Chapter 5: New Cooperation

"Hello, Mom. Sorry, I just got home," Valentino said. 

"Yeah, it's fine. How are you there?" Hera asked. 

"I'm fine, Mom. How are you?" Valentino asked back. 

"Well, of course Mom is fine. Your Daddy is still pampering Mom as usual," Hera said. 

Valentino laughed softly. 

"Of course daddy spoils Mom. Daddy loves to die for Mom," Valentino teased. 

"Hm. We're old, Valentino. It's not the time to think about love anymore. The important thing is that we live together in harmony, it's already comfortable," Hera said. 

Valentino smiled, but of course his mother couldn't see the smile. 

"I'm very happy because you guys always get along," Valentino said. 

"Stop talking about us. How about you? When are you getting married? You are thirty years old. Isn't there a woman who can attract your heart?" Hera asked.

Valentino actually didn't like the direction his mother was talking about. He was actually tired of always being reminded about marriage.

"Mother, you know that I didn't come back to Indonesia to find a woman. I haven't even thought about it at all. What I think is now I have to find out as much as possible about the incident behind the death of my father which I think is suspicious. And not to mention that I have to try to snatch my father's company from the hands of that bastard," Valentino said.

Valentino's blood immediately boiled when he remembered about those who had snatched what was his.

"Valen, Actually, I don't have a problem with the company. But indeed the death of your biological father is very suspicious. When it comes to this matter, I fully support you until you can reveal the events behind your father's death," Hera said.

Valentino really felt that his mother was an angel. His mother was divorced from his father because his father was involved in a relationship with that evil woman, Rosa Melinda.

At that time he was still young. But he remembered very well that the woman who had snatched his father from his mother's side had deliberately entered into his parents' household.

Budi Araya at that time was completely blind because he was already captivated by the fake beauty that owned by Rosa Melinda. And because Hera could not stand the behavior of her husband who was openly having an affair in front of her eyes, she chose to end her household with Budi. 

After the divorce, Hera brought her child with her to live in England. And there she met a man of English descent who loved her sincerely and then married him. That man was Thomas Miller. Thomas was a real estate entrepreneur who had never been married at all. 

He, who was five years younger than Hera, was serious about marrying a woman who already had children who were in their teens at that time. Thomas also accepted Valentino and took care of him like his own son. 

"Thank you, Mom. Your support is the most important thing for me. Oh yes Daddy where is now?" Valentino asked. 

"Hey, honey. If you forget that the time difference between Indonesia and England is seven hours? It's eleven o'clock here right now. Of course he's still in the office," Hera said.

Valentino slapped his forehead because he just realized this.

"Mom, I'm sorry. I forgot," Valentino said.

"Hm. You must be so tired because there's so much work there to forget things like this," Hera said, sounding worried.

"No, Mom. I'm not tired but just a little sleepy. Maybe that's why my concentration is lacking," Valentino said.

"Hm. Yes, do you want to take a shower? Take a shower and have dinner then rest. Mom's not there doesn't mean I can't keep an eye on you. I will call Ruslan if you don't do what I said earlier," Hera threatened.

Valentino smiled. His mother was still the same. Still very worried about him. But he didn't mind because he knew this was a form of his mother's care for him. 

"I'll close first. See you later, son," Hera said. 

"See you later, Mom," Valentino replied. 

***

Valentino was getting ready to go to the office and as usual he used a taxi to go to the group AL. One of his confidants actually suggested him to use the services of a regular taxi driver but he refused. This was because he didn't trust people other than the people he brought over from England. 

As he was intercepting a taxi, a car stopped in front of him. Agusta stuck his neck out a little. 

"Come in!" Agusta asked. 

Valentino approached Agusta's car. He bent slightly. 

"Brother, do you know Alfredo, My boss from the production department is starting to get suspicious about our relationship?" Valentino asked.

"Who cares? Besides, even if he's suspicious, he can't do anything," Agusta said casually.

"Never mind, just come in! You can get off in front of the building so Alfredo won't know," Agusta continued.

Valentino hesitated but finally he decided to just go with his friend.

"Okay, I got off before arriving in front of the building," Valentino said.

Agusta immediately opened the car door for Valentino.

"I have started making proposals for cooperation with Reis Ltd," Valentino said.

Agusta who was concentrating on driving immediately turned to Valentino.

"Reis Ltd? The company owned by an Italian businessman?" Agusta asked in surprise.

"Yes, the owner is Antonio Cassano. I worked with him while in England. He has a subsidiary there," Valentino explained.

"Wow, that's wonderful, man! I don't think you'd even think about asking him to work together again. But this is on behalf of the AL Group. Do you think he will accept it?" Agusta asked doubtfully.

"Of course he will accept my proposal. I know very well how to get him interested in working with me," Valentino said.

Agusta smirked.

"You are really amazing. But hopefully that idiot doesn't mess up the presentation," Agusta hoped.

Valentino smiled wryly. Agusta was right, no matter how good a proposal is but if the presenter can't explain it well and can't attract the interest of the investor, then he won't pass.

"Maybe You have to teach him," Valentino said lightly. 

Agusta turned to Valentino with an annoyed look but Valentino smiled innocently. 

***

"Good morning, Mr. Agusta!" one of the beautiful employees said. 

"Good morning!" Augusta replied. 

Agusta stopped at the office lobby to pick up a call. 

Valentino came in shortly after. He deliberately entered after Agusta so that no one would suspect him. As Valentino was walking he tripped over someone's foot. He fell. Those are Levi's feet. Everyone laughed at him. 

"Wow, geek! If the road is that way, the eyes must be straight ahead," Diana sneered. 

The woman laughed at him. 

"Or maybe your glasses are lacking, right? You can't see clearly? Go to the eye doctor again. Have your eyes checked!" Levi said with a mocking smile. 

None of them helped him. Agusta who saw all that clenched his fists. He immediately ran towards his friend. 

"Are you all right?" Agusta asked and he helped Valentino to stand up. 

Everyone who was there immediately silent and was surprised because a general manager of AL Group wanted to help lowly employees like Aditya, Valentino's pseudonym. 

"What are you doing? They could be suspicious," Valentino whispered quietly. Only Agusta could hear his voice. 

"I won't," Augusta replied. 

"Why are you just standing there when you see someone else fall?" Agusta asked, half-screaming. 

Agusta glared at everyone in the lobby area.