My boss is my child's father

The cheerful laughter of a small child was heard loudly in the backyard of the house. A young woman with long flowing hair, wearing simple clothes, smiled softly as she watched the five-year-old boy running after a butterfly flying among the flowers. The woman was Sari, a nanny who had worked for Mr. Rendra's family for almost three years.

"Arka, be careful running! Don't fall!" Sari shouted in an anxious but gentle tone, making sure Arka didn't get hurt while playing.

Arka, with a big smile on his face, turned his head briefly towards Sari and waved his little hand. "Yes, Sis Sari! Arka is okay!" he answered cheerfully, before returning his focus to chasing the butterfly.

Sari smiled and shook her head slowly. The child was indeed very active and full of energy, like children in general. However, there was something that made Arka different-he was the son of Sari's boss, Mr. Rendra, a successful man who was rarely at home because of his busy work.

Mr. Rendra was a CEO of a large company, and spent more time in the office than at home. Because of that, Sari took over the role of caregiver and mother figure for Arka, considering that his biological mother died in childbirth.

Sari lowered her head, taking a deep breath. Her heart always felt warm every time she saw Arka's smile, but at the same time, there was a feeling of guilt that slowly crept into her heart. She knew very well that what she felt for her boss, Rendra, had gone beyond the limit. However, she tried hard not to show her feelings, especially in front of Arka.

"Arka, are you hungry? Let's go inside first! Sis wants to make some snacks," Sari invited, trying to distract her mind from the feelings that were increasingly difficult for her to control.

Arka nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, Sis Sari! Arka wants chocolate cake!" she exclaimed while jogging towards Sari.

Sari smiled and took Arka's small hand, leading him into the house. She looked at the child with affection, but in the corner of her heart, she felt anxious about their future.

---

In the afternoon, when the sun began to set, the sound of the front door opening was heard. Sari, who was busy in the kitchen, immediately looked towards the source of the sound and saw Rendra entering with a tired face. Although tired, the man still looked charismatic in his neat suit.

"Welcome, sir," Sari greeted politely, but could not hide the pounding of her heart every time she saw Rendra.

Rendra smiled faintly. "Thank you, Sari. How is Arka today? Is there a problem?" he asked while taking off his tie and putting it on a chair.

"Nothing, sir. Arka is playing in the yard as usual. Earlier he asked for a chocolate cake, now he's watching cartoons in the living room," answered Sari while looking down slightly, not daring to look Rendra in the eye for too long.

Rendra nodded. "Good then. Thank you for taking good care of Arka, Sari."

Sari could only smile, holding back her feelings that were increasingly difficult to control. She knew she shouldn't expect more than just that thank you, but her heart could not be lied to. He had fallen in love with his boss, even though he knew it was wrong.

Rendra walked towards the living room, seeing Arka who was busy watching television. The child immediately jumped up from the sofa when he saw his father and ran to hug him.

"Papa! Papa is home!" Arka exclaimed happily.

Rendra chuckled and rubbed Arka's head gently. "Yes, son. Papa is home. Have you eaten?"

Arka nodded. "Yes, Papa. Sis Sari cooked chocolate cake for Arka!"

Rendra glanced towards the kitchen, where Sari was still busy cleaning the equipment. "Oh really? It must be delicious, huh?"

Arka nodded again, this time with more enthusiasm. "Yes, Papa! Papa must try it later!"

Rendra smiled warmly at his son. "Okay, Papa will try it later. Now, you continue watching first, okay? Papa wants to talk to Sis Sari for a moment."

Arka nodded obediently and sat back down on the sofa, focusing on his cartoon show.

Rendra then walked to the kitchen, approaching Sari who was clearing the table. "Sari, can we talk for a moment?" he asked in a serious tone.

Sari was a little surprised to hear the request. "Of course, sir. What's wrong?" she asked, trying to stay calm even though her heart was beating fast.

Rendra took a deep breath before speaking. "I know this may be sudden, but I want you to know how much I appreciate everything you've done for Arka. I don't know what Arka would be like without you here."

Sari fell silent, feeling warm hearing Rendra's words. However, she also felt an unexplainable unease.

Rendra continued, "I also realize that I leave you two at home too often. Maybe you feel too burdened because you have to take care of Arka alone, but you never complain. I really appreciate it."

