Amy carved another smile, but this time it was a proud smile. She was confident that the money, power, and popularity she now had in her hands would not be able to bring her down. She will remain a winner no matter what.

***

Carla was still at Jolly's house. After finishing her meal, Jolly told her that she had an accident this afternoon.

"This afternoon, I fainted on the road, ma'am. It's a good thing that someone helped me."

Carla gasped, worried when she heard that her son had experienced something bad.

"A good man? Who is he?"

"He's a rich man in this town, ma'am. He took me to the hospital. All the expenses were covered by him. I'm also very lucky, that person also gave me a job. So starting tomorrow, I'll be working at his house as a household assistant. Mom doesn't have to worry about my situation anymore. I will be able to eat every day and also sleep well," Jolly explained in a stammering voice.

"Alhamdulillah. I'm happy to hear that. Even though you're just a maid in the house, it's all halal. The important thing is that you can support yourself. I'm at peace."

"Yes, Mom. I hope I'll feel at home and be fine working there." Jolly got up from her seat, went into her room to get something. It was a light blue gift box.

"I'll leave this for Ellea, ma'am. I wanted to give it to her when we met yesterday. But the meeting didn't turn out the way I imagined. That's why I asked you to please give it to her."

Jolly gave the box to her mother.

"It contains shoes. I hope he likes it. Also, tell Ellea that this was bought by mom, not me. Because if she knows that it's a gift from me, she'll be sure to receive it."

Carla opened the box. It was a pair of black loafers.

"Yes. I'll give them to Ellea later."

Since it was already late at night, Carla said goodbye.

***

Ethan and Ellea were still awake. Both of them were still talking to themselves. Ethan with his career and household, as well as Ellea who told about her life story. Starting from childhood when she was abandoned by her parents. How she had to survive in the midst of a difficult economy due to her grandmother's uncertain work.

"When I got home from school, I always followed my grandmother from one house to another to offer our services. From washing clothes, cleaning the house, or anything else we can do. We did everything with sincerity. Until one day, my grandmother became seriously ill and had to go on medication. My grandmother and I only lived together, we had no siblings. We couldn't seek help except for the money we had to earn ourselves. That was the beginning of my entry into this black world. A despicable world, a world despised by saints."

With dewy eyes, Ellea had to recall the bad things that she had always managed to get through with her grandmother. In fact, no one even knew about her journey.

Ethan was touched, hearing every difficulty Ellea described. How a girl like her had to survive on her own.

As the night wore on, they did nothing.
As the night wore on, they did nothing but share stories. Until both of them got sleepy and slept in separate positions. Ethan on the sofa while Ellea on the bed.

***

It was two o'clock in the morning. Amy woke up from her sleep. She checked Ethan's bed which was still empty. She got up, continued to check her cell phone, there was not a single message regarding news from Ethan.

"OK. I'll wait until tomorrow morning. If you don't give me any news, I'll complain to daddy. You can't just do whatever you want. I have a limit to my patience." Amy lay back down.

***

The cold morning, the splashing water woke Ethan who still wanted to sleep. The sound came from the bathroom. Ellea had indeed woken up first. She chose to clean her body before returning to her house.

Ethan got up, rubbed his eyes, checked the time on his phone.

"It's only six o'clock," he said in a heavy voice.

Ethan wanted to lay down again, but just two seconds after he closed his eyes, a call came to his cell phone number.

"Daddy!" exclaimed Ethan as he saw Ronald's name appear on his phone screen.

Ethan got up and tried to catch his breath. Getting a call from his father-in-law was something that always made him anxious.

Either there would be good or bad news delivered by his in-laws.

"Hello, Daddy!"

"Come home now! Amy's been waiting all night for you. She said you're not coming home!"

A heavy voice full of emphasis.

What Ethan was worried about happened too. This time, bad news came to him. It seemed that Amy had deliberately complained to her father about Ethan not returning home.

"But I'm out of town, Dad! The plane ticket is still later at eight," Ethan evaded. "I had a meeting with my colleagues last night. We were discussing the highway project that will take place next month. We finished the meeting around twelve. I can't go straight home," he explained again.

An alibi that Ethan created, apparently made his in-laws believe. The voice that initially sounded heavy and hard, now began to sound light.

"That's it. When you get to Jakarta, you go straight to daddy's house. I have something important to talk about."

"Okay, Dad."

The bathroom door opened, and Ellea came out with only a towel covering her chest. She almost made a sound, but Ethan give sign to her to keep quiet. He pressed his index finger to the center of his lips. Ellea understood.

"Remember, when you get to home, go straight to my house!" Ronald repeated.

"Okay, Dad."

Ronald turned off the call. Ethan could breathe again with relief.

"Oh my God! This must be Amy complaining to her daddy. What a spoiled brat! She doesn't think about what she's been doing. Going as she pleases, playing here and there without knowing the time," he grumbled.

Ellea walked over to Ethan, sitting next to him. "Your wife, huh?" she asked in a seductive tone of voice.

Ethan shook his head. "None of your business."

Ellea smiled, seeing Ethan's nervous behavior. During the three meetings, he had always shown his dashing demeanor. But this time, a nervous look was clearly displayed on his face.

Ellea still stayed beside Ethan. She deliberately opened her towel there. Quickly, Ethan restrained Ellea's hand.

"Put your clothes on! I'm not in the mood!" he said without looking.

Ellea was surprised again. The expression on her face was horrendous. "Well, then why did you ask me to come here if you don't want to be like that?" she protested.

Ethan looked at Ellea for a few seconds before he finally opened his mouth. "I didn't always ask you to accompany me just to satisfy my lust. I asked you to come here to share stories, to spill out all the things I've been keeping to myself. Even with my wife, I never said it."

Ethan's words again took Ellea's breath away. The man in front of her right now was truly mysterious. Unpredictable.