Sorry I Love You, Friend!

Areta Terms

"Ela, man,"

Aska waved at the shoulder-haired woman who was dragging her suitcase out of the airport arrival door.

"Aska!" Ela slid into Aska's embrace, hugging her tightly. "I really miss you."

"Are you missing me or your salary?" Canda Aska's.

Ela released a hug, hitting Aska's shoulder in anxiety. "that is, too," she said, showing off a funny grin on her face.

"But I do miss you Aska," Ela pulled Aska back into her arms.

"I know,"

"Okay ladies, can we go now? Honestly, I have an emergency call right now" Aldi said, appearing with Ela's extra suitcases.

"Who's he? So sexy," whispered Ela. He threw a curious look at Aska.

"Are you serious?" Aska chuckles. "Sexy's? Oh my Ela's. This is Aldi. How could you forget?"

"Seriously?! Aldi?" Ela's eyes glared in disbelief. "The nerd? Nerd?!" Ask ensures.

"Ladies, I'm here. Why are you guys talking about me when I'm still here?" Aldi protests pout. He heard clearly the two women were blatantly gossiping about him.

"Splash ah, this big lady has been nagging from earlier. Then Mama there - just use nitip to know, where this knows Sumedang, far away again the place. Why not buy in Mang Ujang near the house anyway, you know everywhere the same," Aldi grumbled while reading a message from his mother.

Ela fell silent. His eyes widened to see Aldi's expression that continued to change during a long nag.

"Eat a sexy tuh," ledek Aska.

"No, no, no Aska. He's very sexy." The Ela centil. He's squealing naughty. "Actually, my type."

Aska shook her head, suddenly dizzy to see the behavior of Aldi and Ela.

"Hunger, I'm hungry." Sergey Aska, left behind two humans who remained busy with their respective affairs.

...***...

"Aska, as we discussed on the phone. The company really can't last much longer. We're collapsing" Ela said carefully.

Ela's arrival to Indonesia today to convey what happened at the company during Aska's absence. Some projects are canceled unilaterally and some cuffs even have to stop in the middle of the road. Aska's absence as a company owner has a considerable impact on the company, especially among working partners who in fact put Aska as a guarantee in the projects they build.

Aska gave a long sigh. This is a risk that must be accepted because it ignores the company for a long time. "What is the current state of the stock?"

Ela opened the second sheet of the file in her hand. "Down 75% of previous price."

"75%? Means it's a dead price," Aska's inner fret.

"Do employees know this?"

"For the time being, Rian and I have shut down as much information as possible for the media."

Aska nodded slowly. "Good, keep doing that until the board meeting next Sunday. We need time to get ready for the worst possible outcome" he ordered.

"Are you okay?"

Ela was sure, Aska must be very sad. Infinity art and decor is the fruit of his hard work. Ela served as secretary of Aska from the time she was still working as a director at a leading construction company in Singapore. Two years together, Aska specifically invited Ela to be his assistant, together building Infinity to compete with large construction companies.

Ela bears witness to the struggle of Aska. Even in her early career as CEO, Ela saw how people underestimated Aska, thinking of her as an enemy in the blanket for quitting the company by bringing loyal clients with her.

That was all untrue, Ela clearly saw with her own eyes. Aska rejected all offers of cooperation from previous clients. He was willing to start from zero. Going from one door to another offers the results of his work. Not one bit of intention in his heart to take advantage of the connection he once had while still an employee.

"You take it easy La, I'll find you a much better job than you did with me" Aska said.

Ela shook her head quickly. "That's not what I want to hear Aska. I know this is all hard for you. Are you all right?"

"I am good La, very good," said Aska confident even though his heart said no. "It's hard, it's so hard that his heart feels tight, it's choking, it's choking" he said.

...***...

Pie approached Hervi's desk, handing over the report he had requested a few days ago.

"Ah, udh out huh?" Hervi closed the file he was checking and switched to the map Pie was carrying.

Ergan Barcode, German citizen. From the passport recap information, the 35-year-old man has lived in Indonesia for three years.

"Have you checked her home address?"

Pie nodded. "That's a fictitious address."

Hervi gave a long sigh. His feeling said this matter would be long.

"Pie, do you remember the case of the victim who burned in the car?"

"You mean the case of Mother Aska's best friend?" Guess Pie with a funny look.

Hervi chuckles amusedly. "Don't try to use it directly."

"Yes, yeah, I know. Honestly, I was a little horrified by his face. Didn't think he'd be so angry."

"Aska is easy to get emotional."

Hervi smiled considering Aska's angry face. In some of his meetings, Hervi was always interested to see what expressions could be displayed cold face.

"Do you think you're interested in that woman?"

"Yes. I rarely see you smiling. Especially when he came, you looked very bright," said Pie.

"What time?"

Hervi blinked confused. He did not expect his behavior to be that clear in the eyes of his friends.

