To Be Honest

"I chose AlphaBeta."

Arthur Sanjaya looked at Nicholas with a hard look to decipher after hearing what the man had chosen. He was silent for a long time before finally smiling and asking.

"Are you sure you chose AlpaBeta over my grandson?"

Nicholas nodded. "I'm sure. In fact very sure. Congratulations, in this game, you won."

Arthur squinted at Nicholas. There were many things he wanted to ask the man.

"I thought so. You really don't love my grandson. It's even obvious when you prefer money over ---"

"You'd better not draw your own conclusions," interrupted Nicholas.

Arthur glared at him. He doesn't like it when someone cuts his sentence on purpose when he's talking.

Arthur clucked in his position. "Then why did you not choose Kimberly?"

Nicholas took a deep breath. It's not easy to choose like this. "I love Kimberly. There is no woman I love other than your granddaughter. I just can't be selfish. I think that if I cancel the cooperation agreement with Capital, AlpaBeta will suffer a big loss. workers who depend their lives there. I'm not a bad man." Nicholas explained at length.

Arthur smiled disdainfully. "Nonsense. Why do you think about other people? Even though they don't necessarily think about you. As for Kimberly, she really hopes to get back into a relationship with you. But you chose to leave her yourself."

In his position, Nicholas tried to smile. He didn't lie about his feelings. He loved Kimberly so much. But being greedy is not his true identity.

"I'm sorry but I can't be happy at the expense of other people. I've always been taught to put the interests of the people before my own."

Hearing those words, Arthur reflexively clapped his hands in front of Nicholas. "You're really good at putting together words. But sorry, I'm not the least bit impressed by what you're saying." Arthur straightened his seat. Get ready to leave. "Since you have chosen, it means that you are also ready to accept the consequences of not having any contact with my grandson." he continued later.

Nicholas took a deep breath. He was trying to re-establish himself so as not to waver with what he had decided. Even though it was hard to leave Kimberly, what can he do now?

"As a real man, I keep my word. I will keep my promise never to see Kimberly again," Nicholas replied. His voice trembled slightly. There was a sense of pain accompanying the words he spoke. Of course, parting with Kimberly was a difficult choice. But what are you going to do? He has chosen. Arthur nodded.

"Okay, then. Get ready to hear about Kimberly's wedding in the near future. Don't worry, I'll definitely invite you. I hope you won't cry when you receive the invitation." Arthur then walked away, leaving Nicholas still frozen in his seat.

***

"Mom, I've decided to leave today. Maybe I'll be in London tonight."

After informing Cassandra that he was leaving for London, Nicholas directed the car he was driving towards the AlpaBeta building. But before actually going there, he went somewhere first to meet someone.

When they arrived at the AlpaBeta building, Edward and Jacob were already sitting leisurely on the sofa in the CEO's room. It seemed that they had been waiting for Nicholas's arrival on purpose.

"Are you seriously going to leave today as well?" Edward, who had been waiting for a long time, finally asked.

While tidying up the important documents on the nightstand, Nicholas nodded. "Yes, my plane takes off at 12 noon. While waiting, I will tidy up any important files that you need to check and save."

Jacob, who had been silent for a long time, finally spoke. "Why don't you just pick Kimberly, Nicholas? I know you love her so much."

Nicholas walked over to Edward and Jacob, sitting on the sofa. Then sit down there too.

"I can't let your company suffer a loss, Jack. Paying a final fee of 2.5 Trillion could throw AlpaBeta's finances into chaos. It's the workers who will be affected. It's just, it's not fair that they have to pay compensation for what I did. The man in charge doesn't act like that, right?"

Jacob gave a smile. This is one of Nicholas's traits that he likes the most. Nicholas never mixes personal and work matters. He even always put the people's interests ahead of his own will.

"I can't force you, Nicholas. You know best what's best for you. For sure, if you need anything, I'm here to help." Jacob then put his arm around Nicholas's body.

"Jeez, why did the mood turn so sad like this? We're men, why are we being such a crybaby?" Edward, sitting next to Jacob, chuckled when he saw his two friends hugging each other.

Nicholas and Jacob together laughed at Edward's rambling. That guy can permanently spoil the mood.

"I think there's nothing left for me to wait for and leave. In that case, I bid farewell to you two. I hope we can meet again some other time." Nicholas rose from his seat, followed by Jacob and Edward.

"Have you said goodbye to Kimberly?" Edward asked suddenly.

Nicholas shook his head. "No. I promised Arthur Sanjaya not to see or contact Kimberly again."

