Chapter 86 - Tracing Paper

"Can we also be close?" Hendra changes the way he sits. And he doesn't look at Riswan as friendly as before.

"Ah, you are similar to your scary grandfather." The mayor tries to calm himself, putting his cup on the table.

"Your friends are ridiculous. They are making a ruckus in one of Wenceslas subsidiaries. What do they want from you?"

"Hmmm…" Riswan smiles.

"Can you give me time to explain?" Riswan leaves the room and comes back with a rolled-up tracing paper (a type of paper that has low opacity. Usually used by Architects or Design Engineers). He then rolls the tracing paper on the table, letting the CEO of Wenceslas Group to take a look.

"They hope that this design is used." Riswan smiled looking at the blue-eyed man staring at the design intently.

"Do you know that architects have the same instinct regarding design? They supported me because we have the design to back up." The mayor adds.

"Why did you choose our company? We don't want to deal with the government. You can use other companies rather than making a ruckus in Wenceslas Construction." The CEO is still staring at the tracing paper.

"Because only you can execute the project in the right way. I have tried to choose others but I realized the previous company that I worked for is the right company." The mayor tries to persuade him.

"Don't try to flatter me!" Hendra goes straight to the point.

"That's the truth. Our budget is sufficient to build this place. But it won't be enough if we use other construction companies just as you are trying to get a hold of water."

"I know you don't want to deal with government projects because you are sick of that thing." He adds.

"I am afraid I will be carried away and impressed by your sweet mouth," Hendra replies rudely.

"Ah Hendra, you haven't changed."

"Let's get straight to the point. What is your goal aside from this design? I don't want to waste my time." The CEO is always dominant in business.

"Even if I speak the truth, you will still think that I'm lying. This is the truth."

Hendra starts to strum his fingers on the table.

"Okay…" The mayor knows the sign. After all, he had been an employee of Wiryo's grandson, the young CEO of Wenceslas Group, although not more than a year.

"I want this place to become a model for public facilities. People need a comfortable place to interact with and enjoy the diversity of Indonesian culture."

"Rather than using the budget to make a useless program, we want to build a place safe for all people, including the elderly and disabled. And we also intend this place to become a place to renew the spirit of unity in diversity as Indonesian." Riswan moves his finger stealthily on the tracing paper.

He also explains why one place of worship is closer compared to the others, the importance of people's markets, and the garden is located in the middle. He also explains some symbols that represent the footpath intended for the blind, simple fences and seats for the elderly, so they can still worship God comfortably.

"There's one thing missing here," Hendra adds. Riswan looks at him curiously.

"Your garden is not kids friendly. I prefer to build a children's playground to support their growth compared to the millennial generations. Unless… you intend to get brownie points to get the presidential position in the next two years."

Hendra says straight to the point.

"Ah, you are getting too far." Riswan knows what exactly Hendra means.

"There's nothing impossible for a politician, right?" Hendra smirks.

"Honestly, I haven't given it a thought even though my name is mentioned a few times as a strong candidate."

"Really? Isn't this building the perfect ladder to climb to the highest position?" Once again, his smirks appear.

"Can I be honest?" Riswan looks at Mahendra intently.

"I will climb the ladder if you agree to back me up."

"Hahaha." Hendra laughs at the long discussion that turns into a useless proposition.

"I am honest, Hendra. You can laugh at me."

"Look at that," Hendra points his stare at Aruna.

"Even my future wife is foolishly supporting you. You can climb the ladder by using them. But, I'm sorry, the Wenceslas Group is too precious to meddle in politics."

The mayor goes silent for a while.

"You know, I got this position independently. I almost didn't use any money from my account, but the people voted for me. Did you know that your grandfather helps me?"

Hendra looks at him with his piercing eyes.

_What is he talking about?"

"Have you seen the D floor?"

"I heard that you will take the president director position. I'm sure you have seen it."

"If you have known all the functions in the D room, you will understand how great it is because I was the architect."

"When I got the prize, I asked your grandfather to support the SFI (Sanitation for Indonesia) program that I designed. It turned out that the program moved the community and encouraged me to get the mayor position."

