LOVE YOU, UNCLE

“How’s it going, Ghe? Feeling better now?” Joshua asked as he had just finished the task assigned by Mrs. Sonia. Meanwhile, Ghea, busy creating a diagram on her personal computer, just nodded briefly. After a few minutes, she finally responded to Joshua’s question.

“Don’t worry. I’m feeling better now. Yesterday, I took my medicine as soon as I got home, and the stomach pain quickly subsided.”

Joshua nodded, then quickly resumed his lecture. As a friend who knew Ghea’s personality and habits very well, he understood why the girl next to him complained of feeling sick yesterday afternoon.

“That’s why, knowing you have gastric problems, don’t make a habit of skipping meals, Ghe. It’s still manageable. If it gets severe? You’ll be the one in trouble.”

Ghea smiled sheepishly. It was quite common for Joshua to scold her like this.

“Yeah, sorry. Besides, I was late for lunch yesterday because I had to wait for Randy. I thought he would remember our lunch date and show up on time. Turns out, he was busy with another woman.”

“Another woman?”

From the doorway, Denisa, who had just returned from the meeting room, jumped into the conversation. She seemed curious after hearing what Ghea told Joshua.

“Just a usual air freshener for the office, second edition,” Ghea joked casually.

“Air freshener?” Denisa questioned with a serious expression.

“Yeah, Denis. Yesterday, Randy forgot our lunch date because he went out with his ex-girlfriend.”

“What?!”

Denisa and Joshua both reacted in surprise. Not only that, but they also shared a look of disbelief.

“Seriously, Randy went out with his ex? How is that possible?”

Ghea nodded.

“A thousand percent true. Randy even admitted it when he got home. He said his ex, who had left him and got married, suddenly reappeared and suggested getting back together.”

Denisa still wore a puzzled expression. Many questions lingered in her mind.

“That’s not it, Ghe. The real question is, how did Randy’s ex suddenly end up in the office? For what purpose? Did she visit intentionally or what?”

Ghea shrugged indifferently. She had no idea why her husband’s ex-girlfriend ended up in the Akasia building, whether by accident or for a planned reason.

“I don’t know how it started or how this second-edition air freshener decided to visit. Yesterday, I just saw Randy and that woman leaving together, and I didn’t know where they were going. It wasn’t until they got home that Randy confessed and told me everything they did out there.”All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

“And then… then, Randy told you about getting back together? How did you react to your husband’s confession? Just calm?” Denisa inquired, wanting to know more.

“Well, I did scold him a bit, Denis. What woman wouldn’t be jealous hearing that her ex-husband is being invited to reconcile? But since Randy assured me that there’s nothing going on, I felt a bit relieved.”

Denisa breathed a sigh of relief. Just like Ghea, she somehow believed that Randy was a faithful type who wouldn’t mess around.

“Well, thank goodness for that. But you still have to be careful, Ghe. It’s the risk of marrying a reformed playboy. If it’s not about the most beautiful ex, it’s the annoying ex. So you have to be careful. Watch over your husband. No matter how faithful he is, if tempted every day, he might eventually give in. It’s dangerous!”

Ghea nodded in understanding. She had been thinking about this since last night. Just because Randy is faithful, she wouldn’t be complacent and not vigilant. There’s no guarantee that everything will continue to be smooth in the future.

“Don’t worry. This time, I won’t just stay silent. If necessary, I’ll handle any woman who gets too close,” Ghea confidently declared. Then, she promptly stood up. Glancing at the watch on her left hand, she prepared to leave.

“So, where are you headed?” Joshua inquired, curious. It wasn’t the end of the working hours yet, but it seemed like her friend was getting ready to escape.

“It’s almost break time, Jo. I’m going to meet Randy and invite him to have lunch together.”

“Oh my, is your husband really going to be cornered, huh?” Joshua teased, making Denisa laugh.

“Go, quickly, meet your husband,” Denisa ordered. “If needed, give him no chance to have lunch alone, let alone be disturbed by other women. It’s okay to be aggressive. It’s for the sake of peace.”

Ghea nodded and laughed. Giving a thumbs up in agreement to Denisa’s words, she hurriedly walked towards Randy’s office.

