Rugged Attraction (Forbidden Temptation Series #1)

Chapter 3

NANG magmartsa paalis ang boss ni Mike ay agad na napatingin si Diana sa sekretarya nito na ngayon ay nakangiwi sa gawi ng pinto. When Cormac's secretary noticed that she was looking at his direction, he gave her a fake, apologetic smile.

"Oh, that was..." pagbasag nito sa katahimikan habang hindi inaalis ang peke ng ngiti sa labi. "...unexpected. I'm sorry for that. Sir Cormac usually don't react rudely like that. But the offer, that was nice and helpful, Mike. Let me see if I can change his mind about it."

Hindi na ito naghintay ng kanilang tugon at sumunod na rin sa pagmartsa kasunod ang amo nito. She couldn't believe that Mike's boss, which he praised a lot for being good and understanding boss is exactly the opposite he was. Maski na ang sekretarya nito ay hindi rin nakapaniwala sa inakto ng kanilang boss.

"Well, I guess he wasn't the kind of person you insist he was," pasaring ni Diana sa asawa na mas lalong nagpaseryoso sa mukha nito.

"Sir Cormac is a good boss, Diana. You can't judge him in your first encounter with him. Kung galit ka dahil sa nangyari sa akin, uulitin ko na hindi iyon kasalanan ni Sir. Cormac," pilit ng asawa na nagpataas sa isang gilid ng kanyang labi sa kawalang paniwala.

"Well, you can't invalidate my feelings after what happened to you. I am your wife, Mike. Seeing you like this is hard for me," pagpaalala niya sa asawa ng maraming beses sa tuwing sinasaway siya nito kapag nagagalit siya dahil sa aksidente. "If it wasn't for your boss—"

"Diana, please..." putol ni Mike sa kanyang sasabihin pagkatapos ay huminga nang malalim. "Ilang beses ko ba dapat ipaalala sa 'yo na hindi kasalanan ni Sir Cormac ay nangyari sa akin. It was an accident, Diana. Walang dapat na sisihin. Hindi ako. Hindi ang trabaho ko. At mas lalong hindi si Sir Cormac. I love my job. And because of my job, we are still hanging on."

"And now you are in a wheelchair!" sigaw ni Diana nang hindi na napigilan ang galit na kanina pa gustong kumawala sa kanyang loob. She was so furious that she didn't notice her tears already damped her cheeks. "And you will be in that wheelchair for five to six months... damn."

"Diana..."

"Oh, please. Alam ko na ang sasabihin mo. Na hindi iyon kasalanan ng boss mo. If you think that way, I respect that," ani Diana sabay pinunasan ang mga luha sabay tiningnan nang mariin ang asawa. "But you should also understand that my anger will not stop until I see you get better and walk again, Mike. And if you are so worried about your job than your own welfare, then I will do it for you... as your wife... even if I already told you that I am against it."

Tila para bang umaliwalas ang mukha ni Mike nang marinig ang kanyang pagsang-ayon kahit batid nitong napilitan lamang siya. And she wasn't expecting him to disagree or changed her mind not to do the job after the relief he saw in his face. Obviously, Mike valued his job more than her point as his wife.

Even before the accident, Mike was already detached, she's aware. Perhaps it was because he was too occupied with his job that she tolerated it more than she intended. It was only this time that she realized that she didn't matter to him as much unlike before.

At hindi alam ni Diana kung anong mas nakakapagpagalit sa kanya. Ang isipin na unti-unting hindi niya na maintindihan ang asawa o ang magiging trabaho niya kasama ang kinaiinisan niyang tao sa kasalukuyan. But there's one thing she was certain, his hate for Cormac Castellano is at the top and it will probably never fade just like that.

Kinabukasan, na-discharge ang asawa at ipagpapatuloy ang follow up check up sa kanilang bahay gaya ng request ni Cormac para sa ikagiginhawa ng asawa. The after care would be performed by Cormac's personal doctor twice a week and he would be in a rehab with the best therapist specially hired for Mike.