Morning came again. Streaks of dawn slowly washed over the earth, revealing the beauty of a city that had briefly slept in darkness. Morning was supposed to be the start of a warm, hopeful routine.
But not for a 157-centimeter-tall young woman who was currently panicking in front of her bedroom mirror. Alya gave her cheeks a few quick pats, then applied soft pink lip cream.
A ray of sunlight slipped through the gap in the window, jolting her awake. She glanced at the tiny clock on her vanity.
"Crap! It's seven fifteen! I'm dead!"
Alya fixed her appearance in a flash, grabbed her shoulder bag, and hurriedly put on her high heels.
"Mom, I'm leaving!" "Okay, be careful on the way, sweetie!"
Alya didn't have time to hear her mother's reply. She ran as fast as she could along the sidewalk toward the nearest commuter train station. The station was already a sea of people that morning. The smell of sweat, the stifling air, and the crush of passengers greeted her right outside the gates.
"Oh, sorry, excuse me!" Alya cried in a panic as she held out her tap-in card amid the long, snaking line.
Once she made it through the gate, she had to shove her way up to the platform. The commuter train heading downtown had just pulled in, and its doors opened. Hundreds of people pushed against one another, trying to get inside. Alya was swept into the train and squeezed tightly between the other passengers until she could barely breathe.
This was Alya's daily rhythm. She had to risk her life at the commuter train station just to make it in on time, even though in the end she could only surrender to the long lines at the transfer station or the horribly backed-up tap-out gates.
Actually, Alya usually took the earliest commuter train. But lately, she had to help her mother prepare the ingredients for her dawn pastry sales first.
Mr. Bambang had never made an issue of her lateness before because he understood Alya's circumstances. But now? His son acted as if being late were an unforgivable sin.
When she finally made it out of her destination station after fighting through the congestion at the tap-out gates, Alya glanced at her watch and her eyes immediately went wide.
"Three minutes left! Shit!"
There was no time to preserve her dignity. Alya slipped off her high heels, held both shoes in her right hand, and started another marathon from the station to her office building. She didn't care about the bewildered looks from people along the way.
"Huff... puff... I'm so tired..." Alya collapsed onto her cubicle. "Late again, Al?" Sofi whispered nervously. Alya wiped the sweat from her forehead and nodded weakly. "Is Mr. Arka... already inside?"
Sofi nodded sympathetically. "Ugh! That guy is way too diligent. I'm so dead. Did he come looking for me earlier?"
"Not really. He passed by earlier, but he didn't look at your desk." "Thank God... Hopefully he'll have temporary amnesia," Alya muttered hopefully.
But just as her breathing began to settle, the landline on her desk rang shrilly. Alya jumped in surprise before quickly picking it up.
"Hello—" "Come to my office. Now."
Click. The line was disconnected on the other end. Alya immediately dropped her forehead onto the wooden desk, cursing her rotten luck.
"Called in again?" Sofi asked.
Alya nodded in resignation, then stood up and steeled herself for the 'execution chamber.'
Silence. The spacious room felt ice-cold from the blast of the air conditioner, yet strangely, it felt scorching hot to Alya. The man in front of her was busy sipping black coffee before throwing her a lethal look.
"You don't have a watch?" Arka asked flatly. "I-I do, sir." "You can't read numbers?" "I can, sir," Alya replied, keeping her head bowed deeply. "Then why are you late again? It's only my second day working here, and you've already added another mark to your record. Are you trying to challenge me?"
"Please forgive me, sir..." "Apologies again," Arka scoffed sarcastically. "I live far away, sir. The commuter train station was incredibly crowded earlier, and the tap-in line was packed with passengers—"
"That's not my problem!" Arka cut her off sharply. "You work at Astraea Corp, so you're the one who needs to adjust to the company's rules, not the other way around! Buy your own vehicle or find a place to rent nearby. Do you even use your brain?"
Alya clenched her fingers. If I had money to rent a place or buy a motorcycle, I would've done it ages ago! she cursed inwardly.
"I don't want to hear it. Starting tomorrow, be here on time or get out of this office. Understood?" "I-I understand, sir." "That's all. Get out!"
On her second day, she had been scolded for the umpteenth time and kicked out again. Alya turned around and walked away listlessly.
"Wait!" Arka called after her. Alya closed her eyes for a moment and held her breath. "Yes, sir?"
"Don't forget the documents for this afternoon's meeting." "Yes, sir." "All right. Go."
Back in his silent office, Arka rubbed the bridge of his nose. After Alya left, his personal phone suddenly rang. The name Sari, his daughter's babysitter, appeared on the screen.
"Yes, Sari. What is it?" "Mr. Arka... Caca is throwing another tantrum," Sari's panicked voice came from the other end of the phone.
Arka let out a heavy sigh. "Take her to the park near the complex. Buy her some ice cream."
"I did, sir. But Caca is still crying hysterically. She... she refuses to eat." "Then what does she want?" Arka asked, starting to feel frustrated. "Um... Caca wants her mom, sir. Earlier at preschool, all her friends were dropped off by their moms..."
Sari's words struck Arka hard in the chest. This was his greatest fear. Someday, Caca was bound to question the absence of a mother in her life.
Arka roughly ran a hand through his hair. Becoming a single parent at twenty-six had never been part of his plan. If the tragic accident that had befallen his former girlfriend four years ago hadn't happened, he might still be living freely. But Caca's existence changed everything. His father, Mr. Bambang, had given him a harsh ultimatum back then: focus on finishing his studies, take care of the little girl, and take over the company, or be cut from the family.
At first, Arka had been forced into it. But little by little, Caca's chubby smile and round eyes became the only reason he endured life's pressures.
"What should I say to Caca, sir?" Sari whispered, interrupting his reverie. Arka roughly rubbed his face. "Tell her... tell her that this afternoon, Daddy will bring Mommy home for Caca." "But, sir... who exactly—" "Just tell her that!" Arka cut her off quickly before hanging up.
"Idiot! Why did you say that without thinking, Arka?" he muttered to himself. What if he went home that afternoon without bringing anyone? Caca would be terribly disappointed.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
"Come in!" Arka barked, venting his frustration.
The door swung open, revealing Alya with an apologetic expression. "S-Sorry, sir. The meeting with Darkside Corp was moved up to ten."
Arka immediately turned his gaze toward her. "Who gave them the right to change the schedule whenever they please?!"
"Darkside Corp, sir..." "Tch! Does that company think they can do whatever they want just because I'm the new CEO?" Arka sneered, his sharp eyes flashing dangerously.
Alya, standing several feet away, suddenly shivered. This man's aura was truly terrifying whenever he was cornered.
"You may leave." "Yes, sir." Alya quickly turned around, relieved to escape this suffocating atmosphere. But after only two steps...
"Wait."
Alya stopped, letting out a faint sigh. He really loved making people stop and wait!
Arka rose from his executive chair. He slowly approached Alya, studying her from head to toe with an enigmatic look. Alya instinctively tightened her grip on the thick folder against her chest.
"You still want to work at this company, don't you?" Arka asked coldly.
"Of course, sir."
Arka gave a faint smirk—a reckless new decision had just formed in his mind.
"Then follow my orders."
Alya furrowed her brow. "What do you mean, sir?"
"Live in my house... and pretend to be my daughter's mother."