Lies
The CEO's Expressions

Unlike the rumors that circulated, the settlement on Asoka Street seemed fine. It is not as good as the city center— considering this area is located quite far from the capital of the country, but it cannot be said to be a poor area anyway. Along the way, Raya sees five-story flats and several small houses. There is also a park and river behind the elementary school grounds. Not bad even looks like a neatly arranged village with careful planning. Starting from adequate public facilities to the scenery. Had it been an example of other areas, perhaps the slums would no longer fill the country.

“Honey, this is his orphanage,” Karan said as soon as their car arrived in front of a building lobby. Intending to visit the disadvantaged children, Karan decides not to bring his luxury car. He even used a company-owned car even though the car did not make him comfortable. Karan is cunning and can even be said to be a man who has a heart like the devil, but he is not that bad to innocent children. The CEO has used them for his image, at least he can be a little kind to them as a form of compassion.

Raya got out of the car and was greeted by the orphanage residents. The children gave flowers to Raya, while the caretakers of the orphanage greeted Raya with happy faces. This visit was very sudden. In fact, Raya did absolutely nothing for them. Why would they welcome him so happily like this? Fortunately Raya brought parcels in the box car that they deliberately included in this visit. The woman finally took out her parcel and distributed the parcel to the children inside the parlour one by one.

“Total 120 Children, Honey. There are actually 121, but one is still a baby, so you don't have to give the parcel to him.” That's what Karan said when they prepared the parcel. It would be surprising for Raya where Karan could remember the number of children in the orphanage. It is impossible ‘kan the CEO considering all the number of residents of the institution who get help from the foundation? So, why does Karan remember the number of children there?

“How can you know?” chirps Raya that day.

“Yes, because I heard from Ruben you were preparing a parcel for them. I think you should remember the amount so as not to mistakenly bring,” Karan replied casually. That was a reasonable answer, but Raya remained dissatisfied with that answer. Still Raya sees something awkward with Karan. The man seemed so enthusiastic accompanying her shopping to prepare the parcel. Either because the man was afraid that Raya would run away or because she did devote her attention to the children. The reason, some parts of the parcel prepared by Raya are Karan's proposal. The man seemed to understand the favorite of the children in the orphanage.

“Thank you Miss Kingdom, I'm so glad you could stop by our place. Children love you very much and thank you for the help you give us. Thanks to an education fund that you distributed last month, five of our children who had dropped out of school, were finally able to continue their respective schools, he said,” said the orphanage owner explained when he and Raya sat together to chat.

Of course Raya was confused. He knew nothing about the education fund. Let alone giving funds, Raya alone did not know anything about the orphanage. The mastermind must be Karan. Who else can handle his name so presumptuously besides the husband. Indeed it brings a positive image for Raya, but the woman feels unworthy of receiving thanks for the actions she did not do at all.

The problem is, Raya can not agree or deny the words of the orphanage manager. All the woman did was smile back at the statement. “How about the development of this orphanage, Mom?” tanya Raya deliberately diverted the conversation so as not to focus on the education fund.

“Very good, Mom. All thanks to Mr. Karan. He and his foundation have been our saviors for the past eight years. Not only us, but the whole village also received help from him. That is why if you go to the village hall, you will find a charter of appreciation and gratitude to Mr. Karan. If he doesn't exist, maybe our village will remain a slum like it was ten years ago. And our orphanage will be closed due to huge loss of funds.”

Raya did not know her husband would be loved and appreciated so much by the orphanage. Not getting there, it turns out that Karanlah helped this village rise from the slump. This village looks a long way from the word slum. Even the arrangement of the building looks so neat that it is pleasing to the eye. “Sorry Mom, if I may know, why did your orphanage close eight years ago?”

“Because the old orphanage owner misappropriated the orphanage funds and ran away from this city. At that time there was also a major disaster in this village that made the donors reluctant to give their donations to us again. Fortunately, Mr. Karan and his father came here. They injected us with funds, even to the point of helping us renovate the entire building. All the buildings in this orphanage were built eight years ago, ma'am. Thanks to the family Reviano.”