***

Ghea walked lightly towards Randy’s office. Humming to herself, she occasionally threw a smile at the staff she passed by, intentionally greeting them. If she was irritated yesterday, her mood was much better now. Especially after Randy’s explanation last night, she was convinced that he wouldn’t do anything foolish.

Once Ghea reached the floor where Randy’s office was located, she quickened her pace. Seeing that her husband’s secretary was not at her desk, Ghea decided to enter the room without knocking or calling first. She was sure that her husband would be inside.

“Darling… lunch together, okay? I’ve —”

Ghea’s words and steps reflexively stopped as she stepped in, finding Randy entertaining a guest. From behind, Ghea could see that the person chatting with her husband was a woman.

With a bit of embarrassment, Ghea immediately covered her mouth. She bowed politely, intending to apologize for entering the executive’s office without permission.

“S-sorry, Sir, if I’m interrupting. I wasn’t aware there was a guest,” Ghea said formally. “In that case, I’ll excuse myself.”

“Darling…”

Randy smiled and called out. Instead of asking her to leave, he waved his hand, asking Ghea to come closer.

“Come here. I want to introduce you.”

Ghea complied. She nodded, then quickly approached. When she stood right beside Randy, she turned to look. Initially intending to give a cold shoulder to the guest who was previously engaged in a conversation with her husband.

However, as she turned, Ghea was shocked beyond measure. She remembered the woman sitting in front of her husband as the one who walked with Randy into the elevator a few moments before lunchtime. So, is this the woman Randy talked about? How bold of her to come back.

“Come here, I want to introduce you,” Randy broke the silence. “This is Agista or Gista. She’s an expert sent by Velfire to oversee the project in Indonesia for two months.”

Ghea nodded gracefully. Maintaining her politeness, she extended her hand, welcoming a handshake. With a friendly demeanor, she said, “Hi, I’m Agista Cordelia. Nice to meet you.”

Ghea nodded, and her smile remained unfaded. “Nice to meet an important person like you too, Mrs. Agista,” Ghea replied amiably. “Let me introduce myself, I’m Ghea Walters. I —”

“She’s my wife, Gista,” Randy interjected intentionally. The expression on Agista’s face immediately revealed her surprise. “She’s Ghea. The woman I told you about, the one who managed to steal my heart and drive me crazy.”

Ghea’s face turned rosy from the compliment Randy gave her. Meanwhile, Agista? Her face was expressionless. It was evident that she was either annoyed or perhaps disgusted after hearing Randy’s proudly delivered confession.

“I think the discussion about the job description for the future is already quite clear,” Randy continued, intending to conclude the conversation. Apart from not wanting his wife to feel uncomfortable, Randy was also reluctant to spend more time with Agista.

“Yes, everything is very clear. If there’s anything I don’t understand later, I can ask Mr. Randy again,” Agista replied.

Randy nodded. “In that case, Miss Gista can go back to the office. Alvin will guide you through everything.”

Agista then stood up from her seat, shaking hands before bidding farewell. However, as she was about to leave, she spoke again.

“Since it’s almost lunchtime, how about we have lunch together? It’s been a long time since we ate together, right? You can also invite your wife,” Gista suggested, trying to be friendly. If she could slowly win Randy’s heart and sympathy, why not? Agista knew exactly what Randy’s habits and personality were like. No matter how stubborn he was, with daily persuasion, she believed he would eventually soften.

Meanwhile, Randy was not quick to agree. Instead of accepting Agista’s invitation, he openly declined.

“Thank you for your offer, Gista. I appreciate your invitation. But —”

“Mr. Randy already has a lunch appointment with me, Mrs. Agista,” Ghea intentionally interrupted. “Thank you very much for your offer. I think having lunch together for the sake of a former reunion is unnecessary. It could lead to unnecessary emotions, and that’s dangerous.”

Ghea’s words were a clear condition with a cutting sarcasm. Meanwhile, Agista could only press her lips together. Smiling awkwardly, she nodded and chose to leave the room promptly. It was quite embarrassing that her lunch invitation was flatly rejected.