His Secret Child

I am Agneta Laurinda Aretina; currently, I am 23 years old. I work for a large company in the field of Apparel, textiles, and fashion, which has been successful. I feel lucky to be able to work for this company, even if only in the marketing department.

I'm currently preparing breakfast for us.

Oops! I haven't told you I have a little prince, have I? Well, now I have a little angel named Regan Danial. He is already four years old.

"Morning, Mother!" He cheerfully made me smile.

Regan is the reason I survived until now. Regan is also the one who got me excited again after all this time enduring incurable pain.

"Morning, Mother's Prince." I kissed Regan's chubby cheek.

Even though he was only four years old, Regan was a nimble and intelligent child. He was even the top student in kindergarten. His oriental face, or mulatto, makes him even more handsome. However, just by looking at his face, it reminds me of the jerk who has ruined my life. The first and last man I really hated and never wanted to meet again in my life

"Why are you looking at Egan so intently? Egan is very handsome, huh?" He chirps with a lisp, making me smile broadly.

They even have the same character-so confident, and I don't want Regan to look like that guy, not at all.

"You are very handsome, honey. Let's have breakfast!" I held his body and sat him on the bar stool in my small rented house. "Egan, maybe Mom will be a little busy at work and can't pick you up home. You can go home by yourself and go to Aunt Iren's house, right?" I said this because today is the day I welcome my new boss.

"Let me pick him up." Someone's words made Egan and I look towards the sound of a man wearing a black suit standing in the doorway. He smiled sweetly at us.

"Aiden's father!" Egan shouted and ran to Aiden.

"Daddy master!" Aiden lifted Egan's body into the air, making him laugh gleefully.

He is Aiden Zharil Pratama, a kind-hearted man who has filled my heart all this time. He was able to accept me because I already have children. In fact, he also loved Regan so much that it was as if she were his own biological child.

"Good morning, dear."

The whisper jolted me back to reality. I didn't realize that Aiden was already standing next to me. I smiled at him and went to prepare breakfast for him too.

"Aren't you going to be busy? Aren't you, as the CEO's representative, really in need of his presence?" I asked.

Aiden is the deputy CEO at the Wiratama Group, also known as the WT Group corporation. I work for the largest Apparel, textile, and Fashion company in Indonesia and abroad, including in several developed countries.

"No, just let it be. Besides my cousin, who just came back from London and became the CEO, He won't need me. So Dad will pick up Regan later." Aiden pinched Regan's cheek, making her cheer up.

I can only smile and be happy to see the cohesiveness between the two of them. I'm also grateful that when my life was destroyed and there was no place for me to stand, Aiden came to bring hope for me and Regan. I don't love him as much as he loves me, but I will try to love him with all my heart.

After dropping Regan off at school and leaving her with the teacher there, Aiden and I headed straight to the office. We split up in the parking lot because we were in different rooms.

This is where I am now, at my desk with several files piled up. Pak Wildan, the manager of the marketing department, has asked me to prepare several reports.

"Ta, don't you know? They say the replacement for the old CEO is still young, you know," Sonya chirps.

"So?" I asked.

Even when I came to the office, from the lobby to the hallways, everyone was gossiping about the new CEO, who was said to be young and very handsome.

Whatever.

"He said he was very handsome," Sonya chirped, making me roll my eyes out of embarrassment.

"You've said that many times, and this is probably the hundredth time," I said exaggeratedly.

"Bad, lol," he chuckled.

Immediately, several people came, excitedly broadcasting the news that the new CEO had arrived. We have to get ready soon because the CEO is currently touring all the divisions.

"I have to dress as prettily as possible," Sonya said, looking in the mirror and adding her makeup. I just shook my head.

"I'll go to Pak Wildan's room first." I quickly went to Pak Wildan's room, and Sonya just nodded her head in response.

I was in the middle of reporting some documents to Pak Wildan until the door to the room opened.

"Mr. Wildan, Mr. Wiratama has come." The notification made Mr. Wildan and I stand up from our seats.

