"Okay, given that you are serious," Harold clasped his hands, and with his elbows leaning on the desk, he hung his chin on his knuckles. "Because that is exactly how you look right now, let me rephrase my question..." Harold took a deep breath, stared at Denny, and asked cautiously."Are you sure about this?"Denny stared back at Harold. Then he looked away, sighed, and fell into a deep thought. His friend's words were said so seriously that Denny had to pause and let his brain sink in all the possible messages it may have had. Harold has a jolly personality, but when he turns this serious and cautious, Denny could pick hints of genuine warnings. "I am sure about wanting to keep her safe," Denny answered, staring blankly at the empty chair across from him. "Tell me, Harold, am I a fool to do so?" He asked with uncertainty. "But I don't think I can leave her knowing I have caused her so much trouble in here," Denny added."How long do you think will you keep her?" Harold asked."As yo
"You know I wouldn't do this for anyone else than you, right?" Harold pouted at Denny. He squinted his eyes as if he were waiting for the man in front of him to admit the fact and honesty of his said words."Let's just say... Now, I realize why I had to do my best to save you from a deadly snake's bite way back years ago," Denny answered with a victorious smile."What!?" Harold was rendered speechless at Denny's remarkably candid reply. He huffed in the whammy feeling that he cannot say he regrets being saved nor is happy being bullied by his "savior"!"Get lost!" Harold roared in great annoyance. "And take her with you," he added."How about the papers?" Denny asked with his smiles from ear to ear."Just send them to me. I really hate looking at your smug face right now," Harold covered his face with both palms with just his lips free so he could speak clearly."I will ask my driver to get her things tomorrow, so ask Sandra or Marie to pack her things," Denny did not move from his se
Trisha remained silent. Besides, she wasn't asked for anything that would require her verbal answer, so she kept her eyes on his face, not in an intimidating way but in curious cat-like expressions. But not for long because Denny raised a question that demanded her answer."Did you say you would like to work for me?" Denny asked.Trisha was not sure how to answer his question, so she blinked her eyes at him. Was he talking about serving, or did the word work mean as he mentioned earlier? She was hoping it was the latter, but she could not let high hopes devour her."Would you like to quit her and serve me alone?" Denny asked again."I... I'm..." Trisha stuttered. "I am..." she paused. She swallowed the remaining food in her mouth and asked. "How...?""Quit here and come with me. You will have to stay at my house so I will not worry about your safety all the time," Denny answered, feeding her another bite of food."I am sure you have heard about why I am working here," Trisha looked do
Denny's phone screen flashed a notification that an email had arrived. He swiftly opened it, and after making sure it was an electronic mail from Harold Brown, he handed his phone to his service girl. "Thank you, sir," Trisha meekly uttered as she received the phone with both hands courteously. She checked every detail. Her head nodded slightly as she read, showing that she concurred with the contents she was carefully skimming at. "I hope it's okay to ask for a hard copy of this later...?" Trisha timidly mentioned as she handed Mister Vero back his phone."Of course, I will prepare everything in black and white, hard copy, bind them, and let you have them for record-keeping. Would that make you feel comfortable?" Denny asked with satisfaction. He noticed aside from making sure she had everything legally settled, she did not ask for anything else. All she was worried about was if her debts on Sweet Haven's management were cleared. She just made sure she wasn't walking blindly witho
"Don't forget us, okay? If you need anything or if you ever get bored and need a chat, you know where to find us," Rebecca clipped Trisha's hair behind her ears as she teary-eyedly smiled at the young girl."We don't know Mister Vero well, but I have heard he saved Boss Brown's life before. I believe he is a good man," the Head Receptionist added. "Serve him well, and everything will be just fine, or they might even be perfect," Gilda patted Trisha gently by her butt. Soon, Marie arrived and saw the three saying their goodbyes. She walked faster to join them and assured Trisha about the orders Mister Vero had left for her to do about Trisha's belongings."Hey, Trish, I hate to see you go, but I am happy for you. You will be safer with Mister Vero. I can assure you that compared with being near Daisy or Glenna, not to mention those clients who crave to have you serving them," Marie pulled Trisha into a warm hug. "Daisy...?" Trisha was confused."Yeah, but never mind her. She can die
Denny called for Carl to get the car ready, but he did not know he was coming out of Sweer Haven with a company. A beautiful girl in a red dress topped with Mister Vero's suit jacket. He was waiting by the side of the car's backseat door and opened it as soon as he saw his employer walk out of the building to his vehicle. The driver waited for his passengers to get seated before he closed the door and swiftly walked around to the driver's seat. He was already sitting behind the wheels, but Carl noticed Mister Vero had not given him orders on where to go. He waited a little more, but when he did not hear anything, he started to drive away at a very slow speed. Denny noticed his driver's driving speed, so he looked up. Their eyes meet in the mirror, and Denny realizes that Carl is clueless about where to go. "We're going home," he simply stated. "Yes, Mister Vero," Carl courteously replied. The driver got what he needed to know, so he focused on doing his job. He had seen his employe
