Rian's days thereafter became a cycle of glittering upper-class living that nevertheless felt hollow.
As Valeri's assistant and personal bodyguard, Rian was now always at the woman's side—from board meetings in Jakarta and cross-city business trips to exclusive dinners with conglomerates.
Rian's drastic change in appearance—tailored suits that followed the shape of his body, a luxury watch from Valeri, and his tall, straight posture—often invited misunderstandings.
At a gala dinner with business associates from the property industry in Surabaya, several of Valeri's senior colleagues openly teased them.
"Amazing choice this time, Valeri. Where did you meet this handsome young partner of yours? He looks perfect beside a strong woman like you," a property businessman joked as he raised his wineglass.
Rian had just opened his mouth to explain that he was only an employee, but Valeri got there first, slipping her fingers around his arm and flashing a meaningful smile.
"He's the person who makes me feel safest and most comfortable," Valeri replied without denying the assumption, leaving Rian awkward and increasingly tormented by the turmoil inside him.
The crossroads reached its peak several weeks later, during an out-of-town assignment in Bandung.
Heavy rain had been pouring over the city since afternoon, causing severe traffic jams and throwing their schedule into chaos.
When they finally arrived at their hotel just before midnight, a major problem awaited them.
Cancellations caused by a system error, combined with a surge of conference guests, had left the hotel out of rooms.
Only one Executive Suite with a single king-size bed remained available.
"There isn't any other option, Rian. We'll take this room rather than search for another hotel in the middle of this storm," Valeri said firmly in the elevator, in a tone that brooked no argument.
Inside the spacious, chilly room, tension hung in the air. The scent of Valeri's expensive perfume filled the space, mingling with the sound of heavy rain pounding against the window outside.
After washing up, Valeri emerged in thin silk pajamas. The cold aura of the CEO suddenly softened, replaced by that of a woman yearning for warmth and complete control.
"Rian... tonight, you don't have to stand stiffly in that corner," Valeri said softly. She approached Rian, who stood frozen near the window, and stared directly into his eyes.
"Our contract isn't merely a formal job arrangement. You know very well the main reason I brought you to my side."
Rian was rooted to the spot. His heart screamed as images of Siska's disappointed expression and the idealism of his once-free self flashed violently through his mind.
A final defensive wall in his chest refused to surrender his dignity beyond the labor and time he had already given.
But the memory of the check for hundreds of millions that had saved his mother's life—the unwritten moral contract binding his soul—silenced all his resistance in an instant.
When Valeri's fingers suddenly clasped the back of his neck and drew him closer, Rian could only close his eyes.
It began with Valeri's first kiss against Rian's neck, followed by her slender fingers, no longer occupied with typing or signing major tenders.
She slowly undid the top buttons of Rian's shirt, though one unfastened button was nowhere near enough.
A string of kisses began to spread as she forced his upright body to turn and pushed him into a reclining position on the large bed.
Caresses and kisses became a steady rhythm exploring Rian's muscular body.
Valeri's fingers grew bolder as they undid Rian's pants, slowly pushing him farther back onto the large bed.
Though he wanted to resist, Rian was powerless when Valeri's kisses reached his fully erect manhood, aroused by her stimulation from the very beginning.
Her licking and caressing continued, feeding the desire that had reached its peak.
"Oh..." A soft moan escaped Rian's lips, though they appeared to remain closed.
The sound sent Valeri's desire surging. She pulled away from him and crushed her lips against Rian's, then turned him over so that he was on top of her.
The pleasure was unlike anything Rian had ever imagined while watching porn several times before.
So this was what the feeling he had once imagined was really like.
And without meaning to, Rian returned her actions without needing any in-depth instruction.
Their lovemaking that night unfolded amid a violent struggle of emotions.
On one side was Rian's obedience and surrender to a debt of gratitude he could never repay; on the other was the cry inside him, feeling increasingly estranged from the person he used to be.
Every touch felt like a permanent stamp declaring that he now belonged entirely to Valeri.
As dawn rose behind Bandung's mist, Rian woke early. He stared blankly at the ceiling while Valeri still slept soundly beside him.
On the nightstand, Rian's phone began to vibrate softly. A text notification arrived from Siska's number:
"Mas Rian, sorry to bother you. I just got new evidence... The crooked vendor who scammed my company and nearly got me sent to prison turned out to be a hidden subsidiary owned by Mrs. Valeri.
Please be careful, Mas... she deliberately set me up and took advantage of your situation."
Rian sat rigidly on the edge of the bed, clutching his phone as his hand suddenly turned cold.