"Good afternoon,"

Degh!

He?

Right now, he was standing in front of me with the same gaze. His sharp gaze was full of intimidation, and his face looked even more handsome and mature. After five years, he is now in front of me. I felt my world stop turning when his gaze again stabbed into the retina of my eyes. The same gaze that made me hate him and love him at the same time. However, he is the only person I want to avoid and eliminate from this world. He's the person I really don't want to see again in my life. He is Davero Anderson Wiratama!

***

"Welcome, Mr. Wiratama," said Mr. Wildan, making me realize that this was not a dream or a hallucination.

"Call me Dave," he said, still expressionless, his gaze fixed on me. I could feel his sharp gaze traversing my entire body as if to strip me naked. God, this asshole, how dare he?

"Oh yes, Pak Dave, I am Wildan Handiansyah. I am the manager in the Marketing division, and this is Agneta Laurinda Aretina; she is the best employee in the marketing division at this company," explained Pak Wildan.

I still stared at him hatefully; I even clenched my fists on both sides of my body. The wounds that I buried long ago are now coming back to the surface. There is a pain that is imprinted in the recesses of my heart. The wound is very painful because of the man in front of me.

He stared back at me with a glare full of intimidation of his own. Absolutely nothing has changed; he is still the same Dave as he was five years ago. He walked towards me, making me take a step back to put some distance between us. He kept approaching me as if he wanted to close the distance between us. I immediately lowered my head because I was no longer able to return his scary gaze or melt my heart.

"Long time no see, Neta!" His whisper made me shiver and swallow my own saliva.

I still don't want to return that intimidating stare. I really hate this meeting. I really hate it.

"I miss you," he whispered right in my ear, then walked away. Makes my breath stop for a moment.

After he left, this time Pak Wildan looked at me questioningly. It seemed he was curious about Davero's behavior just now.

"Excuse me, sir!" I said that because I didn't want to discuss anything about Davero with Pak Wildan.

***

I'm currently sitting on a chair in the office cafeteria. I'm enjoying my food. Luckily, Aiden was at work, so he couldn't have lunch with me. No, more like I was stirring my own food without tasting it. My mind drifted, thinking of that man. How did he come back? The man I desperately wanted to wipe off the face of the earth was in the same office as my boss. Should I leave this office? Doesn't that sound exaggerated? I really, really hate it. I don't even want to mention his name.

"Hey! Even dreamy. Thinking about Aiden's brother, huh?" It dawned on me. I immediately corrected my sitting position and the look on my face.

"No," I replied.

"What's wrong, Tae? Are you still mad at Aiden?" she asked.

I just shook my head dispiritedly.

"Does this have anything to do with Regan? Regan is fine, right?" He asked again, and Sonya looked worried.

"He's fine, Sonya."

"Then why?" He touched my forehead, making me wince. "Not hot," he said.

"I'm fine, Sonya, dear," I assured her.

Sonya is my best friend and neighbor; she is the closest to me. After that incident happened, I never wanted to have friends again because everything was only sweet in front of me. Sonya was aware that I was a single parent who raised Regan on my own after my husband left us. He was also the one who helped me get into this big company, so I was able to meet Aiden. Aiden knew my story, but he didn't leave me. He still accepts me as I am, even though I haven't said everything. Our relationship has entered its first year, but I repeatedly rejected Aiden's good intentions to marry me. I don't know what I'm considering again, but what's certain is that my heart isn't completely for Aiden.

He is still there. The man who became my first love The man I love and hate at the same time The man I never wanted to meet in my life is now my boss, and unfortunately, he is the sole heir of this big company. Another bitter truth is that he is the cousin of my beloved Aiden. My God, what is the point of all this?

"In fact, I'm daydreaming again; your mood is really bad right now," Sonya said, making me realize again that she was still in front of me.

"Yes. It's really broken," I replied.

"But at least keep eating, please," he said, and I nodded.

My gaze went out the cafeteria window; there, it was clear that the man was walking towards the office lobby.

