"Will you take me to the office?" Arlin asked softly, trying to distract herself from what had happened that morning.
"Yes, of course. Mr. Gilang asked me to make sure everything goes smoothly," Shakeel replied, still wearing a small smile that Arlin couldn't quite understand.
Nevertheless, Arlin felt a little more at ease. Shakeel was someone she could trust, even though she couldn't fully grasp the nature of his relationship with Gilang.
Throughout the journey, Arlin tried to focus her thoughts on the tasks she needed to complete. However, she couldn't deny that the awkwardness she felt toward Gilang still lingered.
"How's your project going?" Shakeel asked, breaking the oppressive silence.
"The project is going smoothly. We're waiting for some final approvals from Devano Group," Arlin replied, staring out the car window, trying to avoid a more personal conversation.
"I'm sure this project will be a huge success. Gilang will be proud of the results."
Arlin simply nodded, unsure how to respond. She wanted to avoid talking about Gilang.
The truth was, every time his name was mentioned, her heart raced faster, and she felt increasingly confused by the feelings that arose so suddenly.
After a few moments, they arrived at the office. Shakeel smoothly stopped the car and turned to Arlin.
"Alright, Miss Arlin. Everything is taken care of. Mr. Gilang will come later to check on your progress."
"Thank you, Shakeel," Arlin replied as she opened the car door and stepped out.
Before Arlin could close the door, Shakeel slipped in a message with a more serious tone.
"Remember, Arlin, be careful with your actions. Gilang doesn't like it when anyone interferes with what belongs to him."
Shakeel's words made Arlin pause for a moment. She could feel the sudden tension between them, but she chose not to dwell on it.
"Thank you for the warning," Arlin replied, trying to stay calm despite her racing heart.
After Shakeel drove away, Arlin stepped into the office building. However, the unease in her heart refused to subside.
Everything that had happened lately made her feel increasingly trapped, but she didn't know how to escape this feeling.
Of course, she was married to Gilang, but did that mean she had to accept everything, even the discomfort that arose every time they interacted?
As Arlin entered her office, she only hoped for one thing: that today would go smoothly without any more confusing incidents.
However, with Gilang and Shakeel involved, Arlin knew that anything could happen at any time.
On the other hand, Gilang, who was still at home, was thinking about Arlin. His heart was racing with impatience to see how things were progressing, but also with a growing sense of obsession. Arlin was his, and no one could take her away from him.
No one knew what would happen next. However, Gilang was determined to ensure that Arlin would never be able to escape him.
The atmosphere at Arlin's office felt quieter than usual. Everyone was busy with their work, and although Arlin tried to focus, her heart couldn't help but be overwhelmed by the anxiety that kept shaking her.
Since last night, her mind was still filled with memories of Gilang, her husband, who seemed so different. His departure that morning, his cold yet attentive demeanor, made Arlin feel awkward,
As previously reported, Mr. Gilang was coming to visit the office and see how far along the film they were working on was.
For many people there, Gilang's arrival was a huge surprise. No one could have imagined that a big boss like Gilang would get involved directly, checking their work.
Arlin stood in the corner of the office, trying not to draw attention to herself. She felt that all eyes would be on her once Gilang arrived.
In the meeting room, Mr. Rolan, Arlin's boss, had prepared everything perfectly. All the team members, who were usually busy with their computer screens, now stood neatly in a row, waiting for Gilang's arrival with bright smiles on their faces.
"Welcome, Mr. Gilang!" Mr. Rolan greeted him enthusiastically as Gilang entered the office.
His smile was wide, as if this was a great opportunity that couldn't be missed. Everyone in the room welcomed him with applause and warm greetings.
Arlin held her breath, her eyes fixed on Gilang as he walked with confident steps, wearing a black suit that always looked perfect on him.
However, despite his calm and authoritative demeanor, Arlin felt her heart racing. She hoped Gilang would act as if he didn't know her, as if she were just another ordinary team member.
That was Arlin's greatest hope at that moment.
But even as Arlin tried to avoid Gilang's gaze, it felt impossible not to feel it.
Every step Gilang took seemed to draw attention, and everyone in the room couldn't stop praising him.
"Mr. Gilang, it is an honor to have you here," said one of the team members, praising Gilang's exceptional leadership. "We've all been waiting for your arrival."
Gilang merely smiled faintly. His eyes, though sharp and commanding, occasionally glanced at Arlin in the corner of the room, but he chose not to show any further attention. Arlin felt slightly relieved, though her heart couldn't calm down.
Mr. Rolan then led them to the presentation room, where they would showcase the progress of the film they were working on. All the staff and production team gathered enthusiastically, ready to showcase their work.
"I want to see how far this film has progressed," Gilang said after they entered the meeting room. "This is a major project, and I want to know if you've met the targets I set."
The employees and managers present immediately gave their full attention. They knew very well that Gilang's arrival wasn't just to see the results of their work, but also to test how far they could meet the high expectations he had set.
"This project is very important," Gilang said in an unmistakable tone. "But I want you all to know—perfection isn't an option. You must give your best."
Arlin lowered her head, feeling a bit annoyed by the way Gilang spoke. It felt like everyone in the room was looking at her with admiration for Gilang, while Arlin only felt more isolated.
Gilang spoke as if they were all workers who had to obey every word he said without question.
Amid the ongoing discussions and presentations, Arlin tried to stay calm, but the atmosphere made her increasingly uncomfortable.
Not only because of Gilang's dominant attitude, but also because she felt like she was in the middle of a foreign world.
On one hand, she felt that this was the role she had to play as Gilang's wife, but on the other hand, she felt like she was just a part of the team, not a part of Gilang's real life.
When the presentation ended, Gilang stood up from his seat and walked toward the screen, examining the details of the film being shown.
"This is good," he said briefly, without much praise. However, his gaze shifted to Arlin, who was still standing in the corner of the room. A faint smile appeared on his face, but there was something unreadable behind his cold expression.
Arlin tried not to let it affect her, even though her heart was racing again.
"Mr. Gilang, is there anything else we need to improve?" asked Mr. Rolan, trying to show respect to Gilang.
Gilang nodded slowly. "I will continue to monitor the progress of this project. I hope there will be no further delays."
Everyone in the room seemed satisfied with Gilang's presence.