I'm Not My Boss' Storage
Meet Lea Again

ISHAAN grimaced as he found the name on the guest list.

Robert Klein's. Father Lea.

Sure, they must be there. It felt like Ishaan wanted to bury his head in the ground while remembering what he said at the hotel the other day. Now, in a matter of hours, he'll be face-to-face with the woman again. With his father anyway.

The doorbell rings. It must be Bu Ajeng, a makeup artist who has long served the Marlon family. Ishaan rushes to open the door, then welcomes the fairy who brings her assistant, a young man named Kala. Judging from his appearance, the figure was probably the same age as Agni.

“Sore, Ishaan. How are you?” Bu Ajeng held her for a moment. “It's great that I received a phone call from you. Who will be today?”

“Me and my assistant, Agni. Mom just knock on the door, I already told her there will be a makeup artist coming.”

Bu Ajeng hints at Kala to follow Ishaan to his room. They do not engage in long conversations, just ask questions at a glance to style the hair and ensure the results of makeup. As soon as he finished, Ishaan let Kala out of the room, while he changed his clothes.

An hour passed. Ishaan just sent the money to pay the rate of Bu Ajeng's services and showed the proof to Kala. Then, while waiting for Agni, Ishaan tidied up her clothes, three piece suit specially ordered from Marissa. She accidentally asked the woman to add a green accent from the color palette of Agni's dress. Satisfactory results.

“Nak Ishaan, I have finished decorating Agni,” exclaimed Bu Ajeng. “I and Kala say goodbye first, yes.”

“Iya, Mom, then—” When Ishaan turns around, his eyes immediately focus on Agni. To the girl wearing her choice of dress. To the girl who made him late floundering when he was not together.

Agni seemed to be aware of Ishaan's reaction. His eyes moved towards Bu Ajeng, signaling that he was daydreaming.

“Sorry, sorry. Again, thank you, Ma Ajeng. Kala also.” That scene must have looked embarrassing. “I've transferred his services money to a regular account.”

As soon as they leave the apartment, Ishaan again admires Agni who walks over to him. Bu Ajeng not only gives the best makeup, but also accentuates the charm of Agni that has been hidden.

“Master, should we go now?”

“Iya, soon the show starts.”

As Agni reached for a helping hand, a moment of calm flowed through Ishaan's body. All his unrest was a little dull. Tonight, as long as Agni was beside her, Ishaan was able to meet the important guests at the party. Lea and her father.

*

Jazz music performed by a live band fills a meeting room that is transformed into an intimate party location. Round tables are spread out evenly with six to seven seats each. Some of them were invited guests. One thing Ishaan is grateful for, he and Agni will not be as happy as Robert and Leah.

“Table number eight.” One by one, Ishaan checked the number. Their table is located near the main stage. He pulled out a chair for Agni, then caught up with her. The girl still looked nervous, especially when the empty seats started to fill up. Every now and then, Ishaan gently pats the back of Agni's hand, telling her that she is safe with him.

The live band ended the song, and the lighting on the main stage was dimmed. Soon, the show will begin.

If not for the sake of formality, Ishaan prefers to relax in the apartment or take Agni for a walk around Frankfurt. Like her mother, she is less fond of meeting and pleasantries with strangers in large numbers. Activities that drain his energy. But for the sake of the continuity of the company and launch his plan to work in Europe, Ishaan must sacrifice.

“Goodnight,” a fashionable-looking woman stands on the main stage. He must be the MC on duty tonight. “Thank you to the guests who attended to meet Mr. Braun's invitation and family. Soon, the show will begin. Please book a table as per this invitation.”

“Sorry I dragged you to a boring event,” Ishaan whispered to Agni. “After dinner and meeting relations, we return to the apartment.”

“Ms sure you want to go home fast?”

Even under the dim lighting, Agni remained charming. “Actually also dear I have paid Bu Ajeng expensive if we only deposit face. How about we take a walk? Frankfut looks amazing at night.”

The girl had not had time to respond when people clapped. Ishaan pulled his body, he should focus on paying attention to the party flow if he wants to get out quickly. His eyes scanned the room; checking the one-on-one guests who filled the table.

Then there, right next to a table from her, Lea waved as their eyes clashed.

*

The banquet ends. One by one the waiter lifted the dirty dishes from the table. Ishaan thought that meeting Robert Klein first would be better than stalling. So he had reason to step aside to meet other colleagues without having to interact with Lea.

“Agni,” calls her, asking the girl to wrap an arm around her elbow. “We meet Mr. Klein and his daughter. You met him yesterday, when we were in the entertainment district.”

Jemari Agni pressed firmly on Ishaan's arm. “Which hair is blonde?”

“Iya.” Ishaan quickens his pace towards the father and son couple. “Listen, whatever her daughter tells you, ignore it. I only have business with his father. He's one of the shareholders in my company.”

“Good, Mr.”

It was Robert who first noticed the arrival of Ishaan and Agni. The man who was still fit at the age of 55 years old greeted him, then asked Lea to join.

“Dad, I was the same Ishaan had met a few days ago,” without further ado, Lea got into the conversation. “If Ishaan is working in Frankfurt, I will move there, yes? Bored in Berlin.”

“Lea, focus on your business. The bar you held has not been operating for a year in Berlin,” reprimanded the father. “Ishaan, I heard your sister finally got married.”

“Betul, Sir. They send greetings, have not been able to come with me to Germany.”

“Hey, we haven't met, you know, yesterday. I'm Lea.” Again, Lea interrupted the conversation. The target turned to Agni who continued to firmly grip Ishaan's elbow. “Ishaan story she has an assistant now. You're the first, you know.”

Since Lea did not extend a hand, Agni simply nodded. “Agni.”

“Sometimes stop by my place, Ishaan,” Robert takes the conversation. This man was already immune to the attitude of his daughter. “I want to hear your opinion about the interior design we use—”

“Ishaan sure likes, Dad,” Lea interrupts. “Kan it's a design that we used to almost use in the apartment.”

Thats enough. Thats enough. Ishaan had to withdraw himself from this conversation. It was obvious that Lea wanted to influence Agni through pieces of their past information.

“Mr Klein, I'm sorry,” said Ishaan. He caught another colleague who would be made a diversion. “Happy to meet you. If you have time, I stop by the place you mean.”

“Success always, Ishaan.” Robert patted her on the shoulder, then nodded briefly at Agni before dragging his daughter away from them.

“Lea has a heavy crush, yes, same Sir,” chirps Agni. “View once want to attract attention during chatting.”

Had Agni known what was really going on, Ishaan was sure the girl would have kept her distance. “Let's meet another colleague, then go home.”

*

For an hour, Ishaan and Agni circled the room. This time they are more relaxed, even chatting longer when meeting colleagues from Indonesia. After believing she has met important people at the event, Ishaan takes Agni out of the room.

“In the meantime, Sir,” Agni held him down. “I want to go to the toilet first.”

“Can't be in apartment only?”

“Urgen, can't I hold.”

Ishaan directs the route to the toilet, then takes off his hand. Never before has he been this anxious to wait for a woman to complete her personal affairs there. Hopefully Agni doesn't face the problems that will ruin their night.

***