"Look at our new boss! So handsome, right? This is the so-called perfect prince. Already handsome, he is also a billionaire. The company is in several developed countries, and of course there are lots of women who are willing to humble themselves just to be able to sleep with him," Sonya said exaggeratedly. For some reason, it made my chest feel hit and feel pain.

"Not all women are like that," I said, annoyed. Offended by his words.

"Heh, Lo, why are you so emotional? What impression does he have that he is not good for Lo? But really, he's a bit ignorant; he can't even make a smile," Sonya said at length, and I couldn't help but snort.

How could that heartless man be called the perfect prince? Seriously!

***

The next day, I arrived late to work because Regan was somehow cranky this morning, and I didn't want to leave her at school. Aiden also couldn't deliver because he was having a meeting out of town. I was forced to wait for him for an hour until he recovered and mingled with his friends. After entering the lobby, I rushed to the elevator without paying attention to my surroundings so I could enter the elevator, which was almost tightly closed. I immediately pressed the number seven button to go to my room, but I smelled a familiar masculine perfume on my senses. Perfume? I look back, and damn it! I didn't realize that I had entered the special elevator for high-ranking officials, and that jerk was standing right behind me with his gaze, as usual, sharp and full of intimidation. I immediately pressed the elevator button many times to stop the elevator and get out of this cramped and scary room.

"I didn't think we would meet again after so long," he said haughtily.

I didn't want to respond at all and kept trying to press the elevator button while reciting prayers for the devil behind me to disappear from world civilization. I flinched as he grabbed my arm and pinned me against the elevator wall. What does he want? Afraid? Well, that's how I feel right now. Memories from five years ago came back to haunt me. A painful incident that succeeded in ruining my life.

"What do you want to do?" I asked sarcastically:

"What is it?" He flashed a grin, one eyebrow raised. It still looks the same as before; nothing has changed.

"Get out of the way!" I said it sharply.

He probably thought I was still Agneta from five years ago, whom he easily tricked and fooled. Now I am Agneta, who will never lose again. Love? I don't want to know that word love anymore. Enough of all that pain!

"You just look prettier. Where are those thick glasses of yours?"

His words made me look away because I didn't want to look at him again. "Sorry, honorable Mr. Davero. Can you step aside? If other people see us like this, then bad gossip will spread quickly. You don't want to be gossiped about in magazines and newspapers because you were caught being indecent to your subordinates," I said firmly, not wanting to show my fear.

Of course, she just smiled sweetly at me-not her usual sweet smile. It was a sweet smile that kept a deadly poison in it-a smile full of mystery that even made me shudder.

"I don't care," he said.

He's getting closer to me; even if I move a little, maybe our noses will touch. His minty breath tickled my skin. Oh God, help me. Now I feel very scared, with cold sweat all over my body. Shadow fragments from the past filled my mind again. A virus from this man once more attacked the brain that I had previously erased and replaced with positive memories of Regan and Aiden. I looked down in fear, not wanting to see the look in her eyes that could deceive. My whole body feels frozen and has goosebumps.

Aarghhh! let go! it hurts! Please don't do this, please! Sob. Scream after scream jostled my memory back.

Ting!

Thankfully, the elevator doors opened on time. I pushed Davero's big body with all my strength and immediately ran out of the elevator without wanting to look back. I went straight to the toilet, which was near my room, and cried in one of the cubicles. My chest feels squeezed; it feels very tight. The painful fragments are gradually rising to the surface.

Why? Why didn't God answer my prayer? Why should he come back? How about this? What should I do? Should I get out of here and choose to go as far as possible?

No, Agnes. It is very difficult to get into this company, even just relying on your high school diploma. You must be strong, Agneta. If you're weak, how about Regan? What would you eat if you were to leave a job that has helped keep Regan and your life alive so far? You are no longer the weak woman you were five years ago, Agneta. You are a strong woman, and you have to be strong for Regan.

