"We'll just have to slow down our activity this year, if it comes to worse, maybe we'll close one of the two bakeries in Bali. And maybe, one in Singapore, and-"My heart churns hearing the branches that are being mentioned while the rest of the team frown at the growing list. It's hard to stay and listen to this but I have to because she's prepping for our meeting later with the other investors to explain the closure of these bakeries. We did try cooking up some other positive back-up plans if Calvin Gunn and the gang indeed decided to pull out their investment but right now we're down to the last option. "We'll be fine." She smiles tightly though I know her heart is breaking into pieces because she was so excited on our way here, she's been excited since we got the green light last year, thinking this is the moment we're finally going beyond Asian market. Only to be shot this hard. "I'm gonna go get some snack for us." I stand up after being cooped up with the team since eight i
"I'll go straight to the point since you have another meeting in fifteen minutes." He sips on his drink but I know he's listening intently so I continue, "I'd like to know if you're gonna pull out your investment." His mouth opens signalling he's about to answer me but I quickly intercept while I still have the courage in me, "And! And I also wanna know if we're, uhm, if we're..." Shit where the hell did the bravery go to? "Still married?" He supplies casually. I nod, watching him take another sip of that annoying drink. He seems to be nonchalant about this I don't think he's aware of how important these two matters are to me. "Which one would you like to know first?" "It doesn't matter." "Okay," he finally puts down his drink, "There's a yes, and the other is a no. Take a guess which is which." I sigh, "So we're still married." "Is it that bad to be married to me?" He asks playfully, "I thought I'm a catch?" "Yeah if you aim to marry an asshole who sleeps around while refus
I don't know what I'm doing either but I am here ten minutes earlier than the time we agreed. He insisted on postponing his next appointment to cater for the discussion he wanted to have about our relationship but I didn't think it's appropriate for him to cancel when the guy was already in the next room. So I agreed to see him after business hour since his schedule is packed. Here I am, standing in front of the restaurant at the hotel I'm staying by 7.45pm, thinking it'd be good to get here earlier so I can prepare myself. Prepare for what? I'm also not sure for what, I just know that I need to familiarise myself with the surrounding first, to minimise the impact of being shocked of what's to come. That man is sure unpredictable. "Mr Gunn is already here," the hostess informs when I mention the reservation Anna made. There it goes, my hope to be prepared. "He's been here since 7," the chatty girl adds while directing me to the table. That means he came here straight from work?
"I'm only asking two things, you can dictate the rest. Two years, and that we stay in New York." I went crazy with my list but all he did was agreeing to every bit of it, dropping signature at each point with no request for amendment. I would've gotten away if I put a million a month but I'm not doing this for money, my sole purpose is to obtain my single status. [ 1. Two years, then on the first day after that two years duration you're obligated to divorce me both legally and Islamically, at the court. ]Which means, he has to register our marriage officially at the clerk office in New York. In case he's being sneaky and refuses to fulfil his part of divorcing me, I can ask for it at the court properly instead of floating on the sky thinking what else can I do to make him divorce me. Like it's been the past five years. See, I'm being smart now. [ 2. I will not be Scarlett Monroe, be it in private or with others -friends, family, colleagues, anyone- and I'm to be addressed and ac
"You're married to the prick who wouldn't give us the money?!" Dian whisper-shout at me while I make tea at the kitchen. As promised, three days after I inform my family about my status, Calvin Gunn appears at our front yard in a casual outfit, looking like he's about to do a Come Visit Indonesia photoshoot with his short sleeve Indonesian batik, black pants, and a pair of aviator. Arriving in a sparkly sports car, it is definitely too flashy despite our own luxurious cars in the garage. I thought he's supposed to be modest and humble? I mean this is the first meeting with my family, tone down a bit the billionaire life, will you? "He treated us like shit in the meeting room-""I thought you said you liked him?" She scoffs at the audacity I had to cut her off, "I'm mad now! Of course I'll focus on the bad traits only! Shut up, Alya! I still hate him for marrying you behind our back, but to know he had the power to actually give us money, give his WIFE money, to save his WIFE's bus
"GEEEEEEEEPAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"The faint sound blares like a horn the moment I open the door of my new room. My antenna goes up as I sneak my head in between the crack of the door. I purposely open it just a little bit because I don't want to alert anybody (read: him) (read: and the guest slash the owner of that blaring-horn-sound-like voice) but I definitely am trying my best to listen to what's going on downstairs. "I don't think he's home yet. Are you sure he's home already, Love?" The British accent is obvious, I wonder who that is? Calvin's guest for dinner? But it's only 4pm?"Are you trying to say I'm making a mistake again?" That condescending tone is too familiar, I used to have a fight with her for weeks. "GEEEEEEEEPAAAAAAAAAA!" The shouting interrupts the conversation as I begin to hear the door of my old bedroom being opened. "Geepa Geepa Geepa!""Geepa Geepa!""Geeeeeepaaaaa!" My eyes are about to bulge out upon seeing three children of different ages reach the top of
"I don't understand why would you need more time. You're 34 this year, you've been with him for five years. Five. Years. What are you still waiting for? Until you've reached 40? Until it's too late? You need more time... for what? It's not like he earns a hundred a month, or he's some kinda drug addict, alcoholic, abusive, or anything like that. He has a house, a car, a job that pays well, he has everything, Alya. I really don't understand why can't you have a baby right now. Need more time... FOR WHAT? You're already 34. I had 4 kids when I was 34. Your grandmother had grandchildren when she was 34."The way my mother nags at 4 in the morning when I'm struggling with jet lag, oh God. Please stop this. Should I pretend there's a problem with the connection? Create some buzzing sounds then hang up? But I can't really blame her. She's right with all her arguments, since she didn't know the real issue between Calvin and I. And it's 4p.m. in Jakarta, that's why she's so energetic with h
Whoaaaaaaa where did that come from? ‘Do you want another baby, Honey?’ Really, Alya? Really?I rub my arms multiple times, feeling the chill starting to creep into my bone. It's frightening how my subconscious mind even dare to go there, while watching him as if I've forgotten what an unbelievably asshole that man has been.But if I were to judge him fairly, Geepa is the ultimate father figure I'd want for my kids and grandkids, and to be honest, when he was my husband, or should I say when he was a husband, he was an amazing spouse whom I'd want to spend the rest of my life with, excluding the fact I wasn't Scarlett and he was there as Scarlett's husband. I guess that's a life lesson that caused me five years of my life, with another two in the future, but I'm definitely looking forward to being free after all of this drama. Quickly switching my gaze to the city view on my left, I take another sip of the beverage until my heart suddenly stops beating as if I was just caught in the