CHAPTER 11
OFFER

There was a sky full of stars. Their light spread and decorated the darkness of the night. The full moon reigned being like the king of the night with its brightest light.
Lexi was sitting, he had returned to Jakarta with Arsene that afternoon. Arsene went home, so Lexi did. He went to his apartment to prepare for tomorrow. On Monday, he had to be back to work.
Lexi was waiting. He repeatedly looked at the screen of his phone. He was waiting a call from his parents who asked him to go home. Jessica was still in the main house. Unfortunately, he couldn't meet the girl until he was ready to get married.
It's not that I don't want to marry Jessica, but there was a sense of trauma and fear inside Lexi. He was very scared. He was afraid that it would happen again. When she saw his late wife, Anita had been lying stiff on the bathroom floor because she scratched her wrist. It was a terrible memory that he couldn't forget.
"Shit!"Lexi said.
Jessica's face, soft fingers, smooth white skin, wavy hair, blushing red lips, long eyelashes, sharp nose, and also that girl's good attitude. It was like the opium which kept dancing around on his mind. It wouldn't let go. Lexi clenched his hands. He grabbed the car keys then out of the apartment towards garage. He needed to see Jessica.
He got behind the wheel and immediately drove his black Ferrari towards the main house. What a wonderful mother who took Jessica to be hostage so he could go home.
* * *
"Jessica, you want to marry Lexi, right?" Mrs. Anna asked. She told her to drink warm milk she had made.
Jessica kept silent.
"Lexi is actually a good child and her heart is very warm. There was an incident that made him like this," Mrs. Anna said. It was necessary to tell Jessica all about Lexi.
"What about Mr. Lexi, Ma'am?" Jessica asked. She asked Mrs. Anna cause she didn't want make angry. She just respected Mrs. Anna.

"He used to love a woman very much, her name is Anita. They both got married. We thought it would be the beginning of a happy life for Lexi. But my guess was wrong. She was pregnant with someone else. She chose to kill herself on their first night," Mrs. Anna told her. "From that moment on, Lexi started to get untouchable and cold person. He also has being a mysterious person. Arsene is the only person he trusts" she added the story.
Jessica listened, if it wasn't Mrs. Anna whose story she wouldn't have believed so easily. Lexi is more arrogant, wild, and emotional than looking like a sick person who needed to be pitied.
"Only you, Jessica, you are the first young women from all of his life. There were children of co-workers I had introduced to Lexi, but he never wanted to get closer to them. So, I hope you want to marry Lexi," she persuaded her. She really wanted her son to get married, also wanted Lexi could be like his old self again.
"I don't like rude men like Mr. Lexi. I don't want to marry him. I have my own life to fight for. I don't want to marry him, even less tied to that crazy man. Just one night being next to him is excruciating, furthermore every night, " Jessica spoke to herself.
"Jessica! You want to marry him, right?" Mrs. Anna persuaded with a hopeful look.
"Jessica I'll give you whatever you want, Dear. Home? Money? Education? You want to marry Lexi, right?" middle-aged woman asked her again. Jessica was the girl that Mrs. Anna only wished for Ricardo Group to have a bloodline. Doctor's verdict on Lexi's illness made her worried.
"Ma'am, I have to go home. I think I should talk to Mrs. Rani about it, " Jessica pretended. This was an opportunity for her to escape.
"Is she your mother?" Mrs. Anna didn't want to waste this chance. She would continue to get closer to Jessica, this was a chance for her to get grandchildren.
""No Ma'am, she's the mother in the orphanage. Please Ma'am, let me go home,"Jessica asked, with teary eyes.
"Right now?" Mrs. Anna asked. She was squinting her eyes, worried that Lexi would get angry if she found out Jessica wasn't home.
"Yes, Ma'am," Jessica said full of hope.
"But you have to come back here again. okay?" she persuaded.
"Okay. I'll come back to this house,"Jessica answered reassuringly. After left out of this house and met with Mrs. Rani, she thought that she could escape as soon as possible.
"Good. Someone will drop you off and tonight he will pick you back up," Mrs. Anna put her full trust in Jessica.
Jessica nodded her head solemnly. Then, she immediately left the residence of the Atmadja family home and escorted by a driver who worked there.
* * *
Lexi stopped his car in front of the house. He descended quickly, then stepped wide and spurred his feet to enter the house.
"Where's Mom?" Lexi asked one of the maids. He couldn't wait to meet Jessica.
"Ma'am is in her room, Sir!" the maid replied.
