The Wife of the King's Pay

Chapter 6 Early Selection (Part 1)

After taking a bath, Cleantha came out and saw that the nurse had come to check on her father's condition.

"Sir, I checked his blood pressure first" the nurse said as she attached a tensimeter to Mr. Sigit's arm.

Mr. Sigit's eyes looked towards Cleantha. Despite not speaking a word, the middle-aged man seemed to want to speak through his eyes.

"Now try to move his right hand, sir. Slowly."

Hearing the nurse's request, Mr. Sigit tried to comply. He shifted his right hand to the side and raised it slightly upwards, although his arm still seemed to tremble.

"Good, Sir. Now change the left hand."

This time, Cleantha caught the anxiety emanating from the look in her father's eyes.

He approached his father's bed to encourage.

"Well, don't be afraid. Just try moving Dad's left hand. If it can't be okay."

Mr. Sigit blinked twice, a sign of understanding his daughter's intentions.

He began to exert energy to move his left hand. One, two, up to three times, but his efforts did not come to fruition.

"It's still hard to move, sir? It's okay, we'll try again later" the nurse said, noting a few things in her report.

"Later you will be able to do it, too" Cleantha continued trying to encourage her father.

"Suster, when's the doctor coming?"

"Doctor Anwar will visit at eleven o'clock, miss. I stay first, I'll bring back the medicine."

The nurse took care of her equipment and walked away.

Not long after, a female officer came to deliver breakfast.

"Please have breakfast" said the clerk, putting a tray on the table.

"Thank you, Ma'am."

Cleantha took a bowl of warm porridge to feed her father.

"Well, let's have breakfast first so you can take your medicine."

Carefully, Cleantha scooped the porridge into her father's mouth.

At first Mr. Sigit seemed reluctant, but gradually he was willing to accept a bribe from the princess he had hated.

"A moment, Dad, there's a phone coming in" Cleantha said, hearing a ringtone from her phone.

He grabbed the phone he had stashed in the desk drawer last night.

Cleantha frowned as she looked at the array of unknown numbers that appeared on her phone screen.

"Whose number is this? Don't call a job interview,"

muttered Cleantha curiously.

A glimmer of hope appeared in Cleantha's heart. Without a second thought, he received the unknown call.

"Hello, good morning, sorry who this is with" Cleantha said politely.

"Good morning, is this with Miss Cleantha Hastomo?"

The woman's voice from behind the phone sounded less friendly.

"Yes, Mom. It's my own, Cleantha."

"Miss Cleantha, I'm Jihan from the Adhiyaksa Multifinance. We received your email yesterday. You are declared to have passed the initial data selection process. We would like to invite you to attend the first stage interview. The interview was held today at one o'clock in the afternoon. For the location, we have sent the address along with the floor plan to your email."

"It's one o'clock today?" reset Cleantha.

The woman named Jihan raised her voice.

"Yes Miss. If you are not present, you are declared to be out of the competition. We look forward to your arrival on time. Thank you," said the woman, ending her call.

Cleantha immediately opened the inbox on her email, based on the information provided by the woman named Jihan.

Cleantha's eyes were immediately fixed on the top email sequence with the title 'Interview Location.'

"Interview location for the competition: Villa Chrysant, Bogor,"

read Cleantha surprised.

The look on his face turned frantic as he stared at the wall clock installed in the room.

"*It's been seven past thirty minutes. The trip to Bogor takes at least two hours. I have to leave immediately. But what about Dad? Who will keep it*?"

Cleantha was reminded of her stepmother, Ana. Only he had the free time to keep watch all day in the hospital today. But Cleantha wasn't sure her stepmother was willing to provide help. It's also impossible if he asks Keyla for help. Her brother had just entered work after applying for a few days off.

Feeling deadlocked, Cleantha decides to contact Ana.

"Clea, what's up calling Auntie," asked Ana dislike.

"Sorry, Aunt. Can I ask Auntie to take care of me? Just this day. I have a sudden business, Auntie. I beg you.." said Cleantha trying to persuade Ana.

"What business? Want another job interview? If you can just cancel it. Aunt is sure you will be rejected for the umpteenth time. You're just making hard Aunty," Ana grumbled.

"I'm going to attend an interview, Auntie. But this is to win the competition. The prize is a hundred million."

"Whataa??? You don't talk, do you?"

"No, Aunt. This competition is from Keyla's office. If I win that money, I can pay off all my debt to Aunt Puspa."

"Auntie hope you're not lying, Clea. Then what compensation would you give Auntie if Auntie would help you?" asked Ana bluntly.

"I promise if I win, I'll give some of the money to Auntie."

Ana weighed in for a moment before giving an answer.

"Alright, this time Auntie's gonna budge."

"Thank you, Auntie. Please Auntie come to the hospital soon because I have to leave soon."

