5:30 p.m. local time. A sudden downpour swept through Jakarta’s business district that afternoon.
Rain came down so hard that it created a thin veil of mist outside the high-rise windows. Employees scrambled for umbrellas, while Kirana found herself stranded at the bus stop in front of the lobby.
"My luck is seriously the worst. I left my umbrella on my desk," Kirana grumbled, pulling her jacket tighter.
Suddenly, a black sedan glided to a stop right in front of the bus stop. The car window slowly rolled down, revealing Aldo’s cold face.
"Get in," Aldo ordered curtly from inside the car.
Without a second thought, Kirana opened the door and climbed into the warm cabin. "Thank goodness you came by, Sir. Otherwise, I might’ve turned into an ice statue."
Aldo didn’t answer. He focused on driving through the city traffic, which was growing heavier by the minute. Inside the car, the atmosphere was quiet and peaceful.
"About earlier in the cafeteria... thanks for standing up for me against Karin," Kirana said softly, breaking the silence. Aldo glanced at Kirana briefly. "She’s an ex who still can’t move on. Don’t listen to her."
"I mean, yeah, but what she said got the whole office talking," Kirana complained, massaging her temples. "Siska’s been hounding me for an explanation all afternoon."
"So, what did you tell Siska?" Aldo asked, curious.
"Of course I didn’t tell her! If I were honest, I could get fired for violating the contract’s confidentiality clause," Kirana replied quickly.
A faint smile touched Aldo’s lips at his assistant’s answer. "Good. Keep that secret until the contract is over."
7:00 p.m. local time. By the time they reached the apartment, the rain outside had grown even more vicious.
Suddenly, all the lights in the apartment unit went out. The room was swallowed by complete darkness.
"Huh?! The power’s out?!" Kirana cried in surprise, groping along the wall in the dark.
"Stay where you are. Don’t wander around," Aldo’s voice sounded close by.
Before Kirana could respond, a warm hand suddenly reached for her wrist. Aldo’s large fingers closed tightly around Kirana’s hand in the darkness.
Kirana’s heart immediately began pounding twice as fast. The warmth spread through her entire body.
"S-Sir? It’s so dark," Kirana squeaked, her voice trembling.
"I’m here," Aldo whispered right beside her ear. His deep baritone sounded incredibly close—and reassuring.
Lightning flashed outside the window, casting a brief glow into the room. In that fleeting light, Kirana could see Aldo’s face hovering extremely close to hers.
Their breaths mingled in the narrow space between them. Kirana swallowed hard, feeling a strange flutter she had never experienced before.
"Sir... we’re too close," Kirana whispered nervously. Aldo didn’t move away. Instead, he brought his face even closer, gazing intently into Kirana’s eyes in the dim night.
"I thought you said no catching feelings," Aldo murmured, challenging the last of Kirana’s defenses.
"I know, but this is different..." Kirana whispered back, running out of words.
Before Kirana could pull away, Aldo’s lips slowly drew near and gently touched hers. A warm kiss in the darkness that shattered every rule of the contract in an instant.