The Love I Don't Miss
Part 81 (The Day Has Arrived )

Zio walked into the company lobby with a rush step because the clock on the wrist was already showing almost 8 hours. Although he is a GM who is respected by many employees, it does not necessarily make Zio accustomed to coming at will.

Zio took a quick step, passing the security guard at the door of the lobby greeting him respectfully. And when the glass door opens automatically, along with the arrival of a white Alp*rd car right in front of the lobby.

Realizing that the big boss is coming, Zio looks back. His daughter's stepdaddy has arrived. Leaving all selfishness out there because of the past, when in the office he was just a subordinate of a Kenzo Adhitama. So he chose to wait for Kenzo's arrival in the lobby, and then boarded the elevator simultaneously as he always did before the day came.

"Good morning, Mr. Kenzo." said the security at the lobby door.

"Hm." replied Kenzo flatly, without looking left right or noticing the security face on duty.

"Good morning, Mr. Kenzo!" sapa Zio was a little flat, but did not look defiant or disrespectful.

Kenzo knows why the GM is acting that way. Even his face in the morning looks tired.

"Hemm." replied Kenzo nodding softly, and only one nod.

The two also entered the elevator of the company officials alternately as usual. Zio would enter, after Kenzo positioned himself in the elevator, and he would stand slightly behind the Boss. And they're just the two of them in that elevator.

"What's wrong with your face?" kenzo asked, holding his laughter in his stomach. "Tired?" he continued with a slight mocking smile on the tip of his lips. "Tumben are you late too?"

"I did not expect, caring for a child alone in the morning is really tiring and complicated." Zio lamented.

Kenzo was no longer able to hold back his lips that wanted to laugh. However I managed to hold it in the throat, and there was only a slanted smile on his lips.

"Now you know, right? what is it like to take care of a child alone?" ask Zio. "When Clarice was that big, imagine when she was born, until she was 3.5 years old. A very complicated age to be treated alone. Imagine if until then Calina also had to work."

Zio speechless. Yeah, that must be the hardest thing for a woman to go through alone.

"So you mean, I should thank you, for being the god of salvation for Calina and my son, right?"

Kenzo glanced at Zio with a restraining annoyance. That's not what he put into the brain of the widower of his wife. Rather ask her to imagine Calina's struggle when there is no husband next to her.

"It's up to you." concluded Kenzo lazily continuing his explanation.

The atmosphere was silent for a few seconds.

"You're ready, if everyone's gonna ask why Clarice called you Papa and me Daddy?" ask Kenzo.

"Ready or unprepared, the sooner everyone knows, the better. There's no way we can keep everything hidden, right?" zio asked to change the tone of the speech to formal. "Especially Clarice often comes to this office."

"Yes, you're right! At the end of the day everything must be known." replied Kenzo who was like Zio. " Does anyone know anything about this?"

"There's.." Zio replied.

"Who?" asked Kenzo staring at Zio from the reflection of the elevator wall.

"Zahra.." replied Zio.

"How does he know?" ask Kenzo curiously. "Don't you go back to relationships with my employees quietly?" ask Kenzo a little stomping.

"Oh my God! absolutely not, Father!" zio answered seriously. "Yesterday we accidentally met when I took Clarice down the street in the mall"

Kenzo was relieved that what Zio said was true.

"Remember! once again you marry quietly - quietly with one of my employees, I will deport you from the Adhitama Group! there is no second chance for a traitor to the rules of the company!"

"Yes, Daddy! I knooww.." replied Zio imitating Clarice's style of speech who often answered with the word 'Yes, Papa! Yes, Daddy! Yeah, Mommy!'.

Kenzo smelled a smile on his lips. Unknowingly, of course, he missed the stepson who for the first time since he married Calina, the little girl did not sleep in her luxury apartment.

"I don't forbid you from marrying an employee here. If you qualify the company. You have to get one out." said Kenzo. "And my advice is that if you want to get close to Zahra, you have to agree. For example, Pinta Zahra resigned before your wedding day arrived."

"Yes, Mr. Kenzo. I know.." replied Zio half-jokingly.

Kenzo just blushed his lips. Not offended by the change in attitude of Zio who used to be very submissive and respectful to him.

Yes, now after the conflict in fact, inevitably have to make both remain compact. And no need to feel stiff anymore. As long as no employees are with them, for Kenzo it's fine!

"I go first, Mr. Kenzo!" pamit Zio as the elevator door opens on the floor of his room.

"You or I picked you up?" ask kenzo lirih.

"I.." replied Zio lirih.

"Half eleven! don't be late" said Kenzo.

***

Eleven o'clock in the afternoon Kenzo asked to pick up Clarice had arrived. Zio had already left since ten minutes ago. He did not want to miss the moment to pick up school on time for the first time.

Kenzo glanced at the watch in his hand. Usually he was the one who was currently on his way to enter the school building. The man now looks only at the glass wall that shows the Clarice school building that can be seen from his workspace.

And when his wishful thinking was carried away by the stepson who he thought was like a real child, suddenly the phone on the table rang. The name of the younger brother appears on the screen along with a masculine photo of the younger brother.

"Yes, Gil?" answer Kenzo..

"Did you pick up Clarice?" ask Gilang. "If not, let me pick you up. It just so happens to be close to Clarice's school."

"Ehm..no need to pick Clarice up.." replied Kenzo in an unusual tone of voice.

"Well? wh why? he's not in school?"

"School.. You better meet me at the office! I have so much to explain to you!"

"About?"

"Clarice!"

"Clarice?" pekik Gilang. "What's wrong with Clarice, sister?" tanyanya panic.

"The sooner you get to the office, the sooner you figure it all out!"

"Good, Brother! I'll be there soon!" reply Gilang, immediately end the call and immediately press the gas pedal deeper.

Dear, Lord! what happened to Clarice? why is this so important?" muttered Gilang while focusing on seeing the front, as well as three mirrors for him.

***

Once at the company parking lot, Gilang immediately ran into the building. Dann darted into a special elevator, to be able to get to the highest floor.

"Sister!" call Gilang open the door with a slight gasp. In addition to running, also because of panic, worried that something bad is happening to the nephew.

"Sit down!" pinta Kenzo without looking at her sister.

"Come, Brother! quickly tell! what's wrong with Clarice?" chase after Gilang after he sits in the guest chair of the Brother.

Kenzo turned around, looking fixed on a handsome face that was almost the same as himself.

"Quick, Brother!" jerk Cross. Being upset because of her brother made her very curious.

Kenzo sits on his throne. He looked over some of Clarice's toys he had taken out of the drawer. Because I miss the little elf.

"Zio and Clarice have met..."

Kenzo's answer made his eyes look wide open, his tongue choked and his breath almost restrained. Not yet able to ask, but in the mind of the man filled with question marks.

Did a big commotion just happen?

"Quick explain, Brother!"

Kenzo told me everything that happened the last few days. From Zio's arrival at the apartment, to Clarice Zio brought in last night. Until the chat in the elevator.

"Are you all right?" ask Gilang who is still worried if all is not really peaceful.

"Hemm." replied Kenzo nodding. "However, we should be pleased to accept that Clarice's affection will be shared with us.

"I hope there won't be any problems when Zio comes with Clarice at the office!" muttered Gilang expectantly.

"Yes! you're right!" kenzo Sahut. "I was expecting the same thing."

***

While Zio's car had entered the company's parking area with Clarice beside him, it was exactly 12 p.m. Because the two stopped by at one of the junk food restaurants.

"Come, Papa!" clarice opened the seat belt.

"Yes, Baby." replied Zio.

...🪴 Connect ...🪴...