Chapter 12

Already early in the morning after returning from the market, Ariana chose to immediately take a shower and then busied herself in the kitchen. In fact, it was her habit to take the time every Sunday to prepare breakfast and lunch so that all the residents of the orphanage could eat it.

With the help of Citra and Ajeng, the three of them cooked several menus to be served. Previously, the three of them had cooked kebuli rice with scrambled eggs for breakfast.

Then after breakfast, the three of them returned to prepare several menus such as tamarind vegetables paired with grilled grouper plus chili paste. And don't forget the vegetable soup and fried chicken with quite a lot of flour for lunch later.

"Tumben cooked this much, Sis Ariana. It's like we're just going to a party," said Ajeng as she flipped through the fish she was grilling.

"Once in a while, Jeng. It just so happens that my sister has some good luck. Besides, it's been a long time since we've eaten grilled fish."

"The other younger siblings will definitely be very excited because today they are eating flour fried chicken as well as vegetable soup, Sis."

"Hopefully every Sunday we can eat delicious like this, Sis," said Citra. He, who had been busy cutting some food ingredients, also responded to what Ariana and Ajeng were talking about.

"Really," said Angel. "You don't need it every day. It can be once a week, I'm really grateful to be able to eat delicious and lots of it like this."

"Yes," nodded Ariana. "Later, brother, try and schedule it every Sunday, we all eat well like now."

It's not half-hearted dishes that Ariana prepared. He bought about 10 kilos of grouper fish and 8 pieces of chicken this morning. Since there's still quite a lot of money left from Samuel's gift, there's nothing wrong with using it to occasionally pamper the orphans by serving them delicious food.

After all, whatever Ariana did, she dedicated it all to the orphanage. Ariana wants them all to be able to taste food like people who are capable out there.

Engrossed in cooking, suddenly Mirna came over. The girl was seen taking two cups and a tray from the cupboard, then brewing tea in a hurry.

"Drink for whom, Mir?" asked Ariana surprised.

"For a handsome prince, Sis," joked Mirna while continuing to focus on stirring the sugar so it would quickly dissolve into the tea in the cup.

"Prince? Prince what? Seriously brother. Who are you making tea for? Do you have guests?"

Mirna turned. The girl then nodded repeatedly.

"Yes, sis. The guest is actually a prince. Because he's really handsome. How come he's using an expensive car. After that, he brought lots of gifts for the orphans."

Ariana nodded. He was sure that what Mirna meant was donors who came to visit the orphanage to provide assistance or compensation. Although not as many as before, still sometimes there are one or two donors who still visit.

"Then why are you in such a hurry?" Ariana looked surprised again.

"Mirna has a bad urge to pee. I was about to go to the toilet, but Mother called me to prepare a drink."

Ariana seemed to shake her head. But, because it was a pity to see his foster sister looking like she couldn't take it anymore, she took the initiative to take over.

"Okay, you just go to the toilet. I'll let you bring the drinks to the front. The guest is in Mother's room? Or where?"

"They're chatting on the terrace, Sis. Watch out, Ariana is smitten. The guest is really cute."

Ariana chuckled. Ignoring Mirna who had already run to the toilet, he grabbed a tray that already contained two cups of drink and took her outside.

As soon as she reached the door, Ariana could see how the children of the orphanage looked one by one busy opening packages containing snacks and writing materials. Bringing her feet to continue towards the terrace, Ariana was then startled. Looking at the posture of the man who was sitting talking with Mother Delila, he seemed to know who was there.

"Ariana..." Clara called when she saw Ariana who was already walking towards her. "Come here son. Here is a guest who has come looking for you."

"Uncle Samuel!" reprimanded Ariana as soon as her position was right next to the chair where the guest was sitting.

Samuel smiled at Ariana. The next second, the man grabbed the sponge cake that was on the plate and devoured it quickly. "Why be surprised like that, Ariana? I'm not a devil."

"What are you doing here?"

"Of course I want to visit you and the other orphans."

"Ariana..." Clara scolded. "It's polite when you talk to guests. Don't snap like that."

"Yes, Mom, Forgive me."

"Anyway, you should be happy with Mr. Samuel's arrival today. He came here with lots of gifts for the orphanage. In fact, he offered to be a permanent donor at our orphanage."

Ariana was shocked to hear what Clara had to tell her. For whatever reason, suddenly his boss wants to be a donor at the orphanage where he has lived all this time.

