39. The Seducer

It was drizzling rain in the city of Bandung in the morning, but the sun was shining bright enough afterwards. The light reflected from the puddles along the road, making Rissa's eyes dazzled by it.

As usual, Rissa works at eight o'clock. She had been there since half-past seven. Rissa took the bag containing Esther's dress, shoes, and jewellery to return. She was still curious about the missing hairpin. Probably, it was fell while she was dancing with Charlos.

Oh, Lord! How could she forget that she had danced with Charlos? Their bodies were so close, pressed against each other. Rissa will never forget the scent of Charlos's body that still lingers on her body as if she can still smell his scent.

Rissa smile turned coy as she remembered Charlos taking off her coat. She felt like she was being stripped. She doesn't know how much Charlos saw. By the way, the dress was spectacular. Charlos was right; she felt like a Cinderella.

Something in her mind was still questioning why Charlos was still chasing her to the parking lot. Charlos even helped her when she almost fell and slipped. Even though the man had let go of his hand when Rissa mentioned Reva's name.

She could understand that Charlos didn't want to make himself feel that he was giving her a chance. Even if that opportunity doesn't seem to exist, Charlos didn't need to remind her anymore.

Charlos's attitude was beyond expectation. The man taught Rissa how to walk and forced her to hold her hand. Rissa began to feel that Charlos was only using her to get food while he was busy shaking hands with officials.

The dance must be just to prove that he is a handsome, wealthy man who is not difficult to find a dance partner.

Rissa gritted her teeth. What an annoying man. How stupid she was. She was just a weak girl who obeyed when a handsome man arbitrarily tugged at her and twisted her body as she pleased. Ugh! However, if the man was as handsome as Charlos, she really had a hard time resisting him.

Rissa took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. So, she took the bag that contained Esther's stuff, and then she put it on Esther's desk.

When she turned around, Esther was walking towards her desk.

"Esther, thank you for the dress and everything. I've returned it. I'm trying to take care of it as best I can. You'd better check it out," said Rissa.

Esther stared at her fiercely, as if Rissa had indeed ruined her dress. She didn't even glance at the bag.

"Rissa, what really happened yesterday at the invitation? Have you met him?" Esther asked coldly.

"Met who? I didn't do anything ...." Except dancing with a handsome man.

Esther took out her cell phone and showed her a blog on an internet site. Rissa grabbed it hesitantly then scanned it.

"The CEO of Golden Group, Charlos William, seems to have ended his solitude. When met at the luxury wedding of Albert Natawijaya's eldest son, the owner of MJ Group, last Saturday at the Golden Ring Hotel, a beautiful woman in a red dress was dancing with the handsome prince. Some argue that they are lovers.

When we asked about the mysterious woman, Charlos had evaded and did not confess that she was his girlfriend. However, after receiving information from a reliable source, we discovered that the lucky woman named Carissa is an employee of Kharisma Factory. The company turned out to be doing business cooperation.

Allegedly, Agung Setyohardjo, the owner of Kharisma, must have tried his best to make the cooperation run smoothly, so he sent his prettiest employee to seduce Charlos William.

Could it be that the love story between Charlos William and Carissa is just a setting? Judging by the way they talk and make out while dancing, there's no doubt that they really are a loving couple."

Rissa saw a photo of a woman in a red dress who looks excellent, posing like she is hugging Charlos. It took a few seconds for Rissa to realize that it was a photo of herself. She looked charming, like a rich and confident noble daughter with a sparkling diamond necklace and earrings.

Rissa swallowed. How can there be such news? The media was adding the spice of misleading gossip.

Seduce? Since when did she become a seducer? Rissa thought. This news is really-really insulting her.

She was starting to realize what Charlos was saying to her. That day, Charlos was so emotional when he found out that Rissa saw him with Reva. It turned out that Charlos was in the spotlight for journalists. Rissa was so confused. Even at weddings, there can be reporters.

"Esther ... I ...."

"I'm a little disappointed. I shouldn't have asked you to come to the party. You don't need to expose yourself like that at all."

Rissa was surprised when she heard Esther's words were sharp. Rissa never felt like exposing herself. It all just happened. Besides, she never asked herself to be dressed up in a sexy red dress with low cleavage, making her stand out in the middle of a party. But of course, Esther would definitely not want to listen to her explanation.

"Now the name of Kharisma is being brought up," continued Esther. "It seems our company is begging for cooperation with the Golden Group, so Kharisma having to send you to tease him. Does he think he is so great that he arbitrarily humiliates Kharisma?"

"I'm sorry, Esther." Rissa looked down. "But I've never teased anyone, much less if I damaged the company's reputation."

"Tell me!" Esther snapped. "Why were you together with him?"

"I met Charlos there by accident. It was completely accidental. I had known each other at choir practice before. I never thought he was the CEO of Golden Group."

"What?" Esther asked a little loudly. "Then why did you dance with him?"

"It just happened. Charlos asked me to dance. That's all."

"And why did you two have to make out? What happen between you and him?"

Rissa wanted to roll her eyes, but she didn't dare. So, she sighed. "I'm not making out with him, Esther. I can't stop other people from thinking about that, but I really mean that Charlos and I didn't do anything at all. We were just dancing."

"Did he do anything indecent?"

"What? No, Esther, Charlos is a good person. He never does anything obscene. I don't know how to explain it. But I guess I ... I like him." Rissa looked down; her face turned red.

"Like him?"

"Yes, I fell in love with Charlos."