LOGIN"Our marriage is not some fairy tale. And my new wife? She’s not exactly a fan of the crown jewels. I’m a prince and heir to the throne of Salasia. I’m the most eligible bachelor in Europe. You’d think any woman would be ecstatic to marry me. Except for the one woman who I must marry to save my throne. She’d rather give me a poison apple than true love’s kiss. Now the pair of us must convince the world that our marriage isn’t just a convenient arrangement. As for me? I’ll prove to this stubborn princess that happily ever after isn’t just for fairy tales. The Princess I Hate to Love is the conclusion to The Heir Affair Duet, beginning with book one, The Prince I Love to Hate. "
View MoreRatih tidak menyangka jika hidupnya akan semakin sulit selepas melalui pertengkaran dengan Suga. Tak pernah terbayangkan ia akan menjadi sekretaris dari pria itu, bahkan bukan hanya di kantor saja, melainkan pribadi termasuk mengurus segala keperluan Suga. Bagi Ratih, seorang sekretaris tidak lebih dari seorang pembantu, hanya saja memiliki sebutan dan jaminan yang lebih tinggi. Dengan pemikiran itu, tentu saja ia menganggap jika saat ini jabatannya telah diturunkan.
Kini, Ratih hanya bisa mematung di hadapan Suga. Kendati begitu, matanya tak lepas menatap tajam ke arah pria itu. Ingin sekali, Ratih menghantam wajah Suga pada tembok pembatas antar ruangan, atau setidaknya menguliti atasannya tersebut. Bagaimana tidak, jika saat ini ia justru dipermainkan tanpa adanya kesempatan melawan.
Suga menghela napas sembari bergerak dengan malas. Tak berselang lama, ia melepas kacamatanya.Tentu saja mata elangnya terlihat dengan jelas.
“Kenapa?” tanya Suga dengan nada datar.
Ratih mengepalkan kedua telapak tangannya menahan geram. Namun sepertinya ia tidak berhasil, sehingga melontarkan perkataan. “Kembalikan saya ke jabatan sebelumnya, Pak!”
Suga tak banyak mengubah sikap, kecuali menoleh ke arah lain. “Nggak bisa,” jawabnya enteng.
“Kenapa?!”
“Sekretarisku, sudah aku mutasi.”
“Tapi, kenapa harus saya penggantinya?!”
Suga tak menjawab. Sesaat setelah menatap Ratih dengan nanar, ia beranjak berdiri. Diayunkannya sepasang kaki panjang itu menuju wanita itu. Tentu saja, sikap Suga membuat Ratih tak berkutik sekaligus gugup.
“Kenapa? Kenapa kamu enggak ada sopan-santunnya padaku, hah?!” Tepat di suara tinggi, Suga menyodorkan wajahnya ke hadapan Ratih.
Reflek, Ratih menampar pria itu. Bahkan, ia sampai terkejut akan sikapnya sendiri. Atas insiden kurang menyenangkan yang ia perbuat sendiri, Ratih merutuk dalam hati. Ia menggigit bibir bawahnya dengan gelisah, karena mau bagaimanapun Suga masih merupakan atasan tertingginya. Belum lagi ancaman dua milyar rupiah menjadi ketakutan tersendiri baginya.
Terlepas atas kegelisahan yang dirasakan oleh Ratih, Suga justru sibuk menekan pipinya yang memerah. Tamparan Ratih tak hanya tiba-tiba, melainkan begitu keras. Ingin sekali Suga mencambuk wanita itu, tetapi latar keberadaan sama sekali tidak mendukung.
“Kamu enggak minta maaf padaku?!” tanya Suga lebih tegas. Bahkan, ia sengaja menyibak poninya ke atas agar tatapannya menghunus hati Ratih.
“N-nggak!” tandas Ratih masih berusaha menjaga harga diri. “Nggak mau, sebelum Bapak mengembalikan jabatan saya!” lanjutnya sembari membalas tatapan Suga.
