Only Raised Children
8. Unrelenting

After finishing with his lunch, Rico escorted Alina back to her campus. Initially Alina had rejected Rico's offer because considering the location of the camp which was quite far from the man's office. But because Rico continues to force, Alina forced to agree to the man's offer. Actually he is not happy if he has to bother the man, but how else, everything has happened and he is also impossible to go down in the middle of the road, right?

"What's wrong with Andi?" alina asked suddenly when she accidentally saw the story on Andi's social media.

Rico glanced at Alina for a moment.

"Why is he?" ask Rico who still does not understand Alina's question.

"I don't know, story sosmed he contained quotes all confused. It looks like he is fighting with his girlfriend" Alina said, spreading her shoulders.

"Not fighting anymore, but it's broken up" said Rico with his leisure.

Alina who heard that instantly turned her gaze from her phone to Rico.

"Decided?" Rico assented. "The couple was able to break up as well."

"They broke up because Andi didn't like Rena who was too jealous of you."

Alina is surprised to hear her name mentioned in the relationship problems Andi and Rena.

"Why am I?" tanyanya.

Rico poked his shoulders. Just as he was about to say something, suddenly his phone that was on top of the dashboard rang. He grabbed the flat object and saw the name of Andi's contact on his phone screen.

"Andi called" Rico told Alina.

"Long live," muttered Alina slowly.

After that Rico immediately answered his friend's call. Not forgetting that she pressed the speaker button so that Alina could also hear their conversation.

"Hello, Ndi?" exclaim Rico when the call is connected.

"Where are you, Co?" andi asked in an excited voice.

"On the road with Alina. What's up?"

"Well, are you the same as Alina?" ask Andi wonder.

"Lunch has gone. Now you want to take him to college, just back to the office."

"I'm going to your office now, not for long."

Rico agreed and after that the conversation ended. He glanced at Alina for a moment.

"Do you really have a class after this?" ask Rico.

"Yes, why is it?"

"No papa. Just take you to my office if you're not busy."

Alina raised one of her eyebrows hearing the man's words. His office? RR Corps?

"I can't, Co. Sorry yes," rejected Alina without a second thought.

Rico smiled and said yes because he thought that Alina could not come because there were still unfinished courses. No problem, there are still other days for a better chance.

Not a minute of thinking like that, suddenly Rico realized if he had just invited Alina to visit the office where she worked.

"Geez, why did I take him to the office huh," Rico muttered inwardly.

He looked confused himself, because the words had just come out of his mouth without him noticing. Fortunately, Alina refused his invitation because if not, her father would see the woman and thought that if he had just broken up from Angel a few days ago because of a third party.

Rico did not tell Irfan what reason he broke up from Angel because for him enough himself to keep all the wounds on his status as an adopted child in the Renaldi family. He did not want his parents to know and become a burden on their minds, especially Santi who was very soft hearted.

*

After driving Alina to her campus, Rico immediately returned to his office to finish his job while meeting Andi who was currently waiting for him. Upon arrival at the office, Rico sees Andi laying down her body over the long sofa in the room. He approached the man and kicked his dangling leg.

"**1*" said Andi as her dangling leg fell.

'To be here sleeping?" rico asked while sitting his body on the sofa to the right of Andi.

Realizing that Rico has returned, Andi immediately sits down.

"It seems like there's been progress. Yesterday, I always refused when I wanted to introduce Alina," Andi said without heeding Rico's words, then he pulled one corner of his lips.

He thought the introduction of his two best friends was only limited to the last time they met a few days ago, but who would have thought if Rico turned out to be willing to take a step earlier without having to guide him. It seemed like Alina's charm indeed really could not be doubted anymore. Anyone who meets him will always want to be closer to him and it seems his friend was one of them.

Rico was also strange about himself. Why could he be like this, while from the beginning he was very resistant when Andi wanted to introduce him to a woman. He did not expect that something that began with compulsion could make him take the initiative to want to know Alina further.

"Why did you come here?" ask Rico to shift the topic. He deliberately switched topics because there was something he wanted to discuss with Andi, other than Alina.

"The boss at the office" replied Andi.

"It's not okay with Rena?" ask Rico again. But the question this time managed to make Andi look at him in wonder and suspicion.

"Why are you that?"

"My question is wrong? Oh, maybe I should ask this ... have you guys reversed?"

"Where do you know we broke up?" asked Andi in surprise. He was quite surprised when Rico said that. Didn't Rena contact Rico and tell him something?

"She came to my office a few days ago. Said you killed him because of Alina?"

Andi sighed. Do all women have to tell everyone about their problems? Andi himself has not said anything about his relationship to his good friend.

"I just don't want him to be blind jealous. That nature could make me one day completely turn away from it. Maybe now I can still be patient, but what if we are married later? The marriage test is not what we imagined, Co. I'm afraid that his nature will actually make me hurt his heart later," Andi said at length. But the man's expression remained flat, but there was also an emotion Rico felt from his words.

"Then what do you want to do with breaking up your relationship?" ask Rico.

"I just want him to introspect and reduce his excessive jealousy. But I didn't know if he could do that or not."

"What if he forgets you and finds someone more than you?" ask Rico again.

According to him, the relationship they have been through for 4 years will not make Rena quickly find a replacement. Moreover, Rena loved her very much, just like she who loved that woman very much. Unless the woman has been close to a man other than herself for a long time and starts a relationship when there are opportunities like this. But Andi did not want to be bad to think like that, he was sure Rena was not that bad to him.

