Chapter 19 – The Morning After
Chapter 19 – The Morning After
The city was still cloaked in the pale blue of early dawn when Reyhan’s car pulled into the underground parking of the Azhari Group headquarters.
Neither he nor Nadira had spoken much since leaving the gala. There hadn’t been a fight, only an unspoken understanding that what had happened last night required careful thought before it was discussed.
The quiet between them was heavy—not uncomfortable, but weighted with strategy.
As the elevator doors closed, Reyhan finally spoke. “Tell me everything she said.”
Nadira didn’t hesitate. “She tried to convince me you’d always choose the company over me. That protecting me is temporary… conditional.”
His jaw tightened. “Classic Elena. She plants seeds of doubt because she knows direct attacks won’t work on you anymore.”
“She also made it clear she’s not done. Last night was just a warning.”
Reyhan’s gaze met hers, sharp and unwavering. “Good. Then she knows we’re not playing her game—we’re rewriting it.”
\---
When they reached Reyhan’s office, the smell of fresh coffee greeted them. But so did something else.
On the glass table in the center of the room sat a folded newspaper. The front page wasn’t about the gala itself—it was about them.
Azhari Group’s Young Master and His Secretary: The Power Duo or Something More?
Beneath the headline was a photo taken the night before—Reyhan with his hand at the small of Nadira’s back, both of them caught in a moment of private conversation. The framing made it look far more intimate than it had been.
Nadira exhaled slowly. “And so it begins.”
Reyhan picked up the paper, scanning the article. “It’s speculation, but it’s timed perfectly. They want the board questioning whether my decisions are personal rather than strategic.”
“Which means Elena didn’t just want to rattle me—she wanted to create a narrative.”
He looked at her, his expression unreadable. “The question is whether we fight it head-on or let it die on its own.”
\---
Before Nadira could answer, Reyhan’s desk phone buzzed. His assistant’s voice came through the speaker. “Sir, Mr. Dimas Gunawan is here. He says it’s urgent.”
Reyhan’s eyes narrowed. “Send him in.”
Dimas entered with the confidence of someone who knew his presence was already disruptive. He was impeccably dressed, his smirk faint but deliberate.
“Quite the headline this morning,” he began, tossing the paper onto Reyhan’s desk as if he’d brought it as a gift. “I suppose congratulations are in order.”
“If you came here for gossip, you can leave,” Reyhan said evenly.
“Oh, I came for business. But public perception is part of business, isn’t it? Especially when investors start wondering whether company policy is… compromised.”
Nadira didn’t move, but her eyes tracked every nuance of his expression.
“What exactly do you want, Dimas?” Reyhan asked.
“A simple exchange. Step back from the upcoming Port Sagara contract negotiations, and I’ll make sure this—” he tapped the paper “—stops making the rounds.”
Reyhan’s voice was low, dangerous. “If you think I’d hand over a deal worth billions because of a headline, you’re even more foolish than I thought.”
Dimas shrugged. “Then enjoy watching your board question your judgment. I’ll be waiting.”
He left without another word, the door closing behind him like a full stop.
\---
Nadira turned to Reyhan. “He’s working with Elena.”
“Obviously,” Reyhan said, pouring himself a coffee. “But he just gave us his tells. If he wants me out of Port Sagara that badly, it means the deal’s worth more to them than we thought.”
“Or,” Nadira countered, “it’s worth more to whoever is backing them.”
Reyhan studied her over the rim of his cup. “Exactly.”
\---
By mid-morning, the buzz from the article had reached the upper floors of the Azhari Group. Board members were calling Reyhan’s office, some politely asking for reassurance, others less subtle in their concerns.
Nadira sat across from him at the conference table, going over the schedule for the week. “If we let this rumor run wild, it’ll become harder to separate personal and professional in their minds.”
“And if we deny it outright, we look defensive,” Reyhan added.
She hesitated. “What if we use it?”
He raised an eyebrow. “Use it how?”
“Let them think we’re closer than we are. If Elena and Dimas believe they’ve found a weakness, they’ll push harder—and maybe make a mistake we can exploit.”
For a moment, silence stretched between them. Then Reyhan leaned back, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “Dangerous. But so are they.”
\---
By noon, Nadira had already implemented her part of the plan. She arranged for them to attend a high-profile business luncheon together—publicly, visibly—ensuring the press would capture their arrival.
The venue was an upscale rooftop restaurant overlooking the city. As expected, photographers were stationed outside, lenses snapping the moment they stepped from the car. Reyhan offered his arm without a word, and she took it, their steps perfectly in sync.
Inside, the luncheon was all polite smiles and sharp undercurrents. Industry leaders mingled over delicate plates of seafood, but every few minutes, eyes would flick toward them.
Halfway through the event, Nadira caught sight of Elena at the far end of the terrace. Their gazes met, and for just a second, Nadira saw the flicker of irritation in her rival’s eyes.
\---
After the luncheon, Reyhan’s phone buzzed with a message. He glanced at the screen and handed it to her.
You’re playing a dangerous game, Nadira. – E
She met his gaze. “Looks like she’s already taking the bait.”
“Good,” he said. “Let’s make sure she swallows the hook.”
\---
That night, back in Reyhan’s office, they went over the list of upcoming contracts and shareholder meetings. Nadira pointed to one name in particular—a minor supplier whose sudden interest in the Port Sagara project didn’t make sense.
“They’ve never been involved in infrastructure before,” she noted. “If they’re here now, it’s because someone invited them in.”
“Which means they’re a proxy,” Reyhan said. “We find the connection, we find who’s financing Elena and Dimas.”
Nadira leaned forward. “And when we do?”
His voice was calm, but there was steel beneath it. “We cut them off at the source.”
\---
The plan was risky. It relied on letting the rumors circulate just enough to keep Elena and Dimas overconfident, while quietly tightening their own control over key negotiations.
As they finalized their strategy, Nadira glanced at him. “You do realize that if this goes wrong, it won’t just be the company they come after.”
Reyhan met her eyes, his tone unwavering. “I know. Which is why we make sure it doesn’t go wrong.”
For the first time that day, Nadira allowed herself a small smile. “Then let’s give them something worth fearing.”
\---
By the time she left the office, the city was bathed in the amber glow of evening. She knew the days ahead would be difficult. The line between their professional alliance and whatever was slowly growing between them was becoming increasingly blurred.
But one thing was certain—Elena and Dimas had no idea just how much trouble they’d invited by underestimating her.
And that, Nadira thought, might be the very thing that turned the tide in their favor.