"Yes. Take a bite of you, "so Ana hung up on Cleantha.

Almost an hour Cleantha waited for her stepmother in agitation.

Minute by minute was slow rolling, until Ana appeared without the slightest guilt.

"Tante, why did you just come?"

"Then I leave now, Auntie. Please take care of Dad. Eleven o'clock the doctor will check on Dad's condition."

Ana swung her palm to chase Cleantha away.

"Yes, don't pretend to tell Auntie. Sana quickly left before Auntie changed her mind."

"One more time, thank you Auntie.

Cleantha kissed her father's hand before leaving the hospital room.

"Dad, Clea, take a break. Pray for Clea to win" said Cleantha rushing away.

...****************...

Cleantha rested her head on the back of the bus seat. Every now and then he glanced at the clock, making sure that he was not late to his destination.

The shrill sound of the bus kernet, resuscitated Cleantha's daydream. Seeing the other passengers getting off the bus, Cleantha followed them.

His face looked puzzled watching the row of villas lined up before him.

"According to the plan, Chrysant's villa is around here somewhere. But it looks like the location of the villa went deeper inside. I'll walk there,"

inner Cleantha while rereading the floor plan on her phone.

Cleantha walked straight ahead, encouraging herself to be able to find the location of Chrysant's villa.

Being preoccupied with her own thoughts, Cleantha was unaware that there had been a man watching her since.

"Miss, wait!" exclaimed the tall man and in the dark blue uniform.

Cleantha looked back and looked at the man suspiciously.

"I.iya, Sir. What's up?"

"Miss, are you one of the young girl competition participants?" the man looked at Cleantha.

"Where do you know, sir?"

"Because I was assigned by my Master to pick up the participants. What's your name, Miss?" asked the young man unwillingly to make small talk.

"My name is Cleantha Hastomo."

The man nodded and opened his phone. His eyes moved up and down, like he was reading something.

"Miss Cleantha. You are scheduled for an interview at one o'clock in the afternoon. Could give me your identity card," the man continued impatiently.

"Sir, sorry, I can't give my identity to a stranger."

"Sorry, Miss but it's a condition to be able to enter the Chrysanthemum Villa. That villa is my master's private villa. Not just anyone is allowed in. So I have to make sure you really are Miss Cleantha. This is my identification card" the man handed me his business card.

"Edo Pranata, supervisor of Chrysant Villa," read Cleantha.

"How's Miss? Can you give me your ID now?"

"This, sir," said Cleantha, handing over what the man had asked for.

"Okay, lady, come with me!"

The man returned Cleantha's identity card and walked over with wide strides. Cleantha to the point of feeling overwhelmed chasing the speed of the man named Edo.

"Miss, we've arrived. Follow me inside" the man ordered.

Two sturdy-bodied security men opened the golden gate that covered Chrysant's villa.

Cleantha was instantly amazed to see the scene before her eyes. How no. The Chrysant villa looked like the residence of the conglomerates that Cleantha often saw only on television.

And what amazes Cleantha the most is the expanse of chrysan flowers that so spoil the eyes in the front garden.

"Miss, come on in. Ms. Siska doesn't like to wait for participants too long," Edo reminded Cleantha.

"Good, Sir."

A female servant in white clothes opened the front door for Cleantha.

"Excuse me, Ma'am," said Cleantha before stepping in.

Upon arrival inside, Cleantha was made to gasp even more when she saw the living room so spacious.

"The King must be very rich. The villa's this grand,"

cleantha muttered in amazement.

"Please sit here, miss. Later Miss Siska will call you when your turn has come."

"Well, sir," Cleantha replied according to.

Cleantha sat on the long, maroon-red sofa. Beside him were two girls who had waited first in silence.

"Good day," said Cleantha nodding her head.

"Siang," said the two girls at the same time.

"Sorry, are you also a young girl competition participant?" ask Cleantha to find out.

"Yes, Mommy."

"Oh, then we are the same," Cleantha replied smilingly.

While waiting for her turn to be called, I don't know why Cleantha's heart was beating faster. He was too worried about what questions would be asked of him.

When asked about work experience, he will lose because he has never worked as a babysitter. His educational background also strayed far from the world of children. It is possible that the committee will consider it less sane because it dared to register as a nanny.

"Miss Cleantha, Miss," said a woman calling Cleantha.

Cleantha raised her face and saw a woman in her late forties standing tall in front of her.

"Miss Cleantha, didn't you hear me call your name?" ask the woman.

His eyes were extremely sharp as if he wanted to unravel all the mysteries about Cleantha.

"Oh, sorry, Mom."

"Let's come with me to the living room. We're gonna start the interview now."

The fierce-looking woman walked with her high heels ahead of Cleantha. While Cleantha could only tail from behind.