"Yes, I'm like a dog to meet the employer."

Hervi pelt Pie with a pile of papers in front of him. "Damn it!"

"Well, I can't believe you asked Dion. He's to place a bet on the other kids, "let's Pie trying to find support.

"Your lack of work," Is that clear? Hervi didn't really understand what she was feeling right now. He seemed to return to the days of High School where hormones affect puberty to make his behavior hot like a teenager who was in a romantic hangover. Aska is not as attractive as the woman who has ever been present in her life, but the presence of Aska as a magnet that attracts Hervi to always be by her side.

...***...

"I never give help for free. You know that, right?"

Aska stared in horror at Areta's face adorned with a sly grin. The two sat facing each other. This morning, Rafael called and advised to meet Areta at the cafe which is located opposite the office of JH Group. This cafe is one of the properties owned by JH Group, given how easy it is for Areta to empty a cafe that is usually crowded with visitors because of its strategic location in the middle of the center of the office building.

"I knew. Say," Aska straightened her body to hear what Areta wanted in return for her request.

Aska is clearly aware, connecting with Areta Johnson is like playing with a double-edged knife, at any time can stab her. But right now the most reliable person was only that woman.

Areta smiled with satisfaction. "I heard your company almost collapsed. Isn't this the right time for you to return to Indonesia?"

"Where do you know that?"

Aska believes, information about his company that suffered a major loss to near bankruptcy is still a secret within the company. Aska specifically asked Ela to close the news until next Sunday's board meeting.

"Aska, Aska, you're still naive," Areta chuckled at the puzzled expression on Aska's face. "You should know, there is no such thing as a secret in the business world. Any information I can get by throwing a little bait."

Aska's face flushed to hear what the woman before her said.

"You know, only cheap fish are in your aquarium" Areta sneered. He flicked his finger indicating that what he was doing was just a trivial thing. Areta likes to play around with Aska's emotions.

"Just go Areta, what do you want?" Sizzle Aska with a low tone.

"Fuse your company with Giant Construction and become the chief director there. I need someone like you to support that company."

Aska. He recently heard JH Group took over a construction company that was on the verge of going bankrupt. "Why didn't you do it? I'm sure you can make the company as successful as JH Group" Aska said.

Areta smiled, "you know? Our classes are different" he said. "Why? You scared?" Called Areta because Aska was just silent, looking at her blankly.

Aska had known Areta for a long time, so she had gotten used to the way Areta flattered or destroyed others. Areta is a businessman who is used to controlling circumstances and people who are in his environment. Unaccustomed to comforting with sweet, feisty words but cloaked in falsehood, Areta would instantly attack her opponent's weak point, forcing others to wake up and face reality.

"What's the fate of my employees there?"

"You don't have to think about anything, I've arranged everything."

Aska pondered for a moment, thinking of the best solution for the company he built with hard work.

"You sure?" Ask Aska, more to herself.

Not that Aska is not sure of her ability but for now there is a negative effect of failure that is eating away at her heart and Aska needs time to build her confidence again.

"You won't find a better solution than this Aska" Areta said calmly. He knew Aska would not be able to refuse his offer.

"Ah, rather than this offer is more properly called an order," heed Areta.

"alright. Do whatever you want, but I have to promise I won't fire any of my employees" Aska said. For some reason, what Areta says is the best way to go instead of freezing all company assets and firing all employees.

"I know you're pretty smart Aska," circus Areta. He handed the map that had been placed on the table to Aska.

"Bima is there," point it at the map.

Aska's face suddenly turned bright. "But I'm not sure if it's Bima or just the body" Areta said.

"What do you mean?" Aska is confused. Her new hand opened the map cover, hanging in the air as soon as she heard Areta's next sentence.

"I didn't get involved any further. There is a code of conduct that we cannot afford to violate with each other" Areta said. "So I can't make sure Bima's alive or dead."

"You think?" Aska very much expects the presence of Areta, just to cheer her up.

"Kalo Bima has what they need, he will still be alive but the possibility is only 10%" said Areta. He concluded based on the workings of the underground organization he had seen so far.

"Enough, for me it's enough," exhorted Aska relieved. Although Areta says the odds are only 5%, Aska will still maintain her belief as long as there is still a chance even if it is small.

"I'm leaving" said Aska.

Areta looked at Aska nanar. He embraced the woman's determination and loyalty. "Aska, be careful."

Aska nodded steadily. "Oh yeah, tell Hani to come with the files I need to sign. To be honest, I don't want to see your face too often" she said as she left Areta.

Aska runs into Rafael in front of the cafe entrance.

"You know how to contact me" Rafael said, patting Aska on the shoulder twice.

Aska nodded in understanding the message behind Rafael's sentence.

"Mom, I hope what I'm doing now is worth it. Hang on Bim, I'll pick you up soon. We'll get back together, "his inner self.