Chapter 4: Gardenia Hills Apartment

Valentino nodded to everyone he met on the street as he headed outside the building. The man pretended to be a slightly stooped man so as not to recognize him. And of course he succeeded. Valentino walked freely without worrying if his identity was found out. But before he reached the front gate of the company, he was startled by a horn. 

"Get out of the way!" a man shouted from inside the car. 

"Want to die, huh?" a woman said as she heard half screaming from inside the car. 

Valentino bowed and got out of the way. The windshield was lowered and to Valentino's surprise it turned out to be David's car. But there's no David in the car, it was just Almyra and a man that Valentino knew was David's personal chauffeur. 

"Uh, that geek again. Could it be that you're following me? Can't we just meet twice in the office for a few hours. That's really weird!" Almyra said from inside the car. 

The sexy woman crossed her arms and looked at Valentino with disdain. 

"I don't understand what you mean. I want to go home. It's time to go home and this is the only way to get out of this building," Valentino said casually. 

"Oh, I know that a person like you, if you have a crush on a woman, will pretend to be a stalker like you. But remember! It's okay to have a crush on me, but don't dream that you can approach me. Men like you is useless for me," Almyra insulted. 

Instead of being angry, but Valentino smiled at the overconfident woman instead. 

"But I don't have a crush on you and don't plan to make you someone important to me. So you don't have to worry," Valentino said calmly. 

Almyra was surprised when Valentino answered her like that. Feeling his pride being trampled on because of a useless geeky man, he immediately closed the car window. 

"Let's go. It wastes time to talk to a man like him," Almyra said. 

Valentino just squeaked as the car walked out of the AL Group corporate environment again. 

"You bitch! Who does she think she is? An angel? Just a piece of junk," Valentino said quietly. 

He immediately intercepted a taxi. Only about five minutes of waiting, he already got his taxi. 

"Gardenia Hills Apartment, sir," Valentino talked to the taxi driver. 

"Okay, Sir," the taxi driver replied friendly. 

The man started driving his taxi at a moderate speed. 

"Just got home from work, sir?" the middle-aged driver asked. 

"Yes, sir," Valentino said softly. 

Valentino was always friendly to anyone, especially people who could respect others. And because he saw that this taxi driver did look friendly and not made up, he answered him in a friendly manner too. 

"I'm sorry, sir, this seems to be a bit jammed. If we turn back later it will take too long so please wait, okay?" the driver asked politely. 

Valentino, who was aware that the road was jammed, did not mind. 

"Uh, it's okay, sir. I'm not in a hurry," Valentino said. 

"Oh, yes sir. Do you live in the Gardenia Hills apartment?" the driver asked.

"Yes, sir. But I just lived there, only about a month," Valentino said.

"Wow, sir, you are lucky to be able to live there. I heard that the rental price for the apartment is in the billions per year?" the driver asked curiously.

Valentino smiled.

"That's right, sir," Valentino said.

"It's great to be able to live there. You must have done a very good job to be able to live there," said the driver sounding amazed. Valentino shook his head.

"It's not like that, sir. I'm just an ordinary employee. I can live there because of my parents' inheritance," Valentino said, forced to lie.

Because it was very unlikely that he would say the apartment building was one of his investments before he returned to Indonesia. The Gardenia Hills apartment belonged to Valentino which he built several years ago. So of course it was easy for him to occupy one of the units in the apartment. 

"Wow, surely your parents are really hard workers to be able to give such a big inheritance to their children. That's great!" the taxi driver exclaimed. 

"Yes, sir. But actually all parents are great. They are great in their own way," Valentino said. 

"I'm not a great parent, sir. I can only be a taxi driver. My son is sometimes ashamed of my profession," the driver said, accompanied by a sad laugh. 

Valentino could feel a bitterness in that laugh. 

"There are no parents who are not great in this world, sir. All parents are great. You don't need to be humble. Maybe now your child can't see your greatness. But I'm sure one day he will realize that his father is a very great parent," Valentino said.

The driver was moved to hear that. Valentino saw the driver's eyes filled with tears.

"Thank you, Sir. I'm sorry, why did I even vent earlier," the driver said.

"It's okay, sir. Oh yeah, I'll just get off in front of the apartment, okay?" Valentino said.

"Okay, Sir," the driver replied.

***

Valentino arrived at his apartment. All employees bowed to him to show respect for the thirty year old mam. All employees of the Gardenia Hills Apartment knew the owner of the apartment, but they had been told not to divulge Valentino's big secret.

Valentino walked quickly because he couldn't wait to get to his apartment unit. The apartment unit was located on the fifty-sixth floor. A special floor for the owner of the Gardenia Hills Apartment. On that floor there was only one apartment unit, which belonged to Valentino Araya. 

"Good afternoon, Young Master!" Rino said, a guard standing at the door of Valentino's apartment unit. 

"Good afternoon, Young Master!" Andre said as he was also a guard like Rino. 

"Good afternoon," Valentino replied. 

Rino and Andre opened the door for their young master. As soon as Valentino entered, he was greeted by several waiters in black and white uniforms. 

"Good afternoon, Young Master. Would you like to take a shower now?" one of the waiters asked. 

"Yes, prepare warm water for me!" Valentino said. 

"Yes sir!" the waiter said. The woman bowed and withdrew from the young master's presence. 

"How about your dinner, sir?" a man wearing the typical chef's attire asked. 

"I want some Indonesian specialties," Valentino answered. 

"Okay, sir. I'll prepare it," the chef said and he also withdrew from there. 

A middle-aged woman who was none other than the butler of the Valentino residence approached him. 

"Would you like to prepare some hot tea or coffee before bathing, Young Master?" the middle-aged woman asked. 

"No. I'm not in the mood for hot drinks. Just make me avocado or orange juice," Valentino said. 

"Yes, young master," the butler said. 

Valentino asked them to return to their respective work and he himself went into his room while in his bathroom there were two maids who were preparing bath water for him. 

Valentino took off his thick glasses as well as his fake mole and the old watch his mother had given him. He then brushed his black hair with his hands. 

"Ready, sir," one of the servants said. 

Valentino just nodded. Valentino was just about to take a shower, but Ruslan, one of his trusted subordinates, came rushing into his room. 

"Sorry, Young Master. I was on the phone by Mrs. Hera to tell you so that you contact her immediately when you get home," Ruslan said. 

Valentino was forced to delay cleaning himself. The most important person in his life is waiting to hear from him. 

"Okay, connect me with my mother," Valentino said.