"Alice, Mr Alfredo is waiting for you in his room," said Lina, none other than Mr Alfredo's secretary.

It was unusual for Alice's boss to call her this early if it wasn't a momentous occasion. That said, he didn't do anything wrong either. She has completed all deadlines and office assignments since yesterday. Then why did you have to be absent from his room so early? Without thinking much, Alice immediately stepped into Mr.'s room. Alfredo at that time too.

Knocking on the door twice, Alice stepped into the room.

"Mister, can I help you?" Alice immediately went into Mr Alfredo's room.

Mr Alfredo seemed to be sitting restlessly in his chair. His eyes were focused on the tablet screen he was holding. Noticing Alice, who had entered the room, he averted his eyes and motioned for her to sit down.

"Alice, sorry if I suddenly called you here. Today we suddenly have an important guest. Do you know BlackHorse Corporations?" asked Mr Alfredo.

Alice nodded her head. "Yes, I know that company."

Who doesn't know BlackHorse Corporations? One of the most famous real estate companies in Asia. In Indonesia alone, almost all Malls and Elite Housing are under their Auspices.

Also, the owner is among the wealthiest people in Asia and the most influential in this country. Long ago, before applying for a job at her current company, Alice first applied for Blackhorse. But unfortunately, at that time, she was not accepted because he was too young not to meet the requirements.

"This afternoon BlackHorse's leadership will also attend the meeting. It is an honor for us, especially you, Alice, to be able to face him directly. I really want you to handle it as usual. Make sure you also win the big tender this time."

Alice nodded in understOliverng.

"Okay Mister, after this I will prepare the presentation material."

"Oh yes, Al..." Mr Alfredo deliberately paused his words as if he was trying to compose the right words for him to say.

"Yes Mister, is there anything I have to do again?"

"Remember! Don't let your guard down during the meeting this afternoon. Our client this time is different than usual. According to the stories of other business partners, he is so hard to convince. This is a challenge in itself for you considering the nominal investment offered is also very fantastic."

Alice smiled at Mr Alfredo.

"Then, if I succeed, am I just given a bonus as usual?" Alice looked at Mr Alfredo's face with a severe look.

While Mr Alfredo was seen rubbing his chin like he was considering Alice's words, the man answered a moment later. "You don't need to worry, I'll raise your rank if you do well as usual."

Alice, with a sparkling face, accepted the challenge given by her boss this time. He was very confident that he could win it as usual.

"Okay then I'll be going first."

Before Alice could even step outside, Mr Alfredo spoke again.

"Alice, remember, you have to be careful. Our client this afternoon is also a bit arrogant. I hope you can keep your emotions stable when dealing with him. You have to be good at finding loopholes and taking his sympathy so that your presentation this afternoon can be approved."

Alice frowned.

"Is it that hard? But there's no need to worry, just trust me all."

"So far I've never doubted your performance, Al. I'm warning you to be more careful and not take the wrong step.

"Okay Mister. Don't worry, I will get today's tender for our company as usual."

Mr Alfredo smiled broadly at Alice's expression, who was sure he could melt a client's heart this afternoon. It can be seen from Alice's face that she can't wait to meet face-to-face with Blackhorse's leader.

The meeting finally started, precisely as Mr Alfredo had before. This time, the client was indeed more complex than Alice had previously thought. Just imagine meetings that usually take one to two hours at most, with BlackHorse having to spend three hours.

"Can you explain why my company has to cooperate with your company? Considering the amount of investment that I will disburse, it's no joke this time. What benefits will I get in the future?"

Alice gaped slightly at one of the man's questions. He also deliberately asked several other questions without letting Alice catch her breath first.

Alice admits that her client this time is very different from what she is used to dealing with.

His name is Mr Jacob Fernandez. As long as you know, he's still very young, maybe around 28 or 29 years old, not too far from Alice's age.

When the meeting first started, Alice was also amazed by his appearance.

