"Who are you?" I put down my polite speak and asked him rudely.
"Hehe ..., your secretary's body is really superb. Even I feel envious because you could enjoy those bouncy mounds every day."
Hearing his perverted laugh I feel like I want to puke emptying my gut. This pervert, did he spying me from somewhere?
"The f**k! Answer me, before I track your line and make shit out of yourself!" unable to contend my anger, I shouted and cursed him.
"Relax ..., please relax Mr. Herlambang. I won't do anything to your secretary nor your harem. However, I don't know what my client will do to them after I finish the contract."
That man speaks so calmly, maybe it's just me who lost my temper. Shit, the matter with Rika really put my mind in a mess. I glance at Lina and could see her worriedly looking at me. I sigh with heavy breath and talk.
"Speak, what do you want?"
"I don't want anything. Just something you working in secret for the past few months. I want Myscreat source code and database."
"Myscreat! Are you seeking death?"
Myscreat is the online game project that my company working in secret. An Action Mass Massive Online Role-Playing Game combined with Card Battle. The main concept is that everything in the world is cardable. Be it the weapon, NPC, monster, item, environment like a huge castle or even the tiny stone, all of it are cards.
The idea is a bit lame. In my childhood, I watched Yu-Gi-Oh the anime but thinking it will be an action-fantasy RPG. I don't have any energy to retort this when some weirdo from the development team proposes it for the upcoming project. But, surprisingly the executives and shareholders all positive about this project. And after a few months of development, I can see it's potential.
For this man to know this top-secret project, I see ..., so there is a mole in the company. Thinking about it, his timing was just right to call me. And the first line he said to me ...
I looked around my office and finding every corner. Under my coffee table, I found a small gum-like thing. Inside the grey gum, there's a small electronic device. I crush it with my feet and continue listening to the call.
Damn it, for there will be a time when I feel insecure in my own office.
"No no no ..., please Mr. Herlambang, this little man afraid of death. And so do everyone in the world, I presume. I just want to talk about the condition."
"I won't bother negotiating with you. What, are you going to kill me or something?"
"Nah, I'll do it when I fulfilled my objective. But, not now. You're a great personage, a young man with great ambition. Don't you think it's a good time to settle down and enjoy life a little bit? It can't be any wrong. Like, find a good girl and get married, raising a child."
His speech deviated from the topic. I hate talk without substance so I cut him off.
"Stop bullshitting me! Who the hell are you? Who hired you! And how do you know about Myscreat? I'll tell you, whatever scheme you bring to me, it won't work! I'll never ever hand you my Myscreat!"
"Mr. Herlambang, please reconsider ..., you know being filial to own parents is a great virtue. I pity myself for being an orphan, but I always envied those who have parents and family!" He speaks as if reminiscing and self-deprecating, but it soon changes into a howl of a demonic beast. "Goddamnit, why they have what I don't! No, I won't acknowledge it! My foster father which I killed by cutting his throat, my adoptive mother and sister which I raped! Ghah, what a shitty family, they treat me like a slave!"
"You ..., did you forget your medicine or something?" I asked. This man is hella crazy, I feel like I don't want to talk to him but obliged to.
"Oh. don't worry I just swallow one. Ahh ..., I'm sorry, I forget to introduce myself after all this time. My name is ..., uh, I don't remember it, but everyone calls me Blue Eyes. Also known as Orphan Maker."
"Ohh ..., so you kill parents so that the children become orphans like you. Well, a shitty person like you does a shitty thing. It's not like I care about it but, ... are you done?"
With a hollow laugh, he said "hohoho ..., Mr. Herlambang. Soon enough you will be my fellow orphan if you don't follow my advice."
"..."
Ahh ..., this psychopath really knows how to make me speechless. His word is long-winded but he knows how to play with the mind. I can't get any word out of my mouth. Why, is the uneasiness I felt this morning because of this? Is my family will be doomed?
"Hey, Mr. Adrian and Mrs. say hi to your son ...!"
