Chapter 7

While waiting for Ariana, who was in the restroom, Chacha was seen helping to organize the files that Ariana had previously arranged. She neatly arranged them from the oldest date to the newest.

Continuing to sort the files, suddenly, a woman's voice was heard from behind. As Chacha turned, she immediately stood up and saluted.

"Mrs. Arabella."

Chacha greeted while bowing respectfully. She was quite surprised to find the mother of Pasific Place's leader suddenly visiting after so long. She wondered what business had brought the queen to their office.

"Is Samuel in his office?" Arabella asked.

"Yes, Ma'am," Chacha quickly replied. "Mr. Samuel is inside with Mr. Axel. It seems they are conducting a performance evaluation. Would you like me to escort you in?"

Arabella shook her head, smiling in response to what Chacha had told her.

"No need. I'll go in by myself. Thank you for the information."

Arabella then walked into the room. After making sure that the queen's presence was out of sight, Chacha sat back down. A few minutes later, Ariana returned from the restroom. As she approached her desk, she grabbed the stack of files, intending to take them to Samuel's office. However, before leaving, she invited her friend, who had been waiting, to talk.

"Aren't you going back to the office? It's getting late. Mr. Andra might look for you," Ariana reminded her. She knew that the head of the division Chacha worked under was quite strict. Being even slightly late could result in a scolding from her friend.

"Yes, I'm going back now," Chacha replied as she stood up. She prepared to leave. "I'll return to the office. See you later this evening. Remember, just go home with me."

Ariana nodded. Once Chacha left, she hurried to Samuel's office. She knocked once, and Samuel immediately opened the door, allowing her to enter. Inside, she realized that Arabella was engaged in a conversation with Samuel.

"Ariana!"

Arabella, noticing Ariana's presence, called out. At first, her face appeared surprised, possibly because she discovered that her future daughter-in-law worked at her son's company.

However, after a few seconds had passed, the look of surprise was replaced by a joyful expression. Arabella even took the trouble to stand up and walked over to Ariana, who seemed awkward and unsure of how to act.

"So, you've been working here all this time? At Samuel's company?"

Ariana didn't respond immediately. Rolling her eyes, she glanced at Samuel, attempting to seek his help so she wouldn't say the wrong thing.

"Yes, Mom," Samuel replied. His words immediately redirected his mother's attention. "Ariana has been working at Pasific Place all this time. She's Samuel's personal secretary."

"And you never once mentioned this to Mama? Not even at the birthday party last year?"

Samuel fell silent for a moment, trying to think hard and find the right words to answer his mother's question. He briefly thought that this moment could be used to make Arabella reconsider her approval of their marriage.

Even though Arabella had never imposed specific criteria for her future son-in-law, Samuel was sure she wouldn't approve of Ariana's true profession. This situation could be used to avoid getting into a marriage that shouldn't happen.

"I'm sorry if Samuel never mentioned anything to Mama before. The two of us deliberately kept this relationship a secret from everyone."

Arabella sighed, looking at Samuel and Ariana in turn, who still stood there hesitating. Then, after a short while, she took a step forward. She approached Ariana, who was standing, and said, "It's okay if you haven't told us anything all this time. Besides, Mama already likes Ariana."

Samuel immediately raised his head, looking at his mother with a questioning expression.

"What do you mean, Mom?"

"Well, Mama doesn't mind if Ariana is your secretary or whoever she is. Mama has never imposed any requirements for the Prawira family's future in-laws. From now on, you and Samuel don't have to hide anymore. Just announce your relationship to everyone."

"Mom!" Samuel interjected, making Arabella turn towards him. "So, does that mean you still approve of our relationship?"

Arabella smiled and nodded.

"Of course. Like I said before, I've already grown fond of Ariana. So, don't forget to bring her for dinner at my place this evening." Arabella smiled again at Ariana. "I'll be waiting for your arrival this evening, Ariana."

After saying that, Arabella chose to leave her son's office. Meanwhile, Samuel, who had ensured his mother's departure, turned his attention to Ariana. In that moment, he glared at his new secretary.

"Why are you so eager to create trouble?"

"Me, causing trouble?" Ariana pointed to herself. "I didn't even know anything about it."

Samuel clenched his jaw tightly. He was about to lose his temper when Axel, who had been in the room all this time, quickly interjected.

"Sir, it seems you can't avoid the event this evening."

"I know," Samuel replied. Then, he refocused on Ariana. "Because you're the one who caused the trouble, now I'm asking you to resolve it."

"But, Mr. Samuel..."

Right then, Samuel raised his right hand, signaling Ariana to stop talking.

"I won't accept any refusal. If you're reluctant, feel free to write a resignation letter to quit Pasific Place."

Ariana swallowed the words she was about to say. She reluctantly accepted Samuel's order.

***

After finishing all her work and deciding to leave early, Ariana, dressed neatly, was ready and waiting for Samuel at their usual meeting spot. She occasionally checked her phone's clock and looked around to find Samuel's car.