The ride did not take very long. It was almost before midnight, so the traffic was smooth. Trisha noticed they had to get out of the car in front of a house similar to its neighbors. She got out of the vehicle after Mister Vero, and she walked with Denny holding her right hand as if she might feel scared of her new surroundings. They got inside his home—a two-story house with a hundred and twenty square meters in size. The ground floor has a living room, study room, fitness room, kitchen, and a small spare room at the back. The second floor has two bedrooms and a small theater next to a balcony.Carl had a quarter, but his way into his room was not from the main door. He will have to walk on a path by the side of the house to his room. It was initially built for maids, but as Mister Vero would only call for house cleaners once a week, this room became for the stay-in driver.Denny led Trisha upstairs as soon as they got in."I will let you tour around the house tomorrow. I want to sho
"Honey...?" Trisha called out softly."Hmmm...?" Denny hummed in response as he spooned her in his warm embrace."What setting is this?" Trisha asked. Giggling.The girl was actually confused. Mister Vero said he needed her to warm his bed starting this night but after sharing a good hearty laugh, he snuggled her under the covers and was like drifting to sleep already."This is the best setting for tonight," Denny replied lazily. He was feeling cozy with the nature's cool night air that he was enjoying to sleep with a warm and youthful body wrapped around his arms and one of his legs in between hers beneath the soft duvets. He felt like this was the best lullaby he has had in his whole adult life. The peace of mind, the warmth and the contentment of having her as a companion in his very own bed was dragging him to an irresistible serene slumber."Huh?..." Trisha hummed softly. She slightly shook in his hold as she curled her neck away from his face. She was tickled by the soft air of
“Honey…?” Denny called out carefully.Claudette was already about to enter the ward when she heard the man who introduced himself as Denny Vero called for Aleah so sweetly and concerned. She smiled. She just confirmed her thoughts that these two are romantically involved. She silently placed the food she bought and the change on a chair by the door before she lightly knocked and waved her hands to say she would be right back.Trisha bowed her head lower when she heard the knocking on the door. At the same time, Denny turned his head to look back and saw Mrs. Murphy pointing at the purchases she brought while she hurriedly exited the ward.Denny wasn’t able to say anything before the lady disappeared from his sight. He went to get the drinks and handed Trisha a cup of tea. There were two, so he supposed the other one was for him. He took a sip and just said anything. He urged Trisha to try hers, too.“Honey, the tea is good. You should have a sip while it’s still warm.”But Trisha place
Trisha turned her head away from Denny and faced her mom instead. Her tears started to cloud her eyes again. She bit her lips not to let her cries out of her mouth.She clearly understood what Denny had just said right now, but she could not respond right away. She was feeling torn between accepting or declining his offer of financial assistance. It wasn’t for herself alone. It was for her mom, most especially. He also mentioned being a philanthropist, which surely meant he was going to donate a considerable amount to get the procedure done with the best outcome. Yet, Trisha was still worried about what she might have to do to return such a huge favor from Denny Vero.When she was with Chloe earlier, and Denny was not by her side, Chloe spoke to Trisha with her honest and frank thoughts. Trisha realized that Denny did not know his parents already knew everything, the facts, not what they feared his sister, Denisse, might have told them. She was actually glad Denny accepted her suggesti
“She is so kind,” Denny moved closer and whispered to Trisha. “I like her a lot!”Then Denny moved back to look at the girl on her face with a silly smile.“But don’t let her know about that, okay?” Denny murmured again. “She might like me back. I am afraid of that happening.”The two shared suppressed laughter with their hands in their mouths, covering, as they both looked back in the direction of the door. They seemed to have the same fear that the person they mentioned was already back and heard what Denny just said.“I like her, too,” Trisha shrugged her shoulders as she giggled after making sure Claudette wasn’t back just yet. She played along with Denny’s joke not to let the lady Murphy know they liked her so much.“Kidding aside, she is awesome,” Denny cleared his throat before he made known to Trisha his honest opinion about the lady taking care of the patient.He also heard from the doctor and nurses he was able to speak with that Claudette is doing her duties more than a mere
