Chapter 5:

Bahagyang nakayuko si Miguel habang seryosong nakikinig sa sinasabi ng taong nasa tabi niya. Standing on either side of him were the hospital director and one of the most influential figures in the city—isang lalaking sa telebisyon lang nakikita ni Isa.

Bago pa man tuluyang maproseso ng utak ni Isa ang nangyayari, nakalapit na ang grupo sa pwesto niya.

Mabilis siyang napaatras. Gusto niyang magtago. Gusto niyang pumasok sa staff lounge para hindi siya makita nito.

Ngunit huli na. Miguel had already looked her way.

His dark, cold gaze landed on her delicate features. Bumaba ang tingin nito sa malinis at puting puting doctor's coat na suot niya, bago tuluyang huminto ang mga mata nito sa kaniyang slender ankle.

Nakadikit pa rin doon ang medicated patch. The dark patch against her pale skin created a striking contrast. Combined with the cold restraint of her doctor's uniform, it formed an oddly captivating sight.

A fragile beauty.

The kind that stirred an irrational urge to possess and protect.

Para bang may kung anong kumurot sa dibdib ni Miguel, but his icy gaze paused for only the briefest moment. Sa isang iglap, iniwas niya ang kaniyang tingin.

As though the woman standing before him was nothing more than a stranger. Isang taong hindi niya kailanman nakilala.

Hindi nagtagal ay nagpatuloy sa paglalakad ang grupo. The vice director at the back glanced over his shoulder, bahagyang lumapit kay Isa at ibinaba ang boses nito.

“Get to the conference room. The meeting is starting.”

Napakurap-kurap si Isa, mabilis na napabalik sa realidad. Inayos niya ang kaniyang salamin, mahigpit na niyakap ang kaniyang mga materials, at nagmamadaling sumunod sa kanila.

Pagpasok niya sa conference room, halos manginig ang mga tuhod niya. Everyone attending the meeting was either a powerful government official or a renowned figure in the medical field. To say she wasn't nervous would have been a massive lie.

Especially because the man seated at the head of the table had been watching her from the moment she entered.

Ramdam na ramdam iyon ni Isa. Nakakapaso ang mga tingin nito. His gaze was different from before. May halong pag-oobserba, scrutiny, at isang madilim na emosyon na hindi niya kayang ipaliwanag.

Napakagat-labi si Isa at humugot ng malalim na paghinga. Kalma, Isa. Trabaho lang 'to.

Deliberately avoiding looking at the head seat, she quickly immersed herself in work mode. Nagsimula siyang magsalita.

Her presentation was flawless. Professional. Punong-puno ng confidence.

The hospital director could not hide his immense satisfaction. Pagkatapos na pagkatapos niya, agad siyang ipinakilala nito kay Miguel.

“This is the youngest and most promising doctor in our hospital, Mr. Del Rosario. Isabella Mendoza. She possesses exceptional medical talent.” Ngiting-ngiti ang direktor. “Her independently developed treatment methods have shown remarkable results in repairing damaged neural pathways. The new expansion building will house a dedicated research department for this field. It will be the first of its kind in the country.”

Tumango lang si Miguel.

Yet his gaze remained completely fixed on Isa.

His little wife seemed nothing like the description Cassandra Aguilar had given him. Obedient? Docile? Easy to control?

The woman standing on that stage was dazzling. Para siyang isang bituin na kusa nitong kinukuha ang atensyon ng lahat nang walang kahirap-hirap.

At that thought, palihim niyang inilabas ang kaniyang cellphone at nag-send ng message sa kaniyang assistant.

Has Isabella moved in yet?

The reply arrived almost instantly.

Not yet, sir. Miss Mendoza hasn't even added me on W******p.

Miguel frowned. Mas lalong tumalim ang kaniyang mga mata.

Tan. Your efficiency is getting worse.

By the time he put away his phone, tapos na si Isa sa kaniyang presentation. Only her retreating figure remained in sight, mabilis na lumalabas ng pinto.

Sometime around four or five in the afternoon, tuluyan nang natapos ang inspection.

Napasandal si Isa sa malamig na pader ng hallway, napapikit, at hinawakan ang kaniyang noo na hanggang ngayon ay nag-aapoy pa rin sa lagnat. She let out a heavy sigh of relief.

The work had gone smoothly. Wala siyang naging mali. Sa wakas, makakapag-day off na siya bukas.

As she packed up her bag and prepared to leave the hospital, napansin niya kung gaano na kadilim ang kalangitan. The wind carried the heavy, earthy scent of approaching rain. Kahit ang mga streetlights sa labas ay awtomatiko nang bumukas.

Isang malakas na bagyo ang parating. A serious one.

Mabilis niyang inayos ang suot niyang coat at naglakad patungo sa bus stop.

Ngunit ilang hakbang pa lang ang nagagawa niya, biglang nahagip ng kaniyang paningin ang isang itim na Maybach na nakaparada sa ilalim ng isang malaking puno, hindi kalayuan sa kaniya.

Its sleek silhouette was partially concealed beneath the shadow of the branches. Sa dilim, it looked exactly like a beast lying in wait before the storm strikes.

Dahan-dahang bumaba ang bintana ng sasakyan.

Isang mahaba, malaki, at matipunong kamay ang casual na nakapatong sa frame ng bintana. Beneath the crisp cuff of a white dress shirt was a black watch.

Kahit na wala masyadong alam si Isa sa mga luxury goods, she recognized that watch. A vintage piece from one of the world's most prestigious brands. Worth millions.

Almost unconsciously, her gaze followed the watch upward. Hanggang sa magtama ang paningin nila ng isang pares ng madilim at malalim na mga mata.

Si Miguel. Nakaupo ito sa loob ng sasakyan.

His face was devastatingly handsome. Those deep eyes that shone like cold stars were fixed entirely on her. Wala itong ibang tinitignan kundi siya.

Nanigas si Isa sa kaniyang kinatatayuan. Bumilis ang tibok ng kaniyang puso. Hindi niya alam kung dapat ba siyang lumapit at bumati, o magkunwaring hindi niya ito nakita at tumakbo palayo.

Ngunit bago pa man siya makapagdesisyon, his low, magnetic voice drifted through the open window, cutting through the cold wind.

“Get in.”