Days After You's

Chapter 7 - Business Trip

I looked at Rio hauling his suitcase from the luggage conveyort belt while waiting for my suitcase to appear. We have just arrived and are at the arrival terminal of Country B International Airport after going through nearly eighteen hours of air travel. The clock on my phone showed at eight in the morning local time and the other passengers started to walk away with their luggage.

"Sir, your suitcase does not exist" said Rio suddenly.

I looked up, "Nothing? Are you sure you didn't get through it?"

"No sir, I kept looking until the last suitcase came out but still nothing."

I frowned at the empty conveyort belt. My suitcase contains important files and settings that I should have used during this business trip. The suitcase should not just disappear.

"I'll call the officer. You wait in the chair there," said Rio pointing to one of the long benches. I'm nodding.

"alright. Try to find him."

"Ready sir."

Rio then rushed from his position to look for the nearest officer he could ask while I pulled our trolley and looked for a seat to wait. Quite a long time passed until the moment Rio returned with gasping breath.

"How's it?" My toot.

"They're still trying to find him sir. I've written the lost baggage report and asked them to move quickly, but for now we can only wait until they call back."

I sighed, and rubbed the temple, "There's an important file for the meeting this afternoon. I hope they find him before that time."

Rio nodded but before long a smile rose from his lips, "On that matter, you need not worry. I always carry two copies of the file in my suitcase and backpack in case something like this happens."

"You made two backup copies?"

"Yes sir. And for the father's suit I also ordered via phone earlier from the store where you usually buy clothes here. After driving you to the hotel, I'll go get you there."

I blinked towards Rio who was smiling widely with full confidence. He knows very well that he just did a very good job and I admit it. I don't know what will happen if he doesn't prepare any copies and moves responsively like that.

I shook my head with a smile, "I'll give you double the bonus this month."

Rio's smile widened, "Ready, thank you sir!"

"I'm going to the hotel by myself, you just go get that suit."

"But my suitcase—"

"I'll take you, and I'd like to see the copies you made. Where did you put it?"

"Oh in this pouch sir," Rio pointed at his luggage pouch.

I nodded again, "Message me a cab."

"Oh, good sir."

The first day came and there was trouble. Thank goodness I have a secretary as well as a competent personal assistant like Rio who is always reliable. Otherwise the plan of the next seven days could be messed up with this one problem.

I see, I started a business trip in this foreign country. From attending seminars, meetings with clients, to attending lunch or dinner. Everything went well without any problems that meant so much that I had to meet my last client.

I smiled towards the young man before me while shaking his hand. All my activities would have gone well if it wasn't for him that I had to meet on my last day. He was the son of the CEO who became my main client, for something and other, he was the one who was sent to attend today's meeting in place of his father.

A young man who has never been so concerned with what he does, speaks impolitely, changes the schedule of meetings as he pleases and does not arrive on time. It's the first time I've met someone who's had everything I didn't like fused within him.

Worse, he changed the meeting place from one of the classic restaurants Rio had booked into a very noisy and indecent nightclub. Really, if he wasn't the son of one of my important clients, I wouldn't set foot in a place like this. Does he even understand the purpose of this meeting?

I was so uncomfortable that I finished all the discussions as fast as I could. I used her drunken self to approve everything I submitted and signed our deal documents. If there's something that his father wouldn't agree to, they can't blame my side.

"Sir, everything, Mr. Bethran has signed everything" said Rio. This not-so-voice-proof room could still hear the commotion from outside, so even talking loud enough should not be heard by the drunk young man across our table.

I threw a look at Rio but there was no feeling of anger. That man deserves to be called that.

"It's great to work with your company" I said with a faint smile.

"Huh? Oh...Of course, our company has a lot of turnover. Small company–hik–milic y'all–hik– only a small part gets the chance..." Bethran, the man spoke as he swung the champagne glass in his hand.

