Day by day, month by month, time passed by just like that. Andromeda, who was eagerly awaited just yesterday, is now one year old. Thinking that their son has adapted well and believing that Andromeda can be left on his own, Veronica decided to start working again.
Of course, making this decision was not easy. There were many considerations and lengthy discussions that she had to engage in with her husband. Initially, Darwin was hesitant as well. He was worried that their son might lack love and attention if Veronica divided her focus and thoughts between work.
“Darling… you don’t need to worry. Didn’t we already discuss this when I was pregnant with Andromeda?” Veronica asked during their serious conversation.
“Yes, Ve,” Darwin nodded. There was no way he could forget something so important. “I’m not forgetting. The issue now is that I’d feel sorry if Andromeda suddenly had to be taken care of full-time by a babysitter. We take care of our valuables to prevent them from being taken or damaged by others. It’s not easy for us to entrust our own child completely to someone else. If possible, I can bring Andro to the office so I can keep an eye on him.”
Seeing the fear and concern in Darwin’s expression, Veronica smiled. He loved their son so much that he was willing to do anything to ensure Andromeda was in good hands.
“Not for a full 24 hours, dear. I’ll start work at nine in the morning and come back earlier. Maybe around four or at the latest, five in the evening. Besides, there’s also Mba Renata and Mba Ita who will supervise the babysitter. So, there’s no need to worry,” Veronica explained, hoping that Darwin would reconsider her request.
But seeing his reluctance, Veronica had to think of another way to convince her husband. She thought about what other methods she could use to get Darwin to agree to her request to return to work.
“Or, I could start by training for a month or two to work half-days. I’ll start at eight in the morning and come back during the break or at noon. We can gradually adjust the schedule until Andromeda can be left for a full day,” Veronica suggested with hope in her heart, silently praying that her offer would be accepted by her husband.
While Darwin appeared to be deep in thought, there was a part of him that felt torn, as he felt sorry for Veronica, who was used to working and meeting new people, having to stay home and engage in somewhat monotonous activities.
“Alright, I agree to the second option,” Darwin finally replied after thinking long and weighing the pros and cons. “But…” he paused.
“But what?”
“I want you to stick to your own decision regarding time and responsibilities. In the future, I won’t accept excuses like overtime, bringing work home, or neglecting the family because you’re too busy with office work. If that happens, I will never allow you to work again.”
“Okay, I agree. So, when can I start working?”
“Next week. It’s up to you whether you want to return to Infinix Group or Vortex Group. I’ll leave the choice to you.”
Since she had received the green light, Veronica decided to help her father manage Vortex Group. And today was the day she began her activities in that regard.
Full of enthusiasm from the morning, Veronica prepared herself. After taking care of all of Andromeda’s needs, she took her turn to prepare breakfast for Darwin. Together, they enjoyed the stuffed bread that had been served. After they finished, Darwin drove Veronica to the Vortex Group building in the city center.
“I’m off to work,” Veronica said to Darwin when the car she was in had stopped at the lobby of the Vortex Group building.
Darwin nodded. He shifted his seat slightly to kiss Veronica’s forehead and cheek alternately.
“Yes, dear. Have a good day at work. Remember to come home at twelve noon. Mr. Dion will pick you up and bring you home.”
“Alright, I won’t forget. I’ll get off now. You take care on the road.”
After saying their goodbyes, Veronica entered the building with light steps. All the employees she passed greeted her without hesitation. Even Ananda, who was her secretary, followed along with a stack of documents in her hands. Before long, they arrived at the room Veronica used to occupy.
“These are the documents you asked me to prepare last night. I’ve compiled them all and they’re ready for review,” the secretary explained.
Veronica, who was already seated, opened the documents that had just been handed to her. She glanced at them briefly, then spoke without diverting her gaze from the sheets of paper in her hands.
“Alright, let me go through these first. When I’m done, you can retrieve them and submit them to the planning department.” Veronica then looked up. Before instructing her secretary to leave, she asked another question.
“Oh, by the way, Nanda, has Mr. Damian arrived? Is he in his office?”
