5. Elisha's wish.

"Good morning. I'm Hannah Rodriguez. May I know the office of Nate Sarmiento, please?" I was in the lobby of the NS Hotel owned by Nate.

"Do you have an appointment with the GM?" The beautiful receptionist shot me a judging look.

"N-nothing. But he'll see me---" I didn't finish what I was going to say because she already picked up the phone to make a call to Nate's office.

It was already the third day that Elisha was in Nate's care. It's the third day that I haven't seen my daughter. It's the third day that I’ve been going to each NS Hotel one by one to see if the owner, Nate, holds an office there. The one where I am now is the last branch in Manila. After this, I will have to go out to the provinces.

But it is impossible that he is staying in the province. I am sure that Nate is based here in Manila. I’ll just need to go back to each hotel again if I’m still not successful today. 

I am already so worried and I feel like I am on my wit’s end. I even think I am going crazy already. What if Elisha is looking for me? What if my daughter’s been crying and not eating? Does Nate know how to take care of a four year old child?

"I'm sorry, Ms. Rodriguez, but you are not allowed to see the General Manager," the receptionist told me after talking to someone over the phone.

"No Miss, I'm his friend—"

"Miss, please leave in peace. Or I will call the security to drag you out," she interrupted what I was going to say, too rude for her position in the hotel. Aren't receptionists supposed to be gentle and kind?

"You don't understand. Please, I need to talk to Mr. Sarmiento. It's about my child--" I begged but he called a security guard to lead me out of the building.

I couldn't think of any other way to talk to Nate. He does not answer my calls. And I could not return to his house either. I was losing hope but I was far from giving up. I knew Elisha was looking for me. 

Luckily though, while I was being dragged out of the building, she ran into Nate. He just arrived for work. He was talking to someone on his cellphone but he stopped when he saw me. Our eyes locked for a few seconds before he continued on his tracks again. But I wouldn't let the chance slip, right?

"Mr. Sarmiento!" I dared to call him. "Let's talk... Please." I was nervous, Nate looked so much different from the man I met a couple of days ago. He was undeniably, dangerously handsome with his black suit and tie. Every inch of him shouts how powerful of a man he was. But no matter how nervous and scared I felt, I had to try. This might just be my only chance. "Nate, please," I begged. That's when he finally stopped to face me, I swallowed hard as he gestured to the guards to let go of me.

"What is it you want, Hannah?" He looked at me the way I would know that I was bothering him.

"Let me see Elisha... please... please. I beg you, Mr. Sarmiento—"

"You're telling me where Olive is?" He asked coldly.

"I really don't know where she is. Please believe me. I don't even have communication with her. If I have, I'll ask her so I can tell you—"

"Then it's a no." He immediately turned his back and continued talking to whoever it was through his cellphone.

"You're so heartless!" I yelled, there was nothing I could do, I already lost my temper. "All I'm asking you now is that you let me see Elisha!"

He ignored me. He got on the elevator and never looked at me again. I left dejectedly but I decided I'll wait for Nate to come out. I positioned myself in front of the hotel where I could not miss him when he exited. I never left my spot to make sure I wouldn't miss him. I skipped my meals and waited until I was no longer sure if he's still coming out of the building.

It's nine PM according to my wristwatch and if I don't leave yet, I might starve to death. Nate probably left from the basement already in the car so I didn't see him. I didn't even know what kind of car he was using.

So once again, I failed to see Elisha. I was crying while going home. I didn't deserve what Nate did. Four years, four years, I raised the child he wanted to kill, alone. I didn't even ask Olive for help. Then now, will Elisha just be taken away from me as if what I did has no weight at all? 

I will not let it happen. I'd die fighting for the only family I got.

-----

"Mommy."

"Elisha?" I opened my eyes and was greeted by the rays of sunlight and the gentle face of my daughter.

"Mommy, I missed you," the little girl rained my face with her tiny kisses.

"Elisha? Baby, is that really you? You're really here?" I got up and hugged her tightly. I couldn't help but cry. I missed her so much. "Are you okay?" I cupped her face and looked carefully at her face, her arms, as if to check if there was any sign that she had been hurt. "I'm so glad you're here– but how?"

I was stunned when I realized that Elisha couldn't go home alone.

"Daddy brought me here," answered Elisha and only then did I notice that there was someone in the room with us.

