Chapter 4

Ariana checked her appearance once more from behind the mirror. She felt it would not hurt to re-check whether the dress and make-up smeared on his face were still lacking or already looked 100% perfect.

She has not counted the white musk-scented perfume belonging to the famous brand that she has sprayed all over her body. Wearing a black cocktail dress model filled with glitter accents, Ariana looked so sexy. From her body curves to her long legs, all are exposed without exception.

Please don't forget, she was paid 250 million to look good tonight. Fortunately, all the things that Samuel left through Axton fit all for him to wear. However, no matter what, Ariana is a good-looking woman. At the Pacific Palace alone, she was included in the ranks of workers whose looks and skills were considered. Immediately, Ariana was grateful for all the gifts God had given her. Even though she is an orphan, it doesn't hinder her steps toward realizing one by one her goals.

"The lipstick is okay, the eyelashes are perfect, and the hair is like the shampoo commercials on TV. It seems everything is right," Ariana muttered while twirling in front of the mirror. Continue to ensure his appearance that already looks perfect.

"Sis Ariana," someone called from outside the room. Opening the door, he looked flabbergasted by the girl's appearance. Never before had Ariana dressed so beautifully as tonight.

"Why are you calling?" she asked as she put the tissue and card wallet into the gold-coloured clutch that Samuel had given her. "Sista, where are you going to make this beautiful look? Do you want to go to the Club?" investigated the young girl, who was none other than Chloe.

Ariana turned around. The girl put her hands on her hips and made a sullen face.

"It's good, Club! You think your beautiful sister is a sissy, what?"

"Yes, then where are you going?" once again, Chloe asked.

"I want to go to the Pacific Palace owner's birthday," Ariana explained as she buttoned the clutch in her hand.

"It's perfect. There must be a lot of good food there," said Chloe innocently. As residents of an orphanage, it is undeniable that they often eat food with perfunctory menus. Let alone eat well, the stomach can be filled with rice every day is very grateful. Once in a while, I eat well, that's when Ariana got a big bonus from her office the other day.

"Not, honey," said Ariana. "Besides, so that there's a lot of good food, you don't eat too."

"Why?" Chloe asked, confused. "If I go, I'll pack it up for the orphanage children, Sis. Not bad. As long as it's free!"

Ariana laughed. Why is this little sister so innocent? Taking her hand slowly, Ariana then gently stroked the hair of the little girl who she considered like her biological sister.

"I don't like it, Sweety. I prefer food cooked by Mrs Martha. It's more delicious, especially when you cook the soup with fish fillet and chilli paste. Hmmm, so hungry, right?"

Ariana joked that Chloe unconsciously gulped. "But speaking of eating well, because tomorrow is payday, can we cook chicken and beef sometimes? How about it?"

Chloe immediately nodded enthusiastically. "Really? Sis Ariana isn't lying, is she?"

"No, no," said the girl quickly. "Tomorrow home from work, I immediately buys the ingredients for us to cook together."

"Yey!" Chloe jumped for joy. She was feeling so happy because, after a long time, he and the other orphans could party while eating well.

"Well, ah," continued Ariana, preparing to end the conversation. "I wants to go first. If you're sleepy, go to sleep first."

"So what?" Chloe asked again. Don't be surprised. In many orphanages, it is the girl who is famous for asking a lot of questions. "I might come home a bit late. So you don't have to wait. You'll be tired later," explained Ariana.

"Okay," Chloe said with a thumbs up. Then followed Ariana's steps towards the outside door. "Sista, be careful on the road, okay? If something is bad, shout."

Ariana chuckled. Carrying 10 centimetres heels in her right hand, she nodded.

"Don't worry. You're good at self-defence. So no one will dare to disturb you."

***

Ariana looked in all directions to ensure where Samuel's car was. Instead of being picked up directly in front of the orphanage, she even made an appointment to be picked up right in front of Supermarket, located approximately 200 meters from where she lives.

