BELOVED WIFE OF THE CEO

"Where are you going?" asked the middle-aged man, whose hair had turned white, to a handsome young man of thirty who was neatly dressed in a black suit, bow tie and trousers of the same color.

The young man, named Mahardika, stopped his steps as he let out a long sigh, "Yes, what else is there grandfather, other than going to the office. I have to attend an important meeting with some company officials. The meeting will start in an hour."

Mahardika looked at the watch on his left arm. His forehead furrowed slightly as the streets were bound to be very crowded at this hour.

"Sit down, there's something important I want to talk to you about," the seventy-five-year-old man pleaded.

Mahardika nodded slowly. He wanted to refuse. However, he decided against it because it was his grandfather who was asking.

"What exactly did you want to talk to me about?" Now it was Mahardika's turn to ask.

"Cancel the meeting!" said the middle-aged man, without blinking.

"Cancel it, you mean?" Mahardika raised one eyebrow in half surprise.

"Yes, every day you're always busy with work. There's never any time for family and thinking about your future. Don't you want a family?"

The middle-aged man, whose full name was Bambang Wijaya, asked in a serious tone. Leaning his head back, he folded his arms across his chest.

Mahardika let out another long sigh, "I'm not ready to start a family. I still want to grow our family business." Then he got up.

Mahardika had guessed the direction of this conversation and did not want to continue. He buttoned his jacket, about to leave.

"Sit down!" ordered Bambang, sternly.

"Never mind, Grandpa. Don't continue this conversation. Mahardika is not in the mood to discuss anything about marriage." His breathing was long and heavy.

Instantly, the smile faded from his handsome face. Her mood turned sour now.

"But, you have to get married, Dika. You're already thirty years old. How long will you be alone, while your father and mother want to hold grandchildren. Grandpa, too, wants to see you taken care of," Bambang Wijaya said, his voice shaking slightly.

Again, Mahardika exhaled heavily. "Didn't grandfather once say that a soul mate will come by itself. So, why should Dika look for it, if it can come by itself?"

Bambang Wijaya tapped his forehead. He couldn't understand the mindset of his favorite grandson. Mahardika was indeed good at business, very successful, but the way he interpreted his parents' words was very bad.

"It's up to you, but grandfather wants you to cancel your entire agenda today!" said Bambang Wijaya inviolably.

"The reason?" Mahardika questioned his grandfather's wishes.

"Because we're all going to go propose."

"Applying? What company do you want us to apply to again? We already have many companies in several cities. Oil palm plantations and coal mines," Mahardika replied innocently.

Bambang Wijaya tapped his forehead again while shaking his head. He eroded the distance. Now his position with Mahardika is less than or meters away. Overwhelmed by his grandson's innocence, Bambang Wijaya flicked Mahardika's forehead.

"Ouch grandpa, it hurts," Mahardika complained spontaneously while rubbing his forehead.

"To propose, not to propose. I mean proposing to a girl." The middle-aged man clenched his teeth in amusement and annoyance at the same time.

Mahardika paused for a moment. His grandfather's last sentence needed to be examined for a longer time.

"You're an adult, Dika. You should be married. In the past, your father got married at the age of 25, while you were thirty years old, without a companion. Mom and Dad have both agreed to marry you off to Eka..."

"Eka, Uncle Teguh Saputra's daughter?" said Mahardika quickly, fixing his eyes on the beautiful woman coming from the kitchen.

"I want you to meet Eka today because your marriage is fixed," said the woman familiarly called Mother.

Mahardika didn't say yes, but she didn't say no either. Silent like a stone statue for a while.

***

Balaraja, Tangerang Banten.

Saputra's family residence. A simple family who owns a well-known restaurant in the Balaraja area.

The two-storey house has a large courtyard overgrown with trees and ornamental plants, making anyone who sees it feel calm.

"Welcome to this simple house," said Teguh Saputra welcoming the arrival of the Wijaya family.

"Thank you for your warm welcome, my friend," replied Frans Adi Wijaya, standing right at the door.

"You guys go in first. I have to take a call first. It won't take long. Just five minutes," Mahardika said, in between warm welcomes.

He couldn't ignore this phone call because it involved a big project he was working on.

Bambang Wijaya shook his head. It was always like that. The phone call came at an inopportune time.

After that, the host immediately cleared the special guest to enter.

