Stealing The Wife's First Kiss

***

"You don't want this cheque? Think carefully before making a decision".

"I hope I'm having a bad dream. How could my own deputy mayor hand me a cheque to stop Dreams City?".

"Look at the amount. It won't disappoint you. One year of our salary and benefits".

"Are you not aware? Dreams City is my dream! What's in your brain to make you think someone who has big ideas and big goals wants to exchange it for money?". Riswan was very disappointed with the deputy mayor who openly handed a cheque as an attempt to stop the Dreams City project. One of the requests was to no longer work with Wenceslas Construction.

"May I know who asked you to send this cheque to me?". Riswan was curious.

"No one. It's my own initiative". The deputy mayor replied.

"Hahaha. It doesn't make sense. You tend to like money then admit that you took the initiative to give me a cheque. I'm really not sure".

But along with his words, mayor Riswan's brows furrowed slowly. He needed that cheque to track down who was behind it all. Hendra would be very happy.

"Please keep that cheque for me. I might change my mind in a day, two, or even three days. Make sure the cheque is always safe". The mayor gave his instructions to his deputy mayor.

***

Mahendra's arrival on the D floor brought his own aura. He just had an argument with his grandfather. Usually, he didn't want to attend. But this time, it was different. He was seen sitting quietly in front of his grandfather: "I'm sorry".

There was an expression of apology. It caused the people around him to turn around for a moment. Mahendra didn't care.

The old man stared at him a little longer. He felt sorry for what he'd done. He made a reply to Mahendra's apology: "Treat Lesmana's daughter well. I have a moral burden on his father".

"Even though I often make mistakes, I love my wife. Actually, I always try to be good to her, even though sometimes I still have trouble controlling myself. Please give me a chance. Don't take her back to her father".

They talked to each other without looking at each other. Their tones were flat and cold. It was already extraordinary compared to their previous way of communication. Two equally stubborn creatures were willing to let go of their awkwardness for a moment.

***

"Are you ready?".

"Yes..". Aruna came out of the car assisted by her husband, Hendra. Their arrival was immediately greeted by someone from the TV station. It was rare for a CEO of a TV station to attend an event at a rival private TV station.

At first, his tiny wife thought that the TV station they were going to visit was Nara&Tv. In fact, the exclusive interview for their marriage was held on another private TV station.

A TV station that often presented gossip or infotainment programs. Indeed, one of the most spectacular programs was the casual but serious talk show program that carried the name For You with two well-known presenters throughout the country.

Who didn't know Biyan Tirta and Lalita Ayu? The way they presented that program was casual. But what their audience was most interested in was that they were able to research a case or something that was being discussed lightly, sometimes full of jokes.

"Wow. Thank God they've come. Please sit down. Let's talk casually first, okay?". Biyan and Ayu approached the couple who they would be interviewing live in an hour. Hendra was seen shifting Aruna's seat before he sat down.

"Is there anything that we shouldn't ask?". Ayu asked a question to the two people in front of her.

"When will we have a baby? Hehe". Hendra replied jokingly.

"Why isn't such a question allowed?". Ayu also said jokingly. At first, she was tense because who she faced was the CEO of Wenceslas Group. A man who had gone viral with the nickname angelic face, including his background as the sole heir of a multinational company. Even some hotels in big Asian cities were his.

"Because my wife isn't ready yet". Mahendra replied. Aruna only smiled.

"That was a key question that could go anywhere". Biyan added.

"I was just joking. It's okay, you can ask. Unfortunately, I'm sure my wife can't answer it yet". Hendra added with a friendly smile. He was teasing Aruna who was too tense.

"Hen..". Aruna said softly, calling him with a sulky face. Hendra smiled sweetly. He approached and kissed her cheek while whispering something: "Remember to call me honey when in public. Okay?". He said softly only for his wife's ears.

The tiny girl nodded several times.

That interaction made the two people in front of him feel awkward.

"Wow. You two seem very warm to each other, don't you?". Biyan said, smiling meaningfully. Either he thought that way was often shown by couples who attended exclusive interviews or indeed he was really stunned.

After the briefing, the husband and wife were asked to wait in the waiting room.

"Are you nervous, honey?". Hendra asked, starting to disturb Aruna to reduce this girl's nervousness.

"A little". The nervous person replied the blue-eyed with something that was the complete opposite of what she was showing.

"Drink first". Mahendra suggested.

"No. Or I'd want to pee later".

"How is this? I'm a little nervous".

"Hold my hand like this if you feel nervous later". Hendra grabbed Aruna's hand and held it.

"Now, to make you feel less nervous, come here". Hendra asked her to come closer. This man offered his chest for her to lean on. Surprisingly, his woman was willing to come closer and lean herself on Mahendra, finding a comfortable side for each other. The blue-eyed's hand began to play with his wife's hair, sometimes kissing the top of her head.

"Hendra, let's sleep in your private room at the Djoyo Ritz hotel tonight. Can we?". She asked.

"Why? Do you want to be there?".

"I don't know. I feel like that room feels like you".

"Really? The interior and all the items are indeed my choice".

"No wonder your aura was clearly seen. Gray, neat, calm, and firm lines in every corner of the room. Like you, who's mysterious, perfectionist, cold, and stubborn. All of those are in that room".

"Wow.. You observed it in such detail. I think I'm not like what you said?".

"At first, I also thought that way. How could a naughty man who likes to do what he wants have a different office life? When I heard from several people, for example, Aditya, said 'wow, the CEO's personal life can be like this?'. I couldn't believe him. What does he mean? Turns out it's so different". This woman spoke while leaning herself on the man who had another side while enjoying the touch that the blue-eyed gave her.

"Did you just realize I'm only warm to you?". Listening to Hendra's words, this girl got up and looked at the face of Wiryo's grandson.

Then she fell silent.

_Is this what Doctor Diana called, a trigger factor? What was it? Who can be the healer? I don't know.._ Aruna's mind wandered. The night where she was given a brief understanding about Hendra. This girl began to think about every word that was conveyed by Doctor Diana.

"What are you thinking about? You were tense, but now you're daydreaming??". Mahendra said seeing his girl was silent with a blank stare.

"Why are you only warm to me? Why not to the friendly Grandma Sukma or to Mr. Surya, your personal secretary and best friend? Hehe. But Mr. Surya is more fun when he's bullied. Or to..". This girl stopped her words after thinking that all that was left was Grandpa Wiryo and Mrs. Gayatri. The rest were only workers who had no meaningful ties to the CEO of Wenceslas Group. Hendra didn't have many people in his circle of life. Aruna just realized.

[CCTV Observation Room]

"Biyan, see? I won. You have to treat me after this". A hidden habit carried out by the creative team of For You talkshow. They deliberately observed their invited guests who were waiting backstage through CCTV as material for arranging statements so that they didn't miss their real life.

During that observation session, Ayu and Biyan made a bet. Ayu was the winner. She believed that the two of them, Aruna and Hendra, had a harmonious household life.

.

.

"This is what we're waiting for. Prepare your hearts because what we'll discuss today is.. Byan, how is this? My mouth can't even call our guest stars today". Ayu joked, opening the talk show session.

"You're exaggerating, Yu. But anyway, you're telling the truth. Indeed, our guests are very special. Who else, if not the new couple who were being chased by the media crew yesterday?". Biyan replied.

"So actually, there are two things that make us interested. Even you guys who are at home will definitely be interested. The first is the groom who'd gone viral because of the betting case of several actresses. Because, geez, he's just really handsome. You know what kind of public figures that we like, right? Hehe. Rich!". Ayu was talking nonsense.