DRIVING ME CRAZY (ENGLISH)

CHAPTER 8 : Hatred

Darren fixed the buttons on his shirt sleeves and immediately wore a black jacket which he disguised as long as he was on the couch in his study. Today, he had an appointment to have lunch with his business partners and at the same time they would talk about cooperation.

Just when Darren was about to walk away, his cellphone vibrated to indicate one message. He immediately read it.

His face hardened at the message which turned out to be from a detective he had paid to investigate Mikaela when he was in Paris a few days ago. The man said that he had received important information and was on his way to Darren's office.

In addition to doing business with Leo, Darren was also curious as to why Mikaela could go and live in Paris with his bankruptcy without Darren knowing, even though Rendy had told his father's best detective to find Mikaela's whereabouts but the results were zero, Mikaela disappeared without a trace. Although at that time Mikaela's former lawyer said that Mikaela got insurance money for her education, but it was imposible that the money would be able to pay for her education and living expenses in Paris.

Darren used to have no power whatsoever, he was just a man who was just about to grow up, so he only relied on Rendy who also relied on his father's power. Now he had everything, money, power, strength. Although it came from Darren's father's company, it was Darren who raised the company and Darren would secretly build his own business empire.

Darren sat back in his big chair, linking his fingers, his memory spinning back to what happened seven years ago, when he found himself helpless to see Daffa in pain with hospital equipment. He could not find Mikaela anywhere, his hopes were destroyed to make Daffa improve again, because Daffa loved the girl so much, Darren hoped that she would encourage Daffa when her twin was dropping, but Mikaela disappeared without even a hint of guilt for Daffa.

Darren realized the mistake was not only in Mikaela but also in him. From that moment on, it was Darren who tried desperately to look after Daffa. After Caroline said the only way to save Daffa was with a heart donor, Darren had offered his heart to Daffa, but his parents firmly refused his crazy idea.

Seeing his mother who cried every night and his father taking care of him made Darren even worse. This is her fault and Mikaela's fault, if the girl didn’t leave them and went back to Daffa, maybe Daffa would get better, not worse.

Everything changed, until a month later in a hurry and cry Caroline came to Darren and said that she had found a donor of Daffa's heart, an accident victim who had voluntarily surrendered her heart to Daffa shortly before dying, when there was a little relief in Darren's heart. He was very grateful to Caroline because she was the only young doctor who was willing to take the risk of operating Daffa.

A knock on the door broke Darren's reverie.

Mikaela timidly opened the door and looked at him.

"There are guests looking for you, sir."

"Tell them to come in."

Mikaela stepped back at Darren's orders and invited several people into Darren's room while bowing politely.

"Excuse me."

"Tell one of the office girls to bring drinks." Darren said before Mikaela closed the door again.

Darren quickly stood up and invited the men to sit down.

"What information did you get?" asked Darren without further ado.

"About the girl named Mikaela, we had investigated her, she lived in a mini apartment, which was neither fancy nor too bad in Paris, she lived with a middle-aged woman, who was about 50 years old. Her name was Salma."

Darren rememberd that woman was Mikaela's maid. "And then?"

"She was assisted by someone, Sir, to take care of the transfer of his school, and go to college. And so that she cannot tracked. Everything was prepared so neatly."

Darren had expected it, there was no way the girl could just disappear in a condition that had nothing but insurance.

"Who helped her?"

"Her guardian."

"Who is that? Why are you so wordy." Darren was getting annoyed.

"Danu Setiawan. He is the former lawyer of the girl's father."

God damn it! Growled Darren in his heart. The man had tricked him and said he did not know anything about Mikaela to Darren and Rendy at that time.

"Where does Danu work now?"

"He is part of Mr Sandjaya's team of lawyers."

Darren looked at his detectives. Sandjaya was the name of Rendy's father, it was difficult to disrupt Danu's career considering that Sandjaya was a very great person from the beginning.

"Is there anything more?"

"There is another information, Sir, and this is very important."

"Tell me."

"The apartment the girl and woman lived in was not their apartment."

"And then?"

"The apartment is in the name of your close friend."

Darren frowned. He became more impatient to hear the sequel.

"Rendy Leonard Sandjaya."

***

The ringing of the telephone continued to be heard on Mikaela's desk. The girl immediately picked it up and answered it politely. After a few minutes of talking she hung up on the phone, so many times before she had intended to make an appointment with Darren and Mikaela had to write it down and tell Darren later whether he would approve or not to meet.

Mikaela returned to take the stack of paper that she had arranged neatly, she would go down to copy the paper documents and at the same time she met Tiwi. She had secretly sent a message to Tiwi that her friend went to the photocopy place, Mikaela had bought two chocolates for her and Tiwi.

While singing Mikaela walked down some stairs after exiting the elevator.

There Tiwi has waved at her. She sat on the lobby couch next to the photocopy. Tiwi approached Mikaela as soon as Mikaela arrived at the copier.

"Where is my chocolate?" begged Tiwi.

Mikaela immediately took the chocolate out of her skirt pocket and gave it to Tiwi.

"I am tired." complained Mikaela.

"Yes, I'm tired too."

"What do you want to eat later?" Mikaela began fiddling with the papers.

Tiwi looked at the clock in his hand. "Our break is still so long." She began to eat the chocolate.

"I'm hungry, I didn't have breakfast this morning, I woke up late. I have a lot of work."

"Darren deliberately gave you a lot of work." Tiwi laughed.

