Chapter 18

This afternoon, Ariana and Samuel finally left for Bali to prepare for their wedding. Taking place at Six Senses Uluwatu, or a luxury and expensive resort on the island of Bali, the wedding party for both of them is planned to take place tomorrow afternoon until evening.

Several relatives and exclusive guests of the Walters family even began to fill the hotel. Some of them arrived early so they could enjoy the beauty of the island of Bali while waiting for the wedding ceremony to take place.

As soon as they arrived in Bali, Ariana herself was immediately taken by Arabella to the hotel. The woman was given the opportunity to rest for three hours before continuing a series of activities that had been neatly arranged and had to be carried out that very day.

Exactly at five o'clock in the afternoon, after being satisfied resting, Ariana was asked to immediately go to the lobby of the resort. There, the woman found Samuel who was also sitting relaxed while waiting for the next order from her mother.

"What are we actually going to do, sir?" asked Ariana curiously. He had been busy looking left and right as if he was looking for something.

"Ariana," said Samuel. "We're no longer at the office. Can't you just call him normally? Don't you need to use gentlemen?"

Ariana immediately laughed. What else can we do. He was very used to calling the slant-eyed man as 'Sir' or 'Father'. Even though he tried, it still took extra time to get used to calling his future husband by name.

"How about it, it's a habit."

"So, from now on, make it a habit to call Samuel or do you want to call me 'darling' as well?"

"Ihh, use all the love. You joke!"

"I'll be intimate. Let's get more into his acting," Samuel replied quickly. "Anyway, if I hear you call father again after this, I will count it as a fine and you must pay compensation."

Ariana immediately glared. Of course he didn't accept the unilateral decision that Samuel had just conveyed. "Why are you being arbitrary like this?"

"Eits! Already one mistake."

"Geez!" It didn't take long for Ariana to cover her mouth. Because of his emotions, he let slip again calling Samuel as father. Even though he had just given a warning. "You're so sneaky, Samuel!" looked at Ariana carefully.

"Why are you being sneaky? It's not stated in the agreement letter in the third clause that the first and second parties must be as friendly as possible in front of other people. If one of them Valerietes, the party that harms is obliged to provide compensation that has been agreed upon."

"What if I don't want to?"

"Just get ready to be compensated three times the money I have given you. Count for yourself how much money you have received so far. In total, just multiply it by three."

Ariana gulped her saliva roughly, then soon she cursed in her heart. Why could he forget the points written in the marriage contract between him and Samuel. It seemed that, in order not to take a wrong step, after this he had to re-check what he should and shouldn't do in their future marriage.

"Then, now what compensation do you want?" asked Ariana with a resigned expression.

"I'll think about it later. For sure, you have to be ready at any time if I suddenly charge you."

Ariana immediately chuckled at the words of her future husband. With a sullen face he agreed to what Samuel said.

A few minutes later, after a trivial debate over the summons case, the two of them were asked by the hotel to follow up with Arabella, who was now at the resort's beach. Once there, the 50-year-old woman seemed busy chatting with several people who were suspected of being a professional photographer.

Samuel was naturally curious. The man even immediately approached and then asked about his and Ariana's goals until he was asked to go follow his mother.

"Actually, what did Mama want to tell Samuel and Ariana to come here with?"

Arabella who had just been chatting immediately turned her head. Waving his hand, asked his son to come closer.

"Mama knows, you and Ariana have been very busy with work lately and didn't have time to do anything. So, Mama has arranged today for the two of you to do a pre-wedding photo session."

Samuel immediately gasped. He didn't even think once about doing a photo session like what his mother said just now.

"Pre-wedding photo? I don't think it's necessary, Mom. The time is even too tight. Isn't Samuel getting married tomorrow? So what are these pre-wedding photos for?"

"Yes for the collection, Mama, Sam. Besides, it's really fitting for you to be in Bali and the view is also good."

"Gosh, Ma. Why don't you just take pictures after the wedding? Or do you just collect photos of Samuel and Ariana's wedding?"

"Okay, no need to protest too much. Now you change your clothes and get ready."

Samuel could no longer refuse. He and Ariana, assisted by a make-up artist, started changing clothes and then were led to go to a place that had been arranged and provided by the photographer team.

