Arion had driven her for more than three kilometers. Clemira was calmer now, even though her mind was full of questions. Where was he taking her tonight?
"Ar..." Clemira whispered. In the midst of her fear, she wrapped her arms more tightly around Arion's waist.
Arion murmured something, but Clemira couldn't hear him over the noise of the other vehicles. "Ar, where are we going?" Clemira asked again, but Arion didn't answer.
Until Arion's big bike stopped in front of a...
Hotel? What hotel?
Clemira's brow furrowed deeply. This was way outside her expectations.
"I figured it would be safer here. The hotel's pretty decent, and there won't be any police raids even if it's a little more expensive. That's okay, right? There's no way I could tell you to stay at my house, even with the maid there. I don't dare take the risk."
"So you're just leaving me here? Ar, I'm still shaking!"
"No, I already told Mom I was staying at a friend's place!"
Clemira nodded repeatedly, putting everything in Arion's hands. She got off the bike and followed Arion toward the hotel lobby.
"We won't run into any neighbors here, right, Ar? That'd be a disaster. They've already been gossiping that I'm pregnant with your baby, and now I'm checking into a hotel with you. My name could become even more notorious around the neighborhood."
"I don't know either, but hopefully not. Come on!" Arion held out his hand, and this time Clemira didn't refuse it.
They should have booked separate rooms. But Clemira shook her head. It would be better to get a twin room with two separate single beds. And, like an idiot, Arion went along with it. They seemed safer here anyway, and besides, they hadn't run into a single person they knew.
The moment they entered the room, Arion and Clemira suddenly got goosebumps.
"Cle..."
Clemira held a pillow in her lap. She had been watching Arion intently, committing all that man's kindness to memory.
"I'm so restless," Clemira complained.
Arion nodded. "I feel like such a sinner bringing Mr. Jayadi's daughter to a hotel," he grimaced.
Clemira nodded. "Oh God, forgive Your servant..."
"Amen," Arion replied. He began to lie down on the bed, then stared up at the hotel ceiling.
He was willing to spend five hundred thousand for one night just to keep Clemira safe.
Only a few minutes later, Arion turned and found Clemira fast asleep.
At this rate, the distance Arion had intended to erase yesterday had vanished without a trace.
Ding.
Arion looked at his phone. He had a job out of town and would have to leave for several days. As a photographer, Arion often got jobs creating content for influencers. Usually, photographers who worked with well-known influencers or had their own brand could charge high rates per session or per day. And Arion wasn't about to waste a source of income.
He could make five hundred thousand for a single project, or two to three million for a full-day event.
That was why he was completely serious about Clemira, even though the girl beside him kept rejecting him.
"I'll really give up if you meet a guy who's more worthy of you and better able to protect you after this, Clemira."
Meanwhile, Galang snorted when he found no sign of Clemira returning, even after watching her for hours. Yes, Galang had installed a surveillance camera on the front porch of Clemira's house.
It sounded shameless, but he enjoyed doing it.
"Dad..." Rafa woke up. It was eleven, and he found his dad still awake.
"Yeah, Rafa. Do you need something?" Galang asked, looking at his son.
Rafa nodded. "I can't sleep anymore. Why hasn't Mom called yet, Dad? Mom usually calls every day. Are you two fighting?"
Galang shook his head.
"Dad's not fighting with Mom. Come on. I'll stay with you until you fall asleep."