Stepmom Cold Bed
Back to reality

Returning to Jakarta made Maureen and Byan aware of the reality they had to face.

From a plane, the two men got off and carried their own backpacks. Like strangers, they walk around each other as if they don't know each other.

Maureen is picked up by Riswan while Byan chooses to return home by taxi. He was very reluctant to have a car with his stepmother.

“How is Bali, mistress?” riswan asked Maureen who was sitting in the back and busy with her phone.

“Heat. The air is dry.” Sahut Maureen as it is.

Riswan nodded in understanding. It seemed Maureen did not really enjoy her trip because all she was talking about was the weather.

“Want to have lunch at home or outside? Let me prepare.”

“At home aja. I want to eat instant noodles.” Seeing the image of food ads on his phone made Maureen so interested to taste the ready-to-eat food.

“But madam, doctor already forbid mistress to eat such food.”

Maureen did not answer. In his heart he confirmed Riswan's words. He had to find other food references. He realized that his stomach is often problematic with instant food. But even eating home food he was very bored.

On the side of the road, he saw small children who were snacking on roadside snacks. They seemed to enjoy eating on paper plates while laughing with their friends. I don't know why Maureen's saliva is dripping.

“Stop!” suddenly shouted.

“What's the mistress?” Riswan nearly stepped on his brakes all of a sudden. Luckily he could control the speed of his vehicle so there was no sudden jolt.

“Go ahead, I want to eat that food.” Her request.

“What food does the mistress mean?” quickly Riswan pulled the car over.

Maureen did not answer, preferring to get out of the car.

“Let me order mistress.” Riswan soon followed and preceded Maureen's move.

“Mrs please sit here.” He put a bench next to a wheelbarrow that sold siomay.

Maureen according to sit down. He looked at the dusty and hot roads seen flying as the vehicle passed at high speed.

Sitting under a tree like this made him recall the times he lived in the parlour. He still remembered how his friends cherished when there was food coming. They never fought each other. They will share it fairly so that all residents of the orphanage get the same share. In the past, his life was very difficult but at the very least, he had a sharing friend.

But now, he could buy anything with the money he had. In one day, millions of rupiah entered his account because of the large shares he owned in several business places. Whatever he wanted he could buy but for some reason now he didn't want anything. There was a void that was always felt in the corner of his heart.

Maureen thought, Maybe he really wanted nothing.

“Please mistress.” Riswan gives a plate of siomay to Maureen. Siomay with the peanut sauce was quite tempting to Maureen's taste.

“You eat. We rest for a while here.” Take Maureen.

“Good mistress.” Riswan sat down next to Maureen. They both enjoy the siomay in each other's hands.

A while the two were silent, only the sound of the chatter of the little boy still playing around behind them as if to be the backsound of lunch this time.

“Ordinary pencils in shavings use this shavings. Very pointy cepet.” Say one of the children.

Maureen gave a small smile hearing the chatter of the two children. That unimportant chat was quite tickling for Maureen as she experienced the same thing back in school.

Right now, Maureen missed that time. The time when their problems were only with pencil sharpeners.

“Let's pack for the waiters.” Maureen said suddenly. He finished eating, even though it was not finished.

“Good mistress.” Riswan immediately finished his meal.

He pre-ordered twelve portions of siomay for the workers in the mansion while his eyes did not stop to pay attention to Maureen's steps walking towards their car. Riswan pressed the key button as his young mistress was about to get into the car.

“The employer is sir?” ask the seller siomay.

“Iya. Indeed why?” Riswan asked back.

“Beauty yes, good again.” While putting siomay into the plastic, the seller noticed Maureen.

Riswan did not respond. But he admitted that the siomay seller's words were indeed true. Behind her tough attitude, Maureen is smart, hardworking, kind and of course, she is a beautiful woman. When the late Anggoro was still there, he was often troubled to discipline the adam in the company so as not to tempt his young mistress. Until now, he is still trying to protect his young mistress according to Anggoro's message.

****

In a different place Byan was welcomed by Edwin. The man went into Byan's room looking for some files.

“Where, does that woman really give you a resort project in Bali?” asked Edwin who was sitting in Byan's chair.

“Iya. He said, the project used to be done the same. Why can it be taken over?” Byan pretended not to know the reason. He wanted to know what Edwin was for.

“Yes, that's because om is in the trap. He made a false report to your papah and said that om committed acts of corruption in the development project. Though om just trying to negotiate with the land owner so that he gives a reasonable price. But it seems that the woman's mouth is indeed poison. He turned the facts around as if it were the wrong om.” Edwin said with excitement.

“And you know, why is it now so easy for him to hand over the project to you?” Edwin approached Byan, in order to see his nephew's facial expression directly.

He wanted to convince Byan with all his words.

“Why?” Byan chose to sit on his bed and tidied up some files that he would bring to the Anggoro house.

“Because he tried to trick you!” edwin quickly.

“He does not want the development project on the island he is holding, disturbed by you. So give a small toy for you so you do not think that he is greedy. He wants to look good in front of you.”

“You have a shadow, how much money he holds for the development of an island as a tourist spot? Many Byan! And om can't believe that it's really aimed at developing the company. It is certain to make a personal profit him.” Edwin's mouth until foaming gives effect to Byan.

Byan was silent for a while, looking at one of the contract documents Edwin had given him.

“Then where can I see the description of the island development project?” Byan was curious. He can estimate that the nominal held by Maureen is indeed very large.

“Begging with Riswan. He holds it all. As much as possible you grab the project from the hands of the shameless woman and you develop it. Make the management and directors believe that you are better able to lead this company in his appeal. That way, he will be knocked out by himself.” Edwin's haste convincingly.

Byan did not chim in, but he seemed to think. He was considering Edwin's words which were sometimes like a flame ready to scorch the chaff in his chest.

Is it true that he is smooth acting that far?

****