Five Years Later
City A, Italy
Aegypt's steps echoed hastily on the gleaming marble floor of the luxurious hotel lobby. The cold air from the air conditioning mixed with the faint scent of expensive perfume lingering on his black suit.
Behind him, Lexus, along with two loyal bodyguards, followed, maintaining distance but remaining alert.
The meeting with the big client just now seemed like only one small checkmark from the myriad of agendas waiting.
"Where to next, Lexus?" Aegypt asked, his gaze fixed straight ahead, as if time was a treasure not to be wasted for even a second.
Lexus quickened his pace, adjusting to his boss. "There's a small meeting with some office employees, Sir. We will discuss the latest advertising project."
Aegypt nodded briefly, not turning his head at all. "And then?" he asked, his voice calm but emphasizing urgency.
"After lunch, we have a meeting with Mr. Antonio."
Aegypt stopped abruptly. Like a clock hand getting stuck, his steps halted in front of the hotel door. Lexus and the bodyguards also held their movement.
"What?" Aegypt's eyebrows rose, his gaze freezing. "Antonio? You mean… my grandfather?"
"Yes, Sir," Lexus replied cautiously. "Mr. Antonio himself requested to meet with you. Right after lunch hour."
Aegypt closed his eyes for a moment, his fingers massaging his temples. A long breath escaped his lips.
"What else does he want to talk about this time?" he muttered softly, almost talking to himself.
They started walking again. But Aegypt's mind wandered off somewhere else.
His divided thoughts made his steps unsteady. And at that moment, an unavoidable collision occurred.
Thud!
Aegypt's body crashed into a woman standing near the parking area, right in front of the hotel. The petite body was shoved backward, almost losing balance.
"Aw!" the woman winced, holding her arm. Her gaze immediately pierced him. "Hey! Where are your eyes? Did you not bring them when you left the house?!" her voice was loud, full of anger.
But a moment later, she fell silent. Her lips closed. "Oh God… I cursed him using Indonesian. There's no way he understands…" the woman thought to herself.
Before she could regret it, a deep voice with a messed-up accent answered, "I'm sorry, it was an accident. But… you were also standing too much in the middle. It was blocking my way."
Abel's eyes widened. "He can speak Indonesian? Good, then I don't have to repeat my curse," Her chest rumbled. Instead of relief, her annoyance surged.
"What? So you're blaming me instead?!" she said furiously. "Clearly, I'm the victim of your collision here."
Aegypt looked at her, his jaw clenching. "I told you, you were blocking the way. Besides… I didn't see you because your body is too short."
The words stabbed like a knife. The woman glared in disbelief, her cheeks flushing red with anger.
"You!" she said with a raised voice. "After hitting me, now you insult me? You have no manners."
"I'm just stating a fact," Aegypt said in a cold tone, his gaze challenging. "You are… a Shorty."
The woman's face felt hot. Her heart was a turmoil of shame, anger, and disbelief.
Seeing the situation heating up, Lexus immediately stepped forward, patting his boss's arm. "Sir, we shouldn't waste time. This woman is unimportant. Your agenda is far more valuable."
Aegypt gave a slight nod, raising his chin with a difficult-to-hide arrogance. "That's right, Lexus. Why bother dealing with a short person. It's useless."
With firm steps, Aegypt and his entourage left Abel standing with her heart still pounding fast.
"No manners at all," Abel grumbled, clenching her fist. "One hundred fifty-five is a normal height in my country! It's not my fault he looks like a walking electric pole."
Abel—full name, Abelia Francisca. That was the name of the woman who had just been titled Shorty by an Aegypt Cardovan.
She was still snorting in annoyance when her phone vibrated. The word Father was displayed on the screen. She immediately answered.
"Hello, Dad. Why did you call?" she asked, trying to calm the annoyed tone in her voice.
"Abel! Is it true you are in Italy right now?" Santomo's voice, her father, sounded firm but full of protest.
"Yes, it's true," Abel replied, her tone somewhat lazy.
"But didn't you say you were going to Germany?" Her father sounded suspicious.
"That was wrong info, Dad. The Professor I wanted to meet turned out to be in Italy," Abel quickly explained, trying to sound convincing.
"If that's the case, please take the time to meet Mr. Antonio. Just say hello, even if only for a moment."
Abel bit her lip. There was hesitation in her eyes. "Sorry, Dad. I can't. I have to return to the hospital immediately. I've left my patients for several days. And… I also really miss Athan."
A long sigh was heard from the other end. "Alright. In that case, hurry back to Indonesia. Athan misses you very much too."
The call ended.
Abel stared at her phone screen for a moment, then smiled faintly. Her heart warmed just by mentioning Athan's name.
There was a longing hanging like a thin cloud at dusk.