Then, Lexi stepped on his feet to meet his mom.
"Mom?" he called her as he knocked on the door.
"Hold on!" there was a sound from inside. The next minute, he saw his mom opened the door.
"Where is Jessica?" Lexi, asked with a sour look on his face.
"Jessica is not here, she is meeting one of the caretakers at the orphanage. What's wrong with that?" Mrs. Anna asked. She guessed Lexi was coming, but not too soon.
"It's Jessica's phone left behind," Lexi said. He was hiding the real reason and using Jessica's phone as an excuse.
""Let me take it. She'll be back tonight," his mom offered.
"No, Mom. I'll give it to her by myself," Lexi turned around and wanted to leave immediately.
"Wait! Where are you going? You can't leave before choosing your wedding dress!" Mrs. Anna insisted. "Otherwise, you also have to determine the wedding invitation card,” she added then followed her son.
However, Lexi didn't hear it and passed her by. This man got back into the car. There was no other destination except the orphanage. This was a chance for him to meet with Jessica.
Lexi kept stepping on the gas pedal, drove his car at full speed. His mind was filled with Jessica, Jessica, and Jessica.
Lexi arrived at the orphanage. Before going down, he saw his self in front of the rearview mirror, tidying up his hair and the shirt he was wearing. Then, he just got out of the car. Since it was already dusk, the courtyard and porch of the orphanage looked quiet.
Lexi knocked on the door expecting Jessica to open it.
"Hold on!" Mrs. Rani came out and opened the door for him.
"Lexi, please come in," Mrs. Rani was surprised to see Lexi's presence.
Lexi entered the house.
"Please sit down," this woman was so happy with Lexi's presence. The man who had helped her yesterday, donated one billion of money, so that the orphanage would not be taken over by Mr. Kasim.
"I want to meet Jessica. She already works at my place. My mom is looking for her," Lexi told to Mrs. Rani. He always kept his personality to be good.
"Wait a minute, let me summon Jessica," Mrs. Rani said. She couldn't resist Lexi's request. She felt bad if didn't do that cause Lexi helped him.
Not long after that, Mrs. Rani came out with Jessica.
"Jessica, my mom told me to pick you up!,"Lexi looked so impatient.
Mrs. Rani asked permission to go inside to take a drink to Lexi. In room, there were only Lexi and Jessica.
"Come with me, Jessica. You— you can't get away from me," Lexi whispered emphatically.
"Yes, I will follow you, Sir. But not now, Mrs. Anna who gives time until tomorrow,"Jessica said, she still had to take time until she could escape.
"Good. Tomorrow I'll pick you up by myself. Remember, don't you dare lie to me. And don't you dare to run away" Lexi threatened. He sat closer and accidentally landed a kiss on Jessica's lips before Mrs. Rani came out to meet him.
* * *
It was going to be late night. Instead of getting tired and sleep, Lexi was increasingly unable to control his self. His heart and brain had been linked to Jessica. The girl didn't want to get out of his head.
Lexi tried to close his eyes many times, but he couldn't sleep. He wanted this night to end soon then met Jessica again. Not because he fell in love with Jessica, but only that girl who could turn him on.
His desire had never dies when there was Jessica. Even his quick kiss in the orphanage living room earlier, still so imprinted on Lexi's lips. He bit his lower lip several times and remembered his kiss with Jessica.
Lexi thought of everything. He decided to contract a marriage with Jessica for one year so that he would really know that he was cured of the disease. He also hoped to recover from his trauma soon.
In the past, Lexi had wanted to get married only once in his life to the woman she loved. However, fate said otherwise, because his wife had been gone. Now, he decided to marry Jessica with a marriage contract. So, he was ready if Jessica at any time would be able to get away from him at any time.
Lexi who hadn't been able to sleep tries to get out of him room. Unexpectedly, it turned out that the father hadn't fallen asleep either. The middle-aged man was reading a book in the living room.
"Daddy is not asleep?" Lexi asked as he walked closer and sat down in front of his father.
"You haven't slept either, what are you thinking?" his father asked back.
"Nope,"Lexi lied.
"Come closer, there's something papa wants to confirm to you!" Mr. Hardy asked, closing the book he was reading, chose to focus on talking to Lexi. It was not easy to talk to his son. Lexi, almost 30 years old, but sometimes he is childish.
"What?"Lexi asked. His father's eyes looked different. There was seriousness there.
"Mom and Dad know what you've been hiding all this time. My mom and dad know that because of you. Sam is your mom's best friend!" Mr. Hardy told the story.
