Lahat ng Kabanata ng That First Night With Mr. CEO : Kabanata 91 - Kabanata 100

 “But why are you there? Kung may nagbabanta sa buhay mo, the safest place you can be at is here, in our home?” nag-aalalang sabi  ng Daddy ni Samantha sa kanya sa cellhphone.They arrived in San Gabriel almost an hour ago. Subalit imbes na sa bahay nila or rest house siya nito ihatid, Carlo took her and Charlie at Trevor’s mango farm. Tago kasi ang mango farm, mas malayo sa bayan kung saan naroon ang bahay nila.  The place was conducive for hiding.“Carlo said this is better Dad hanggang wala pa ang imbestigasyon tungkol sa nagpapadala ng death threats sa akin,” kalmadong sagot niya sa ama.“How is this better, Sam? Malayo ka sa amin, ikaw at si Charlie. How can we protect you?”Nagbuga siya ng hininga. Pilit niyang pinakalma ang sarili. The hurt and worry in her father’s voice is wounding her heart. She must admit, the first time Carlo brought up the idea of her hiding, she was at od

 Masayang pinagmamasdan ni Samantha si Charlie habang naglalaro ito sa lawn ng farmhouse. Her daughter was playing in the playhouse Lucas had sent over para daw hindi mainip ang anak niya habang nagtatago sila.And she must admit, after a full week of hiding there at Trevor’s mango farm, Charlie had adapted well to the new environment. Subalit paminsan-minsan, nagtatanong pa rin ito tungkol sa swimming pool o kaya sa beach. Panay na rin ang tanong nito kung kailan daw sila uuwi sa San Gabriel. Not knowing that they are already in San Gabriel, just on the other side of it.She looked up the sky, hapon na. Malapit nang lumubog ang araw. Ilang oras na lang, engagement party na nina Aaron at Kristine.With Aaron not coming to see her there, she was sure, Carlo had kept his promise. Wasn’t that what she wants, ang tuluyan siyang layuan ni Aaron, ang gawin din nito ang tama at pakasalan nito si Kristine gaya nang nararapat. She should be happy

 Mangiyak-ngiyak si Samantha habang pinagmamasdan si Mandy na nasa hospital bed. The doctors said her friend was heavily drugged thus, unconscious. They assured her that once the effects of the drug wears off, Mandy will wake up on his own. Kaya lang hindi pa rin siya makampante. Patuloy siyang mag-aalala para sa kaibigan hanggang hindi ito gumising.Gumalaw si Bettina sa tabi niya. Magkatabi silang nakaupo sa sofa. Tulog ito habang siya ay gising na gising.  Gaya niya, hindi na rin umuwi si Bettina kagabi at mas piniling bantayan si Mandy matapos nilang mabalitaan ang kalagayan nito. Hindi pa kasi nila nasasabihan ang pamilya ni Mandy sa sinapit nito. Ang gusto niya, kapag ibinalita niya ang nangyari sa pamilya nito, gising na ito at nakakausap.Lalo pa at doble-doble ang dagok sa kunsensiya niya ang isiping baka siya ang dahilan kung bakit nagkagano’n si Mandy.She released a slow breath, leaned on the couch and stared blankly at the ce

 “Mommy, can I take Mama Duck and her babies with us? They are squishy. They can fit in my baby bag,” ani Charlie kay Samantha. Her daughter was holding her toys on her hands, looking at her with doe eyes, waiting for her response.She smiled softly and reached for her baby’s face. “Of course we will bring Mama Duck and her babies,” aniya.Charlie beamed at her. She gave her a hug before rushing towards her own bag and stuffed her swimming buddies inside of it. “Mommy said you all can come with. We are going to swim on our big big tub!” sabi pa nito sa mga laruan nito.Muli siyang napangiti. Charlie’s innocence warms and hurts her heart at the same time. Her daughter deserves everything that’s beautiful in this life. But sadly, she cannot even give her a complete family.She shook her head slowly, dismissing the sad thoughts slowly filling her head. She has things to do today. Kagabi, kaba

 Tahimik si Samantha habang hinihintay ang sagot ng Daddy niya at ni Lucas. They were in the lanai, near the pool. Nagsisimula na ang pag-aagaw ng iba’t-ibang kulay sa langit.  Sa malayo ay tanaw na rin ang paglubog ng araw.Iniwan niya si Aaron sa salas upang kausapin ang ama at kapatid niya tungkol sa pakiusap nito na makita si Charlie. She knows that at the end of the day, it would only be her decision should she want Charlie to meet Aaron as her daughter’s father. But she wants her family to understand where she’s coming from kaya siya nakikiusap ngayon sa mga ito. She already have enough trouble to last a lifetime and she doesn’t want to be at odds with her family, not right now.“Whatever you think is good for Charlie, just do that, Sam,” anang Daddy niya bago siya nilapitan at niyakap nang mahigpit.Gumanti siya ng yakap sa ama at lalong ibinuro ang mukha sa dibdib nito—taking more of his comfort