Her Inconvenient Boss | Chapter 17
"Ouch... fell right out of bed."
The victim of the nightmare let out a sharp intake of breath as she pushed herself up from the wooden floor, just as her alarm began to blare. She scrambled up and hurried into the bathroom.
Once she finished her morning routine, she stepped out to handle the final preparations for the catering items with Supannika's help. Everything was ready and waiting for transport by daybreak, while her mother was busy preparing breakfast in the kitchen.
"Go shower and get ready for class, Mai. I'll handle the rest," she told her sister, who nodded sleepily, letting out a wide yawn before heading off.
"Mother, you don't need to help me lift anything. I've got it."
"Oum just called. She said the transport will be here in less than half an hour. They're bringing staff to do the heavy lifting; they don't want us doing it."
"P'Oum is so thorough."
"So I've prepared the offerings for the monks as usual. Luang Phor will be here soon. Come down with me like you always do."
"Yes, Mother. I'll take the table and flowers down first, then I'll come back to help you with the food."
"The food for only three monks? I can carry that myself."
Mother and daughter chatted amiably, and within minutes, they were waiting for the monks who made their alms round punctually every morning from the temple just one alley away—a temple for which her family had been lifelong patrons.
As they finished offering alms and received the blessing, the company transport arrived. Four male employees climbed out, accompanied by a middle-aged woman with a stern demeanor who introduced herself first.
"My name is Rojana. I'm Khun Wasawatt's head housekeeper. Khun Natthawara sent me to take over from here... You must be Unakarn."
"Yes, ma'am," the young woman offered a respectful wai. "This is my mother, Prayong. Please, come inside first. I've prepared a notebook with the remaining checklist for you."
The housekeeper nodded, following them into the house while glancing at the empty alms bowls they carried back.
"It's rare to see people still offering morning alms these days."
"We do it every day. On holy days, we go to the temple, unless we're unwell or have urgent business," Prayong replied gently.
"Is it the temple in the next alley...?" Rojana named the temple, which was famous for its resident enlightened master.
"Yes. Have you ever been to pay respects to Luang Phor, Khun Rojana?"
"I came with Khun Ying twice, a long time ago... Your home is quite lovely," the housekeeper complimented as she reached the veranda, surveying the surroundings with a gaze that appeared more relaxed and satisfied than before.
"It's a bit old, a family heritage. Please, this way."
Unakarn waited for the four uniformed men to gather before explaining the items to be moved, which had been categorized into separate hot and cold containers. As for the onsite equipment—plates, cutlery, trays, glass jars, chafing dishes, glassware, and automatic coffee grinders—Natthawara had specified they would use items from the Siwaratpakdee estate. The division of labor had been clearly defined from the start to prevent confusion.
Once the tasks were understood, the housekeeper ordered the men to begin loading the items into the vehicle waiting at the foot of the stairs.
"I've labeled every tray and pot with a number and the name of the dish..." The young woman handed a clipboard to the housekeeper. "This is the menu list ordered by meal time, with snacks interspersed. I've noted which items need reheating or final prep before serving. If you use a tablet, I can send you the digital files as well."
Rojana took the clipboard, pencil tucked into the side, and scanned it briefly while the men worked. She then looked up at the girl.
"Have you and Khun Prayong ever run a restaurant before, dear?"
"Never, ma'am. But back when things were difficult, I sold food and handled some catering where I delivered to other providers. My eldest daughter eventually asked me to stop because my health wasn't great lately," the mother answered.
"You seem very meticulous—more organized than some of the professional firms Khun Ying has hired."
"Thank you, ma'am," the young woman offered a bashful wai.
"I'm curious about the taste, though. Khun Nat said she's only sampled it once." Her tone made it clear she was still skeptical.
Mother and daughter simply smiled. Prayong then offered, "Since it will take the boys a while to load everything, why don't you have a bowl of rice porridge and a cup of coffee, Khun Rojana? Nong Prae can supervise the loading."
"Khun Nat sent me here to work. Besides, I've already had a little something to eat." She said that, yet she found herself sitting at the scrubbed-clean table, catching the fragrant aroma of the food still simmering on the stove. "But I wouldn't want to refuse your kindness... just a little bit, then."
The second day of the mid-year executive meeting concluded shortly before 6:00 PM. Natthawara headed up to the top-floor penthouse—Wasawatt's private residence within the office building. There, Rojana was supervising the staff as they cleaned a kitchen that looked like it had been plucked straight from an international magazine, despite the owner rarely using it for more than making coffee or reheating meals.
"Tired?" Wasawatt's PA asked, affectionately wrapping an arm around the head housekeeper's waist.
"Only a little. Everything went well, I assume?"
"Superb. Thanks to your help, of course."
The listener shook her head with a faint smile. Though she was meticulous in every detail, she wasn't one to seek credit. "The caterer prepared everything perfectly. And the flavor was so good there was almost nothing left to clean up. Where did you find this provider, Khun Nat?"
"Unakarn only recently joined our Operations department. I asked her to help because our regular firm had to stop abruptly, and it was too late to find a replacement."
"Where did you first taste Khun Prayong and Nong Prae's cooking?"
