Chapter 7

While waiting for Ariana who was going to the toilet, Chacha seemed to help tidy up the files that Ariana had previously compiled. Sort them neatly, from oldest to newest date.

While continuing to compile the files, suddenly a woman rebuked him from behind. When Chacha turned around. He immediately stood up and gave a salute.

"Miss Arabella."

Chacha greeted while bowing his head respectfully. Actually he was quite surprised to find the mother of the head of Palma Palace suddenly coming after all this time. I don't know what business the consort of Palma suddenly decided to stop by.

"Is Samuel in her office?" she asked.

"Yes, ma'am," Chacha said quickly. "Mr. Samuel is inside with Mr. Axton. It seems he is doing a job evaluation. Do you want me to take him inside?"

Lilliana shook her head. Flashing a smile, the woman responded to what Chacha told her.

"No need. Let me go in alone. Thank you for the information."

Arabella then sauntered into the room. After making sure the shadow of the empress of Palma Palance disappeared from sight, Chacha sat back down. A few minutes later, Ariana was seen returning from the toilet. As soon as she approached her desk, the woman immediately grabbed a pile of files, intending to take them to Samuel's room. But, before actually leaving, he again invited his best friend who had been waiting to talk.

"You didn't come back to the room? It's already this time. I'll look for Pak Andra," Ariana remembered. He knew that the head of the division where Chacha took shelter was very fierce. Just a little late, could get scolded by his best friend.

"Yes, I want to come back." Chacha then stood up. He then got ready to leave. "I'll go back to the room first. See you this afternoon. Remember, you just go home with me."

Ariana nodded. As soon as Chacha left, he then rushed to Samuel's room. Knocking once, the woman immediately opened the door, then without hesitation immediately stepped inside. Which, when he was inside, only then did he realize Arabella's existence, which turned out to be in the middle of a conversation with Samuel.

"Ariana!"

Arabella who was aware of Ariana's presence immediately reprimanded. The woman's face looked surprised at first. Maybe surprised to find his future son-in-law who turns out to be working at the company owned by his son.

However, after a few seconds had passed, the surprised look that had been seen was replaced by a happy expression. Arabella even bothered to stand up, then walked up to Ariana who looked clumsy because she was confused about what to act.

"So you've been working here all this time? At Samuel's company?"

Ariana didn't answer right away. Rolling her eyes, the woman glanced at Samuel. Trying so hard to ask the man for help so he doesn't say the wrong thing again this time.

"Yes, Mom." Samuel answered. The man's words immediately caught his mother's attention. "Ariana has been working at Palma Palace all along. She's Samuel's personal secretary."

"And you never once told Mama about this? Even at a birthday party yesterday?"

Samuel was silent for a moment. Trying to think hard and at the same time find the right words to answer the mother's question. It had also crossed his mind that he could use this moment to make Arabella cancel the marriage blessing between him and Ariana.

Even though so far Arabella had never applied specific criteria for a potential daughter-in-law, Samuel was sure that her mother would disapprove if she knew Ariana's real profession. Of course he can take advantage of this situation so he doesn't get caught up in a marriage that shouldn't be.

"I'm sorry that all this time Samuel has never told anything about Mama. The two of us even deliberately covered this relationship from everyone."

Arabella chuckled. Taking turns looking at Samuel's and Ariana's faces who looked downcast. Then not long after, he stepped out. Approaching the position where Ariana was standing, then spoke, "It's ok, if you haven't told me anything so far. Besides, Mama already likes Ariana."

Samuel looked up immediately. He looked at his mother with a questioning gaze.

"Meaning, Mom?"

"Yes, Mama doesn't have a problem wanting Ariana to be your secretary, or whoever it is. It's not like Mama never applied any requirements to become a potential daughter-in-law for the Walters family?" Finishing saying that, Arabella's gaze returned to Ariana who was still standing next to her. "From now on, you and Samuel don't need to hide anymore. Just announce your relationship to everyone."

"Mom!" Samuel's rebuke made Arabella immediately look at her. "So you mean Mama still approves of our relationship?"

Arabella flashed a smile then nodded.

"Of course. As Mama said earlier, Mama already likes Ariana. So, don't forget to take her this afternoon to have dinner together at Mama's house." Arabella then returned a smile towards Ariana. "Mama is waiting for your arrival, Ariana."

Finished saying that, Arabella instead chose to leave her son's study. Meanwhile, Samuel, who had confirmed her mother's departure, immediately turned to Ariana. That second also bombarded his new secretary with a sharp gaze.

"Why are you so happy to cause trouble, huh?"

"I caused trouble?" Ariana pointed to herself. "I don't even know anything here."

Samuel clenched her jaw tightly. His emotions almost broke when Ben, who had been still in the room, immediately reprimanded him quickly.

"Sir, it looks like you can't avoid this afternoon's event."

"I know," Samuel said. Then his focus returned to Ariana. "Because you've created a problem, now I ask you to finish all of this."

"But sir..." interrupted Ariana. "I really don't know anything. If I had known that Miss Arabella was in your room, I definitely wouldn't have entered."

Ariana tried desperately to defend herself. But if you look at the look on Samuel's face, it seems that it was useless for her to speak.

"You think I care about what you're explaining now? No, Ariana," shook Samuel. "Anyway, at six in the afternoon, you must accompany me to dinner."

"But, Mr. Samuel ----"

At that moment Samuel raised her right hand. Ask Ariana to stop talking.

"I don't accept rejection. If you object, please write a letter of resignation to quit Palma Palace."

Ariana swallowed back the words that were ready to leave her lips. You can't help but just accept the orders that Samuel has given.

***

After finishing all the work and deciding to go home early, now wearing neat clothes, Ariana was ready and waiting for Samuel at her usual place. While glancing at the clock on his cellphone, he occasionally looked right and left looking for Samuel's car.

