I'm Not My Boss' Storage
Dinner End Disaster

It might just be Agni's feelings, but lately Ishaan is acting strangely towards her while they are alone in the apartment.

At first, Agni was unaware of the change. His first days in Rome passed by accompanying Ishaan to meet clients, followed by a busy schedule and archive documents. He also had to get up early to prepare the breakfast that Luca's wife had delivered to the apartment.

Entering the weekend, they take care of business outside of work. Agni with her script, while Ishaan chose a walk around the city.

Later that night, as Agni was about to present her newly warmed lasagna, Ishaan accidentally nudged her waist. The man quickly apologized, then turned back into the room.

Ishaan doesn't come out until the next afternoon, letting Agni eat breakfast alone in the kitchen.

Doesn't stop there. When Agni was about to pick up clothes in the washing machine, she passed Ishaan who was carrying a bed sheet. They sat for a moment, then when Agni's gaze shifted on the bed sheet, Ishaan ngacir entered his room.

“He's mediocre, right, if you guys take care of the job?” shia asked as Agni told her the strangeness through a video call. “Not to think very much, Ni. Maybe he's got a problem again, just it's none of your business to interfere.”

Agni lies down on the mattress, then presses one of her earbuds that is almost copoot. “Working time, anyway, he's professional. To my surprise, he is usually friendly outside of work hours. Sometimes even nosy. Just suddenly every papasan or not accidentally nenggenggol me, he was afraid like seeing a ghost.”

On the screen, Shia pursed her lips, equally confused. “If you still want to, ask the person. From you curious kek waiting in the next contract.”

“Ah, no-one is lo.” Agni chuckles. “My customers are the same Jakarta. Here the place is good, but I'm afraid to stray if the road itself.”

“Padahal lo follow the same boss lo fitting him kelayakan.” Then, Shia flicked her finger, as if she had just gotten an idea. “Iya really, you try to ask her, you can go for a walk. Say you bosen or need refreshing. Who knows, he'll vent to lo.”

Shia's idea wasn't bad enough to try. Agni needs to make sure first what Ishaan is planning to take a walk today. So after ending the video call and turning off the laptop, Agni went out to check the whereabouts of her boss.

Long live, Ishaan is watching television in the living room. Unwilling to surprise the man, he waited until his attention was turned to his room. Agni waits until her legs are barely aching, but her efforts pay off when Ishaan turns off the television, then turns to her.

“Siang, Sir,” said. “Today want to go out again for a walk?”

The interlocutor rubbed his neck. “It looks like so. I want dinner outside.”

“Can I come? It just so happens that the food supply is almost exhausted, while tomorrow afternoon we have continued the journey to Milan.”

At first glance, Ishaan is worried. He even cut off his eye contact. However, Agni was not willing to give up. Anyway this afternoon he had to leave while digging into the factors that made Ishaan change his attitude.

“Oke, you can come. We're out at half-time five.”

Hearing him, Agni almost jumped up in delight. “Good, Sir. Call me when you're ready.”

*

In one of the meetings, Agni listened to Ishaan's conversation with a client who, thankfully, was fluent in English. They discussed Rome as a promising center of contemporary interior design. Game design clean, curved lines, to contrast color into aspects that they peel enthusiastically.

“This is one example of a building with contemporary interior design that I admire.” On the third day of the visit, Ishaan invites Agni to a building that resembles the Colosseum, just like a cube. “Name Palazzo della Civilta Italiana.”

“Cantics,” murmured Agni. The ivory-white building looks modern in its classic design. “Master wants to build a building like this in Indonesia?”

“Can only if there are no hands jail hobby makes ‘hiasan’.”

This afternoon, Ishaan did not invite him to stop by the buildings with amazing designs. The man took her down through shops on the outskirts of Rome offering home-cooked meals. She hopes Ishaan also rambles about the design of the line of charming taverns they passed by. In reality, the man was busy reminding Agni to clutch her sling bag tightly.

“We have arrived. Good afternoon, Carina,” greet Ishaan while hinting Agni sitting near the cashier's desk. “How are you doing my favorite Queen of Carbonara Pizza?”

“Ishaan, tesoro mio*!” A middle-aged woman who was serving pizza approached Ishaan, then kissed both cheeks. “Since when were you in Rome? Why don't you tell me?”

“Since last week. I'm here all work.” Later, Ishaan introduces Agni to Carina. “He's my personal assistant.”

Agni was somewhat surprised when Carina landed a short kiss on both of her cheeks. “Friends Ishaan, my friend too. What do you want to order?”

“As usual, my favorite. What do you want to drink, Agni?”

“Anything of refreshing origin. Oh yes, non-alcoholic.”

Ishaan orders her a soda for Carina.

The small shop was crowded; forcing Ishaan to shift his chair towards Agni. Then as their arms touched, Agni caught Ishaan's enlarged eyes.

“Agni.” It seems Agni can guess where Ishaan is going. “I go to the toilet for a while.”

**

Absolutely disgraceful! Agni must have noticed the change in her attitude.

That exciting dream only stopped by once, but the effect lasted for days. Every time he passed Agni, a dream burst into his mind. Worse when touching, Ishaan felt a shock that made him misbehave.