“Thank you so much, Mrs. Murphy!” Trisha’s voice was shaky as she looked up from the other side of the bed, embracing her mom cautiously.Trisha felt emotional. She was glad even to only hear that her mom would regain her consciousness. She’s been in the hospital bed for almost seven months now. She might have seen the person driving the car when she was hit, but as she was still in a coma, they could not ask her. Trisha and her brother Yohan are still hoping to find the justice they deserve. The police seemed to have no more lead to continue the investigation, and since the Silver siblings did not have anyone influential to ask for assistance, they would have to rely on whatever they heard from their mom’s recollections.It would be tough to hold on to such possibilities, but they believe their mom is fighting within her to survive her situation. And one victory may lead to another if she could point out who caused her so much pain and stole so much of her time to stay healthy and pro
Soon they arrived at the ward where the name Elaine Silver was written on the chart by the foot end of the patient’s bed. A woman was reading a book seated next to the patient. She was reading the book aloud like a mother reading a bedtime story to a kid. She was too focused on her book as she read with enthusiasm and emotion according to the content of the story that she did not notice the two, Trisha and Denny, walking next to the patient’s bed.Denny and Trisha looked at each other with amused smiles on their faces. Denny gave Trisha a sign not to make a sound using his finger placed above his mouth. Trisha nodded her head as she agreed not to make a sound. She was beyond glad and satisfied that the lady Murphy was indeed attending to her mom’s welfare with so much dedication and sincerity. She was also happy that the man beside her seemed to have the same thoughts about letting the lady reading a book continue until she realized their presence. And so she continued to read:“A fath
Trisha smiled happily. Denny saw her serene smile in his peripheral vision, and he felt good. His idea was turning out to be successful. That was what he was hoping for, to make his “honey” smile, not the polite one that her face had seemed to be painted with the whole day, but the pure natural smile she would usually wear on her face when she is genuinely happy.Soon they arrived at the hospital. Trisha was worried he would be late with his appointment.“Honey, I can walk my way into the hospital. You don’t have to send me in,” Trisha cautiously suggested. “You might be late.”Denny chuckled.“It’s okay. You wait for me by the entrance. I will be right back after I park the car.”Trisha had no choice but to do as he ordered. She consoled herself that he should know what he was doing. He wouldn’t insist if he did not have enough time, right?“Okay, I will stand by the entrance door. You can call me if there are any changes,” Trisha raised her purse with her phone and wallet inside it.
Denny paused for a while. He could not say it was personal, but it wasn’t business either. But he did not want to explain further, so he just made his answer short, although a bit ambiguous.“A little of both?” Denny chuckled, helping Trisha to stand from her seat beside him.Chloe was not convinced. Or maybe even if she was, the mother still wanted to spend a little more time with her dear son, so she expressed her disagreement.“I can only let you go early today if you promise to visit us next Sunday again,” she bargained.Denny’s eyes widened in disbelief.“Mom, I cannot promise you that, but I will try,” the son scratched his non-itchy backhead as he replied.“Then you will have to stay until dinner today. What do you say about that, Aleah?” Chloe turned to the girl beside Denny.“I… am…” the service girl stuttered. She did not know what to say, but knowing her answer was awaited, she had to say something. “I’m very sorry, Mrs. Vero, but I do not decide things with…” Trisha could n
“Do you mean to marry this girl?” Franco Vero asked. His tone was still calm, not making his honest reactions known to his dearest son.“As of the moment, and if that is all for me to decide, I might say yes,” Denny chuckled at his sudden realization.The father was baffled by the son’s answer.“What do you mean?”“I don’t think the feeling is mutual just yet,” Denny let his weary mind off him.He felt good that his kind dad asked. He had been holding these thoughts within him. He could not freely speak about it with Don Carlo and Angela as he did not want to worry them for Trisha. But with his dad, he felt the assurance that his old man would understand where he was coming from. Denny let his heartfelt emotions flow.“I can feel this girl is purely doing business with me, and she never flirts nor misleads me to think she fancies me like a woman fancies a man. She is obedient in everything I ask and tells her to do because she is too cautious about losing her job. She has these invisib
As Aleah requested and without fear for Denny to grant them, they got dressed up with the doting Denny assisting his heart's wife; since they weren't legally married yet, in every step of getting her nicely yet comfortably clothed. "We should shop for new sizes of your underwear, honey," Denny gently suggested. "I am worried you might feel discomfort with the ones you used to wear and in your closet right now," he explained eagerly. He knew that pregnant women could be very sensitive, so he tried his best to clear any misinterpretations of his words. Angela excitedly bought Aleah different designs of pregnant dresses and others obviously needed by an expecting woman, but as she had not had the experience to reach pregnancy into a stage where her belly would swell up, Angela did not realize to include underwear in her shopping list. I have been meaning to do so, but as I was not allowed to go out without company aside from the nurse, I was just waiting when we could visit the shoppi