It wasn't long before a Ferrari stopped at the side of the road right where Ariana was waiting. Lowering the passenger window, Ariana finally found out who the owner of the car was, which turned out to be the man she had been waiting for.

Ariana's rush opened the door. Just as he sat down in the passenger seat, Samuel's babble filled his ears.

"Don't you have any nicer clothes?"

"Isn't the clothes I'm wearing not good? This feeling is already polite and even meets the criteria to be worn at a banquet."

Samuel chuckled. Lazy to respond to what Ariana said, choosing to return to spur the car she was driving to somewhere.

A few minutes later, instead of going straight to her parents' house, Samuel took Ariana to another place.

"Get down," Samuel ordered.

Ariana then took off the seatbelt that was wrapped around her body. He looked around, then spoke, "Dinner at the mall, sir? I thought we'd have dinner at Mrs. Arabella's house the other day."

Samuel was heard hissing, turning towards Ariana, the man spoke lazily. I swear for whatever reason, if he didn't have to, he wouldn't want anything to do with his secretary either.

"Who wants to have dinner here?"

"So what? What are we going to do?"

"Wanna Pilgrimage. Done, don't ask too many questions. Now get down, and follow where I will take you!"

Ariana chuckled a little. With an annoyed face he obeyed Samuel's order to get out of the car. Following the man's steps until he finally arrived and entered one of the big and famous boutiques.

"Please find the best suitable dress for my girlfriend to wear tonight," Samuel ordered the boutique maid.

From here, Ariana finally knew that her boss had asked her to look for clothes first. It sucks. In fact, according to Ariana, the clothes she wore were very good and in accordance with the standards of a dinner party. I don't know why, this boss is so chatty.

"This is the latest collection from our boutique, sir. Everything can be selected and tried first," offered the boutique maid while showing the collection in question.

"Ariana, quickly select and use. We don't have much time."

Ariana complied. After repeatedly choosing and trying which one he thought was right, he then showed it to Samuel. Once the man agreed and then finished paying, the two of them continued on towards Arabella's residence.

Luckily the road this afternoon was not so crowded. Both were able to arrive exactly at 7 pm. Entering the house, Arabella was already there who seemed to be waiting impatiently. In fact, when she saw the arrival of Samuel and Ariana, Arabella enthusiastically asked her son and future daughter-in-law to go immediately and gather in the dining room.

"Mama thought you two wouldn't come."

"I told you Samuel would definitely come. Mama couldn't really believe it." Alfonso, father of Samuel joined in the conversation. In fact, he had been exasperated by himself seeing his wife's behavior who seemed impatient waiting for their son to come.

"Mama can't wait to meet Ariana, Pa. I don't know why, when I meet Mama's future daughter-in-law, she is naturally happy and very happy."

Ariana flashed a smile. Obviously at this moment felt very awkward. There was also an uneasy feeling in his heart because he had joined the boss's game to lie to his parents. It could really be strong.

"Ariana, so what? This weekend will you come to Surabaya?" asked Arabella while spooning rice and side dishes onto Samuel and Ariana's plates in turn. He wanted the food he had specially prepared to be eaten by his son and future daughter-in-law.

"I don't think I can come," said Ariana. The woman's face was so sad.

"What's the matter? How come you can't all of a sudden? Did Samuel give you a lot of work? If that's true, just postpone it. Postpone it until you get back from Surabaya."

Ariana glanced at Samuel. Seeing the man stare back at her sharply, Ariana hastily averted her eyes while looking for the right answer so as not to cause trouble again. His ears were enough to hear Samuel's nagging almost every day. If I had to choose, Ariana didn't even want to have anything to do with her boss other than work.

"There is one personal matter that I can't put off and stay. I'm really sorry I can't go with you."

Arabella let out a long sigh. There was a feeling of disappointment over him. In fact, he really wanted to invite his future son-in-law to tour the city of Surabaya. He really wanted to show off to all the business relations that were there,

However, on the other hand Arabella also couldn't force her will on the future daughter-in-law. He realized that Ariana seemed to have important activities that could not be left behind.

"That's it. Mom will apologize to Mr. William later. It's a shame you can't join us."

Finished saying that, everyone chose to enjoy their dinner while talking. There was a lot of talk about business that Samuel discussed with her father. Meanwhile Arabella was also engrossed in exchanging stories with Ariana.

"So you two first met at Palma Palace?" asked Arabella curiously.

"Yes, Mom," Ariana nodded. He kept his face as calm as possible. Though his heart was nervous half to death. Why did his boss involve himself in a game like this.

"Then, who first expressed love? What was Samuel?" inquired Arabella again to which Ariana immediately responded with a nod.

"Maybe it's Mr. Samuel. Ah, I mean, at that time Samuel was hit by something called love at first sight. Because after the first meeting, he was diligent in reprimanding me then approached me."

Lilliana laughed. Come imagine how cute the son who is famous for being stiff approaches a woman.

"Never mind Samuel who fell in love, Mama and her business partners just met you yesterday and immediately liked you."

"Mama is right," said Alfonso. "Personally, Ariana is a perfect fit to join the Walters family. Papa didn't even think that Samuel could find a candidate for an outgoing and attractive wife like Ariana. Previously, we thought this bad boy wasn't interested in girls."

"Samuel's not gay, Papa!"

Everyone at the dinner table laughed together, until it wasn't long before Arabella was back talking to her son.

"So, Samuel, when can Mama and Papa meet Ariana's parents to propose? I hope you arrange a time soon."

At that moment, Samuel immediately choked on the water she was drinking. Didn't expect that this problem was getting more and more complicated and making him dizzy. At that moment a thought crossed his head, should he lie again or just end the game he had created himself?