Chapter 18

Darwin has just finished reading once again the file regarding the profile and some important information about Leighton's company. He did this on purpose so that tomorrow he would have more provisions and knowledge when meeting his business partners.

Switching positions from the couch to the bed, Darwin intended to rest. However, just as he was about to lie down, he was suddenly startled by the presence of Velove who had just come out of the bathroom.

Actually, it's not the figure of Velove that Darwin is concerned about. It's just that, he was a little stunned when he saw the unusual appearance shown by his wife while walking towards the bed.

As long as they were married, Darwin had never seen Velove wearing skimpy clothes like now. Ah, it seems not never. Maybe he was the only one who had been unconscious or lazy to pay attention to his surroundings. Prefer to be busy with himself or with Vicky, his girlfriend.

That's why, now that Velove is wearing a nightgown made of silk, so thin and skimpy, Darwin feels hot himself. Between uncomfortable and awkward because he had never been at a moment like this before.

"Velove, what are you going to do in that dress?" Darwin said when his wife had just sat down next to him.

Velvet then turned around. The woman gave him a questioning glance.

"What do you mean?"

Darwin immediately chuckled. He was sure, Velove would actually understand what he meant.

"Yeah, what are you doing wearing skimpy clothes like that? Are you deliberately trying to seduce me?"

"Wanna flirt? So you feel tempted?" Velove smiled. Geli herself saw Darwin who seemed to panic at his appearance. Even though according to him, he was wearing ordinary clothes and not how excited.

"Yes, who knows you just did it on purpose," said Darwin. "Besides, your clothes are too skimpy in my opinion."

"New silk nightgown and protest. What if I wear lingerie. Or do you want me to just wear lingerie? I happen to have one with me," Velove teased on purpose. And at that moment he saw Darwin's face which immediately turned panicked.

"You don't have to be crazy! You're already sleeping there. It's just getting crazier and crazier."

Velove giggled again. Instead of obeying to sleep, he even leaned forward a little. Leaning face, then back teasing on purpose.

"Are you sure I'm not to your taste?" whispered the woman while winking her eyes. "I'm even worried, later you will not hold back to touch me."

Darwin growled. He pushed Velove's body so that he quickly lay down. He quickly pulled the blanket up to cover his whole body up to his wife's face.

"Okay, go to sleep! Don't talk too much. Your teasing doesn't work for me."

"Certain?" replied the wife from under the blanket and at that moment Darwin immediately replied.

"Velove, go to sleep. Don't talk too much."

The Velove blanket laughed again. It seems, from this moment on he thought of continuing to annoy her husband. It's nice to see the guy as annoyed as he is now.

The next day, after breakfast, Darwin and Velove had their first official meeting with Leighton accompanied by their father and Nathan.

They all looked so enthusiastic following one by one the series of events. From the reception, followed by a formal introduction with other company representatives. Then it was continued with a brief presentation on business material, right down to discussing the agenda of activities while in Malaysia for some time to come.

"We are very pleased that Wijaya and the Khiel Group are willing to attend the invitation we have given. We are also pleased that you are willing to accept the offer to work together in running and developing a business in the mining sector," said Nasrudin, one of Leighton's leaders after completing the presentation session. .

Darwin, who was lined up as a speaker by Darius, then smiled back and then gave his response.

"It is also an honor for us to be chosen as a partner to run this big business. We hope that this collaboration will bring great benefits to both parties."

Nasruddin nodded. Reply smiling while giving a reply.

"Of course. I think the right decision has also been made in choosing Khiel and the Wijaya Group to be involved. I am optimistic that the business we are running will reap the maximum profit share because it is handled by companies that are so competent," said Nasrudin without exaggerating. It was as if the middle-aged man could read how their business was going because it was handled by the chosen ones.

"For that..." continued Nasrudin. "As a thank you, Leighton invites all business partners to attend tonight for a friendly event and dinner. The hope is that all representatives of the companies that are doing this joint business can get to know each other, get to know each other, and build chemistry in doing business. good future."

Darwin nodded. Accept politely the invitation that has just been extended.

"Thank you in advance for the invitation given. My team and I will definitely come to the event."

"Then enjoy your time. See you at the party tonight."

***

Velove already looked neat and elegant with the black A-line dress he was wearing. While Darwin was still busy receiving calls from the division head in Indonesia, Velove decided to go first with Darius and Nathan to the party.

Luckily the dinner was held at the hotel where they were staying, so they didn't have to bother leaving the hotel area. Because only by walking and going down a few floors, everyone has arrived at the venue.

Entering the ballroom, it seemed that all the guests started to arrive and filled the party venue. Darius himself immediately blended in. Inviting the princess and Nathan around while getting to know some of his colleagues or business associates, some of whom he did know.

"Darius, good to see you here. Long time no see." Reynald, one of the top officials of the Gastoline company, seemed to reprimand him kindly. Like meeting old friends, they were involved in a long conversation.

"I shouldn't be here either. Since my son-in-law has been in the mining business for a long time, I decided to join. I'm just curious because I've never been directly involved in this field myself."

"It's very fortunate to have a son-in-law who is competent in mining. So there's no need to teach or direct him to carry out the big project that Leigthon is offering this time."

"You're right Rey," Darius nodded proudly. "Not exaggerating, but I admit that my son-in-law is indeed very calculated performance and ability."

From the start, knowing that Darwin was a competent man in business, Darius considered making his best friend's son a husband for his daughter. And after getting married, Darwin did prove that. The Khiel Group is getting more and more advanced. Even experienced a significant increase. That's why, he is also optimistic that the business he received this time can run smoothly as expected.

In fact, Darius just doesn't know. Darwin is working hard to advance the Khiel Group so that he can quickly escape from the shadow of the Wijaya Group, which has been providing help so far.