"Mr. Darren." corrected Mikaela.

Tiwi seized the papers that Mikaela was holding.

"Hey, what are you doing?"

"Give it to me and eat your chocolate."

"I can do it myslef."

"Just relax for a while."

Mikaela smiled and opened the chocolate while leaning against the wall. Her eyes looked at the horde of men in suits who had just come out of the elevator in front of her. The men who had come to Darren, their faces serious and walked hurriedly out the lobby door. Mikaela peeked a little as they entered the prepared car.

"What do you see?" asked Tiwi.

"Nobody, important person, boss’s guest."

Ignoring that, Mikaela went back to eating her chocolate while laughing at Tiwi because Tiwi told her about the funny thing that happened in her division.

Until an object startled Mikaela, an object that was almost thrown at her, an object thrown to the floor right next to her. Objects that may be thrown are very strong because they were smashed to pieces.

The atmosphere became silent, all eyes were watching the origin of the toss and expensive cellphones that had been crushed on the floor.

"Sorry, my hands are slippery." Darren stood up with a sharp look at Mikaela.

Mikaela's smile faded away with a look of fear, as did all the employees in the lobby.

Some people who were photocopying chose to return to their respective rooms in silence.

Mikaela gulped as Darren approached her. Tiwi's face turned pale and stiff because Tiwi clearly saw the anger on Darren's face.

"You left your room, and gossiped here during work hours?"

Tiwi bowed his head. "Sorry sir, I'm copying my work."

"Back to your room." Tell Darren to be flat, but it could make Tiwi's skin crawl all over.

Tiwi glanced at Mikaela with a look of pity then she left to go back to work.

Mikaela stayed staring at Darren holding her breath. She repeatedly swallowed because Darren looked at her like he were ready to kill.

"Sorry sir, I'm copying the documents that you asked for." Mikaela said carefully before Darren said a word to her.

Darren's hands tightly clenched, remembering that his employees were now staring at him and Mikaela with curious faces. Darren must be able to control his emotions right now. He called one of the office boys in the lobby and ignored Mikaela.

"Starting tomorrow, give all the rooms some copiers." He ordered while leaving the lobby.

Mikaela closed her eyes and took the papers.

"Are you okay?" asked the office boy, helping Mikaela to clean up the papers.

"It's okay, sir."

"Let me copy it, and I'll send you up. Boss is a bit fierce."

Mikaela smiled. "Yes, sir, I know, thank you, sir."

Mikaela quickly walked toward the elevator, Mikaela had heard the whispers of employees who were talking about it.

"She is done, tomorrow the girl will be fired."

"Isn't that the new secretary?"

"She left his her desk when there were guests, Mr. Darren didn't like it the most."

"Especially when you see that the secretary's desk is empty."

"And again she was eating chocolate with her friend."

"I'm sure the girl will be fired."

Mikaela sighed heavily. She pressed the button to the top floor where she worked. It is true to about what they said, Darren was furious at her when she left her desk during work hours and was caught eating chocolate with Tiwi, but he did not have to throw his cellphone at Mikaela until it was destroyed like this, even though it did not reach Mikaela, but Mikaela was sure what to do Darren was to reprimand her and get angry at her.

***

Darren soaked in a mini warm water pool in his own apartment, the pool was made of rocks neatly arranged as in a hot spring in Japan, with some green plants beside it.

While sipping champagne, Darren closed his eyes.

Anger still filled Darren's head when he recalled the words of his men about Mikaela. It turned out that Rendy, his best friend, had brought Mikaela to Paris, who covered all access to search for Mikaela, who paid for Mikaela's life while she was there.

"Turns out she's a w***e. She's a Rendy w***e. You rubbish." Darren murmured.

Rendy and Mikaela really made a fool of him. Rendy pretended to look for Mikaela's whereabouts, even though he himself hid the girl when Daffa needed him. Rendy had betrayed him and Daffa.

"That sneaky girl is such a jerk, I won't stop hurting heruntil she is completely destroyed." said Darren full of revenge.

Darren closed his eyes again, squeezing the glass in his hand until it broke into two, remembering the betrayal committed by Rendy and Mikaela.

Rendy, the man really betrayed Daffa by taking Mikaela away, Darren had always known how Rendy felt for Mikaela and he didn't think Mikaela would also prefer Rendy over Daffa. It turned out that only cheap girls were loved by Daffa.

Though Daffa really loved Mikaela and loved Rendy as a best friend. Darren promised to expose Rendy's decay on Daffa one day.

Suddenly someone hugged Darren from behind.

"What are you thinking of, honey?"

Darren put the broken glass in his hand when Caroline hugged him.

"Your hand is hurt, are you angry at someone?"

Darren did not budge, Caroline asked right in his ear.

"I'm just surprised, in this world, the people closest to us will stab us."

Caroline let go of her arms and entered the pool with Darren, she sat on Darren's lap spoiled while embracing Darren's shoulder.

"Who are you talking about?"

"Someone."

"What did he do to you?"

Darren positioned Caroline in front of her and hugged her tightly. "A friend of mine told me about the problem, not me." he answered while looking for a classic reason.

"I know you Darren, I'm not asking you to tell me now. But your hand is hurt." Caroline wiped Darren's palm with the small towel she was carrying.

"This is just a small wound dear, I once got a very deep wound." Darren tightened the hug again to his fiancé, then sank his face into her shoulder, making her forget a little about what had happened.