"That's what you believe, but what if so? Rena found another man who was more than you and forgot about you" Rico said.

Andi looked at Rico for quite a while, then he sighed.

"That means I'm not the best for him. If that guy can accept all the advantages and disadvantages of Rena, what can I do?" andi sounded resigned.

"Are you giving up on it or aren't you serious about it?" ask Rico to fish.

"If it makes her happy, maybe giving up is the best option."

"Huh, are you serious?" ask Rico not to believe it. What is the struggle of his friend in a relationship that has been lived for 4 years.

"I'm just afraid of hurting him, Co, that's all. No one will know how our nature will be to our partner. It's not that I don't want to fight for our relationship, it's just that my immense love for her makes me afraid to hurt her with my guilt over her nature."

Rico scratched his head which was suddenly itchy. He did not know what kind of response to the emotions Andi showed because there was nothing wrong with his opinion just now.

The sound of the phone ringing on his desk shifted Rico's focus on Andi. He got up from his seat and answered a call that turned out to be from his personal assistant. Rico had previously warned his assistant to call him if there was anything important without knocking on his door.

"Well, I'll be out soon."

Rico closed the call. He should attend the meeting that his father will be leading in ten minutes. He almost forgot his job because he was busy hearing Andi's chattering.

Rico grabs something that he has on his desk and then bids Andi to go to a meeting.

"You don't want to go home yet?" ask Rico.

"You're upset with me?" ask Andi sensitively.

Rico chuckled small. "Yes, go home."

"No. I wait here, after this accompany me to eat. I haven't had lunch since."

Rico shook his head and immediately left from there regardless of the person pretending to be a bitch.

*

After the meeting, Rico walked out of the meeting room with his other co-workers. While Irfan and one of his co-workers and friends are still in the meeting room.

Everyone involved in the meeting had already dispersed themselves. When Rico was about to return to his room after shaking hands with his other colleagues, suddenly a beautiful woman who became his partner during the meeting called his name. The woman is also the son of a businessman who is currently with Irfan in the meeting room.

Rico turned his head and smiled faintly at the woman.

"Rico Renaldi" said the woman with a face that looks cynical.

"What's up, Calista's mom?" ask Rico politely.

"No doubt yes, an adopted child can be appointed as a director by Mr. Irfan," said the woman named Calista who is still cynical.

Rico simply smiled in front of the woman and tried not to be provoked by her words.

"You must be very efficient in front of your parents, so you can hold a position as high as this. Uh, sorry, I mean adoptive parents," Calista errs on purpose. He chuckled after saying that, as if something was amusing in every word he spoke.

"You didn't forget your birth parents, did you, Rico? Who is a maid and driver that loh," said Calista again with a face made plain. It really tested Rico's patience, but fortunately he was used to this Calista-like spicy mouth.

"Sorry Mother Calista, if there is nothing else to talk about, I say goodbye first. My friend was waiting in the room" Rico said goodbye.

He still tries to control his emotions and respect Calista, who is currently the son of his papa co-worker. But not two steps he stepped, suddenly Calista again called him and made Rico forced to turn back to him.

"What's up, Calista's mom?"

Calista walked up to Rico and pulled one corner of his lips.

"About it's already in this position, you've dared to be arrogant with me huh, Co. You don't remember when you were nothing? You begged me not to break up with you. And now ... just serving as a director has dared to be arrogant."

Calista moved closer to her body. Even their current distance was very close.

"Remember, Co, you're not Mr. Irfan's real son. One day they might just throw you away. So don't be arrogant. 'more so with me."

Calista was about to touch Rico's face with his wiggly finger, but Rico quickly held him back and slowly pushed Calista's hand away from her face. He also took his foot one step back.

"You don't have to bother reminding me what my position is here, because I'll never forget who I really am. And sorry, please don't remind me again of what happened five years ago. I was so grateful that you decided on me at that moment. That way, I can know who I deserve to defend until the end. And that's definitely not you."

Calina who heard that suddenly felt the heat of her ears. His emotions are provoked and he is about to take his vow of absorption to Rico. But just about to say, Rico had already left him and entered the elevator to go to his room.

"Si4lan lift boy. You won't be able to get the wealth of Mr. Irfan, Rico. One day you will be kicked out of this post and thrown away."

The loud cry of Calista could still be heard by Rico who was already in the elevator because the elevator door had not closed completely. He still put on his flat face, though his heart was deeply broken upon hearing Calista's last words.

Actually, Rico has prepared himself for the terrible thing if someday all these beautiful dreams disappear. But the words of Calista just managed to make his feelings torn apart.

It did not matter if he had to lose the material, but the terrible thing was, when he had to separate from his parents. It seems Rico can not be willing if you have to lose parents as good as Irfan and Santi. Who want to take care of the child of a maid and love her wholeheartedly like their own biological child.

*

Some of the employees who witnessed Calista's words there could only look at each other. Some already knew Rico's status and they tried to remain silent. While those who do not know it can only whisper to each other and wonder, what is the meaning of the words Calista addressed to their superiors.

Warm rumors began to form, but some people who knew of Rico's status there quickly broke up with his coworkers. Those who know how good Irfan and Rico are, of course, do not want any rumors that vilify their superiors. 

***

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