"Come on, have a seat. I'm sorry it's like this," Teguh said, modestly.

Bambang Wijaya, Frans and Annata sat on the sofa there. Each had a smile on their face. Their arrival was solely to propose to the youngest child of the Saputra family.

Meanwhile, Mahardika, who had not yet entered the room because he had to receive a phone call first, seemed to end his conversation with someone far away.

When he turned around, Mahardika saw a petite girl, wearing a long-sleeved T-shirt and jeans, walking silently between the mango and guava trees. Her suspicious movements aroused Mahardika's curiosity.

Mahardika's brow furrowed, because he recognized the girl. Her face was familiar, even though he had not seen her for a long time.

"Where is she going? Why does she look like a weasel about to pounce on a local chicken?" Mahardika wondered.

To answer his curiosity, Mahardika ran to follow the girl.

Right in front of the gate, the girl stopped her steps. "Where are the keys." She reached into her blue sling bag.

"What are you doing here?" Mahardika said in surprise.

The petite girl was stunned. Her shoulders twitched slightly. She turned around. The action was already known to someone. Even though she had made sure it was quiet. Today was quite unlucky for her.

"What is Uncle Dika doing here?" the girl asked, innocently.

"What, Uncle? Who do you call Uncle?" Mahardika frowned.

"What, Uncle? Who are you calling Uncle?" Mahardika frowned.

"Yes, Uncle. Who else am I talking to now? There's no one here but us." The girl spoke curtly, folding her arms across her chest and looking away in different directions.

Mahardika felt annoyed and his bloodstream boiled. He wasn't that old yet, to be called an Uncle with a mustache and a pot belly.

"Where are you going? Perhaps you want to run away?" Mahardika shouted, which made the girl look away even more.

"Come on, admit it! When the others are inside, why are you here?" Mahardika added even more suspiciously.

The beautiful girl who was familiarly called Eka, lowered her hand. "What about Uncle? Why are you outside, not inside?" Eka asked, reversing Mahardika's words.

The man scratched his non-itchy cheek slightly. "About that..." Mahardika's eyeballs rolled quickly. Searching for an excuse to formulate words.

"Why, Uncle? Don't you think Uncle Dika wants to run away too?" Now it was Eka who asked probingly while pointing his index finger right in front of Mahardika. Accusing others, in order to cover up his own mistakes.

"What are you talking about? I'm not running away, but I have to take that phone call," Mahardika quickly rebutted.

"Ah, excuses. I can read your mind, you actually want to run away because you don't want to marry me? Just admit it, Uncle," Eka continued to corner Mahardika.

"Wait a minute! You are wrong. I am not like what you accuse me of. Ah, I know. Perhaps, the one who really wants to run away is you. Confess you!"

Now it was Eka who felt cornered. Yes, what Mahardika said was true. However, she couldn't admit it now either.

"Then, come, come with me!" Mahardika grasped Eka's wrist very tightly.

"Let go, Uncle!" Eka patted Mahardika's hand quite hard, so that the man who wanted to marry her would release his grip.

"You can't run away anymore. I will tell your father everything if you try to run away."

Mahardika did not care, Eka continued to beat his hands and screamed for release. Even bitten, Mahardika did not feel pain, although there were bite marks there.

"Actually, what are your hands made of, why doesn't it hurt when you bite them? Uncle, you're not Iron Man's descendant, are your hands really hard?" Eka grumbled, surprised and resigned because she could not get out of Mahardika's grip.

Meanwhile, Mahardika chuckled. Hehehe did not respond to Eka's words, but he was amused by the girl's innocent behavior. He still pulled Eka's hand to enter the house.

When they arrived at the living room. Everyone spontaneously stood up with the arrival of two human children who had contradictory traits.

Mahardika let go of Eka's hand.

"Father... He treats me so rudely," whined Eka, who was immediately enveloped in a daughter's first loving embrace.

"What's going on?" asked Teguh Saputra, Eka's father. He dropped a questioning gaze on Mahardika.

"I'm sorry, Uncle Teguh, but Eka tried to run away from this house earlier." Now it was Mahardika's turn to complain.

Eka, who had wanted to change the facts, held her sentence because Mahardika had already said.

"Is what Dika said true?" Teguh asked his beloved daughter. "Really, do you want to run away from this house?"