"Aditya! Don't think about us, and don't mind their threat. I'm sorry because we've never done anything that makes you happy. I'm sorry for being a useless father who cannot buy you the thing you want. But, at least with this, I can protect your job and business!"
"Nang, I'm sorry for being an oversensitive mother. I regretted what happened at that time, I'm sorry for slapping you and chase you away. But, with this ..., I can pay back my sin for you. Please don't mind us and do your job properly! Find a good woman and marry her so that our family line will continue."
"Dad ..., Mom ..." hearing that familiar yet also distant voice, I almost cried because of the situation.
"Shut up! You pretentious parent! You slap your own child! Humph, I slap! I slap! I slap you back in the name of Mr. Herlambang!" It's the psychopath's voice along with mom's cry and slapping sound.
"Goddamn motherf*ker! Don't you dare hurt my mother!" I shouted with much difficulty.
I haven't seen my mom and dad for almost five years. After I graduated from uni and live as waste that leech my parents, she chases me out and put on a temper that makes us into an argument. We both were mad at each other at that time and she even slapped me in the face. But, recalling those, maybe she does it in order for me to grow up and be independent.
"Haha ..., so, Mr. Herlambang let's trade! Myscreat's source code for the life of your father, and Myscreat's database for the life of your mother? How about it, fair price, no?"
This is the first time that someone uses this dirty trick on me. Since I jump into the business world, there was none a kidnap attempt or something like that. Maybe it is because there's no one knows my personal life before I entered this society. But this time, my parent has been kidnaped.
Damn it, even I couldn't get any wind of it. From where the hell this Blue Eye come from? My Information network is really a waste. What do I pay them for?
What can I do in this situation?
"... I ..., I send it to you immediately. So please don't ... don't do anything to my parents."
"Hehe ..., now we're talking. I'll wait for you for exactly half an hour. I'll wait at the Ampera bridge. If I didn't get those two before that, I will slit their throat. Please don't make yourself parentless."
"I know ..., please wait a moment Mr. Blue Eyes." even I can feel my own voice is without its usual confidence.
He ended up the call. With a shivering leg, I move myself to the desk and open up my laptop.
"Boss, is something happen?" Lina asked, now properly dressed.
I don't know why, but when I recall what she said a minute ago, I feel responsible for her. If she was really serious about it, maybe I will introduce her to my parents and settled down a family. I'll stop screwing girls and other people's wives and be a responsible man for her and my future family. But this isn't the time for that.
I grab my apartment key from my pocket and toss it to her. "There's a safe in my apartment, the password is your birthday. If something happened to me, I want you to take whatever inside there and find someplace safe."
"Pardon, Boss?" Lina shows me a puzzled expression.
"This time it's my fault. I don't know who's my enemy and my information about them is insufficient. My losses are preordained, maybe I couldn't save my parents, or worst lose my life. Whatever the outcome is, I want you to be safe and sound." I talked slowly while my two hands didn't stop manipulating the keyboard.
"Boss ..., what are you saying!" she shouted.
"Lina, I don't know how you feel about me ... but, since that time I always have a feeling for you. If, if only I could cease my hedonistic behavior, I would like to take you as my wife. Of course, if you are willing to be with a man such as me."
"Boss ... such thing, don't say it like that. I'm ... I've always in love with you. I'm more than willing to be with you. And to think that my feeling isn't one-sided. I, I'm very happy." She watched me with teary eyes.
I stopped typing on the keyboard. And sighed heavily.
"Just ..., live well and if I could somehow manage to survive this predicament. I'll take care of you."
"Boss ..."
"Call me Aditya like you used to be when we were in college."
I smiled weakly, maybe this is the first time I showed a weak side. But I am also a human with weakness, though there will be some people who rejoice to see me fall into this predicament. But, I am not a demon king who has no feelings at all. I don't want to see my family hurt because of me.
Lina shouted hoarsely, "Aditya! I ... let me help you face this disaster together. I will contact Vermillion Viper to protect you and save your parents." tears flowing down from her eyes.
