Chapter 6

SAMANTHA

I can't look at my fellow cabin crew on our flight going back to Manila. They found out that the reason I couldn't work earlier while we were going to Japan was that the owner of the airline we worked for was sitting next to me in the passenger's seat.

All I could think was that our paths would never cross after we said goodbye to each other last night when he drove me to the apartment. But here it is and only a few days have passed, and my life is in turmoil because of Mr. Lorenzo Montalvo’s eldest son.

"Hey, tell me a story, Samantha. Why were you talking to Sir Simoun earlier? You, you still have a secret that you haven't told us." As one of my colleagues pointed out, I could feel my throat drying up due to the tension I was feeling at those times, but I didn’t notice it to them.

How do I get past the questions they throw? I had no idea that Sir Simoun would do those things before. And I suddenly remembered the rude man who was surprised to hold my hands while I was on duty at work.

"Ah ...., he just said something about our work." I hope they believe what I said.

"Okay, what did he tell you about?" Sheila continued to ask questions. This one has a lot of talks.

"No, he just told us not to allow anyone to insult us especially when we are at work, we will report immediately." I smiled at them thinly. The others were so quiet that I couldn't feel what was running through their minds, but when Sheila nodded at what I said I was a little relieved.

When we returned to Manila, I did not expect Sir Simoun to still be with us on the flight. And then I remembered what he said earlier.

"See you later."

He still sat there in the seat where we had sat before. I am nonconscious because from time to time I see him staring at me or glancing at me. I should not be affected because I am at work, I should perform my job with a sense of professionalism. It's not like that, my heart almost jumps with excitement when our eyes meet every time, I pass his chair or seat even though he doesn't do anything else to me. He's just kept staring at me, that stare that melts and softens my legs!

The plane we boarded at the airport was well bound after a nearly four-hour drive. We assisted the passengers to get off properly and I noticed that Sir Simoun had delayed the descent.

I didn't even try to look at him or stare at him and I immediately went straight to the place where our cabin crew was resting. My belongings were there so I had to go back before I got off the plane.

My FA colleagues and I walked out of the airport together as we towed our trolly bags. It's already night, and tomorrow afternoon we have a trip, so I have to recharge well.

I suddenly missed Jenny, because in the past, when we got off the plane, she would ask her to have a snack before leaving. Unlike today, I went straight to the apartment. Maybe I'll just cook there when I arrive.

"Oh, Samantha see you tomorrow." Said Sheila. I just nodded and then waved at her.

"Okay, be careful." It's only now that the taxi waiting at the bus stop. I was suddenly surprised because I used to see a taxi just outside the airport entrance. And now, there’s no taxi at all. I thought there might be a lot of passengers earlier so all the taxis are not available.

I turned on my cellphone from turning it off on the ride, so I didn’t notice a black car stopping in front of me.

When I looked up I then saw who was inside the passenger's seat and was looking at me after it lowered the windshield opposite it.

Sir Simoun!

My mind was startled, and my heart was puzzled why our boss was in front of me again. Is there anything he wants to say to me, it seems like he’s just waiting for me to come out from inside of his airport. I also noticed the driver who accompanied him automatically got out of the car stopping in front of me.

"Get in." Next, I heard what he said. I could not move immediately so it even prompted the driver to open the door so that I could board. The driver also took the trolly I was carrying from me and placed it in the compartment in the back of the car.

Even though I was forced to, I was able to get in Sir Simoun's car in no time. This was not the car he was using when he took me to the apartment. But like any other car of the rich, you will be ashamed of its smell once you sit inside.

I met his eyes still staring at me until I could get inside his car. And I suddenly looked at my thighs that were exposed because of the shortness of the skirt I was wearing. I pretended to pull the end of it to get a little down and at least cover my skin but still, nothing happened. Even so, our boss was still free to see my thighs which made my chest even more nervous.

My eyes caught a smile because I did that. What is this one thinking? I also keep thinking about what is happening between the two of us. Our meetings are no longer normal, it seems like it is intentional that we meet I do not know the reason.

