Chapter 3
Due to an email mistake yesterday, Tasya ended up working overtime. Although a comfortable hotel room was provided for her to rest, Nathan never stopped pouring tasks on her. It's suffocating, really! "Raptor is insane," Tasya complained.
She took off her glasses that always framed her bright brown eyes. Occasionally, she rubbed them even though she shouldn't. What can she do? Her eyes feel itchy! She glanced at the clock in the room, squinting and trying to focus even though it was blurry. "It's already eleven at night? Oh my God!"
She dragged her weary steps. The soft bed called out to her loudly as she approached. She threw herself onto it and lay down as she pleased. She would sleep until noon if she didn't remember that they had a meeting at ten tomorrows. Nathan's visit to Sidoarjo, aside from being specifically asked to meet Naina's grandmother, also had a purpose related to a project in the area. They were discussing the construction of a factory to supply materials in the area, and the land acquisition was still under negotiation.
This matter took the longest to reach an agreement. Dealing with the design, utilization, and allocating funds to make the land a suitable building was an easy task as long as the land had been acquired and was ready for development. Just as Tasya was about to turn off the room lights and immediately close her eyes to wake up feeling refreshed, she was once again disturbed. The doorbell of her room rang.
"Who could it be?" She quickly grabbed her glasses from the nightstand, put on her cardigan to cover her short pajamas, and approached the door.
"Room service, Miss."
Tasya furrowed her brow even more. To confirm, she quickly glanced through the peephole. A hotel staff member stood there in his uniform. "What is it?"
"Oh, this is for you, Miss." The staff member handed her a sealed plastic bag with a pharmacy logo clearly visible. "It's delivery from Mr. Nathan for you. He said, don't forget to take it regularly."
Tasya became even more puzzled. Since when did Raptor become so considerate? Just as she received the bag and closed the door, her phone rang loudly. Oh no, why did she forget to lower the volume? She felt so silly. Nathan's name appeared on the screen, and she quickly swiped the green icon to answer the call.
"Did you receive my package?"
"It's not a bomb, right, sir?"
"Those are Raptor's eggs!"
Tasya burst into laughter, feeling satisfied. "Sir, when you're in a joking mood, you're completely different. But when you're serious, you really resemble Raptor."
"Shut up, Tasya!" Nathan's tone still sounded annoyed. "First, take a look at the contents of the plastic bag. I purposely bought you some vitamins."
"What for, sir?" Tasya was genuinely puzzled. Nathan is not usually this attentive. Every time he buys something, there's always a reciprocal favor that needs to be given. Why is it different this time? Is there someone like Nathan? Yes, there is! The proof is that he's still alive and leading Faldom to greater success, even with his manipulative tactics and numerous demands.
Tasya could take herself as an example. She was given an agenda with a leather cover and a pen that cost an exorbitant amount, which made her stomachache. She didn't want to accept it, but Nathan knew exactly how to make Tasya say, "Thank you, sir."
What happened next?
"Write down everything important. If necessary, make a copy on your forehead too. Don't let my schedule be wrong. It's not just you who will be embarrassed, but me as well."
"Oh come on! If you want to reprimand Tasya for her mistake, why do you have to give her a gift? Can't you speak nicely without using sarcasm? Tasya also knows that she made a mistake by missing a meeting schedule. That's why she emphasizes now having a backup of the boss's activity notes. Don't mix them up because she mistakenly input Tuesday as Thursday."
That's why she asked what the vitamins sent by Nathan are for. If it's just to boost stamina because she's going to be tortured, Tasya should just go back to Jakarta! Even though the overtime and business trip calculations this time have made her enthusiastic about completing all the tasks at hand, if Nathan keeps misbehaving, she should just resign. She can work at the office in Jakarta. Let Nathan find another assistant!
"You didn't ask the wrong question, Tasya?" Nathan asked with an investigative tone. "You know what the vitamins are for, right?"
"I know," Tasya replied shortly.
"Then why did you ask me?"
"Who knows if you're planning to torture me tomorrow. Vitamins are a form of bribery so that I won't collapse."