"It's no use. I know best what can I do, and whatnot. Even if I hire Vermillion Viper, it will take some time for them to arrive in this backward country. My parents will no longer exist at that time. They got me this time, I don't know who they are. But, for them to get information about my family. They're strong."
Power ..., money is power. But there's another thing that could overcome this type of power. Information. No wonder the CIA did everything they could to get into the Google server. When they oversee the internet, they got the world on their grasp.
I don't underestimate the importance of information, however, my information network is really small. If it's someone local then I could easily get rid of them. But, I can't think any of foreign power who eyeing my company.
Is it China, Japan or maybe South Korea? These three countries always put great importance on the game development sector. I may be overthinking these useless things. I really have to overcome this crisis and then continue living.
"Lina ..., find Director Tia and tell her this message 'You take the handle.' she'll know what I mean."
"Aditya ..."
"Go now."
I really didn't want to see her at this moment, the uneasy feeling since this morning really makes me paranoid. Even I'm angry because of a simple matter like Rika who cheats on me when I usually don't care about them.
"I understand. I'll be back right away."
I compress Myscreat v0.15 build 3 source code with the database and copied it to the flash drive. It's still under development, but because they want it, I'll give it. I cannot forgive myself if I will be the one responsible for killing my parents. Even if this means I betrayed my own company that I built with blood, sweat, and tears.
I ejected the flash drive and put it in my breast pocket and I can see Director Tia exited from the elevator. I can't see Lina my secretary with her, where is she?
"Chief, what have happened?"
"Some situation arises, I probably won't make it back alive. Take care of the company and cancel Myscreat Project!"
"Chief! What are you thinking! We just invest three billion in the project, this project itself is the biggest bet we got! If we cancel it now, we can handle the loss!"
"Tia, my trusted friend, and right hand. I know what you are worrying about. But, this time it is really my loss. The enemy is too powerful. I cannot leave my workers and their families in danger because of this project."
"Chief! I don't quite understand, just what has happened! Lina just tells me I take the handle while crying. I don't know what had happened, but please explain it so that I can understand the situation." Tia with heavy tone asked me. This super serious lady always speak bossy as if I'm her subordinate.
"They caught my parents ..., and they want Myscreat source code and database as ransom," I explain it in the simplest, direct way.
This time Tia's face crumpled as well. Showing a difficult expression. She heaved a sigh and say.
"If it is like that, then do what you deem right."
I know how hard for her to say that.
"I'm sorry, but I can't abandon my parents' after all of this."
"... don't worry, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future. Myscreat is one of many of our projects, and maybe we will develop an even more awesome game in the future. It's not worth of your parent's life, go and save them."
This project is the biggest and a lot of investment comes because of it. This is our way to the future and great movement for the company. For her to give up on this for the shake of my parents.
The only thing I could say to her is, "Thank you ..., I owe you one."
"You better get back in one piece," she said.
"I'll try my best."
I smiled and walked past her to the elevator.
Ring ... ring ...
Another phone call? What's with this impatient person? I didn't glance at who the caller was and received it.
"Herlambang ..., you've worked hard." a cold and detached voice. Filled with killing intent and hatred.
"Who?"
I asked and then pushed on the B-1 button in the elevator. And that is when I could see flashes of light in the building next to me. Like something shiny on that side, mirror or something placed there. I ignored it.
"It's me, Andre."
He's someone who backs me up back then when my business still small. I'm indebted to him, but talking with him is troublesome. I don't know what his motive and he always tells me to do this and that.
"... it's you. What is it? I'm busy."
"Your recent performance is good if you keep working hard maybe you'll get promotion in the organization. But alas, you betrayed our expectation. You know that right, betrayal from the organization is unforgivable. I'm sorry, I'll take care of the rest of you. I guarantee that everything you have will be kept safe and we'll protect them."
Before the elevator door closed, I heard the sound of glass crashing and felt a huge impact on my chest. I think something is penetrating my heart.
I heard Tia's hysterics cry and saw the elevator door finally closed. That was the last thing I could remember before deep darkness embraces my sight.
I ... Am I dead?