Chapter 3

NIKOLAI POV

“Nick, let’s go to Mirth Pub! I wanted to introduce you to someone.”

A loud, playful voice echoed through my office as a man barged in and sat onto my couch. I didn’t even bother looking at him. I already knew that silly voice belonged to. My grandpa’s best friend’s son and a childhood friend of mine, Nathaniel.

Narito na naman para baguhin ang isip ko na i-consider na ang marriage bago raw ako lumampas sa kalendaryo.

Twenty-five years old pa lang ako, for Pete's sake. Maaga pa para mag-decide ng ganiyang bagay.

I smirked and shook my head, keeping my eyes on my tablet. Several folders and presentation slides were open on the screen for next week’s board meeting.

“If you’re here because Pops again, it’s not gonna work, Nate. Hindi ako makikipag-blind date.”

I continue reading through my tablet to prepare a discussion for the upcoming board meeting next week. The sales have increased by a decent percentage but it’s not enough. I want higher than this. I marked a few figures and highlighted the details that needed adjustments.

“KJ." He joked, "Just try it once kahit fling lang hindi ‘yung puro ka trabaho wala man lang landi sa buhay. You already achieve wealth and enter the business world at an early age. You need to have some fun sometimes, man."Sumandal siya sa couch at dumekwatro pa.

Thanks for the compliment, but will still ignore you, man.

"Hindi ka ba nagsasawa sa buhay mo, puro na lang investors at business inaatupag mula umaga hanggang gabi. Baka hanggang sa pag tulog puro sale increases napapaginipan mo.” Dagdag na biro nito.

The orange sky outside my window caught my attention. The sun was slowly setting, painting the city in beautiful shades of gold. Anong oras na ba? I checked the tablet's time, and it shows it’s already five twenty in the afternoon.

“Business is my ecosystem; profit is my oxygen. I breathe nothing but assets and equity.” I retorted.

“If you act like that, how can you produce the next heir in your family?”

Napahinto ako sa ginagawa.

If I was obliged to have a kid, I could adopt and raise the kid alone without being tied to some rubbish marriage. I am very capable of raising a child since I can give them some comfortable life. I don’t need to marry just some mere woman.

But of course, I wasn't about to tell Nate that. Baka mas lalong humaba pa ang discussion namin.

I placed my stylus in its holder, closed the folders on my tablet, and stored the important documents in my drawer. After grabbing my suitcase, I stood up and faced my persistent friend.

I smiled at him before walking towards the door.

“Nathaniel, if you’re done with your unsolicited input, I’ll leave now. Try convincing me next time, maybe I'll reconsider.”  I tapped his shoulder before walking out of the office.

“Hey, where are you going?” Sigaw nito.

“Time for fishing.” I casually said while not looking back.

By the time I reached my penthouse, I had already instructed my butler to prepare everything for my evening fishing trip. I had him pack a change of clothes, towels, a bucket for the fish, and my fishing rod. I also brought along a bottle of non-alcoholic wine to enjoy while waiting for a catch.

Around six-thirty in the evening when I arrived at the great Crestloir River above the long bridge. The yacht was waiting for me to sail. The city lights were finally visible after the sun was finally gone.

Hinagis ko na ang pisi ng pamingwit at umupo sa folding chair para maghintay na lang ako ng isda na mabe-bait sa pa-in ko.

I was about to pop the cork of my bottle of wine when I noticed someone's falling from the bridge. Medyo malayo ito sa’kin nang ilang metro but my body moved voluntarily to jump into the river para sagipin ang nahulog.

Nilangoy ko pa nang malalim ang ilog to find that person.

I saw a woman.

I rushed moving my body to catch the person from sinking deeper.

Iniahon ko siya mula sa tubig at sinubukan ko itong gisingin when we reached the surface.

“Hey, hey. Wake up, miss!” I shook her lightly.

When I got no response to life. I return with her on my yacht to do a first aid procedure.

I swept her hair on her face and saw a familiar face. But I don’t have time to think where I saw this woman. I proceeded to give her air through our mouth and blow it to give it some air to breathe then I pumped her chest. I continued doing it within five minutes of doing CPR and finally nagkamalay na siya.

She throws all the water she swallows and coughs to clear her lungs out.

She looked at me, confused then in a snap, her face distorted with anguish when she realized the reality that she's been saved.

"Hindi mo dapat ako iniligtas..." Itinulak niya ako at sinubukan muling bumalik sa tubig.

I look dumbfounded. I thought it was an accident that she fell from the bridge. Was dying her purpose? I don’t understand what she’s being through but whatever problem she had, she shouldn’t do that. I stopped her from pushing me away.

"Hey, calm down, okay? I don't know what you're going through but please… Please, choose to live, okay?"

She didn't listen to me, instead, sinubukan niyang magpumiglas lalo but I won’t let her throw her life again.

No. not on my sight.

"Hindi mo ako naiintindihan. Nawala na silang lahat sa buhay ko! Iniwan nila akong lahat at hindi ko na alam kung paano maguumpisa ulit. Wala nang saysay sa’kin na mabuhay. Ayoko nang mabuhay." She sobbed heavily when venting out, "Wala naman akong ginawang masama sa kanila..." She added.

Her strength seemed to fade as she broke down, and I carefully held her while she sobbed against my chest. I rubbed her back, trying to comfort her even though I had no idea what to say.

"Wala na akong rason pa para magpatuloy pang mabuhay." Sambit pa nito habang hinahayaan siya na umiyak sa dibdib ko.

I wasn't good at handling situations like this. I dealt with numbers, negotiations, and business problems. Not broken hearts or people who had lost every reason to keep going.

Yet, as I listened to her cries, something inside me shifted. I couldn't promise that her problems would disappear overnight. I couldn't undo whatever had happened to her. But I could give her a chance to start over.

And for some reason, I wanted to.

“Then live for me.”

“If you can't find a reason to live right now, then let me be that reason until you can find one of your own.” I held her gaze, hoping she'd hear the sincerity in my voice. “From now on, you are not alone. I'll help you get back on your feet.”

She stared at me through her tears, as if she couldn't understand why a complete stranger would offer her such a thing.

I took a breath before continuing.

“I'll give you access to the resources and connections I have as an heir of the Hawthorne family. Whatever you need to start over.”

My jaw tightened at the thought of someone pushing her to this point.

“And if there are people who hurt you and you want to hold them accountable, I'll help you do that, too. I'll use my influence and everything within my power to make sure they will pay what they did to you.”