"Then you should introduce me to your son-in-law," Reynald said afterwards.

"Sure," Darius nodded. Then looking back he waved at Velove who at that time was also talking with one of the guests. "You first meet my daughter," Darius asked Reynald when Velove came and stood between them.

"Is this your daughter? It's so beautiful," said Reynald, holding out his hand for a handshake.

Velove smiled kindly. Received a handshake from his father's business partner while introducing his name.

"Thank you for the compliment, sir. I am Velove Vexia Fernando."

Reynald nodded with a smile. Avert views. His eyes this time were fixed on Nathan who was standing right next to Velove.

"And this, must be your great husband, right?" Reynald guessed while holding out his hand for the second time.

However, before Nathan had time to answer or perhaps dodge, another figure appeared. Join the mix to then answer the questions that were previously raised.

"You are wrong Mr. Reynald. He is not the husband of Velove Arianna Khiel."

Darwin was now standing right in front of Reynald. Holding out his hand first, he invited his father-in-law's business partner to shake hands.

"Meet Darwin Morales Khiel. The leader of the Khiel Group and also the husband of Velove."

"Gosh, so this is the great man Darius was talking about earlier? I'm sorry I got the wrong person," Reynald said uncomfortably.

"No problem."

Darwin then chatted for a while with Reynald and also Darius. They exchanged pleasantries for a while, until they finally decided to resign and move on to other guests.

While walking with the Velove, Darwin seemed to deliberately lower his face a little. Whispering, the man uttered a sentence that sounded satirical and at the same time a warning. "You must be really happy if Nathan is your husband, right?"

"Tsk, just your feelings," Velove squeaked while focusing on stepping forward.

"But it seems you really enjoyed being with the perfect Nathan to the point that you didn't realize I was there."

"You don't have to pretend to know, Darwin Morales Khiel."

"Just admit it. The proof is that your face is happy when you're with him."

"What if I like Nathan? Are you jealous?"

Darwin turned around. His ears amused hearing Velove's accusation that he was jealous of that woman.

"Hihh, I'm so lazy to be jealous of you. Just so you know, Ve, I'm only keeping the agreement we made together. So, as long as the agreement is valid, don't expect you to be sneaky. It's good to win alone!"

Velvet clucked. He pinched Darwin on purpose because he was so annoyed that the man made fun of him.

"Don't be afraid. I'm not you who likes cheating."

Ending the debate, Darwin shifted his focus to chat with the other guests in front of him. Even Velove did the same thing. Until not long, he who felt thirsty chose to resign, and then decided to walk closer to the table for drinks.

I don't know what kind of bad luck happened to Velove tonight. When he was about to reach for the glass of drink that was on the table, the heel of the shoe he was wearing accidentally caught on one side of the patch and broke.

Inevitably, at that moment Velove's body immediately swayed. However, as if he was meant to be a guardian angel, Nathan, who had been nearby for some time, immediately grabbed Velove's body. Pulling, then holding her, until the beautiful woman was saved and did not fall on the floor. Of course, this moment attracted the attention of everyone around, especially Darwin, who was talking earlier.

"Are you all right?" asked Nathan worriedly as he helped lead Velove to sit in a chair that was nearby.

"I'm fine," Velove muttered after sitting himself in the chair. He seemed to wince. Perhaps he was shocked by what he had just experienced.

"You want a drink? I'll help get it."

Without thinking much, Nathan then walked towards the dining table to get a glass filled with drinks. Back to Velove, then handed what he was holding to his ex-lover.

Not to mention that it was won, for the second time Darwin blocked that intention. brush it off. Replaced with a drinking glass which he also brought to be given to Velove.

"Pak Nathan, thank you very much for your help. Please go. Let Velove be my business, now."

Nathan nodded and then walked away. Meanwhile, Darwin at that moment also decided to immediately kneel down. Deliberately sitting in front of the Velove to re-examine his wife's leg which may be sore or sprained because she almost fell in the previous incident.

"Velove, why are you so happy to get attention from your ex-boyfriend? Can you do that? If you want to fall, just be with me?" muttered Darwin while continuing to check his wife's feet.

"You're crazy, aren't you? It's really possible to fall premeditated. Besides, how could I have known something like this could happen. You think I'm deliberately trying to embarrass myself by falling in front of a crowd?"

"Yeah, who knows." Darwin then helped put on the heels that had previously almost slipped from Velove's feet. The man then got up and confirmed once again whether the condition of his wife's feet was okay or if something had happened. "Does your leg hurt? Is it sprained or something?"

Velvet shook his head.

"I don't think it sprained. But it still hurts."

"Then you can walk, can't you? Or do you need me to carry you?"

"You don't need to talk too much about carrying everything. How dare you carry me in front of many people."

Right after saying that, unexpectedly Darwin actually did what he offered before. Grabbing Velove's body, then carrying him outside the Ballroom. This of course attracted the attention of all the guests who were there.

Velove, who wasn't even surprised all the way to the elevator, kept protesting. It's also embarrassing because it's seen by almost everyone who passes them.

"Darwin! What are you doing, anyway?"

"You said you asked to be carried. Yes, I just followed your request. Who says I don't dare."

"But, this is not the way to do it. It's embarrassing to be seen by many people."

"Then how do you want to use it?" asked Darwin while continuing to carry Velove's body into the elevator booth. "Precisely with this, people will think we are a romantic husband and wife, right?"

"You better get off me right now!"

Darwin shook his head. The man flatly refused his wife's order.

"Okay, don't protest too much. Besides, bear it, you'll soon arrive at your room. You'd better just enjoy it. After all, this is what you really want."

Velove sighed resignedly. It's useless since earlier protested. Darwin really didn't care about what he said and asked for.