Mommy for Billionaire's Baby
Chapter 22

Nathan stretched his slightly stiff muscles. He massaged the back of his neck gently. Since finishing lunch with his father, work had been non-stop. Sometimes he would only leave his desk to adjust Tasya's schedule and ask his assistant to prepare a lot of data to support his needs.

"It's already six o'clock," Nathan muttered. From his work desk, he could see his assistant still sitting surrounded by several folders on the side of her desk. Sometimes Nathan noticed Tasya adjusting her glasses. Then she would focus on her work again. There was a large water bottle that never left Tasya's side near her computer screen. It was black and covered in Minnie Mouse stickers, and Nathan knew who was responsible for that. He even knew when Tasya got that water bottle.

"Tasya is close to Naina, right?" Mr. Herry asked, causing Nathan to turn his head. The lunch plate that Tasya had just served was now empty, except for some leftover broth and vegetable pieces that he didn't particularly like broccoli. "Yes," Nathan replied. "It's not really an important question, Dad." He reached for the glass of water that, once again, Tasya had prepared for him.

"What makes you not look at Tasya? Choosing to date women who are unclear?"

Nathan had heard that question many times before. He didn't have a definite answer. Instead, he found himself looking at Tasya's desk, where his assistant was sitting, engrossed in her work. Her expression was composed, her smile appearing and disappearing, and her language sometimes polite and sometimes confusing, which occasionally gave Nathan a headache. But what he liked most about Tasya's work was that she always tried to keep up with him. Even though she made many mistakes, Tasya quickly and efficiently corrected them and steered them in the right direction.

Also... her frequent apologies, which Nathan often heard when Tasya was in the wrong. She never hesitated to apologize instead of arguing with him. Sometimes Tasya's apologies irritated Nathan. He wished he could hear Tasya argue with him for once. That's why sometimes he acted annoyingly just to get Tasya to do more than just apologize to express her opinion and criticize him, which often made the girl annoyed.

"Mom and Dad won't be a problem if you're serious about Tasya. As for her looks, it seems like working with you is really putting her under pressure. The proof is that she's always serious when she's at the office."

"Are you trying to give me the impression that I'm a mean boss?" Nathan couldn't believe what his father had just said.

"That seems to be the reality, right?" Mr. Herry laughed. "I can only give you a warning, don't realize the value of Tasya when you can't move anywhere."

"What do you mean?"

Mr. Herry shrugged. "I'm going back to the office."

"Where is Tasya going then?" Nathan snorted. "She needs this job, you know." Confidently, he left his chair, glancing at his empty glass. He could have filled it himself since there was a water dispenser in his room. But he didn't. There was something he wanted to do. "Tasya," he called out as he approached.

"Yes, sir?" Tasya adjusted her glasses. Her eyes were somewhat tired, but she couldn't leave her report unfinished, right? Her meeting with Nadine earlier had caused her to shift her workload, which should have been completed this afternoon. So, overtime seemed to be the best option. Besides, she couldn't go home if Nathan was still in his office.

"Get me something to drink."

Tasya looked at Nathan incredulously. "Is the water dispenser in your dad's room empty?"

"It's still there." Nathan grinned as he pulled out one of the available chairs. "I just missed my step, so why don't you get it instead?" He handed his glass to Tasya.

The girl sighed irritably. She really wanted to scold Nathan, who was acting so freely right now. All she could do was give him a mocking look. "Tasya, do you want Pepper Lunch? Rice with salmon?"

"Are you hungry, sir?" Tasya made sure to adjust the temperature of Nathan's drink correctly. Today, Nathan had listened to her and didn't ask for another cup of coffee. Usually, Nathan consumed quite a lot of coffee. There was a time when Tasya repeatedly reminded him to eat, but Nathan ignored her. At that time, Nathan had multiple meetings with the owner of a major tender that Faldom was currently lobbying for. Tasya admitted that this project had an extraordinary impact on Faldom.

Tasya was proud of what Nathan was doing. But two days later, Nathan collapsed. He was hospitalized with severe acid reflux.

Since then, Tasya has tightened up on everything that goes into Nathan's body, including coffee. At first, oh my goodness! Tasya felt like biting a truck. She had argued with Nathan a lot. Fortunately, her threat to resign still held, and it made Nathan soften a little. Up until now, he was only allowed a maximum of two cups of coffee, and even then, Tasya was the one who mostly made it.

This included their lunch and dinner menus, which Tasya still took care of sometimes because they worked overtime together.

"I still have work that I don't want to bring home," Nathan said, still not moving from his phone. "Do you want to?"

"Sure, sir."

"Steak?"

"No, sir. Just what we had earlier is enough."

"What did you have for lunch earlier?" Nathan shifted in his seat, his eyes immediately falling on Tasya, who was now approaching him. "You said you had already eaten, but why don't I believe you?"

Uh... Tasya responded with a thin smile. Even though Nathan's question earlier was concerning her condition, she didn't show any signs of worry. And where did that frown she just had disappear to? Gone just like that?

"Here's your drink, sir." Tasya gently placed the glass in front of her boss. "I had lunch earlier. If not, I might have fainted from the workload my boss gave me. Not to mention how many times," she reached for the agenda that was never far from her reach. "Um... in my notes, I've had to reschedule five times for the next week."

"There's something more important than just regular meetings, Tasya," Nathan said, complete with a sigh. "Sit," he commanded. "I'll order rice salmon and steak for you. My menu isn't much different either, you know."

