***

This man had just descended the stage steps. The first thing he wanted was to go to his wife right away.

Too bad that simple wish was a bit constrained. Several meeting participants began rushing to approach him.

"Can I help you?".

Hendra thought that they were approaching to invite him to discuss. In fact, some women and even men who approached him wanted to take photos with Mahendra, the CEO of Wenceslas Group.

"Sorry. Let's just take a photo together. Once again, I'm sorry. I don't have much time". Hendra glanced at his bodyguards, hoping that he would be helped to find a way.

Bodyguards had started to reduce requests for photos from other meeting participants. Unfortunately, one or two were still trying and tend to be reckless.

"Thank you, Mr.!". Hendra smiled hearing the nickname. There were still some who called him that.

His stature and appearance looked like a British. However, he was raised in a very Indonesian way, even a bit Javanese way.

"Who escorted you?". Hendra greeted his wife. He sat on the chair beside Aruna and began to spread his arms around the shoulder of the woman who had been dressed up beautifully in the midi dress of her choice.

"Leona". Aruna's eyes focused on the woman sitting on her other side.

"Oh, your name is Leona? Thank you very much in advance". Hendra stole a glance. Finally, this CEO realized the name of his subordinate.

Aruna frowned and confused. Leona told that she was Hendra's childhood friend but why did Hendra ask her name? Wasn't it strange??

"Yes, of course, that's my name. You should've known since you're a kid? You used to call me Nana". Leona spoke so casually, responding to Hendra friendly and confidently. For her, it was normal for Hendra not to care about the people around him, especially women. This was indeed a character that had been engraved since he knew the blue-eyed.

"Oh. Really?? Looks like my memory is bad". Hendra smiled at the end of the interaction. He chose to refocus on his wife.

Seeing that she was given the opportunity to speak, Aruna immediately took advantage of it to answer her curiosity when she first saw the performance of Wiryo's grandson.

"Hendra, did you also attend…". This girl was confused in choosing words.

"Have we met before? I mean before at Cafe La Rose". That girl began to find the correct way to ask questions.

But the blue-eyed squinted to find out the meaning of Aruna's question, which was a little confusing.

"Hmm.. I received an award as the best newcomer start-up in the craft category. The event was on my campus". Having not finished her questioning, this girl caught Mahendra's smile.

"So the one who was invited as the inspiring CEO, I mean the most influential young CEO.. Is that you?". Aruna tried to convince herself.

"You just realized?!". Hendra smiled deeper.

"Oh, really, it was you?".

"Yeah. Who else is the most influential young CEO in this country? Haha". The man laughed arrogantly.

"Geez.. Really??". Aruna still couldn't believe it.

"Just try to check the photos. If you still have it".

"Wow. Okay, let me prove it". Aruna started looking for her cellphone. She'd uploaded that photo on Instagram. It's been quite a while.

While looking at the girl beside him who was really looking for the proof, the blue-eyed tempted to ask.

"Why did you just realize it now?".

Aruna stopped touching her cellphone and looked at Mahendra's face which implied a sense of disappointment because she just realized it.

"Because I just found out now. It turns out you can have extraordinary manners. When you're in front of the public, you really look like another person". Aruna offered an explanation excitedly.

"What's the difference anyway? Look at me, it's the same?!". Hendra raised his hands to show that he's the same person.

"Same? It's obviously really different?". Aruna began to look for the differences in her brain.

"Maybe because the first time we met, back then you looked bad. Ah, not bad, but rude and acting as you please. Of course I never thought that we've met before".

"Because it seems too different between the CEO who became the speaker and the man who suddenly handed over the sheet..".

"Stt.." Hendra gave a code to Aruna so that she didn't finish her sentence. There was someone beside them.

"Really.. I'm not sure that CEO.. Turns out it's you, Hendra".

"That CEO is really me, Honey. Why??".

"No.. I'm still not really sure!!".

Aruna was moving her fingers again on the Instagram application. She was shifting accounts.

