When The Time Is Right ✔

Chapter 4

“Ah? Babe? Why?” I heard Nicole talk to her phone. She’s smiling. I think she’s talking to her boyfriend. Of course I could recognize that sweet smile on one’s lips when talking to a boyfriend.

“Yes. I’ll see you at lunch. Bye, Babe! I love you.” She giggled as she hung up. I must admit that she looks cute when she giggles like that.

I coughed and she was startled then she immediately stood up and bowed at me. “Oh, Ms. Hana!” She beamed at me. “Anything you need?” She asked me.

I nodded. “Mr. Mendez said I have to meet the Associate CEO.” I started. “But I don’t know anything about him.” I told her. “I am not comfortable talking to someone I am not that close with so, I want to ask if you could come with us on our meeting later? At lunch?” I asked.

I saw her face and it looked like she’s bothered.

            “But it’s okay if you have to meet with your boyfriend. I would totally understand.” I smiled. I don’t want to be the reason why she can’t be with her man. After all, it’s lunch break. She deserves to have one.

“No, Ms. Hana! I’ll accompany you with your meeting with Mr. Pascual.” She told me. She might just be shy to turn me down because I’m the new CEO.

I stopped at her words. Mr. Pascual. Suddenly I felt my heart beating so fast. Just thinking about the name makes me really nervous.

“Mr. Pascual?” I asked her with narrowed and curious eyes as my heart beats over the normal limit. This effect, really!

She nodded. “I don’t know his real name, but he is called Mr. Pascual by most of the employees.” She told me.

How could someone not know her boss’ complete? Is he really that mysterious? Suddenly, I can feel my heart getting its hopes up again.

I nodded. “Oh.” I smiled. “It’s okay. I’ll just know him later.” I spoke in the most normal and unaffected tone I could produce right now.

She smiled and nodded. “Miss Hana?” She called me.

            “Yes?”

She gave me a sheepish grin. “Can I at least meet with my boyfriend for five minutes before the meeting?” She asked me. “We’re meeting in the same restaurant anyway.” She pouted.

I smiled and nodded. “Okay. I’ll let you have your lunch break forty-five minutes earlier.” I told her.

Her eyes widened. “No, I just really need five minutes, Miss Hana!” She tried to bargain.

I smiled and shook my head. “You should have more time with your boyfriend.” I told her. “So, eat with him for lunch.”

She smiled widely and acted like she was about to hug me tight. “Thank you, Ms. Hana!” She bowed at me.

I chuckled and went back to my office.

Looking at her this happy, I begin to miss him. I wonder what he’s doing. Is he managing their company? Is he on a business trip? Business meeting? Lunch meeting, too, perhaps?

I sighed and shut my eyes as I sunk back to my swivel chair. I miss him. So much. So terribly much.

I remembered his words.

“You don’t love me enough, Hana. Because if you really love me, you’ll stand by me. You’ll stay with me and be by my side through all this.”

Tears started to form around my eyes and I swallowed a big lump in my throat. I shouldn’t be crying. But thinking of his face when he told me those words, it just makes me want to cry and it pierces my heart.

I still do. I’m still hurt and I will always be hurt.

“Go out and don’t ever come back.”

I couldn’t forget his face when he told me to go out of his sight. He’s mad. He’s way beyond mad. He’s disappointed, frustrated and hopeless. It pained me. And I have to blame myself for that.

Perhaps, that’s the biggest decision I have ever made in my whole life. And it hurt a lot of people. The people I love.

I wiped the tears and got back to work. This is not the time to think of the past, when I have the whole company under my hands.

**

It’s lunch time and I have to meet with that Mr. Pascual. Well, whoever he is.

A part of me wishes that it is the Pascual I wanted to see. The Pascual I wanted to meet again. The Pascual I wanted to hug. But no. How could he be the Pascual that I want when this is our company and he has his own and his parents are probably at a bad blood with my family because of what I did.

Don’t keep your hopes up, Hana.

And I almost forgot that he doesn’t want to see me. Why would he be the Mr. Pascual I would be meeting? And in fact, why would he be the Associate CEO here when he could be the CEO – even President – of his own company?

I shook my head and went down the lobby.

The chauffer was already there when I arrived. Mr. Miguel, the driver opened the door for me and I smiled at him. He has been my family’s driver for so long. He drove me to and from the airport, by the way. He was the one who saw me in tears.

“Where to, Ms. Hana?” He asked me.

“Beale St.” I replied.

**

There were not much people in there. I looked at my watch and yes, I am on time.

I looked around and saw Nicole talking to a guy, his back turned from me. Is that Mr. Pascual? Why does his back look so familiar?

Is it really him?

Nicole spotted me and waved at me. “Ms. Hana!” She called me.

I smiled and walked to her but I was looking at him. His back looked so familiar. His back screamed the person I was looking for. Suddenly, I was excited.

Nicole stood up and walked to me. We met halfway.

“Is he Mr. Pascual?” I asked as I pointed at the man with her. I was wishing that he would look behind so I could finally make my heart stop from beating over the limit. I’m starting to get tired.

She shook her head. “No, Ms. Hana! He’s my boyfriend.” She smiled sheepishly.

I smiled and nodded. “Oh.” I replied, slightly disappointed, then I looked around. “So, is that Mr. Pascual not around yet?” I asked.

She looked around and shook her head. “I don’t think he’s here yet, Ms. Hana.” She replied. “Do you want to sit with us first?” She asked.

“Will that be okay?” I asked her. I mean, what kind of boyfriend would want to be in one table with the boss of his girlfriend? That’s utterly awkward.

She nodded. “Of course! Louis’ cool with everything.” She told me then she pulled me to their table.

Biggest mistake of my life. Next to calling the engagement off.

“Louis Marco Pascual?” I asked almost in disbelief. Too much for wishful thinking. Now, he’s right in front of me. He still looks the same like he did five years ago. The only thing is that he has grown mature.

But his eyes are still piercing and I would get lost in them any moment I get contact with them. His lips…let’s stop over here.

He looked up and stopped when he saw me. His face. Is looking. At me. Right now.

My heart began to race and all the feelings I felt before are surfacing once again. This is really him. He’s really Louis Marco Pascual. The man I left hanging five years ago.

He’s gotten more handsome. His hair is black. He’s wearing a suit. He looks so formal. He looks like a model of a brand of clothing. He’s perfect.

I winced when Nicole suddenly hooked her arms with his. I was hoping he would flinch but he didn’t. He even held her hand.

“Ms. Hana! You know my boyfriend?” Nicole asked me, surprised.

My boyfriend.

I almost laughed at her words. I was his fiancée. I know him more than you do. I love him more than you do.

But what do I really know?

Louis looked at me then smiled. “Hi, Hana! I didn’t know you are back.” He told me and he reached his hand out for a handshake. Why did he sound like that? Why did he sound so casual? Has he really forgotten about me? Don’t I really have the right to come back to his life?

I looked at his hand. Should I take it? I don’t know. What if I don’t control myself? What if I take it and it would be hard for me to let go?

What if I don’t want to let go?

He awkwardly pulled his hand back when he noticed that I am not going to take it anyway.

“No one knew I would be back.” I told him trying my hardest to sound really unaffected.

He nodded and I had to get out of here. Nicole is all over him and he’s not doing something about it and I am jealous. That should be me.

Yes. If I haven’t left him.

“Are you Hana Shaniah Tejeros?” A tall white man smiled down at me. I gave him a look. Who the hell is this man?

He chuckled and reached his hand out. “I’m Justin Pascual, the Associate CEO.” He introduced.

I looked at him and took his hand. “Hana Tejeros.” I replied.