How could it not be, Alice thought that the leader of the famous BlackHorse was an older man, but in fact, he was young and very handsome, just like the Oppa in the Korean drama series.

But what amazed Alice so much was her excellent knowledge and insight. Alice was dizzy and surprised to answer all the questions and all the arguments she presented in the meeting. Not to mention that none of the meeting participants disputed his argument.

"Okay, after I have considered all the materials and explanations that you presented, I agree to this collaboration. You can prepare any agreement files that I have to sign later."

Alice smiled happily, and finally, with an arduous struggle again, she could get a big tender. That means bonuses and new positions are waiting in front of him.

"Miss..." Alice stopped from the activities of compiling the meeting files that were on the table. He heard someone say hello from behind his back. Alice turned around and found Mr Jacob approaching.

"My name is Alice, Mr.Jacob," said Alice, giving her the sweetest smile. The woman also reached out to shake hands with the leader of the Blackhorse.

Unexpectedly, Mr Jacob did not accept the helping hand that Alice offered. How embarrassed Alice was in front of the crowd the man refused to shake hands with her.

Do I look so disgusting that he won't touch my hand? Shit, it turns out Mr Jacob-- ahh, he doesn't look like he deserves to be called Mister. Jacob is an annoying person. From the look on his face, it looks like he's underestimating my abilities. I might have kicked him out of the room if it wasn't for the owner of a big company. I know he is very handsome, but if his behaviour is minus like this, it feels redundant that the handsomeness and wealth he has!

"Don't be happy with the tender you got. This is far from the beginning miss. Prepare yourself for the difficulties that will arise next," Jacob said with a grin that seemed to belittle Alice.

Alice could only be silent, listening to all the words Jacob had just said.

It's like there's a big plan that Jacob is deliberately preparing to demolish him in the future.

***

Every child must have a dream of being devoted to both parents.

Giving the best in the rest of his life as a return of gratitude to those who have given birth and raised us well.

But agreeing to Alice's arranged marriage is not the best way to be filial.

Alice has not spoken to Oliver Swan, her father, for the past few days. He was still outraged over the incident the other day between Oliver and Roland.

And Oliver didn't regret his words in front of Roland the other day.

Oliver still firmly asks Alice to end her relationship with Roland as soon as possible.

Finally, Alice's fear has been proven. Oliver Swan fell ill, and this moment was used as well as possible to separate Alice from Roland.

Oliver begs to accept the match he has arranged with his best friend.

Oliver argued that this was his last request if he died at any time, considering his age, which was indeed not young anymore. He also assured Alice that she could leave in peace because she had fulfilled her obligation to marry Alice to the right person.

With a feeling of exasperation, Alice contacted Roland with her cellphone, and her chest still felt very tight, remembering what her father had asked her to do.

"Dit, this is too much, Dad doesn't even want to listen to what I have to say. What else should I do?"

There was a moment of silence, no answer from the other side.

Again Roland is just silent. Alice had urged her to be firm with her father's decision this time.

But the disappointment he got. Roland asked Alice not to argue with her father's request.

Roland took the initiative the next day to meet and visit his father. Radio hopes Pak Oliver's heart will melt this time and agree to their relationship.

After contacting Roland, Alice returned to tidying up the files from this afternoon's meeting with BlackHorse Corp that were scattered on the room floor. Jacob's behaviour this afternoon managed to disturb his mind again. Of the many big clients he has faced over the years, only Jacob is too arrogant.

Alice thought it would be difficult for someone like Jacob to find a partner.

***

This morning Alice woke up early. He quickly took a shower and got ready.

Alice remembered that Roland promised to come home this morning. For that, he had to make sure that he opened the door.

After waiting for about thirty minutes, Roland finally got home.

Roland immediately parked his car in the yard of the house. Alice welcomed Roland with a happy smile. Hugging his body warmly and very tightly as if this was their last meeting.

"Dad's still having breakfast, he'll finish soon after that you can go straight to dad's room, there's mom in there too." Alice brought Roland to immediately enter and sat waiting in the living room.

