Chapter 40 - Between The Grip And Fingers II

"Clek...."

The sound of the door slowly opened by a Butler (personal assistant for VIP guests). He used a special spare key for cleaning and other services in order to fulfil the old man's demands surrounded by the bodyguards.

"You can still sleep in this condition?!!" The old man shouted as he tapped his stick, no less loud.

Hendra didn't sleep, and he just laid down. For three days, the atmosphere was very chaotic. The corporate secretary decided not to pick up any calls.

They brought several buzers to fight social media accounts that reported the closeness of the Wenceslas Group's CEO with the Drama Series artist Tania.

In fact, this team was able to ban gossip accounts on Instagram, the account that posted the first photo of the two with strange statements.

** Hi, crackers spices, here I am informed that the result of hangpong jaduel shot. Mimin caught the beauty with the initials T near the handsome, rich, and phenomenal man. Ugh, Lala, who is it… **

(Hangpong jaduel -old phone-)

The photo showed Tania walking behind Hendra. The man's coat was attached to Tania's beautiful body. The scene of Hendra opening the car door for Tania until the girl got into her car was clearly documented even from a distance.

*Indah19 'Oh, Tania, she's smart too. She wants to imitate her friend's actions in marrying a conglomerate.' (meaning Kia)

*prita_tata 'Handsome guy.'

*kaosanak 'I know the man's IG. He looks like the Wenceslas Group's CEO @hendra_Wenceslas'

*Rahman77' Who doesn't like beautiful girls? If I'm rich, I'll just take them all.'

*Daniella.id' Uh, they're already close from senior high school. I was once their junior in high school. It's outdated.'

BLA BLA BLA

And tens of thousands of comments blindly showered Hendra's official Instagram. There were those who praise and sneer to curse.

The team tried to delete comments that were deemed too severe to maintain their CEO's personal branding. Unfortunately, the aftermath of deleting comments was as long as the gossip was discussed.

Until the third day after the spread of the photos, several television stations no longer broadcast their closeness. The CEOs of the telecommunications media had asked the gossip program to stop broadcasting related to the Wenceslas Group's sole heir as a tribute to fellow television businessmen.

On the other hand, Nara & tv, a subsidiary of the Wenceslas Group, deliberately clarified the friendship between their CEO and Tania so that the impression that arose from the incident was just a scene of two friends.

Hendra hurriedly got out of his grey bed, and the man bowed as a sign of respect for his grandfather.

"Tomorrow is your last day, if you can't fix this. I'll step in." The old man's cold voice made the whole room feel like shrinking too.

This afternoon, unexpected things just appeared on various online news pages and YouTu*e, as a result of the spread of Kia's live insta story.

Even though Kia's insta story was immediately deleted, 30 minutes after, Kia received a stern warning from her husband. Now the ones who were being attacked were Tania and the Ladies squad.

Unfortunately, from the first day of this commotion, Tania was lost as if she was swallowed up by the earth. Her phone, apartment and manager were gone.

Hendra mobilised many people to look for Her. But, it was totally in vain.

"Sorry grandpa, I'll try my best." Hendra still didn't have the courage to look at his own grandfather.

Everyone in the Wenceslas Group circle exactly knew how strong Wiryo's influence was and his ability to subdue others, including his own grandson.

"Hmm..m." He gave a smirk.

His smirk smile was almost similar to Hendra, but this time, it seemed more rigid.

"I didn't come as your grandfather." Wiryo asked his assistant to shift the seat for himself.

"Sorry Chairman, I will try my best." Hendra tried to straighten his body, finding an old man sitting arrogantly in front of him.

"I don't care about the issues that are spread outside. It won't affect our business."

Wiryo spoke as President Director, meaning that he would act according to the needs of the Mega business being built, leaving his status as a grandfather who needed to care about the good name of his grandson.

"I was totally fooled because you grew up to be a smart kid." Said Wiryo dryly.

"It turns out you're not as smart as I imagined. How can you ignore the turmoil that happened to this hotel employee?" The old man's words made Hendra think hard.

If the Wenceslas Ritz Hotel employees revealed that their CEO took the artist to his private room, of course, it would be a disaster.

"Huh!" Wiryo cursed, insulting.

"You're as trashy as the person who gave you blue eyes."

The words Hendra just heard made his hands tremble. He tried to gather positive thoughts, holding tight, dampening the turmoil in his chest.

"You take the woman to this room?!" Wiryo looked at Hendra's bedroom, disgusted.

"I'm sorry, but what you think is wrong.." Hendra tried to defend himself.

"Do you think that kind of explanation can make people believe?!" Wiryo snapped mercilessly.

"Now, it depends on you."

"I can easily pay someone to be this company CEO." The old man strictly spoke.

"You can go with the woman. She is with me."

Hendra was surprised to hear the President's words.

"Why?! What's wrong?! I just need to make sure the girl doesn't make a statement out of control." Said Wiryo without hesitation.

"Tap… Tap... Tap..." Someone ran into the room.

"Ah..!?"

He was late. The old man whom he worried was present to intimidate his boss.

"What a coincidence your secretary came!" Wiryo looked at Surya. He started straightening his stick.

"You, come with me now!" Wiryo stood up, giving instructions to Surya and started walking.

Surya glanced at Hendra, trying to find out what had happened. He only found Hendra's eyes blazing blue and red, full of anger.

"What about Aruna?" This time, Hendra asked his grandfather as a grandson.

Wiryo just smiled sarcastically, didn't care.

"I'll make sure that what I have held will not be separated." Hendra challenged the President Director as well as his own grandfather.

"We'll see. Your time until 5 pm."

Wiryo continued his steps, followed by his personal secretary and Henda's secretary, including the bodyguards who politely closed the door to Hendra's private room.

***

"Yee...."

Somehow, Aruna enjoyed Jakarta city streets so much, together with Damar's antique Vespa motorbike.

This Vespa used to look ordinary. But since the incident in Bandung, Aruna realised that driving freely like this was a great relief. Aruna raised both hands while occasionally voicing freedom for a moment.

"Are you happy?" Damar always asked for recognition.

Aruna just smiled, a smile that was caught in the Vespa motorcycle mirror.

"If you're happy, hug me."

"You, it's breaking a promise." Aruna chirped, reminding him.

Damar promised not to ask for anything after his wish was fulfilled spending a day with Aruna in Bandung city.

"Em... Damar." Aruna called.

"Yes?? Be loud please, I can't hear you." The night breeze made Aruna's voice fainty heard.

The girl approached Damar from the backside.

"Am I the one who made you change? Em... I mean why did you suddenly choose this path? It wasn't your dream tho (Damar's dream as a writer, who plays behind the scenes). Ah, forget it, I seem too confident." Aruna brushed off her own statement.

"More than that... I was working against time, preparing for someone's future."

Damar softly stroked Aruna's fingers at his waist. Sometimes, Damar's words were difficult to understand. Aruna frowned several times, trying to guess.

What was the meaning behind Damar's words?