chapter 02

Hello everyone, happy reading!

—♡

Juliana went home early today, as Mr. William said yesterday, Juliana was invited to attend a dinner at Mr. Abimanyu's house. Today's dinner is actually to commemorate the wedding day of Mr. Abhimanyu and his wife, Mrs. Arini. This year was the first year that their wedding anniversary was held soberly by inviting only relatives, because the previous year Mr. Abimanyu was still in office, so they held quite a large party every year with a large capacity to accommodate all office employees.

Juliana was invited maybe just for formality, because last year, Juliana took part in the wedding anniversary of Mr. Abimanyu and Mrs. Arini.

Juliana did light make-up on her face, the woman's hair was left flowing neatly back, then for the final touch, the woman linked a silver necklace with a small pendant that looked simple and luxurious at the same time because the gems on the pendant seemed to shine on the skin of Juliana's slender neck even though with its small size.

Juliana often gets dresses like this to wear on certain occasions. This dress is just a loan, usually after the event is over, Juliana will return the dress and various knick-knacks back to the Guntoro family to be returned to the boutique they subscribe to to rent. Sometimes Juliana even comes alone to choose the dress to be rented.

After being satisfied with her current appearance, Juliana finally reached for her cell phone when she heard the flat object vibrate, indicating an incoming call.

Juliana closed her eyes for a moment, neutralizing her breath when she saw whose name was on her cellphone at this time.

Mr. William called, for what? Juliana will also go alone without having to be called in advance. Juliana really wanted to let the cellphone vibrate to death by itself, but she was afraid that Mr. William had something important to say.

Juliana finally worked up the courage to pick up the phone.

"Hello, Juliana?" A hoarse voice on the other end immediately sounded greeting. The voice that Juliana knew very well.

"Good evening sir, how can I help you?" asked Juliana immediately, the woman started moving to take a bag and put several objects that she would take with her into the bag.

"Have you finished dressing up? I'm in front of your apartment." William's voice was like lightning that suddenly struck Juliana. Juliana choked, her agile movements of her hands stopped instantly.

What was that man doing in front of Juliana's apartment? Good grief.

Juliana was not heard to answer for a long time, William became exasperated, the man spoke again.

"I'll be waiting in the car, please take your time to get dressed quietly, we're in no hurry."

The telephone connection seemed to be disconnected unilaterally, Juliana had not even said anything to reject Mr. William. Besides, why did William have to bother picking up Juliana? Yes, Juliana knew that man had feelings for Juliana, but if it was one-sided and forced like this? Juliana was annoyed with herself. The woman looked like she was doing a very long grin as she cleaned up the bag she was going to carry.

Juliana finally came out of her apartment, the woman walked towards the main lobby door. The woman screamed in her heart when she saw Mr. William already standing right next to her car. The tall man with not too white skin seemed to be looking at Juliana from top to bottom with a look that I don't know, because they were already looking at each other, Juliana couldn't help but finally approach Mr. William's car, even though the woman's heart was now beating wildly.

Assisted by William, Juliana opened the front passenger door. The woman got into the car, she glanced behind her when she realized that there was another person sitting in the passenger seat at the back, a boy who might have been five years old. The boy looked back at Juliana with glazed eyes. This kid is very similar to Mr. William, really. Even the way the boy looked at Juliana was really like the way Mr. William looked at Juliana, exactly the same. Juliana shuddered to herself, feeling scary being stared at so closely by a child.

"That's my son." Mr. William, who had just entered the car and saw Juliana who was staring at the back seat, smiled and then seemed to introduce the boy to Juliana.

Juliana has indeed heard the news that Mr. William already has a child from his ex-wife, but he doesn't even know what the child is like and how big it is, it turns out that Mr. William's child is still a small child, Juliana thought maybe Mr. William's child has already started school elementary now, but look at the small child who was sitting behind this time, Juliana was sure that the child had not even gone to school yet.

"He's a bit cowardly, so don't stare at him like that Juliana."

Mr. William, who realized that Juliana was staring at his child intensely like that, then reprimanded him, making Juliana immediately wake up and turn her attention to Mr. William, who was now starting to focus on the road in front of him.

Juliana grimaced to herself, was she really that scary to the point of being able to frighten Mr. William's son? Hey, Juliana is not a monster under the bed that is usually feared by children of William's age.

"His name is Ishak."

Mr. William returned to his voice after the silence undermined the vacuum car.

Juliana glanced at Mr. William then glanced back, to be precise at the boy who was watching the street from the window, his name was Ishak? Seriously, what kind of coincidence is this?

"Similar to your name, isn't it? I also think that's fate." Mr. William chuckled after saying that.

While Juliana turned her attention back from the child to Mr. William who had just said the most absurd thing Juliana had ever heard, what fate? Oh look, that guy even looks like he's laughing too. Great! Juliana really hated this man next to her.

"Not at all sir, my name is Juliana," said Juliana trying to avoid it, the woman looked away, diverting attention to the night streets.

"Your name is Juliana Isha, right? Isha and Ishak are almost alike," William answered.

Juliana managed not to answer, to be honest the woman was also surprised when she heard the name of Mr. William's son, very similar to his name. Isha, Juliana's nickname at home, only her family uses that nickname.

"Sorry sir, but next time, you don't have to pick me up like this, I feel bad." Juliana finally said the thing that had made her feel irritated.

"Next time? So you have plans to go with me again next time?" William stared at Juliana from the side, Juliana also did the same thing when she heard Pak William's narrative just now, both of them stared at each other.

Mr. William this time didn't seem to smile or laugh at all anymore, was he really serious about what he just said? Seriously.

"No, it's not like that sir, I mean," answered Juliana panicked.

"Ah, even though I was thinking about where to take you after this." Mr. William then turned his attention back to the street ahead. This time, no more smiles or laughter emerged from William's face, Juliana felt strange with herself.

"I'm sorry if you made me feel uncomfortable Juliana, I'm just trying to be nice, besides my house and your apartment are in the same direction if you want to go to Papa's house," explained William afterwards.

Juliana gulped her saliva which even felt numb, the woman really didn't know what to do anymore. Even if she felt guilty, Juliana still felt that she was not at all wrong in expressing her discomfort, but she actually felt guilty now.

"I mean, you should have been able to contact me first, not immediately suddenly parked in front of my apartment, if I had been out for a long time, it's a pity your son will have to wait a long time." Juliana finally gave the most logical reason she ever said.

Mr. William finally glanced at Juliana again, the man was seen smiling. Don't ask Juliana why the man is smiling. Juliana didn't know either.

"I'm glad you care about my son. It's good that you don't hate him."

Juliana was shocked half to death, why did Juliana have to hate a child like that? What's in it for Juliana? After all, Ishak wasn't fussy or anything that could make Juliana hate the child.

"Why should I hate your son, sir?" asked Juliana, she was really curious where William's thoughts were coming from.

"Because you hate me so I thought maybe you hate my son too? That's why you looked at him with that look."

"I don't hate you, I also see Ishak funny, how could I hate him." Juliana shook her head quickly, totally refuting William's statement just now.

"You really don't hate me?" asked William again.

"Then that means you won't mind if I still like and try to be close to you right?" asked William later.

"It's up to you," answered Juliana resignedly, the man next to her is really good at turning sentences back and forth. Hearing Juliana's surrender, William smiled broadly, the man seemed to have received the green light even though in a way that seemed deceptive.

•••

To be counted