Episode 11

After escorting her little daughter home with Sasha, Arneta returned to her workspace only to receive a stern reprimand from her boss. But it wasn't just reprimands that Arneta faced; the days that followed at Lio Richard's company became increasingly burdensome.

Every day, Arneta was required to arrive earlier and leave later than the other employees because she had to handle additional tasks given by Lio. Indeed, there was always something extra for Arneta to do beyond her duties as a secretary.

She even felt that the tasks she was performing now were more akin to those of a servant rather than a secretary. Every day she was tasked with cleaning Lio's office, such as mopping the floor, cleaning the windows, and disposing of trash in the room.

Arneta wanted nothing more than to quit her job right then and there if it weren't for the employment contract she had signed. Besides Lio's cruel attitude by treating her like a servant, her time was now even more consumed by work. Consequently, her time with Ivy diminished, since by the time Arneta came home, her little girl had already fallen into a deep sleep, and early in the morning, Arneta had to leave without being able to see Ivy off to school.

If you're wondering why Ivy doesn't just come to the office as usual to keep Arneta company at work. The answer is that Lio Richard had forbidden all employees from bringing their children into their workplace environment.

Moreover, even if it were still allowed to bring Ivy to the office, Arneta would never take the risk for fear that the man she now nicknamed 'the cruel one' might meet her daughter.

"Look, Neta! Our CEO is becoming handsomer by the day," exclaimed Nadine enthusiastically as she saw Lio Richard walk into his office.

Arneta herself remained silent, reluctant to respond to Nadine's words. For Arneta, Lio was not handsome, but rather intimidating.

"Net, why so quiet?" Nadine asked somberly, as Arneta had been unusually silent lately and no longer seemed to laugh, or even smile as before. "Do you miss Mr. Candra?"

Caught off guard while preparing documents to take to the CEO's room, Arneta stopped and let out a heavy sigh when she remembered Candra. Not because she missed the man who was now in Paris, but rather because of Candra's parting dinner remark questioning why Ivy's face resembled Lio's so closely.

After a moment's confusion about how to reply, Arneta simply explained that her past hatred for Lea, who was Lio's twin sister, made Ivy look so much like Lio Richard. Whether Candra believed this explanation or not, he didn't question it further.

"I do miss Mr. Candra, what about it?"

Unexpectedly to Arneta, Nadine embraced her tightly, making breathing difficult for her.

"You don't need to miss Mr. Candra, there are still plenty of other handsome men around here. But not our boss, for he already has a wife," Nadine advised as she released her hug, allowing Arneta to breathe easily again.

"Pfft, who would want to get close to that cruel CEO anyway," muttered Arneta, annoyed. "If I had known from the start that this was his company, I never would have applied for a job here!"

Yes, that was Arneta’s mistake from the beginning—for not knowing that the company where she had worked all this while belonged to the Richard family.

"If you hadn't applied for a job at this company, then you never would have met me or Mr. Candra," retorted Nadine in protest. "Oh, did you hear that the CEO's wife is coming this week? I wonder what she looks like to have thawed Mr. Lio Richard’s heart?" she mused, imagining what her boss's wife might look like.

Arneta responded indifferently with a shrug of her shoulders. She did not care whether Lio's wife was coming or any other news related to the man, for as far as Arneta was concerned, it was none of her business.