Hot Night With CEO

After intentionally arriving late, Darian wanted to be alone with Fahira. Somehow, he felt a strong urge to meet her privately.

Fahira, still at her cubicle, appeared restless as her boss, Darian, had not come out of his office, even though her colleagues had already left the office.

“Fahira, I’m leaving now, okay?” Mira said, waving to Fahira as she left.

“I’m leaving too, Fahira. Take care on your way back; Darian will be out soon!” Susi added, tapping Fahira’s shoulder, which she responded with a smile.

It wasn’t the first time Fahira left the office late with Darian, but this time, it felt different. Especially after that night when Darian had been aggressive towards her. Fahira feared he might force her to serve him again, but she had decided that she wouldn’t do it anymore, even if it meant risking her successful career. She would try to find another job, as long as it was halal (permissible).

Fahira typed a series of messages and sent them to Ariel’s WhatsApp number, letting him know she would be home late. Fahira didn’t want Ariel to worry about her being late; she didn’t even know when Darian would leave his office.

Since morning, Darian had been in his office, and even during lunch, Fahira had ordered food from his favorite restaurant as per his request.

At 4:30 pm, Fahira decided to knock on Darian’s door to ask for permission to leave early. However, just as she was about to reach for the doorknob, the door suddenly opened, and Darian stood there with an expressionless face. Fahira felt nervous and quickly stepped aside, making way for Darian.

“Let’s go home!” Darian said as he passed Fahira without any further comment.

Confused, Fahira followed Darian’s long strides hurriedly until they reached the front of the elevator. However, as Fahira was about to enter the regular employees’ lift, Darian pulled her back, leading her into the executives’ special elevator. “Just come with me!” Darian said, leaving Fahira puzzled. Nevertheless, Fahira didn’t refuse, as she felt scared to be alone in the elevator.Property © NôvelDrama.Org.

Inside the lift, they stood side by side in silence. Fahira chose to keep her head down, while Darian stared straight ahead at the elevator doors. The corners of Darian’s lips twitched, trying to suppress a smile as he enjoyed Fahira’s nervousness through the lift’s reflection. Fahira, on the other hand, was desperately trying to calm her racing heart. The masculine scent of Darian filling the confined space added to her unease.

Slowly, Fahira gathered the courage to lift her gaze as the elevator neared the ground floor. Suddenly, Fahira was taken aback when she saw Darian’s gentle eyes looking at her through the elevator’s reflection-the same gaze she had seen that night they spent together. Fahira quickly averted her gaze just as the elevator doors opened.

The security on duty immediately lowered his head in respect, opening the glass door that blocked Darian’s path. Darian simply responded with a nod, without any words or smiles. As usual, he was stoic. Darian’s smile was not only rare; it was something wonderful because it was a rarity, only reserved for those he chose.

“Let’s go, Pak Teguh, we’re leaving,” Fahira greeted politely, walking behind Darian. A man named Pak Teguh responded with equal courtesy.

“Take care on your way back, Miss Fahira. Mang Damar has been waiting for you for quite some time,” Pak Teguh added, which Darian could still hear.

“Yes, Pak. Thank you!” Fahira replied and then walked towards the exit, while Darian remained silent in his parked car at the lobby. He started the car and drove ahead of Fahira, heading towards the only Gojek driver waiting there.

Darian rolled down his car window halfway and chatted briefly with the Gojek driver. Fahira, seeing Mang Damar leaving, immediately ran after him, calling out to him. She was taken aback, breathing heavily, as she held her knees. Her feet were sore from running with 7 cm high heels.

“Let me take you home!” Darian offered, suddenly standing in front of her.

“Oh, what bad luck! Going home with Optimus Prime,” Fahira muttered to herself while looking at the shiny black shoes in front of her.

“I…” Fahira stood up straight.

“Quickly, get in my car. It’s an order!” Darian interrupted to prevent Fahira from making any excuses.

Fahira nodded obediently and followed Darian into his luxurious car. She chose to look outside the window, enjoying the fading sunset obscured by dark shadows, while Darian focused on the busy streets ahead.

“Wait, where are we going? We should head home,” Fahira pointed east in panic as Darian turned his car in the opposite direction.

“I’m hungry. Let’s find some food first,” Darian replied nonchalantly. However, inside, he was gleeful to see Fahira’s surprised expression.

“But, Sir!” Fahira tried to refuse Darian’s invitation to have a meal together.

“Come on, we’ve arrived!” Darian said as he turned off the engine.

Fahira resignedly followed Darian’s steps into a luxurious Steak & Seafood Restaurant located in Thamrin, Central Jakarta. It was an expensive restaurant with exorbitant prices; the cheapest meal there cost 200 thousand rupiahs. It was Darian’s favorite restaurant when meeting with clients.

