6. Fahira Refuse

The next day, Fahira asked for permission to come to the office late as she had to handle all the paperwork for Ariel's discharge from the hospital. The examination results from the previous night stated that Ariel was allowed to go home with outpatient treatment. Next week, he had to come back to the hospital for his first follow-up check-up, to ensure the success and compatibility of the heart ablation procedure. Many patients faced risks of incompatibility with the implanted devices, and Ariel needed close monitoring by Dr. Gavin until he fully recovered.

After dealing with all the administrative tasks and picking up Ariel's medications, Fahira neatly packed Ariel's change of clothes into a bag while Ariel underwent his final health check-up with the nurse.

"Fahira, I'll be fine at home alone, right?" Ariel asked after the nurse examining him left the hospital room.

"Don't worry, Ariel. Arif will come straight home after school. He already sent a W******p message saying so," Fahira reassured him while putting on a t-shirt and tidying his hair.

"As it happens, I'm leaving too. Come on, I'll give you both a ride," offered Dr. Gavin, who suddenly appeared at the door without their notice.

Fahira immediately stood up from where she was crouching, cleaning the cupboard. "No, Doctor, that's not necessary. We don't want to trouble you. I already booked a Grab for us to go home," Fahira explained, inviting Dr. Gavin to come in.

"Let me," Dr. Gavin insisted, lifting Ariel's bag of clothes from the bed.

"We can manage on our own," Ariel politely declined Dr. Gavin's kind offer. He felt awkward with the doctor's generosity. During the four days in the hospital, Dr. Gavin visited Ariel outside of his working hours multiple times to ensure his well-being. At this time, Dr. Gavin should have gone home already, as Ariel knew he had an afternoon shift.

"It's not right to refuse someone's kindness," Gavin replied warmly with a genuine smile.

Ariel looked at Fahira, seeking her approval, knowing that she wouldn't easily accept help from others.

"Isn't your sister going to the office soon?" Gavin interjected, disregarding Fahira's hesitant gaze.

Reluctantly, they ended up accepting Dr. Gavin's offer and went home together. During the ride, Dr. Gavin initiated conversations to fill the silence. Fahira, sitting in the passenger seat next to Gavin, responded briefly to his conversation.

"By the way, while we're outside the hospital, just call me Gavin, Fahira," Gavin said, paying no attention to her hesitance.

Ariel glanced at Fahira, asking for her consent, as he knew his sister wouldn't easily accept kindness from others.

"Isn't your sister going to the office soon?" Gavin interjected, disregarding Fahira's hesitant gaze.

Reluctantly, they ended up accepting Dr. Gavin's offer and went home together. During the ride, Dr. Gavin initiated conversations to fill the silence. Fahira, sitting in the passenger seat next to Gavin, responded briefly to his conversation.

"Oh, and if we're outside the hospital, just call me Gavin, Fahira," Gavin said, ignoring Fahira's hesitant gaze.

"Sure, Gavin. Thank you for the ride, and I apologize for having to rush to the office," Fahira said and gestured to Ariel to get out of the car.

"It's okay. Take care, Ariel." Gavin replied, nodding at both of them and waving as he drove away from Rusun Mawar.

"Sorry, Mr. Darian, I..."

"Read my agenda for today!" Darian interrupted Fahira as she entered his office.

Fahira lowered her head and trembled as she opened her agenda book with shaking hands. She could feel Darian's intense gaze on her, and it was as if she could hear her heart pounding loudly. Thankfully, Fahira didn't have a heart condition like Fahmi. Without even looking at Darian, Fahira could sense the anger he directed towards her.

Her body trembled even more as Darian stood up and approached her. "Lift your face, Fahira!" Darian commanded in a low but assertive tone.

Slowly, Fahira raised her head. Thump... Their eyes met and they fell silent for a moment. Fahira's heart rebelled, wanting to burst out of her chest as Darian's body got closer. Darian's head leaned towards the left side of Fahira's face, and his warm breath swept over her, making her face even paler.

"Accompany me tonight!" Darian whispered, blowing gently into Fahira's ear, sending shivers down her spine.

"I'm sorry, Sir, I can't, I'm sorry!" Fahira pleaded with a hurt expression, and her eyes immediately welled up. Her self-esteem was shattered into pieces, and she doubted she could ever forgive herself after letting hope arise. She was not a promiscuous woman who sold her body to any man who could pay for it. Fahira was not that kind of woman. But what happened was not Darian's fault; it was her own conscious and non-forced decision to surrender herself.

Darian was taken aback by Fahira's wounded gaze. However, with his arrogance, he reached for Fahira's waist and sniffed her intoxicating scent. "I'll give you anything you want, but... Satisfy me tonight!" Darian said softly while Fahira remained silent, gripping her agenda book tightly, summoning the courage to refuse.

