I Met Santa Clause But Not in December

I have mixed feelings. Believe me, I've tried to sit in this chair as elegantly as I can. I tried so hard to portray Princess Diana in the middle of a British royal banquet. However, with this feeling, it is not the image of Lady Diana that I show, but Princess Die Ana. Die = die, Ana = I in Arabic, in conclusion, I look like a person who will die today. Ture, today that's how I feel. My expression shows chaos even though my makeup is as thick as wall paint. I cold my hands like they haven't eaten in 2 days, and my legs keep swaying around trying to make a local earthquake. Of course anxious too, My heart is about to burst out from my ribcage. Oh God, I hope nothing bad will happen today.

Since arriving at the building of Audi Indonesia, we were immediately greeted by several staff. Sorry, I was wrong, they did not greet us, but the one and only Ma'am Anna Gunadi. If there was no Ma'am Anna, then the CEO and other high-ranking officers of Audi Indonesia would not be waiting in the lobby just to shake her hand. That's how special is Madam Devil is. Yes, she is so special, that made me and Steven have to wait in the meeting room to prepare all the equipment we use for this afternoon's meeting. I understand, we are just a pile of dust under the table that is so invisible to see while compared to the light charm of the Prima donna herself, Anna Gunadi.

"growl... groowllll..."

"Are you hungry?" asked Steven while hearing my stomach humiliated its owner.

"No, sir," I said with a forced smile. Need to be cool right?

"So? What the sound?"

"Um, it's just a normal thing, sir." Well, that's true, right? I can't help it. I can't stop my stomach make noises? A word that only exists in the brain and fortunately does not reach the mouth.

"Growl... growl.."

Really? Stomach? Why do you keep humiliating me all over again?

"It's okay, sir," I replied to Steven's glaring eyes.

"You're not hungry in the big event, aren't you? " Steven replied in a teasing tone. Looks like Steven has had a new hobby now. Teasing, joking, or whatever, but indeed these days, he is always making fun of and teasing me with his pranks.

"No, sir! It's just...." Oh, man...how can I answer his joke? I feel annoyed when asked things like that over and over again with the same question, but... I can't answer it too.

"Just say the truth. It's ok if you're hungry, it's not a sin. But don't be so stubborn, just admit it!"

Well... if only his tone was calm and gentle, I will think he was the kindest man I ever met. Yeah, his tone does not hear sincere. I'm sure he just wants to tease me out.

"I'll be ok, sir. I promise," I said surrendering. Today I'm not in the mood to get into trouble with Steven. I have to focus on myself. It's my design that the big guys will see, and that worried me off.

"Here..." Steven tossed a packet of cookies into my lap.

Honestly, I was surprised when the cake landed right on my lap. Is this not wrong? Steven? Steven give me something? I admit he once treated me to ice coffee, but, that was also as compensation for almost making me battered by thugs. Is he planning something for me?

"Ehm..., don't think too far!" he said as if he understood the meaning of my sharp gaze. "I just don't want your stomach to growl in front of the CEO of a big company, it will be very embarrassing for our bureau. So... eat that, and hurry up!" he continued while hiding his face which was starting to turn slightly red.

What a strange creature is he? In a minute he's so annoying, in another minute he's so kind. I don't know why he is so mysterious and unpredictable. Sometimes he's cold, sometimes he's warm. I don't know which is his real face. Can anyone live in two worlds like Steven? As far as I know, there are only cold-blooded and warm-blooded animals, no one is cold-blooded today and then the next day it changes again.

"Eat fast! Before the meeting starts," ordered an impatient Steven.

"Yes sir!" I said as I unwrapped the cookies.

I devoured the cookies I get from my boss. A simple cookie with a layer of honey is enough to make my stomach feel a little comfortable. Sweet, until for a split second, the cookies made me forget about all my worries. Forget about the bad things that might happen. And I hope this sweet cookie isn't Steven's compensation for the odd thing he might have planned today.

"Do you like it?" he asked with a smile as he watched me chew his gift.

I nodded and smiled back at him. In front of sweet food, everyone will turn into a child, right? That's why the kidnappers tempt kids with candy. Now I feel, Steven is teasing me with a sweet cookie. Maybe, I'm just overreacting, but, I can't deny it. No, rather, I don't want to refuse it.

"Slam...!!" the sound of the door opening and signaling the meeting this afternoon was about to start. Ma'am Anna came in with a man in his 70s. The guy with the mustache and beard and round glasses reminds me of Santa Claus in December. The man looked like Santa Clause even though he was wearing a neat suit instead of a cute red shirt and hat. And of course Uncle Santa. Psst..., don't tell him if I called him Uncle Santa. I call him that because I don't know his name, not because I intend to mock or demean him.

Uncle Santa came along, followed by a line of staff lined up behind him. They looked down while watching their boss who was chatting cheerfully with Madam Devil. Enjoyed a very friendly, very pleasant chat.

