Chpater 06
From where she sat, Priska quietly observed Aldo at the head of the table. He pointed at several prints Bisma had prepared, dismissing them outright.
“We don’t need those,” he said firmly. “Stick to the old standard. That’s what the advertisers are asking for.”
The editorial meeting dragged on for another two hours before it finally wrapped up. Everyone began leaving, except for Priska. Aldo stopped her, insisting she stay behind. She knew it wasn’t about work. As a junior employee, she had no choice but to comply—refusing him openly in front of others would be seen as rude. The editor-in-chief knew how to wield his power.
Aldo walked over to the door and locked it from the inside. Panic swept through Priska—what if he tried something inappropriate? True, he was incredibly handsome, but that didn’t mean she would fall easily for a pretty face.
“Have you thought it over carefully, Pris?” Aldo asked, pulling a chair close to hers.
They were suddenly too close. She caught a whiff of his cologne—subtle yet distinct. Addictive. Their eyes locked for a moment too long, gazes lingering with unspoken admiration. From this distance, she could see her own reflection in the rim of his glasses. His eyes were striking—not too narrow like most Chinese features, yet not overly large either.
“Are you serious, Sir?” she asked, needing to be sure she wasn’t imagining this.
He shrugged with a playful smile. “Of course. When have you ever seen me joke about something like this?”
“Do you want to meet my parents in Bandung?” Priska blurted out, suddenly recalling her mother’s words from the night before.
“Just like that? We haven’t even gone on a proper date or held hands yet.” There was both annoyance and surprise in Aldo’s tone.
Priska nodded with a smile. “My mom wants me to come home and bring a man, just to show off to the neighbors. Not for anything serious. Honestly, I’m still… unsure about you.”
“Unsure? With this face? Are you sure?” he joked, tapping his cheek. He chuckled at his own dry humor, removing his glasses as he laughed.
Priska couldn’t help but smile back. For a moment, she was struck dumb—why would a man like him be interested in her?
“It’s just small talk, I think,” she said softly.
“Ah, I see. Forgive me. I was being paranoid—I thought you were about to propose marriage,” he teased.
“And what if you don’t want to marry me?” she shot back, half-giggling, half-testing him.
At thirty-two, Aldo was successful, respected, and seemingly had everything—except a wife. Many wondered why he hadn’t married yet, and Priska now found herself tangled in that same question. He slipped his glasses back on after wiping the lenses. A shame—she wished she could look longer at his bare face. Normally, he was intimidating when angry, but in this rare soft moment, he was disarmingly gentle.
“So… does this mean we’re officially dating now?” Aldo asked.
“Yes, Sir—” Priska’s cheeks flushed.
“Then from now on, you’ll have to call me something sweeter. Don’t keep calling me ‘Mr. Aldo or Sir’—it makes me feel ancient. I want something more… endearing.”
Priska arched a brow, lips curving in an amused smile. She hadn’t expected to see this boyish side of him. Around the office, he was the most-discussed man among the women—strict, sharp, and untouchable. Yet here he was, pouting for a pet name.
“Honey? Darling? Sweetheart? Babe?” she tried each one out loud.
Aldo’s smile deepened, his cheeks flushing red at the sound of each. He reached for her hand, holding it firmly before bringing it to his lips. His kiss lingered on the back of her hand—gentle, deliberate.
“Just ‘Babe’ will do,” he whispered, gazing warmly into her eyes.
Her heart skipped a beat. This was the same man who had once scolded her harshly at work—yet now, she realized, perhaps his frustration had always been his way of masking affection.
“May I kiss you?” Aldo asked softly. “I don’t need your answer. I just wanted to warn you so you’re not startled.” He leaned closer, fingers brushing against the back of her neck.
Priska’s pulse raced, her skin tingling. She cupped his face between her palms, lips pressed tight, unsure if she was ready. Aldo’s brows furrowed in confusion—maybe even irritation at being stopped.
“S-sir—” she stammered.
“Say it right. Babe,” he corrected with a smirk.
Priska let out a nervous laugh. “Uhm, we just started dating. I want to take things slow—to get to know you as my boyfriend, not just as Revaldo Aditya, the fearsome editor-in-chief of Hindia Insight who’s as stiff as a dried sponge.”
Aldo chuckled, then leaned in just enough to place a soft kiss on her forehead. He pulled back, clasping both her hands between his.
“You’re right, Pris. I’m rushing this. But you’re too beautiful—I can’t stand just looking at you from afar.”
Priska turned away, flustered. She excused herself quickly, worried he might lose control—or worse, that someone would get suspicious of her staying behind too long. Aldo gave her a little wave as she left, promising to call whenever he missed her. She could only smile shyly and nod before stepping out.
In the days that followed, Aldo and Priska became a couple—but in secret. They agreed not to let anyone at the office know. Still, in crowded places, they would hold hands. During meetings, they stole glances. During late nights at work, Aldo always made sure to bring her favorite snacks. Their secret romance blossomed quietly, hidden from everyone, until the next issue of Hindia Insight launched to impressive sales.
Aldo often drove Priska home, and so far, only Faby knew about their secret. Every day felt brighter, more colorful—and Priska couldn’t help but wish it would last forever.