Let Me Beat Him

That bastard coming approached me. He looks different from the last time I saw him. The man didn't have long messy hair anymore. His face looks very mature and his appearance is neat with his expensive and charming suit. One thing that hasn't changed about him is the expression on his face. Especially his surprised expression when he saw me here. Yes, the look in his eye is still the same as the last time. He looks at me like staring at the face of a ghost which came suddenly without any sign.

Of course, ever since I met him at the cafe with another woman, I chose to avoid him. I don't want to see him again. Not because I was afraid of him, but because I didn't want to remember that pain anymore. I don't deny that one of the reasons I went to Jakarta was to avoid him. If I apply for a job at an architectural firm in Bandung, in the same town with that bastard, the chances of our meeting will be even greater. But unfortunately, no matter how far I ran away, fate still brought the two of us together. Maybe I should go somewhere further than here.

"Hi, Sandra, how are you?" Tyo said with a slightly pale face as he stood right in front of me.

"Unbelievably good. Without people like you, my life is perfect," I smiled as I shook his hand.

Suddenly the atmosphere turned strange and awkward. His expression conveyed various feelings of guilt. It was as if he had a grave sin on me. Oh, of course, he did have a very big sin on me.

"Sandra... I'm sorry... I..."

Before Tyo could finish his words, Steven immediately grabbed my hand and pulls me away from that man. I think, today I have to thank Steven a lot. Grateful as he pulled me away before the awkwardness between me and Tyo lasted any longer. Or maybe... I'm grateful that Steven pulled me in before I slap that annoying bastard's face.

"Are you nuts?" he whispered annoyed. Almost every day I see Steven annoyed or even angry, but I've never seen Steven act like this. His voice wasn't loud. He did not shout, or speak in a high tone, but I could tell he was really mad at me, and of course a little disappointed too.

"Sorry, sir, I know I'm wrong. But, please, please allow me to present the design today. I don't care if you fire me. I don't care if starting today, I can't be an architect anymore. But... I can't lose. I can't lose anything to that guy."

"Who is he?" asked Steven, while glancing at Tyo's face.

I thought for a while, searching for the right words to describe that bastard in front of Steven. I don't want to say harsh words in front of my boss, it's just, I have no other words to describe Tyo in other words than that.

"Only bastards I've forgotten about!" I said annoyed.

"Do not lie!" Steven replied while looking at me with his sharp glaring eyes. "Did you aware? You're willing to give up your dream of becoming an architect just because of him. You must have a special past with him, right?"

I'm speechless. Steven's guess was right! I wanted to refute the words 'special past' that came out of Steven's mouth, but I couldn't. Because the truth is, he is indeed a special past for me. I admit I was able to forget his presence, but not the wound that he was scratched so big in my heart. Scratches that make me a little tired of men, even make me don't believe in love anymore.

I don't know what's going through Steven's head, I don't know what my face looks like when I look at him, but anyway I'll respect his decision. "Okay!" Steven replied, taking a deep breath. "Okay, I'll allow you to present this afternoon."

"Wait... what...?" I don't understand why Steven allowed me to do crazy things that might cast a slur on him and or even Ruanna's. But, at the same time, I also don't want to know his reason. I just want to beat Tyo. The man who took advantage of my sincerity just for a sheet of the certificate. And now, it's time for me to ask for his title back. I did his assignments, and his title was mine.

"Steven, have you finished already?" asked Ma'am Anna who coming approached us.

"Ma'am, I thought about it carefully. I agree with this newbie's opinion. We will do a design presentation this afternoon," said Steven calmly.

"What? Steven! I'm telling you to fire that rascal right now! Don't be crazy like her!"

"I know, ma'am. I know all the rules that you apply at Ruanna. However, I also can't let the client underestimate our design. Didn't the Audi Indonesia directors just challenge us by hiring another architecture bureau? I don't want to make the rumors bigger. The rumor is that Ruanna is afraid of the tender system. Besides, I can't find a single reason not to accept the challenge. After all, why should we back down if we believe our design is the best?"

"Steven!" said Madam Devil, clenching her fists. I don't know why she looks so upset. Could it be that she was upset because I had made the apple of her eye rebel again her?

"Believe me, Ma'am, we won't lose!" said Steven with a smile.

Wait, I don't understand. Is Steven so sure of the design I made? I do not have confidence as much as he does. I still feel a little insecure about my work, I know the building is great but... really? Is Steven that sure of my design? Am I going to win? He rolls the dice and gambles with the work of a newbie like me, and he believes that I can win. This is hard to believe.

"Okay, Steven, I trust you. But remember, every decision has consequences," said Ma'am Anna.

"I understand, and I'm ready to take all responsibility," said Steven calmly.

"No, not you. Since this idea came from her presumptuous mouth, then if you fail, I assure you that the newbie will never work in the architecture field again for the rest of her life."