When the car started to move, I dared to ask him why the two of us were in his car together again. Wasn't it enough that we were together on the whole trip to Japan earlier so that he could say what he wanted to say to me, and even until he came home, he was still waiting for me?

"Sir, would you like to tell me something?" I asked him nervously.

He adjusted his seat and leaned his large body on the car seat. It seemed like the two of us were cramped in the passenger seat because we were both tall.

We almost had to bend our knees because of the space we had inside its car. Annoying!

"Nothing, I just saw you outside the airport, so I thought I'd just take you home with me."

Is that the reason for it? He could just pass me by and leave me at the airport even if I was alone and there were taxis I could take. I just thought about it.

"Is that so. Thank you, sir." I was also able to sit up after I thanked him. Out of the corner of my eyes, I noticed that the buttons of this suit were already open, and it was as tired as I was from the long trip.

"Didn't the male passenger harass you before we were bound to Japan?" Out of nowhere, he asks questions to me. I didn’t even see how that man got off the plane when we arrived in Japan, and I decided to go back to work right after.

"Not anymore sir. I'm used to rude passengers like that man." I answer him.

Sir Simoun frowned suddenly and quickly at what I said. That's true, with the number of passengers I encounter on each trip it's unlikely I'll ever encounter rude and rude people like the ones I met earlier.

I'm just extending my patience as an FA, and we also learned in school before how to be patient with passengers and how people behave differently in reality.

"What do you mean you're used to it? It's not just the first time something like that has happened to you?" I could hear the annoyance and anger in his voice, I don't know but I was suddenly nervous about what might happen next because of what I said.

I nodded. Next, I heard him swearing and I was even startled by his strike on the back of the driver's seat in anger.

After our last conversation about my experiences with the passengers of his airline, he never spoke to me again. He was busy texting on his cellphone and once called his secretary. I didn't understand what they were talking about, and it was all about work in the office, so I decided to just distract myself by looking out the window.

There I suddenly felt hungry when we passed a fast food which is my favorite restaurant because the chicken joy there is cheap and delicious.

"Mr. Jr., please drive the car to the restaurant and take out some food." Sir Simoun's order to its driver surprised me. He remained to stare at the cellphone even though He was talking to his driver.

The driver parked with us for a while and went straight to an expensive restaurant and when he came back, he was carrying two papers that I think we're full of food.

"You don't have anything to change, sir?" He asked if he could get back in the car.

"Sam, maybe you want to order more food?" Instead of answering his driver he looked at me and asked.

"No more sir." I immediately answer him. What am I going to buy late at night? It was good and he took pity on me and accompanied me otherwise I was still in the middle of traffic now. What I'm still wondering is if he even intends to take me straight to my apartment. I was waiting for him to tell me where I could get off to wait for another taxi straight to my apartment, but he didn't ask.

When he heard that I had nothing to change, he just looked in the mirror at the driver's hand with us and the two understood each other.

It seems that I didn't make a mistake when Sir Simoun directed his car to my apartment. I didn't know what to do or tell him when I got out of his car. Shall I invite him for coffee? So late at night. But it would be embarrassing if I didn't even invite him even if it’s not my intention. Haist!

When the driver stopped Sir Simoun's car right in front of my apartment, I looked at him for a moment and it was true that he was also looking at me.

"Sir, maybe you want to have coffee for a while." I reluctantly invited him.

"Sure, I also want to see your apartment."

Inside my apartment? Why?

There is nothing different about my apartment, it is just like the typical apartment found in Manila.

I didn't do anything when we got out of the car and he was the one who carried the paper containing the foods he had ordered at the restaurant earlier, plus my trolly bag. I tried to take my bag from him, but he didn't agree. He looked like he was carrying my belongings, but even so, he was still handsome in my eyes especially when he removed the coat he was wearing. And now, his long sleeve which is color sky-blue with the top folded up to the elbow.

My hands were still shaking a bit as I opened the padlock of my apartment door. The apartment I'm renting isn't expensive, so some parts of it are a bit old.