Both, directed to start posing. Looking for the best angle so that it can be immortalized as a memento.

Of course it wasn't easy for Samuel and Ariana to pose comfortably. Each of them initially looked stiff. It even looks so difficult to find gaps to build chemistry.

It wasn't long before it was Samuel who took the initiative. Like an experienced man, the man grabbed Ariana's waist. Body close. Eliminate the distance between the two of them.

"What do you want?" whispered Ariana as Samuel hugged Ariana's hips without awkwardness.

"You don't have to ask too many questions. You just need to be quiet and just follow what I'm doing so that all of this will be over quickly."

"But ---"

"Ariana, can you postpone the protest for later? Don't we really have to act intimate in front of everyone? Besides, aren't you tired of standing here for a long time with Mama?"

Ariana took deep breaths. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see how Arabella seemed to be waiting while watching the movements of the two of them, who had been trying to find the most comfortable pose before starting the photo session.

Samuel is right. Instead of having mutual prestige that ends up not completing this photo shoot, it's better for Ariana to follow what her future husband orders.

"You just have to follow what I'm doing. Let's just say that the two of us are really a couple who are happy and enthusiastic about doing a pre-wedding photo session."

Ariana nodded. After being given the order, he tried to relax the body. Reply grabbed Samuel's body. Put on a smile as sincere as possible. Trying to build chemistry so that everything he does seems natural.

Seeing Samuel and Ariana getting comfortable and starting to find opportunities to pose, of course the photographer, who had been on standby, immediately moved quickly to capture the moments of his two clients.

Samuel, with all the skills she had, started embracing, hugging, staring intensely. Trying to create the impression that he and Ariana are a really compatible couple.

"You've never been in a relationship before?" whispered Samuel on the sidelines of the photo session between her and Ariana.

"You mean?"

"Your body movements have been very stiff. Am I the first person who has ever been this close to you?" asked Samuel seductively. It was purposeful to make his secretary even more awkward.

"Don't worry about it. Previously, I also had several courtships."

"But no one has ever dared to embrace let alone hug you like this, right?"

Damn it!

What Samuel said was 100% true. As badass as Angga, Ariana's former ex, this man didn't dare to touch or even hug Ariana like what Samuel is doing now. After all, dating doesn't always have to be physical contact, right?

However, admitting that Samuel was the first person to ever embrace or hug Ariana this close, of course she was proud. The boss's head could get bigger if he knew that he was the first person to be this close to Ariana.

"I don't know," said Ariana.

Seconds later, in order to ward off all accusations from the man in front of her, Ariana had the courage to act the same as what Samuel did. Reply wrapped his hands around the nape of the neck of the slender man. Intense stare. Trying to balance all the movements that Samuel showed.

Both are getting more and more comfortable. Getting late until finally this photo session ended perfectly.

"Tomorrow, I will send some photos, ma'am," said the photographer. "The best thing, can be displayed in front of the entrance of the venue so that all invited guests can see."

"Good," said Arabella. "Please find the best photo and print it to show off to all the invitees who are attending the wedding tomorrow. And you two..." said Arabella after turning to Samuel and Ariana. "Now you guys go out for dinner first. After that, hurry back to your room and rest. Mama wants the bride and groom to be in good shape tomorrow when the wedding takes place."

Samuel nodded in understanding. The next thing he did was grab Ariana's wrist. Holding the woman intimately to the restaurant to enjoy dinner before resting.

***

"Ariana, you can go back to your room yourself, right? I have a little business to deal with Axton."

After eating dinner, Axton, who was also in Bali, approached Samuel. The man said that there was emergency work that Samuel had to check and finish immediately.

Because she didn't want to disturb her, Ariana chose to go back to the room first. After all, he was very tired and needed time to rest.

"I'm not a kid, Samuel. You think I can't go back to my room alone?"

"I'm afraid you won't get lost."

"Thank you for your concern future husband."

Of course Samuel wasn't really paying attention. The man's words were even mocking. Knowing that the location of the restaurant and the room they were staying in was quite far, Samuel wasn't sure that Ariana would be able to get to the room immediately.

"But if you really get lost, you don't have to hesitate to make a call. My cellphone is on standby 24 hours especially for you."

"What's the use of a hotel maid if you can't be asked to show you the way to your room?"

