Wait… Why Am I Sleeping Here?

"San..., Sandra...?"

"Hush, hush, what the heck! Why are you calling me?"

"Sandra, wake up...!"

" If you call my name again, once more... I promise, I will knock you out! I'm so tired! Please let me sleep a little longer!" I never demanded much from this world. But, please, just for today I beg you, let me wake up a little late. After all, it's Saturday, the office is closed. I promise I'll do my unfinished jobs, but please, just let me sleep for another 30 minutes.

"Hey! Wake up! Newbie...! Let's get up!!!"

"SHIT! PLEASE LET ME SLEEP A LITTLE LONGER!" I shouted annoyed. I immediately opened my eyes and looked at the person who was trying to wake me up, and at that moment I knew, I seemed to be in big trouble.

Steven narrowed his eyes, looking at me as if I had an unforgiven sin. I have to admit, I was wrong. Yelling at the boss with harsh cursing words, cannot be justified under any circumstances. But, after last night, after I helped him by bringing him to the hospital, I should still be forgiven right? Please?

"Sir, are you awake?" I asked to distract him. I grab his face to see his condition. I'm quite grateful to see his condition become better than yesterday. But... the look in his eyes, it looks like his hand so itch, that he wants to throw me with granite stone. Well, of course I know I have committed a grave sin. Hahaha, but I don't mind if he throws a diamond at me. I'll catch a few, run away and sell them right away, and become a rich sultan. Oh my, It looks like my head is completely in error because of him, and I think Steven will going to stone me with a cheap river stone he got from the project site.

"Didn't I tell you, to take me home last night?" he says with an annoying voice.

"Um, sorry sir, I thought... you would be safer if I took you to the hospital."

"You are presumptuous, you have disobeyed my orders!"

"That's because you are weak. You fainted so many times and left me with no other choice. Like it or not, I had to take you to the hospital. After all, it was also for your safety," whispered my brain to answer the statement. I really wanted to say it. But my lips didn't want to say it right away. I admit, my lips are not always brave, sometimes I hate it because it suddenly becomes a coward.

"I have no other choice. Your health condition worried me," the softest words I dare to say.

"Alright, then what's the reason, that you think that you can sleep next to me?"

"Hey, I didn't..." Uh, wait why am I sleeping here? Oh, shit, no wonder Steven was upset this morning. And unfortunately, I don't have an answer to his question, why am I sleeping in his bed. One thing I remember is I accidentally fell asleep while sitting waiting for Steven on the edge of the bed. But, I swear, it never crossed my mind to lie down next to him.

"Sorry, sir. I don't know what happened last night? As far as I remember…, I didn't sleep here. Because last night I fell asleep on the edge of the bed," I say as I quickly get off of his bed. Oh, wait...! It would be such a shame if yesterday I was drooling on his pillow too. Ow, man. I couldn't take it anymore and immediately ran away walking towards the exit door.

"Wait a minute!" Steven says to stop me from leaving.

Ooh, what again? Can't Steven just calm let me go? "Yes, Sir?" I answer, closing my eyes, hoping that Steven wouldn't see the expression on my face, and trust me, my face was fucking red as a tomato.

"Tell me the truth, Sandra! Why are you sleeping next to me?" says Steven irritably.

"But sir I don't sleep next to you, Oh My God...." I don't know how to explain it to Steven. I swear I have no intention of seducing this arrogant creature. But the truth is..., my body was on his bed, next to him, and I don't know how I can deny that real evidence.

"Sir, really, as far as I know, I don't..."

"Steven, call me Steven. It's Saturday, and I don't want to sound so old on a holiday."

"Sir, uh, yes... Sssteven..., the point is... I'm not trying to do anything with you, except a professional office job."

"I don't believe it," says Steven.

"I don't care, but I'm not that kind of person," I say aloud. I don't care if he doesn't believe my story, it's none of my business either. All I have to explain is the story I know from my point of view, and I've been telling him the truth. Besides, I really don't have any feelings for Steven. I know a lot of female employees and maybe employees at Ruanna who intend to get his love. But, I assure you that won't happen to me. Nope, never, don't hope too much!! This annoying, arrogant, unpredictable creature will never make my heart beat faster, the only thing he can do, is just makes body and soul irritated because of his behavior.

"Then why didn't you go back to your boarding house last night?" asked Steven again. A question that made my blood boil immediately.

"That's because Sir.. er, you hold my arm. And when I tried to pull my arm out of you, you immediately grabbed it tighter. And your grip was so tight that I couldn't pull it out. Sir... sorry... You're not going to tell me to cut off my arm just to let go of your grip, are you?" Honestly nagging without calling Steven the word 'Sir' is so hard. I'm not used to it and that made my speech falter a bit.

"Oh, so you think I'm a jerk who flirts with you? I'm the one who holds your hand, right?" asked Steven who seemed did not to accept my explanation.

