Ch 8: The Storm is Coming

In a certain mansion...

The little boy watched in horror as his father slapped his beloved mother harshly, his father then continued with a belt. The courageous young boy stands between his father and mother, he reaches out his hand to help his mother only to be shoved aside by his father's force.

The little boy was thrown back, only to be helped by his younger siblings. He realized how horrible his father was to his beloved mother. Even so, his mother kept smiling like nothing bad ever happened.

The little boy loves to see his mother smile, his mother taught him kindness and how it is important in daily lives. The three siblings would sleep together while their mother sang them a lullaby to sleep.

London Bridge is Falling down

Falling down

Falling down

London Bridge is Falling down

My fair lady…

As she sang the song beautifully, the boy's eyelids are getting heavier by seconds. His mother's soothing voice drove the little boy's insecurities away. However, what he didn't know was that his mother's smile immediately turned into a frown after knowing that her children were fast asleep.

* * *

Rina woke up from her bed only to receive so many notifications from her crew group chat. Yosua, Febrian, and another old member of the crew she recognized talked about their work experiences.

Yosua: Oh so how it goes for you, Ana?

Ana: Ah well I've been helping people with their wedding party, I'm in charge for wardrobe and also I work as a makeup artist

Febrian: As expected of our beautiful Ana!

Ana was known to be the prettiest crew member and she's also very popular among the boys. Interestingly, Yosua who is also the most handsome crew member never bats an eye to her. Rina usually teased both of them. however, Yosua always got upset at Rina.

Rina: Oh Ana! Hi!

Ana: Hi leader! It's been a while

Both girls discussed rebuilding the crews, along with Febrian and Yosua.

Ana: It's an interesting idea, but I'm afraid I have to decline

Rina's heart sank as she read Ana's rejection, she lowered her head painfully as droplets of tear fell on her cell phone screen.

Yosua: Why not?

Ana: It's just that I'm pretty busy since I'm already pretty famous in the fashion and makeup industries

Rina scrolled down the chatroom only to find Yosua text.

Yosua: But Rina needs us you know!

Rina smiled painfully as she typed on her cell phone screen with heaviness in her chest.

Rina: It's alright Yosua, I'm sure that Ana is pretty busy as well. I'm fine^^. Thanks, everyone for responding

She turned off her cell phone then went to the dining room to refresh herself, that's when she saw a shirtless Eka in the hallway. Eka with only pajama pants gazed blankly at the wall, his sweaty face and body were clearly visible for Rina to see. However, unlike his usual arrogant self, he looks pretty distraught as if he just had a nightmare.

Rina ignored the distraught president and walked to the dining room to get herself a snack. Hearing her previous coworker's rejection seems to have left an impact on her heart. She took her orange juice outside the refrigerator, her eyes then scanned the kitchen table for fruits.

She focused her pupil on the fresh oranges on the counter.  Rina grabbed a fruit knife and peeled the orange skin carefully.

"What are you doing?" a hoarse voice surprised her.

She turned around to see Eka's tired face, he rubbed the surface of his forehead as if exhausted. The man walked to Rina and circled his arm around Rina's waist. Rina pushed him harshly as he was thrown back to the dining room table.

"Still not cute", Eka sighed.

"You're too touchy" Rina scorned.

Eka laughed merrily as he watched Rina slice the oranges diligently. She prepared a small bowl beforehand for the sliced oranges.

"You can ask Nabila for that you know", Eka scoffed.

"I have hands" Rina growled.

As soon as she finished slicing the oranges, she put the oranges on the dining table and ate them slowly. The juicy oranges filled her entire mouth with tanginess. The delicious spark of citrus made the sad woman filled with happiness.

"Is it really that delicious?" Eka asked Rina out of the blue.

"Mhm," she nodded while stuffing her mouth with orange slices.

Eka walked to Rina, lifted her chin easily as he ate the popped oranges from Rina's mouth. Rina was shocked and backed away from the sexual predator in front of her. She swore she could feel the gentle friction of Eka's lips on hers.