Not without reason, Ariana did this. She didn't want to invite the crowds around her, especially if they saw her being picked up in a luxury car. Wow, seven days and seven nights, she could be the subject of gossip by her neighbours.

That's why Ariana plays it safe for her peaceful life. After almost five minutes of waiting, Samuel's car finally arrived. After making sure no one was watching, Ariana rushed into the car and followed where the driver took her.

"Your house is tough to locate. That's why my driver was looking for an address," protested Samuel, who was also in the car then.

"Yes, sorry," said Ariana regretfully. "That's why Pacific Palace has created an official residence program for employees in the middle of the city, sir. So, Mr Samuel doesn't have to bother if you want to pick me up tomorrow."

Chuckling, Samuel turned to Ariana. "You don't have to worry. Who is going to pick you up tomorrow? Besides, you just got 250 million, so use the money to rent a house, rent an apartment or maybe rent a boarding house with a slightly better location."

Ariana laughed softly. I don't know what it was that made him suddenly feel funny. There is nothing strange about his boss's words.

"Yes, who knows? Tomorrow you will still need my services."

"I won't!" said Samuel confidently. "Well, next time you look for me to pretend again, I will increase the rate."

Ariana's innocent facial expression made Samuel chuckle in annoyance. Immediately, he cursed in his heart. Already the location of his house is difficult to reach, and now it even invites Samuel's high blood pressure to rise instantly. If you're not in a hurry, I'm too lazy to use your services, Ariana. Which is very expensive!

Entering the housing complex of Samuel's parents, the two of them got ready in the car. Before going down, Samuel first did a briefing so that he and Ariana would be united when asked by anyone at the party tonight.

"You remember what I just explained, right?" asked Samuel after giving a long explanation beforehand.

"Yes, sir," Ariana nodded. "You said understood. Why are you still calling me Sir?"

"Ops! Sorry, honey. The name is also not familiar. But by the way, what if there are questions or events outside the briefing?"

"Yes, you improvised, man. I don't know. I lost. I paid 250 million, but you can't do anything."

Immediately Ariana hissed in her heart. If she didn't realize she had been paid dearly, she swore he would leave Samuel right then and there because of the man's annoying attitude.

Patience Ariana, patience. Patient people have a wide ass, yee, right? Remember, you have to be professional. Think of it again, acting in a movie.

Ariana kept repeating those words in her heart. Putting on a sweet smile, he finally followed Samuel to get out of the car. Accompanied intimately, Ariana was immediately brought by Samuel to the main room.

Mrs Arabella and the guests were already executives and reliable business people from various companies. From Ariana's eyes, she could see how enthusiastic Arabella was to welcome her son. Even more so when Samuel started to introduce himself.

"Mom, during my birthday. As Samuel promised yesterday, today Samuel brought Mama, especially the woman who had been with Samuel all this time."

Arabella smiled. Averting her eyes, the woman cast a scanning glance. I watched Ariana's appearance from head to toe for a moment.

As if satisfied, the woman greeted Ariana, standing right next to her son. Arabella enthusiastically welcomed and even threw a hug at the woman she had just seen this time.

"I'm so glad I got to meet you. What's her name, Sam?" Ariana asked as she turned to her son.

"Ariana, Auntie. My name is Ariana Grey."

Giving a broad smile, Arabella responded to Ariana's answer. "Don't call Aunt. Just call Mama. All of Samuel's friends call me that to make them more friendly. "

Ariana nodded. She thinks Arabella is a friendly person for a rich person and even meets her for the first time. The woman.

"Yes, Ma." Glad to have a special guest, Arabella immediately pulled Ariana around to meet the guests. While Samuel was staying with his husband and nephews, who were also present.

"Where else have you picked up a girl, Sam?" said Roland, who was Samuel's eldest cousin. Of all the cousins, only that man had the most fights with Samuel over all kinds of business.

