[2]

"Come in!" says someone from inside the room. They don't need to lift their eyes from the row of reports being examined. The voice already explained who entered the room dominated by white and gray.

"For the second quarter, I've finished checking." The fair-skinned hand stretches out while placing a needed file. "Nothing suspicious."

That statement makes the room's owner stop his activity. Even the glasses he's wearing are taken off. There's a soft sigh between them. "Sure?"

"Yes, Sir," the woman replies. "But," once again, the hand reaches out to place another file with a different folder, "your suspicion is in the third-quarter report. I've marked everything you asked for."

A thin grin and a satisfied look are clearly imprinted there.

"Good." He immediately takes the handed file. "I'll check first. You prepare for the meeting this afternoon."

"Does it have to be this afternoon, Sir?"

Levi stares straight at the woman. "Is there a problem?"

"From the schedule I know, the finance division has a meeting discussing the budget for this month's promotion."

"My agenda is different tomorrow, Ta," Levi says softly. "You know that, right?"

No need for words, Samanta knows everything related to Levi's work. In response, she just nods briefly.

"Don't postpone it for too long. After all, their budget also comes from my decision, right?"

What Levi says is indeed true.

"Just prepare the materials. I'll talk to Mrs. Tety about the afternoon meeting."

"Alright, Sir."

Tata gets ready to leave the boss's room. She feels she has no other reason to linger here. There's still a lot to be done even though the chance to just observe how the hot widower labeled man works, God carved him so perfectly.

Who doesn't know Levi Mathias? His name is famous throughout the ShopaShop pantry because of his handsomeness. Not to mention his quiet, firm, and brilliant attitude. Oh... not to forget, his status as a single parent officially makes Levi an idol for women around here.

Does that apply to Tata too? Of course not. Tata's mind is as straight as a highway. Go to work, arrive at the office, flirt intimately with rows of numbers and product progress analyses, then go home. That's it.

So when someone says, "Ta, you're really lucky to be close to Mr. Levi. It keeps his mind fresh," Tata is confused. In seven years of working with her boss, she has never had such a thought. The man joined ShopaShop when she had been there for about four years.

"Oh yeah, Ta."

Levi speaks again. The woman who was in front of him stops in her tracks. Maybe one or two more steps and she would reach the door of the room.

"Yeah, Sir?"

"Next week, there's a business trip to Medan. I've emailed the permit. But it seems you can't make it, huh?" Levi smiles slightly.

"That," Tata blinks slowly, "I need to talk to my husband first, Sir."

"Don't make it a burden, Ta. I understand." Levi still wears that smile on his lips. "As long as you help me from home as usual."

Business trip. A word that becomes a haunting for Tata. Once she accompanied Levi on a business trip, not far though. In Bandung. The distance from Jakarta to Bandung can still be covered in a maximum of four hours. However... she chooses to forget that bad memory. Don't let that fleeting memory ruin her already messed-up day.

"Okay, Sir." Tata bows slightly. "Forgive me."

After the woman who represents him leaves, Levi just shrugs. He goes back to dealing with the reports Tata handed earlier. This week, he has been busy with reports indicating markup fraud in the promotion fund. Everything is shifted to the marketing department. He doesn't accept these accusations. Unfortunately, many pieces of evidence have been manipulated, leaving him deadlocked. When all his focus is on these reports, his phone rings loudly. Merry's name is on the screen. There's a subtle furrow on Levi's forehead.

What's Merry calling about?

"Yeah, Mer?"

"Sir, Echa's condition is worsening. I can't handle it, Sir."

***

Ottis rhythmically taps the table in his living room. A cup of coffee, now turning cold, is his companion this time. The ticking sound of the clock adds to the loneliness. He grumbles in frustration, not for the first time, because the person he's waiting for hasn't shown up. Finally, the rumble of a car entering the garage area becomes audible.

Not long after, Tata opens the door, which has been unlocked since earlier.

"You... are just getting home?"

"What time is it, Ta?"

She sighs softly. "I informed you. There was an impromptu meeting, and I had to find a solution."

"What time is it, Ta?" Ottis repeats, but this time with a very cold and sharp gaze.

"Ten, Ottis."

