THE COLD CEO SPOILED ME

The Man From Her Past

THE COLD CEO SPOILED ME

Episode 15 — The Man From Her Past

7:00 A.M. — HANNA'S HOUSE

Maagang nagising si Hanna. Hindi siya mapakali mula nang makita niya si Ethan sa labas ng Grey International.

Habang naghahanda siya ng almusal, napansin ng kanyang lola ang tahimik niyang kilos.

LOLA: "Hanna, bakit parang malalim ang iniisip mo?"

HANNA: "Nothing, Lola. I'm just tired."

LOLA: "Don't lie to me. Kilala kita. Kapag tahimik ka nang ganyan, may problema."

Umupo si Hanna sa tabi niya.

HANNA: "May nakita akong tao kahapon."

LOLA: "Sino?"

Sandaling nag-atubili si Hanna.

HANNA: "Si Ethan."

Biglang nagbago ang expression ng kanyang lola.

LOLA: "Ethan?"

HANNA: "Yes."

LOLA: "Bakit siya bumalik?"

HANNA: "I don't know. Sabi niya gusto niya akong makausap."

LOLA: "Hanna, mag-ingat ka."

HANNA: "I will."

LOLA: "Hindi lahat ng taong bumabalik sa buhay natin ay may magandang dahilan."

Napayuko si Hanna.

HANNA: "I know, Lola."

---

8:30 A.M. — GREY INTERNATIONAL

Pagdating ni Hanna sa office, napansin niyang tahimik si Michael.

"Good morning."

Michael didn't look up.

"Morning."

Hanna placed the documents on his desk.

"I finished the reports."

"Leave them there."

Napatingin siya sa kanya.

"Are you still upset?"

"No."

"You're acting like you're upset."

"I'm working."

"Michael."

He finally looked at her.

"What?"

"About yesterday..."

"I don't want to talk about it."

Hanna nodded.

"Okay."

She turned to leave.

"Hanna."

She stopped.

Michael sighed.

"I'm sorry."

Hanna turned around.

"For what?"

"For the way I acted yesterday."

She smiled slightly.

"It's okay."

"No. It wasn't."

He stood and walked toward her.

"I had no right to question you about Ethan."

"You were worried."

"I was jealous."

Hanna froze.

Michael looked surprised at his own words.

"I mean..."

Hanna smiled.

"You said jealous."

"I know what I said."

"And you're admitting it?"

"Don't make me regret it."

She laughed softly.

"I won't."

For a moment, they simply looked at each other.

Then the office door suddenly opened.

Daniel entered.

"Sir, there's someone asking to see Ms. Mendoza."

Hanna frowned.

"Who?"

Daniel looked at her.

"Ethan."

Michael's expression immediately became cold.

Hanna sighed.

"Tell him I'll come down."

Michael spoke first.

"No."

Hanna looked at him.

"Michael."

"I'm coming with you."

"Why?"

"Because I don't trust him."

"You don't have to."

"I know."

"Then stay here."

Michael stared at her.

"Hanna, I'm not asking."

She crossed her arms.

"And I'm not your employee right now?"

"You are."

"Then stop ordering me around."

Michael sighed.

"Fine."

Hanna smiled.

"Thank you."

"But I'm still coming."

She rolled her eyes.

"You're impossible."

"I know."

---

LOBBY

Nakita nila si Ethan na naghihintay.

Nang makita si Hanna, agad itong tumayo.

"Hanna."

"Ethan."

Tumingin si Ethan kay Michael.

"I guess you're not alone."

Michael answered coldly.

"She isn't."

Hanna stepped between them.

"Can we just talk?"

Ethan nodded.

"I found something."

Hanna frowned.

"What?"

Ethan took out an old photograph.

"Your mother."

Biglang natigilan si Hanna.

"What did you say?"

"Your mother."

Kinuha niya ang photograph.

Nanginginig ang kamay niya.

Hindi niya kilala ang babaeng nasa larawan.

Pero may kakaiba.

May suot itong maliit na pendant.

At suot din ni Hanna ang kaparehong pendant mula pa noong bata siya.

"Ethan... where did you get this?"

"I've been looking for you."

"Why?"

"Because someone asked me to find you."

"Who?"

Ethan looked around.

"Your family."

Nanlaki ang mata ni Hanna.

"My family?"

Michael immediately looked at her.

"What family?"

Ethan answered.

"Her biological family."

Tahimik ang buong lobby.

Parang huminto ang mundo ni Hanna.

"That's impossible."

"It's not."

"My grandmother told me my parents died."

Ethan shook his head.

"That's what you were told."

Hanna's eyes filled with tears.

"You're lying."

"I'm not."

Michael stepped closer.

"Ethan, be careful with what you're saying."

Ethan looked at him.

"I'm telling the truth."

Hanna looked at Ethan.

"Where are they?"

"I don't know yet."

"Then why did you come here?"

"Because I found a clue."

"What clue?"

Ethan handed her another document.

"The Mendoza name wasn't your original family name."

Napatakip ng bibig si Hanna.

"What?"

"You were adopted."

Napaluha siya.

"Stop."

"Hanna..."

"Stop!"

Tumalikod siya.

Michael immediately followed her.

---

OUTSIDE THE BUILDING

Nakatayo si Hanna sa sidewalk, pilit pinipigilan ang pag-iyak.

Michael approached her slowly.

"Hanna."

"Don't."

He stopped.

"I don't want to hear anything."

"I understand."

"My whole life..."

Napahawak siya sa pendant sa leeg niya.

"My grandmother told me she found me when I was a baby."

Michael stayed silent.

"She said my parents were gone."

"Maybe she believed that."

Hanna turned to him.

"What if she knew?"

"Don't assume anything yet."

"But what if she lied to me?"

Michael gently held her shoulders.

"Look at me."

She slowly looked at him.

"We'll find out the truth."

"We?"

"Yes."

"You don't have to do this."

"I know."

"Then why?"

Michael looked at her with complete seriousness.

"Because you shouldn't have to face something like this alone."

Naluha si Hanna.

"Michael..."

"I'm here."

She finally allowed herself to cry.

Michael pulled her gently into his arms.

For the first time, Hanna didn't fight him.

She simply rested her head against his chest.

And Michael held her tighter.

He didn't care who was watching.

He only knew one thing.

He wouldn't let anyone hurt Hanna.

---

THAT NIGHT

Habang natutulog ang lola ni Hanna, tahimik niyang tinitingnan ang lumang kahon na matagal nang nakatago sa ilalim ng kama.

Binuksan niya ito.

May lumang photograph.

Isang hospital bracelet.

At isang liham.

Nanginginig ang kanyang kamay habang binabasa ang unang linya.

"To the family who finds our daughter..."

Napahinto siya.

May isang pangalan sa ibaba.

"Alexander Grey."

Nanlaki ang mata ni Hanna.

"Grey...?"

Napatingin siya sa pintuan ng kanyang lola.

Hindi niya alam kung ano ang ibig sabihin nito.

Pero kung totoo ang liham...

ang pamilya ni Michael ay maaaring konektado sa kanyang nakaraan.

At maaaring hindi aksidente ang pagkikita nila.

TO BE CONTINUED...