THE COLD CEO SPOILED ME

THE FAMILY DINNER

FRIDAY — 5:30 P.M.

Halos isang linggo nang nagtatrabaho si Hanna sa Grey International.

Unti-unti na siyang nasasanay sa trabaho.

Mas sanay na rin siyang makipag-usap kay Michael, kahit madalas pa rin silang nagtatalo.

Nang araw na iyon, abala si Hanna sa pag-aayos ng mga documents nang lumabas si Michael sa kanyang office.

"Hanna."

Napatingin siya.

"Yes, sir?"

"You're coming with me tonight."

Napakunot ang noo niya.

"Where?"

"My family's house."

"Huh?"

"My grandfather invited me for dinner."

Hanna stared at him.

"And why am I coming?"

Michael looked at her.

"Because I need you there."

"Why?"

"Because my family wants to meet the people working closely with me."

Hanna laughed awkwardly.

"Michael, I'm just your assistant. Why would your family want to meet me?"

Michael didn't answer immediately.

"Just come."

Hanna shook her head.

"I don't think that's a good idea."

"Why?"

"Because your family is probably used to rich people. Look at me. I don't even belong in that kind of place."

Michael's expression became serious.

"Don't say that."

"What?"

"That you don't belong."

Hanna became quiet.

"You work for my company. You're my employee. You have every right to be there."

She looked at him.

"Okay."

---

7:00 P.M. — GREY FAMILY MANSION

Nang makarating sila, napatingin si Hanna sa malaking bahay.

"Wow."

Michael looked at her.

"What?"

"Nothing. This place is huge."

"It's just a house."

"Just a house?"

She laughed.

"Michael, this house probably has more rooms than my entire neighborhood."

Michael smiled slightly.

"You'll get used to it."

"I don't think I ever will."

Pagpasok nila, agad silang sinalubong ng isang eleganteng babae.

"Michael."

"Grandmother."

Tumingin ang matanda kay Hanna.

"And who is this?"

Michael answered calmly.

"Hanna Mendoza. She's my assistant."

Ngumiti ang matanda.

"Welcome, Hanna."

"Thank you, ma'am."

Maya-maya, dumating ang ibang miyembro ng pamilya.

At habang nag-uusap sila, napansin ni Hanna na hindi komportable si Michael.

May isang lalaking lumapit sa kanya.

"You've been working with Michael?"

"Yes."

"How long?"

"About a week."

Tumawa ito.

"Only a week? Then you must be very new."

Hanna smiled politely.

"Yes."

Tumingin ito sa simpleng damit niya.

"Where did you work before?"

"At a market."

"Market?"

"Yes. I used to sell vegetables."

Natahimik ang ilang tao.

May isang babae na bahagyang ngumiti.

"Vegetables?"

Hanna nodded.

"Yes."

"That's... interesting."

Ramdam ni Hanna ang judgment.

Pero ngumiti pa rin siya.

"It was honest work."

Bago pa makapagsalita ang babae, nagsalita si Michael.

"What's wrong with selling vegetables?"

Napatingin ang lahat sa kanya.

Michael continued.

"She worked harder than most people I know."

Tahimik ang mesa.

Napatingin si Hanna kay Michael.

Hindi niya inaasahang ipagtatanggol siya nito.

---

DINNER

Habang kumakain sila, isang babae ang muling nagsalita.

"Hanna, you seem very close to Michael."

Nabilaukan si Hanna.

"C-close?"

Michael looked at the woman.

"She's my assistant."

"Of course. I'm just asking."

Hanna smiled awkwardly.

"He's my boss."

Michael looked at her.

"And she's a good employee."

Napangiti ang kanyang grandmother.

"Michael rarely praises anyone."

Michael ignored the comment.

Hanna tried not to smile.

---

AFTER DINNER

Lumabas si Hanna sa garden para makahinga.

Napatingin siya sa paligid.

"Ang ganda..."

Biglang may narinig siyang footsteps.

Michael.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes."

"You look uncomfortable."

"Your family is intimidating."

Michael smiled.

"They're worse when they like someone."

Hanna looked at him.

"Do they like me?"

"I don't know."

She laughed.

"I hope not. Baka isipin nilang may balak akong kunin ang pera niyo."

Michael became serious.

"You know I don't think that."

"I know."

"Then don't worry about them."

Hanna looked at him.

"Thank you for defending me earlier."

Michael shrugged.

"I said the truth."

She smiled.

"Still... thank you."

Michael looked at her for a moment.

Then he noticed a small smile on her face.

He didn't know why...

but seeing her happy made him feel strangely peaceful.

---

THE DRIVE HOME

Tahimik ang sasakyan.

Hanna looked outside the window.

"Michael?"

"Hmm?"

"Thank you for bringing me."

"You're welcome."

"And... I'm sorry if I embarrassed you."

Michael looked at her.

"You didn't."

"Really?"

"Really."

Hanna smiled.

"Good."

After a few minutes, Hanna fell asleep against the car window.

Michael glanced at her.

She looked completely exhausted.

He quietly told the driver,

"Drive slower."

The driver looked at him through the mirror.

"Yes, sir."

Michael looked back at Hanna.

He didn't understand why he suddenly cared so much about whether she was comfortable.

But one thing was becoming clear.

The woman who had entered his life as nothing more than an employee...

was slowly becoming someone he wanted to protect.

And Michael Grey had no idea where that feeling would lead him.

TO BE CONTINUED...