Lexi was on silent, Doctor Sham is the doctor he consulted about his sexual illness. He had never thought that doctor is a friend of his mother.
Mr. Hardy, stared deeply at his son. "Jessica isn't it a chance for you to get a baby? Or are you going to leave your d useless? Mom and I want grandchildren. Ricardo's family needs an heir. There's nothing wrong with you marrying Jessica," he insisted on holding back his anger. If he's emotional, then Lexi would be more emotional.
Lexy was still silent, didn't react at all. It was as if he hadn't listened his father.

"What's your problem? Why did you refuse to marry Jessica?" his father asked again. In this five years, Lexi became a different person. He had never opened to things that he thought were personal. He never told his mom and dad. That was how Lexi became a closed person since his first wife died.
On silence.
"Jessica is not the daughter of a rich man, she is not highly educated, and we also don't know the background of her parents. In my opinion, Jessica is a good girl, for the physique she is also not ugly. Although not as beautiful as the models or your ex-girlfriend, Jessica also can't be said to be ugly, then what makes you continue to firmly don't want to marry Jessica?" his father asked. His father just wanted to know the truth about Lexi.
"I ... I ... I don't love her," Lexi said slowly. He showed earnestness in his tone.
"So, how do you love? Your late wife? Your best friend Azura who is currently busy touring the world? or Cassandra the model who last dated you? Who do you love? It's useless to love a woman if that person can't make you desire, the same you will not get Lexi's baby. Why are you so selfish? Now that's the most important thing you recover from your illness is the wife who can give a baby to the heir of Ricardo Group. You're 30 years old. What are you waiting for?" the middle-aged man asked slowly. If it wasn't for the night, Mr. Hardy might have screamed.
Lexi couldn't say anything. He was on silent and thought about what his father had just said. It was also true.
"You think this is also an advantage for Jessica? No, you've raped her, Lexi. Will the 30-year-old Ricardo Group's sole heir run away from his responsibilities? Any amount of money will not be able to erase the wound in Jessica's heart. She's a poor girl since childhood. She was thrown away by her parents and you also took away her honor by force Lexi. Do you still have the heart to let her live alone? She works to support herself. Open your eyes Lexi. Mom and Dad didn't teach you that," Mr. Hardy said with furious. He could provoke Lexi's emotion.
"Then, what should I do? Okay, I'll do whatever you want, but I can't if I make Jessica to be my wife. I can't!" Lexi said while he saw the father looks angry.
"It's strange! Then you want to fuck her without marital status?" Mr. Hardy took a deep breath. He didn't understand Lexi's point of view.
"Marriage contract, one year," Lexi offered. He smiled, as if he got the brilliant idea.
"Whatever you want. I just want you to marry Jessica," Mr. Hardy left Lexi. He still couldn't understand his son's thoughts.
All night Lexi couldn't sleep. The conversation with his father didn't give any answer to his empty heart. He should ask Jessica to marry him. Yes, at least by getting married, the girl couldn't run away anywhere.
* * *
At 07.00 morning, Lexi left the residence of her parents' house. All the job this morning, he left to Arsene.
Lexi got behind the wheel of his Ferrari, running his four-wheeled vehicle at full speed.
He arrived at the orphanage. The car stopped in front of the gate of this modest building, where Jessica lived.
Later, Lexi got out of the car with the intention of meeting Jessica then would take her back.
In front of the door, Lexi knocked on it loudly, out of impatience.
"Jessica, Mrs. Rani, please open the door," Lexi shouted and knocked on the door.
The door was opened. Mrs. Rani stood in front of Lexi with an expression of wonder.
"Where is Jessica?" Lexi asked impatiently.
"Jessica is still in her room!"Mrs. Rani said. As usual in the morning she would be in the room or in the kitchen. However, because she told that she was sick, Mrs. Rani was very sure that Jessica was in her room.
"Can I see her?" Lexi asked showing kind with a warm smile.
"Wait a minute, I'll call her," Mrs. Rani said that she felt bad if she refused Lexi's request.
Lexi waited and tried to be patient. About ten minutes later, Rani came back to see him.
"Lexi. Sorry, I've been looking for Jessica but she's nowhere!" Mrs. Rani said. Her expression looked very worried.
Lexi got up from her seat and immediately called Ronald.
"Hello!" Ronald answered.
"Find Jessica and bring her to me!"
"Now?" Ronald asked.
"Now!”

To be continue…