Eka was silent for a million languages, her head bowed in shame. She could not look directly into her father's eyes. She wanted to curse and scold Mahardika for thwarting her plan.

Annata, the woman who gave birth to Mahardika, approached her son. "Actually, what happened, dear? Why did you come with Eka?"

"Earlier, after making a phone call, Dika saw Eka who was walking sneakily like a thief, towards the gate. Dika caught him and knew that Eka was about to run away," Mahardika explained calmly.

Hearing Mahardika's explanation, made Teguh feel embarrassed. He had raised his right hand, about to hit. However, Mahardika immediately prevented him.

"Wait, Uncle! Eka is not entirely wrong. Maybe she feels pressured by this marriage," Mahardika said with understanding.

Eka raised her head. Mahardika's words drew him to stare at the man in the black suit intently. Long enough because of Mahardika's calm and calming authority, like the sentence that had just been said.

Eka felt amazed because according to her, Mahardika seemed to be able to read her heart.

"We should listen to what Eka wants first. We can't make decisions that make Eka feel uncomfortable," Mahardika continued to mediate.

Teguh, as Eka's father and mother, now loosened her embrace. Touching both cheeks of her beloved daughter.

"Now, I want to ask you. Do you have any objection to this marriage? If you do, then you can say it now."

Teguh followed Mahardika's words. Annata grasped her only son's hand and smiled proudly. Mahardika blinked his eyes once.

Eka did not rush to answer. She was still downcast. No one knows what's on her mind right now. The girl really feels a dilemma now.

Seeing Eka who never made a sound, made Mahardika take action again. "If you are not ready, then I am willing to cancel this marriage." Mahardika raised her voice a little to be heard by Eka.

"Mahardika!" Bambang Wijaya reacted first.

"Grandfather, calm down. I haven't finished talking," Mahardika said without emotion. He dropped a calm gaze on Bambang Wijaya, before finally looking back at Eka there.

"I will wait for you to be ready for this marriage. I will not force you to get married on the set date. You are the one living this life. So, you are the one who has to make the decision..."

"I'd rather wait, than make someone feel uncomfortable with my presence. Marriage doesn't just bring two people together, it brings two different characters together."

Mahardika smiled a little. Her sentences flowed from beginning to end and made her listeners feel calm. Especially Bambang Wijaya. He was the one who had wanted Mahardika to marry Eka from the beginning.

"How is it, dear?" Teguh asked again.

Eka nodded shyly. "Yes, Father. I am willing to continue this marriage according to the set date." Then she said very softly, after a long silence.

Next, Eka looked straight at Mahardika who was smiling there.

Eka did not know what magic Mahardika used to make her heart melt. Even though a few moments ago, she planned to run away from home, to cancel the wedding.

How big is Mahardika's charm?,

The long-awaited day arrived.

The room had been decorated in such a way that it looked like a fairy tale in the real world. Under the pouring rain, it did not dampen the spirits of the two families and the invited guests who had filled the room.

Mahardika was sitting face to face with Teguh Saputra. Her father, as well as the person who acted as the marriage guardian on this happiest day.

"I marry and give in marriage, ananda Mahardika Wijaya bin Frans Adi Wijaya with my daughter, Eka Maheswari Saputra binti Tegus Saputra, with a cash dowry of 10 million, five grams of gold, as well as one unit of house and a set of prayer tools, paid in cash!"

"I accept the marriage and marriage of Eka Maheswari Saputra with the aforementioned dowry paid in cash!" said Mahardika with one breath.

"What about the witnesses? Is it legal?"

"Ya!" said the witnesses simultaneously. So did the guests who shouted in unison.

Then the headman led the prayer. Mahardika raised both hands, assuring every prayer that was said.

Not only him, but all the people who filled the room also agreed.

Occasionally Teguh Saputra was seen wiping his tears. His emotions were so high after completing his duty as a father.

"Please present the bride to sign the marriage book," said the wedding chairman, who was on duty today.

Mahardika felt relieved now. Like a disease, he was finally healthy. There was no longer anything holding him back. Finally he had officially become a husband to a girl who was only 21 years old.

Eka, accompanied by Annata and her two best friends, walked over to Mahardika there.

Today, Eka really became the center of everyone's attention. Dressed in a typical Sundanese wedding dress, Eka looks very beautiful and graceful. Mahardika gaped, looking at the woman who has now officially become his wife.

