Chapter 8 : Another Woman
1999 Words
After that counseling session, life gradually returned to its usual rhythm.
Mister X remained as stern and demanding as ever.
I remained the person who prepared his coffee every morning...
And the one who always finished whatever was left of his breakfast.
We saw each other only at the office.
True to his word, he respected my wish not to be driven to work or taken home—whether intentionally or by coincidence.
Everyone immersed themselves in their own responsibilities.
Ms. Ida and I continued drowning in HR paperwork, especially since the company's twenty-fifth anniversary was only weeks away.
People often said that turning twenty-five was like leaving adolescence behind and stepping into adulthood.
Apparently...
Companies had birthdays too.
Every year, the company celebrated its anniversary with a large event.
That Friday afternoon, representatives from HR, Marketing, and Finance gathered in the meeting room to decide which proposal Mister X would approve.
As always, HR would organize the event because it involved employees and management.
Marketing would secure sponsorships and partnerships.
Finance would manage the budget.
It had been that way for years.
Since joining the company, I'd been part of the organizing committee every single time.
There were only two people in HR...
Ms. Ida and me.
Which meant neither of us ever escaped committee duty.
"I've reviewed all the proposals submitted by the employees."
A week earlier, Mister X had placed suggestion boxes throughout the office.
Every department had been asked to submit an event proposal for the company's anniversary.
Lastri distributed photocopies of the selected proposal across the table.
I picked mine up.
Tribute to the CEO.
No wonder Mister X liked it.
Unlike previous years—which focused on inviting famous bands, handing out flashy awards, and entertaining employees—this proposal centered on honoring the founder of the magazine.
Tracing his journey.
Celebrating everything he'd built.
Honestly...
I liked the idea too.
"HR."
Mister X looked directly at me.
"I'd like to hear your opinion, Namira."
"You've helped organize this event every year."
"Do you agree with this proposal?"
I nodded.
"I think it's a fresh idea, Sir."
"For the past several years, we've repeated the same formula."
"We invite famous musicians."
"We hand out awards."
"We focus almost entirely on entertaining employees."
I looked down at the proposal before continuing.
"But this company is twenty-five years old now."
"If we're comparing it to a person's life..."
"It's entering adulthood."
"So perhaps..."
"Our celebration should mature as well."
I smiled slightly.
"A Tribute to the CEO is a way of honoring the person who founded this magazine..."
"...built this company..."
"...and gave all of us a place to earn a living."
He listened without interrupting.
"So..."
"You support the proposal."
"Yes, Sir."
"Then answer one more question."
"What exactly should a 'Tribute to the CEO' include?"
Before I could answer, Mr. Rian raised his hand.
"I've got an idea, Sir."
"What if we invite the CEO's favorite celebrity?"
"Keep it a surprise."
"He arrives..."
"And suddenly his favorite actor or singer walks onstage."
"He'll love it."
I laughed softly.
"Isn't that basically the same as every other year?"
I asked before I could stop myself.
"We'd still just be inviting celebrities."
Mr. Rian grinned.
"But like you said..."
"The company is more mature now."
"So we'd invite a mature celebrity too."
"Considering the CEO is already in his sixties."
Then he turned toward me with that familiar mischievous smile.
"Speaking of maturity..."
"If twenty-five is adulthood..."
"When is Adult Namira finally getting married?"
The entire meeting room burst into laughter.
I shot him a glare.
Out of the corner of my eye, I glanced at Mister X.
Unlike everyone else...
He didn't laugh.
He didn't even smile.
His attention remained fixed on the laptop in front of him.
As serious as always.
"When are you getting married?"
The unexpected voice came from the head of the table.
Mister X.
"If you're asking someone else, maybe answer the question yourself first."
Even Mr. Rian looked surprised.
He scratched the back of his neck before flashing his usual shameless grin.
"My schedule depends on Namira, Sir."
"If she says yes..."
"I can get married today."
He looked at me with complete seriousness.
I sighed.
"Can we please focus on the anniversary?"
"We're discussing the company's celebration..."
"Not romance."
"I'm only answering Mister Gio's question."
Mr. Rian shrugged.
"But speaking of marriage..."
He turned toward Mister X.
"When are you getting married?"
"I've heard someone's been waiting for you for three years."
The room instantly fell silent.
For the first time...
I noticed a faint shadow cross Mister X's face.
He looked annoyed.
"Gentlemen."
"Can we continue the meeting?"
His voice wasn't loud.
But it carried enough authority to end the conversation immediately.
Mr. Rian raised both hands in surrender.
"Fine."
"Since my idea was rejected by Mrs. Rian..."
"Maybe Mrs. Rian has a better suggestion."
I closed my eyes for a second.
Honestly...
I wanted to smack him.
Calling me Mrs. Rian whenever he felt like it.
"As flattering as that nickname is..."
I replied evenly.
"I think another woman deserves it far more than I do."
His smile faded for just a moment.
I turned back toward Mister X.
"Sir."
"If this event is truly a tribute to the CEO..."
"Then we should first understand who he really is."
"What does he value?"
"What inspires him?"
"What achievements matter most to him?"
"Once we understand those things..."
"It'll be much easier to decide what kind of anniversary celebration truly honors him."
Mister X nodded thoughtfully.
"So you're suggesting we conduct research."
"I like that."
Then he looked directly at me.
"Since the idea came from you..."
"You'll be responsible for it."
"Find out everything you can."
"Observe."
"Interview him."
"We'll meet again in one week."
He turned toward Lastri.
"Schedule another meeting."
Lastri checked her tablet.
"Your schedule is completely full next week, Sir."
"There's no available slot."
