"I have some tips to make sure your donuts turn out perfect. First, knead the dough until it's elastic. You'll know it's ready when you can stretch it into a thin layer without tearing. Second, use low heat when frying the donuts to ensure the inside cooks thoroughly. That's all for today's tips! See you in the next recipe on Bee's Kitchen. See you!" I waved at the camera, and soon after, Dewo, my cameraman, smiled and gave me a thumbs-up.
"Do we need to reshoot anything?" I asked as I took off my apron. Dewo shook his head with a bright expression.
"As always, you're the best when you're in front of the camera," he praised, making me chuckle.
"Hurry up and give the raw footage to Rere so she can edit it right away," I told Dewo.
"Yes, boss!" Dewo replied.
"Are we really done? I'll ask Mbok Rasti to clean up now," I said.
"You said you were picking up Arkan," Dewo reminded me.
"Yeah, in a bit." I checked my phone to see what time it was.
"Can I eat the donuts now?" Dewo asked hopefully.
"That's what you've been waiting for this whole time, isn't it?"
"Of course! That's why I love working with you," he said with a laugh. I left the kitchen, which also doubled as my workspace.
I am Binar Maheswari, a content creator who focuses on making videos about my activities in the kitchen—whether it's cooking, baking, or simply sharing cooking tips. I've been in this profession for five years now, building my way up from recording videos on my phone to having two assistants.
I love cooking, just as some people love playing soccer, singing, or pursuing other hobbies. This passion led me to take the leap into making cooking videos, and who would have thought it would bring me to where I am today?
I went into my room and quickly changed clothes. Arkan was probably already waiting; he was always impatient whenever I was even a little late.
Thanks to my income as a content creator, I was able to build my own house and mini studio. I also started a baking supply store earlier this year—something I had never imagined before.
A house, a business, a car, a fully equipped kitchen—these were things I never thought I'd have. I had once been on the verge of despair due to a misfortune—well, let's just call it that—but now, it felt like the universe was finally on my side.
None of this would have been possible without Rere, my best friend and greatest work partner. She's been with me since the very beginning, helping me reach this point. Rere always gives me encouragement and constructive feedback.
She often tells me that I have a captivating presence on camera, from my voice to my gestures, which naturally draw people in. There was a time when I doubted myself, but thanks to Rere and Dewo, my two incredible assistants, I now feel like something is missing if I don't film at least one video a day.
I often laugh while reading the comments on my videos. Some people want me as their daughter-in-law, while others say I'm the ideal wife. But when I read those words, I can't help but smile bitterly. If I were really the perfect wife, then why did Axel divorce me five years ago?
Axel. Just saying his name made my chest ache. The wounds he left ran deep.
He used to say that I was a useless wife, that I relied entirely on him, that I failed to win over my ex-mother-in-law, and… that I couldn't give him children.
I winced, wondering why I was thinking about him again. Axel was out of my life—I had told myself that a thousand times. I kept repeating it in my heart until I felt calmer.
Thankfully, I had already finished my video. Otherwise, I would have been in a bad mood all day. It was strange—I hadn't thought about Axel in so long, so why was he invading my thoughts today?
I sprayed myself with my favorite vanilla and jasmine perfume. The familiar scent soothed me. Looking in the mirror, I noticed that my makeup from filming was still decent. I only needed a light touch of lipstick.
I love my job. I can make videos whenever I want, without being tied down by strict schedules or rules—except when working with brands.
"Mbok, please clean my room too," I told Mbok Rasti, my housekeeper, as I passed her in the garage.
"Of course, Miss," she replied.
"And don't cook today, okay? I'll just buy food outside," I added. The fifty-year-old woman nodded with a smile.
Even though I cook almost every day for my videos, I don't always cook for myself. In fact, I often eat out because I get tired of smelling my own cooking.
Jakarta was bright and sunny as the morning turned into noon. As I drove, I thought about new video ideas. I needed something fresh to avoid being repetitive. Maybe a kitchen tour video? That sounded like a good idea. I smiled, pleased with my plan for the next video.
Feeling much better, I turned on the car's music player. A romantic song by a young female singer played, pulling me into its melody.
After lunch with Arkan, I planned to stop by my store to check on things. I had a team managing the inventory and finances, but I liked to oversee everything personally and occasionally help out.
My phone rang just as I stopped at a red light. Rere's name appeared on the screen, and I immediately assumed it was about an editing task.
"What's up, Re?" I asked.
"There's a collaboration offer from Boga Rasa," Rere said, mentioning a well-known company that produced premium-quality flour.
"What kind of offer?"
"They want you to create videos using their different types of flour. No specific recipe requirements—just something simple and easy for people to recreate," Rere explained.
"I've emailed you the proposal. Check it quickly so I can give them an answer," she added.
"Okay, I'll review it now," I replied before ending the call.
Rere usually handled all brand deals for me. She was also the one who filtered through collaborations to make sure they aligned with my brand. For her, it wasn't just about the paycheck—the most important thing was whether the partnership made sense for me.
I parked my car in a crowded lot and got out, scanning the area for a familiar curly-haired boy with a sweet smile.
"Mom ...!" a small voice called out as a little boy ran toward me, weaving through his friends.
"You were a good boy today, right?" I asked, reaching out to hold his hand. (*).