Chapter 36

Chapter 36
The cool air of the Mahesa Group innovation lab, which previously felt like a mere boundary between Adrian and Elara, had now become a silent witness to a frozen tension. The beautiful hologram of the "Karya Adiluhung" collection design had been replaced by a dark screen, a reflection of the long-term profit projection data for the artisans that had vanished without a trace. Five days until a critical presentation to investors, and the very foundation of their argument had been pulled out from under them.
"That data is the lifeblood of this project, Adrian!" Elara broke the silence, her voice a palpable mix of anger and despair. She ran a hand through her hair, a gesture of frustration that Adrian had often seen during turbulent board meetings. "Without concrete numbers, we're just selling a dream. And those investors don't buy dreams; they buy a promise of return."
Adrian, seated in an ergonomic chair before the holographic meeting table, stared at the blank screen with a sharp gaze, as if trying to pierce through the digital dimension to find the lost trace. "I know that, Elara. And I also know that selling a dream is how we're going to save this project."
Baskara, who was busy at his laptop, looked up. "I've contacted the core IT team. They're doing digital forensics. So far, the results are zero. The hacker is very professional, leaving no trace."
"Damar," Elara whispered, the name a hiss of fire. She clenched her fist. "It has to be him. Who else has a motive this strong, and enough internal access to pull off such a despicable act of sabotage?"
Adrian shifted his gaze from the screen to Elara. "My suspicion points in the same direction. But suspicion alone isn't enough. We need irrefutable proof, Elara. Evidence we can use to take him out of this game for good."
"But why, Adrian? Why would he go this far? This charity project, Eyang's will, all of this is for the greater good," Elara stood up, pacing restlessly around the table. "He wants us to fail, yes, I get that. But to erase the data? Isn't that too risky for him?"
Adrian let out a long sigh, his gaze carrying the weight of an unspoken past. "Damar has always felt entitled to Eyang's legacy. He believes the Mahesa blood in his veins gives him a greater privilege than anyone else. Even though Eyang's will was clear for both of us, he will always look for a loophole."
"Unfortunately," Adrian continued, his voice lower, "he's also always felt marginalized. My father, your uncle, they always saw him as an 'unimportant branch.' That insecurity is mixed with greedy ambition. He sees this project not just as a threat to his 'rights,' but also as a platform for him to prove himself. By destroying us, he destroys Mahesa and Kencana, and takes over everything."
"So, he doesn't just want us to fail," Elara cut in, her face pale. "He wants us to be destroyed. He wants Mahesa and Kencana to fall into his hands. Eyang's entire legacy..."
"Exactly," Adrian nodded. "For him, this isn't just a business game. It's an all-out war for power and recognition."
Elara sat back down, her body feeling weak. The threat felt more real, darker than before. "What about the presentation, then? We can't show up without the numbers. There's no way investors will approve funding for a multi-billion rupiah project based only on 'vision' and 'social impact.'"
Adrian leaned back, his eyes sharpening. "We have no other choice. We have to change the narrative. Focus on the cultural value, the quality of the craftsmanship, and the story behind every thread of fabric. We will bring the artisans, not just their photos. Let the investors hear their voices and dreams directly."
"Voices and dreams? Adrian, this is an investment meeting, not a motivational seminar!" Elara retorted, her expression skeptical.
"But that could be what sets us apart, Elara," Adrian replied calmly. "Everyone sells numbers. We will sell emotion. We will show that 'Karya Adiluhung' is not just a fashion product, but a movement. An investment in our national heritage, in the future. A priceless bridge between tradition and modernity."
"That's... crazy risky," Elara muttered, but a flicker of thought was in her eyes. "But what if they're not interested? What if they just see us as two CEOs who can't even protect their own data?"
"We have to make sure they're interested," Adrian leaned forward, his gaze fixed on Elara. "And we will do it together. Remember, this presentation isn't just about Mahesa or Kencana. It's about 'Karya Adiluhung.' It's about what Eyang was trying to build between us."
