Chapter 14
Due to his inexplicable mood, but with a constant smile on his face, Nathan effortlessly carried out all his tasks. Despite being interrupted by several meetings and numerous inquiries from the finance division regarding his request for reports from the past few years, everything was under control.
Kenzo, the Finance Manager, said, "The data has been archived, Sir. It will take some time to retrieve."
"Whatever, as long as it's on my desk by next week," he replied, his eyes fixed on the report Tasya had prepared. Everything was just as he wanted. Nothing was missed. However, he wondered about what had happened between 2011 and 2013.
His concentration was broken by a knock on the door. "Come in," he said without diverting his gaze from the report. Suddenly, the delightful aroma of pizza filled his room. He looked up and saw Merry entering with a pizza box. "Wow... it smells delicious," he said, and his mouth almost watered. His stomach growled, demanding attention. "Who bought it? Isn't it Merry who usually cooks?"
"It was Miss Tasya, Sir. She wanted to have pizza with Miss Naina," Merry replied.
"Has Naina come home?" Nathan grabbed a slice, generously covering it in sauce. "Where's the soda?"
"Miss Naina asked for it, Sir. She came home from school and was angry," Merry explained.
Nathan paused his enjoyable chewing. "Angry?" he repeated Merry's words. "Why?"
"I'm not sure, Sir. But Miss Tasya calmed her down. They're in Miss Tasya's room now, eating pizza together."
Nathan furrowed his brow, but then smiled faintly. "Naina and Tasya are like sisters, aren't they?"
Merry agreed.
"Get them some drinks or any food. Remind Tasya and Naina to eat rice. Please prepare dinner; I'll have it at home," Nathan instructed.
"Understood, Sir." Merry didn't find it too strange for Nathan to suddenly come home, but what intrigued him was that the young master's smile never faded. If Merry could be honest, Nathan seemed slightly more human for some reason. There were no cynical glances, curt remarks, or sharp gazes. Was it because of Tasya's presence? Or because of what happened earlier this morning? Well, it wasn't his concern. Merry decided to return to the kitchen. It wasn't his business after all.
Meanwhile, Tasya, who hadn't fully processed all of Sunny's words, chose to sit silently at the dining table. Her eyes were fixed on the profiles sent by Sunny through her email. There were not just one, but numerous data sent there. How did Tasya know that all of them were middle-aged women? Some were widows, some had children, and some were still unmarried.
"What kind of disaster is this?" Tasya felt like crying because of this list. Moreover, Sunny's words echoed clearly in her mind.
"You should ask Naina first. If my granddaughter approves, then you can arrange a blind date. Help me make Nathan see his life more clearly. I feel sorry for Naina if Nathan keeps leaving her. Who knows, if he has a wife, he might stay home more often."
Tasya repeatedly tapped her forehead. Sunny's words were still ringing in her ears. "Raptor can only last a week with a woman. At most two weeks, then he just leaves. What about women like this model?" Her hand paused on one of the beautiful women's profiles, with heavy makeup.
Her hair was red, but she didn't exude the elegance of the woman referred to as "Mami Seira" by Naina. Tasya hadn't forgotten how she had encountered that person. They didn't shake hands, but Tasya couldn't divert her eyes from her. She was tall and stunningly beautiful, making Tasya feel small as a girl. Her red hair cascaded beautifully. Her sharp gaze and well-mannered way of speaking. Although her outfit was somewhat revealing, Tasya understood that the woman couldn't be approached easily.
It wasn't because there was a man by her side. Not at all. But the aura emitted by that woman was different. And out of all the profiles, Tasya had to find someone similar or at least somewhat resembling her? Oh God! It would be better to return Tasya to the testers. This stress was becoming unbearable. If she were asked to find someone even remotely similar, Tasya would give up.
"And this one would also be abandoned by Raptor after being taken to his apartment," Tasya said in frustration. Her fingers scrolled through other photos. "Why is this confident woman even here?" Her eyes scanned the woman's personal information.
"Loving, caring for animals, working at a beauty salon, skilled at massaging... oh my!" Tasya tapped her forehead again. "Besides the feet, hands, back, and stomach, what else can she massage?" She suddenly shivered. "Skip!" Tasya another profile that appeared. "Thirty-nine years old, single, wanted to get married but failed because of infidelity." Tasya nodded quietly. "The guy sounds mean." She then read another bio. "Bra cup size 38D." Tasya paused abruptly. "What's my bra size? I think I wear a size 32. This is 38? D? It's big, right?"
"What's big, Miss?"
Her phone almost slipped from her hand. She was startled by Merry's sudden arrival, as if he came out of nowhere. "Where did you come from?" She quickly composed herself, accompanied by a faint smile. She also immediately placed her phone face down on the table, afraid that Merry would notice, even though, when she thought about it, the viewing distance was quite far.
"In Mr. Nathan's room. Did you ask me to deliver the pizza to him?"
Tasya grimaced. "Has he eaten it yet?"
"He ate it right away, Miss." Merry gave a thumbs-up. "It seems like your father was hungry but didn't have time to eat properly. Aunt prepared some snacks. Only his coffee was consumed."
The bespectacled girl sighed softly. "He already had two cups, Bi. Don't make another one this evening, okay? If Dad gets angry, say it's because of me."
Merry blinked slowly. "But then you'll be the one getting scolded, Miss?"
"That's normal," Tasya grinned. "Rather than him getting acid reflux?"
"Yeah, that's true." Merry nodded in understanding. "I'll prepare lunch, Miss."
"Prepare lunch around two o'clock, okay? I'm afraid if he refuses now because he just ate pizza."
Both of them said those words simultaneously, causing Merry to chuckle. "Sorry, Miss."