Before long, a Ferrari stopped by the side of the road where Ariana was waiting. As Ariana lowered the passenger window, she finally saw that the car belonged to the man she had been waiting for.

Hastily, Ariana opened the car door and just as she settled into the passenger seat, Samuel's complaints filled her ears.

"Don't you have a better dress?"

"Isn't the dress I'm wearing nice enough? It seems quite appropriate for a dinner party."

Samuel sighed and chose not to respond to Ariana's words, focusing instead on driving to their destination.

A few minutes later, instead of heading straight to Arabella's house, Samuel took Ariana to another place.

"Get out," Samuel ordered.

Ariana then unfastened her seatbelt and, looking around, inquired, "Are we having dinner at the mall, sir? I thought we were going to Mrs. Arabella's house as planned."

Samuel sighed, turned to Ariana, and spoke with annoyance. He didn't want to be dealing with his secretary unless he had to.

"Who wants to have dinner here?"

"Then what are we doing here?"

"We're visiting a gravesite. Don't ask too many questions. Now get out and follow me!"

Ariana reluctantly complied. With an irritated expression, she followed Samuel until they arrived at a large and renowned boutique.

"Please find the best dress suitable for my girlfriend to wear this evening," Samuel instructed the boutique attendant.

From this point on, Ariana realized that her boss had taken her here to find clothing first. It was annoying, considering she thought her attire was already quite suitable for a dinner party. For some reason, her boss was being overly critical.

"This is the latest collection in our boutique, sir. You can choose and try on as many as you like," the boutique attendant offered while displaying the featured collection.

"Ariana, quickly choose and put one on. We don't have much time."

Ariana complied. After selecting and trying on various options, she presented them to Samuel. When he approved one and completed the purchase, they continued their journey to Arabella's residence.

Fortunately, the roads were not heavily congested in the late afternoon, and they arrived on time at 7 PM. Upon entering the house, they found Arabella impatiently waiting. She eagerly urged her son and his future daughter-in-law to proceed to the dining room.

"I thought you two weren't coming."

"I told you Samuel would definitely come. I had no doubts," Argadana, Samuel's father, chimed in. He had been a bit annoyed, observing his wife's impatience while waiting for their son to arrive.

"Mama can't wait to meet Ariana. I don't know why, but when Mama meets my future daughter-in-law, I'm always happy and excited," Arabella added.

Ariana smiled, clearly feeling extremely awkward at this moment. She had a sense of discomfort due to the deception she had engaged in with her boss. She could end up regretting this.

"Ariana, so, what about next weekend? Are you coming to Surabaya with us?" Arabella asked while serving rice and dishes onto Samuel and Ariana's plates alternately. She wanted the meal she had prepared specially to be enjoyed by her son and his future daughter-in-law.

"I think I won't be able to make it," Ariana replied, a somewhat sad expression on her face.

"Why not? Why can't you suddenly make it? Did Samuel give you a lot of work? If that's the case, just postpone it. Delay the completion until you return from Surabaya."

Ariana glanced at Samuel, seeking his help and avoiding creating any more trouble. She was tired of listening to Samuel's scolding almost every day. If she had a choice, she wouldn't want to deal with her boss except for work matters.

"I have a personal matter that I can't postpone and leave behind. I'm really sorry for not being able to come."

Arabella sighed deeply, feeling a tinge of disappointment. She had wanted to show off her future daughter-in-law to all her business contacts in Surabaya, but she also understood that Ariana seemed to have an important commitment that couldn't be delayed.

"Okay then. I'll convey your apologies to Mr. William. It's a shame you can't join."

After saying that, they all chose to enjoy their dinner while having conversations. Samuel discussed business matters with his father, while Arabella enjoyed chatting with Ariana.

"So, did you two first meet at Pasific Place?" Arabella asked, curious.

"Yes, Ma'am," Ariana nodded. She tried to maintain a calm demeanor, even though she felt extremely nervous. She wondered why her boss had involved her in this game.

"Then, who confessed their love first? Was it Samuel?" Arabella inquired, which Ariana promptly answered with a nod.

"It might have been Mr. Samuel. I mean, he seemed to be struck by love at first sight. Because after our first meeting, he regularly greeted me and approached me."

Arabella laughed, imagining how her famously stiff son had approached a woman.

"Samuel falling in love is a big surprise, and not just Samuel – Mama and the business associates who met you for the first time immediately liked you," she said.

"That's true," Argadana agreed. "In terms of personality, Ariana fits perfectly into the Prawira family. I never expected Samuel to find a wife as friendly and charming as Ariana. We even thought this troublemaker had no interest in women."

"Samuel is not gay, Dad!"

Everyone at the dining table burst into laughter, until Arabella spoke to her son again.

"So, Samuel, when can Mama and Papa meet Ariana's parents to propose? I hope you arrange the timing soon."

Samuel immediately choked on the water he was drinking. He hadn't expected this matter to become more complicated and headache-inducing. At that moment, he wondered if he should continue lying or end the game he had created.