Suga hendak mengayunkan tangannya karena kadung gemas, tetapi ia urungkan dengan rasa sabar.
“Kenapa harus saya sih, Pak! Kan karyawan Bapak ribuan!”
“Hei!”
Suara lantang milik Suga membuat Ratih tersentak sampai kedua bahunya terangkat. Ia menunduk tanpa bisa memberikan perlawanan lagi. Akan sulit jika pada akhirnya Suga mengungkit penalti dua milyar tersebut.
“Ratih?”
“I-iya, Pak.”
“Kenapa sejak awal kamu justru lebih mendominasi dan begitu berani? Aku ini atasan kamu, 'kan? Kenapa lagakmu justru mengatur semua yang ingin aku kehendaki, hah?! Apa kamu mau bayar dua mil—”
“Pak!”
“Kamu barusan berteriak lagi?”
Ratih menelan saliva. Mulutnya memang sulit di-rem jika sedang menghadapi orang yang ia benci. Bahkan tak hanya pada Suga, melainkan juga pada Kani—bibinya.
Namun jika berkaitan dengan uang yang tidak wajar sebagai biaya penalti itu, tentu saja Ratih tidak bisa tinggal diam. Ia akan melawan! Bukankah hal paling lumrah adalah perusahaan membayar pesangon? Bukan dirinya membayar penalti itu? Mungkin memang begitu, sayangnya sosok Suga memang nerd yang gila!
Suga menghela napas, kemudian kembali bertanya, “Apa alasan kamu, hei, si Buruk Rupa?”
Mendengar penghinaan atas fisiknya itu, Ratih merasa kesal. Namun ia hanya mampu menggertakkan gigi demi melindungi isi ATM-nya yang bahkan isinya tidak sampai lima juta.
“Bapak mau saya jujur apa bohong?” balas Ratih tanpa memberikan tatapan, ia lebih memilih menundukkan kepala.
“Katakan.”
“Karena saya benci sama Bapak sejak lama. Karena Bapak sewenang-wenang menurunkan jabatan saya sebagai pembantu Bapak. Karena Bapak nggak memberikan kesempatan menolak. Karena Bapak memberikan biaya penalti secara nggak wajar, padahal saya yang dipecat dan tentu nggak melanggar kontrak. Karena Bapak mengejek saya bodoh dan buruk rupa. Kare—”
“Mau kupotong lidahmu, Ratih?!”
“Bukankah Bapak sendiri yang meminta saya mengatakannya?”
Suga terdiam. Hanya hembusan napas kasar yang ia berikan. Baginya, Ratih tak sekedar mengganggu, tetapi memang unik untuk ukuran seorang wanita normal. Bahkan bisa dibilang, Ratih tidak normal sesuai apa yang Suga pikirkan. Wanita itu akan menyulitkannya jika tidak diawasi secara ketat. Membunuhnya tentu bukan keputusan yang benar, sebab selain sabuk hitam yang Ratih kuasai, Suga tidak bisa melakukan pembunuhan.
****
A coffee addict and cat lover, USA Today bestselling author Iris Morland writes sparkling, swoon-worthy romances, including the Flower Shop Sisters and the Love Everlasting series.If she's not reading or writing, she enjoys binging on Netflix shows and cooking something delicious.Sign up for my newsletter to stay up-to-date with new releases, sales, and exclusive giveaways! Facebook Twitter BookBub Goodreads Instagram
The Prince I Love to HateThe Princess I Hate to LoveSay You’re MineAll I Ask of YouMake Me YoursHold Me CloseWar of the RosesPetal PluckerHe Loves Me, He Loves Me NotOopsie DaisyincludingThen Came YouTaking a Chance on LoveAll I Want Is YouMy One and OnlyThe Nearness of YouThe Very Thought of YouIf I Can’t Have YouDream a Little Dream of MeSomeone to Watch Over MeTill There Was YouI’ll Be Home for Christmas
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