"Then schedule it after office hours."
He looked around the room.
"Does anyone object?"
No one did.
"Good."
He closed the folder.
"Mr. Rian."
"You'll accompany Namira."
"The two of you will work as one team."
"If she needs to meet the CEO..."
"You'll go with her."
"Understood?"
I froze.
Why?
Why did it have to be Mr. Rian?
Didn't Mister X understand that pairing us together would only revive the rumors I'd worked so hard to bury?
I looked at him.
Really looked at him.
He met my eyes calmly.
There was something behind that gaze.
Something I couldn't read.
Something he refused to say.
Monday morning...
Just as always, I walked into Mister X's office carrying a fresh cup of coffee.
"Your coffee, Sir."
I placed it gently on his desk.
There was something I needed to say.
"Sir..."
"Would it be possible for me to work with Ms. Ida instead?"
"I mean..."
"I was hoping—"
"No."
He cut me off before I could finish.
"I'm busy, Nam."
His eyes never left the laptop screen.
"Sir..."
"I'm worried that if I'm paired with Mr. Rian—"
"Nam."
He finally looked up.
"Can't you see I'm working?"
He pointed toward the documents spread across his desk.
The message was clear.
The conversation was over.
"Yes, Sir."
I lowered my head.
"I'm sorry."
I quietly left his office.
Why did it have to be Mr. Rian?
Today's assignment was simple.
Interview the company's founder.
The man who had built this magazine from nothing.
He had been born into a wealthy family in Surabaya.
But as a teenager, he'd chosen to leave that privileged life behind and move to Jakarta on his own.
His early years had been difficult.
He had little money.
Very little education.
Yet through relentless determination, he'd built one of the country's largest publishing companies.
As someone from Human Resources, interviewing people was practically second nature to me.
That wasn't the problem.
The problem...
Was that I'd be spending the entire day alone with Mr. Rian.
The old rumors might have faded.
Most of the seniors who had tormented me were gone.
I'd made sure of that.
But some of their followers were still here.
One careless mistake...
One photograph...
One misunderstanding...
And everything could start all over again.
Sometimes...
It only took a single spark to ignite gasoline.
"Ready, Nam?"
Mr. Rian appeared at the HR office carrying a backpack over one shoulder.
I instinctively glanced at my watch.
Ten o'clock.
"Weren't we supposed to leave after lunch?"
He looked at me as though I'd asked the world's most ridiculous question.
"You think the boss lives across the street?"
"We're going all the way to BSD."
"If we leave now..."
"We'll get there around lunchtime."
"We can eat first at the mall near his house."
"Then head over for the interview."
"Or do you want to show up looking exhausted and starving?"
I couldn't argue with that.
His reasoning made perfect sense.
Still...
It meant spending several hours alone with him.
That alone made me uncomfortable.
"Give me a minute."
I packed my shoulder bag, my planner, the company-issued tablet, and my voice recorder.
We only had one chance to interview the founder.
Missing anything important wasn't an option.
After making sure I'd forgotten nothing, I hurried downstairs.
Mr. Rian was already standing beside his car.
He hadn't gotten in yet.
He'd been waiting for me.
That was thoughtful.
Unfortunately...
Thoughtfulness wasn't enough to make me fall in love with him.
"I'm sorry for making you wait."
"No problem."
He smiled.
"Get in."
Then he added,
"Sit in the back."
I blinked.
"The back?"
"Yeah."
Relief washed over me.
Perfect.
At least I wouldn't have to spend the drive sitting beside him.
I quickly opened the rear door.
Then...
I froze.
"...Mr. Gio?"
He was already sitting inside.
"What took you so long?"
Mister X looked toward Mr. Rian instead of me.
"And you smell like cigarettes again."
"Some habits never change."
Mr. Rian laughed as he climbed into the driver's seat.
"Like you're only noticing that now, Yo."
I remained standing beside the open door for several seconds.
Why...
Why was he here?
"Nam."
Mr. Rian looked at me through the rearview mirror.
"Come on."
"We're leaving."
I finally climbed into the car.
"Sir..."
I looked at Mister X.
"Why are you coming with us?"
He didn't answer.
Instead, Mr. Rian spoke.
"You seriously thought the founder would meet with the two of us without Gio?"
He laughed.
"We're nobody."
"Luckily..."
"His nephew is coming with us."
"Otherwise we'd never get through the front gate."
I stared blankly.
His...
Nephew?
I turned toward Mister X again.
The founder...
Was his uncle?
How had I never known that?
Lastri loved office gossip.
If even she didn't know...
Then Mister X had kept that secret incredibly well.
My heart suddenly dropped.
Yesterday...
I'd told him everything.
Every horrible thing his cousin—
No.
His uncle's son...
Had done to me.
I slowly covered my face with both hands.
"Wang."
Mr. Rian glanced at me through the mirror.
"You sleepy?"
I groaned.
"Would you just focus on driving?"
"If you can't..."
"I'll drive."
He laughed even louder.
"Oh?"
"So you'd rather sit up front next to Gio?"
Wonderful.
Absolutely wonderful.
I buried my face even deeper in my hands.
Why did Mister X have to surprise me like this?
He could've simply told me he was coming.
Although...
Maybe this had been deliberate.
Perhaps he wanted the three of us to travel together.
Maybe he was avoiding being alone with me.
Maybe...
He didn't want to hurt the woman who had been waiting for him for three years.
He was protecting her feelings.
A dull ache spread through my chest.
I envied that woman.
She had only waited for him for three years...
Yet she already occupied such an important place in his heart.
While I...
I'd been waiting for him for ten.
And still...
I was nothing more than his employee.
- Writer