“What would you like to eat? You choose, and as usual, I’ll have the same,” Darian offered, handing Fahira the menu. With hesitation, Fahira accepted the menu and tried to choose the same meal Darian usually ordered. However, she was silent for quite some time, going through the list of food prices in the restaurant. She was unsure which expensive dish to pick, as she felt 200 thousand rupiahs could be better spent on saving.

“Let me handle it,” Darian requested, taking the menu from Fahira’s hand.

“I’ll have three portions of tenderloin steak, two cranberry juices, and one club soda. Also, one portion of steak and a cranberry juice for takeout,” Darian instructed the female waitress in the blue uniform, who swiftly jotted down his order.

“Very well, Sir. Please wait a moment,” the waitress replied politely and left.

“Why is this person being so nice to me? It’s not like him at all. Or maybe…” Fahira shook her head, remembering Darian’s invitation yesterday to serve him again. However, suddenly, a faint smile formed on her lips as she recalled her younger sister’s favorite movie, Transformers.

More precisely, the man in front of her looked exactly like the character Optimus Prime; rigid, determined, expressionless, and, of course, without a smile. Fahira had seen Darian smile only a few times during her two years of being his secretary, and that was usually when he was with clients or his mother, Yasmin. Every time Darian smiled, his attractiveness multiplied several times. According to Mira, “Mr. Darian is exceptionally handsome.” Susi had a different opinion. The quiet girl could be quite blunt when talking about their boss. “Mr. Darian is like the sun, dazzling, guys.”

Ahem… Darian’s cough brought Fahira back to reality. She was startled, realizing she had been paying so much attention to the man in front of her. Blushing, she lowered her head to hide her embarrassment.

“Why do you always like to lower your face?” Darian said coldly, causing Fahira to lift her head again. Their eyes met. Fahira’s heart fluttered as she received Darian’s gentle gaze. Slowly, she returned the gaze, her hands intertwining under the table. Since their first meeting, she had acknowledged Darian’s handsome and charismatic appearance, but seeing his gentle gaze now made her heart melt.

“Excuse me, Sir. I want to go home,” Fahira requested without breaking their eye contact.

“Of course, after we eat!” Darian replied shortly.

Without any further conversation, they began eating. Only the clinking of forks and knives occasionally colliding, creating a melodic symphony. Darian observed Fahira chewing her food without enthusiasm. Annoyed, he handed his plate to Fahira, which contained steak cut into small pieces.

“Eat more, so your body won’t be so skinny,” Darian said, instantly stopping Fahira from chewing the steak in her mouth, causing her to give him a sharp look.

Of course, Fahira didn’t like being told that her body was skinny by the stern man in front of her. In her opinion, her body was already in line with the ideal female standard; Mira and Susi often praised her body goal. Fahira didn’t dress in a provocative manner like most employees and secretaries, but the term “skinny” was truly hurtful.

“Have your meal or do you want to go to my apartment instead?” Darian casually offered, causing Fahira to choke.

“Easy, Fahira!” Darian handed his glass of cranberry juice to her, which she quickly accepted and gulped down.

“What do you mean, Sir?” Fahira asked with a frown, looking at Darian with question marks in her eyes. Darian smiled while shrugging nonchalantly.

“Come on, Fahira, I’m just kidding! Or do you actually want that?” Darian teased, enjoying Fahira’s irritated expression, which he found adorable.

“I’d rather go home alone. Thank you for the treat, Mr. Darian!” Fahira said, annoyed, then stood up from her seat and grabbed her bag.

“I don’t want to owe anyone any favors, because you already helped me with that woman last night. If it weren’t for you, I might have ended up in bed with her, and I didn’t like that!” Darian explained, causing Fahira to turn around and look at him in surprise at his upfront statement.

“Isn’t that your pleasure, Mr. Darian?” Fahira replied sarcastically. Darian’s demeanor turned cold, his jaw tensed from Fahira’s mocking words. He realized that everyone would probably think the same way she did. A man who couldn’t stay away from lust, even though in reality, Darian had only done it once, and that was with the woman in front of him.

“You don’t know me well, Fahira!” Darian said coldly. Fahira was taken aback, looking at the wounded expression in his brown eyes.

During the journey, neither of them initiated a conversation. They were preoccupied with their own thoughts. Darian with his wounded ego, and Fahira confused by Darian’s peculiar behavior towards her. Fahira wasn’t sure if Darian just wanted to express his gratitude, as he did earlier. The Darian she knew was not someone who easily said thank you or sorry to just anyone, especially to her, a regular secretary.