Inka felt relieved hearing those praises. She felt more confident to share her other ideas.
"But, there's one thing I want to ask you," said Adji, in a more serious tone.
Inka looked at Adji curiously. Her heart started beating fast again. What did Mr. Adji want to ask? Was it about her job? Or... something else?
"I know this might be a sensitive question, but... did you already know that I'm your older sister Intan's husband? Because when I looked at your CV, I saw Intan listed as your biological sister," asked Adji, staring at Inka with an intense gaze.
Inka was surprised. She didn't expect Adji to ask that directly. She nodded slowly.
"Yes, Mr. Adji. I just found out after you introduced yourself earlier. I'm sorry I couldn't attend when you two got married," replied Inka, her voice slightly trembling.
"It's okay, Inka. But I never thought I'd have a sister-in-law as smart as you. And on top of that, you're beautiful too," said Adji, smiling as he looked at her.
"Oh come on, Mr. Adji. It's Ms. Intan who's beautiful. If not, how could she become a famous model?" replied Inka, her cheeks blushing.
"Inka, I just want to make sure that our family relationship won't affect our work. I want us to be able to cooperate professionally, without any awkwardness or discomfort," said Adji, with a sincere look.
Inka nodded in agreement. "I want that too, Mr. Adji. I'll do my best to separate personal matters from work," she replied, in a firmer tone.
Adji smiled in relief. "Thank you, Inka. I really appreciate that. Well then, let's put our family status aside for now. Let's focus on The Emerald Oasis. There's a lot we need to discuss," said Adji, as he opened the resort design folder again.
Inka nodded and smiled. She felt a little calmer now. She was confident that, even though the situation was a bit complicated, she and Mr. Adji could work together professionally and create something amazing.
However, deep in her heart, Inka was still curious. Why did Adji praise her beauty when his wife was clearly a famous model in Indonesia? Was this just Mr. Adji's nature? Or was Inka really more beautiful? Or maybe there were problems in their marriage? She didn't know – Inka pushed those swirling doubts out of her mind.
Days passed quickly. Inka and Adji became more and more immersed in The Emerald Oasis project. They often worked late into the night, discussing designs, seeking inspiration, and solving problems together. Their communication had grown more intense since they'd been working together for three months – not just about work, but about personal matters too. Inka began to feel comfortable being around Adji. She liked the way he thought, how he solved problems, and how he treated others.
On the other hand, Adji felt the same way. He saw Inka as someone intelligent, creative, and full of passion. He liked the way she looked at him, how she laughed, and how she came up with brilliant ideas. Adji began to feel that Inka was the one he'd been looking for all along – someone who could understand him, someone who could make him happy.
Slowly, Adji's attention toward Inka was no longer just that of a brother-in-law. There were gentle touches, deeper looks, and more sincere praises. But Inka always kept her boundaries, trying not to get lost in Adji's growing attention. She knew their relationship was impossible, and she didn't want to hurt Ms. Intan.
One day, Inka and her team presented the detailed drawings they'd created for The Emerald Oasis project to the company's management. Adji was amazed to see how Inka defended her arguments – confidently and intelligently. He was proud to watch Inka successfully convince management and secure a deal for the designs she'd created.
That night, Inka celebrated the success with her team at a nightclub. The atmosphere was lively, with thumping music and flashing lights. Inka was approached by one of her fellow architects – a handsome and attractive man named Alvin. They danced closely, laughed, and joked around.
Adji, who had just arrived and saw Inka dancing with Alvin, felt jealous. He didn't like seeing Inka with another man. He felt like she was his, even though he knew he had no right to feel that way.
When Inka headed to the restroom, Adji followed her. He waited outside the women's restroom, feeling anxious. When Inka came out, Adji immediately confronted her.
"Mr. Adji? What are you doing here?" asked Inka, surprised to see him.
"I just wanted to make sure you're okay," replied Adji, sounding concerned. "What's your relationship with Alvin?"
"Just for fun, Mr. Adji," replied Inka casually. "Why are you so nosy?"
As Inka tried to walk past him, Adji suddenly pulled her arm. He pinned Inka against the wall, caging her between his arms.
"Inka..." whispered Adji, his voice hoarse.
Without waiting for a response, Adji pressed his lips against Inka's in a passionate kiss. Inka could smell the strong scent of alcohol on his breath. At first, Inka was shocked and tried to push him away. But Adji's kiss was so intoxicating, so full of pent-up desire. Slowly, Inka kissed him back just as passionately.
They kissed wildly, forgetting all rules and boundaries. Adji's hands crept to Inka's waist, pulling her closer. Inka wrapped her arms around his neck, deepening their kiss.
After a while, Inka pulled away. She looked at Adji with a mix of desire and confusion in her eyes.
"Mr.... Mr. Adji, why?" asked Inka, her voice trembling.
Adji looked at Inka with eyes full of love and jealousy.
"I was jealous, Inka," whispered Adji, his voice hoarse. "I was jealous seeing you with Alvin."
Inka gave a bitter smile. "Jealous? Mr. Adji is jealous of me? But you already have Ms. Intan," said Inka, confused.
Adji was silent. He knew Inka was right – he shouldn't feel jealous, he had no right to.
"I know, Inka. I know," said Adji, in a desperate tone. "But I can't hold back my feelings anymore. I love you, Inka."
Inka laughed bitterly. "Love? What kind of love is that, Mr. Adji? Love that hurts your own wife's heart? Love that betrays other people's trust?" she said, her tone sharp.
Adji was silent – he couldn't argue with her words. "Forgive me, Inka," he said, his voice soft. "I know I'm wrong. I shouldn't have said this. But I really couldn't hold it in anymore."
Adji took a deep breath, as if gathering courage to say something important.
"Inka, you know... I don't love Intan. I was forced to accept my arranged marriage to her because of our parents' wishes," said Adji, his voice heavy.
Inka stared at him in shock. She didn't expect Adji to say that.
"My marriage to Intan isn't what you imagine, Inka," Adji continued, his voice growing softer. "We... we've never fulfilled our duties as husband and wife at all."
Inka was even more shocked to hear his confession. She didn't know what to say.
"I only ever kissed Intan when I was drunk, and it never went beyond that," said Adji, his voice more desperate. "I didn't want to touch her after I caught her in a passionate embrace with her lover on our wedding reception night. And since then, I've felt disgusted to touch her."
Tears began to stream down Adji's cheeks. He felt so ashamed and guilty for telling Inka all this.
"Forgive me, Inka," said Adji, his voice trembling. "I shouldn't have told you this. I just... I just wanted you to know the truth."
Inka was silent. She felt sorry for Adji, who was clearly suffering. She knew he wasn't happy in his marriage.
"Mr. Adji..." said Inka gently, trying to calm him down. But before she could continue, Adji turned around and walked out of the restroom. He moved quickly, as if trying to escape the embarrassing situation.
Inka stood still, watching Adji leave with mixed feelings. She felt pity, confusion, and guilt. She didn't know what to do.
Adji walked out of the club with long strides, pushing through the crowd without caring about his surroundings. He felt suffocated and wanted to get out of there immediately. He felt ashamed and stupid for telling Inka all his problems.
Meanwhile, Inka still stood lost in thought in the restroom. She splashed cold water on her face, trying to calm herself down. She never expected Adji to tell her something so personal. Why did he trust her so much? Why was he willing to share his complicated marital problems with her?