I have to admit, at first I didn't understand the power of relations. But seeing the scene, now I know. Life depends not only on the brain but also on the mouth. Without Ma'am Anna's flexibility in building relationships, I'm sure this showroom project will not end on our desks.

"Please have a seat, thank you for coming," said Uncle Santa who I assumed was the most powerful person in this company.

"You're welcome. Thank you also for the invitation and hospitality," said Madam Angel with a friendly smile. I will call her Madam Angel now. For client matters, even Madam Devil can turn into Madam Angel in the second. I didn't understand, didn't Steven think that the architect was more important than the client? Seeing, how friendly Ma'am Anna is to uncle Santa, it seems that my belief in Steven's theory just fell apart.

"Okay then, can we start now?" said Ma'am Anna, giving Steven a code to start the presentation.

"Sorry, Ma'am. But, Do you have other schedules? Why do you look in a hurry?" said Uncle Santa kindly.

"Oh, no-no. I just thought you can't wait to see the results of the design," said Ma'am Anna with a big smile.

"Of, course. We can't wait to see your masterpiece. But we have to wait for the arrival of another team."

"Pardon me? The other team?" asked Mrs. Anna who did not understand the meaning of Uncle Santa's words.

There were meaningful glances between Uncle Santa and his staff. And believe me, it didn't seem like a good sign.

"First of all, we apologize for the inconvenience. This is not a personal decision, but the decision of all shareholders. They wanted several design alternatives, and as we know, your architecture bureau never show an alternative design. So, as a solution, a win-win solution, we decided to hire another architectural firm to work on alternative designs for this project."

I feel grateful that I have never seen my shocked face. Never see my mouth gaping and my eyes are bulging. All creatures on this earth would agree if it was not worth pleasant scenery to see. I glanced at Steven, and his face was quite surprised, though he was trying to calm down and think of his next plan. It's not wrong, he is indeed extraordinary at making strategies. Now, guess what, whose face changed the most when you heard that statement? Drum rolls… I give you ten for those who answered Anna Gunadi.

She can pretend, act as an angel, but Uncle Santa's words made her face turn into a devil again. Wait, my words just now seemed funny. Do you ever hear a case, where a kind Santa Claus turned an angel into a demon? Probably not, except the Uncle Santa I met today. Oh, believe me, his innocent face is amazing, I almost gave him the oscar because he keep showing his calm kindly expression. So calm in front of a woman who had turned into a monster.

"Ma'am Anna, you don't mind it, right?" said Uncle Santa with that great smile.

"Never!" simple answer from the lips of an Anna Gunadi.

"You already know how we work?" her voice became even more heavy and sinister. "As you know, Ruanna always provides the best designs. We have also never participated in tenders on any project. We don't want our unique designs to be competed and compared with other mediocre bureaus. And we are always consistent with our choices. Therefore, right now, is the perfect time to end the deal between us."

I don't understand this kind of work agreement and contract matters. All I know is, my design won't meet the sun. The sheets I've been working on this week are useless and maybe they can be used for fried packages wrap. But, I have no other choice. This time, I agree with Madam Devil. It's better to step back and not show our designs if the client violates the contract agreement.

"Okay, since we don't seem to have any need in this place anymore, then we should excuse ourselves," said Madam Devil as she gave Steven and me a code to get out of the building immediately. We immediately stood up and followed Madam Devil out of the meeting room.

"Are you afraid, Ma'am Anna?" asked Uncle Santa casually. The words that sounded soft but pierced deep into the recesses of the Madam Devil's heart. Of course, those words will stick with her so deep. Uncle Santa's words made my scary boss's footsteps stop before the exit door.

"Afraid?" asked Madam Devil. "What I need afraid of? Weren't you the one who broke our contract? I should be the one asking, are you afraid to deal with us at court?"

"Pardon me, sir," called one of Uncle Santa's men, interrupting Madam Devil's words. "Mr. Adityo Joseph from Tyo.JO Design Bureau has arrived."

I took a deep breath. The world seemed to stop when that name replayed in my head. Hoping if this ear is misheard, or just a mere illusion hallucination. But, sadly what I heard was the truth. I saw his figure walking towards me. Step by step, until we finally meet each other. His gaze didn't change, I still recognized him very clearly. He hadn't changed, still tall, well-built, and handsome. Just like a few years ago when I last saw him.

"Let's go!" Mrs. Anna ordered both of us.

"No," I replied. Now my eyes look directly into the eyes of Uncle Santa who is sitting in his chair. "We are not afraid!" I answered loudly. "As Ma'am Anna said, Ruanna always provides the best designs for all her clients. I agree, I will present our designs because we believe, we will win. Our designs are better than any architectural bureau."

I know, I'm sassy. I also know that my impudence will never be forgiven by neither Steven nor Madam Devil. But, I don't care. One thing they don't know is, this design is my hard work! And I'm entitled to make a presentation today. And I'm sure, I will not lose to Tyo, my asshole ex.