Nathan burst into laughter. He laughed so hard it hurt his stomach in his room. It felt like he was about to fall off the bed from rolling around in amusement after hearing his assistant's words. "Torture you?" Once again, Nathan laughed. "I'm so cruel, aren't I?"
Tasya frowned. She wanted to say, "Just realized it now, sir?" but she didn't dare. It's better for her to remain silent.
"I bought them because, during lunch, your face looked very pale. Did you see a ghost or something?"
Tasya blinked slowly, understanding Nathan's remark this time. It's not that she didn't realize his intention, but if her face was pale because she saw a ghost, Nathan's guess was the most absurd in the world. The only reasonable thing that could make her face pale was... the woman Nathan brought.
Tasya's mind was dragged back to an incident that had not even passed 24 hours.
"Tasya, meet Bonnie."
The blonde woman kept clinging to her boss's arm. Although her hand was extended, her eyes... stared at Tasya sharply, covered by a wide smile full of allure.
"Hello," Tasya greeted, trying to be friendly.
"Is she your assistant, honey?"
"Yes." Nathan, let go of her slightly. "Let's eat first, shall we?"
Bonnie, if Tasya remembered correctly, her name was Bonita Ariani. They were high school friends. The ones who made her spend several days in the hospital. Beautiful, but her heart was like a devil. That trauma, even though treated multiple times, she still couldn't reconcile with what was boiling inside her.
She hadn't forgotten the incident. But she tried hard to make Tasya forget. Because she remembered the names of the two girls who made her afraid of the dark. Afraid of loud noises. And sometimes, she had to take tranquilizers because the voices swirling in her head were very disturbing. Fortunately, this job kept her busy. She couldn't think of anything else except work.
But now? Why did she have to be confronted with her past? But... Tasya had undergone counseling sessions where one of the suggestions was to confront it. No matter how you fight, at least you have to speak up. Well, Tasya had never followed that advice until now.
She almost forgot the possibility of meeting one of them. Uh... God made them meet yesterday. Plus, the situation was quite perplexing-bonnie becoming Nathan's date.
Tasya shouldn't be surprised, right? The Casanova indeed had many women around him. Unfortunately, it always ended up in his bed. There was never any intention to truly end his adventures. And now, God had given him a funny fate. bonnie... that beautiful woman would only end up as a momentary pleasure. Tasya knew Nathan's behavior all too well.
A smile appeared on Tasya's lips as she considered her thoughts. She chose to just grab her phone and check her schedule again for her time in Surabaya. She would need to open her laptop for her mistake, but she couldn't do it now. The raptor might spew fire.
"Did you order food for me, Tasya?" Nathan asked while opening the menu. "You can choose what I want to eat. It seems my assistant has already chosen for me."
"Relax, honey." bonnie smiled widely. "I don't want to eat something heavy. Can you order some bread from Bread Coffee?"
Their conversation paused as a waiter arrived with Tasya's order. The sizzling aroma and savory scent were inviting for them to enjoy. "I hope you won't be disappointed with my order," she said briefly. "Let's eat."
"Oh, before you eat. Buy me a snack first," bonnie said with a honey-sweet smile that resembled a poisonous allure directed at Tasya. "I'm hungry."
Tasya sighed softly, moistening her lips before she slightly shifted the menu next to her. "You can order something from the menu here."
"Darling," bonnie coaxed, her face turning melancholic. She deliberately used a pouting tone to get this pony tailed girl to comply with her desires. Just like in the past, where she could play with her while laughing freely and feeling satisfied. Especially seeing her frightened. Ah... she felt like reenacting that story.
"Just eat what's available, Bonnie." Nathan quickly took a bite of his food. "And you, don't just focus on the food that's served. We need to discuss your mistake," Nathan said, looking straight at his assistant. "Tasya?"
"Eh! Yes, sir!"
"Were you daydreaming?"
Tasya just grimaced.
"Take your vitamin. Tomorrow we're going to Sidoarjo."
"Naina, sir?"
There was a momentary pause before Nathan said, "She's not coming. Her grandmother wants to take her on a vacation to Jeju Island."
"When will I have my vacation, sir?"
"Do you think I can take a vacation? If I take a vacation, then you can have one too."