"It is delicious" Eka licked his lips indifferently.

"You're so shameless" Rina covered her reddened face.

"And you're no fun at all" Eka replied bored.

The two didn't speak until all of a sudden Nabila entered the premises. Her face is still as kind, as usual, she didn't falter at all.

"Master, your younger sister just called" she spoke softly.

"And?" Eka asked unamused.

"She said that she wants to come and visit you next week", Nabila explained.

"Alright" Eka replied indifferently.

Rina was about to carry the bowl of oranges when she was stopped by Eka's strong grip on her shoulder. She turned around angry and upset about his rude behavior.

"Do you have a problem with me?" Rina sharpened her gaze toward the flustered president.

"Do you hate your father?" he asked out of nowhere.

Rina was frozen in one place when he asked that sudden question out of nowhere. He knows that his father is low on money, it's strange that the cold president asked this randomly. Rina gazed at the lonesome president. She turned around to face him, facing him head-on.

"I dislike him but I never hate him," she replied.

"I see" Eka replied in deep thoughts.

The two are still facing each other awkwardly, Eka then pushed her harshly to the wall behind her. She could feel the intensity of his grip and rage in his eyes.

"You don't hate him even if he forces you to marry me?", his hoarse voice scared her.

"Let go of me", Rina grabbed Eka's hand.

"Answer me", he leaned closer to Rina's face.

"Let go of me", Rina was about to kick his manhood but was pulled and slammed to the wall harshly by Eka.

Rina was shocked by his force, Eka anticipated Rina's struggle and put his knee between her legs. The distance between them is almost none as Eka jet black eyes are only a few centimeters away from her sharp bronze eyes. He put his lips on the nape of her neck, savoring Rina's skin flavor.

"Stop it, the bowl will fall", Rina stuttered as her hand started to lose strength.

"Then fall", Eka blows Rina's ear sensually.

Rina headbutts him, this made the president fall down. He landed on his bottom on the luxurious ceramic floor. Rina pulled his collar violently as she glared at the fallen President.

"I will never understand you if you keep doing stupid things as this" Rina snarled.

"Hoo? So you're interested in me?".

"Because we're already husband and wife, I have to accept that reality", Rina smiled painfully. "However if you keep acting like an obnoxious brat, I'll never bat an eye to you".

Eka smirked at the woman in front of him, he reached for Rina's hand and smiled at her silently. Something about his expression sent a shiver to her spine. Rina let go of his collar and walk away. However, not long after the lamps were suddenly turned off. The rooms are pitch dark and both Rina and Eka look at each other warily.

"Eka is this one of your antics again?" Rina growled.

"No, it's not", he replied coldly.

"So a blackout it is?" Rina asked her frozen husband.

"Not a normal blackout, my condo should have a backup generator in case of a blackout" Eka replied monotonously.

Rina rubbed her chin as she tried to figure out what he's implying. Eka kept Rina close behind his back.

"You're playing hero now Eka? Fancy", Rina said sarcastically to annoy her husband.

"Shut up, you want them to hear us?", Eka said agitatedly.

"Them?", Rina looked at Eka suspiciously.

Eka looked at Nabila at the end of the hallway, signaling her to prepare herself. Nabila nodded as she disappeared into the darkness. Rina touched the wall next to her, the darkness started to make her feel uncomfortable.

"If you keep fidgeting like that, they will notice you", Eka said indifferently.

"What do you mean by the--".

Just when Rina was about to say something, there's a sound of a door unlocked involuntarily. Rina sharpened her hearing as she crouched next to Eka who was hiding in the dark hallway. The sound of footsteps is drawing near and Eka beckoned her to get behind him.

"If you don't obey me now you might die, so what is your decision?", Eka asked.

Rina looked at Eka still confused about what happened. However, she could sense that there's danger lurking around the corner, she nodded heavily to her husband's words.