I nodded because I didn't want to argue with him. There is no point in arguing with a drunken man who probably won't even remember everything he said the next morning. From his behavior, it is natural that he does not know that our company has a lot of turnover and his father came to look for our company first. Maybe his father gave this task to test his competence. I feel concerned about the future of their company if this person inherits his father's position.

"Huh? Already want to go home...? Hik–but the main party hasn't started–Hik–Hei, you guys at the door, call the ladies!"

I scowled and looked at Rio. Rio who understood also immediately got up after getting his signal.

"Sir Bethran, I'm sorry if it's presumptuous but my boss has to be back soon for tomorrow's flight."

"Woman–"

"Sorry, sir. The director is married and has a wife. Things like this shouldn't be done."

I nodded and without making small talk straight up from the sofa, "It's nice to have a discussion with you, see you."

I had just stepped out of the room when I heard Bethran speak for the last time.

"Married? The reason is boring, who likes to be tied to the same one person–hik– for the rest of your life. Shit I remember that woman."

I just found out afterwards from Rio that Bethran was actually married to a woman because of an indiscretions that caused the woman to become pregnant. Reportedly they are not harmonious, but his father forced him to maintain the marriage in order to maintain the good name of their family.

"I'm surprised they didn't cross it off the family list until recently" I said, now on their way back to the hotel.

A man like Bethran, I hope I won't see him again in a long time. I'm sure after hearing the details of this meeting, his father won't entrust any more meetings or meetings to him.

Rio laughed softly, "Talking about this, I so remember my wife sir. Tomorrow morning, I have permission to buy souvenirs first sir."

"About that, I also want to buy souvenirs. We'll just go together."

"For my mom again?"

"Yes and for my wife too," I replied, then looked at Rio who was looking at me strangely, "Why do you see me that way?"

"It's nothing sir. Only this is the first time after the father married, usually when out of town the father only bought souvenirs for the father's mother, even then the father entrusted to me. I think mr.—maaf yes pak— less harmonious with Bu Stella every time so, I am relieved if the allegations proved to be untrue," said Rio. I wanted to ignore him but he asked again five seconds later.

"What do you want to buy for Miss Stella? Let me prepare our route tomorrow sir."

"Chocolate."

"Chocolate? That all?"

"He just wants it."

"Well, matching couple," Rio gave a thumbs up, "His likes are the same."

I completely ignored his chirping this time while closing my eyes along the way. Upon arriving at the hotel and entering my room, an incoming message notification rang from my phone. I remember not checking my phone all day.

The message was from Stella. He's been texting every night since I've been here. The content is usually just a short good night, with a smile emoji at the end of the sentence.

Now I look, the whole content of my conversation with Stella this week looks similar to a collection of short sentences that are only in copy-paste from beginning to end. If Rio saw this, would he still describe us as a compatible couple?

I sighed, typing an answer, but unbending the intention to send it. I don't know what, I was thinking about what Stella was doing at home while I was away. Before I left, he said that sometimes he was afraid to be in his own apartment because there were strange sounds that he heard, and if he's never really been left alone all day as long as he's still living in his family's house.

Honestly, I'm a little bit of a mind. What if he broke or dropped something from running in fear? What if he disturbs our neighbor's grandparents' family by knocking on their door in the middle of the night for help after hearing or seeing something that might just be his imagination? Those things have great potential for a Stella to do.

I'm shaking. Nope, no. I don't have to worry about it. He's not a kid so he won't make trouble. He also knows how to pass the time, so he's definitely not going to be lonely or anything.

Yeah, I shouldn't worry about a woman who might be having fun all by herself far across the ocean.

I'll just send a short message.

Luiz: Stella, if you hear or see something that scares you, don't bother the neighbors and just call me.

Luiz: I mean, if you're sure it's something invisible, pray first and call me. But if it's someone breaking into a house or a thief, hide in a room and call security or the police first before calling me.

Stella: Luiz, now you're scaring me a lot more (

Luiz: Then call me.