Suddenly a bad thought popped into Ariana's head. It is certain that what his boss is doing now has something to do with the request for marriage being submitted to him.

"Mr. Samuel wants to be a donor? Do you know who Mr. Samuel is?" asked Ariana then.

"You know," Clara nodded. "Mr. Samuel has told me that he is the head of Palma Palace as well as your boss in the office."

Ariana then sighed softly. I don't know what Samuel might have told her foster mother.

"How about you? Have you finished cooking?" Clara asked then.

"Already Mother. Maybe now it's already served at the dinner table with Ajeng and Citra."

She smiled. The woman's gaze shifted to the man in front of her.

"Come on, Samuel, let's have lunch together first. Today Ariana has cooked a lot for the residents of the orphanage. I'm sure Mr. Samuel hasn't had lunch yet, right?"

"But, Mother ...." interjected Ariana. It was as if he didn't agree when his foster mother invited Samuel to take part in lunch at the orphanage.

"Why else, Ariana?" asked Clara with a confused face.

"Are you sure you want to invite Mr. Samuel to eat with us? Besides, it's strange that you suddenly invite guests or donors to eat together."

Ariana was of course surprised. During her stay at the orphanage, it was rare for Clara to invite guests to join her for a meal. The exception is that the orphanage is holding events such as halal bi halal or breaking the fast together.

"So what?"

"Yes, Ariana is just weird, bun."

"How come you're so impolite to guests. Mr. Samuel is your boss, Ariana. He has just officially become our donor. And again, you're also cooking a lot today. So there's nothing wrong with us entertaining Mr. Samuel to join us for lunch ."

"But the food at the orphanage is much different from the food that Mr. Samuel might normally eat, Bun." Delik Ariana once again. It's like there's no end to doubting Samuel's arrival and whereabouts at the orphanage at this time.

"What are you cooking, Ariana?" Samuel, who had been silent until now, finally spoke again. "What do you think I've been eating? Eating human flesh? To the point where you say my food is different from yours."

Ariana sounded clucked. He wasn't wrong. As far as he knows, rich people don't like simple food and even seem so ordinary like what he cooked in the kitchen before.

"I'm not sure you like the food I just cooked."

Samuel rose from her seat. He shrugged his shoulders and answered casually.

"We'll see later."

Once at the dining table, Clara deliberately asked Samuel to sit right next to her. With the right position facing Ariana. As soon as she made sure that her guest was seated comfortably, the middle-aged woman immediately invited Samuel to eat what had been served.

Clara even helped serve rice and grilled fish for Samuel to choose from. Offering tamarind vegetables as well as the mainstay sauce that Ariana usually cooks at the orphanage.

"Please eat Mr. Samuel. These are all Ariana's cooking."

Samuel without a shred of hesitation began to bribe the food that was on her plate. Looks like slowly chewing. Even some time ago it looks so enjoying.

"I've never eaten grilled fish plus this delicious sauce," said Samuel while continuing to feed her mouth with gusto. He is not boasting or deliberately exaggerating. The food he eats is just right according to his taste.

"Just eat as much as you like, sir. As long as you know, Ariana is really good at cooking. All the orphans will definitely gorge themselves if she cooks," said Clara as she handed back the basket of rice. He begged Samuel to add to his meal.

"It turns out that apart from being good at handling clients, Ariana is also good at cooking, isn't she? She must be very lucky to be her husband."

Ariana was silent. Silently watching how Samuel was busy talking to Clara's mother. What kind of sight was he witnessing? Why did the boss and foster mother suddenly look so close.

"In that case, what other time can I come again to join in on the meal together like now? I'll bring all the groceries such as fish, chicken and others later."

"No way!" Ariana who immediately replied with bulging eyes. "This is an orphanage, not a restaurant, sir. If you want to eat here every day, become an orphan."

"Ariana!" Clara reprimanded. I don't know how many times the woman shook her head at Ariana's unusual behavior. "Don't be like that, son. It's not polite. Why have you been acting strangely like this before? Remember! Mr. Samuel is your boss."

"Yes, but soon you will be a former boss, mother. Besides, why is Mr. Samuel eating here all the time?"

"Yes, what's the matter? Mother, it doesn't matter if Mr. Samuel wants to visit here often. After all, his status is a regular benefactor of our orphanage now, son."