Thank you for that."

Sari swallowed, feeling her eyes burning slightly. "Mr. Rendra... Arka is like my own child. I am happy to be able to take care of him," she answered softly.

Rendra looked at Sari with a gentle gaze that made her heart beat even faster. "Sari, I want you to know that you mean a lot to us. I... I want us to be more open with each other. Not just as boss and employee, but as... family."

Those words stunned Sari. She never expected to hear something like that from Rendra. "Family, Sir?" she asked, confused.

Rendra nodded. "Yes, Sari. Arka is very close to you, and I... I feel like we are already family. I don't want there to be any distance between us. I want you to feel comfortable here, like at home."

Sari felt her heart was in turmoil. On the one hand, she was happy to hear that Rendra wanted to be closer to her. However, on the other hand, she knew that her feelings could bring big problems if she was not careful.

"Thank you, Sir. "I... I also feel very appreciated here," Sari answered with a trembling voice.

Rendra smiled warmly. "That's good. I hope we can continue like this."

After that, Rendra returned to the living room to accompany Arka, while Sari remained standing in the kitchen, contemplating Rendra's words just now. Her heart was torn between feelings of happiness because of the attention given by Rendra and fear of what might happen if her feelings continued to grow.

---

That night, after Arka fell asleep in his room, Sari returned to the kitchen to make sure everything was done before she went to rest. However, her mind was still filled with the conversation she had with Rendra earlier that afternoon.

While she was wiping the table, suddenly footsteps were heard approaching. Sari turned and saw Rendra standing at the kitchen door, staring at her with a gaze that was difficult to interpret.

"Sari," Rendra called softly.

Sari felt her chest pounding again. "Yes, Sir? "Can I help you?" she asked, trying to stay calm.

Rendra walked closer and stopped right in front of her. "There's something I want to talk about again."

Sari felt the tension in the air suddenly become heavier. "What is it, sir?" she asked in a voice that was almost a whisper.

Rendra took a deep breath before finally speaking. "I've been thinking about this for a long time, and... maybe this is too sudden for you, but I have to be honest. Sari, I... I feel like there's something more than just a working relationship between us."

Sari's heart felt like it stopped hearing that sentence. She never imagined that Rendra would express his feelings. "Mr. Rendra... I... I don't know what to say," she answered nervously.

Rendra stared at her deeply, as if trying to find the answer in Sari's eyes. "I know this isn't easy, but I can't pretend I don't feel anything anymore. You've become an important part of my life and Arka's life. I wonder if you feel the same way

?"

Sari felt her whole body shaking. Part of her wanted to confess her feelings immediately, but fear and awareness of her limitations made her hesitate.

"Sari, please, be honest with me," Rendra urged, his voice softer but firmer.

Sari lowered her head, trying to form the right words. "Mr. Rendra, I... I do feel very close to you and Arka. But... I'm scared. I'm afraid that this feeling could ruin everything."

Rendra took Sari's hand gently, making the woman gasp. "We won't know if we don't try, Sari. I don't want to lose you, and I know Arka doesn't either. You are part of this family, more than you realize."

Sari felt her tears begin to flow uncontrollably. "Mr. Rendra, I... I feel the same way. But I don't want to be the cause of problems between us."

Rendra wiped Sari's tears with his thumb. "You won't be a problem, Sari. You are the answer to all the happiness that I have been looking for."

With those words, Rendra pulled Sari into his arms, letting her cry on his chest. Sari felt all the burdens she had felt so far slowly lift, even though she knew this was only the beginning of a long journey that they would go through.

---

Time continued to pass, and the relationship between Sari and Rendra grew closer. They were no longer just boss and employee, but had become more than that-one family. Arka, who did not know anything about what was happening between them, only felt happier because the two people he loved the most were always by his side.

However, behind that happiness, Sari still felt anxious. She knew that the love they felt would not be easily accepted by everyone, especially Rendra's extended family. But, for now, she decided to enjoy every moment they had together, without thinking about what might happen in the future.

On the one hand, she was happy because she could finally feel love from someone she admired. But on the other hand, she realized that the path they were taking would not always be smooth. And that's what makes Sari keep wondering, whether their love is strong enough to overcome all the obstacles that will come.

