Taming The Las Vegas Playboy

After dinner, Stefan went to his father\'s luxurious suite. The two sat together in the living room talking about business plans for the future. That was what they usually talked about when they met.

"I\'ve heard that you went to see your mother, didn\'t you?"

The father\'s deep voice asked after they finished discussing work. Stefan raised his eyebrows up in a surprise. He was wondering why his father had to ask him when he could just give his mother a call at any time. Because Stefan believed his parents were still friends, even though they had separated for almost twenty years. 

"Yes, father. I have taken Wirata to see her."

Stefan replied. His father\'s eyebrows raised this time.

"The Asian woman who is the account manager?"

Michael was very surprised. As far as he knew, Stefan was not interested in having a long-term relationship with his temporary women. And most importantly, he had never taken anyone to introduce to his mother before.

"Have you met her already, father? Actually, I have just got engaged to her."

Stefan told his father with a happy smile on his face. 

"What?! Engaged?!!"

The father exclaimed. Michael could not believe his ears. He did not expect his son to be so serious with that young woman.

"You are engaged to a woman and haven\'t consulted or asked for your father\'s opinions?"

Michael felt disappointed to hear this. He had found a nice young lady for Stefan and had a plan already.

"You are my eldest son. You will take over the family legacy and most of the business as Sam is not interested in any of this. The woman for you isn\'t just any woman. But she has got to be suitable. The woman who will become your wife must be intelligent. She must have a business brain. She must be a smart person to solve problems. She must have management skills and so on."

Michael gave his son a long list of qualifications of his future daughter-in-law he expected. Stefan gasped to hear such a long request.

"And Melissa is the woman that I think she can be by your side in all situations and will make you proud and happy."

"What?! Melissa?!"

"Yes ... You shouldn\'t hurry to bind yourself, Stefan. You should give Melissa and yourself the opportunity to learn to know each other. I have sent her to you for this very specific purpose."

Michael told his son.

Stefan realized that Wirata had been right all along about his father\'s plan. The woman was too smart. She could see more clearly than him. Stefan himself never looked at Melissa in any way, aside from seeing that she was good at what she was doing.

"I don\'t love Melissa, father. It is impossible. I absolutely will not marry a woman I don\'t love. "

Stefan spoke his mind up right away without hesitation. The tone was strong and serious.  

"A woman for you must be mentally strong to help you get through with all this business. That young woman looks too soft, Stefan. "

Michael said. He forgot to think about his separated wife that her outer looks were sweet and gentle, but her mind was strong and tough and she was still hard to bend until now.

Stefan shook his head to disagree with his father\'s words. His eyes softened when thinking of the woman in the penthouse.

That was an illusion. Her soft, beautiful image and gentle manners misled and lured people into thinking that she was fragile. But in fact, she was as tough as nails. She was an intelligent, good all-round person. She was skillful in both fighting and using her brain. Stefan could not have enough words to describe her.

If his father knew Wirata, Stefan believed he would not have said this.

Perhaps he might have to listen to her as she was asking him to give her an opportunity to prove herself. Although he did not care what anybody thought. But Stefan guessed it was important for a woman like Wirata. She wanted to prove herself, she wanted to be accepted by his father and he now was proud of her so much. The woman did not want an easy way to cruise into his life as he had already offered to her. 

"I am telling you, father. That she suits me in all aspects. In fact, she is better than I am. A lot better. I love her and no matter what happens, I will only marry her. "

The voice was stable and firm. Michael was stunned. Knowing that if his son used this tone, it definitely meant that he stood on his point and would not change his mind. If he using force and harsh words, it would get worse and Michael did not want to fail in this case.

"Let me put it this way, son. I am sure you know your woman well. But you don\'t know Melissa. How could you be so sure that Melissa isn\'t as good as Wirata? If you are smart, you should give Melissa a chance before making a decision. I believe your woman won\'t go anywhere." 

The father said persuasively using his business brain and farsightedness in making judgments that he had been using throughout his life.

"Why did you marry my mother?"

Suddenly his son asked a question Michael had not expected. He paused and silent for a moment. The dignified face looked slightly sad with a long sigh.

Michael and Jacqueline had known each other for a long time and had been close friends since studying at the university. She was two years younger than him. She came from a good and well-off family in the same circle as him. At the right time, He and she were given an arranged marriage by both parents. The family considered they were perfect together. Both parents were very happy.

At that time Michael did not explore his own deep feelings about Jacqueline. He thought he did not love her as a man loved a woman. But he did not mind to marry her. He liked her very much as a friend and he did not want to say no to his parents. His mother also was fond of her. 

She was a good person. She wanted to make their parents happy, which was the same as him.

However, before getting married, she made an agreement with him that after having two children they would separate from each other. At that time Michael said yes, as he thought he would do whatever she wanted. And he also wanted freedom, too.

They lived and got along well until Stefan was thirteen and Sam was three years old. She immediately did what they agreed. She separated from him and lived by herself in her own house.

But that time what happened was ... Michael just realized he had deeply fallen in love with his own wife. She had always been his best friend and partner. He was never even sure if she loved him a little. Because she was forced by her parents to marry him after all. But when she asked to leave, Michael then knew that she did not love him the way he loved her. A man had to keep his promise, so he let her go.

 If there were no children, Michael would probably have lost her completely. But luckily both of them had Stefan and Sam. Michael used them as an excuse for not divorce her yet. And he could drag it as long as nineteen years! But last month, Jacqueline said she wanted to divorce to get it over with.

"I and your mother were married because of your grandparents arranged for us. We were suitable. At first, I didn\'t believe your grandparents, just like you don\'t believe me now. But when time went by, I fell in love with your mother. So as I believe, Melissa is suitable for you. Now you may not love her yet but in time you will. "

Speaking by using his own standard to measure because Michael was like that to the mother of Stefan. 

"I love Wirata, father. It\'s so much that my heart hasn\'t had any room left for any woman. I can\'t imagine my life without her. I don\'t want to say anymore but you should know that you cannot force me on this matter. I will only follow my heart. And by the way, my mother likes Wirata very much. And she is also Sam\'s best friend. "

Said Stefan. Michael listened and he knew if Jacqueline decided to like and love somebody, that person must be worthy of her liking and love.  

"Alright, let\'s put it this way, son. Can I ask you not to reveal your relationship with Wirata yet? Give everybody one more month. Next month is Christmas and Melissa will finish her training. Only one month, that\'s all I ask for."

Michael persuaded. Stefan had to sigh. In fact, Wirata also begged him for the same matter.

What was this?!

It seemed to be only Stefan who wanted to reveal and publicize his relationship with the woman he loved to everyone to know. 

"OK, father. Then I will officially announce the engagement and wedding news next month. But only one month and that\'s it. I don\'t want to wait any longer than that. I love Wirata so much. I want to start a family with her and want to honor her as  I give my words to her mother. "

All frankness and straight forward and stood on his ground. Michael had no doubt about where his son got this from.

"How is your mother?"

Michael changed the topic and asked about what he wanted to know. 

"She is fine as usual. Nothing can break and harm your Queen, father."

The voice was full of love and admiration when talking about his mother.

Michael sighed. He decided not to tell Stefan about his mother wanted to divorce yet.  Stefan was thirty-two years old. Michael had held on that piece of paper for that long. He did not want to think if they really signed the divorce papers, how he would handle his own feelings. It was already unbearable to think about it.