Love Worth Fighting For

Chapter 26: South Australia

Leaving Suri is the toughest choice for Areez, it has been three years since Areez held Suri to stay beside him. An unidentified rebellious girl who was caught stealing food in his hotel room, along with another girl whose face Areez couldn’t remember well, Suri went into his room and enjoyed the food he had not had the chance to touch. At first Areez thought that Suri was a spy sent by his enemy, that’s why Areez immediately brought Suri back to Auckland for further investigation. However, after a tiring investigation for almost a week finally found the fact that Suri is not a spy, she is just an ordinary petty thief.

And after knowing that fact Areez decided to make Suri beside him and gave her the name Mira, the name he took from Suri’s middle name when she said her name. Areez, who doesn’t easily believe in others, decided to keep Suri beside him, not out of fear. But because of the strange feeling that keeps bothering him, since Suri came three years ago, Areez feels that his life is more colorful. There was never anyone who dared to oppose him, making Areez feel challenged to conquer Suri who considered him like an enemy. Even though Suri has said many times that she has a family, Areez doesn’t care. For him Suri is Mira, a food thief girl who managed to have a place in his heart. Areez doesn’t care about Suri’s past or her family, what Areez knows Suri is hers because of that Areez doesn’t let Suri free to return to her family. Because according to Areez, she is the only family for Suri who has now become Mira to him even though Suri has repeatedly protested with her new name. Even though he knows that his actions are a crime, Areez doesn’t care, as long as Suri is beside him, as long as no one knows who the real Mira is. Areez will keep Suri beside him.

“Hey,” Aldrich said quietly, breaking Areez’s thoughts. “Are you ok?”

Areez smiled a little. “Sure, as you can see I’m fine at the moment.”

“I know you very well, Areez. So don’t ever try to lie to me,” Aldrich chuckled, not wanting to lose.

“Mira was injured, her leg was hit by broken glass.”

“What?! What really happened?”

.....

“Mira is angry.”

Aldrich slapped his forehead hard. “Oh Jesus... angry again?”

Areez shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know either, I’ve never felt this kind of trouble. Mira is the only girl who dares to reject me outright, she’s the only girl who refuses my generosity.”

“Why don’t you let it go?”

“I won’t! I won’t let go of Mira, Mira is mine. Her soul, body and life are mine. How could I let her go for someone else, just imagining her leaving makes my chest feel tight,” Areez said quickly, his chest rising and falling as he spoke. His sharp eyes stabbed at Aldrich.

Realizing his mistake, Aldrich immediately raised his hands in the air. “Relax dude, don’t be mad. I’m not really serious with what I’m saying, I’m just joking. You’ve been too tense since earlier, that’s why I wanted to break it down.”

“You don’t have to do anything, I’m fine!”

Aldrich pursed his lips, as someone who had known the cold Areez for a long time, Aldrich knew that his best friend was not doing well at the moment. “You really love Mira, don’t you?”

Areez’s head immediately turned to Aldrich quickly without being prevented. “Love? Me? How can that be!” Areez said quickly. “There is no word for love in my life dictionary.”

“If you don’t love Mira then what’s her name? You locked her up at home, restricted her socializing, forbade her from using the internet?”

“I just don’t want Mira to be contaminated with bad things out there, you know that nowadays the internet has a lot of bad effects. There are a lot of irresponsible internet users out there and I won’t let Mira be contaminated by things like that.” Areez said the reason was forbidding Suri from using the internet and hanging out with her peers. “More by letting her hang out with people who don’t have the right attitude.”

Aldrich shook his head at Areez’s unreasonable words, if he continued this discussion then their main business in South Australia would be neglected. Because of that, Aldrich chose to divert the conversation by discussing Christian Clarke, the ideal prince from Luxembourg who became the most influential young entrepreneur according to the versions of two giant American and British business magazines.

“Christian Clarke, at the age of not yet thirty years old he has managed to solve 30% of poverty in Africa. Through the program he developed with the local government, Christian Clarke has succeeded in providing new livelihoods for productive young people who have graduated from school. Christian Clarke also rewarded by the local government for his work in helping the poor in Africa...”

“Is that all he does?” Areez cut off Aldrich’s words quickly.

“Eh?”

“Is that all that guy named Christian Clarke has done?” Areez made her question clear to Aldrich.

“You’re not playing dumb are you? Christian Clarke is a tough opponent, he’s got a lot of support. Not only from his fellow businessmen, he also gets full support from the government. This project, we can lose this project if we’re not careful- heart, Areez,” Aldrich said seriously. “Don’t underestimate our opponent this time, he’s not a ordinary person.”

Areez narrowed her hazel eyes. “We’re not going to lose, don’t worry. Whoever Christian Clarke is, I’ll deal with it.”

Adelaide International Airport, South Australia. 1.00 PM

After a long tiring flight, Elena was finally able to stretch all her stiff muscles as soon as her feet hit Australian soil. Being in a cramped room for hours with Christian really made her feel cramped. Christian’s pressure is too great, making her look like a rabbit ready to be devoured by a predator.

“Who are they?” Christian asks Kainer coldly, pointing to a group of men walking towards him.

“Ah that, they are people from the mayor’s office, sir,” Kainer replied quickly. “They are the ones who supported you to cancel the artificial island project.” Kainer resumed his speech in a whisper.

Christian purses his lips. “Then what do they want in return?”

“Nothing, sir. They’re not brave enough to ask you that.”

“Oh really? hmmm... interesting, call my stupid secretary. How can she do such a vulgar move without guilt,” Christian growled annoyed looking at Elena who was relaxing her waist muscles, Christian’s eyes immediately fell on the bra black lace that poked out beautifully under the shirt Elena was wearing.

Kainer immediately turned her gaze to Elena who was already downstairs, Elena really brave to do activities that Christian really disliked. Without uttering a word, Kainer immediately got down and went straight to Elena. Kainer whispered softly to Elena who immediately stood up straight, her face red with fear and embarrassment. Elena was really cursing her own stupidity for not realizing that her two buttons of her shirt were undone while stretching a few moments ago, lucky that Kainer rushed over to her otherwise the five people from the mayor’s office who were now stopping in front of her could see her exposed body.

Out of the corner of her eye, Elena could see the expression on Christian’s face, which was already terrifying. It was obvious how angry the handsome man was, damn it. When angry like this, why is Christian’s charm multiplied? Elena suddenly felt hot, even though the wind was blowing quite hard at the airport.