Johannes's POV I woke up with a headache. I drank a lot last night. I saw soup on the table, and it was still hot. There was a note beside it, and I know too well to whom it belongs. I don't know if I should smile or feel agitated that she's acting the same even after what I said last night. I also did not know why I said that out of the blue. There was an urge in my chest, behind my head, telling me to ask her out. *** Last night... "Date me," I saw her freeze a little when I said that. She stepped back and smiled awkwardly at me. "Your next appointment will be in ten minutes, boss," she scans the tablet she's holding as she avoids my gaze. "You're avoiding me, Nathalie," "We're here for work, boss," "Exactly. I'm the boss. I decide. I'm the rule, Nathalie Taylor," her eyes stared directly at me. Her ocean blue eyes look like a surging ocean, unsure of what she needs to do next. I smirked. "I can wait for your answer, silly. You don't have to look so troubled," I said bef

Johannes glanced at the woman across the dining table. The sun slightly compliments her blonde, wavy hair as the wind plays with it. He smiled. He cannot believe she'd agree to dine with him after such a short notice. Well, it's a given because she is his secretary, after all. Still, Johannes knew this one could be an awkward situation for the woman after what happened last night. "How's the food?" Startled, Nathalie flinched a little before moving her eyes away from the dish to the man sitting across her. She gulped. Johannes stood out even more now that common folks surrounded them. They are currently eating outside, the heat is unbelievable, but the slight brush of the wind puts off the effects of it. Johannes waited for her answer, slightly curving his thin, reddish lips. Nathalie did not notice she was staring at it until Johannes lifted a side of it. "Do you want to kiss it?" He teased. Nathalie instantly looked away, putting down the utensils. "I-It's delicious," "Hmm?"

A week had passed since Christmas, and Nathalie was back to her work for Johannes. She woke up early to prepare all the paperwork she needed to address at the meeting later. Nathalie glanced at her watch; it was about time her brother called her to say hi. She took her tablet and waited for him. She always does the waiting so her brother can take his time. "Hey, Nathan!" [Sis,] his smile was so genuine that Nathan's handsome face was apparent even though he looked thin. His ash blonde, wavy hair compliments the whiteness of his skin. His nose is tall like his sister's. His eyes are blue, just like Nathalie's. The only thing that distinguishes the two is the color of their hair. Everything else was a carbon copy. "I miss you, Nathan," she leaned towards the screen as if she could touch him if she touched her tablet. [It's your fault for not spending the Christmas with me,] he scolded her. He even rolled his eyes. How cute. Nathan is a sixteen-year-old who spent almost his time ins

"What? Your father came back? I... I thought he was dead?" Harries could not believe her ears. In front of her is Nathalie, who was still in shock as she witnessed her father earlier this morning. She thought he was dead... or that was what she had come to believe as she was not sure where he could have been after they left them with all those debts he accumulated after indulging in gambling. "What happened? Why did he come back? Why now when he had all the chance in the past?" Harries asked. Nathalie smiled bitterly. She remembered how silly she was expecting him to come back because he had finally come to his senses. She was wrong. Again. She was wrong to believe that her father was a good man. He was... He was a good man. Last night... Nathalie kept shaking as she waited outside the emergency room. Johannes approached her, giving her a bottle of water. "Drink," She stared at him, her face full of worry. Nathalie could not even understand why she would worry about a man who had

"When is the wedding?" The crowd immediately fell into silence as the old man stared at Nathalie, who was as red as a tomato right now. Johannes chuckled as he waited for the woman to respond. Even the other members of their family looked into Nathalie's way. She gulped as she processed the situation she was pitched in. It was the first time that Mr. Alejandro had been this bold in telling that he really wanted Nathalie in the family. She was about to open her mouth when Brian suddenly laughed. "Sorry," he said, still laughing. "It's just funny how everyone seemed like they saw an angel when Abuelo said that. Come on, people, you all know how much Abuelo adores this little woman right here," he smirked, winking at Nathalie. Johannes glared at him, but he simply smirked and played with his utensils. Their grandfather faked a cough and smiled at Nathalie. "It would be nice to get married by the end of this year," he said. Nathalie faked a smile. The year had just started, and this