"Oh Lord!" Edward exclaimed. "I really feel like poisoning that old geezer. Why is there someone as evil and cunning as him in this world?" Edward scoffed, putting his hands on his hips.

Nicholas gave a faint smile. "If we're meant to be, one day we'll definitely meet again. I believe in that."

Jacob nodded too. Then after that, the three of them walked out of the room together until they arrived at the lobby of the building. "Once again I say goodbye. Thank you for the opportunity you gave, Jack. Without you two, I might not be able to lead AlpaBeta properly," said Nicholas sincerely. He was ready to get into his car.

Jacob and Edward embraced Nicholas's body one last time. "Thank you also for your dedication so far, Nicholas. You are the CEO who is most responsible. Whenever you want to come back, AlpaBeta is always open to you. Hopefully we can also meet soon in London," said Jacob after breaking her embrace and allowing Nicholas to enter immediately.

to his car.

***

Kimberly glanced at the clock on her cellphone. It was already 1 in the afternoon. He quickly grabbed his briefcase and walked out of the room to the lobby. There was already a driver waiting to take him away.

After ten minutes of driving, Kimberly finally arrived at a restaurant. A place to eat that he and Nicholas often visited to spend lunchtime together. While ordering food, Kimberly grabbed her cellphone, then wrote a sentence for her to send.

[I've been at a regular restaurant. Come here quickly. I'm waiting for you here]

Kimberly confidently sent the message to Nicholas. I hope the man reads it soon and then follows him.

[Nicholas, you're accompanying me to lunch, right?]

[Nicholas, where are you?]

Ten minutes, Fifteen minutes, Until finally, sixty minutes passed. Nicholas didn't even show the bridge of his nose. He got no reply. Curious, Kimberly tried to call, but to no avail. Nicholas's cell phone could not be reached at all.

Kimberly finally started to panic, wondering where the man had gone, so he didn't reply to any of his messages. Desperate because of the long wait, he returned to the office. In the afternoon, Marco believed Kimberly was not well back home.

The woman just nodded silently. Even though Marco asked to speak several times, the response given was only modest. Not as enthusiastic as usual. "If there's a problem, you can talk to me, Kimmy," Marco offered.

Kimberly turned to Marco, who was busy driving their car. "I was just thinking about something," Kimberly said weakly.

"What are you thinking about?" Kimberly took a deep breath and then let it out slowly.

"Nicholas, I was thinking about that guy. Oh, I almost forgot. Thanks for helping us both get to see each other yesterday. I didn't even expect you to do that."

Marco nodded. "No need to thank me, Kimmy. I'm just doing what I can do."

"You know..." Kimberly said. "...I feel something strange about Nicholas," he continued.

Marco's brow furrowed deeply. "You mean?"

Kimberly nodded. "I don't know if it's just how I feel or what, Nicholas has been acting weird since yesterday. Even today I'm having trouble contacting him. All my text messages and calls he doesn't answer. I'm really worried."

Marco was silent. Not responding or responding to what Kimberly told him. They chose to stay focused until they arrived in front of Kimberly's house.

"Kimmy..." Marco called before they got out of the car. Kimberly turned to Marco.

"What is it?"

Marco took something out of the dashboard of his car. Then gave it to Kimberly. A medium-sized envelope with Kimberly's name on it. Curious, Kimberly immediately opened it and read it.

Dear Mrs Alistair, When you read this letter, I am no longer with you.

It may have flown very far. I'm sorry that I can't say goodbye to you directly.

This separation is very heavy. I feel it too. But apparently, this is the best for both of us. My leaving doesn't mean I don't love you.

You are the only woman I love. Let this time I love you in silence, without face to face. Just insert your name in each prayer.

Maybe this is God's teaching us that not all feelings can end together. We've been through so many problems, so many happy times we've been through. I hope someday we can meet again.

Love

Nicholas Alistair.

Kimberly stared intently at the letter he was reading. "Did Nicholas leave it to you directly?"

Marco just nodded without speaking. Kimberly shook her head in disbelief. "He didn't even give it to me directly. What the hell is going on?" finished saying that, a single tear escaped unhindered.

Meanwhile, Marco, sitting next to Kimberly, could only calm him down. I was pulling the woman's body immediately to lean on his shoulder. Then the next second, the sobs were heard. Feels sad and painful.

"Can't I feel happiness?" asked Kimberly, sobbing.

Marco stretched his arms. Then wiped the tears that were still falling down Kimberly's cheeks. "You deserve to be happy, Kimberly. I'm sure after this happiness will come to you. Just need to wait for the time to come."