She let out a long sigh, calming herself after the incident just now. With slow steps, she returned to the hotel where she was staying.
Today was her day of departure, the day she would return to her homeland, Indonesia.
-----
Time was creeping closer to lunch hour. The clock hands on the wall of the meeting room ticked quietly, but the heads of the workers inside were filled with restless waves of ideas.
Aegypt sat in the main chair, his face stern, like a judge weighing a serious case. In front of him, the projector screen was still displaying the draft advertising design that had yet to find certainty.
Lexus sat next to him, his hands neatly folded on the table. Several other staff members were still opening their laptops and note papers.
The air in the room became increasingly pressing, as if demanding a clear answer.
"So, what is the conclusion?" Aegypt's voice broke the silence, his tone calm but full of pressure.
A head of advertising production in the company, named Herry, a man with glasses and a perpetually serious face, spoke up.
He stood up slowly, his voice steady even though he was slightly holding back nervousness.
"It's like this, Sir. Our advertisement this time involves a major product. It's a small item, just a bar of soap, but the brand is well-known. I suggest we must choose the right model, someone who can carry the brand's image strongly."
Aegypt nodded slowly, both his eyes sharpening. "Then, have you found a suitable model?" he asked, like a leader who is never satisfied with a half-baked answer.
Herry swallowed before answering, "That's the problem, Sir. No one has been suitable so far. But please rest assured, Sir, this project has no deadline. The client has given us full freedom."
A moment of silence. Aegypt leaned forward slightly, his fingers tapping the table with a slow but pressing rhythm.
"Even without a deadline, it doesn't mean we can slack off," he said, his voice sharp like a knife. "It is that very leniency that can trap us in complacency. If other clients see us being slow, our reputation can drop."
Herry bowed deeply. "Understood, Sir. I will get a suitable model as soon as possible."
The meeting continued for a few more minutes, but finally ended. One by one, the staff excused themselves, leaving the room with quick steps as if wanting to immediately avoid the hanging air pressure.
Now only Aegypt and Lexus remained. The room suddenly felt emptier, but not truly calm.
Aegypt was still staring at the extinguished projector screen, as if his mind was anchored to something further than just a soap advertisement.
"How is it, Lexus?" Aegypt suddenly asked, his voice deep. "Have we received any news about that woman?"
Lexus sighed, then shook his head slowly. "Not yet, Sir. The woman's access is difficult to find. Information from the residents is also almost impossible to obtain."
Aegypt frowned. "Why is it difficult? Do they not want to cooperate? If they don't want to, just give them money."
"We already did, Sir. We tried. But they still refuse. The residents there… seem to hate that woman. They don't want to get involved, as if her name alone is considered a disgrace."
Aegypt fell silent, then covered his face briefly with his hand. A long breath escaped, like a person trapped in a room without a door. "How can this be… I just want to take responsibility. Why is it so difficult?"
Lexus looked at his boss, there was hesitation in his eyes. But he dared to speak, "Do you still remember, Sir? When we returned to that house the next day… the house was already severely damaged, ruined by the residents' rampage. So… is it possible that the woman is dead?"
Aegypt was silent for a long time. The word dead echoed in his head, creating a subtle thud that pierced his heart.
He lifted his gaze, his eyes cold but trembling.
"Maybe. Because as far as I know, there… people do not forgive a woman considered sinful. They judge without giving room to breathe."
Silence swallowed the room. Only the sound of the clock ticking was heard, reminding them that time keeps running even if a human heart is halted by a single regret.
Aegypt then turned to Lexus, his voice hardening again. "Keep searching. Don't stop until you find her. I am sure… my seed has been planted in her. Whether she is alive or not."
Lexus nodded firmly. "Yes, Sir."
There was a moment of silence, then Lexus spoke again, "In that case… are we going to meet Mr. Antonio now?"
Aegypt snorted. "No. Just say I forgot. I don't feel like meeting him."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than a phone ringtone broke the air. Its vibration was like a direct reprimand from the heavens. Aegypt glanced at the phone screen, and his face instantly became weary.
He took a long breath, then roughly rubbed his face. "It seems grandfather really has a sixth sense," he thought bitterly.
A few moments later, Aegypt was in his office. He told Lexus to wait for only ten minutes.
In his quiet room, Aegypt stepped towards a small drawer that he always kept locked.
Aegypt smiled when he saw his favorite object, a medium-sized baby bottle nipple. He grabbed it and a baby bottle, pouring milk into the nipple.
Aegypt looked at it with a sense of happiness and relief, "Whew… Finally, after going through difficult things. I can feel the enjoyment," Aegypt muttered.
Then he lay down on the sofa, and began to enjoy his milk. He sucked on it, playing with his tongue. As if it belonged to his lover.