The next day, Lisa came to the office earlier than usual. She walked slowly toward the attendance machine. She took out an attendance card from her tote bag and swiped it.


    After she''s done with attendance checking, Lisa stepped into the finance department room. It seemed that no employee hade yet. The woman then put down her carrying case and turned on theputer. Not long after she turned on theputer, Rangga''s secretary came and knocked on the door.


    Lisa nced at her from behind theputer monitor with narrowed eyes. She went over to the woman and said, "What''s wrong sis?"


    "Sis Lisa, Mr. Rangga called for you in his room," the secretary politely said, giving Lisa a friendly smile.


    Lisa nodded then followed the secretary to the president''s room.


    Arriving in front of the president''s room, Lisa knocked gently on the door then pushed the door and entered.


    "Good morning Mr. Rangga, are you looking for me?" Lisa politely asked. Her hands were ced behind her back. Her posture was very upright like a schoolgirl attending the g ceremony on Monday morning.


    Rangga turned his chair and saw Lisa from his seat. His face creased as if he saw Lisa looking stiff. "Come on, Lis, don''t be too formal with me!"


    The man chuckled at Lisa''s drastic change in her way of speaking.


    Lisa looked at the man with a serious and respectful look. "Sorry sir, but this is a work environment. And you are my boss, so I must maintain politeness and professionalism!"


    "Lis, there''s nobody here! Nobody will ever hear us! Even my secretary can''t hear what we are saying from outside!" Rangga said, feeling reluctant to hear his childhood friend acting so formal in front of him.


    Rangga got up from his chair and grabbed a ss then filled it with cold water. The man approached Lisa and handed her the ss. "Water?"


    "Thank you, sir, but I''m not thirsty," Lisa answered, still in a polite and serious tone. The woman looked tense.


    "Lis, stop it already. Why don''t you just rx? I don''t feel good when you are so stiff like that!" Rangga eximed, getting annoyed.


    "Okay, fine then! As long as other employees don''t hear us talking like close friends!" Lisa said, worried.


    Even though they were both childhood friends, Lisa didn''t want other employees to know that Rangga and her shared a very close rtionship as friends. If any of the employees at Colors Advertising knew that Lisa and Rangga were close friends, they could gossip them in the office!


    "Sit down, Lis, aren''t you tired? Why are you standing there like a soldier?" Rangga asked in a nosy tone.


    Lisa approached Rangga''s table and pulled out the chair in front of her. Shended herself on a chair and sat down in a rxed posture like when the two of them were hanging out in a cafe.


    "So why are you calling me in the morning?" Lisa asked casually.


    "Let''s just say we''re hanging out at the cafe like usual," Rangga put his feet on the table casually.


    "Yes, it''s not as rxed as this time. Can''t you just put your feet on the table?"


    "My office, my rule!" Rangga replied casually.


    Lisa grunted, she folded her arms and leaned her back against the back of the chair.


    "Lis, you know Mr. Roy Wijaya, right?" Rangga suddenly asked. He lowered his legs and leaned toward Lisa.


    Lisa nodded. "Yes, he is a generous millionaire who often helps underprivileged orphanages and schools. There is nobody in Jakarta who doesn''t know his name!"


    Rangga was silent for a while, he smiled before he continued the conversation.


    "So here''s the thing. He''s going to celebrate his wife''s birthday. I''m invited there, Lis! Crazy, don''t you think? All influential people in Jakarta including celebrities, tycoons and entrepreneurs are going to attend the event!"


    Lisa raised an eyebrow and asked back, "Then, the reason you called me to your room is?"


    "I want to invite you to apany me to Mr. Roy Wijaya''s wife''s birthday!" Rangga replied cheerfully.


    "Huh? Are you serious? Dude I''m just a hobo! There''re many prettier girls out there and I''m sure they''re much cooler than me too! You are crazy if you pick me, I swear to god!" Lisa replied in shock when she heard Rangga''s invitation.


    "Come on, Lis, I don''t have a girlfriend. What if I''m asked where my partner is? What should I answer? I can''t bear the same! The guests are all from prestigious backgrounds, Lis!"


    "So why do you bother toe? You can just skip it, can''t you? Or do you want to attend just for the sake of prestige?" Lisa answered inly.


    "Lis," Rangga leaned toward Lisa and lowered his voice. "The problem is, Mr. Roy is also helping me with my business. If he hadn''t appreciated my efforts and performances this much, Colors Advertising wouldn''t be established and I wouldn''t be where I am right now! I might just be a bum wandering in the streets!"


    "Why don''t you look for the other employees? I''m sure there are plenty of attractive females here," Lisa asked, trying to refuse Rangga''s invitation, which she thought was ridiculous.


    "I was going to take Vira with me, but she''s just been working here. I don''t want to disturb her workter. So far, you''re the only one I can think of to apany me. I mean, who else?" The man shrugged and rolled his eyes.


    "Rangga, it''s not like I don''t want to apany you, but seriously it''s going to be a show for rich people! And just like you said, they are all from prestigious backgrounds! And here you''re asking me, an average employee, to go with you? I''ve never been into such fancy event, you know!"


    "But you are more suitable to walk with me than Riani!" Rangga said nosily.


    Lisa chuckled in annoyance hearing Riani''s name. She looked away, grumbling. "Do you prefer to go with me than a granny like Riani? What''s wrong with you?"


    "That''s exactly why! You can really apany me to Mr. Roy''s wife''s birthday!" Rangga begged with puppy eyes, as if he was a small pup losing its mother and looking for a ce to take shelter.


    Inside, Lisa really couldn''t bear to be with Rangga. That man had been very helpful toward her during hard days. She didn''t want to disappoint her close friend but Lisa herself realized that she didn''t deserve to attend a prestigious birthday in the capital city!


    "The problem is, I''m just a bum and I don''t have a decent face to show to people. I might look like your housekeeper or your son''s nanny when I walk with you!" Lisa eximed spontaneously.


    "Lis, I''m not kidding, I''m serious! If you don''t want to apany me then I will be theughing stock. Especially if I met my colleague there! I can be really embarrassed, I don''t know where to put this face!"


    Lisa was silent for a moment, she considered Rangga''s invitation carefully. "Hmm, alright but I can''t promise you, okay? I''m just scared and ashamed. It''s crazy to even think abouting to such a grand and prestigious event,"


    "Lis, you don''t need to worry! You just need to apany me and stay beside me without having to talk much to other visitors. It''s enough like that!" Rangga replied excitedly. The man''s eyes sparkled, begging Lisa to ept his invitation.


    "Hmm, let me think first, OK?" Lisa replied briefly. "When is the event?"


    "Tonight," Rangga replied.


    "Shit! Why is it so sudden!?" Lisa jumped from where she sat.


    "Look, I''ll give you time to decide whether to join or not go home from work, alright? Now you can go back to your room again."