Yes, all for the sake of Regan alone. Only him and for him! My only son That's what I thought when I cried over everything.

***

Tonight, I just finished cooking for Regan. I immediately sat beside him, who was engrossed in learning to write.

"Wow, Mother's child can already write the letter A, huh? Regan is so smart," I complimented while rubbing his head.

"Yes, Mother. Mrs. Gulu said, Egan was already good at writing," Regan said with a lisp, which made me not want to miss always kissing his chubby cheeks.

"Your Prince is hungry, isn't he?" I asked.

"Very tired, Mother. I don't want to eat," he said excitedly.

"Then let's fly to the dining table!" I lifted Regan's petite body and sat her on a chair at the dining table. "Landing successfully," I said, making him chuckle.

Mom, cook what?" He asked, staring at the food on the table.

"Mother cooks Egan's favorite fried chicken," I said, taking her favorite rice and chicken thighs.

"Fun! The problem is that at Aunt Ilen's house, Egan doesn't eat fried chicken," he said.

I smiled and handed him the food. "Eat a lot, unfortunately, Mother."

I haven't told you who Iren is. Iren is Sonya's biological sister. Sonya's family has been so nice to me and Regan. They helped me take care of Regan while I was working. After my family threw me away, another family embraced me. Yes, ironic indeed. Five years have passed, but I still don't know how my family is in Semarang today. I hope they find me. Even if it seemed impossible after what happened.

"Mother, why don't you eat too?" Regan's voice woke me up.

I smiled at him.

"Mom is happy to see Egan eating. Want some more?" I asked him, and he nodded enthusiastically.

I got the rice and side dishes for Regan. Regan went back to eating it, but immediately she thrust the food at me.

"Aaaaak, Mother!" Regan persuaded.

I opened my mouth to take a bite from him, and Regan said again, "You must eat a lot if you are strong. Mom, you work fine to pay for Egan's school."

His innocence really makes me teary-eyed. Dear God, thank you because you have given me a little angel who can strengthen my heart. Please don't separate us both, Lord. Really, I never imagined that would happen. I shed tears.

"Mother, why are you crying? Is the food not good?" asked Egan.

"Do not love. It's so delicious. Mother is just touched to see your attention, "I said.

"Kalena Egan loves Mother. Mother, don't cry! Regan wiped the tears off my cheeks. I nodded and hugged Regan's body.

I can't look weak in front of Regan. I have to be a strong woman for my little angel.

***

The next day, I was busy working on several reports requested by Mr. Wildan.

"Are you busy?" Sonya was already standing outside my cubicle.

"Hmm. This should be finished this afternoon," I said, still busy doing my work.

"Eh, Ta, Pak Dave is still single, you know. He does not have a fiancé and is not yet married. Yesterday I met with his secretary, and he said all that. Even in the office, there is a Dave Lover group. I'm happy to be part of that group."

His chatter sickens me to hear it.

"Isn't there anything more interesting that you can tell me besides your favorite boss?" I said, glancing at him briefly.

"Oh, come on, dear Agneta. You're not thinking about changing course, are you?" He said that, making me stop my work and stare intently at him.

Oh, come on, pretty Miss Sonya. Can you change the subject? My ears feel like they're about to burst listening to you, who keep on talking about the new boss," I said jokingly, even though my heart was already very annoyed.

He chuckles at me.

"In that case, how about we discuss Mr. Aiden? How is your relationship with him going now? You miss him because he has work outside the office these days, right?" He said it, making me sigh.

"What in the world?" I said.

"What, her cheeks are actually flushing!" His taunt made me roll my eyeballs lazily.

I tidied up the report I just printed out and put it in a blue folder.

"That's enough. Don't chatter all the time; I'm going to Pak Wildan's room first," I said, hurrying to leave. Sonya, who was still taunting me like a teenager,

I entered Mr. Wildan's room after getting permission and immediately handed over the documents that had just been completed to him.

"Good," he complimented as he checked the report files.

I smiled and felt satisfied after hearing the comment. Of course, because I always try to do my best without wanting to disappoint anyone.