_Eh. There's an inbox. Is this Damar's reply?_ The reddish hue canceled her intention. She observed the blue-eyed. Yes, it was necessary to hold back the desire to open the inbox, rather than create trouble.

"Wow, here it is. Yes, it's you. Hehe". Aruna smiled brightly. A rare smile from a girl who used to be very warm.

"I didn't think that we'd met a year ago". As if Aruna felt a happy feeling at that time.

"Seems like I'm more attractive in that photo than the one that is next to you". Hendra was disappointed that Aruna preferred to look at his photos rather than his real self.

"Hehe. You know what? I used to have a desire. One day I want to be someone like you. That's really funny right.. Haha". This girl laughed so much. She even covered her mouth with her fingers because her teeth were clearly visible. She was laughing out loud.

Aruna's first laugh after such a heavy wedding tied her up. Hendra also felt the warmth of this girl again. The warmth that he struggled to bring back.

"Good thing that your favorite young CEO is your husband now". Hendra offset Aruna's warm mood. He smiled too and acted arrogantly.

"Unfortunately.. It's not cool now".

"How come?!".

"Because I already know your real personality, so there's nothing interesting anymore".

"Ah, right.. But I was cool, right?".

"A little… Just a little".

"Don't lie. Look, you're still smiling. It means yes. Admit it".

"I don't want to..". Aruna shook her head with a bright smile on her flushed cheeks. She was incredibly beautiful in the eyes of the blue-eyed man.

"Come on.. Your eyes can't lie!".

"Haha. You can read my eyes?".

"Yes, I can read anything, except your heart".

The laughter of the warm girl stopped immediately, turning into a bitter smile. Hendra was a little disappointed, why he had to say something about the heart.

_Why is he always like this? Always raises so many question marks. He made her heart crush after being happy_

Before the cold situation came, this man took the initiative. He diverted the conversation: "Are you thirsty? Do you want a drink? Let me get it".

_Ah, this should be my words. He just finished the presentation but he also offered a drink_

"Don't.. I'll just take it for you. Wait a minute, okay?". Aruna got up swiftly, shifting her chair.

.

"Turns out that Hendra has changed a lot". The woman who'd been sitting silently beside Aruna was listening attentively to their conversation.

Hendra didn't respond to the words of a woman whose name he just knew, Leona.

"I thought Hendra would be angry with a woman who dares to put her heart elsewhere". Leona was too brave to make her statement.

The man still ignored the woman who was talking to him. He chose to keep himself busy, tidying up his wife's bag that was placed carelessly, including the cellphone that was just lying around. He put the cellphone in the bag.

"Seeing you like this, I seem to go back to the time before you get that trauma".

"You were sweet and kind. It made me cry every time I was told to stop playing with you".

"You don't want to know who I am? Curious, at least?". Leona seemed to be talking to herself. Hendra didn't care about her at all.

"Do I need to kneel in front of you? So that you'll be willing to talk to me". Her words were quite condescending to her pride, but the blue-eyed man didn't budge.

"After this, we'll review the construction site". Riswan came at the same time with Aruna's arrival.

"Wow.. You bring your wife." The mayor narrowed his eyes as a sign that he was happy. His colleague's wife was no longer hiding in the car.

"Yes.. She was tortured to be constantly at home. I was also more excited when she was beside me". Hendra also stood up and hugged Aruna's waist, showing ownership.

"Uh-huh.. The words of the newlyweds really give me goosebumps. Haha".

Hendra's wife grinned, embarrassed. While Mahendra smiled.

"How? Can we go now? The location isn't far. We can go on foot".

"Where are you going?". Hendra's wife was curious too.

"Just come along. It's rare to enjoy the city by walking relaxedly." The mayor suggested.

"I'm not sure it's good. Aruna, you should go back to your car!". (Hendra)

"I don't want to.. I want to come..". The wife objected and started whining.

"Come on, Honey.. We'll take a walk later in another place".