FORBIDDEN TO FALL IN LOVE

72. Panicked

Valeda sat in circles in his office. His heart was agitated and his mind was in a state of turmoil. It had been over twenty-four hours he could not contact Daniel. Valeda had already acted quickly by reporting to the police that Daniel was missing. However, it could not make his heart calm.

Geck, tok, tok!

The knock from his office door made Valeda wake up. "Yes, comein!" answer Valeda.

Celine came in and immediately thrust a flash to Valeda. "I've checked all the CCTVs and the possibility of Daniel being taken away by that guy."

Valeda snatched the flash in Celine's hand quickly. He hurriedly opened the file Celine gave him on his laptop. His eyes focused on every video he played. His brain thought very hard to find any clues.

"What's this?" hiss Valeda while shuddering. He was horrified after watching all the videos in front of him.

"That's all," Celine replied briefly.

BRAK!!!

Valeda kicked the table hard. He's riled. "No way! Even ordinary people know that this video does not exist! This is just a regular street recording!"

"Val, relax!" celine Pinta. He knew that his best friend would lose his temper. "Daniel was recorded at some point-"

"But he suddenly disappeared. As if swallowed by the earth," cut Valeda. His eyes were full of fear.

Celine sits on the couch in Valeda's study. He sits up straight. His back cannot relax. "You yourself know, how much influence that person has, right? He can do anything crazy to get his wish."

Valeda wiped her hair back. His brain cannot think. Suddenly he felt like the stupidest person in the world. He knew for a fact that Daniel was not okay. But, all he could do right now was stand in front of his desk.

"We need to ask others for help. We can't just finish this together. In fact, Kris wouldn't be very useful" Celine suggested.

Valeda glanced at Celine with a sharp look. "Whose help do you mean, Cel?" whispered. Of course there was one person who crossed his mind, even though Valeda was reluctant to believe his conjecture.

"Your father," the answer slid quickly from Celine's mouth. "Mr Suherman," Celine confirmed her reply.

"You crazy?" sindir Valeda smiled bitterly. He had not thought at all that Celine would answer clearly like that and mention her father's name. Although Valeda wanted to, but how could he ask for that help, whereas from the beginning his father was against their relationship.

Celine took a long breath. "Val, we can't dwell. That guy's too strong. Or, he's too crazy for us."

Valeda fell in his chair. The multi-million dollar chair was unable to make him feel comfortable. He scrunched his forehead. Valeda tried to think of a way. He knew the longer he wasted time, the more Daniel's life would be threatened.

Geck! Geck! Geck!

Valeda's door was knocked a second time. Valeda held her breath for a few seconds, while Celine froze in her seat.

Celine looked at Valeda. The look in his eyes implied the question of whether he should open the door or not. Valeda did not budge for a moment. He was afraid to open the door but did not find Daniel there.

"Not Daniel" whispered Celine. "Ladders."

Valeda swallowed his saliva with great difficulty. His throat feels dry. With mixed feelings, Valeda finally stood up from her chair and walked slowly towards the door of her room. Celine stood up as Valeda arrived at the door. Valeda's pale hand shook as he grabbed the doorknob. He held his breath as the door opened.

"Hi, Love!" That would sound normal if Daniel didn't disappear. But, the sentence that came out of his best friend's mouth this time made his hair bristling.

Valeda tried to smile as usual. "Hi, Ranges!" reply back. Valeda was grateful that her voice did not tremble. "Tumben you're here without telling me first. What's up?" keep Valeda.

Rangga glanced at Celine who was silent in her place. "Do you have a lot of work, so you're still in the office with your secretary until this late?"

"Yes, that's it. I have a lot of work to do" Valeda replied ambiguously.

Rangga turned back to Valeda. "Have you eaten? I happened to be passing through your office, so I all stopped by. You must not have eaten."

There was doubt when Rangga took her away. Valeda was a little scared. However, he knows that his doubts will get Daniel in trouble. Valeda controlled himself quickly. "Celine, can you sort out the rest? And also ask Kris to take you home."

"But, Val-" Celine tried to stop, but Rangga who suddenly turned around made her shut up.

"Is there any other work that is very important at the moment?" asked Rangga in a cynical tone.

Celine shook her head slowly. Ever since Valeda suspected Rangga, Celine became somewhat frightened by Rangga's eyes.

