Return to Joe's magnificent house. The father of one also neglected his dinner after joking briefly with Ben.
Now he approached Sammy, trying to persuade his son to eat a little more. Because previously only two mouthfuls of rice managed to get into your little one's mouth.
"Sammy, come on, let's eat again. I've brought you a new dinner. You have to eat a lot to get healthy again quickly, okay?" Joe asked the little guy.
"I ate earlier, Dad. I'm full." the little guy answered without taking his eyes off the tab containing Viona's video.
Joe looked at Ben who had just joined after changing his clothes, "Ben, send me Viona's address." Joe exclaimed.
"What do you mean? Geez, it turns out you're serious about that woman, huh?" Ben didn't think he would have the opportunity to taunt his brother again.
"Don't joke, I'm serious, Ben. This afternoon my secretary informed me that Viona was welcome at the office. I didn't have time to look at her data earlier." Joe explained, "Don't tell me you didn't double check my secretary's work, huh?" he continued asking while squinting.
"What does that death glance mean? My work is all done, you know. It's just random to accuse me like that." Ben grumbled, not accepting his work being doubted, "Wait a minute, I'll send it to your number."
"This is crazy. I didn't expect that my guess was accurate. If you like her, why don't you propose to her?" Ben babbled non-stop.
"Can you shut up? Don't you see there's a little kid here?" Joe interrupted his younger brother's ramblings before Ben continued his boast, "Sometimes God is too much for me. Why did God give me a soft-mouthed brother like you?" he muttered again.
"I've sent it," said Ben after fiddling with his smartphone for some time. Not waiting long, a short tone sounded on Joe's cellphone.
After seeing the contents of Ben's short message, Joe immediately got up and rushed towards the main door.
"Daddy!" called Sammy who managed to stop Joe in his tracks, making him turn around and return to his son, "I want to come, is that okay?" the little guy asked while wearing a big smile. Drastically different from his gloomy attitude earlier.
Joe could only take a deep breath before smiling at his son, "Yes. Let's go now. It'll be late." asked Joe while carrying the little one and leaving Ben there alone. However…
"Good evening, Mr. President Director. Forgive my impoliteness in coming so late like this."
Joe and Sammy fell silent in surprise. Both of them didn't expect that Viona would be in front of their house at this time.
***
Joe cleared his throat to attract Viona's attention, who had been busy with Sammy since arriving. And when Ben took the little one to his room, Viona's gaze was also fixated on Sammy, who looked so happy to meet her.
"Miss Viona, sorry for the inconvenience. "Please understand my son's attitude earlier," Joe began to speak. "Now we can discuss the work contract that you agreed to," he continued, inviting Viona to his office.
The atmosphere was so awkward even after Viona repeated her introduction and her latest academic education.
Joe raised an eyebrow impressed. Even though he had read Viona's biography, when we talked again about things that needed to be discussed, the handsome widower increasingly wanted to get to know the figure of the attractive woman who was now in front of him.
"Okay, my secretary has informed me that you agree to sign the work contract that we provided. But first I want to explain in detail the details of the work you will do as well as the details of the salary you will get." Joe started at the heart of the conversation.
"Five hundred million rupiah will be given to you based on the work you will do. Fifteen million rupiah for my childcare services. The job includes caring for and taking care of all of Sammy's daily needs."
"You will get a bonus of two million rupiah if you don't take leave in one month. I will also pay for food and accommodation for you."
"And five million rupiahs will be paid for your services as my assistant while I am at home. Your job is to ensure that all my needs at home are met, for example, work clothes and when I need help in my study room."
Joe explained in detail the duties and wages that Viona would receive.
"That's only around twenty-two million rupiahs, sir. If you multiply it by twelve months, then the amount is very far from the value of five hundred million rupiah, right?" Viona interrupted.
"Good question." Joe responded, "The amount promised in the contract is correct. What I just explained to you is also true. The remaining money that I will pay up to five hundred million is a welfare allowance for you while you work with me."
"Your salary will be paid every month, while the rest will be given when you complete your work period for a full year."
"How about it, Miss Viona? Have you agreed to my offer?" Joe asked at the end of his explanation.
Viona was silent while thinking about everything Joe had said to her. Just as she was about to answer, the cell phone in her pocket rang. There is Jansen's name on the cellphone screen.
"Sorry, sir. I'll excuse myself for a moment to pick up the phone. This is an important call." Viona asked permission to leave for a moment. After Joe asked, Viona immediately took a distance to talk to Jansen. She stepped away to answer Jansen's call.
"Hello, what's wrong?" Viona immediately asked.
'Boss, headquarters gave the order. There is a client in the next town who asks for help in catching a hitman who is hunting the client. The pay is five hundred too, Boss.'
'You can buy a new house for the orphans at the orphanage shortly.'
'Don't worry about the money, this is halal money because we will catch criminals, moreover, the criminals don't have to be finished off. This mission is only for the arrest of criminals terrorizing our clients. If the criminal is caught, the funds will be handed over directly to the police.'
'How about it, Boss? I await your orders.'
Viona just listened quietly to whatever Jansen said to her. She also didn't give any answer when she hung up on their phone call.
'Two ways to get five hundred million are in sight. I don't have to win the lottery or whine to the Old Man. But why is this choice so difficult?'
Viona was confused by the available choices. Joe's generous salary and welfare benefits, or the fantastic money she gets to catch criminals? The two things that were so clearly different made her dizzy.
Viona, who was still daydreaming, was startled by a movement that tugged at the hem of her clothes, "Aunt Bee?" called Sammy who had just approached her.
Viona immediately squatted down to balance her body in the little one's position, "Yes, what's wrong, boy?" Viona asked gently.
"You're not leaving, are you? You'll accompany me to sleep, right?" Sammy asked with a face full of hope.
"Sammy, don't be like that." Joe gently reprimanded his son.
"I'm sorry, Auntie. I just don't want you to leave again and it will be a long time before we meet again." with his head bowed, Sammy spoke the truth.
Hearing this made Viona and Joe sad. The two of them stared at each other before Viona responded to little Sammy again.
"I have to go home tonight. There is one thing that must be resolved. Don't be afraid because I will come back to see you, Little Bee. So, don't be sad like this or I will be sad too." Viona tried to persuade Sammy.
The little guy raised his face, "Really? You're not lying, are you, Aunt Bee?" Sammy wanted to be sure.
Viona nodded while holding out her pinky to the little one, "I promise."
Seeing that made Sammy smile. He quickly linked his pinky with Viona's, "I have your promise, Aunt Bee."
Viona smiled, "Good boy. Now go to sleep, okay? It's very late for a child like you." she praised immediately while gently rubbing Sammy's head.
Smart little Sammy immediately obeyed what his Aunt Bee said. He stepped away towards Ben, who had been watching everything from afar.
After seeing the little one leave with his uncle, Viona stood up straight again to face Joe.
"Mr President, can I use the remaining time to think again? After hearing your explanation, it looks like I have to confirm my decision again," said Viona to Joe.
Joe's forehead looked slightly wrinkled after hearing Viona speak. There was a little hesitation in saying 'yes' to the woman who had attracted his heart for some time.
"I understand that you need time to think, but what about your promise to my son?"
"I mean, I don't care whether you take this job or not, but how would Sammy feel if, in the end, he couldn't see you anymore?"
"Are you going to break his heart again and make me a bad father again in my own son's eyes?"
Viona raised an eyebrow when she heard Joe's words. She didn't like hearing Joe say that as if he doubted her promise.