I stood up because her Husband was here, Galih Purnama Wardiono. He was my friend, but he betrayed me. "Have a seat," he sats and sighed.
"You know the food here was expensive, right?" Why was he concerned if his family could afford the food here? His behavior makes me suspicious. His dad was a manager at this hotel, and his mom was an active model. I often met her, but it's odd.
"I ordered a drink," I said as I sipped the tea, despite my suspicion about the person sitting in front of me. His grin makes me even more suspicious. I should tell Rose about this. Where was the ring? He married Eva.
"Split the bill, right?" I should pretend to be dumb to everything he said to me.
"Yeah, It's your day off, right?" I put my phone next to my plate and stared at him.
"Y-yeah, you right," he not raised his hand. It's weird.
"I have a meeting with a client today. Can you tell me what I want to know?" I continued, "okay, I get it," I stood up and buttoned my suit.
"W-wait, I-I'll talk!" I unbuttoned my suit and sat again. He took a deep breath and looked at me. "She broke up with you because one of your friends blackmailed her, and she... invading your accounts. She wants to protect you, Lobak. She loves you." I laughed.
"She saved her ass, Galih. Not mine," I crossed my leg while flipping my Zippos. I've quit smoking a year ago and flipped my Zippos. It's the only way I can do to keep me not smoking. "If she loved me, she would keep me informed." I put my Zippos next to my phone.
"She said..." I raised my eyebrow. I should play it all along and pretend to don't know anything, "she said i-it's your temperamental, Lobak." Suspicious detected.
"She doesn't know that I'm a temperamental person," I pour my tea. I raised my hand and took a deep breath.
A waitress approached me and looked at Galih, "You ready to take the order now?" I smiled.
"A pancake, please. What about you?" Galih laughs. I'm pretending to open the menu to provoke him. "Do you have something special to offer while I'm here?" Galih picked the menu.
I stood up then, buttoned my suit, "where were you going?" I raised my eyebrow.
"Bathroom," I walked to the manager's office because I wanted to confirm something, then went to his mom.
Flashback on
I opened my laptop and received an email from Galih's mom, "morning, babe." I gave my wife a morning kiss.
"Morning too, hubby." She hugged me from the back.
"You know Magdalena Wardiono?" I asked her.
"I know her. She's an active model until now. She's legendary! Why were you suddenly asked her? Are you..." I showed her an email. Three seconds later, she was screaming.
"Do you know her!?" I'm not deaf, my wife. I can hear you.
"Yes, I knew her. So, please..." and this is her hobby. She won't let me finish my words. I saw her run to the bathroom and locked the bathroom door, and this noon I should meet her at her shooting location.
Flashback off
"Mrs. Gabriela, what an honor to meet you here, are you enjoyed our service?" Well, he the worked hard man, to keep his guests satisfied.
"I enjoyed it, Mr. Thamrin." I said, "can we talk inside your room? There's something I asked you about." He nodded. It's a surprise. Does he eavesdrop?
"Please, follow me." He said, "my apologies before, Mrs. Gabriela, I heard about... the accident on the news, and I accidentally heard about your problem with one of our employees." Oh.
I did not reply. I wonder why Galih's dad was no longer a manager in this hotel. He was my mentor in managing the hotel and gave courage me to study hotel management. His tactic was radical in business, but it works. We entered Mr. Thamrin's room.
"Have a seat, please." I sat on the couch as he poured the tea. "I heard the news when I was at the Surabaya, and I realized Galih's wife named Eva Rahmawati," was he a smoker?
"It's an electrical smoke," okay, he can read my mind. I crossed my leg as I put my hand on my chin. "Galih's dad resigned a year ago because of corruption." He gave me the financial report last year.
"We were glad to have you back, Mrs. Gabriela. I hope you're married with Rose long last until death separated both of you." I smiled.
"Thank you," I said. I closed the report and sighed.
"It's a good decision, Mr. Thamrin." I stood up and smiled, "keep it the nice work, and don't tell anyone about me owning this hotel." I walked outside of his room and went back to the restaurant.
My pancake arrived. "Sorry," I sat on the couch and ate the pancake.
"My shift began." He said as he stood up. I looked at my wrist, and it was 08.20 AM.
"I will find you," he stopped. I can feel he knew about the lie. "You lied about Eva breaking up with me. It's not about Farah and her friends." I put my fork next to the pancake, "don't try to fool me, Mr. Wardiono." I stood up.
"Your dad resigned a year ago, and you sold your wedding ring to gamble, right?" I asked while I continued to eat my pancake. "Eva broke up with me because she never wanted me to be part of her life," I stood up and put my money next to my plate.
Flashback on
Rose looked at me while I read a newspaper. "So, you will face him today, and then we will meet her?" I closed the newspaper and nodded.
"It's a good idea?" She sat next to me.
"You should hear this, Lobak. She played you." I played the recording and listened. My hand starts to shake. I tried my best not to punch the table. "We had talked after the family leave. She doesn't want you in her life..." I stopped the recording.
Flashback off
"The pancake it's good, but the syrup was too sweet. Can you tell the chef, Galih?" Galih wants to punch me, but Reggie holds him.
TBC