Her Inconvenient Boss | Chapter 10
Korkrit returned the respectful wai of the two young women as they hurried out of the car, allowing his employer to relocate to the backseat.
"They're quite lovely, both the older and the younger sister, aren't they, sir?"
"Hmm..."
Wasawatt's large frame reclined against the backrest as the car set into motion once more. His eyes, however, caught a glint on the carpeted floor near the footrest. He reached down to retrieve the object.
"Before we were introduced, I actually thought you might be changing your taste, Khun Watt."
Korkrit dared to speak so freely because he had been raised in the household, following Wasawatt since they were teenagers. When Tycoon Saratch married Mom Ratchawong Warinrampai, Korkrit had been sent to study in America alongside the young master—his role as 'driver' was merely the title the outside world perceived.
"And since when did you become an expert on my taste?"
"Oh, come on, sir. You've only ever dated the spicy types—actresses, models, or those curvaceous Western women. Ah, I didn't mean to be crude, of course."
"So what..."
The inquirer held up a two-toned gold-plated necklace with a faceted Italian-style weave. He then noticed something else lying on the floor and picked it up. It was a delicate, openwork circular locket, just over a centimeter in diameter. In the center was a uniquely designed five-petaled flower, likely a custom-made piece.
Upon closer inspection, he saw it was a hinged locket. Inside the opaque casing was a photograph of a man and a woman; one didn't need to guess to know they were people of great importance to the owner. On the opposite side was a photograph of the girl herself.
The chain was tiny yet sturdy and quite long, clearly intended to be worn hidden beneath clothing. It had snapped in the middle, a fact the owner likely hadn't realized in her haste to exit the car.
"I was just letting my mind wander because you've never allowed a female employee into your car before, sir."
"Aren't you just gathering intel to collect a bribe from my mother? Checking up on which woman I'm seeing?"
"I wouldn't dare do that again!" Korkrit quickly denied, having a history of being caught in the act.
Like many mothers with an only son and a peerless lineage, M.R.W. Warinrampai was deeply invested in the women Wasawatt dated—especially now that he had reached thirty with no sign of settling down. Her past meddling had once created a rift that kept her from facing her son for quite some time.
"Straight to the event then, sir?"
"Mm-hmm," he replied distractedly, slipping both the necklace and the locket into his trouser pocket before pulling out his phone.
He grimaced at the sight of dozens of missed calls from Bharatee. He immediately dialed Mongkol, the family lawyer who handled certain personal matters for him.
"Send a check to Bharatee. Tell her it's the final one."
"Er, does she know yet, sir?"
"Not yet. Just see that it's handled properly."
"Understood." The person on the other end was wise enough not to pry, but asked one final question to be sure. "Is there anything else I should know, sir?"
The young man was about to say no, but then something occurred to him.
"There is one more thing..."
Kritsada Dittawat, a major real estate tycoon, had opened the grand hall of his magnificent mansion. It blazed with sparkling lights, indistinguishable from the grand ballroom of a five-star hotel, in preparation for a gala dinner. Business allies, celebrities, and numerous politicians had been invited.
The sprawling estate covered several acres, teeming with security guards and staff to facilitate the arrival of V.I.P. guests and escort them inside.
One guard reported into his radio and hurried to welcome the car the moment he recognized Wasawatt's vehicle. Since the event had not yet officially begun, only a few close guests were present.
"You've arrived ahead of schedule, Khun Watt."
"If Uncle Kritsada isn't ready, no need to call him."
"I've already informed him upstairs. This way, please..."
Wasawatt followed the head of security, with whom he was well-acquainted from his frequent visits. He was led to the owner's private reception room, reserved for those in the inner circle. Above the control console sat a bank of CCTV monitors, offering a view of almost the entire premises—specifically the main gates, the perimeter, and the banquet hall.
The corners of his well-shaped mouth twitched into a smile as he sank into a modern, comfortable designer sofa—a choice that perfectly reflected the taste of a top-tier real estate developer. He watched the images on the screens with a pleasant mood.
Before long, a greeting rang out, accompanied by a heavy slap on his broad shoulder from behind.
"You're here early, Khun Watt... Ah, enough with the formalities, keep the wai for the monks."
Kritsada spoke as he waved off the younger man's respectful gesture, his face beaming with a smile. He then signaled the head guard, Khanchit, to leave the room.
"You've redecorated this room to the point I almost didn't recognize it, Uncle."
"I saw it in a movie. It's convenient if I have personal business while guests are here; I can keep an eye on things at the same time."
"With this much convenience, Khanchit's men won't have much to do."
"Hah! What would a businessman's guards have to do all day?"
Wasawatt's smile widened, making his strikingly handsome features even more captivating. "Then I assume the business you wanted to discuss isn't anything too serious."
"Well, Charm just returned from abroad. I realized the two of you haven't seen each other in a long time." Kritsada mentioned the nickname of Chama, his only daughter, with palpable affection. "So I took the liberty of asking you to arrive early so you could meet her."
"She's finished her studies, then?"
"She just..."
The tycoon hadn't even finished his sentence when the door swung open without a knock. The slender figure of Chama Dittawat dashed toward Wasawatt with a shriek of delight. She threw herself into his arms so suddenly that the large man, who had just stood up, had to steady himself to catch her.
"P'Watt! You really came! I've missed you so much!"
"You aren't a little girl anymore," Wasawatt said with a chuckle as he gently pushed her back to get a proper look at her. "Wow, you're dressing and doing your makeup quite spicy these days, aren't you?"
"Charm is a full-grown woman now."
The young woman didn't just speak; she stood on her tiptoes—already elevated by high heels—to kiss his cheek several times. The playboy could only offer a strained, awkward smile out of respect for her father.
Kritsada, however, didn't seem to mind, watching them with a smile.
"A young lady should be more careful. You can't just go around hugging and kissing any man you feel like," Wasawatt scolded in a languid tone.
"But Charm loves you, P'Watt. And I promise I won't do it in front of your mother."
"Good to know." The young man lightly flicked her forehead in a teasing manner and sank back into his seat. Chama followed, sitting on the same sofa and pulling his muscular arm into a hug. "Are you back for good this time, or just for the summer?"
"I've finished my Master's. I'm back for good."
"Good. Your father will have someone to help him with work."
"Hmph. I'm not working for Dad. The reason I had him invite you early was to ask to work with you, P'Watt."
"Hey! Your father's business is massive. Why would you want to work for someone else?"
"You aren't 'someone else.' We're distant relatives. Besides, once you marry me, we'll become one and the same anyway." After speaking, she let out a giggle, resting her head against his bicep and casting him a sultry look.
The handsome man offered a look that was half-frown, half-smile, knowing her well. "Aren't you afraid our children will inherit genetic disorders from recessive genes?"
"Oh, please! We both have excellent genes. Our blood isn't that close; our children wouldn't be so unlucky as to catch any of those strange diseases."
"Have you asked him yet if he actually wants to marry you?" Kritsada feigned a weary tone, though his eyes were full of hope, contradicting his outward demeanor.