Her Inconvenient Boss | Chapter 8
After work, the young woman waited until most of her colleagues had trickled out before packing her things and heading in to bid Phakaphan farewell.
"I'm heading out now, P'Oum."
"Has Nong Mai arrived yet?"
"She left the university a while ago. She should be here soon," the new employee explained, then decided to ask directly in a soft, tentative voice, "About today... did I make things difficult for you?"
"I should be the one asking if you're okay. Jomnaree is a supervisor; she reached that position quickly because she's highly competent, but she loves building factions. From what I know, she has quite a few lackeys in this company." Phakaphan knew she couldn't look after her junior every second of the day.
"If you aren't troubled, P'Oum, I can manage."
"I'm older and have years more experience than you. I can handle this much."
The two women had known each other since their student days. Phakaphan had entered university later than most because she had taken a hiatus to work for several years when her family went bankrupt. Once they regained their footing, she returned to her studies. She was a prudent woman, toughened by struggle, and far from the gullible or hypersensitive types of her age group.
When she met Unakarn—who was consistently yielding and possessed such exquisite, refined manners—the senior felt a natural sense of endearment toward her. As time passed, she realized the junior was much like herself, especially regarding her sense of responsibility and maturity beyond her years. Despite their differing personalities, their bond had only deepened.
"I'm lucky to be working with you, P'Oum."
"I think I'm the lucky one," Phakaphan laughed and waved her off to head home.
Unakarn took the elevator down. She pulled out a medium-sized notebook to record the tasks she had learned today, reinforcing her memory for a second time while tucked away in a corner of the lobby. She was waiting for her sister, who had messaged that she was nearly there, when Isara called.
She hadn't saved his number, but the young man had contacted her dozens of times—enough for her to recognize it. Lately, he had disappeared for a long stretch, and normally, she wouldn't answer if she knew it was him. Today, however, curiosity prompted her to press accept immediately.
"Hello, P'Isara."
"I'm glad you still have my number, Nong Prae."
"I recognized the number. Do you have business with me?"
"I heard you've started working at Kent Industries?"
The young woman frowned, thinking how fast news traveled, and grew more curious about his objective.
"Yes, I have."
"I saw that you hadn't graduated yet; I didn't think you'd be working already."
"I've always worked while studying..." she explained briefly. "P'Oum had a vacancy, so I applied immediately."
"If I'd known even a little, I would have invited you to work at LN Holdings."
"Thank you."
"You're probably wondering why I'm calling all of a sudden."
"Yes."
"I've just called off my engagement with Ginny."
Unakarn raised a hand to her temple at the mention of his recurring drama, yet she managed to ask in a faint voice, "When?"
"Just today. I tried, Prae, but it's been building up for so long because her personality never changes. Today, I couldn't take it anymore... it was the final straw."
The young woman let out a soft, inward sigh. "I'm sorry to hear that."
"I want to see you."
"That wouldn't be appropriate, P'Isara."
"I miss you. Can't we just meet as old friends?"
"You should reflect on what you truly want first, rather than immediately going out with another woman like this."
"You said the same thing the first time, but I've reflected well," he said reproachfully. "I want to see you, not anyone else. How I felt before... I still feel the same today."
"I wouldn't feel comfortable at all. I hope you understand."
The other end went silent. After a moment, he conceded in a disappointed tone.
"Fine. If you need more time."
"It's not a matter of..."
Isara hung up before she could finish. The young woman looked at her phone dejectedly just as Supannika called.
"I'm almost there!"
"Where are you? I'll head out to find you."
"Right at the bus stop in front of the company. I'm walking in now."
"Wait there. I need to use the restroom for a second."
After telling her sister, she tucked away her notebook and phone. She spent a couple of minutes in the lobby restroom before exiting through the closer side door. With a preoccupied expression, she stepped out of the building. Seeing Supannika waving from a distance, she hurried off the sidewalk, failing to notice a car speeding toward her until a long, ear-piercing honk rang out.
Unakarn turned toward the sound and froze in the middle of the road, paralyzed by shock.
In that split second, she thought a collision was inevitable. Her body went numb, her feet rooted to the spot, until she was suddenly lunged at and tackled out of the path of death. The car roared past so close she could feel the heat from the engine and the air pressure of the fluid mechanics.
The force of the charge sent her crashing onto the opposite lane, cushioned by a firm, hard body. Amidst Supannika's screams—which she couldn't hear due to the ringing in her ears—the young woman held her breath, clinging to the body she was sprawled upon in a daze of terror. A moment later, she pushed herself up to look at the man who had saved her life.
Her heart nearly stopped when she met the sharp, piercing eyes already watching her.
"Khun Wasawatt..."
"Are you hurt anywhere?"