"It's alright. But who are you preparing lunch for? I already promised to cook chicken steak for Naina. I'll cook dinner later too. Do we have chicken?" "You're not planning to cook for me, Tasya?"
Reflexively, Tasya turned her head. The boss was casually walking over, holding a pizza box that may or may not still have anything inside. "Since I was hungry, I finished all the slices. Besides, there were only three."
Tasya gave a faint smile as she accepted the empty box. "Yes, sir. I didn't buy a lot because I didn't want to overeat and not eat rice."
Nathan pulled a chair and sat beside Tasya. That was his intention now. "Earlier, you said you were going to cook for Naina. What about me?"
"I was afraid that the taste of my cooking wouldn't suit your palate, sir. So, let Aunty Merry handle it for Mr. Nathan." Tasya diplomatically replied, smiling briefly before excusing herself. "I'll accompany Naina first. She's alone, poor thing." "I heard Naina is angry. Why is she?" Nathan wouldn't let Tasya leave just like that.
Hasn't he gotten what he wants yet? His assistant is so lucky. How can she only cook for Naina? Isn't Nathan counted in? Today Nathan is in a good mood, he didn't bother at all about the impromptu leave he gave. Can't Tasya do something in return? Does Nathan have to specifically ask for delicious food?
No way! He will persuade Tasya to cook for him tonight. It's no longer Bi Merry standing there. As his eyes glanced at the middle-aged woman, he waved subtly. Not intending to drive her away, but he did need to have a private conversation with Tasya alone.
Of course, Merry obediently followed suit. After Merry left, Nathan deliberately propped his chin with his hand. His eyes intentionally stared intently at Tasya, who seemed completely unfazed by his behavior.
"Someone is bothering Naina, Sir. It seems to be getting a bit serious. I think Naina's way of venting her emotions is wrong." "How wrong?"
"Naina wanted to destroy her friend's book. I stopped her."
"And it made her more hysterical?" Nathan straightened his back. Conversations involving Naina, especially with Tasya involved, always intrigued him. Since the first time Tasya was introduced to his niece, whom he considered his eldest daughter, the two of them sometimes got along, sometimes fought, sometimes causing headaches for Nathan.
But one thing was certain: Naina never argued against what Tasya said.
"Well... like that. But I let her be for a while. She cried, screamed, even hit me, but I let her. And in the end, Naina calmed down on her own."
Nathan was taken aback. Convincing Naina wasn't easy, let alone making her cry hysterically. Usually, this house would be chaotic, calling him just to calm Naina's cries. "But I didn't hear Naina cry since then?"
"Sir, your office is soundproof. I didn't hear any disturbance, and besides, I closed Naina's room door."
"But she's calmer now?"
"She is." Tasya smiled. "That's why I want to accompany her, sir. Naina hasn't fully explained why she went on a rampage earlier." She prepared to return to her room. "I... am I not needed, sir?"
"Make dinner for me, Tasya. Whatever you cook, I'll eat."
"Fried egg with soy sauce rice? Would you like that?"
Nathan blinked. "If that's what you can make, why not?"
That statement made Tasya laugh. "My sister loves it when I make sunny-side-up eggs. I don't know why. She says it tastes just right even with just margarine. The rice is still slightly warm too." "Why do you talk like that and make me hungry?" Nathan chuckled. "Try... making it for me."
"Huh? Didn't you just eat pizza? Is your stomach still empty?"
Nathan laughed again. "Forgot, didn't I? Men like me need a lot of energy."
Tasya rolled her eyes in annoyance. "Fine. But don't complain if it's not delicious. It's a very simple menu."
Nathan simply gestured for Tasya to go to the kitchen. Even though he had never eaten just fried eggs with soy sauce rice in his entire life, but because Tasya was the one cooking for him, it didn't matter.
Don't ask why Nathan is like this. He's just following his heart. His heart says that enjoying time with Tasya is worthwhile. Like now.
"Hey, Miss Tasya!" Naina yelled with a pouty face. Her footsteps stomped in frustration as she had been waiting for the girl to come to her room. She was left all alone! She had finished two slices of pizza, eaten half of her spaghetti, and even finished her refreshing soda, but Tasya still hadn't shown up!
Oh my gosh! Naina was getting annoyed again. She said she would listen to her story. Where is she?
"What is Tasya doing?" Nathan, who greeted Naina this time, quickly pulled his niece away, causing her to shriek in surprise and anger. "Let me go, Daddy!" she exclaimed, not accepting it. "I'm angry with Tasya!"
"What did she do wrong?" Tasya looked at her with an innocent gaze-intentionally. Even though she had already prepared the frying pan and eggs she took from the storage box. Merry had informed her several times about the locations of various items in the kitchen. When she turned around, Naina, who was being playfully teased by Nathan, was starting to forget her anger.
The girl laughed gleefully, while Nathan continued tickling his niece relentlessly. Ignoring how loudly Naina pleaded for mercy and screamed amidst the cheerful laughter. That made Tasya happy. Naina was a lonely girl. Just being accompanied like this, she was already happy.
Tasya herself wasn't a girl with many friends. But at least she was fortunate enough to have two brothers. Her childhood was too lonely. And when her father figure left, she had already learned what loneliness and solitude were. But what about Naina?
"Speed up the cooking, Tasya. I'm hungry," Nathan said without needing to look at the girl who remained silent at the kitchen table. "I have an additional meeting at three. Don't let me faint in the middle of the meeting." Tasya smiled faintly.
"I want some too, Tasya. Whatever you cook, I want it. I'm hungry."
"Okay. But if it's not delicious, don't blame Tasya, okay?"
"Agreed!" they both responded in unison. Shortly after, Naina burst into laughter again. "Daddy!"