"I'm just offering another alternative. Who knows, along the way to the room, you won't meet a hotel maid."

Ariana smiled wryly. Instead of responding, he chose to leave Samuel immediately. It can add emotion if you continue to serve the boss.

Trying to remember where her room was, Ariana walked slowly along the resort buildings along Six Senses Uluwatu. The lighting was intentionally dim, so he had to be careful not to take the wrong step.

Once through the first corridor, Ariana felt a little strange. I don't know if this is true or just his feeling, as if someone had been following behind him.

Fearing that something might happen, Ariana hastened her steps. Even worse, Samuel's words really proved true, not a single hotel maid was seen walking around like this afternoon.

Armed with instinct, Ariana continued down the resort corridor. It wasn't long before, when he had just turned into the last building, he found a man with the same build as Samuel standing casually while leaning his body against a building pillar. The man's position, which was in the middle, prevented Ariana from continuing to walk towards the room.

"So you are Samuel's future wife?" who was that guy first. Of course these words he addressed to Ariana.

"You talk to me?"

"You think there are other people here?"

"But I don't want to talk to people I don't know."

Ariana was being nonchalant. Once again, choosing to ignore, he intends to continue walking towards the room.

However, after just a few steps forward, the man who had been leaning on it immediately approached. Without any hesitation he pulled Ariana's arm. Pushing the woman's body until it sticks to the side of the building wall, then locks it so it can't move anywhere.

"Let go, no! Who are you? I don't know you!"

The man smiled. Not one bit concerned with what Ariana said.

"It's useless for you to scream. No one will hear, let alone pass by to help."

"What do you want, anyway? We don't know each other, do we?"

"Maybe you forgot about me. But I haven't forgotten the woman Samuel brought to Walters's residence the other day," said the man. His deep voice made Ariana shudder with fear. "I wonder how much money Samuel has paid to pay you to be his wife."

Ariana immediately gasped at the man's words. He thought, where did this stranger know the secret between him and Samuel.

"Actually, what are you talking about? I don't understand what you're saying at all."

"Oh come on. Don't pretend. I know who Samuel's real boyfriend is. I ----"

"RAMA!"

From the back side, there was a voice calling that was so familiar to Ariana's ears. I don't know how it started, what is certain is that now Samuel has pulled and then pushed the foreign man who had dared to disturb Ariana.

With all alacrity, the slant-eyed man immediately grabbed Ariana's body. Giving the order to stand, take cover right behind him.

"Don't you dare touch my future wife!"

"Post-wife? Pretending wife? Don't overdo it Samuel. I can read all your plans," said the man, smiling meaningfully.

"Oh my gosh Rama. You're already like a shaman, you can read my mind."

"UnfortArianately I do know what you are planning Samuel."

Samuel chuckled. Realizing that Ariana was scared, he took the initiative to take his future wife away. However, before leaving, Samuel again approached the man named Rama. Staring intently, while speaking with emphasis.

"You don't have to pretend to know and meddle in my affairs. Don't you ever dare to get close, let alone touch Ariana like just now, if you don't want me to ruin your life!"

Laughter immediately fell from Rama's lips. Meanwhile, Samuel immediately took Ariana to leave. Send him immediately to the room. Make sure that she enters the room.

"You're okay, right?" asked Samuel when she arrived at Ariana's room. Worry was evident on his face.

"I'm fine. But who was that guy?"

"That's Rama. He's my cousin. He didn't like me from the start."

Ariana finally understood. No wonder the man earlier confessed that he had met him at the Walters family's residence the other day.

"But how could he know about you having a fake relationship with me?"

Samuel shrugged her shoulders. Indeed, he himself did not know where Rama could guess or draw such a conclusion.

"I don't know. Looks like Rama was just guessing. Leave it alone. Later let Axton take care of it. Now, you hurry up and rest. I'll ask the resort security to send someone to stand guard in front of the room. Or do you want me to sleep in your room tonight?"

"It's delicious!"

Seeing Ariana's sullen expression immediately made Samuel laugh immediately. For some reason, he felt satisfied every time he managed to annoy his secretary.

"Okay, you go in quickly and lock the room immediately. It's time to rest. So, I have to go. See you tomorrow, future wife."