Her head shook frantically without thought just as Supannika rushed over. Her sister quickly helped steady her, seating her on the nearby pavement while frantically inspecting her body, her face drained of all color.
"P-P'Prae! Are you okay?!" The girl's voice shook as much as her wide eyes, which were brimming with unshed tears.
"I'm fine."
At that, the 'villain' threw her arms around her and sobbed openly, heedless of the onlookers.
"Hic... Waaa..."
Unakarn swallowed hard, hugging back the trembling girl as if she were the one who had nearly been hit. She glanced at the large man who had balanced himself and followed them to stand on the sidewalk, her own composure still shaken.
"Nong Mai, shh... people are looking."
"B-but I was so scared! Are you sure you aren't hurt?!"
"I will be if you keep hugging me until my bones snap."
"I'm sorry." The girl quickly loosened her embrace, pushing herself back but still gripping Unakarn's arms for a final inspection before wiping her tears.
Unakarn fumbled for a handkerchief in her skirt pocket and handed it over, stroking her sister's head while whispering, "Go apologize to my boss."
The tear-streaked face that had just finished blowing her nose looked up at the towering figure nearby. Her dark eyes widened.
"You're Khun Wasawatt Siwaratpakdee, aren't you?"
The handsome face broke into a pleasant smile as he crouched down on his haunches in a friendly manner.
"I didn't realize I was known to university students as well."
"You're insanely hot! So many of my friends at the university are your fans."
Wasawatt laughed at the girl's excited tone, which had already eclipsed her recent shock. "Call me P'Watt."
"Can I really?" The large, round eyes—resembling longan seeds—stared at him in surprise, making him feel a sense of endearment.
"Why not?"
At that, the little villain grinned and offered a graceful, refined wai.
"Thank you, P'Watt."
Just then, the driver and passenger of the car that had nearly hit Unakarn—parked not far from the scene—stepped out. The three turned to look, as did the newcomers, whose faces fell when they saw Wasawatt standing there.
"Mr. Chairman..." Jomnaree was the first to stammer his name. Accompanying her was Khakanang, and finally, the socialite herself—Ginjutha Kridakul.
The young man stood up and looked at each of them. "Who was driving?"
"It was my car," Ginjutha said in a low voice, her expression grim as she looked at the victim her sister was helping up. She spoke with reluctant obligation. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Unakarn said, offering a wai. "I'm sorry for stepping onto the road without looking. You must have been very shocked, Khun Ginny."
The socialite paused, not expecting such a reaction. She returned the wai with an awkward expression.
However, Jomnaree was the one who interjected. "Well, at least she isn't taking this opportunity to claim damages as the victim."
The nastiness of the tone made Supannika's eyes blaze.
"Watch your mouth! Even if P'Prae was reckless, I saw with my own eyes that your car accelerated toward her as if you intended to hit my sister."
"Excuse me?!"
"Are you going to deny it? You hadn't even reached the main road. Even if you were going a bit fast, you should have been able to brake in time."
"I panicked and accidentally hit the gas instead of the brake," Ginjutha answered, looking at the young girl with curiosity—especially at her university uniform. "Have we met before?"
"I was a junior in your faculty, Khun Ginny."
The socialite thought for a brief second before recognizing her. "Ah, Supannika, the famous Faculty Star."
Supannika offered a wai—neither too stiff nor too yielding—as a sign of acknowledgement while locking eyes with Ginjutha.
"P'Prae admits she was wrong. But your friend here is making snide remarks, even though you were the one who stepped on the gas toward my sister."
"I'm telling the truth," Jomnaree snapped. "If Ginny hit someone, it's because she lost her composure from shock. But the one at fault is your sister. She's caused us trouble and wasted our time. We are the ones who suffered here."
"You almost killed someone, and you can't even find a shred of compassion for a fellow human being? How on earth were you raised?!"
"Khun Jom is right," Unakarn interjected, quickly grabbing her sister's arm as the girl glared and bared her teeth aggressively. She dug her nails into Mai's arm to drag her back. "If I hadn't been daydreaming, no one would have been troubled. My apologies to everyone again. And my apologies on behalf of Nong Mai as well."
The young woman offered a wai to everyone, from the Chairman to Ginjutha and her two friends.
The socialite accepted the gesture with a cold expression. Khakanang cast her eyes down timidly as Wasawatt's sharp gaze swept over them. Jomnaree, her face alternating between pale and flushed with suppressed rage, didn't dare to cause a scene in front of the Big Boss and simply ignored the two sisters.
"If there's nothing else, let's go our separate ways," Wasawatt cut in when everyone fell silent.
"Thank you, Khun Watt, for preventing Ginny from becoming a criminal who hit someone with her car," the socialite told the man, then turned to address Unakarn without looking her in the face. "I'm sorry I nearly hit you."