"Pepper Lunch for the rice menu is already quite a lot, sir. And add steak? My stomach might explode."

"You're being irrational, Tasya?"

Tasya sighed softly. "I can't eat too much."

"But then I get scolded by Dad. It seems like I'm not paying attention to you."

The girl blinked softly. Her dark red-framed glasses were thick enough to catch Nathan's intense gaze. It made Tasya sigh softly. "Dad is kind, you know. He never forgets to be kind to me."

Nathan fell silent. He had ordered whatever she wanted. He just had to wait for it to arrive, and then he could have dinner with Tasya tonight. But there was one thing that bothered him. "Dad said, why don't I just approach you as a date?" "I'm your assistant, not a date."

"Instead of me approaching a stranger? Which I really don't want to do? Isn't it better to be with you?"

"Just because I'm forced to have a date by my parents? Am I being sacrificed, sir?"

Nathan burst into laughter. "During the Eid al-Adha celebration, Tasya, you're not included. Your body is too thin and not attractive at all."

Tasya sighed softly. "Well, you know that. Just like the women surrounding you. Different from me, right?"

Nathan still chuckled, but afterward, he straightened his back. He focused on looking at Tasya, who was sitting next to him. "I haven't forgotten how you proposed to me, you know."

Tasya smiled faintly. "That happened a long time ago, sir. If I may ask, can I take back my statement?"

"Tasya."

The way Nathan called her this time made Tasya's heart unhealthy. His tone was a bit heavy but full of focus. One thing that made Tasya unable to resist; Nathan kept staring at her intensely. God! Please just remove Nathan from in front of her. When it came to this point, Tasya's faith could weaken.

Unfortunately, Tasya's disappointment in Nathan was too great. It overshadowed her admiration and smallest desires. It was enough for Tasya to admire the broad back of the man rather than be one of his women. How could Tasya surrender herself as a rotating trophy just because of her past words?

God destined them to meet again, but Tasya believed they weren't meant to be together.

"Yes, I'll marry you in the future. Wait for me to replace you. Okay? Most importantly, save my child first."

At that time, Tasya didn't even think that such a handsome young man like Nathan already had a child. What she cared about was her desire to have a handsome husband in the future. Unfortunately, fate cruelly took everything from Tasya. To the point where she tried to rise and fight, making her forget the spoken promise.

When God kindly brought them together, the situation made Tasya realize. That promise was just a word. Moreover, the man, even though he remembered her, didn't care about the promise that once existed. He acted as he pleased. Hurting her dignity. If only Tasya could take back those words, she would have done it long ago.

"So ridiculous to ask to marry a crocodile like Nathan!" she said every night when she remembered the incident at the hospital back then.

"Why am I being rejected now? Is it because I haven't given you a ring yet?"

"Nathan, please," Tasya said softly. "I've already explained the reason." When Nathan called her by her first name, their conversation usually revolved around their feelings. Tasya unintentionally referred to Nathan by his name without any embellishments.

That address also made Nathan wish that Tasya would keep calling his name like she did earlier. But it seemed impossible. It was difficult for Tasya to comply with his request. Even though, what's so hard about calling Nathan by his name? Well, yes, at the office, she had to be aware of the politeness and hierarchy where Nathan was her boss. But if it was just the two of them? Doesn't Nathan seem quite mature now, huh?

"You know, at that time I didn't need much thinking to agree. Even though you said it jokingly, for me, what you asked for was worth it."

"It can't be exchanged, Nathan, between saving a life and living together for a lifetime." Tasya still maintained her smile as thin as possible. "The more time passes, the more I understand that we are different."

"Tell me what's different?" Nathan folded his arms across his chest. "I won't accept comparing based on backgrounds." He waved his hand gently.

"I used to be Naina, you know. I'm serious. Asking a young man in a chaotic state to marry me when I haven't even finished school." Tasya laughed. "Then God brought us together again. And I'm truly happy. I'm glad to see Naina growing up healthy and lacking nothing. I feel so guilty for ever uttering those strange words."

"I won't accept an apology from you."

Tasya continued to try to pull up the corners of her lips. "Sure, it's okay if Raptor doesn't forgive Snail."

"Tasya." Nathan sighed in frustration. "Come on. I already accepted your proposal before, right? That means during that time until now, we've been engaged, right?"

Tasya's laughter grew wider. "It seems like I'm the only engaged one with such a big heart who sees her partner sleeping with other women."

"That's what we were discussing earlier," Nathan interjected. "I've already explained the reasons. They were momentary, Tasya."

"Do you really love me?"

Nathan blinked slowly. This was the first time those words had slipped from Tasya's thin lips.

"I understand that the women around you are merely comfort. Who wouldn't be interested in beautiful women, right?" She smiled again, even though it took a lot of courage to say those words, especially under Nathan's gaze that seemed like he was about to pounce. Fierce.

If Tasya were to say that Nathan is truly a Raptor, right? But there's no Raptor with a face as handsome as Nathan's.

"But I'm not a beautiful woman, Nathan."

"Who said you're beautiful?"

"Hopefully there's a man who says I'm beautiful." Ugh! If only Tasya dared to mess up Nathan's hair, grab his hand, and bite his arm tightly, she would have done it since earlier. Why did she have to reconnect with her past in a situation like this? No matter how much she regretted it, she needed this job. If she resigned, she wasn't sure anyone could pay her as well as Faldom.

Nathan sighed. "Enough. Let's go on a real date. It's been a long time since I've been close to a woman, you know?"

"Do you intend to take me to your bed as well, Nathan?"