Three days earlier, Nadira Anindya still thought her biggest problem was nothing more than work.
That morning, the Astra Group conference room was thick with tension.
The company's expansion plan into a new region was displayed on the large screen. All the directors had approved the proposal. All except one person.
“This decision is too risky.” Nadira's voice rang out clearly.
Several people immediately lowered their heads. Not many employees dared to contradict Arkana Pradipta to his face.
Nadira was the exception.
Arkana stared at her from the other end of the table. “Explain!” His voice was cold.
Nadira took a deep breath before explaining.
“The sales projections don't match current market conditions. If the company goes ahead with this expansion, Astra Group could lose nearly twenty percent of its operating funds.”
“The finance team already approved it.”
“Because the data they used is from three months ago.”
The room grew even quieter.
Arkana folded his arms across his chest. “So you think my decision is wrong?”
“I think your decision needs to be reviewed.”
“What’s the difference?”
“If I say it’s wrong, you’ll get angry.”
Several people held their breath. Nadira, however, remained calm.
Arkana stared at her for several seconds.
“This meeting is over.” His voice broke the silence again.
Everyone immediately left the room.
Nadira had just picked up her laptop when Arkana said,
“You stay.”
Nadira sighed. She could have guessed.
“You always do this.”
“Do what?”
“Argue with me in front of everyone.”
“If your decision is wrong, should I stay quiet?”
Arkana stepped closer. “One day, your stubbornness is going to cost you your job.”
Nadira looked at him. “Then I’ll find a new one.”
Arkana fell silent, and Nadira left.
She had no idea that her life would change just a few hours later.
A call from home came in while she was working.
“Nadira, come home.” Her mother's voice trembled.
“What’s wrong, Mom?”
“Your father was taken to the hospital.”
Nadira's world seemed to stop.
Her father had suffered a stroke. The doctor said his condition was serious enough to need immediate treatment. It would cost a great deal.
That night, Nadira spent hours counting all the money they had. Their savings, her mother's savings, and her salary. It still wasn't enough.
Even after pooling everything together, the amount was still far short of the cost of surgery.
The next day, another problem arrived. The bank sent a final notice regarding their house.
If the overdue payments weren't settled immediately, the house would be foreclosed.
Nadira sat alone in the hospital corridor.
Her phone vibrated. A message from her younger sibling came in.
“Sis, I got accepted to college.”
Nadira smiled faintly. A few seconds later, another message appeared.
“But if it’s too expensive, I can give up on college.”
Nadira's smile vanished. No. She wouldn't let her family lose everything.
That afternoon, Nadira returned to the office. But only a few minutes after she sat down, Arkana's secretary arrived.
“Ms. Nadira, Mr. Arkana wants to see you in his office.”
Nadira frowned.
She entered Arkana's office with a sense of unease.
Arkana stood near the window. “How is your father?”
Nadira froze. “You know?”
“I received a report.”
“From whom?”
“That’s not important.”
Arkana returned to his desk. Then a black folder was placed in front of Nadira.
“Read it!”
Nadira opened the folder. Her eyes immediately went to the title on the first page.
The first line alone made her brow furrow.
MARRIAGE CONTRACT.
She read it slowly. Then faster. Finally, she looked at Arkana in disbelief.
“What is this?”
“An agreement.”
“A marriage?”
“Yes.”
“With you?”
“Yes.”
Nadira let out a small, incredulous laugh. “Are you serious?”
“Very.” Arkana sat across from her.
“I need a wife before the deadline my grandfather gave me.”
“Why me?”
“I know you, and you need money for your family.”
Nadira fell silent.
“This marriage will be legally valid,” Arkana continued.
“Our families will know, but this relationship won’t be announced to the public.”
“Why does it have to be kept secret?”
“Because if people find out I married my own employee right before the deadline, they’ll assume the marriage is just a scheme to keep me in the CEO position.”
Nadira understood what he meant. “And after one year?”
“We end the marriage.”
She looked at the contract again. One year.
Nadira remained silent for a long time.
She pictured her father still lying in the hospital. Her mother, constantly trying to look strong. Her younger sibling, even willing to give up college for the sake of their family.
There was no easy choice. But this time, Nadira didn't need time to think.
She picked up the pen lying on the desk.
Arkana watched her move. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
Nadira opened the contract's last page. Then she signed her name on the designated line.
Arkana fell silent.
Nadira closed the folder and pushed it toward Arkana.
“I agree.”
Arkana stared at the signature for several seconds. “You didn’t even ask for time to think?”
Nadira stood and picked up her bag.
“If I keep thinking, my father’s condition won’t change.”
She looked straight at Arkana. “Besides, it’s only one year.”
Arkana remained silent.
Nadira turned to leave, but stopped when Arkana called her.
“Nadira.”
She looked back.
“Don’t fall in love with me.”
Nadira gave him a sharp look. “Relax, Mr. Arkana. You’re not my type.”
For the first time, the corner of Arkana's mouth lifted slightly. “Good.”
Nadira left the office.
She had no idea that the signature she'd just written wouldn't merely save her family.
It would also bind her to the man she had contradicted more often than anyone else.
Arkana Pradipta.
The man who would soon become her husband.