THE COLD CEO SPOILED ME

Meeting the Grey Family

THE COLD CEO SPOILED ME

Maagang nagising si Hanna. Hindi siya mapakali habang nakatingin sa damit na inihanda niya para sa hapunan kasama ang pamilya ni Michael.

Simple lang ang suot niya—cream blouse, long skirt, at maliit na handbag.

Huminga siya nang malalim.

"It's just dinner, Hanna. You can do this."

Pero nang makita niya ang sarili sa salamin, napabuntong-hininga siya.

"Why am I even nervous? Hindi naman ako ang mayaman."

Biglang tumawag si Michael.

"Hello?"

"I'm outside."

Napatingin si Hanna sa bintana.

"Outside?!"

"Yes."

"Michael, it's only four in the afternoon!"

"I know."

"Why are you so early?"

"Because I don't want you to be late."

Hanna rolled her eyes.

"Give me five minutes."

"You have ten."

"Bossy."

"I heard that."

Napangiti si Hanna bago niya ibinaba ang tawag.

---

SA LABAS NG BAHAY

Paglabas ni Hanna, nakasandal si Michael sa kotse.

Nang makita siya nito, ilang segundo itong hindi nagsalita.

Hanna noticed.

"What?"

Michael blinked.

"Nothing."

"You're staring."

"I'm not."

"You are."

Michael opened the car door.

"Get in."

Hanna smiled.

"Okay, Mr. CEO."

Habang nasa biyahe, tahimik si Hanna.

Napansin iyon ni Michael.

"You're nervous."

"No."

"You are."

"Maybe a little."

Michael glanced at her.

"My family can be difficult."

"That's exactly why I'm nervous."

"You don't have to impress them."

"Easy for you to say. You're their son."

Michael became quiet.

Then he said,

"Just be yourself."

Hanna looked at him.

"Even if they don't like me?"

"Yes."

"Even if they think I'm not good enough for you?"

Michael's hands tightened slightly on the steering wheel.

"They don't decide who's good enough for me."

Hanna didn't answer.

She simply looked out the window.

---

GREY MANSION

Pagdating nila, bumaba si Michael at binuksan ang pinto para kay Hanna.

Napatingin siya sa malaking mansion.

"Michael..."

"Hmm?"

"Are you sure I should be here?"

"Yes."

"Your family is going to judge me."

"Let them."

Hanna looked at him.

"You're not going to leave me alone, right?"

Michael looked directly at her.

"I won't."

Simple lang ang sagot niya.

Pero sapat na iyon para kumalma si Hanna.

Pagpasok nila, agad silang sinalubong ng ina ni Michael.

"Michael."

"Mom."

Tumingin ito kay Hanna.

"So you're Hanna."

Hanna smiled politely.

"Good evening, ma'am. It's nice to meet you."

Her mother nodded.

"Come in."

Hindi man malamig ang tono, ramdam ni Hanna na sinusuri siya nito mula ulo hanggang paa.

Maya-maya, dumating ang lola ni Michael.

"Michael!"

"Grandmother."

Ngumiti ang matanda kay Hanna.

"Come here, dear."

Lumapit si Hanna.

"Hello, ma'am."

"Oh, don't call me ma'am. Call me Grandmother."

Napangiti si Hanna.

"Okay... Grandmother."

Hinawakan ng matanda ang kamay niya.

"You're prettier than I expected."

Namula si Hanna.

"Thank you."

Napatingin si Michael sa kanila.

Mukhang nagustuhan agad ng kanyang grandmother si Hanna.

---

DINNER

Tahimik ang hapag sa unang ilang minuto.

Hanggang sa nagsalita ang isang pinsan ni Michael.

"So, Hanna, what do you do?"

"I'm working at Michael's company."

"Before that?"

Hanna hesitated.

"I sold vegetables at the market."

Nagkatinginan ang ilang tao.

"Vegetables?"

"Yes."

May bahagyang ngiti ang isang babae sa kabilang side ng table.

"That's quite different from the Grey lifestyle."

Hanna remained polite.

"Yes. It is."

"How did you and Michael meet?"

"We met at the market."

The woman laughed softly.

"At the market?"

Michael immediately looked at her.

"What's wrong with that?"

"I didn't say anything was wrong."

"Then don't make it sound like it is."

Natahimik ang mesa.

Hanna touched Michael's arm lightly.

"It's okay."

Michael looked at her.

"No, it isn't."

Hanna gave him a small smile.

"I'm used to it."

Her words made Michael even more serious.

"What do you mean?"

Hanna looked down.

"People have always looked down on me because I'm poor."

Michael's expression softened.

"You don't have to accept that anymore."

Hanna looked at him.

For a moment, they forgot everyone else was watching.

His grandmother smiled quietly.

---

AFTER DINNER

Lumabas si Hanna sa garden.

Kailangan niya ng hangin.

She stood beside the fountain, staring at the water.

"Are you okay?"

She turned.

Michael.

"I'm fine."

"You always say that."

"Because I am."

Michael stood beside her.

"You don't have to pretend with me."

Hanna smiled sadly.

"I wasn't pretending."

"Your eyes say otherwise."

She became silent.

"Your family doesn't like me."

"They barely know you."

"They don't have to. They already know I'm not from their world."

Michael looked at her.

"You're right."

Hanna looked surprised.

"But that doesn't matter."

"Why?"

"Because I don't want someone from their world."

Hanna's heart skipped.

"What do you want?"

Michael looked at her for a long moment.

"I want someone honest."

He paused.

"Someone who doesn't care about my money."

Hanna looked away.

"Then you chose the right person."

"I know."

---

INSIDE THE HOUSE

Michael's mother was talking to his grandmother.

"Mother, this marriage is a mistake."

His grandmother frowned.

"Why?"

"She isn't suitable for him."

"Why?"

"She's from a poor family."

The grandmother shook her head.

"That is not a reason."

"Michael is the heir of this family."

"And?"

"He needs someone who understands his world."

The grandmother smiled.

"Perhaps he needs someone who can show him a world outside this house."

His mother became silent.

---

THE DRIVE HOME

Tahimik sina Hanna at Michael.

After several minutes, Hanna finally spoke.

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For defending me."

"You don't need to thank me every time."

"I want to."

Michael glanced at her.

"Did you have a good time?"

Hanna smiled.

"Some parts."

"Which parts?"

"When your grandmother called me dear."

Michael smiled slightly.

"She likes you."

"I think so."

A few seconds passed.

Then Hanna asked,

"Michael?"

"Hmm?"

"If this marriage wasn't a contract..."

Michael looked at her.

"What?"

Hanna hesitated.

"Nothing."

"Tell me."

She shook her head.

"It's nothing."

Michael continued looking at her.

But Hanna had already turned toward the window.

Neither of them noticed the change in the air between them.

The contract was supposed to make them husband and wife for one year.

But slowly, their hearts were beginning to forget that it was only supposed to be an agreement.

And soon, Michael would discover something that would make him even more protective of Hanna.

Someone from Hanna's past was about to return.

TO BE CONTINUED...