Sari was busy cooking in the kitchen when Arka came in with hurried steps. The little boy tugged at the hem of Sari's shirt while talking enthusiastically.

"Sis Sari, Sis Sari! Papa said there will be a guest coming tonight! What do you want to eat, Arka?" Arka asked with sparkling eyes.

Sari turned her head and smiled softly, even though her heart was a little anxious to hear the news. "Guest? Wow, that means we have to cook something delicious, huh? What do you want to eat, Arka?" Sari tried to cover up her anxiety with a cheerful tone.

Arka seemed to think for a moment before finally answering, "Arka wants to eat fried chicken and soup! Can you, Sis?"

Sari nodded while rubbing Arka's head. "Of course you can. Sis Sari will cook the most delicious thing for Arka and Papa's guest, okay?"

Arka smiled broadly and ran back to the living room, leaving Sari with a confused mind. She didn't know who the guest would be tonight, but there was an uneasy feeling that was bothering her heart. After Rendra's confession some time ago, Sari always felt that something big was going to happen.

A few hours later, when the sun had completely set, Sari was busy setting the dining table when she heard the sound of a car stopping in front of the house. Her heart started to beat faster. Sari glanced at the front door and realized that the guest she was waiting for had arrived. She immediately rushed to the kitchen to make sure all the food was ready to be served.

Not long after, Sari heard the sound of the door opening and footsteps entering the house. Rendra was heard welcoming his guest warmly.

"Welcome. It's so nice to finally meet you," Rendra's voice was heard clearly from the front room.

Sari paused for a moment, listening carefully. Who exactly was this guest? Sari didn't dare to peek, but her curiosity was very great. She went back to busying herself with preparing dinner, trying to stay focused on her task.

"This is a very comfortable house, Rendra. Thank you for inviting me and my family," a woman's voice sounded soft and full of warmth.

"It's so nice that you could come. Sari has prepared dinner, so let's go straight to the dining table," Rendra replied.

Sari felt a little tense when she heard her name called. She quickly straightened her apron, making sure she looked neat before the guests finally entered the dining room.

Rendra appeared first at the kitchen door, followed by a beautiful woman who looked graceful in a simple yet elegant dress. Behind the woman, there was a middle-aged man who looked dignified, and a little girl who was about the same age as Arka.

"This is Sari, Arka's nanny who also helps a lot around the house," Rendra introduced Sari with a warm smile.

Sari bowed slightly politely. "Good evening, Ma'am. Sir. Nice to meet you."

The woman smiled gently and shook Sari's hand. "Good evening, Sari. Nice to meet you too. I'm Nadia, Mr. Herman's wife. This is my husband, Herman, and our daughter, Dinda."

Sari nodded politely to them. "Please sit down, the food is ready. Hope you like it."

Nadia turned to Rendra with a satisfied look. "Home cooking is always my favorite. Thank you for preparing it, Sari."

Sari just smiled a little and immediately stepped back, making room for them to sit. She could feel Rendra's attention on her for a few seconds, and it was enough to make her cheeks feel hot. Sari then rushed back to the kitchen, letting Rendra and his guests enjoy their dinner.

In the kitchen, Sari couldn't hold back her curiosity. She leaned her back against the wall, trying to calm her suddenly tight heart. Who was this Nadia really? Why did Sari feel so nervous just because of the woman's presence? Those questions kept spinning in her head, adding to the anxiety she felt.

A few minutes later, Sari heard footsteps approaching the kitchen. She quickly turned around, trying to look busy, but what appeared was Arka who came in cheerfully.

"Sis Sari, the food is really delicious! Papa said that Sis Sari should eat with us later," Arka exclaimed while jumping up and down a little.

Sari smiled and patted Arka's head. "Thank you, Arka. But you have to clean up the kitchen first. You eat a lot, huh?"

Arka nodded and returned to the dining room. Sari felt a little relieved that Arka did not notice the anxiety she was feeling. However, the anxiety returned when she heard laughter from the dining room. There was something bothering her heart, as if there was something big that she did not know about yet.

---

After dinner was over, Sari went into the dining room to clear the table. Nadia and her family were still sitting there, enjoying a light conversation with Rendra. Sari tried to work quickly and quietly, but Nadia arrived