CHAPTER (4) NEGOTIATIONS

LUNA’S POV

Ang laki ng bahay nato, pero parang walang buhay, Everything is grey white and black parang yung personality lang ng may ari.

Matapos naming mag dinner ni Noah na masarap naman dahil may sarili silang chef in fairness, and  pinatulog ko na din si Noah, Surprisingly, madaling kausap si Noah He just wanted someone to talk to about his Lego sets and his fascination with astronomy.

Pababa na ako ng hagdan para kumuha ng tubig nang marinig ko ang pagbukas ng pinto, Pumasok si Clark, tinatanggal ang kanyang necktie habang pagod na pagod ang itsura, Even when he’s exhausted he looks like he’s about to fire someone.

"Bakit gising ka pa?" bungad niya agad.

"Water, Basic human need Mr. Anderson, Baka bawal pa din 'yun sa rules mo?" sarkastiko kong sagot habang naglalakad patungong kusina.

Sumunod siya sa akin. "I see you've made yourself comfortable."

"Kinuha mo ako para bantayan ang anak mo, hindi para maging estatwa sa sulok," sabi ko sabay sandal sa kitchen counter. "Now, since we're both here, let’s talk, I don’t like working without clear boundaries."

Umupo siya sa isa sa mga stool, looking at me with those piercing eyes. "Fine, What are your terms, Collins?"

CLARK’S POV

I watched her She looked so out of place in my minimalist kitchen and yet, she looked like she belonged there, May dala siyang notebook at ballpen parang talagang handa siyang makipag negosasyon sa isang CEO.

"First," she started, pointing her pen at me. "I'm Noah’s companion not your maid, I don't do laundry, and I don't cook unless I want to."

"Accepted, I have staff for that," I replied coldly.

"Second, My photography is non - negotiable I will take photos of Noah, the house and the garden for my blog, But don't worry, I won't post anything that compromises your precious privacy without showing you first."

I leaned forward, my voice dropping. "I value my son’s safety above all else Luna, One wrong post and—"

"I know how the world works Clark. I'm a Mass Comm student, hindi ako tanga," putol niya sa akin. My jaw tightened, She’s the only person who calls me by my first name without hesitation. "Third. Don't use that boss voice on me, I’m doing this as a favor for Kuya Ethan, I can leave anytime."

"Is that all?" I asked, trying to suppress a smirk, She was feisty, I’ll give her that.

"One last thing," she added her gaze softening just a little bit."Noah is lonely, you have all the money in the world, but you barely spend ten minutes with him, If I’m staying here, you’re going to start having breakfast with him, No phones, No business calls."

I felt a pang of guilt, but I masked it quickly with indifference. "My schedule is—"

"Your schedule is what you make it, CEO ka 'di ba? You control the time, Don't tell me you're a slave to your own company."

LUNA’S POV

Natigilan siya sa mga sinabi ko, I saw a flicker of something in his eyes irritation, maybe Or maybe the realization that I was right.

"You're very bold for someone your age," he said, standing up and closing the distance between us, He was so close I could feel the heat radiating from him.

"Age is just a number, Mr. Anderson, Wisdom is a choice," I shot back not backing down, I looked up at him, my heart racing a bit, but I refused to let him see me flustered.

He stared at me for a long moment, then finally nodded. "Fine, Breakfast at 7:00 AM, No phones,  But in exchange you follow my security protocols, No leaving the house without my driver, No strangers allowed inside."

"Deal," I said offering my hand for a handshake.

He looked at my hand like it was a foreign object, then slowly, he took it. His grip was firm and warm, A jolt of electricity the kind you read about in cheesy novels shot up my arm, I quickly pulled my hand away.

"Good, Now go to sleep Collins, you have a long day with a ten year old tomorrow," he said before turning his back on me.

"Goodnight Clark," I called out.

He stopped for a second, his shoulders tensing, but he didn't look back. "Goodnight Luna."

Pag-akyat ko sa kwarto, napasandal ako sa pinto, This man is dangerous Not because he’s powerful, but because under that cold exterior, there’s a vacuum that’s starting to pull me in.

I took out my camera and scrolled through the photos from the gala I stopped at his picture.

"Negotiations are over," I whispered to the empty room. "Now, the real game begins."

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