"I'm sorry, but I advise you to prepare for the 11 am meeting," Fahira replied, stepping away from Darian's strong embrace.

Fahira quickly left Darian's office, holding back her almost-falling tears. She walked swiftly to the bathroom, entered one of the stalls, and turned on the faucet. Her body slumped weakly onto the toilet seat as tears streamed down her face. She pressed her chest hard, trying to suppress the pain that seemed to pierce her heart. Soon, she heard footsteps on the floor outside the stall, prompting Fahira to stifle her sobs. She bit her pen to prevent her crying from being heard by the person outside.

Moments later, Mira emerged from the adjacent bathroom stall. She stood in front of the mirror for quite some time, fixing her makeup and appearance.

"Is there anyone here? I keep hearing the faucet running, but I don't see anyone," Mira murmured to herself as she approached Fahira's stall.

"Hello, is there someone in there?" Mira knocked on the stall, and Fahira soon opened the door.

"Oh my God, Fahira, you scared me!" Mira exclaimed, patting her chest while catching her breath. But Mira fell silent when she saw Fahira's reddened eyes.

"I'm okay," Fahira said, walking past Mira before she could bombard her with questions she couldn't answer honestly.

In his office, Darian stood still in the same place as before. How could Fahira dare to reject someone like Darian Mahesa Putra? The CEO and the top person at Putra Corporation. Darian took a deep breath, trying to contain his almost exploding emotions. He couldn't let personal matters ruin his image by destroying his own office.

"Wait for my revenge, Fahira! I will make you kneel at my feet!" Darian muttered, full of vengeance.

Fahira quickly returned to her desk, ignoring the probing gazes of her colleagues, Mira and David, directed at her. The room with five employees was always busy with their respective tasks. There was no usual office banter or camaraderie when Darian was in his office.

Just as Fahira managed to calm her breath and emotions, the mother of the owner of Putra Corporation arrived with her two bodyguards. The woman looked elegant and graceful in a long black dress with a gold-colored accessory hugging her slim waist. Everything she wore looked perfect on her tall and sexy figure. Her beauty seemed to defy time, even though she was in her fifties. As a former international model, she always appeared stunning and fashionable. This time, her blonde hair cascaded beautifully with a glimmering brown hue, perfectly complementing her beautiful brown eyes, which were the same as Darian's.

All the employees immediately stood up, bowing in respect. "Fahira, is Darian in his office?" she asked Fahira politely.

"Yes, Mrs. Yasmin, please go ahead!" Fahira replied politely, walking over to open the door wide for Yasmin, while the two bodyguards stood waiting outside Darian's office.

After Yasmin entered, Fahira returned to her desk. Darian, who was sipping his coffee, almost choked when he saw his mother standing there with her arms folded in front of her chest, her gaze sharp. Darian knew his mother must be angry because he didn't fulfill her request to live with her.

"Hello, My Queen!" Darian greeted, immediately approaching and hugging Yasmin tightly after kissing the back of her hand. Yasmin returned the embrace, gently stroking Darian's back.

"Don't sweet-talk me, young man! Your charms won't change Mommy's decision!" Yasmin released their hug and looked sternly at Darian.

"Your mother is getting old, are you willing to stress her out every day by being alone? Mama wants to witness your wedding day. Mama wants to spend her old age with her grandchildren, please, my dear!" Yasmin pleaded, then cupped Darian's face in her hands. With a loving gaze, Darian held Yasmin's hands from his face and kissed the palms that used to caress him.

"Alright, whatever Mommy wishes, I agree, but..." Darian suspended his sentence, waiting for Yasmin's reaction.

"But what, Darian?" Yasmin asked irritably, releasing her hands from her son's face and shifting to sit on the sofa.

"Give me time until my birthday. If I haven't brought a fiancée for you by then, it's up to you, and I will comply, Mama!" Darian insisted, causing Yasmin's eyes to well up with tears. Darian reached for Yasmin's fingers and kissed them. Yasmin meant everything to Darian. He would do anything to make his only surviving parent happy. Darian was willing to sacrifice his own happiness for Yasmin's smile.

"Alright, I agree, my dear!" Yasmin replied, hugging Darian who sat beside her.

"Oh, by the way, Mommy wants to ask you something important. How has Fahira been as your secretary?" Yasmin said after releasing their embrace, smiling at Darian.

"Fahira?" Darian murmured, surprised that his mother would ask about Fahira. Since Darian took over the company, Yasmin focused on the fashion division, which had been her world since she was a teenager. Moreover, Yasmin often sent her personal assistant to represent her in company meetings every month, except for board of directors meetings.

"You must treat her well, Darian. Mommy needs to ensure that Fahira is doing fine here, as per your late father's final wish before the plane crash that took his life," Yasmin explained, instantly causing Darian's body to freeze in place.