Adrian's words, "together," "Eyang," and "between us," seemed to carry a different weight that night. He wasn't just speaking as the CEO of Mahesa, but as someone who was, somehow, connected to her. The feeling of betrayal and anger that had once consumed Elara slowly began to be replaced by a fragile spark of trust. Damar's threat had, ironically, created a new foundation for their alliance.
"Alright," Elara nodded, this time without hesitation. "If we're going to sell emotion, we have to sell it perfectly. The details of each artisan's story, the quality of every thread, must be 'visible' in their minds. We need powerful visual media. A short documentary video, testimonials, or even a miniature of the fabric-making process at the presentation location?"
Adrian smiled faintly. A smile that only Elara and perhaps Baskara had ever seen, and it always meant Adrian approved of the idea. "The miniature idea is interesting. We could create a small replica of an artisan's studio, complete with a traditional loom. And the documentary video has to show their struggles and hopes."
"The lighting is also important," Elara added, her eyes sparkling with unextinguished creative spirit. "We can use dramatic lighting to highlight the beauty of every detail of the woven fabric we bring. Making it feel like a museum art piece, not just clothing."
"And the opening narrative," Adrian continued, his brain working fast. "We have to start with a provocative question that touches the heart. What does heritage mean in the modern era? How can we preserve it without freezing it in time?"
They continued to exchange ideas, building a new strategy on the ruins of the lost data. The sound of Adrian's fingers tapping on the table, Elara's murmurs as she wrote down ideas on her tablet, and Baskara's occasional interjections adding logistical points. The atmosphere in the room, though still shrouded in danger, now felt more alive. Their cooperation, which had started out of necessity, was now developing into something more organic, more efficient.
In the middle of the heated discussion, Elara suddenly stopped Adrian from reaching for his cold coffee cup. "Wait," she said, her eyes on Adrian, not on the documents. "You just said Damar felt marginalized by your father and my uncle. Does that mean there's a deeper personal grudge?"
Adrian looked at Elara. "Eyang always believed in meritocracy. He saw potential in both of us. Damar, on the other hand, relies on name and connections. There's a long history of rivalry between the core family and a branch like him. My father even said to his face that Damar didn't have the 'Mahesa touch' in business, which severely hurt his pride."
Elara held her chin, trying to put the puzzle pieces together. "But to destroy the entire company? To let Eyang down? Wouldn't that bring him down even more?"
"That's what worries me," Adrian admitted, his tone turning serious. "This act of his is far more desperate than before. He doesn't just want to harm us; he also wants to take over. And for that, he needs to see us both as complete losers, having lost everything."
"I have a bad feeling about this," Elara whispered, her eyes meeting Adrian's. "If he's willing to take this big of a risk just to destroy us, what else might he do?"
Adrian didn't answer, his eyes darting from Elara to Baskara who was checking something on his laptop. Baskara's face suddenly turned pale.
"What is it, Baskara?" Adrian asked, his tone cold, feeling the same bad premonition as Elara.
Baskara lifted his laptop, turning the screen towards them. "I just received a report from the Mahesa security team. They found suspicious activity in one of our production lines. An unregistered material order, allocated for the 'Karya Adiluhung' project..."
Elara moved closer, her eyes narrowing as she read the details on the screen. "An order for low-quality silk fabric? What is this? We use the best silk for this collection!"
"Not only that," Baskara continued, his voice tight. "This report also shows that this replacement material is scheduled to be shipped to one of Kencana Mode's production locations for the final tailoring process. If this gets through, our entire collection will be ruined. And it's scheduled to happen... tomorrow morning."
The air in the room felt stifling, colder than before. Elara's premonition had come true. Damar wasn't just trying to take them down with a single blow; he was launching a series of attacks. This was no longer just data sabotage, but a systematic attempt to ruin their core product.
Adrian clenched his fist, his jaw hardening. "He doesn't just want to destroy our presentation. He wants to destroy our collection. To humiliate us in front of the whole world."
Elara looked at Adrian, her face filled with a new determination. "We can't let him. We have to stop that shipment. Now."
Adrian nodded, his eyes blazing with steely resolve. "The delivery is at three in the morning. We have less than four hours." He stared intently at Elara, something unspoken in his intense gaze. "Ready for war, Elara?"