Roland looked very nervous waiting for Oliver, who was having breakfast in the room. He wondered what words he should say to his lover's father. Moreover, he has to convince Oliver to accept and bless him as Alice's lover.

"Father, Roland wants to meet and talk for a while," Alice immediately directed Roland to sit in the chair next to the bed where his father was lying.

"Incidentally, father also wants to have a serious talk with Roland. You and your mother can go out first." Alice and Roland's feelings started to go awry upon hearing Father's request that he wanted to speak alone with Roland. They stare at each other. It's not wrong if Alice was so worried, remembering the last time she met Roland, her father had succeeded in dropping Roland's self-esteem.

"How are things, Uncle, are you better than before?" Roland tried to open the conversation with stiff language.

Oliver was seen smiling at Roland. A genuine smile he had never seen before.

Is this a sign that Oliver is starting to accept Roland's presence?

"Uncle's condition hasn't recovered much yet. It seems like he has to rest completely for a few more days, said Alice, is there something you want to talk about?" Roland looked closely at Oliver Swan's face. Try your best to control what words will come out of his mouth.

"Regarding Alice, I promise I will find a decent job like Uncle wants. Whatever Uncle asks I will do as long as my relationship with Alice is approved." Radio needs more energy to say this sentence.

"Hmmm," Oliver muttered with a deep breath.

"Dit, back when I was young I had a best friend named Ferdy. It was hard for us to go through together first. Until finally each of us got married and had children. I remember that time we both had aspirations to match our children if He will grow up because Ferdy happens to have a boy and an uncle's daughter. We do all this so that our friendship will last forever. Uncle can feel at ease if before he dies, he can leave Alice with the child of his best friend."

Please wait a minute. It seems Roland is starting to understand where Oliver Swan's conversation is going this time.

Instead of blessing his relationship with Alice, the man seemed to gently ask Roland to stay away from Alice.

"But I love Alice uncle, I have never hurt Alice in the slightest. I beg you to reconsider setting Alice up with someone else that Alice herself doesn't know."

"If you really love Alice, let her carry out her obligations to make her parents happy. Do you want to be one of the reasons Alice is disobedient to her parents?"

Roland was silent, and his mouth was numb as if he could no longer utter a word to refute the man's words.

Instead of allowing them to have sex, Oliver orders Roland to leave Alice's life immediately.

"Roland, Uncle, please let Alice go. Let Alice be happy by marrying Uncle's best friend's child. Uncle will also not forbid you to be friends in the future."

Roland was at a loss for words to answer Oliver's request to him. How could he possibly let Alice marry a man other than himself? But on the one hand, he also couldn't stop Oliver from setting up his son with someone else.

"Don't worry Dit, Alice will surely be happy with the cOliverdate of your choice. Just pray for the best for Alice and her future partner. Please don't prevent Alice from marrying the man of your choice. After all, even though you are no longer dating, you can still be friends."

"Do I really not have the slightest chance, to have Alice? I really love Alice, Uncle." It can be seen from the look in Roland's eyes that he is desperately begging Oliver to continue to bless his relationship with Alice.

"Never mind, Dit. Uncle's decision is unanimous. Uncle doesn't want to argue with you anymore like yesterday. After this you may meet Alice one last time before Alice marries the man uncle chose." Oliver immediately shook Roland's hand tightly as he motioned for Roland to meet Alice and say goodbye before his daughter belonged to someone else.

A drop of tears flowed from Roland's eyes. Mixed feelings.

Roland was confused about what he should explain to Alice later.

When Roland left the room, he didn't find Alice. Maybe Alice was getting ready to go to work.

Without waiting, Roland rushed home feeling very devastated.

He recently felt the pain of parting with a woman who had filled his days for several years.

Alice is the only woman who always accompanies him in the ups and downs of his life.

Oppose? It's useless for Roland to fight. Andy is sick. He didn't want to be the cause of the severe illness his girlfriend's father was currently suffering from.