"So, who supports me?"

A young lady runs to Hendra during the heated conversation, breaking his concentration.

"Hendra, look! Don't I look pretty in these photos?"

"Yes. You look very beautiful."

And her cheeks redden at his praise.

"Hendra, are you finished?" The young lady whispers in a low voice.

"I think…"

"I was too nervous when Surya picked me up this morning and I forgot to have breakfast."

"Are you hungry?"

Aruna nods at Hendra's question. Hendra looks at his watch, around 11.04 AM, they still have around one hour until lunch. And his discussion with Riswan isn't over yet. But Hendra has to divide his attention to the hungry girl.

"Go meet my staff, they will help you to buy you some breakfast."

"No, I don't want to!"

"Why?"

"I don't want to meet them alone."

_They hide guns behind their suits, it's terrifying!_

"I still have to discuss something with Riswan."

"I said I don't want to!"

_And they look at me suspiciously after the incident in Damar's house_

"So I have to do it?" The man tries to behave in front of Aruna. He realizes that his competitor 

treats Aruna better. So he has to be more patient.

"YES!" Aruna agrees.

"You are so troublesome like a child ..". Hendra throws her an irritated look. Sometimes he can't 

stand it either.

"Who asks you to bring me?"

"But, aren't you happy?"

"Yes, I'm happy. But, I'm hungry too."

And the man can't ignore Aruna's pouting face anymore.

_Remember, Hendra, you have to consider Aruna's perspective. Be patient_ He tries to remember himself and holds back his anger. It seems that Dr. Nathasya's advice has some effects on him.

The blue-eyed man stands up and asks permission to leave for a while to Riswan.

"Is there anything you need?" The mayor offers his help. But it's not polite to say the truth. Both of them look at each other in confusion.

"Emm… my little darling wants something and I need to assist her first."

"WHAT?" The girl is shocked. How can the stern CEO start to address her as 'My Little Darling.' Aruna shudders to hear his statement. If she could, this girl wants to strangle him.

The next second, Aruna tries to pitch Hendra discreetly so Riswan doesn't know.

"Au… A.. a.." Hendra moans softly, catching Aruna's hand who is pinching him under his suit.

"Give me a moment." The blue-eyed man smiles politely, trying to hide their little banter while 

hugging Aruna's little body in his arms. 

"Did you dare to pinch me?! Do you want to die?! You are so troublesome… you are lucky, I'm in a good mood today."

_If it's not because of Nathasya's advice, I wouldn't be as patient_

"Who asks you to call me with that ridiculous name!" Aruna shrieks.

"In front of the mayor! Your mouth is really amazing!"

"They said women like sweet talk, especially being called darling. I just put it into practice." 

Hendra looks lost when Aruna is angry at him. This man is really helpless.

"Practice? You said that you just put it into practice?! Oh my God, why are you so childish?!"

"Hendra, who told you such rubbish?" Aruna forgets that she is hungry. Instead, she interrogates the CEO Wenceslas group who looks pale at her question. 

_I'm sure that he wouldn't have 'my little darling' in his vocabulary. Or maybe the novel that I found in the hospital earlier has contaminated his brain._

"Hendra, don't read such rubbish! I think you are getting stranger!" Hendra finds her cute when 

she frowns.

"Okay, honey…" The man smiles, hoping that Aruna would forget his fault. Maybe saying beautiful or my little darling will work later, Hendra thinks.

"Hendra, you are so ridiculous!"

"Aargh… I hate you!" Aruna is really mad at him.

"Why are you angry?" He is hopeless, he doesn't know what he has done wrong and how to fix it.

"Aruna, I have asked my staff to buy you some food. Let's go eat in the car."

"No! I'm not hungry!" The girl pouts, not wanting to hear any word from Hendra. She closes her ears tightly after realizing that the crazy CEO is trying to persuade her to eat.

She shudders, her ears couldn't take any sweet words coming from the sole heir of Wenceslas anymore.

***

"Kriekkk.." Someone is opening the door.

A moment later, a bag falls on the sofa and someone is trying to find food. Then he opens the refrigerator and pantry drawers but can't find any.