“Marry me, and I’ll take care of all your problems.”
Kinanti looked up at the man towering over her desk. Without answering his question, she lowered her head back onto the desk.
“I’ll wait 24 hours. After that, I won’t make this offer again. And I’ll never help you, even if you beg.”
Kinan looked up again, meeting the black irises in front of her.
“Tha—”
Before Kinan could finish, Angga turned and walked away from her.
Kinan wanted to scream at the mess her life had become. Dear God, wasn’t there any other choice? Both options were impossible.
“Mr. Angga or prison? And the worst part is, those debt collectors could drag me into it and turn me into a prostitute.”
“Ki, this report has to be finished by this afternoon.”
Kinanti stared at the stack of folders on the desk. “I’ll do my best.” Kinan’s voice was weak.
Nindia looked at Kinan sympathetically. “If I were you, I’d accept Mr. Angga’s offer.”
“You’re crazy. Accepting that offer would be the same as throwing myself into the deepest abyss. I’d drown and never be able to get back out.”
“Tsk. Drama queen. What’s so hard about loving a handsome boss like Mr. Angga?”
“Handsome? Love? Go away. I want to finish this report. I’ll be even more wrecked if I keep talking about him. What about his wife and kid? If I accept his offer, I’ll be branded a homewrecker.”
Nindi left Kinan, who was still frowning. “She’s got a point. Being labeled a homewrecker is scarier than anything,” Nindi thought.
Kinan’s phone vibrated several times. She only glanced at it, reluctant to pick up. It had to be that debt collector. “That damn Lisa. Because of her, I’m being harassed by debt collectors,” Kinan grumbled.
“Ki, help me. I’m out of money. My reputation could tank if I eat at a street-food stall, buy knockoff bags, or keep wearing the same clothes. What am I supposed to tell my followers?”
“Ugh, Lis, your debt is already huge. What’s the point of all this image-building when you’re actually running around like a chicken with its head cut off? Just live a normal life and ditch that social media that’s wrecking your finances!” Kiara snapped, annoyed that Lisa kept harassing her.
“This is my business, Ki. What else can I do for work? You’re still better off—you have office skills.” Lisa continued coaxing her.
“But promise me you’ll pay it off in installments. I’m letting you borrow under my name again.”
“I always pay in installments, Ki. You really don’t trust me?” Lisa muttered as she snatched Kinanti’s phone.
After fiddling with Kinan’s phone for a while, Lisa handed it back. “Here, take a picture of your face first.”
“Thanks. I promise I’ll start paying it off next month.”
After handing back the phone, Lisa immediately left Kinan’s room. Kinan could only stare in shock. “Lis, you’re already drowning in debt. What the hell did you need all that money for?”
But Kinan’s shout received no answer because Lisa’s car had already left the garage.
What made Kinan even more frantic was that Lisa had been gone for three months, vanishing off the face of the earth. Worse, Lisa had mortgaged Kinan’s only house, too. Kinan had been given one week to leave. It was the house her parents had left her after they died when Kinan was still in middle school.
Her workload distracted Kinan from her tangled thoughts, and before she knew it, the workday was over.
Kinan gathered up the documents, intending to continue the unfinished work tomorrow.
“Come on, Ki. Let’s go together.”
“Wait. Let’s wait for the boss.”
Not long afterward, the main office door opened. Kinan looked at the arrogant face in the doorway, and for a moment, their eyes met. Kinan looked away and stared at the floor, remembering her problems all over again.
“God, why does he have to be the one who can help me?” Kinan cursed silently.
Nindia pulled Kinan along, following Angga toward the elevator. Inside, the three of them were awkwardly silent. Luckily, Nindia broke the tension.
“Sir, don’t forget—we have the morning meeting tomorrow.”
“Hmm.”
That was all the arrogant man muttered.
“Oh, right, Sir. Tomorrow’s meeting will decide whether our tender is accepted. If it is, the company usually gives us a travel allowance. Where do you think we should go, Sir?” Nindia asked.
“Where do you want to go, Ki?” Angga’s question made Kinan stammer.
“Why are you asking me, Sir?”
“You don’t want to go? Note that down, Nind. That’ll save us some money.”
The man quickly exited the elevator, leaving the two women confused.
“What the—? Tsk.”
Kinanti clicked her tongue and stomped her foot lightly, making Angga’s lips twitch without her noticing.
Angga enjoyed messing with Kinan, the girl who had rejected him so many years ago.
Nindi could only grimace. She knew what had happened between Kinan and Angga in the past. And now the universe had brought them together again under entirely different circumstances.
Angga got straight into the car waiting in front of the lobby. His eyes caught sight of two large men sitting on Kinan’s motorcycle.
The man rubbed his jaw, a crooked smile spreading across his face.