Chapter 65

Ashley received a tight embrace from her mother while her father and brothers stood at the side, waiting for them to finish hugging each other.  Everyone was fidgeting waiting for the duo to finished embracing each other.

"Oh, my child.  Thank you, Lord, and you are ok.  We thought something bad happened to you when you didn't call us.  Good thing, only your cellphone was lost, and you are ok." Fely cried as she stroked her daughter's cheeks.

"Yes, mom.  I am so thankful that nothing bad happened to me." Ashley was smiling as tears fell down her cheeks.

"Alright, that's enough.  It's our turn. It's not only you who missed our youngest one," Jessie joked while waiting for his turn to get Ashley's attention and hug. 

When Fely released Ashley, her brothers quickly stood up and overtook their father in hugging Ashley.  "Oh, our youngest one!!! We miss you. What if you don't come back to Japan," Arman seriously said,

When Tanaga heard this, his expression soured, and he was not able to suppress his desire to make his presence known.  "Ahem! Ahem!" he cleared his throat to remind his wife that he was there, and she has not yet introduced him to them. 

"Oh, right!  Sir Jones, this is my family.  This is my mother, Mrs. Fely Gusman." She then introduced Tanaga to her mother.  "Mom, this is my boss, CEO Tanaga Jones!"

Ashley's brothers' and parents' eyes widened as she introduced Tanaga in Tagalog.  They could not believe that the Japanese-American in front of them can speak Tagalog.

"Wow! I was ready to consume my one bucket of English.  Good thing, it's not needed anymore," Arman said jokingly. 

"Right! I was apprehensive that my nose would bleed if I would speak in English.  Hahaha!" Arman joked while looking directly at Tanaga while laughing.

Because of this, Tanaga gladly offered his hand to shake hands with Ashley's mother.  Afterward, he offered his greetings to Ashey's father and brothers, starting from the eldest down to the youngest one before Ashley.

They each shook hands with Tanaga while looking at him suspiciously, which did not escape Tanaga's sharp eyes.

In Tanaga's mind, ' Go ahead and be suspicious.  What you don't know is your sister is already my wife, and I will not allow that she will not come back with me to Japan.  All hell might break loose, but there is no way that I will go home without my wife !' He thought about this while maintaining a poker face and shaking hands with Ashley's family.

When Ashley finished introducing everyone, she pretended to be surprised by the amount of food prepared.  "Wow! You are so special! All of the food prepared for you by my boss looks so delicious." She teased her family and faced Tanaga to thank him.

"Sir, I know that you are the one who prepared this for my family!  Thank you very much! Please go ahead and join us." Ashley smiled as he invited Tanaga.

Tanaga pretended to be forced only and asked, "Are you sure that I am not intruding into your family bonding?  I can leave if you want so you can enjoy it." But in Tanaga's mind, 'Even if you ask me to go, I will not leave you behind, or else you might disappear into thin air .'

"It's alright, sir!  Please join us! You were the one who prepared all of this.  Here, please sit beside Ashley." Fely invited Tanaga, who she liked for Ashley.

"Mom!!!" Ashley's brothers shouted simultaneously while looking at their mom, fiercely. 

"Why?  It's only right that Ashley sits beside him since he is her boss.  Isn't that right?" Fely asked Ashley.

Meanwhile, Ashley was not able to answer right away.  She first looked at her father and waited to see what she should do.  When she saw her father nod, she responded to her mother.

"Of course!  It is not right that my boss will sit beside my brothers." So that Tanaga cannot back out, Aling Fely pulled him and made him sit in between her and Ashley. 

When Tanaga was seated, her brothers could not do anything anymore, so they started eating.  Fely was focused on taking care of Tanaga, so Ashley was happy that nobody noticed their real relationship, so they were able to bond happily with Tanaga.

While they were happily eating, Mang Jessie could not help but recite a saying.  He was so happy that they were all together again to share a meal. 

"Children, listen to this and remember it.  There is an American saying...The family that eats together stays together.  Now that we have someone with us who is not family…. who knows, the time might come that he will become family too.  Hahaha!" Jessie banters. What he didn't notice was the stolen glances that the couple shared.

Underneath the table, Tanaga took Ashley's hand and squeezed it.  Ashley was startled and looked at him while blushing because of what her father said.

Jessie noticed that Ashley blushed, so he thought he had said something wrong.  He quickly retracted what he said and apologized to Tanaga.

"Sir Jones, apologies if my joke was not funny.  It does not mean that I am pushing my daughter towards you.  It was just a saying."

"You don't have to worry.  I didn't put any malice in your joke," Tanaga answered Jessie while secretly winking at Ashley.

What he did not know was that Fely was observing him closely, and she saw this exchange.

"Hmmm?  I think there is a potential that this guy can be my son-in-law before my daughter's contract expires.  Not bad. Aside from being good-looking, he's rich! Go, Ashley! I hope you can catch him, and if ever, don't let him go." Fely seriously looked at Ashley and Tanaga.