They Say, I'm a Liar

Connecting Doors

“Papi seriously wants to retire?”

“Don't you since five years ago, you guys want papi to retire soon?”

Ivona nodded quickly. Since five years ago, both Andreas—Ivander and Ivona— children do want their fathers to spend old age just by relaxing. No longer think about the complexity in running the company.

Andreas is the largest shareholder of Bratajaya Corporation. The elderly man actually no longer need to work in the company. Because just by relaxing, billions of rupiah money, can enter easily into his personal account.

“Papi's age is 70 years old, it's time for Papi to take a break from office work. Mas Ivan and Ivon will try to run this company well!”

Andreas nodded his head. “You always remember, this company was founded with great difficulty by your grandfather, became flourished thanks to the hard work of your grandmother!”

“Dan advanced, thanks to our Papi,” Ivona said. Andreas' youngest daughter shuffled into his father's arms. Andreas' smile grew on hearing his daughter's words.

“Papi will prepare everything. Before the papi retires, the papi must make Qei and Ivan become close. You help papi!”

“Each 86!” ivona said with passion. The father and son were busy thinking of strategies to make Ivander fall in love with the charm of Qeiza.

And, one day after that conversation. When Qeiza and Ivander had just arrived at the office, after a meeting with their new client, Andreas asked his two biological children— Ivander and Ivona— as well as Qeiza, to gather in his study.

“Papi has decided to retire, and is no longer active in the company, three more months!”

The opening sentence thrown by Andreas, made Qeiza's eyes round. Not a year ago he worked at the company, as the personal secretary of the CEO of Bratajaya Corporation.

So, should he leave the company, because the CEO no longer holds the position?

Or, will he be transferred to the administration, such as a job application letter he made last year?

If you can choose, of course, Qeiza will choose to be transferred to ordinary staff. Because it means, he still has a job to support his mother and child. In fact, rumors of his closeness with Andreas will be quickly dispelled if he is just an ordinary staff.

However, it seems that this will not happen. Because Andreas asked Qeiza to continue to be the personal secretary of the CEO of Bratajaya Corporation.

“I ask you to take care of Mas Ivan,” said Andreas. Andreas deliberately labeled Ivander as 'mas.' Andreas hopes that, later, Qeiza will call Ivander Mas Ivander.

“Actually, I want you to be my personal assistant, Qei. But Mas Ivan seems to need you more,” Ivona said.

“If you want Qeiza to be your personal secretary, it's okay Von. You can do it without a private secretary. The secretary team already exists. So, I thought, I don't need a personal secretary yet.”

Ivander's words, immediately denied by the father. “If out of town or out of the country, you will definitely need a personal assistant. Wong wears a tie you're not a dick! Are you going to keep wearing a bow tie? Or will you show your untidy tie to a client? Qeiza can take good care of you, like she takes care of papi.”

Ivona immediately chuckled at the words of her father. Especially when he saw the face of Qeiza when he found out if there was a project outside the city that he had to handle both, with Ivander.

During these three months, there were two out-of-town projects that both Qeiza and Ivander had to tackle. One is in Yogyakarta and the other is in Madura. Qeiza actually knew about the project. He even gave input to Andreas several times, when the elderly man asked for his opinion about the project in Yogyakarta and Madura.

Qeiza has even booked hotels with connecting doors in Yogyakarta and Madura since last month. Because Andreas and Ivander used to stay with interconnected rooms.

And, this is where Qeiza and Ivander are. A five star hotel in Yogyakarta. Qeiza and Ivander are now in front of their rooms.

Qeiza broke her body after traveling Jakarta-Yogyakarta. Fortunately, they took the trip by plane. Until it only took an hour since the plane took off, they had arrived in that special city.

The woman was now staring at a door not far from the bed she was sleeping in. The door that connects his room with Ivander's. Exhaling deeply, Qeiza hoped that this was not sniffed by the staff at Bratajaya Corporation.

I don't know what they will talk about, if you know the widow has one child, sleeping in a room that is interconnected with prospective CEO Bratajaya Corporation.

If Qeiza chooses fried rice, melon juice and a few slices of fruit to start her day, Ivander only takes two slices of whole-grain bread and a glass of fresh milk.

Since his first out-of-town meeting with Andreas and Ivander, eight months ago, the man has always eaten the same menu for breakfast.

This was the first time for Qeiza and Ivander to sit together at one table. Usually, there was Andreas among them. Even the awkward atmosphere was felt at the table. No one dared to start a conversation. In fact, ever since they met in front of the door of each room. The pair of adult humans just threw each other a thin smile and slightly nodded as respect to each other.

'Ehem!'

Ivander's thumping voice, made Qeiza look at the man. And Ivander as well. They stared at each other for a few seconds, until Ivander was a little nervous when their eyes met. His conversation with his father and sister in Andreas's study, came back to his mind.

At that time, when Andreas informed him of his desire to retire, and Qeiza had left the workspace of the CEO of Bratajaya Corporation, his father and two children, resumed their talks. The conversation that left Ivander a little emotional.

“Try you noticed Qeiza, Van. He's smart, deft, gentle and considerate. Qei is also beautiful, yes ... though not as beautiful as your wife!” andreas.

Ivander smiled faintly at the words of his father. Just like Ivona's assessment a few months ago, Ivander also considers the rumors circulating in their company to be true.

The father was enamored with Qeiza and wanted to marry her.

Ivander did not really matter if his father wanted to end his two-year term that had lasted twenty years.

But, with Qeiza?

The woman was too young for her father. Although, Qeiza is indeed such a perfect woman, according to Ivander.

Many times the woman went with him and the father out of town even abroad, the woman did look so considerate and love Andreas sincerely.

But, Qeiza looked so respectful towards her father. Obviously, if the woman considers the father only as a superior and Ivander has made sure himself, if Qeiza only considers Andreas like his own father.

Can she accept the love of her father?

That's how Andreas thought.

But, the sentence that was thrown from the lips of the elderly man, made him disappointed.

“Compared Evelyn, a woman like Qei lah, who papi wants to be a son-in-law in the Bratajaya family.”

“Pi, until when the hell Papi can not accept Ev?! Like Papi who only loves Mami, Ivan will only love Ev as sincerely!” callah Ivander.

“Papi and Ivon just want you to feel happy, Van. Feel intact!”

“Mas, admit it if you're lonely! Admit it manly! Don't hide from the word love that Mas is proud of.” This time Ivona spoke up. “Am I sure, if Mas Ivan's love is still as great?! I'm sure, after all these years, that love has faded because of Brother Ev's attitude?!

The man stared intently at the sister. Ivona could have stabbed him in the back like this. Though his beloved sister, it used to be so supportive in front of Andreas.

Where is the fault of a man who always keeps love for his wife?

Couldn't his real father replace his wife in his heart and life? Even after their mother's gone.

“This must be because of another child, right Pi?”