"None of your business," said Samuel nonchalantly. Instead of responding, Samuel chose to go to his mother, who was so busy talking to her colleagues.

"In my opinion, opening a new branch doesn't just have to have a physical store, sir. Now is the modern era. People can build shops, build many branches with just a cellphone." Everyone was immediately shocked to hear Ariana's narrative. Currently, he is with Arabella, having small conversations with the owners of big businesses in America.

"How to do it?" asked Marcel Duke, one of the crazy rich from New York. He seemed interested in the material Ariana had explained earlier.

"Market your product through e-commerce. Make a big promotion during the soft opening. Don't forget to advertise it on television too. I'm sure it won't take long for your shop to start and grow." Marcel immediately nodded as if agreeing with Ariana's suggestion.

"On what?" asked Samuel, who suddenly was beside his mother. "This, you know. Ariana. Her personal marketing is very clever. This is Mr. Marcel, Mr. Harry, and Mr. William until they are stunned to hear the suggestions and new breakthroughs that he has just conveyed."

"That's true," one of Arabella's colleagues chimed in. "Miss Ariana's business mastery seems to be above average. That's why, because next week my company also wants to launch a new product, can I ask Ms. Ariana for advice directly to consider her marketing strategy?"

Instead of Ariana, it was Arabella who answered her colleague's question.

"You can ... you can ... take it easy. Ariana will definitely come with me."

Arabella's gaze then turned to her son.

"Is that right? Next week Mama will borrow Ariana to come to the product launching event for Mr. William in New York?"

"But, Ma---"

"Why?" investigate Arabella. "Ariana already has a schedule? Or are you unable to do so." "Ariana ---"

"You can do it, Mom," Ariana interrupted innocently. These actions immediately made Samuel glare in disapproval. "My schedule for next week is empty, isn't it, dear?"

Ariana asked, rolling her eyes playfully. She deliberately accepted Arabella's invitation because she remembered that next week there would be an audit at the office. So, instead of bothering with office work, it's better if she joins Arabella on a trip to New York. Free too!

"Ah, yes... yes." Samuel couldn't help but nod awkwardly even though he cursed because he was annoyed in his heart. "Ariana can accompany Mama next week."

"Thank goodness," William said with relief. "Then, I look forward to the arrival of Mrs. Arabella and her future daughter-in-law in New York next week. Don't forget, if Mr. Samuel and Mrs. Ariana get married in the near future, please let me know."

"Wait a minute." Samuel interrupted. "What does this mean? Who wants to get married in the near future?"

An expression of confusion was immediately etched clearly on the face of the tall, slender man. Seeing the son, who seemed to be wondering, Arabella hastily explained so that Samuel would not be confused.

"Yes, honey. Ariana said the relationship between the two of you was already serious. So, I thought, why don't you get engaged and get married soon. Besides, Mama likes Ariana."

"Samuel and Ariana are indeed in a serious relationship, but they're not in a hurry to get married either, Ma. Let's just let the two of us settle for a date first."

Arabella didn't care. Instead of hearing the child's chatter, she walked toward the stage with a glass of wine in her hand.

"Attention everyone," said Arabella, calling attention to all the guests. "First of all, I would like to thank you all very much for attending today's event. There is nothing more valuable than your sincere words and prayers. Tonight, apart from celebrating my birthday, Arabella Walters, feel very happy for the gifts that have been brought by My beloved son. For that, tonight I would like to introduce you all to someone very special. So, my son Samuel Walters has found the life partner he has been looking for, namely Ariana Grey."

Everyone clapped when Arabella immediately took her hand and pointed to where Ariana was standing. "Besides, tonight, I also want to make an announcement that in the near future Samuel and Ariana will be engaged and married soon. For that, I ask for prayers from all of you so that this plan can go according to plan."

Hearing Arabella's announcement, Samuel and Ariana were both taken aback. I never thought the game they were doing ended up like this. Now it remains only to decide whether to continue with the plan as before or end the game right now.