Well, that happened not just in my mind, I'm not hallucinating, it's a reality!!!!! And who knows? Maybe Steven is a pervert!!!! Well, who knows, his activities outside of work? What's in his mind?" Look how many exclamations marks that my brain puts out for that statement? I'm really not lying, and I hope Steven will believe it.

"You held my hand while calling somebody named 'Lory'," I say trying to break his argument. I didn't want Steven to misunderstand my intention and think I had another agenda with him. Maybe in this world, some people really intend to seduce their boss, but it's not me. I'm the type of woman who is more willing to stay up late working on assignments for a smooth career, rather than having to stay up all night with her boss giving 'extra' services. Well, although sometimes we have the same finish line, our goal is career advancement too. But, no... It's not me.

I don't know what happened, Steven suddenly fell silent when I said the name 'Lory'. Did that name really mean anything to him? His expression changed, and the look on his face took on various lines of grief. Like bringing his memory to the saddest thing in his life. Reminded him of a deep wound. Can I empathize? Well, maybe if I were a normal girl who is easily fooled by this arrogant creature I would feel sorry for it. But sadly, I've had enough of being lied to by him and Sandra won't fall into his trap again.

"Okay," he says accepting my explanation.

"Okay?" Well, it's a surprise. That's it? That's all? He doesn't mind this problem anymore just because of that name? Lory, huh? Why did I become so curious about that name? Lory, who was she, who had made such an annoying man like Steven suddenly quiet, motionless.

"Yes, I believe your story," he says, frowning.

"Then now, I'm the one asking my question!" I say because there was still one question that stuck in my heart. "Why did you steal my design?" To be honest, I am still irritated because of yesterday's presentation.

"Steal the design?" says Steven pretending not to remember what happened yesterday.

"Do you remember? The design of the showroom yesterday, you presented it in front of Mrs. Anna, that's my drawing, that's my design!" I say it aloud.

"Oh, that showroom design? Well... I don't understand, where is the problem?" Steven replies in his annoying tone.

I roll my eyes and take a deep breath. This guy really tries to test my patience level at the highest point. "The problem is, you know it's my design, then you present it in front of Mrs. Anna without saying my name," I say firmly to make him remember all his sin.

"Oh, I see. Okay, now try to remember! What's written on the description column of every drawing from our company?" asked Steven.

"Image captions, scale descriptions, references, sheet numbers, and Ruanna's company logo!" I answered loudly.

"Is there the name of the architect who designed the building?"

I thought for a moment, remembering every piece of writing besides the working drawing until I finally decided on my answer. "No, sir," I answer it loudly.

"Exactly," Steven replies snatching my answer precisely. "In every design drawing that we work on, there is only Ruanna's logo. Ruanna by Anna Gunadi, which means that every design that we produce is only under one name, Company name, Ruanna."

"B... but..."

"There are no buts. Every employee of Ruanna has a function. I am always concerned with the design and management of employees, John with building technology, Angga with alternative designs, Mr. Alex with legal issues, Ms. Chien with effectiveness and utility calculations, everyone. Including Ma'am. Anna with a big name who always attracts big clients to entrust their building designs to us. One thing you must learn! Always remember your position. Sometimes you need to be silent, sometimes you need to speak. Ruanna, always works as a team, so as long as you work at Ruanna, don't ever say this is my design, this is your design, but say This is Ruanna's design."

"But, sir, do you think it is that fair? Please don't misunderstand my question, but, how can I get a little bit of acknowledgment of my hard work for this job. I mean, which is not just a salary".

"You can get your acknowledgment, but not in Ruanna. That's why I asked you to think about other careers outside of our company. Because I know, for someone like you, a case like this would be very difficult to accept."

I was silent when I heard what Steven said. Although I still don't fully understand, I'm trying to think more clearly. Maybe what Steven said was true. If we work as a team, then there is no word for me and you. Everything we do is for the survival of the team.

"Sometimes you can come up with a name, sometimes you're silent. Sometimes you bring out your abilities, sometimes you hold them back. Strategy, Sandra! You can't speak your mind innocently, without further thinking."

"Very well, sir," I replied taking Steven's advice and would try to remember it well.

"Oh, there's one more news you need to hear," says Steven. "As you already know, Ma'am. Anna likes your Showroom design. So, I will give the project to you. Please bring out all the knowledge you have, and impress me, Ma'am. Anna and the client."

Uh, did I hear it right? Did Steven give me my first project?

"Um, why are you so silent? So do you want it or not?' asked Steven impatiently.

"Wa.., I want it, sir!" I answered happily. I got a project. Showroom project, yes, yes! For some reason, my heart fluttered when Steven gave me the first project. A big project that many other architects in Ruanna are looking for. I promise, I won't let myself down, neither will Steven. This is a rare opportunity that should be made the best of it. Yes, Sandra Bayu Hutama is the architect who designed the futuristic Audi showroom. Sounds so melodious, doesn't it?