The girl named Nanda nodded and answered the question posed to her.
“Mr. Damian arrived about 15 minutes ago, Ma’am. He’s currently in his office.”
“Alright then. You can continue working.”
After Nanda left the room, instead of immediately getting to work, Veronica left as well. She intentionally went to her father’s office to see him.
“Pa, am I interrupting you?” Veronica asked shortly after entering her father’s office.
Damian, who was busy checking something on his tablet, immediately looked up upon seeing his daughter and smiled.
“No, dear. What’s up? Do you need something?”
Veronica smiled and shook her head. She had come to her father’s office not because she needed something.
“Veronica doesn’t need anything. I’m here to say hi to Papa.”
Damian returned her smile. He got up from his seat and waved for Veronica to come closer. Once they were very close, Damian warmly embraced his daughter.
Although married and even having a child now, Damian still considered Veronica his little daughter, whom he had to protect and make happy for the rest of his life. According to Damian, there was no treasure more precious in the world than his only daughter. And now, his treasure had grown even more valuable with the addition of Andromeda to the Wijaya family.
“Welcome back to Vortex Group. I hope you can enjoy working here and stay focused,” Damian said.
Veronica nodded. After the embrace, she responded to her father’s words.
“No way I won’t enjoy it, Pa. But for the next month or two, I won’t be able to be fully present at the office. I promised Darwin to set aside time for Andromeda.”
Damian chuckled. He understood his daughter’s intentions. In fact, he was grateful that Darwin had acted wisely and not forced his own wishes on Veronica.
“If I were Darwin, I would do the same thing. Although you don’t need to work, my dear. What more do you lack?”
“Veronica works not because of need, Pa. It’s just that I’m used to being active. So, if I just stay idle at home, it feels like something is missing.”
Once again, Damian smiled. He had expected his daughter to respond that way.
“Well, feel free to enjoy your activities as long as you don’t neglect your duties as a wife and a mother. Anything positive, I will fully support, my dear.”
“Thank you very much, Pa. Veronica-”
Veronica’s sentence was interrupted when her father suddenly received a phone call. He then signaled Veronica to be silent for a moment as he took the call.
From her position standing next to her father’s desk, Veronica could see his facial expression change as he received the call, which seemed to come from an unknown source. His once calm face suddenly turned serious, as if something important needed his immediate attention.
“Ve, you have to come with me now,” Damian requested after ending the phone call, still looking serious.
Veronica appeared slightly puzzled. She wondered who had just called her father and where he was taking her now. Meanwhile, the work she had just started might be left unfinished.
“Where are we going, Pa? It’s almost time for work,” Veronica reminded.
“Just come with me, dear. I’ll explain on the way.”
“But, Pa-”
“Come on, Veronica. We don’t have much time.”
Veronica complied. The next moment, they both walked out of the room together with her father, heading to the hospital.
“What’s going on, Pa? Why do you seem so restless?” Veronica asked as they were both on their way to the hospital.
“Just now, I received news that Mama Cristina suddenly lost consciousness and is on her way to the hospital.”
Hearing the name Cristina mentioned, Veronica fell silent. From the beginning, when her father decided to remarry and chose Cristina as his partner, Veronica had openly shown her dislike for her stepmother.
For some reason, Veronica felt that Cristina was a manipulative person who liked to take advantage of situations and only wanted her father’s wealth. That’s why Veronica deliberately kept her distance and never greeted Cristina unless absolutely necessary.
“No, Pa. Veronica doesn’t want to!” Veronica refused openly, regardless of whether her father would get angry or upset with her.
Damian sighed heavily. He knew that his daughter had disliked his new wife from the beginning. Despite all efforts to bridge the gap, it seemed futile.
“Ve, just this once,” Damian pleaded once more. “Besides, how long do you intend to have this cold war with Mama Cristina?”
Veronica chose to remain silent. She neither outright rejected nor accepted her father’s request. After all, they were currently on their way, and eventually, when they arrived at the hospital, would she be willing to meet her stepmother?