His Cold Cruel Heart (Complete)

6: Partners

"Ollie! What a surprise," Nick said when he saw his brother. He stood up from his chair. He's really surprised that Ollie's here.

Mula sa kanyang kinatatayuan ay nakikita ni Nick sina Lydia at Harriet sa labas na nakatingin sa kanila magkapatid. Lydia looked curious while Harriet has this look on her face that he just can't figure out. She looked surprised, confused and scared at the same time.

Ollie went inside and slammed the door behind him.

Bago tuluyang sumara ang pintuan ay nakita ni Nick na gulat na napatalon ang dalawa sa labas.

Now he's curious why his brother is here. And what is Harriet doing outside when she's supposed to be working at this time.

"Son of a bitch!" Ang sabi ng kapatid habang naglalakad papalapit sa kanya.

"May I remind you that we share the same mother. So technically, you're also the son of the bitch that you're talking about."

Ollie stopped in front of Nick's table.

"Don't give me that crap! What are you trying to do, huh?" Galit na galit ang kapatid niya.

Nagsalubong ang mga kilay ni Nick. Wala siyang kaalam-alam sa pinagsasabi nito.

"Hindi kita maintindihan."

"Seriously, Nick? Are you doing it on purpose? Pinaparusahan mo ba ako?"

Umiling siya. Hindi niya talaga alam kung ano ang pinagsasasabi nito.

"I don't really don't know what you're—"

"You placed Harri in that shitty storage room. Why?"

Tumaas ang kilay ni Nick sa narinig.

Harri.

So the two are on a nickname basis now?

"Alam mo ba kung gaano kainit sa loob ng storage room? It has no windows, no ventilation. Ano ba'ng plano mong gawin sa kanya?"

Ito pala ang dahilan kung bakit galit na galit ang kapatid. It's all about Harriet's comfort. Biglang uminit ang ulo niya. It's her first day of work and she's already complaining? At kay Ollie pa ito nagsumbong?

"Did she tell you that it's just temporary? That she will be trans—"

"Sinasadya mo ito, eh. That's how much you hate me. Hindi ba't ideya mo ang maghanap ng babaeng pakakasalan ko? Are you trying to sabotage me? You hide Harri in that awful shit hole para hindi siya makapag-concentrate sa pagtatrabaho. Para hindi siya—"

"Let me stop you there, Ollie," hindi na siya nakapagpigil. Ollie's accusations are making him angry. "I have never abused my employees. You of all people should know that. As I have said, Harriet's working place is temporary. I'm still looking for the right place for her. Sa ngayon, doon na muna sa storage room. At isa pa, we need to keep the whole thing a secret. You already sabotaged it by putting an ad in a magazine. I don't want people from the media coming in here to ask her questions. I don't want this to be a fiasco."

Hindi kaagad nakasagot si Ollie. Parang nahimasmasan ito.

"Where do you want her to conduct the interviews? Sa loob din ng mainit na lugar na 'yun?"

"She can use the boardroom for now. At isa pa, she's not going to conduct interview any time soon. She's still sorting the applicants. At matatagalan siya dahil sa dami ng umaapply."

Tinitigan siya ng kapatid. Alam ni Nick ang ibig sabihin ng mga titig nito. Ollie doesn't believe anything that he has said.

"That's bullshit, Nick!" He clenched his jaw and turned around to leave.