CONGRATULATIONS

"Bagas!" Kiara whispered from behind.

Bagas looked back. "Kiara? I was looking for you earlier." Bagas immediately grabbed Kiara's fingers and held them.

"I was sitting in the front," Kiara answered honestly.

"Yes, I saw her earlier. Wanted to approach you but the event had already started. I'm sorry. I left you too long earlier. When I came back you weren't there. Sorry honey." Bagas' face was full of guilt.

"It's okay, I'm also fine now," Kiara replied with a smile. "Where are your parents, I saw them with you earlier?"

"That's them!" Bagas pointed at his parents who were chatting.

"How did you get to sit at the same table with the President? Do you know him?" Bagas asked.

"No," Kiara replied, averting her eyes from Bagas, afraid that her lie would be found out. "I don't know either, that's Mr. Leo's table. I was only invited by my friend."

"Friend?" Bagas asked. "Who?"

"Leo's secretary, I know her. Earlier she saw me alone, so she asked me to come with him. I refused, but she insisted and pulled my hand to sit with him."

Bagas did not continue his question because his parents came. "Kiara, where are you from?" Bagas's mother asked. "We were all worried about you and were looking for you."

"I met a friend and sat with her," Kiara replied.

"I saw you at the President's desk, do you know him?" asked his father Bagas.

"No, I only know the secretary. We are friends."

"Monika? So you two are friends, no wonder you can sit at the same table with them."

Kiara answered just by nodding, her heart felt bad. She lied that she didn't know Mr. Leo.

"We haven't congratulated Mr. Leo yet. Look! It seems they are no longer busy serving guests. How about we go there?" Invite Mom.

Kiara, who heard Bagas' mother's words, immediately tensed up her body. His heart immediately skipped a beat. "Oh my God, why do I have to see that insolent face again? I thought my problem would be solved after avoiding them, but it turned out to be getting closer to the problem," Kiara spoke to herself in her heart.

"Come on, dear!" Bagas pulled Kiara's fingers that were in his grip.

Daddy and Mommy walked in front, followed by Bagas and Kiara. Many men admire Kiara's beauty, they can only smile in greeting seeing Bagas and Kiara's hands intertwined.

"Mr. Leonardo," said Mr. Kuncoro politely.

Leo looked in the direction that greeted him. "Mr. Kuncoro?"

"Yes, I'm Kuncoro. Congratulations Mr. Leo on the 25th Anniversary of the SAW company. The company has grown rapidly under your leadership." Mr. Kuncoro reached out his hand for a handshake.

"Thank you," Leo replied, welcoming his outstretched hand for a handshake.

"And introduce this to my wife," said Pak Kuncoro.

"Congratulations Sir, I hope the company will be more successful." Mrs. Kuncoro also shook hands with Mr. Leo.

"Thank you, Madam."

"And here, introduce my son and future son-in-law," said Mr. Kuncoro, shifting his body slightly so that his son could join in greeting Mr. Leo.

Leo's eyes immediately met Kiara's irises, and they both looked at each other for a few seconds.

"This is Bagas, my son. Hopefully one day he will be successful Mr. President, at such a young age he has become an example for others," said Mr. Kuncoro.

Bagas greeted the President politely, but Leo looked at him with distaste. Bagas also felt a bit odd, Mr. Leo looked at him like that.

"And this is my future daughter-in-law, Kiara," continued Mr. Kuncoro.

"Mr. Leo already knows her, I was the one who invited her to sit together because earlier I saw her alone. I thought she was the son of one of our clients, but he came with you," Monika, who had been silent, joined in.

"Earlier we left her for a while to greet some friends," replied Mr. Kuncoro. "Come on, Kiara. Say hello to the President."

Kiara looked tense, trying to control her nervousness. His eyes looked at Leo's eyeballs, she saw Leo looked very calm. Kiara held out her hand in congratulation. "Congratulations, Mr. Leo," she said quietly.

Leo smiled to welcome Kiara's outstretched hand, "Thank you, Kiara." He held Kiara's hand warmly.

Bayu, who had been silent until now, also spoke. "So Kiara is your future daughter-in-law?" He asked Mr. Kuncoro.

"That's right, they are school friends. They are still very young. Bagas is my only child, he still has to finish school and then go to college to continue his dream of achieving his goals."

"Yes, be a successful young person. Only then will you think about marriage," Leo said looking at Kiara.

Kiara just looked down silently, she felt like she was not in the world. If she had lost knowledge, she would have disappeared long ago.

Bayu kept watching Leo's attitude toward Kiara, he could already guess that his best friend was interested in Kiara.

Monika, who had been standing for a long time, felt her legs ache. "How about we continue our chat while sitting down? We can sample the food too."

"Good idea, let me set up the table." Bayu immediately left the place.

After several minutes of waiting, finally, a table was available. Of course a round table for several people who can sit together.

Leo sat down first, followed by Bayu who sat beside him. Monika herself chose to sit beside Bayu who was joined by Mr. Kuncoro and his wife, while Bagas chose to sit beside his father. Finally, like it or not, Kiara sat beside Leo.

Kiara kept looking away, not wanting to look at Leo. Her hands tightly gripped the handbag that was in her lap. Occasionally she looked at Bagas who was on his right side.

"Honey, would you like a drink?" Bagas offered Kiara water that was on the table.

"Yes, thank you," Kiara said taking the drink that Bagas gave her.

Leo was silent, as well as the others. Until a waiter came to provide some drinks and snacks as an addition.

"Mr. Leo, this anniversary is very lively. I'm impressed with the arrangement of the decorations, it's amazing!" Mr. Kuncoro opened the conversation.

"Mr. Bayu managed everything. He is to be commended. I just have to enjoy the results."

"You are extraordinary Mr. Bayu, this room is arranged very beautifully. I admire it."

Leo glanced at Kiara, he saw Kiara's hand that was still tightly gripping the handbag on his lap.

"Come on, let's toast the smooth future of the company!" Monika took the glass of drink that was in front of her.

Everyone welcomed Monika's invitation to make a toast. "For the sake of the glory of SAW in the future, even more glorious !!" Monika said raising her glass with enthusiasm, clashing with everyone's glass then each drank it.

Kiara furrowed her brows as soon as the drink entered her mouth. The taste was bitter, his throat was burning, and she almost spits out his drink again. Bagas, who saw Kiara's reaction like that, immediately took the glass Kiara was holding. "This is liquor, don't drink too much. You're not used to it," Bagas said slowly.

"It's so bitter, my throat doesn't taste good," Kiara replied quietly. "I'm going back for a bit."

"What do I need to bring?" Bagas asked.

"No, I'll be alone." Kiara then quickly went to look for the toilet.

Leo's eyes followed where Kiara was going. Bayu smiled mysteriously watching his best friend and big boss, Leonardo.