BAB 3

HAPPY READING

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"Maybe," Rubi murmured.

"I hope you can work well with my family," Dario said.

"I hope so," Rubi replied.

"Can we be friends?" Dario asked.

Rubi took a deep breath and looked at Dario. "No, I mean, we can't be friends. My relationship here is strictly professional."

Dario was left speechless by Rubi's response. "Earlier, I saw you. I'm sure you saw me, right?"

Rubi remained silent, knowing that he was referring to what she had witnessed earlier.

"It's okay if you don't want to be friends with me. I won't engage in small talk with you either. I'll just consider you as the doctor working for my family."

"Alright, sir. That's my responsibility, and I'll do my best."

"You're just a doctor hired here, but you seem arrogant. I'm not sure you'll last working in this house with that attitude."

"I'm not being arrogant, just setting boundaries so we don't get too close," Rubi defended herself.

"I know. Noted. But a few minutes ago, you already ruined my fun," Dario grumbled.

Rubi took a shallow breath and noticed Mr. Peter looking at her. She actually wanted to continue speaking, but she felt uncomfortable. Honestly, she had no interest in being friends with a man she had seen engaging in inappropriate behavior in the room. From the way he looked at her, he seemed like a high-profile playboy who enjoyed preying on women. She had encountered men like Dario before, most of them were just losers.

"Come on, Dr. Rubi, Dario, let's have dinner together," Peter intervened to break the tension between Dario and Rubi.

"Okay, sir," Rubi smiled. If it weren't for Mr. Peter in the room, they would have likely continued their argument.

Rubi chose to sit next to Peter but facing Dario. She glanced at the table and noticed the quality of the food served, all of which was carefully selected under the supervision of a nutrition expert.

Rubi selected her dishes, calculating the calories on the table as the calorie content of each dish varied. Red rice, for instance, had 110 calories per 100 grams, skinless chicken breast was around 184 calories, grilled salmon had 171 calories, tempeh had 118 calories, and sautéed string beans had 110 calories. All the food looked delicious, but she still maintained a balanced calorie count. She knew that most conglomerates preferred healthy food with the best nutrition, seeing their bodies as investments.

Rubi ate her meal calmly while glancing at Mr. Peter. "Did you experience shortness of breath last night?" Rubi opened up the conversation.

"Ever since I was given medicine by the doctor yesterday, I haven't had shortness of breath, doc."

"That's great to hear, sir. Just remember not to overexert yourself."

A while ago, Mr. Peter had suffered a sudden heart attack. He was rushed to the hospital due to chest pain and shortness of breath. He also collaborated with a heart specialist to manage his condition.

Some people might not be familiar with the concept of a personal doctor or concierge medicine. Personal doctors are employed to run a practice exclusively for specific families or individuals. These doctors typically work for a limited clientele, including millionaires, conglomerates, government officials, and presidents, provided they can afford the high fees and receive super-exclusive treatment.

Rubi was aware that in Indonesia, personal doctors weren't widely sought after by the general population. Only certain individuals employed them. In this setting, she minimized the risk of danger, not prescribing medication without her supervision. She had to be on call at any moment for this family.

Throughout this lunch, Dario observed Rubi and her father discussing health matters. He knew that the heart was a vital organ of living beings, and maintaining health was akin to preserving life. He observed the woman named Rubi intently; her way of speaking was straightforward with her father. She moved naturally and didn't overeat. One more thing, she seemed very intelligent compared to Erin, his girlfriend. That's why she was much prettier than Erin.

"Mr. Peter, please rest now. If there's anything, don't hesitate to call me," Rubi said.

"Alright, doc," her father replied.

Dario watched Rubi as she looked at him, and he returned her gaze. They locked eyes. Now, it was just Rubi and him. Dario put his hand in his blazer pocket.

"We need to talk privately," he said.

"Which conversation are you referring to? Why do we need to talk privately?" Rubi asked.

"Maybe about my health," Dario replied.

Rubi laughed and nodded, then her face turned serious. "I thought you were healthy and fit. I won't engage in much conversation with you. This job will be easier if you don't talk to me," Rubi said.

Dario laughed and then stared intensely at Rubi. "I've never seen such an arrogant doctor like you. Is it because you caught me in the room with my girlfriend earlier, and now you're treating me as your enemy?"

Rubi locked eyes with Dario. "So, you know it was me?"

"Of course, I knew. You were the only one who sneaked in without permission."

Rubi sighed, "I'm sorry; I got lost in this extravagant house. I hope you can understand. I also didn't know you were there."

"Next time, before doing that with your boyfriend, you should at least lock the door. Because anyone could have seen you there, not just me," Rubi replied, continuing to walk away from Dario.

But Dario followed Rubi's steps. "After you saw that, why did you seem angry with me?"

"I'm not angry with you, Mr. Dario," Rubi said, getting a bit annoyed.

"But I feel like you're angry with me. The way you speak and act so arrogantly shows that you don't like me, even though we just met," Dario insisted.

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