That night, Arlin returned home with mixed feelings. Gratitude and admiration for Gilang mingled with a hint of embarrassment.
She never imagined that the person who had made her feel trapped all this time was also the one quietly helping her behind the scenes.
Upon arriving home, she immediately went to the living room, where Gilang was sitting comfortably, reading documents. Arlin stood there for a few seconds, gathering the courage to speak.
"Gilang…" Arlin began softly, causing Gilang to look up.
Gilang stared at her with a blank expression, though there was a hint of surprise in his eyes.
"What is it?"
Arlin took a deep breath before saying, "Thank you. I heard from Mr. Rolan… that the Devano Group is supporting our film project. You helped, right?"
Gilang shrugged. "You needed help. I just did what was necessary."
Arlin smiled, this time warmly.
"I'm very grateful. You… you've helped me so much. Even though I know we have many differences," she said as she stepped closer, "I still appreciate everything you've done for me."
Gilang fell silent for a moment, clearly confused by Arlin's sudden change in attitude. "There's no need to thank me," he replied softly, trying to stay calm. "I just wanted to make sure you're in a safe and comfortable place."
Arlin smiled slightly and sat down beside him. "I'm glad to hear that… Oh, one more thing… thank you also for your support… even though it wasn't direct, it still meant a lot to me."
Gilang, who was usually stern and rarely showed emotion, suddenly smiled faintly. The smile was brief, but it was enough to leave Arlin speechless. It was the first time she had seen Gilang smile sincerely, and without realizing it, her heart began to race.
"Why are you smiling like that?" Arlin asked, still mesmerized.
Gilang smiled faintly again. "I'm just glad you finally understand that whatever I do, I want the best for you."
Hearing that, Arlin's face flushed slightly, and for some reason, she felt comfortable being near Gilang. That sense of gratitude made her suddenly want to be closer, and without realizing it, she leaned against Gilang's shoulder.
Gilang felt the warmth and, without complaint, let Arlin stay close to him. In his heart, he felt relieved. No matter what happened, he would always be there for this woman, the woman who had quietly filled the emptiness in his heart all this time.
---
That day, the office was bustling with activity. Everyone seemed excited about the news that a representative from Devano Group was coming.
This was a great opportunity for their small company to grow. Arlin stood in front of the mirror, tidying her hair slightly while taking a deep breath. She couldn't shake the feeling of nervousness, even though she didn't know why.
Lusi, her friend and the novelist for their project, approached Arlin with a wide smile.
"You look tense, Arlin."
"I'm not tense," Arlin replied, trying to smile despite her racing heart.
"Don't worry, this meeting will go smoothly. We have strong support. In fact, the representative from Devano Group is already on their way," Lusi said optimistically.
Hearing that name, Arlin felt her heart race even faster. "Who will be coming as the representative?"
"It seems to be one of their assistants, Shakeel Bramasta," Lusi replied while checking her phone. "Mr. Rolan said he's a trusted person in that big company."
Arlin fell silent. That name was too familiar. Shakeel. Not only was he a trusted person, he was Gilang's assistant. Arlin's nervousness grew stronger. She wasn't ready to meet someone so close to Gilang, especially in front of her friends and business associates.
Soon after, the meeting room door opened. A neatly dressed man entered, wearing an elegant black suit. His smile was thin yet formal, adding to the professionalism radiating from him. Arlin recognized him immediately—it was Shakeel.
"Good afternoon," Shakeel greeted calmly, bowing his head slightly as a sign of respect.
Lusi, sitting beside Arlin, stood up enthusiastically. "Good afternoon, Mr. Shakeel! Thank you for coming. We feel very honored." Lusi was mesmerized; the man was so handsome!
Shakeel smiled slightly, his gaze then shifting to Arlin, who sat with a pale face. His smile widened, as if he had already anticipated something.
"No problem, this is part of our job."
Arlin and Shakeel's eyes met. There was an awkward silence before Shakeel looked at her more intently and said in a calm voice, "It's nice to see you again... Miss Arlin."
Lusi, who was standing next to Arlin, immediately turned her head in surprise. "Do you know Mr. Shakeel, Arlin? And miss...?"
Arlin stammered, her face turning red. "Ah, well... No... I mean, yes... we've met before, but... it was just a coincidence. Nothing important."
Shakeel, noticing Arlin's nervousness, quickly understood the situation. He nodded slowly, choosing to remain professional.
"We did happen to meet in a minor matter, but let's focus on this business meeting."
Arlin sighed in relief, grateful that Shakeel didn't prolong the conversation. However, Shakeel's understanding gaze didn't leave her, as if he knew exactly why Arlin didn't want to mention anything more about their relationship.
Mr. Rolan, who had just entered the room, immediately greeted Shakeel enthusiastically.
"Thank you for coming, Mr. Shakeel. We are very excited about this opportunity. May this collaboration bring success to both parties."
"Of course. Devano Group sees great potential in this project, and we are pleased to be part of your company's development," Shakeel replied calmly, a faint smile still on his face.
Meanwhile, Lusi, still curious about the interaction between Arlin and Shakeel, looked at Arlin with a questioning gaze.
"Arlin, you really never mentioned this before."
Arlin smiled stiffly, trying to divert Lusi's attention. "There's nothing to mention. It was just a brief meeting."
The meeting proceeded smoothly. Shakeel, with professionalism, explained the support Devano Group would provide for the promotion and distribution of their film.
Mr. Rolan looked very enthusiastic, while Arlin continued to hide her anxiety. She could feel Shakeel's gaze occasionally directed at her, as if reminding her that all of this was connected to Gilang.
Before the meeting ended, Shakeel stood up and handed some documents to Mr. Rolan.
"We've prepared all the details regarding this collaboration. Devano Group will fully support the distribution and promotion of your film. Additionally, our company plans to invest by providing shares in this company."
"This is amazing! Thank you so much!" Mr. Rolan exclaimed with great joy.
Lusi responded enthusiastically. "I never expected a company as large as Devano Group to invest in a small company like ours."
Arlin, on the other hand, remained silent. Clearly, this was all Gilang's doing. She couldn't deny the fact that Gilang was involved in every step she took, even from afar.
And behind Shakeel's smile, Arlin knew that the man was monitoring everything on Gilang's orders.
After the meeting ended, Shakeel approached Arlin.
"Arlin, you seemed uncomfortable earlier. Don't worry, I'll remain formal as you wish."
Arlin nodded quickly. "Thank you, Shakeel."
Shakeel smiled slightly. "You know, it's no wonder Gilang asked me to help this company. You truly have great talent. And he must want to see you succeed."
Arlin's face flushed at the mention of Gilang's name. "Don't bring him up. This is my work, not his business."
Shakeel just smiled again before leaving. But Arlin knew that no matter what she did, Gilang was always there, watching over her, even from afar.