Leaning against the door frame was Nate in denim jeans and a white v neck shirt. I almost gasped at the sight of him. How did he manage to look awesome even when he was just standing there while watching us with evident boredom?

"Elisha wanted to see you," was the explanation he offered before I could say thank you. So I just nodded at him.

Though I wish he would go out first. I just woke up and obviously I wasn't in my best appearance. Not that I wanted to look good for Nate but Iwas worried he might take everything against me.

Like when I went to sleep while I was still wearing my clothes from yesterday and how my eyes were swollen from crying. He might doubt my ability to take care of Elisha if I can't take care of myself.

"I missed you, Eli," I hugged my daughter again. "Mommy's so worried about you. Have you been okay?"

"Yes mommy!... Daddy is the best daddy ever," Elisha said cheerfully. "But I want to be with you mommy." She hugged me tightly. "Please, come with us."

I was hurt by Elisha's words. How can Nate be the best daddy if he wanted to kill her while she's still in Olive's stomach? Surely, Nate didn't tell that to Elisha.

"Have you been crying mommy?" Elisha kissed my eyes. "Did I make you cry?"

"No... No baby... I'm just tired. You didn't make me cry," I said as I hugged her tightly again.

I thought I'd never see her again. I am feeling a lot better now...

"Can we talk?" I turned to Nate who just nodded at me and left the room. "Eli, mommy is just going to get dressed. Wait for me here, okay?"

"Yes, mommy."

I took a very quick shower and slipped into a decent dress. Elisha and I came out of the room together to find Nate waiting impatiently on the couch.

"S-sorry," I murmured. "Do you want coffee—"

"No," he said coldly. "Leave Elisha in the room so we can talk."

I obeyed like a child to her father. After all, I owed him seeing Elisha again.

"Me and your daddy need to talk," I told Eli. "While we talk, just play with your dolls, okay?"

"Yes mommy. I love you."

"I love you too, Eli."

I took a deep breath before returning to where Nate was. I sat across from him while he did his usual scrutinizing gaze. I swallowed at how he looked at me like I was some kind of an organism under a microscope. Then his eyes stopped on my still swollen arm that he held tight three days ago. His eyes reflected anger in them as I heard him mutter a curse under his breath.

"Hannah," he began looking into my eyes. "As much as I hate letting Elisha see you, I think she needs you."

My face lit up. Finally, he will return my daughter to me!

"But, I am not letting my daughter live in this filthy apartment of yours," he said, adding how they easily entered the apartment even though it was locked. My shoulders fell and was about to beg Nate to reconsider when he added, "So my offer is, you come with us."

"Are you serious?" I couldn't believe it and I didn't hide how surprised I was at his offer.

"It's Elisha's wish." He shrugged.

"But is it okay with you?"

"Do you really have to ask me that?" His brows furrowed in annoyance. "Of course not! You still owe me the four long years that you hid my daughter from me! And if it's not Elisha's wish, I wouldn't want to see you again"

"Hide your daughter? Are you serious?" I wanted to be angry. "Mr Sarmiento, didn't you want Olive to abort your child? And Olive would have willingly obeyed you. It was just I who convinced her to continue her pregnancy. So, how could you accuse me of purposely hiding your daughter from you?"

"What are you talking about?" His eyes narrowed. "I didn't even know she got pregnant! I will never hurt my child, Hannah!"

"You're not serious." I was surprised by Nate's reaction. "Liv won't lie to me... So, if you didn't know that she got pregnant, what makes you so sure that Elisha is your daughter?" Because if it's true that he didn't know that Olive was pregnant at the time, it only means that my friend was the one who tried to abort Elisha. And my heart hurt more at the thought. Olive is not a bad person.

"Don't ask the obvious." He stood up, but he was obviously still angry. "So, are you coming or not?"

"How did you know about Elisha?" I asked instead, somehow I wanted to know if it was just his money that worked it out or somebody just spilled the secret to him. And for a while I felt my heart ache at the possibility of betrayal by the only person who knew about Elisha aside from me.

'It couldn't be.'

Nate didn't answer. Instead, he decided to go out after telling me that he was only giving me one hour to pack all the important things I would need.

As if I have a lot to pack. 

I don’t own many things. My almost bare apartment is a testament of that. But my lack of material things is filled with Elisha and I’s love for each other. We don’t need so much to survive. What’s important is that we don’t get sick and we’re happy.

Elisha, my daughter, is my happiness.