At exactly 16.00, Joya and Ridwan arrived at the office. When they entered the lobby, they ran into Leo and Windy who had also just returned from a meeting from outside. Ridwan also invited them to ride his special elevator.
Joya tapped her IDE card, then they entered the elevator. Joya pressed the 50 and 48 buttons, because Leo's office was on that floor. Joya stood behind Ridwan and listened to his and Leo's conversation regarding terminating the contract with PT Mira Jaya. When the two men were having a serious conversation, Windy naughtily shifted and stepped hard on Joya's leg. Joey winced at the pain in his leg. He glanced at Windy and cast a sharp gaze at her.
Windy smiled sarcastically while saying the word 'sorry' with a scornful face. Joya was annoyed, she raised her left foot to reply, but Windy moved her foot first. Eventually Joya slipped and almost fell.
Before Joya's body fell backwards and hit the wall. With agility, Ridwan's hand wrapped around Joya's waist. By reflex, Joya's hands gripped Ridwan's shoulders and used him as a handle.
In a state of shock, their eyes met. Bringing together the density of Joya's black beads and the beauty of Ridwan's blue beads. Raising a warm explosion that spreads the tension in the heartbeats of both of them.
"Um!"
Leo and Windy's clearing voices broke Joya's fixation, making her aware of the position of her body which was still in Ridwan's arms.
"Th-thank you," Joya stammered as she tried to straighten herself up.
Irwan's gaze was fixed on the surface of Joya's loafers, which looked dirty. Without saying a word, Irwan turned around again.
"The team of lawyers will immediately file a lawsuit against Mira Jaya. Now you just focus on monitoring the construction of projects that have been delayed for too long," Ridwan said, continuing the conversation.
He nodded. " okay sir! I will go straight to the field." Joy took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. Joya's thoughts were on Irwan who could always make her heart beat fast like now.
' Stupid! You should only pound for your husband, not for other men,' thought Joya. Cursing his pounding heart for Ridwan. Joya feels guilty for letting another man harass her.
Joya looked at Ridwan's back with a sad look. ' is it because he looks like Irwan that my heart reacts to him? I have to be more careful, lest I have feelings for another man,' he said to himself.
Ting!
The elevator stops on the 48th floor.
"Me first, sir!" Leo said as he bowed slightly.
At first glance, Leo glanced at Joya's adorable face which managed to make his heart churn. Leo was jealous when he saw Ridwan hugging Joya just now.
Windy cast a cynical glance at Joya, then stepped up and bowed respectfully to Ridwan. When Windy came out, Ridwan stretched his foot to touch the toe of Windy's shoe.
Suddenly, Windy's balance was lost until her body fell forward. Hit her husband's back. Windy winced when she felt the pain in her nose that perched on her husband's hard spine.
Leo turned and shot him a sharp look. He was annoyed, he almost fell down because of Windy. It would be so embarrassing if he were to fall in front of his subordinates.
" Careful!" he hissed.
" excuse me!" said Windy. His face was red with embarrassment.
The elevator door closed and the elevator started moving again.
Joya looked down to hide a smile on her lips. His heart was satisfied to see his brother's face that held back embarrassment. In front of him, Ridwan smiled. He was satisfied because he managed to repay Windy's actions to his wife.
"Today you can go home early. But remember, don't be late tomorrow again," said Ridwan when they got out of the elevator. Joy's smile widened. He was tired and wanted to go home soon. " Thank you sir!"
Suddenly, a hand grabbed Joya's hand and turned her around quickly.
PLAQUE
A hard slap landed on his cheek. Joya was stunned to receive a slap from an old lady she didn't know. His hand touched his sore left cheek.
" Grandma!" Ridwan growled. "What is Grandma doing?"
Ridwan stared intently at the old woman he had not seen in the last four months.
"Why is this woman here?" cried the old woman, pointing at Joya's face and looking at her hatefully.
Joya knit her eyebrows, confused by the attitude of the old woman in front of her.
"Gio... take Joya inside!" said Irwan. Then touched the woman's shoulders and gently pushed her towards the elevator. "We'll talk carefully. Don't involve Joya in our troubles.
Irwan's voice sounded soft but also sounded firm.
Gio touched Joya's shoulder. " Are you ok?"
" Hah?" Joya looked at Gio while holding his cheek.
Gio touched Joya's swollen cheek. There was a trace of blood at the corner of his lips. " sick?"
Joya jumped, her cheek hurting. A drop of tear fell from the corner of his eye. The woman slapped him so hard that Joya tasted the sweet and salty taste of the wound on the inside of her cheek.
" come on! I treat. Gio led Joya's body to a long couch near Joya's desk. " Sit down! I'll take some ice cubes first," said Gio. Then disappeared behind the pantry door.
Joya sobbed because of the pain in her cheek. " What did I do wrong? Was it because I slapped Ridwan that his grandmother slapped me?" muttered Joya.
Hearing Ridwan's call to the woman, Joya suspects that the woman might be her boss' grandmother.
"Taste it on your cheek!" Gio handed the ice cube pad to Joya. Then sit next to him. Gio winced when he saw tears flooding his cousin's wife's face. "Sorry... grandma is really protective of Ridwan. He doesn't like it when women approach him," explained Gio.
Joya wiped her tears. "Did he misunderstand me?"
Yes. Maybe because grandma doesn't know you yet, so she's being rude. I'm sure he will accept you if he knows you better," answered Gio.
Joya nodded, understanding the misunderstanding that had happened to her boss's grandmother. "Please explain to him. I'm Pak Ridwan's secretary, not a woman who approached him. I'm married. So, your grandma needn't worry, I won't go near her granddaughter."
Gio smiled sadly. His facial expression looks confused. He rubbed his forehead and looked at Joy. I don't know what answer he should give to Joya. He felt both funny and sorry for her.
"Please give an explanation as clear as possible, so he doesn't misunderstand me," asked Joya.
Gio nodded his head. " okay! I will try." Joy sighed. ' No wonder Mr. Gio and Mr. Ridwan are not married, it turns out that his grandmother is fierce. Any woman would be reluctant to be his daughter-in-law,' thought Joya, looking at Gio with pity.