Aldo's luxury car was parked neatly in the apartment basement. The atmosphere inside the cabin had remained utterly silent since what happened at the house in Menteng earlier.
Kirana immediately opened the car door and hurried out. She wanted to escape the CEO's intimidating aura as quickly as possible.
"Wait, Kirana," Aldo called coldly from behind the wheel.
Kirana stopped in annoyance. She turned to face Aldo, who had just caught up with her.
"What now, Sir? You want a follow-up kiss in the basement parking lot?!" Kirana snapped without a filter.
Aldo stared at her impassively, then held out a small paper bag. "Take this upstairs."
Kirana eyed the paper bag suspiciously. "What's this? A bribe so I won't complain about what happened this afternoon?"
"It's not a bribe," Aldo replied calmly as he walked past her. "It's the sweet martabak with cheese and condensed milk you ordered for Saturday night."
Kirana blinked rapidly. Her anger evaporated the instant she heard the words sweet martabak.
9:00 p.m. local time. The apartment living room.
The flat-screen TV displayed a colorful children's cartoon. Large, adorable animal characters were singing cheerfully on-screen.
Kirana sat cross-legged on the soft carpet with a large box of sweet martabak in her lap. She stared at the television screen in horror.
"So... this famously cold and intimidating CEO of a multinational company... likes watching cartoons for toddlers?" Kirana asked in disbelief.
Aldo sat on the sofa directly behind Kirana, sipping a cup of hot tea. He looked completely at ease as he enjoyed the show.
"This is how I unwind," Aldo replied casually. "My brain needs a break from all those financial reports and numbers."
Kirana shook her head in disbelief. "Classic excuse. But if this secret gets out to the people at the office, your dignified image is going to nosedive."
"That's why you need to keep this secret safe," Aldo replied with a faint smile. "Where's my bite of martabak?"
Kirana snorted, then picked up a piece of martabak and held it to Aldo's mouth. "Here. Eat plenty so you won't keep coming up with crazy ideas."
Aldo accepted the bite calmly. His eyes remained fixed on the television, which was showing a hilarious chase scene.
The atmosphere suddenly felt so comfortable and peaceful. There was no more tension from the work contract or the charade in front of his family.
"Kirana," Aldo called softly amid the silence.
"Hmm?" Kirana answered with her mouth full of cheese.
"About what happened this afternoon at my parents' house... thank you for cooperating so well."
Kirana stopped chewing. She glanced over her shoulder at Aldo's black eyes, which looked much gentler than usual that night.
"You're welcome, Sir," Kirana replied softly, trying to calm her heart as it began acting up again. "It's in the contract, after all."
"I'm not talking about the contract," Aldo corrected in his low baritone. "I'm thanking you for making that house feel alive for the first time."
His words struck Kirana squarely in the chest. For a moment, she forgot how to breathe.
Kirana quickly turned back toward the television. She couldn't let herself get emotionally invested. This was all just part of the thirty-day game.
"It's late. Time for bed!" Kirana called as she hurried to her feet with the box of martabak. "Tomorrow, it's your turn to wash the dishes, Sir!"
Aldo merely gave a faint smile as he watched his flustered assistant.