Honestly, I got goosebumps hearing Madam Devil's words, I know what I'm at stake. I know the consequences. Although I think it was all worth it to beat Tyo, hearing those words from Ma'am Anna's mouth, really made me shiver. It's my bet, win, or forget my dream... forever.

"Deal!" replied Steven. He looked at my face with a horrified expression. "But, ma'am, there's one more thing," Steven said with a smile and whispered something in Madam Devil's ear. I couldn't hear what he was saying, but from the expressions on both of them, it looked like they were thinking of a new strategy to deal with Uncle Santa and his staff.

"Hmmm... interesting. I'll try!" said Madam Devil with a smile after hearing a whisper from Steven.

"Fine, ma'am, but before we go back to the boardroom, let me have one more talk with this newbie first," Steven said pulling my hand once more.

After being in a fairly quiet hallway, Steven immediately looked at my face. I don't know what he was looking for from my face, but he watched every expression on my face carefully, honestly, it made me feel uncomfortable.

"Listen carefully! I know it from the first time I met you. I know you are a brave woman who didn't know how to act. But the case is different from the first time I saw your presentation at Ruanna. Today's incident, it's not child's play anymore. Keep in mind your mine, we in or we out!"

"I understand, sir," I replied.

"No, Sandra, you don't understand! I don't care about your business with your past, but remember well, as long as you carry Ruanna's name, think about the friends who work in the office. Remember Sandra, one bad reputation, can ruin hundreds of goods! Do you understand?"

I nodded my head. I knew I would be risking my future, but, I was also aware if I was risking the fate of our bureau and all my friend's fate in Ruanna. I had no other choice today, but to succeed, succeed and succeed.

"I understand, sir," I replied persistently.

"Good!" said Steven, nodding his head. "One more thing, under these conditions, anything can happen, but, always try to stay calm, and just follow what happens, ok?"

"Yes sir."

"Good, let's go in!"

I followed Steven and Ma'am Anna back into the meeting room. Met every face that looked surprised by our presence when we returned to the room. Seeing Tyo having a friendly chat with Uncle Santa made me a little worried. However, what has happened just happened, I can't be repeat anymore. Nevertheless, I will never regret it. I always want to teach him a little lesson.

"So? What is your decision, Ma'am Anna?" asked Uncle Santa to welcome Madam Devil's presence in the meeting room again.

"I agree to follow your game. We are ready to make a presentation today," replied Madam Devil with a big smile on her cheeks.

"Ah, Ma'am Anna. Thank you very much, we are very grateful for your kindness."

"Kindness? Sorry, please don't get me wrong. We're going to have a presentation today, but with some conditions."

"Alright, do tell me, what conditions do we have to fulfill?"

"First, we ask Audi Indonesia to use one of our designs. From the bureau that made today's presentation. And we must not cancel the design and hire other parties that have nothing to do with today."

"Agreed, we have chosen the two best architectural firms in Indonesia. And using one of the designs, both from the Ruanna Bureau and the Tyo.JO Bureau is an honor for us."

"Good! Second, we want the assessment to be objective and fair. It is not biased towards any party, and only judges in terms of creativity and design. We want a fair assessment, which means voting from all Audi Indonesia staff who present in this room."

"Agreed, no problem," said Uncle Santa with a smile.

"And last, if we win, then the contract between Audi Indonesia and Ruanna will change. I want you to pay our design fee, which is double what we talked about before."

There was sweat suddenly flowing from Uncle Santa's forehead. Twice the agreed price, it didn't seem to please him much.

"Ma'am. Anna, you must be joking, right? Paying double? Aren't you afraid that we deliberately make you lose just because of those heavy requirements?" replied Uncle Santa who started trying to renegotiate.

"Oh no. Since you're the one who broke the contract and turned this fun day into a bitter one, then you have only one choice. Pay a very high price, or build a showroom with a... mediocre... nothing special design from another bureau. As far as I know, Audi is a big company, right? What if Audi International found out that their showroom in Indonesia was built with a worse design just because it couldn't pay the best architects fairly at their price? Um..., sad, right?"

I saw a smirk spread across Steven's cheeks after Madam Devil said that term. Looks like the new deal between Uncle Santa and Madam Devil was his idea. I don't know what he was thinking, but the condition that Madam Devil mentioned just now made my heart beat even faster.

"What's wrong? Aren't you ready for our presentation requirements? Don't you have enough funds to pay our design at a fair price?" snarled Madam Devil with a sinister smile on her face.

"Hohoho, it looks like you are very confident in your work. And we loved that," said Uncle Santa while shaking Madam Devil's hand.

I don't know what was on Uncle Santa's mind, sweat was pouring down his forehead quite profusely, but he also couldn't cancel the agreement with Madam Devil. Can't pay the fair price? I think Uncle Santa would be in a huge shame if that happened. He was cornered, he had no other choice. Even though his hands were shaking, he still had to shake my boss's cold evil hand. And that means, like it or not, today, I have to win this shit. There is no other choice.