Tata is actually tired. She doesn't know where the Ottis she has known all this time, the one who convinced her to enter married life, has gone. Every time her husband behaves like this, she always brings back the 'shadow of Ottis' in her mind, so that everything will be 'okay' later. She cannot accept that the changed Ottis is the one she should be dealing with.

"Ten o'clock, but you're just getting home? Are you working or fooling around, Ta?" Ottis asks loudly. He rises from his seat, taking wide steps toward his wife. He points his index finger right at Tata's face. "My office also has many female employees. But none of them come home this late!"

"There's something I had to finish, Ottis," Tata retorts. She closes her eyes tightly to contain the emotions brewing in her mind.

"Oh, please! You have so many excuses, Ta!" Ottis threatens. "I allowed you to work, but not to break the rules and the role of a wife, Ta. You come home at this hour, and when will you prepare dinner for me? Warm water? I even have to brew my own coffee! Think, Ta! Think!"

"What should I do?" Tata asks softly. Her hands have been tightly clenched since earlier. The tips of her nails feel like they are cutting into her skin due to the force of the clenching. "I work not just for myself, Ottis, but for your family too."

"Oh!" Ottis scoffs. "Are you bringing this up again?" He then chuckles unbelievably hearing his wife's words. "Those are two different things, Ta. Helping my family doesn't mean neglecting your duties as a wife!"

"But this is my job, Ottis!" Tata retorts, unable to contain herself.

"Wow!" Ottis looks at Tata in disbelief. "Are you daring to snap at me? Your husband?!"

Without mercy, without caring if the slap across his wife's cheek would cause a million pains, Ottis still imparts a lesson to Samanta Kiehl. It's a hard slap that makes a painful sound.

"Don't think that just because you're now the assistant manager, you can be arrogant. Forget your duties as a wife in this house! Acting as if our family lives because of your money!" Ottis hisses. "Never think like that, Ta!" Then, Ottis leaves his wife just like that. However, before truly ascending the stairs to his room, he adds, "No wonder God still hasn't given us a child. You're busy with your own affairs!"

The buzzing sound that was spinning in Tata's head starts to subside. However, it leaves a disturbing sting in the corner of her lips. That's nothing compared to the sudden pain that overwhelms her. It's so strong that she feels her entire body throbbing and bleeding.

Every time Tata comes home late due to her office affairs, Ottis always scolds her, saying many things that make her more upset. Unconsciously, tears fall from her eyes. Her shoulders also tremble more and more as she tries to hold back her sobbing. Until finally, she collapses to the floor. Clutching her shirt tightly as support. Tata takes quite some time to try to regain her composure, only to find that Ottis has already come back downstairs, complete with a large bag.

"Where are you going?" Tata asks, hastily wiping away her tears. Ottis tightens his lips. "I know I was wrong, but you don't have to solve it by leaving the house, right?" Tata, following Ottis' steps, reaches out and somewhat forcefully grabs her husband's hand.

"Ottis!"

"What?" Ottis snaps rudely. "Meanwhile, I'll stay at my mom's house until you can think clearly! Clear, Ta, clear! Think about your mistakes! You're defying your husband all the time!"

"What do you want me to be?" Tata can't help but voice the question in her mind. "What?"

"You clearly heard what I said earlier, didn't you? We've argued about the same thing more than once."

Tata grumbles in frustration. "In that case, I'll resign tomorrow!"

Ottis looks at Tata in disbelief. "You don't understand what I said, Ta!"

"I indeed don't understand, Ottis. Explain it then."

For some reason, Ottis still refuses to speak.

"If you want me to keep working, fine, Ottis. Anyway, since I was alone, I've been used to working. The longer the job demands from me, right? You too, huh? Why am I blamed for coming home late? I don't fool around out there. I really work," Tata says with a gasp. "Now, when my job demands something from me, you get angry. But you also need me to work. Right?"

The man doesn't say a word.

"You should think that if it weren't for me helping the family's economy, what would happen to your mom and Nilam!" Tata finally blurts out what she has been holding in for so long. Every time she received demands from both of them, Tata chose to stay silent. This time, she is truly on the edge.

That statement makes Ottis thin his lips very slightly. "Impressive. My wife is really something. So good at digging up the past. No wonder my mom always said you're only sweet in front of her."