When I finally opened that door, I immediately pressed the light switch which serves as light throughout the apartment.

"I'll get my trolly bag, sir, maybe you're already overweight." And he handed me its handle and our arms almost collided afterward. Holding two paper bags full of food, he deliberately placed them on the center table of the living room.

I tilted the trolly I had used for the ride to one side of my living room. When I look back at Sir Simoun he looks like an inspector looking at things in my apartment. He couldn't even sit down and look at the various things inside my apartment.

It seems weird when it comes to what he does but because maybe it's the first time he entered my apartment, so he did that unintentionally.

I just ignored what he was doing and headed to the mini-fridge I use in the kitchen to get cold water. I also brought a glass for Sir Simoun to drink if he wanted to drink water.

When I returned to the living room, it was still standing and was now quietly looking at some picture frames hanging on the wall. It's just a picture of my grandmother and me, I don't have a picture with Mama and Papa if there's just a number on my finger and maybe it's even saved on my phone because I don't have time to fix and develop it.

"Sir ... water, or do you have something else you want to drink?"

He turned to me, and I swallowed up again with excitement when our eyes met. Why does it seem so intimidating when I face this man? What is there in him, and I get nervous when he stares at me, I get scared when he suddenly speaks because I don’t know what he just suddenly says to me. Most of all, there is something that is forcing me, so I let him continue being near me. This is not my normal reaction to men I talk to or face, just to him. Only he makes me feel these strange feelings. And I hate it!

"I have an offer for you." Instead of answering my previous question to him, he answered me differently.

"Offer sir ...?"

"Yeah, you're not safe here. In this place." He even takes another glance at my apartment.

What did he say that I was not safe in my apartment? I've been renting here for a few years and it's okay so far, I haven't had a problem living in this apartment. Even the landlady agrees with me as well.

"I don't understand your point, sir. I've been living in this apartment for many years and nothing bad has happened to me, so I guess your suspicion is wrong." I was no longer prevented from answering him.

"For now, nothing. Our days now are very dangerous so it's better if you live in a secure place. And I also considered you as one of my employees that's why I will offer you a not-so-bad proposal."

According to him, it’s not so bad proposal? I was suddenly nervous when he said that. I stood up straight and met his eyes staring at me.

"I don't understand what you mean sir," I told him directly.

"My company has a wide connection and one of them is the well-known companies who sell different condo units and houses. If you want, I can talk to the owner of the units for sale, and then you can live there." Seems like it’s nothing for him what just he said, and he would talk to whoever was selling the units, and then that’s it?

"Sir, I can't afford to buy or rent an exclusive house because I'm alone in life so I can only afford my monthly income." I'm no longer ashamed to tell him those things and when we're done talking and maybe he won't tease me about moving into the expensive condo unit it says.

"That's not a problem Samantha, whatever you pay here on your apartment, that's all you will pay for the unit you will take. My company will buy the unit in cash and the monthly payment will be deducted from your salary if that's the problem And I will assure you that the unit you will buy is rented to own. It means that when you have paid a few years of total unit payment, it is yours. And not just that, my staff can find you a unit that is just near here, if you want. " He explained that to me. I was shocked by what Sir Simoun said about the rent-to-own unit he says. That was good for me to be alone in life and when the time comes, I can say I have somehow found something from my work now.

I thought for a while but because I felt tired and awake, my brain would not function immediately so I should answer him. And I was stunned when Sir Simoun spoke again.

"Think about my offer to you Samantha. I want you to be safe and have a comfortable house to live that's why I'm doing this." Clarifying this to me. His eyes were still straight and unblinking as they stared at me. I'm getting used to his stares and his captivating eyes when I look.

"All right sir, I'll think about it." That was my answer to him because honestly, it was still not clear to me why Sir Simoun and I were in this situation.

He said goodbye to me and told me that he would come back another day to find out what my response to his offer to me would be. And I finally breathed a sigh of relief when he left my apartment.