you in that position just so he could keep you around," she giggled.

"He must have his reasons." She fought a blush, if that's even possible.

"You think so?" Hindi pa rin nabubura ang mga ngiti nito habang may kinukuha sa drawer nitong mga cards. "By the way, here's the key to the penthouse. Take care of it as you're the only other soul to have access in the GM's office aside from me and himself. And this one is the key to your room."

"Room? What room?"

"Your room. It's on the twenty-second floor. It's already complete with everything you will need. Your meals will be in the hotel's restaurant or you may ask for room service."

"Are you kidding me? I'm gonna live here in the hotel???"

"I believe that's what Mr. Sarmiento instructed me," Sarah pretended to review the memo on her desk.

"I'm confused..."

"Oh, don't think so much about it." Itinulak na siya nito papunta sa elevator. "Go now. Have a rest. I'll have someone check on your arm tomorrow morning. Good night, Hannah."

''Huh? Gabi na ba?'' Wala sa sariling tanong niya.

"Yes, dear... And oh, don't worry about the elevators. GM made sure they're safe and checked as frequently as possible." She winked as she even hit the 22nd floor button for her. "See you in the morning!"

Alanganing ngiti ang tugon niya. Iyong medyo nakangiwi.

Litong-lito na siya as she made a quick recapitulation of the day's event in her mind.

First, her landlord told her to vacate her apartment. Then she was rushing to find Nate's whereabouts to beg him to give her more time as she was only given a few hours extension by the former owner.

Next was the time withering down as she failed to talk to Nate. Leah and Caleb helped her when she didn't have no one she could run to. Then Mia called her that their company was closed down by Nate. Tapos iniharang niya ang sarili sa daraanan ng kotse ni Nate even when she wasn't sure if he could hit the brakes on time. She fainted.

Then it was the kiss. Perhaps the longest few seconds of her life and yet was also the fastest. Ni hindi siya sigurado if it even happened. Kung gaano kabilis na napalitan ng ibang damdamin ang mga galit na nasa mata nito ay ganoon din kabilis naglaho ang mga iyon.

Tapos heto, bigla siyang naging personal assistant na walang Job Description. Bahala na raw si Nate sa gusto nitong ipagawa.

Finally, she will be living in the NS Hotel.

"You wouldn't believe what I've gotten myself into," sabi niya kay Leah na kasalukuyan daw nagbe-breastfeed pero nakaka-isang ring pa lang siya ay sinagot na nito ang tawag niya.

"Spill it, Hannah."

"Nate made me his personal assistant!"

"I knew it!" parang nakita pa niya ang kaibigan na napapitik sa ere. "He was just pretending to be mad at you but the truth is he wanted you in his life again!"

"You're too quick to jump to conclusions. I thought you're mad at him."

"Because he's an *ss h*le for throwing you out of your apartment!"

"That's also the thing, Leah. He said he's got nothing to do with it," sabi niya na bahagya na namang naguluhan.

Totoo bang wala itong kinalaman? But surely he was the one who bought the apartment. Who else would? Isa pa, wasn't her room in the hotel an anticipation of her losing her home?

"Really? You know what's the bright side of it?"

"What?"

"That he couldn't be that harsh on you, Hannah. OMG, kinikilig na naman ako sa inyo. I guess this is fate bringing you back together!"

"Geez... "

"Hey, does that mean you'll be seeing Eli again too?"

"I don't know... I hope not." Tumingin siya sa mga kuko niya sa paa.

"What kind of answer is that? I thought you missed her? Hannah, is that really you?" May bahid ng concern sa tinig nito.

"I'm scared, Leah," amin niya. "Ayokong malaman kung gaano ang galit niya sa akin."

"Oh, Hannah!"

"I missed her but I'm not sure if she's also missing me... I don't want to know right now. My life is a mess. It's not healthy for Eli if she sees me again. Besides, it's not like Nate will allow that to happen."

Tama. He probably won't let Eli see her at any cost. Hindi niya kailangang problemahim iyon. Hindi naman nagpupunta si Elisha sa workplace ng ama nito.

Pero aaminin naman niya na sobrang miss na miss na niya ang kanyang anak. Her little baby's hugs, kisses, 'yong mga paglalambing nito, everything about her... And if she will be given the chance to be her mommy again, hindi siya magdadalawang isip na gampanan ulit ang pagiging ina sa bata. She just didn't give birth to her but she was her child.

But would Elisha forgive her for what she did?

Hannah doesn't know the answer but she was scared of the possibility of Elisha hating her.

-----

The next morning, doktor ang una niyang bisita sa unit niya. Sabi nito 'andoon ito para tingnan ang kanyang braso at para tanggalin na rin ang arm sling niya.

Wala naman daw siyang dapat ipag-alala dahil minor lang daw 'yon. Hindi nga raw niya kailangan but Nate Sarmiento insisted para maiwasan daw niya ang unnecessary movement ng braso niya.

It's Nate again.

Was it concern from him for such a gesture?

She smiled a little to herself nang iwanan na siya ng doktor. Nate still cares for her.

She prepared herself for work. Nakakatawang isipin how her unit was complete with everything she will need gayong kahapon lang naman siya nagpunta roon. Pero hindi na niya iisipin iyon. Looks like Nate had everything planned out.

Bababa na dapat siya sa restaurant when Sarah called para sabihing iaakyat ang breakfast niya and that she would be joining her for a short briefing on the day's works.

"GM is a very busy man. Alam kong alam mo 'yan. So it wasn't him to instruct everything. You have to anticipate," paliwanag nito, adding that Nate wants his coffee strong three times a day whenever he's in his office. "Remember that you must not touch anything on his desk. As in anything. Kung magulo o maalikabok which never happened before, hayaan mo lang. He will clean his own workstation. That way, he wouldn't miss anything."

"Got it."

"Good. Now, I know you kinda know this already. The GM has mood swings. Minsan daig pa ang babae. Intindihin mo na lang. Because on the inside, he's not a cruel man," dagdag nitong nakangiti. "And your workstation would be beside me."

"Thank you, ma'am..."

"Call me Sarah."

"Sarah."

"That's better." Inilahad nito ang palad sa kanya. "Welcome to NS Hotel."