"I've already made a reservation at your favorite restaurant," Rangga started a conversation when the elevator had reached the basement. They walked to Rangga's car. Since there was no answer from Valeda, Rangga continued his conversation. "I have a surprise for you when we get to the restaurant," said Rangga while smiling knot. The smile that made Valeda feel scared.

They spent about forty-five minutes arriving at the restaurant. During the trip, Valeda did not say much. His mind drifted to the missing Daniel.

"You still think about Daniel?" rangga asked while pulling the handbrake after he parked his car. Rangga looked at him with a serious face. "Why do you like someone like that?" rangga.

Valeda returned Rangga's gaze boldly. "What happened to Daniel?" reply Valeda. "He's a nice and nice guy. In addition, he is smart and diligent at work. Nothing less than that."

"Social status, Love," Rangga cut. "Everyone wouldn't be so against it, if Daniel was from a distinguished family."

Tears are welling up in Valeda's eyes. He wanted to yell at Rangga to return Daniel right now. But he paused his stirring intentions. Valeda knew it would only hurt Daniel and himself. "Do you know why I started my own business?" Valeda asked half a whisper. "For me to be free to determine my way of life, without having to compete with my three brothers."

"But your father only wants you, Love," Rangga was still insistent. "For your father, you're his only hope. Do you have the heart to throw away your family for a man you just met?"

" I didn't throw away my family" Valeda said.

Rangga let out a long breath. He seemed to give up on the stubborn Valeda. "We're ending this conversation here. I've prepared a surprise for you. I don't want to ruin it." Rangga got out of the car, then walked around his car to open Valeda's door. But, a second before Rangga grabbed the door leaf, Valeda had already opened the car door first.

Rangga did not comment on that. Maybe she felt bad for upsetting Valeda. Rangga followed Valeda's step into the restaurant which is actually Valeda's favorite restaurant. He likes the menu there.

As he passed through the entrance of the restaurant, Valeda remembered that he had brought Daniel here once. It's been a long time since he's seen Daniel. Valeda's eyes were rounded when he saw the table by the window. Daniel sat there with her.

"Val!" That familiar-sounding voice made Valeda stop his steps.

Valeda's gaze swept through the room, then found Madame Emily sitting in the middle of the room. Her mother's face looked bright. Valeda knew something was making her mother so happy. Valeda hesitated to approach Madame Emily, until she felt a slow push from behind her.

"Surprise" said Rangga in a soft voice. The two corners of her lips were attracted, forming a charming arch.

Valeda's throat was blocked. He felt a cloth meet his throat suddenly. 'What are they planning?' inner Valeda. Her heart was pounding more and more, every time she stepped closer to Madame Emily.

"Sit down, Val," Madame Emily opened the conversation, as soon as Valeda arrived before her. "The neighbors will talk about something important with us."

Valeda sat down slowly, as if the chair would be broken by him. He remained vigilant and he was ready to flee whenever he felt threatened.

While Valeda was worried about what would happen, Rangga sat next to Valeda leisurely. Rangga seemed to want to soften the atmosphere with his attitude.

"What are you talking about?" ask Valeda.

"I want to marry you, Val," replied Rangga.

Valeda's eyes are perfectly rounded. His mouth was so shocked by what Rangga said just now. Valeda could not even reply to Rangga's words.

"The child in your womb, even if it is not my son, I promise to take good care of him. I'm gonna raise her like I raised my own son." Rangga clasped Valeda's hand sitting in his chair. "Trust me, Love," continued Rangga.

Valeda pulled his hand. His forehead wrinkled. "No!" resolutely. "No!" reworked. "Daniel will be responsible."

Rangga smiled cynically. "He's not even here."

"Val, Mama please listen to Mama," Madam Emily said. "Mama agreed with what Rangga said. Rangga has been kind enough to take responsibility for your content. There will be no man as good as Rangga."

"Val didn't ask Rangga to take responsibility!" Valeda became an emotion. "Val will wait until Daniel returns!"

"Don't be selfish!" snapped Madame Emily. He has no intention of losing to Valeda. "Your stomach won't be that small forever! Daniel won't be able to take care of you in two!"

BRAK!!!

Valeda kicked the table while standing. "Daniel is more than capable" said Valeda. Tears started to flow through her cheeks. "I'm going to raise my son with Daniel."

The smile from Rangga's face disappeared. His face became serious. "really?" asked Rangga, sounding sad. "He's not coming back" he continued.

***