Eka smiled gently, as did Mahardika. She extended her right hand and Eka took it with mixed feelings. Happy, joyful, and emotional all at the same time.

The invited guests were busy taking pictures with their cell phone cameras. Didn't want to miss the moment of ring installation and others.

Mahardika put the ring on his wife's ring finger. Then Eka, who put the ring on the finger of the man who is now legally her husband.

Eka kissed the back of Mahardika's hand as a sign of respect. Now it was Mahardika's turn to kiss Eka's forehead, as a form of affection. The moment was recorded beautifully in everyone's memory.

Mahardika's warm touch created a great rush in Eka's heart, as if there was a high-voltage electric current striking her body now.

***

3:00 am. Such a beautiful day has passed, but the happy impression is still felt today.

Mahardika and Eka were already in the room, which had been decorated so beautifully, creating a romantic impression for the happy couple.

On the big bed, rose petals had been sprinkled. There are many candles scattered around the room, making the atmosphere even more romantic.

Eka had just come out of the bathroom. She has changed her clothes. While Mahardika sat on the sofa playing with his cell phone.

Eka walked slowly while feeling a great rush crashing through her body.

Yes. Tonight should be a beautiful moment for her and her husband. They say this night is called the first night.

"Are you done, honey?" asked Mahardika, who got up from the sofa.

Eka was surprised and nodded slightly, "yes. If Uncle Dika wants to go to the bathroom, go ahead."

Even though they are married, Eka's habit has not changed, namely calling Mahardika as 'Uncle'.

Mahardika eroded the distance, so that he and Eka were now only a few feet apart.

"Why, do you still call me 'Uncle'?" Mahardika asked softly.

Eka raised her head, now looking straight at the man, who never imagined before would become her husband.

"Because I like it," chirped Eka, looking adorable in Mahardika's eyes.

"Even though we are now officially husband and wife, I will still call Uncle Dika, 'Uncle'. I'm not comfortable calling him 'Sayang, Ayang, or anything else,' it's too serious for me."

Mahardika chuckled. He was so excited that he pulled his wife's nose.

"Ouch, Uncle... It hurts," Eka complained, pulling Mahardika's hand away quickly. She rubbed her nose then. "Why do you like to pull my nose so much? What will happen if I have a long nose like Pinocchio? People will definitely demonize me later."

Eka grumbled while puffing up her cheeks. Instead of being annoyed, Mahardika was even more annoyed by his little wife's innocent behavior.

Mahardika moved her face forward, so that the distance between her and Eka was really intimate. Then he said, "No one will dare to say anything bad to you. I will protect you and will not let you be insulted. This is my promise as a husband. Remember that."

Next she walked past Eka, towards the bathroom.

Eka was frozen like a stone statue there. Mahardika's words were like arrows that went straight through her heart and hit her right in the heart.

Eka did not understand why Mahardika treated her so gently and warmly. In fact, all she knew was that Mahardika was strict and indifferent to women. At least that's what Bambang Wijaya had told her.

Fifteen minutes later. Mahardika came out of the bathroom. Wearing a bathrobe that was only knee-length.

Eka closed her eyes and turned around. Ah, if I'm honest, this was the first time Eka saw another man, besides her father and brother under the same roof.

"What's wrong with you, dear?" asked Mahardika in surprise, walking towards the dressing table.

"I'm embarrassed, Uncle," Eka said, whining a little.

Mahardika chuckled, "What are you ashamed of, dear? I am your husband, dear. So why be embarrassed?"

After spraying perfume, Mahardika swung her legs over to Eka, who was sitting on the edge of the bed.

"I'm embarrassed anyway." Eka was still reluctant to turn around, even though Mahardika had persuaded her.

"Hadeuh... This is you, sweetheart. So innocent."

"Let it be. I've never been in a room with a boy. Besides, why are you still wearing that, instead of just putting on your clothes? I'm embarrassed to see it, Uncle."

Mahardika smiled slightly at that sentence. His heart felt relieved that the woman he married was truly capable of maintaining her honor.

Unlike most girls out there, who freely invited men into their rooms.

"Yes, you don't need to be ashamed, dear. I am your husband. We are officially husband and wife. So, whatever is inside me, you can see it."

Can you see?

Eka rounded her eyes. Her mind started to wander.