ILLUSIANA (CONTRACT MARRIAGE)

CHAPTER 4

“What is this?"

"Rame once?”

"Where are you from?”

A series of questions in the mind of Lusi when he saw the spacious yard filled with four units of luxury vehicles parked irregularly.

The girl slowly moved her legs. Try peeking out from behind the door before entering the living room.

'Rame once his guest, ' his bath was once again when he found the room filled with all men.

Lusi stepped closer, curious. Open the door wide.

“Nah, the son is home,” cheers Bu Merry gleeful. Followed by the eyes of all those in the room turned towards Susi who was still upright staring at the door.

Ms. Merry stepped towards Lusi, and grabbed her shoulder to bring the girl inside to the guests.

Of course, Lusi was surprised to receive the treatment of the stepmother who changed 180 degrees than usual. The smile of the middle-aged woman also broadened.

A man almost the same age as Lusi's father got up from his seat and stepped closer to Lusi. But Lusi flinch while researching the appearance of the man who is now fixated a few steps before him.

Middle-aged men are estimated to pass the fifty-year mark. Steady even though slightly puffy, his hair is typical of adult men. His gaze was so amazed to see the look of Lusi. And it definitely made the girl nervous of being stared at intensely like that. Especially with that man's smile that he had difficulty understanding its meaning.

The man nodded in admiration accompanied by a small grin at the corner of his lips. And step closer in front of Susi. Of course, it makes Lusi feel uncomfortable and very uncomfortable.

“Lusi dear, this is Mr. Bramanto Raharjo, he is a close friend of your father. Let's say hello,” tell Bu Merry to force the hand of Lusi to extend his hand before the man called Bramanto earlier.

Dad's close friend?

Seems like I've never seen?

Lusi knows almost all of his father's friends, but this figure feels foreign to him. He's never met at all. And as he remembered, never once heard the name Bramanto Raharjo as a friend of his father who was once called by his late father.

“You are so beautiful. A school? Or college?“ Mr. Bramanto welcomed Lusi's hand and squeezed it gently.

Lusi felt uncomfortable because of it. He tried to pull his hand, but the man just tightened his grip.

“I'm not in college, Om. Stop in semester one,” replied Lusi briefly.

Mr. Bramanto took his breath, as if satisfied with Lusi's short answer.

Lusi pulled his hand when he felt Mr. Bramanto's hand was loosened. And wipe the palms on her jeans.

The girl stared one by one at the men crowding the room. There are nine men, their age seems to be much younger than Mr. Bramanto.

Their stances and mannerisms seemed to be less friendly. Not a single one of their faces was pleasant in the sight of the eyes. With a strong and very rigid body.

'Who are these people? Security apparatus? Or tentarah?' Thought Lusi in the heart.

“Lusi, ummmm, gini loh. Mr. Bramanto came here to offer our condolences. He just got word about your father's death.” explained Bu Merry with his eyes twitching alternately to turn to Lusi then Mr. Bramanto.

Mr. Bramanto, whose name is called, nodded once with full attention without releasing his sharp gaze on Luci.

“Hmm. Is correct. I just got word this afternoon, so I'm here soon. I haven't seen your father in a long time, but it turns out that once I got the news the deceased was gone. I also defend condolences, Lusi.” With his heavy voice, Mr. Bramanto chimed in.

Luci nodded weakly. And there seemed a cloud of sorrow instantly engulfed in the look in his eyes.

“Thank you, Om.” Only then did Lusi reply accompanied by a respectful nod.

“Sorry, Om. I've never seen Om before with my dad. Because usually dad always introduce his friends with me,” a little suspicious Lusi asked. But keep his tone politely.

For a moment Mr. Bramanto and Bu Merry exchanged glances and then turned back to Lusi who was still staring straight at Mr. Bramanto, waiting for an answer from the man.

“Your late father was a friend of mine who was quite familiar actually. We didn't meet very often. Because we are both busy. But your father was my friend who I liked the most to exchange ideas about business. It just so happens that we are pursuing the same field of business. Just a different scope. My expedition business as well but on an international scale and a very large quantity with a conveyance in the form of a container at the port,” straightforwardly Pak Bramanto explained to Lusi who looked mangosteen with his sharp gaze.

Whether the girl understands or not. What is clear is that he began to believe that the thick-bodied man knew his late father, because he knew exactly about his father's business.

“Oiya, Susi. I heard from your mother, you work in an ornamental flower shop, right?” continued Mr. Bramanto, this time a small smile rose at the corner of his lips.

Lusi nodded steadily, “Iya, Om.”

“Well, what a coincidence. Tomorrow afternoon I'll have an event at home. My wife would love to decorate the entire house with beautiful flowers. But he doesn't understand about flowers. Can you help my wife?”

Hearing the words of Mr. Bramanto, immediately Lusi's smile expanded.

Looking at the appearance of Pak Bramanto parlente and the cars that he thought were not cheap lined up in his yard, it can be estimated that the man half a century before him must have a large and luxurious house. And that will certainly require quite a lot of flower arrangements, not even quite enough anymore, but very much.

Can he imagine how the meeting Bu Dahlia later when he heard the big order that he will get later. How thought.

