"Welcome back, GM!" Paul, my best friend slash Eli's bodyguard, greeted me with a huge grin on his face. He was the only one who knew I was arriving."How's everyone?" I asked once inside the car."You mean, Hannah?" he teased and an involuntary smile lit up my face. But it faded when I saw Paul’s sudden serious face. "Not good.""What do you mean not good?" I frowned at him."The news isn't true, right, Nate?" ."What news?" "That you and Olive are getting married.""What?!" I was surprised. "Of course not!" Where did that even come from? "Well, that's what Olive's been telling everyone. That you're getting married. There were pictures of you and Olive circulating online. That you're together in Macau and you're having your sweet time together." He pulled over and took his phone out. "Look at this."I took his phone and saw the pictures he was talking about. Anger crept within me."You even cut off communication. What happened to you, Nate? That was a very stupid move. We're all tr
I woke up to the feeling of a hand stroking my hair.What??? Who??? How???I was alone in the townhouse! Who could possibly be with me?"Hannah," it was Nate's voice. I froze. Just last night, I dreamed of him. In fact, it's still so vivid, I could actually remember every detail of my dream. So hearing Nate's voice when I was already fully awake, though not still opening my eyes, made my heart skip a beat. "Hannah." I heard him chuckling. "I know you're already awake. Come on, open your eyes or I'll kiss you."With that warning, I immediately opened my eyes. Only to find Nate's face directly above my face. His amused gaze stared back at my surprised wide eyes."N-nate?!" I stammered and hastily got up, totally forgetting that he was above me. So I ended up head-butting Nate Sarmiento."Ouch!" He exaggeratedly held a hand over his forehead ."I-I'm sorry!" I worriedly apologized. "Nate? Does it hurt so badly?" I inspected his forehead. Nate nodded as if he was in deep pain with his e
Nate held a meeting with his whole security team at his house when we arrived. Why? I had no idea.After an hour, he told me he was going to do a conference call with his hotel staff...I told him okay and decided to just bake chocolate chip cookies for my husband and Elisha. They were like crazy with cookies. They really were father and daughter.I smiled to myself. The problem that arose couldn’t stop me from being happy with my status. Nate loves me and even though we can’t be on our honeymoon now, it’s still okay with me. I knew Nate, he'd made up for it. That's for sure.I was preparing the ingredients when my phone rang. It was Olive."Hannah," she said when I answered the call."Hello, Liv," I greeted, a little bit hesitant."Eli's with me. I'm wondering if you can come and get her? I have an appointment in two hours. I cannot drive her back. I still need to prepare myself.""Sure. Uhmn wait, I'll just ask Paul to drive for me," I agreed.It was the first time that Olive talked
"Olive," Hannah tried to calm Olive down. "Let's talk. Not like this. Please, don’t scare Eli…""No... We will talk like this. Eli has to know what a slut you are, Hannah!" Olive pulled back Eli’s hair and pointed the knife to her side. "How you ruined our family!"Eli wasn't complaining even though her tears were already brimming her eyes. She was a brave child! I was not sure if I’d be happy or not. She shouldn’t even be seeing Olive and I like this in the first place!"Don't hurt her, I beg you." I was the first to cry. I just can’t bear seeing Eli hurt. "She's your daughter, Liv! Your own flesh and blood!" I couldn't do anything. One wrong move and Olive could hurt Eli."I know... " She drew the knife away a little. "I'm not going to hurt Eli. I needed her so Nate would come back to me. But– " she paused and held the weapon close to Eli’s neck. "If you're not going to cooperate with me, I will slash this kid's throat in front of your very eyes." Then she smiled like real crazy and
"Eli," I gently approached my daughter who was sitting in a daze on her bed. "Time to see your doctor, Eli." I felt a pain in my heart when Eli didn't even look at me. My little girl was drowned in her thoughts again. "Elisha, Dr. Railey is already waiting for you." I sat beside her and kissed her head. "I don't need a doctor, daddy," she said in a weak voice. "I'm not sick." "He will just talk to you, Eli." Dr. Railey was Eli's therapist. For a week now, they have been doing sessions in an attempt to make Eli the way she used to. "Hey, do you like to visit mommy Hannah?" Upon hearing the word mommy, Elisha nodded almost eagerly. It’s always been like that. Whenever she was unresponsive, mentioning Hannah’s name always did the trick. Elisha would start responding like her normal self. "Yes daddy! I miss mommy so much!" "We're going to visit her. But, first you have to talk to Dr. Railey, okay?" "Okay," she voluntarily stood up. I bent and carried her in my arms. "I love you,
“This year’s most anticipated wedding between actress Olive Concepcion and famous business personality and Hotelier Nate Sarmiento is set to be held this coming Sunday. For more of this story, here is Ynez Solis…” "Mommy, I'm sleepy." From the celebrity news that I am watching, my attention shifted to my baby playing next to me.Elisha was yawning and her beautiful eyes were already half closed. I smiled before carrying my daughter in my arms. "Okay, let's get you to bed now, my love…" I carefully laid Elisha on the bed in the only room of our small apartment. I then hugged her and kissed her gently on the forehead. "Good night, mommy. I love you…" "I love you too, Eli. Good night." I waited for her to fall asleep completely before I went out to turn off the TV that I had left open in the living room. The news about Nate and Olive was over. I sighed. I am happy for my best friend, Olive. But I am also afraid that their marriage would change her mind and think of taking back the
"Mommy." Elisha approached me but her eyes were fixed on Olive. I looked at Olive. My friend was surprised, stunned even. Then she smiled at Elisha with tears in her eyes when she realized who the little girl was. "Hi," Olive said. "Elisha," I said. But it was more to remind Olive of her daughter's name. "I'm sorry, baby." I picked her up and sat her on my lap, directly facing Olive. "She's grown," said Olive, crying. "Go ahead, Liv. You can hug her." I smiled even though in my heart I don't like this scene. What if Olive changes her mind and then takes Elisha? Can I handle it? "Hi, Elisha!" Olive didn't move. "I'm Aunt Olive." I don't know if I would be happy with the introduction. But at least Olive spared me the trouble of telling Eliha about her real mother at the moment. "Hello," was Elisha's short reply in between yawns. "I see you're still sleepy. Want me to put you back in bed?" Olive asked her daughter softly. "No... I want my mommy." Olive smiled at me. A bit hurt
“Bye, Eli. Behave in class, okay?" I took Elisha to her pre-school the next morning. "Remember, you're only going home with your nanny, okay?" I was referring to Eli’s daytime nanny, Yoly.“Yes, mommy... I love you.""I love you too." I kissed my little girl before leaving for work.It was Monday so I had to get to the office right away. Well, being a college undergrad, I am still an assistant until now. But I was lucky that someone still accepted me despite my having no college diploma.I have been an executive assistant for almost ten years now. That long service already earned me the status of being our company’s little boss. It was because no one had yet to work with our boss, who seemed to have been conceived out of a bad mood, longer than I had.When I arrived at the office, the employees rushed back to their respective workstations from their earlier huddle while gossiping."Good morning, Hannah!" Mia greeted me. She was the closest to me because we came to the company almost a