Chapter 38: Chapter 38

What are you doing here?

It felt like Helena wanted to shout the question as loud as possible. It was in line with the shock that befell her. How came? She saw Beatrice in front of her with a medium-sized suitcase beside her.

"Why are you here?"

Fortunately, Aaron had replaced her to express her confusion. Oh, Helena was sure that her husband also felt the same way. What was Beatrice doing here?

"I replaced Mr. Todd to accompany you to Bali." The answer flowed smoothly from Beatrice's lips as if she was supposed to be here, at the departure of Soekarno-Hatta airport on a sunny Thursday morning.

Helena could not speak. Beatrice was indeed a formidable woman. Her presence could not help but disturb the beautiful plans of her honeymoon with Aaron.

Helena was now unsure if their trip could still be called a honeymoon with Beatrice's appearance among them. She really hated that woman.

"What happened with Mr. Todd?" Unknowingly, she said it loud. Oh, shit! Beatrice must be happy to see her react that way.

"There's a sudden meeting with another company team regarding our cooperation," Beatrice explained in a tone Helena caught as a victory. The faint smile on the corners of her lips confirmed her suspicions.

Helena could not reply to her. When it came to work, she couldn't interfere. That was not her field. Even if she understood, she still had no right to do so.

Aaron seemed to be correct. Beatrice's work was neat and well-planned so that no one suspected her.

To be honest, she wanted to ask further about the details of her reason, such as why Beatrice had to come to replace Mr. Todd. But that question no longer needed an answer.

Obviously, Beatrice came because she was his secretary.

And that one fact was enough to silence her. She had lost interest in continuing her interactions with Beatrice.

"Is there any problem?" But, apparently, Aaron disagreed with her. He wanted to continue pursuing the details. What else could he do? They worked in his company and were under his leadership.

"I don't really understand. But Mr. Todd didn't say there was a problem. He just said they wanted to continue the discussion so that the project would finish quickly," said Beatrice at length.

See?

Beatrice always had an answer for her reasons.

"I see." Aaron no longer looked as worried as before. He didn't get any calls, which meant that her words might be valid.

"I want to check in. I can help you and Mrs. Houston to check in if-"

"We checked in earlier," Helena said quickly. She didn't bother waiting for Beatrice to finish her sentence because she couldn't stand being there anymore. She wanted her husband's secretary out of sight.

Unfortunately, that was unlikely to happen. Beatrice had come fully prepared to face her. So, that woman definitely wouldn't be that easy to get rid of.

"Oh, then I'll check in first."

"Go ahead."

After that, Beatrice turned around and walked toward the check-in counter. As for Helena, she didn't intend to wait for her at all. What for? Her mood only got worse the longer she looked at that face.

And so she took definite steps to leave the area. She dragged her large suitcase to come with her.

Aaron, who saw that, immediately stepped up to keep pace with her. Silently, he slipped his hand into hers and gripped it tightly. "Calm down, honey," he said softly and reassuringly. He knew his wife was upset. And he knew very well the source of her annoyance.

"How can I calm down seeing her here?" Helena murmured without slowing down her steps. However, she did not refuse his treatment, which was now kissing the back of her hand.

"Then stick to me so she doesn't have a chance to ruin our vacation."

Those words were easy to say. But, the reality was not as beautiful as a wish.

Helena did it by always being beside her husband. Aaron also welcomed her with no shame in showing their intimacy. Well, even if it was only about embracing, holding her hand, and occasionally kissing it. And landed a kiss on the top of his wife's head when Helena's head rested on his shoulder. In point, he would cooperate with whatever plans she had in mind.

All of that lasted until they arrived at I Gusti Ngurah Rai airport, Bali.

--

"What are you doing, love?"

Helena glanced at the scene presented in front of her. More precisely, something that was on the table. "Drinking coconut ice while looking at the beach." She answered while adding something else. However, it wasn't a lie because, in reality, she was on the beach. Of course, alone.

"Wow, it's really nice to drink coconut ice in this hot weather," said Aaron with some exaggeration. He sounded special about his wife's activities.

"It's your fault for not coming with me," she replied quickly. She blamed her husband again. Yes, she was alone on the beach because none other than he couldn't come with her. Aaron had to attend several meetings, which was why they arrived in Bali.

"You know I have a busy schedule until tomorrow." There was regret in his statement. Deep down, he clearly wanted to spend time with her. Moreover, this was their first vacation after marriage. "But I promise we will tour Bali when my work is done," he promised confidently.

"Hm." She only replied with a low mumble. What he said was part of their plan, apart from work matters. So, she would make sure to remind him of that.

"How about lunch? You've had lunch, right?" His words were not only a question but also his way of convincing himself. About her not to miss her meal.

Oh, skipping meals was not a good thing to do. This was for the health.

"Yes. I stopped by a seafood restaurant nearby."

"Really?"

"Yes. The food there is delicious. You should try it."

There was a light chuckle from the other side. Helena and food turned out to be a perfect combination. Look how excited his wife was to talk about it. At least, that was what his ears caught.

"Yeah, okay. We'll visit there later." Finally, he agreed to her invitation in between chuckles.

Again, Helena muttered in response to his words. "How about you? Have you had lunch?" She asked him back.

"Yes, honey. We had lunch while continuing the meeting." Well, that was how hectic his schedule was that he didn't have time alone with his wife after he dropped her off and then parted ways in front of the hotel. After that, they only communicated via text messages, and he was the one who stole the opportunity to call her.

"Good." Just as Aaron worried about her health, she felt the same way. As long as her husband remembered his mealtimes, she would let him spend the whole day with his work. Even if it meant their time together would be reduced.

"By the way, Mr. Graham invited us to dinner together."

"Us?" She parroted in confusion.

"Yes, we are. Me, you, Mr. Graham, and his wife. It's a casual dinner." He tried to explain it in short and precise words. "You want to come?" In the end, he questioned her willingness to come with him.

Helena nodded in understanding. Having dinner with a business partner was not unusual, including when it involved her. After all, this was a way of maintaining good relations with her husband's associates and herself.

Oh, she couldn't have forgotten that she, too, came from an influential family, could she? Indirectly, she also needed to maintain the image of her family.

"Okay."