“Can, Sir. I will contact Bu Dahlia first,” said Lusi enthusiastically.

“Okay, if that's how you met my wife now. Let's have a relaxing discussion at home. I am sure My wife will be very happy,” proposed Mr. Bramanto also showed his enthusiastic look while playing an emerald rocky ring that coiled on his ring finger.

Mr. Bramanto nodded then turned to look at Ms. Merry who also shared his smile. “Your mother also came to accompany you. How about, Miss Merry?”

“A...Ah, I...Hm....Okay,” replied Bu Merry stammered while nodding steadily alternately to Mr. Bramanto, then to Lusi.

“I think it's better that Bu Dahlia comes too, Om. He is my boss, more understanding about the appropriate flower arrangement for the party at home Om,” said Lusi.

The two exchanged looks, Mr. Bramanto and Mr. Merry.

Ms. Merry stepped closer to Lusi, then wrapped her arms around the girl's shoulder. “Emm... Luci. It's late in the afternoon, I'm sure Miss Dahlia has also come home. You're a trusted person, Miss Dahlia, you must also know about flower decoration. Tomorrow morning you will talk to Miss Dahlia and bring Miss Dahlia to Om's house. For now let Mother accompany you. Later we will all stop by the supermarket first for our monthly shopping, how?” merry's proposal convinced Lusi.

Although there was a sense of laziness approaching him remembering his tired body and there were still doubts surrounding his heart. But in the end, Lusi nodded as well.

“Yes, so dong!” exclaimed Bu Merry with a slightly restrained voice.

“Good. If so let's leave now, my wife has not ordered at another florist,” invite Mr. Bramanto to break the doubts that are still tucked in the heart of Susi.

Ms. Merry rushed to grab her handbag from the television table, then with steady steps walked behind Mr. Bramanto's back while writhing Lusi's arm out of the house.

Driver Pak Bramanto, wearing a black safari, opened the front passenger door for Mr. Bramanto, and instead opened the side door for Ms. Merry and Lusi.

One by one the luxury cars left the yard. Breaking through a highway that has been very jammed because it coincides with the time people go home from work.

Inside the Car, Ms. Merry calmly opened her phone and surfed through an online store selling clothes and jewelry. But not with Susi, there is turmoil in her bath. To be honest, he still doubted this decision. But he kept trying to calm himself and reassure himself that everything would be fine.

An hour later, the black motorcade entered the grounds of a luxurious house. The trellis fence is high and seems to be opened using a remote control. Because it doesn't seem like someone opened it.

One by one the burly men came out of the car and they appeared to form a row on the right left side towards a very sturdy and large wooden door with very detailed carvings.

Bu Merry and Lusi got out of the car and followed the steps of Mr. Bramanto who had gone down first. That girl

spread his gaze throughout the courtyard of the mansion. Very spacious and the garden was neatly arranged.in front of him stood a sturdy multi-storey building, painted white with a large towering pole that supported the building.

“Come in,“ invite Mr. Bramanto to poke a glance at the arm of Lusi.

“Please sit down, I call my wife first.” Mr. Bramanto invited the two when they entered his living room.

Bu Merry and Lusi nodded politely, then bowed themselves to the black sofa that felt very soft in the middle of the room with a dominating white color.

Triings....Triings...Triiin....

The loud dings coming from Bu Merry's mobile phone in his grasp shocked Lusi. Spontaneous Lusi turned to look at Bu Merry who immediately moved to answer the call on his cellphone.

“Hello...Ls?...Alright....Alright....Haven't you?? Inaudible. Try me out first yes, difficult signal in the room,” said Bu Merry with a loud and repetitive voice. It seems like the conversation is having a breakdown.

“Lusi, wait, I received the phone first on the terrace,” permission on Lusi. The girl simply stared at the back of her stepmother who was walking hastily out the door, and still with a cell phone stuck to her ear.

Lusi just fell silent glued to the big sofa. No one was seen inside that magnificent house. Silent.

Long Lusi waited for Mr. Bramanto to bring his wife down to meet him. So did Miss Merry who was no longer heard her voice.

Susie's confused. He was wailing - chirping throwing his gaze in all directions. Then move from his seat and then step towards the front porch of the house to follow his stepmother out there.

A few steps closer to the door.....

Braaakk...!

Suddenly the big door in front of him closed. More precisely closed rough. Susi pushed through the door but could not open. It's locked!

“Ibuuuu! Ibuuuu!” he shouted as he banged on the big door with all his might.

As it happened outside the house, Ms. Merry smiled broadly when she heard the shrieking voice of Lusi calling out her name. Then he just felt the aura of victory before entering the car he was riding.

The car quickly left the big house. Leaving behind Lusi who was still howling and screaming behind the door.

“Taste you fucking brat, you're done in the old bandit's hands. Hahahaha...” muttered Bu Merry then laughed satisfied.

“Your father is dead, it is your turn to make money for me,” he continued without the slightest mercy on his stepson he left behind.

He opened his handbag. Take out a long piece of paper. A Cheque signed by Bramanto. There is a row of numbers of three billion in the nominal column. Then in his kiss the check. Then came back laughing triumphantly.

Good Morning, by,

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