The whole day Raya only listened to the praise and flattery of the orphanage's inhabitants for Karan. The man was treated like a hero there. There was not a single child who did not know Karan, even the children there were taught to know the Reviano family including Raya. To return the favor he said. They are unlikely to forget or not recognize who the warm hands that channel help to them are. The assistance they did not get included from the rulers of the region and the state.

After hearing the constant praise to Karan, Raya finally had the opportunity to walk around the orphanage accompanied by the orphanage owner. The purpose of the Kingdom is only to find out what deficiencies that can be completed by the foundation. Because according to Raya, funds alone are not enough to answer the problem of orphanages. Raya must fix the problem by providing a solution that is right on target.

While walking around the neighborhood, Raya's view was fixed to the basketball court. He sees the interaction that takes place between Karan and the children of the orphanage. There was no awkwardness between them at all. Karan and the boys were playing basketball seriously as if they were undergoing an official tournament. Raya decided to look at the match instead of continuing her observations. For he never saw Karan's expression like this. The man seemed to be showing his emotions to the children. Sometimes he smiles and laughs, but sometimes he also gives strict instructions to the children in his team how to play the ball. Rather than a donor, Karan looks like a sports coach.

“Loh, honey, why are you here? I thought you were walking around this orphanage,” Karan chirped after picking up that little towel and wiping his sweat-soaked face and neck.

“Yes, I was around for a while, but I saw you playing with the kids. You look really enjoying your time huh.”

“Ah, that's because they forced me to play. After all, you know I've been exercising less lately because I've been busy. So, I used my free time to burn fat. Do you want to come, baby?”

Both eyes of the Kingdom were wide. “I?” he said surprised. Quickly the woman shook her head. “I can't play basketball, Karan. Anyway, I didn't bring a change of clothes. How about my shirt get wet?” Raya spoke honestly, but in a tone so low as not to be heard by the children around them. Raya did not want to disappoint the children, but she also did not want to torture herself. He knew without doing anything his image was already very good at the orphanage, so he didn't have to be too adamant about doing things he didn't want.

But what Karan said made Raya even more surprised. The man grabbed his wife and whispered something in her ear, “You take it easy, dear. I've brought you a change of clothes and you don't have to worry because you're good enough to play basketball. Eum, I mean, I'm sure you can definitely play basketball.”

For the umpteenth time Karan spoke as if the man knew everything about the Kingdom, even everything that the Kingdom alone did not know at all. When he was in high school, he never played basketball. Ah, rather he chose not to devote himself to sports. Raya is already quite dizzy with the lessons in class. No time to exercise. In the past he also often got a dispensation from the principal so as not to take part in sports lessons in the field. The reason is because Raya has a health disorder. This is strange because in fact when he was in college or when he tried to become a model, he could spend hours practicing physical strength in the gym. And it was her aunt who suggested this.

“Honey, come! Ian's gonna bring you your shirt. You have to come, right? The kids want to get to know you more closely. And exercise is the most powerful way to get close to them,” added Karan who positioned himself as a spokesperson for orphanage children. In that sense, Raya felt like she was talking to a man who was introducing his children to her. Karan's attitude and how the man treated the children of the orphanage outside the shadow of the Kingdom. No pretenses and falsehoods. Raya sees Karan as a sincere man who wants to help the children.

“What will you give me if I come to play?” Raya offered a negotiation.

This time Karan was shocked. “What?”

“Yes, I have to get something if you want me to obey you, Mr. CEO. You know I'm a model. My energy should be worth the reward,” said Raya in a joking tone. She only wanted to tease her husband, but unexpectedly Karan took her seriously.

“What do you want, hm? You know I've given everything for you and I'm going to live up to your wishes. Certainly not the desire to escape from me.”

Raya shook her head. “No, Karan. I'm not going away from you. No will,” he said firmly.

Karan opened his bottle of water and gulped the contents in the bottle down to half. Then he spoke to his wife again. “So, what do you want?”

“Please let me return to being a model,” pinta Raya. Before Karan cut off his words, he quickly chimed in. “No, I do not intend to relinquish my position as director of the foundation. I think I'm starting to like this position. I really want to get back to working as a model. I want to work without your help. Karan please, let me live as Raya Drisana, at least when I am in front of the camera,” said the woman arrived in the hope that Karan would listen to her.