What attraction does Agni really have until Ishaan loses control? Hasn't he been known to be able to conquer many women just through the gaze?

Ishaan's goal in getting Agni to stop by Carina's shop, which is also her mother's best friend, is to suppress the opportunity of being alone. But he miscalculated. The crowd in the tavern instead increased the frequency of physical contact with the girl.

Micah is guaranteed to be able to cut it all out if he hears this story.

Again, Ishaan washed his hands, then rubbed his face. He looked at his reflection in the mirror. Control yourself, Ishaan Marlon, her inner self. Your goal here is to get as many projects as possible, not screw your assistant.

Back at the table, Agni was talking to a man. Occasionally, the figure licked his lips while observing Agni. The instantaneous gesture made Ishaan's vigilance rise, but he couldn't trigger a commotion to chase away the man.

“What's our order ready, Honey?” The question immediately distracted Agni, while the man looked back at Ishaan. Not enough yet, Ishaan takes his place among them. “Excuse me, he's my girlfriend.”

The man snorted loudly, then left the store. Shortly after, Carina appeared with their order.

Agni looked confused, must be guessing the words Ishaan said to the man earlier. He deliberately used Italian so that the girl would not be surprised.

“Tuan—”

“Eat first,” cut Ishaan fast. “You'll regret skipping carbonara pizza made by Carina.”

*

After a visit to Carina's shop, Ishaan actually wants to invite Agni to visit her subscription gift shop. However, the crowd of tourists and the incident at the tavern had undoed his intentions. He took Agni home on the grounds that he had to continue packing for a trip to Milan.

Ishaan takes a different route to avoid overcrowding. The road is quieter, but it will be quick to drive them to the apartment. Just as they turned from a flower shop, three men emerged from behind the alley.

One of them was the man who teased Agni in the tavern.

In the back, Agni gasped. “Master, do we need to return to the original route?”

They are too far from that location. “Log in to the florist earlier.”

“Why—”

“Come in and don't come out until I ask!”

As soon as Agni turned around and ran into the flower shop, Ishaan waited for the three men to approach her. The man in the shop stopped a few steps ahead of him.

“There are trying to be a hotshot here,” he said furious. “How dare you take my girl."

"Your girl? Since when?” Ishaan would have laughed out if the situation was not dangerous. “Look, I'm lazy to make a fuss. What if we don't bother each other. Me and my boyfriend are home safely, you guys I won't report to the authorities.”

“You made a fuss first when you stopped me from talking to my girl!” The man pushed Ishaan to the point of almost dropping him. “I know she's not your lover, so don't be much of a whim!”

“Then, will I let you do anything to him?” Ishaan glared at the three of them. “Before your hand touches a hair, face me first.”

The man spit to the side. “I'll make your mouth speechless!”

Ishaan took a deep breath. The next second, all he saw was a fist and everything darkened.

*

“Master? Lord Ishaan? Sir!”

A subtle pat accompanied by pain at some point resuscitated Ishaan. Sayup-sayup, he heard a buzz around him. He wanted to open his eyes, but his petals were heavy and painful. His body is also broken.

“Excuse me, excuse me, I'm his uncle.” That voice, Ishaan recognized her. Luca. With her English trained, she asked Agni, “Nona, what happened?”

“Tadi Tuan was beaten by three people at once. They escaped when the shopkeeper called the police,” Agni explained. The anxiety in her voice made Ishaan sad. “We need to take her to hospital.”

“Bring to taxi I—”

“Do not!” Ishaan complained while holding her cheek.

“Master, the wound must be dealt with immediately.”

Ishaan shook his head quickly. “Luca, can you get your wife to the apartment? Let him take care of me.”

Luca murmured doubtfully, but finally assented. “Nona, help me bring Mr. Marlon to taxi.”

The journey to the apartment feels longer even though Ishaan is driven by a vehicle. After riding a tall child while enduring pain and soreness, Ishaan finally arrived at the room. He could hear Luca contacting his wife, while Agni made sure he was comfortable lying in bed.

“I came out for a while to pick up wife. Miss, can you get a first aid kit in the kitchen?”

“Sure, I'll get you.”

Ishaan can only wait. If the wound is severe, he may have to postpone some meetings. Where could he have sent Agni alone to face his clients.

“Agni,” call is weak when the girl is back with first aid kit, “schedule—please postpone the meeting the day after. Tell me I had an accident.”

“Master is sick like this still thinking about work.”

Ishaan tried to chuckle, but instead grimaced in pain. “They have been working with my company for a long time, so should not be disappointed.”

“Good, later I contact them. Would you like to reschedule the meeting?”

Ishaan needs to check the calendar, but his eyes haven't really been able to open. “Uuuh, Thursday. Friday morning if they could.”

“Gosh!” A woman's voice cuts through their conversation. Luca's wife, Gabriella. “Definitely a delinquent from the next block that makes a troublemaker! Wait, yeah, I'll wash my hands first. Luca, you better get on with work and check the situation around the apartment.”

Luca then left them. Agni was originally about to leave the room, but Ishaan immediately held back his hand.

“Ke—why, Mister?”

“I'm grateful they didn't touch you.” Slowly, Ishan let go of his hand. “You can go back to the room. Let Luca's wife take care of me."

***

* [Italy] my treasure