5. Seize the Company

Zayn entered the garage of a house. He kept his motorbike among a row of luxury cars that cost billions of rupiah. Some of them even include limited edition cars. He entered the house via an elevator next to the garage to the living room on the second floor.

"You've come. Have you seen it?" asked a woman, knowing Zayn was coming.

Zayn plopped down on the couch. "Yes, I've seen it," he replied.

"What do you think?" The woman asked again and was still busy staring at the computer screen in front of her.

"Crude enough, Adrian even dodged his baby."

"Not him, I mean about Kirana." The woman turned her body to look at Zayn while taking off her glasses.

"Are you sure you want to use her as part of our plan?" Zayn asked back.

"Why not? We agreed. Have you changed your mind?"

Before Zayn could answer, the phone beside the woman rang. She then answered the call and spoke as she walked away from Zayn.

"Yes, I'm Sarita. How is the continuation of the project at...." Her voice disappeared when She was upstairs.

Zayn opened his cell phone and looked at a photo of a girl alone on the beach lit up in the twilight. That's a photo of Kirana that he took this afternoon at the beach.

"Kirana," Zayn muttered, looking at Kirana's picture.

Kirana couldn't sleep. Her mind was still on Adrian. She is now missing Adrian. Even though the man had hurt her cruelly, the feeling of love in Kirana's heart didn't just go away.

"Adrian, you are cruel, but I love you very much. How can I get rid of this feeling of longing?" Kirana whispered in her tears.

Adrian was lying next to Sintia, who was already asleep. He repeatedly rubbed his face because he felt confused. Adrian browsed the photo album of his memories with Kirana on his cell phone. These few days, he should be a happy bride, but Adrian didn't feel it. His mind is always filled with Kirana.

Three human children, that night it wasn't easy to sleep because they were thinking about each other. In the future, they will continue to be linked because of their destiny, and this is just the beginning of their story.

That morning, Hermawan and Ratih were at the dining table enjoying their breakfast. Kirana wasn't there because she hadn't come out of her bedroom.

"Is Kirana not awake yet?" Hermawan asked.

"Not yet," Ratih answered while spreading jam on the bread.

"Don't bring up the pregnancy to her just yet. We have to act normal."

"Okay. Should we exile Kirana somewhere until her child is born?" Ratih gave advice.

"We'll discuss that later and ask what our daughter wants."

Ratih sighed then she asked again about the company. "Honey, how's it going at the company?"

"You don't have to think about the company's problems! I will handle it," Hermawan replied, calming his wife even though he was worried about his company's condition.

Several days ago, the bank had called Hermawan several times to collect many arrears. He hid it from his wife.

After finishing breakfast, Hermawan rushed to go somewhere. He intended to submit a proposal that he would introduce to several places, but he did so himself without ordering his subordinates. If he succeeds, this will help his company's financial condition.

"You are late. We just signed a contract," said the man in front of Hermawan.

Hermawan looked disappointed to hear that. If only he had offered the proposal sooner, there might still be hope for him.

"Wait, why does this look so much like the proposal we just signed," said the man, flipping through the sheet of paper Hermawan had handed him.

"What do you mean?" Hermawan's brows furrowed.

"Yes, this is not only similar but the same as Mr. Ferdian's."

"What? Ferdian?" Hermawan looks surprised.

Of course, the proposal's content was the same because Hermawan handed Ferdian a copy of the plan.

"Yes."

Hermawan left the place feeling angry. How not to be angry? Ferdian did that without his prior consent and claimed it as his own. He immediately went to his company, but when he was about to enter, a security guard stopped him.

"Sorry, sir, you are not allowed in!" A security guard stopped Hermawan,

"What did you say? Why can't I get into my own company?" Hermawan was getting annoyed.

"This is on the orders of Mr. Ferdian. Sorry I was doing my job."

"You don't know who I am? I am the owner of this company. Do you want me to fire?" Hermawan said with wide eyes.

"What's all this fuss about?" A voice distracted them.

"Ferdi, you've gone too far! You submitted my draft proposal without my consent. And now you're forbidding me to enter my own company," Hermawan growled.

"That was then, now this company is not yours anymore," said Julia, who suddenly came with her arms folded across her chest, looking arrogant.

"What do you mean? Don't be so brave! After what you did to my daughter, isn't that enough?"

"The board of directors has approved that. Your company is turning into ours because we are the biggest shareholder here. You know you now only own a few small shares that are completely meaningless, and you can't save this company from bankruptcy," said Julia sarcastically.

The employees started arriving to watch their commotion.

"That's impossible. You guys have cheated. I founded this company myself with great difficulty, and it's impossible to switch hands to yours. You guys are really... A-ah...."

Hermawan was unable to continue words. His breath hitched with his hands on his chest, his vision blurring. A few seconds later, his body collapsed and fell to the floor.

"Hermawan!" Ferdian exclaimed, surprised.

But Julia showed a different reaction. The woman seemed relaxed without feeling guilty. She then ordered one of her employees to call an ambulance.

"Get rid of him and call an ambulance! Just disturb me," she ordered. Then she left the place, followed by her husband's steps.

The employees who witnessed the incident were concerned about what happened to Hermawan. So far, Hermawan has been known as a good boss, wise, and considerate of his employees. They now can't imagine if the company will be led by Ferdian, especially with a wife as cunning as Julia.

In the corner of the room, a woman was sitting there watching the scene. She pretended to use a magazine to cover her face.

"A snake, even though it's not venomous, is still a snake!" The woman muttered as she watched Julia and Ferdian leave.