Fiya sat in a comfortable chair. The chair usually used by important clients when meeting Ardi. Fiya rarely sat in this chair.
Ardi sat behind his large desk. A desk made of mahogany. A shiny desk. A desk that showed how high Ardi's position was in this office.
The atmosphere in the room felt tense. Tense like two people were about to discuss something serious.
Ardi looked at Fiya. His eyes were sharp. His eyes were serious. There was no warmth in those eyes.
"Fiya," said Ardi. "I know you are facing a big problem."
Fiya didn't know what to answer. She just looked down.
"I heard your conversation with Siska in the elevator," Ardi continued. "About your sister. About surgery that requires a big cost."
Fiya froze. She didn't know Ardi had heard it more than once. She thought Ardi only knew when she told him before. But it turned out Ardi often listened to Fiya.
"Boss..." said Fiya in a small voice. "I..."
"How much does it cost?" Ardi interrupted.
"150 million, Boss," answered Fiya weakly. "But we've already... we've already tried several places. No one wants to help."
Ardi nodded. It seemed he already knew the answer.
"When is the surgery?" asked Ardi.
"One week from now, Boss," answered Fiya. Her voice started to sound panicked. "The hospital said it can't be delayed anymore. Desi's condition is getting worse."
Ardi was silent. He stared at Fiya for a moment. Fiya's eyes were watery. Fiya's face was pale. Fiya's small body looked very fragile.
Inside, Ardi felt uncomfortable. But he continued. This was the right moment.
"Fiya," said Ardi slowly. "I have one suggestion. A suggestion that might help with your problem."
Fiya lifted her head. Fiya's eyes were full of hope.
"What, Boss?" asked Fiya. "What suggestion?"
Ardi stood up. He walked to the window. He looked at the view of Jakarta city from the 20th floor. A big city. A city full of people struggling to live.
Ardi felt a bit uncomfortable. But he had to do this.
"Fiya," said Ardi without looking at Fiya. "Have you ever heard about contract marriage?"
Fiya was shocked. "Contract... marriage, Boss?"
"Yes. A marriage not based on love. A marriage based on a business agreement."
Fiya didn't understand. Her face looked confused. "I... I don't understand, Boss."
Ardi turned around. He looked at Fiya. He took a deep breath.
"I need to get married within 6 months. It's for personal reasons that you don't need to know about right now. But I know you need money. A lot of money."
Fiya was still silent. She didn't know what Ardi was saying.
"So," continued Ardi. "I have a suggestion. You marry me. A marriage that is legal in the eyes of the law. But this is just business. A contract. An agreement."
Fiya looked like she was struck by lightning.
"Me... marry you, Boss?" asked Fiya with a voice that was barely heard.
"Yes," said Ardi. "A contract marriage for 1 year. After 1 year, we separate. I will pay you 500 million rupiah."
500 million.
Fiya felt the world was spinning.
500 million rupiah. That money was more than enough for Desi's surgery. More than enough to pay for the house. More than enough to pay for Desi's school and living for years to come.
"500... 500 million?" asked Fiya.
"Yes. 300 million will be given at the beginning when we get married. 200 million will be given at the end of the contract when we separate," explained Ardi. "On the condition that you never tell anyone about this contract. This is a secret between us two only."
Fiya couldn't breathe. She felt suffocated.
"There's more," continued Ardi. "I will take care of all of Desi's surgery costs. The hospital, the doctor, the medication. I will pay for everything. Directly to the hospital."
Fiya started to cry. Tears fell from Fiya's eyes.
"Boss... this... this is..." Fiya couldn't finish her sentence.
Ardi sat back down in his chair. He opened a desk drawer. He took out a document that had already been prepared.
"This is a marriage contract," said Ardi. "I prepared it beforehand. I already asked a lawyer about this. Everything is legal and valid according to Indonesian law."
Ardi gave the document to Fiya.
Fiya read it with trembling hands. Page after page. Sentence after sentence that was long and complicated in legal language.