Ariana chuckled. Choose silence while continuing to look at Samuel's face with annoyance. What that man did today at the orphanage really stirred up his emotions.

***

"Now quickly tell me, for what purpose did you suddenly come to the orphanage?"

After eating lunch, without wasting any time Ariana immediately pulled Samuel towards the terrace. He wanted to clarify the intent and purpose of the man's visit today.

"It doesn't mean anything. Yes, I really want to be a donor to this orphanage."

"Lie!" snapped Ariana. "Surely all of this has something to do with your request the other day, right?"

Ariana's guess was actually right. It was Axton who advised Samuel to immediately visit the orphanage and at the same time offered to become a regular donor in order to attract Ariana's attention.

However, before he had time to give an answer or a response, one of the orphanages approached. Instead of approaching Ariana, he deliberately chose Samuel to talk to.

"Handsome brother, thank you for the food and stationery," said the 8-year-old girl named Alula. "But this pink one how to use it?"

Alula then handed Samuel a pink rotary shavings with a pony motif. Ignorantly asking the man to teach how to use the object.

"So you don't know how to use it?"

Alula shook her head innocently. Samuel smiled. Then afterwards took the pencil that the girl had been holding.

"You pay close attention. Let my sister help teach you how to use it. So, you press the two buttons at the front together. Then, insert the pencil you want to sharpen."

Samuel then demonstrated what she described. Start inserting the pencil into the sharpener hole. Make sure the position is right and ready to be sharpened.

"If it fits, all you have to do is turn the lever behind it like this."

Samuel then turned the lever a few times. Having had enough, the man stopped what he was doing. Then slowly withdrew the sharpened pencil and gave it to Alula.

"Here, the pencil. How easy is it to use?"

"It turned out really easy. Thanks a lot handsome brother for helping explain."

"You're welcome. I hope the stationery is useful."

In her seat, Ariana seemed silent for a while seeing what Samuel did to Alula. If usually Ariana often saw how curt the man was when he was in the office. This time, it was as if he saw another side of Samuel Walters.

From the start, the boss was friendly. He didn't even hesitate to reply to all of Alula's chatter with a warm attitude. Though, the two of them obviously didn't know each other before.

"Sir, back to our discussion," Ariana said after a long silence. "What business does Mr. Samuel have to bother coming here?"

Samuel flashed a smile. For God's sake, Ariana could swear that her boss's handsomeness increased 100 times when he smiled like now. She had worked at Palma all her life and recently became Samuel's secretary, had she never seen her boss smile as sweetly as she does now.

"Don't you already know why I'm here? Yes, of course because I want to be a permanent donor to the orphanage."

"I'm tired of hearing that, sir," said Ariana. "I'm sure you have other reasons for coming here."

Samuel smiled again. However, the expression on his face that had been relaxed, slowly turned serious. Ariana was sure her boss would definitely say something.

"I still hope you will change your mind, Ariana."

"Sir! I have explained many times that I don't want to participate in all the games that Mr. Samuel will design in the future."

"Please Ariana," Samuel said softly. A sad expression appeared on the man's handsome face. In order to convince Ariana, he put his ego aside by begging his secretary to come up with an idea. "I really need your help. Whatever the conditions you submit, I will try to do it. The important thing is that you want to help me just this once."

Ariana fell silent again. He looked at Samuel's face again. Seeing how helpless the man was, wishing desperately for Ariana's heart to soften then accept his plea.

"How much do you dare to pay? In this world nothing is free, you know."

Samuel, who had been sitting limply, immediately looked up. Stared intently, then soon spoke in a low tone.

"Pay? Won't you get a lot of money after becoming an adviser and head of tenders?"

Ariana nodded her head.

"That's true. But the money that I get in the future is indeed the right to work that I did, sir. Then, what is the compensation from you for me? It's really good for me to help you, but you can't get anything. Later it will happen something, instead I'm the one who's made the scapegoat again like before. That's why I need comparable compensation. If you agree, we'll continue. If you don't want to, then feel free to go home."

Samuel closed her eyes. Inwardly he swore loudly, why do you have to deal with a smart and materialistic woman like Ariana. But, what else can I do. He really needed her help. There was no other choice he could make.

"Okay, I will pay you according to demand."

"Deals!" said Ariana while reviewing a wide smile. "Then, we go to the notary as soon as possible."