Carlo's eyes widened when he saw his roughly seven employees staring in the direction of him and Caramel. He immediately removed the arm that had been draped around the girl's shoulders.
Some of his employees stared at him in confusion, some grinned, and others pretended not to see anything.
“Hi, everyoneee… I’m your boss’s future wife. So watch yourselves, okay? Don’t mess around with my baby boo!” Caramel suddenly shouted, making her own announcement.
“Caramel!” Carlo glared at the unhinged girl. Caramel only grinned.
Carlo immediately walked out while saying, “Don’t start any rumors! She’s my younger cousin!”
Caramel chased after Carlo, sulking. “Why did you tell them I’m your younger cousin?”
Carlo ignored the girl and continued walking out of the lobby.
“There’s your cab.” Carlo pointed.
Still, he escorted Caramel all the way into the car. Before she got in, she pinched Carlo’s cheek, and the man immediately slapped her hand away.
“Thanks, handsome older guy. Don’t forget our first date tomorrow.”
“That isn’t a first date,” Carlo replied.
“Fine, then—a first dinner with a first kiss. Bye, darling. See you, love youuu.” Caramel got into the car, and Carlo finally let out a relieved sigh.
Carlo had arrived at the restaurant where he was meeting Eddy Wiyoko, a businessman in his fifties who had been involved in the business world for quite some time. The middle-aged man was already seated in one of the private rooms, reading several documents that had been in his hands for a while.
“Sorry, Mr. Eddy. There was a slight issue at the office,” Carlo said as he shook the man’s hand.
“No problem, Carlo. I only got here a few minutes ago,” Eddy replied warmly.
Meyna shook Eddy’s hand after Carlo introduced her as the secretary who would help take notes during their meeting.
After a little small talk, Carlo opened his laptop and began presenting the partnership proposal he had spent the past few weeks preparing. He spoke calmly and methodically. He explained the partnership concept, the strategies they would use, the targets they hoped to achieve, and even the potential obstacles that might arise once the project got underway.
Unlike when he was dealing with Caramel, who could make his head throb every five seconds, Carlo looked like a completely different person in front of a client.
Calm.
Focused.
Professional.
There were no strange remarks.
No lollipops.
No green hair.
And most importantly, there was no one suddenly asking if he was willing to become the father of her children.
Meyna, seated beside him, occasionally helped show Eddy the data he needed. She also jotted down several questions that came up during the presentation.
After nearly an hour, Carlo finally wrapped up his presentation.
“Well, that’s more or less everything, Mr. Eddy. I’ve included the detailed figures and projections in the proposal I sent earlier. If there’s anything you’d like to discuss further, I’m happy to explain.”
Eddy leaned back in his chair and nodded.
“I like the way you explain things.”
Carlo gave a faint smile.
“Thank you, sir.”
“Not just the presentation. I like the way you built everything.”
Carlo looked slightly confused.
“What do you mean?”
Eddy picked up the proposal in front of him and tapped the cover.
“Before this meeting, I took some time to read your profile and portfolio.”
Carlo listened in silence.
“I saw that you weren’t someone who suddenly landed in your current position because of your family name.”
Carlo smiled faintly.
“I really did start from the bottom, sir.”
“I know. You started in a much lower position before eventually building your own company.”
“Yes.”
“Then you know what hard work feels like.”
Carlo nodded.
“If you want something, you have to fight for it.”
Eddy smiled broadly.
“That’s what I look for in a business partner.”
The man then held out his hand to Carlo.
“I agree to the partnership.”
Carlo, who had been calm until then, immediately looked relieved.
“Seriously, sir?”
“Seriously. I’ve studied your proposal. The numbers work, the strategy is clear, and I believe you can carry it out.”
Carlo clasped Eddy’s hand firmly.
“Thank you so much, sir. I won’t let you down.”
Eddy laughed.
“I’m confident you’ll deliver excellent results.”
Meyna smiled as she watched Carlo looking so satisfied.
For Carlo, all the hard work he had done over the years was not something to be taken lightly. He had built everything bit by bit, starting from the bottom, without significant help from his family.
Maybe that was also why he was always so serious about his work.
Too serious, even.
Eddy suddenly chuckled.
“But Carlo, I have one piece of advice.”
Carlo raised an eyebrow.
“What advice, sir?”
“Find yourself a companion.”
Carlo fell silent.
Meyna, who had been writing something down, also paused.
“A companion?”
“Yes. A wife, a girlfriend, whatever. The important thing is that you have someone.”
Carlo chuckled.
“I don’t think I need to worry about that just yet, sir.”
“You absolutely do.”
Eddy leaned back and looked at Carlo with the expression of a parent advising his child.
“You’re still young and successful, but your life is far too serious.”
Carlo gave a faint smile.
“I mostly work, sir.”
“Exactly. That’s the problem.”
Eddy pointed at Carlo.
“Someone like you needs someone who can make your life more relaxed. A cheerful, young woman who doesn’t overthink everything and can make you laugh.”
Carlo fell silent.
“Don’t get someone who talks about work every day. Don’t get someone who’s too serious. Your life is already full of numbers, targets, reports, and meetings. Are you really going to come home to an office atmosphere too?”
Without realizing it, Carlo glanced at Meyna.
The woman sat gracefully as she straightened the documents in front of her. Her posture was calm, her movements gentle, and her face always looked composed.
For some reason, Carlo was briefly reminded of his ex-wife.
His ex-wife had been like that too.
Graceful.
Calm.
Too serious.
They had both been busy and both tried to keep so many things in order, but that was exactly why their relationship had gradually begun to feel like two people conducting a meeting without an agenda.
Neither of them ever truly relaxed.
Neither of them could really joke around.
Even having dinner together sometimes felt like discussing the monthly report.
Carlo let out a quiet breath.
“Maybe you’re right, Mr. Eddy.”
He glanced at Meyna again.
But if he went by the traits Eddy had just mentioned, Meyna clearly wasn’t the type of woman he meant.
Meyna was more graceful.
Calmer.
More mature.
And for some reason, she felt strangely familiar.
Then Carlo remembered someone who had thrown an entire office into chaos just a few hours earlier simply by wearing a pink dress and green hair like an August 17th festival banner.
Caramel’s smile.
Her nonstop chatter.
The way she kept calling his name.
Her absurd threats.
All those ridiculous lines that could make Carlo’s head throb.
Carlo immediately shook his head.
“God forbid.”
Eddy, seeing the movement, immediately frowned.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, sir.”
“So, do you already have someone lined up?”
“Not yet.”
“Good.”
Carlo furrowed his brow.
“Good?”
“That means we can still find someone.”
Carlo only chuckled.
“You’re serious when it comes to business, but when it comes to finding a match, you’re even more serious.”
“Because you can find a business partner. When it comes to love, you’d better not choose the wrong person.”
Carlo nodded slowly.
For the first time in a long while, he considered that maybe his life really did need something different.
Someone who could make him laugh.
Someone who wouldn’t make every day feel like work.
Someone who could make home feel like home.
Yet one name rose to the forefront of his mind.
Caramel.
Carlo immediately rubbed his face.
“No. Not her.”