4

“It's done,” Aamber placed the files on Aaron's desk.

“Thanks,” Aaron smiled at his younger sister. “How is she?”

“She was confused,” Aamber sneered. “All of this is too easy. If I were her, I would be confused as well and you made me violate company rules in recruiting employees.”

Aaron smiled wryly. “This company is mine and I also have the right to determine the application of these rules.”

Aamber shrugged her shoulders. “Yeah. After all, who am I, you could say you started this company for that girl. Now your wish has been fulfilled, Aaron.”

“Call me White when you're here.”

Aamber grimaced. “She will surely know one day, Aaron,” Aamber stubbornly continued to call her brother by his first name. “Our father is arguably a big name businessman. Someday she will definitely be able to connect your name with Dad and your identity will definitely be exposed.”

Aaron was silent and did not deny the truth that was evident in Aamber's words, his eyes wandering. “She'll find out, later, after I sort things out for her.”

“And you think she will thank you later?”

Aaron shook his head and smiled. “It is not about giving and gratitude. It's about debt paid, Aamber. And there is never anyone who is obliged to be grateful for the debt that has been paid. There is, it is the person in debt who is obliged to say thank you.”

Aamber sighed, looking sadly at her brother. “I can only pray for you, I hope all is well,” and surrender everything to God, continued Aamber to herself. Even though she was starting to feel unsure, because if it is like people say that God is Most Forgiving, why did He let her brother bear his sins and guilt for years?

_______________

“This is your room.” An older woman pointed out a small room in the corner located on the top floor of the majestic building.

“The entire board of directors is eight people—including you, we are in charge of facilitating the activities of the owner of this company, namely Mr. White. Your job is to help Alin, the secretary of the board of directors, especially since she is going on maternity leave in a few months. You must be able to back up all her work while she is on leave. So now she will be your mentor,” said the woman, who turned out to be Mrs. Joy. She shrugged at a young woman whom Laurel had never seen before.

Alin, the beautiful young woman who looks plump because of her big pregnancy, smiles at her and Laurel is relieved that her mentor looks really nice. “Mrs. Joy may seem harsh, but she's so nice, she's practically the deputy managing director here. She handles everything when Mr. White is not there,” Alin explained with a smile as they sat together and Alin explained her duties.

“The owner of this company is called Mr. White?” Laurel already knew the truth, because yesterday she was curious to buy and read various business magazines concerning this company. In accordance with the lecturer's statement when exemplifying this company as a course material, the owner of this company is still young. Young and bright because he was able to build such a successful business in such a short time.

“Yes, you'll often see him later, especially when I'm on maternity leave. You could say your job is to manage all his schedules and needs.” Alin smiled and her eyes wandered. “Don't worry, Mr White is not as serious as Mrs Joy, he is very kind and calm, never explodes with anger… and is very handsome because his mother is of Spanish blood, imagine those sexy Spanish men.” Alin blinked mischievously. “Even though he was a little gloomy, it was like something was always on his mind, making it hard for him to smile, but even so…,” Alin blinked her eyes again, “he is the most targeted young man here, his mysterious impression makes him even more fans. Unfortunately he is so secretive, never seen him close to anyone.”

Laurel frowns. Young, rich, successful and bright, but never close to a single woman?

Alin laughed, could read what was on Laurel's mind. “He's not gay,” she whispered softly. “This is actually a secret, but I did arrange some of his meetings with beautiful women from high rank. But their relationship was casual, Mr White never had a long relationship with one woman.” Alin sighed dramatically. “That handsome guy and you can't fall for him, Laurel. Instead of you being heartbroken, like some of the employees here who dare to harbor feelings for Mr. White. They all ended up heartbroken, because Mr. White would not even glance at them.”

I'm not going to fall in love with that 'Mr White'. Laurel smiled, thinking to herself, from her story, the man sounded too perfect. Perfect and gloomy, she corrected, was not at all Laurel's ideal type of man, because the lover she dreamed of was an ordinary man, who was cheerful and could make her laugh all the time. And that man is not Mr White, I will never fall for him, she thought. Laurel was sure. Even though human beliefs can sometimes conflict with God's will….

_______________

She's here.

Aaron swallowed hard, feeling ridiculous for his nervousness. Jeez! He, who had been facing so many people with confidence, now felt nervous just because an ordinary woman wouldn't even recognize him. Aaron cleared his throat to calm himself.

However, this woman is not an ordinary woman, this woman who, whether consciously or not, has changed his entire life, has changed his whole way of seeing life. This woman has now become Aaron's goal in life. Her happiness is Aaron's goal in life. After taking a deep breath, Aaron stepped into the office of the staff director. Mrs. Joy was standing by the door and nodding at him immediately.

“Good morning, Mr White,” she greeted respectfully.

Aaron nodded imperceptibly, his eyes rolling around the room, where's Laurel? She's supposed to start work today, right?

Mrs. Joy seemed to realize what Aaron was looking for, she was one of Aaron's confidants who knew about his boss's plan when he entered Laurel in this company. “She's in the bathroom, Mr. White.”

Aaron nodded, feeling a little embarrassed that his deputy director realized what he was looking for.

“Have her face me later,” he muttered after clearing his throat and stepping into the room.

Inside the room, Aaron found it so hard to concentrate, he repeatedly cast anxious glances at the door. Why is Laurel taking so long? Aaron felt that it was the seconds of this meeting that would determine his future steps. He had to make sure that Laurel wouldn't recognize him. Of course he still had to run the risk that Laurel would recognize him anyway. Who can measure the strength of a person's memory? Moreover, memories of bad events will usually stick more strongly. And if Laurel recognized him, then it was all over.

Aaron felt his heart beat, he wouldn't be ready. He wouldn't be ready if Laurel recognized him and then hated him, with the same resentment that had been shown in their first meeting in the past. Hope Laurel doesn't recognize him.

Aaron was still chanting the brief prayer over and over like a mantra, when a soft knock on the door distracted him. “Enter,” he muttered with anticipation.