"Basically," said Ardi explaining, "we will get married legally at the civil registration office. It's equivalent to a real marriage. But this is only based on a contract agreement. The contract states that the duration of the marriage is 1 year. After that, we can divorce easily without legal problems. And I will pay as I've already mentioned."
Fiya continued reading. Her mind was spinning.
This is crazy. This is very crazy.
But this is a solution. This is the answer.
This is how Fiya could save Desi.
"Is there anything you want to ask?" asked Ardi.
Fiya raised her head. "Boss... why? Why do you want to do this?"
Ardi was silent. He looked toward the window again.
"That's not your concern," said Ardi. "The important thing is, I can get what I want. You can get what you want. This is a win-win."
"But... but this is not normal, Boss," said Fiya. "Marriage is supposed to be..."
"Supposed to be what?" Ardi interrupted. "I know this is not romantic. But the business world is rarely romantic. Everything is a transaction. This is a transaction that benefits us both."
Fiya couldn't refute that. Because it was true. This would benefit both of them.
"When is your decision?" asked Ardi.
Fiya didn't need to think long. Because the answer was already clear.
"Now, Boss," said Fiya. "I agree right now."
Ardi didn't look surprised. It seemed he already knew Fiya would say that.
"Good," said Ardi. "We will start this process today. I've already arranged everything."
Ardi opened the drawer again. He took out a thick folder.
"I've prepared this. A photocopy of your ID card, your tax number, all the documents we need. My lawyer is on standby. Tomorrow we can go to the civil registration office and take care of our marriage."
Fiya felt everything was happening like a dream. Everything was moving very fast.
"Tomorrow, Boss?" asked Fiya.
"Yes. I don't believe in postponement. The sooner we do this, the sooner you get the first payment. And the sooner you can arrange Desi's surgery."
Ardi was logical. Ardi was practical. Ardi looked like a machine programmed to achieve a goal.
"Okay," said Fiya. "Okay, Boss. We will do it tomorrow."
"There's one more thing we need to discuss," said Ardi. "After we get married, we need to live together. My house is quite big. There are many rooms. You can take one room for yourself. We don't need... something more than that."
Fiya understood. Ardi was saying they didn't need to be... intimate. They didn't need to sleep in the same room or do anything like a real husband and wife.
This was the most... business-like contract marriage.
"And one more thing," continued Ardi. "We need to tell the people at the office. But only some of them. Just those who need to know. The others will guess."
"But Boss," said Fiya. "If everyone knows we're married, later when we separate... people will ask questions."
"I know," said Ardi. "But that's a risk. We will make a plausible story for when we divorce later. We'll just say the relationship didn't work out. Or some other reasonable reason. People will understand."
Ardi had a strategy for everything. Ardi had thought through to every detail.
"So, Fiya," said Ardi. "Do you agree with all of this?"
Fiya took a long breath. She read through the contract one more time.
This would change her life. Forever.
But Desi. Desi would be saved. Desi's surgery would go smoothly. Desi would live.
"Yes, Boss," said Fiya. "I agree."
Ardi extended his hand. "Shake hands, to seal our agreement?"
Fiya stood up. She held Ardi's hand. Ardi's hand was cold. Fiya's hand was warm.
The two of them didn't speak to each other. They just stood there, shaking hands, with the marriage contract waiting to be signed.
After Fiya left the room, Ardi sat back in his chair.
He took the cold coffee. He drank it.
Ardi felt a bit uneasy. But he suppressed that feeling.
This was business. This was a solution. This would help both of them.
But in his heart, there was a small voice whispering: "Ardi, this is wrong. This is very wrong."
Ardi ignored that voice.
Fiya left Ardi's office with a full head. A head that felt filled with thousands of thoughts.
She was going to get married. Tomorrow. With her boss.
Fiya walked to the bathroom again. She needed a quiet place.
In the bathroom, Fiya shed tears. But this time it wasn't tears of sadness.
This time, Fiya cried from relief.
Because Desi would be saved.
"Desi," whispered Fiya. "Your sister found a way. Your sister will pay for your surgery. Your sister promises."
Fiya washed her face. She went back to her desk. She continued working like usual.
Like nothing happened.
Like her life wouldn't change forever after tomorrow.