"Neta, please give this report directly to Mr. Dave's room, OK?" Pak Wildan ordered, making me freeze in place.

"M-me, sir?" I muttered and choked.

"Yes, Mr. Dave wants to check it directly. Is there any problem?" asked Mr. Wildan, looking at me suspiciously.

I immediately shook my head, not wanting Pak Wildan to raise any suspicions.

"Okay, sir. I will take this document to Mr. Davero's room," I said while taking the document back.

"Neta," Pak Wildan called when I was about to leave. "You are okay, right?"

"Yes sir. I'm fine," I said and hurried away.

I got on the elevator and pressed button 29 to go to his room, then wrung my hands out of nervousness and fear.

You can, Agnes. Strengthen yourself; you can definitely do it. That's what I said to myself while waiting for the elevator door to open.

Ting!

My thoughts were broken when the elevator doors opened to reveal a luxurious red velvet carpet. I walked along the carpet until I met a fairly large room, and there was Rachel, Davero's secretary. He smiled warmly to greet me.

"Wanna meet Pak Dave, huh?" he asked, and I nodded in response. "Come in; he's been waiting," he said, making me smile sadly.

What does this asshole want?

I entered the room after being allowed to do so. There is a luxurious and spacious room, and this is the first time I have entered the CEO's room, the big boss. Never before had a lowly employee like me entered the big boss' area like this. Now, here I am. You can see the various trophies and awards that this company has won in the room that I entered for the first time during my two years working here. My gaze was directed to the figure that I hate so much. He was typing something on his laptop when I walked over to his oversized desk.

"This is the report you asked for, sir," I said as I handed the document over to his desk.

"Hmm," he replied.

"Then excuse me." I backed away to turn around to get out.

"Agnet, wait!"

His words stopped me from turning around. He stood up from his chair and glared at me. That stare always makes me freeze and weaken. He grabbed the document I gave him and opened it, then sat on the side of his desk to read the document.

Five years have passed, but nothing has changed for him. He's still a handsome devil who has ruined my life. His face looks more handsome and much more mature, especially with the fine hairs that fill his jaw. Her eyelashes remained curled, and her gray eyes were sharp and full of intimidation, as I've told you for the umpteenth time. He is still the Dave I know.

"Good," he said, glancing at me.

I still stare at him coldly.

"It's true that you are the best employee here. No wonder your manager is always proud of you. Your work is to be commended," he said.

"Thank you," I replied.

He's still looking at me. "Five years have passed. Long enough, right?"

Of course, his words did not require my response. He got back up and walked towards me. That made me take a few steps back and keep walking backwards until my ass hit the head of the couch behind me. He crouched over my body with his hands holding onto the head of the sofa, making me unable to move or hold my breath.

"Excuse me, sir. I have to leave soon. I still have a lot of work," I said while trying to get up, but he didn't move an inch.

His dirty hand stroked my cheek, and then his thumb brushed against my rosy lips.

"I missed you," he said, still kissing my lips.

He was about to kiss me, but I immediately pushed him away with all my might.

Plaque!

"Please watch your manners, honorable Mr. Davero!" I screamed, and she kept trying to move.

He held my wrist again and pulled me until our bodies were close to each other.

"I'm glad to see you again, Agneta. I've been looking for you all this time, until I searched the entire city of Semarang looking for you!" He said it emphatically.

What is he looking for me for? Isn't it enough that he has left a wound in my heart?

I tried my best to keep away from his body and left the room in annoyance. Rachel gave me a confused look, but so be it. I quickened my steps toward entering the elevator. My body shook violently in the elevator. The touch. I want to forget that scary incident. Please take him away from me, Oh Lord.

My body slumped to the elevator floor, and I cried uncontrollably there. I remember how he forced me to kiss him and how he ruined my future.

I hate it! I really hate it!

Please give me strength. Please give me the strength to stay on my feet and keep walking in front of that devil. God, please strengthen me.

***