3 Get The Project!

"Why did you come?" asked Adam who was confused by the arrival of Yara, his ex-girlfriend, who claimed to be a representative of PT Creative Persada. "Yesterday, Bu Oni said she would do the interior design of my house.”

Yara wanted to curse profusely. Was she the one who offered to work on this project?

"May I sit down first, Pak Adam? Let me try to help explain everything to you." Yara deliberately used formal language so that Adam would know that her presence at the restaurant that afternoon was purely business, no ulterior motives.

"Oh, yes, sure." Adam could only nod and sit back down after Yara sat across from him.

"Please order food first, Bu Yara," Adam offered, trying to give the same professionalism.

Yara nodded, took the menu book and ordered Berry Island Fantasy.

"Didn't order food?" Adam noticed Yara who looked much more mature than in high school.

"Thank you, Pak. I have no appetite," she said, throwing a faint smile on her lips, so thin that maybe no one noticed it, except for Adam who knew very well that that smile was the smile Yara usually showed when she felt bad or awkward to be stuck in a situation.

"Can you explain where is Bu Oni who previously arranged an appointment with me?"

"Mbak Oni was rushed to the hospital this morning, Pak. It is possible that she will give birth prematurely. That's why I was appointed by the company to replace Mbak Oni."

"Why you? Did you ask your company, because you know that I will be your client?"

"What? Hei, don't say anything carelessly. Who are you that I have to beg to do this project because of you?" Yara suddenly became emotional after hearing Adam's words and made her ignore the professionalism she had been care for. Her tone dropped from the highest level of politeness to the lowest level of politeness.

Adam pulled one corner of his lips up, looking like he was belittling the woman in front of him. "Then why did you get chosen instead of Bu Oni? It's too coincidental, right? It's only natural that I suspect."

Yara rolled her eyes. "Yes, it's appropriate. From the beginning, you were suspicious, you never believed in people," she quipped. Yara remembers how Adam accused her of cheating, and turned a deaf ear when Yara explained everything.

"I can just cancel this project."

"You think I'm going to cry begging me to keep this project going? Go ahead. Tell Pak there if you want to cancel. And tonight I'm going to have a party."

"Yara! Why are you still so childish?"

Yara shrugged, answering Adam's question nonchalantly. "Maybe because I'm the youngest child who is always loved by everyone." And because of his behavior, she spilled a bit of the Berry Island Fantasy that she was sipping.

Adam laughed at Yara's behavior. "Yara ... Yara ...." He handed Yara a tissue while still laughing and shaking his head. "So, give me a logical reason, why were you the one appointed by the company? If you don't want me to think you want to meet me."

'Fuck! His confidence is too high!' Yara cursed in her heart.

"You're the one who chose my design, after Mbak Oni's design. This is how it will turn out. If Mbak Oni can't work on it for one reason or another, I'll be the one to replace her."

Adam looked thoughtful. Indeed, when he visited the company's office for the first time, he was given some of the company's interior designer portfolios. He was asked to choose two works that best suit his taste.

What Adam just knew, the second portfolio he chose was Yara's. He was actually confused at that time to determine which one to choose. Yara's portfolio even almost had time to be chosen as the first, but he canceled it because something was bothering him. Yara almost certainly gives a touch of natural stone in every work, and that makes Adam unsure, because he himself prefers a modern minimalist design.

"Are you sure you can do my house? You don't hold a grudge against me, do you? It wouldn't be funny if the design of my house was destroyed because the interior designer I used was my ex who still holds a grudge."

"Grudge.?" Yara laughed when she heard that.

"Yara, I'm serious. My future wife can't get involved in this interior design matter because she doesn't understand, she leaves it completely to me. And I don't want to let her down."

Yara's heart felt like it was being squeezed. No, not because she still loves Adam. She just couldn't accept seeing Adam live happily. And what did he say? Future wife? The man already has a future wife, building a house that they will live in together. Meanwhile, Yara drowned in the failure of her relationship many times due to the curse spoken by Adam long ago.

But wait! Didn't Adam first swear that she could only marry after seeing Adam on the aisle? This means that this is the right time to encourage the man to get married, and her turn will come.

Yara is smiling. "What kind of grudge, Dam? Geez, our relationship ended years ago."

"Ra, I've known you for years, I know the meaning of your every smile. I don't think I can leave the interior design of my house to you. Thank you for your time, Ra. I'll contact Pak Ranu later to let you know the results of our meeting." Adam then walked away from Yara's presence.

Yara was silent for a few seconds until she realized that Adam had really left her and was now seen paying their orders at the cashier.

"Wait! What? He turned me down?"

***

Yara stepped unsteadily as she entered her office. He could imagine how his boss and uncle would react when he found out that Yara had foiled one of their projects.

"Ra, the boss said that you should go straight to his room as soon as you arrive," said Nana to which Yara nodded immediately.

She took a deep breath before knocking on her uncle's room.

"Why are you staring at the door?" asked Ranu who had not been in his room for a long time.

"Want to face Pak Ranu," he answered with a sweet (pretentious) smile.

"Come on in."

Ranu was sitting in his study chair, not on the sofa, and that meant he was in serious mode. Yara who saw him sighed heavily again.

"So how did the story? This is your first time, Ra. And it's a small project, but you failed to get it."

"Yes, because it's a small project, just let it go, Om. Next time I promises to get a bigger project."

"The value of this project is indeed small, Ra. But do you know what the implications are? Our client is the Development Manager at an international hotel chain, Yara. It is possible that he will use our services for his hotel, if you can finish his house with good results."

Yara was silent, in a corner of her heart she also didn't accept being kicked out of the project just for personal reasons.

"So, why did our client refuse you to work on the project?"

This is the time for Yara to release her tears that can melt everyone in her family. And fortunately, Yara is not a person who is difficult to shed tears. A few seconds later the corners of her eyes were wet and she was shedding tears.

Ranu gasped at the sight in front of Yara. If her sister finds out that he made Yara cry, he could be beaten to death, especially his brother-in-law who is overprotective of his children.

"Yara, why are you crying? I just asking."

"He's my ex, Om. And he doesn't want me to work on his house because he's afraid I'll mess up."

Ranu patted his forehead. "Yara ... Yara ..., if you’re not my niece, I will definitely give you a warning letter."

Yara chuckled even though her tears were still flowing.

"Ok. You have two options now, Ra. Try to get this project again, or I must sending you to work on a resort project in Papua."

"Oh my gosh, Om Ranu! I haven't even been a month back after working on a resort in Manado. How can you be so mean to me? If this is the case, I'll just resign, looking for another company that is more civilized."

Ranu shrugged. For work matters like this, Ranu is sure that his brother and sister-in-law will not interfere.

"It's up to you, Ra. I don't insist. I wait for the results next week. You have to be able to bring certainty. Our client agrees that you work on the house, or you have to pack for Papua."

----

Author’s note:

-The setting in this novel is Jakarta, Indonesia.

-‘Mbak’ is a nickname for an older sister or another woman which is more older to maintain good manners.

-‘Om’ has the same meaning as uncle.

-‘Pak’ is used to address father or older men in a more formal setting.

-‘Bu’ is used to address mother or older woman in a more formal setting.