"Prae sent up a pinto once..." Natthawara recounted the history with a small, amused smile. "She made it to thank Khun Watt for his help, but begged me not to tell him because she feared we'd think she was a brown-noser. But I told him anyway."
"She still looks like a child."
"Just twenty-three. She's studying for her Master's on weekends. She's the younger sister of Shanya, that actress who's been famous for a while."
"It's rare for a young girl these days to be so skilled in domestic arts."
"Indeed. She took this job without accepting a fee, only asking to be reimbursed for the ingredients."
Rojana frowned. "That doesn't seem right."
"She apparently wanted to repay Khun Watt. But I've prepared a check for a proper amount anyway; I don't want to take advantage of the girl. It would look bad to anyone who found out."
Wasawatt's PA didn't mention to the housekeeper that she had heard quite a bit about this employee. Initially, she admitted to having a prejudice, fearing the new hire might be one of Isara's people. She had called Phakaphan in for a thorough grilling.
'...I'd bet my life on it, Prae never had anything untoward with Isara Lucknara,' Phakaphan had insisted.
'It's hard to judge by appearances alone these days. You don't live in the same house; how can you be certain?'
'I've known Prae since her freshman year. She's my 'codeline sibling's' best friend; we're very close. Five or six years is long enough to know someone. If she really had feelings for Isara, she would have started dating him when he and Ginny broke up the first time.'
'She might just be playing hard to get...'
'She was simply raised better than that. Khun Nat, are you familiar with Khun Ying Pradapdao?' Phakaphan had ventured, unable to let her beloved junior be judged unfairly for someone else's mess. 'But I must tell you, I found out about her background by accident—Prae never told me herself.'
Before clocking out on the last Friday of the month, the department was especially lively as it was payday. Phakaphan called her new subordinate into her office to chat as they usually did, praised her performance, and finally handed her the check for the catering job.
Unakarn stared at the six-figure number with wide eyes.
"But P'Oum, I told you that..."
"And I told you Khun Nat wouldn't have it any other way."
The young woman looked down at the check and let out a soft sigh. "Fine. I'll give it to my mother, then."
"Khun Nat also asked if you'd be interested in handling lunch for the Chairman's guests whenever he invites key partners for a visit or a meeting. It would be no more than three or four times a month."
Brown eyes widened in confusion. "Even if I were interested, I'm afraid it would affect my regular duties. I don't know how many guests the Chairman would have each time, or if it would fall on a busy day for the department. Even if Khun Nat sets the menu, each step takes time—from marketing for fresh supplies to prep and cooking..." Unakarn went on at length before shaking her head. "So, it's probably best if I decline."
"I'll let her know," Phakaphan said with an amused smile.
"Thank you. But if Khun Nat has an urgent job and truly can't find anyone in time, please let me know."
"Mmhmm. Are you heading home now?" the supervisor asked, as the department was now empty.
"Whoa, it's almost 7:00 PM already."
"On a payday Friday like this, even if you leave early, the traffic is a nightmare. Especially with this being a tourist hub."
"I'm heading out now. Are you staying later, P'Oum?"
"I'll clear a bit more work and let the traffic ease up. You go ahead."
"Are you sure about staying here alone?"
Phakaphan laughed. "At my age? Don't you worry about me."
The young woman didn't press further, knowing her senior's personality. She said her goodbyes and gathered her things. She took the elevator down to the parking level, which was nearly empty. She didn't think much of the fact that the guard, who was usually stationed there twenty-four hours a day, was nowhere to be seen.
As she was about to open the door of 'Phi Nang Yam,' which was parked deep in the lot, she frowned as an unexplainable chill ran down her spine. She turned to look and recoiled in terror when she saw someone about to lunged at her, holding 'something' in their hand.
Instinctively, she bolted from the spot without a second thought. Just then, a guard appeared from another direction. Seeing the situation, he drew his baton and rushed over as Unakarn cried out for help.
"Help! Catch him... catch him!"
The assailant, having missed their mark, paused for only a split second before fleeing, realizing there would be no second chance.
"Hey! Stop right there!"
The thin figure vanished through a side exit, slipping past the building toward the front of the company with the security guard in hot pursuit.
Unakarn, left standing alone in the middle of the parking lot, looked left and right, her heart pounding frantically. In that moment, a sentence from Ginjutha's video echoed in her mind:
"You and that woman... you will pay for what you've done to me."
The young woman was still unsure of what to do when suddenly, a tall figure who had emerged from the building at some unknown point reached her.
"Kh-Khun Wasawatt!"
"What happened?"
"I don't know." Her head shook as she pointed a trembling hand toward the scene less than twenty meters away. "Someone came up behind me. He was holding a bottle and looked like he was about to splash me. I panicked and ran just as the guard arrived and chased after him."
"Come here." A large hand gripped her upper arm, pulling her along while he dialed someone on his phone.
"Where are you...? Get to the company parking lot now. Call the lab staff in too. I suspect an attempted acid attack."
He hung up immediately after scanning his hand to open the door. He led Unakarn to a sofa in the lobby and stood there, focused on his phone for several minutes before pocketing it.
"Khun Wasawatt, how did you get here?"
"I happened to see the CCTV footage as I was about to come down." The young man looked at her pale, fear-stricken face with a questioning gaze. "Why haven't you gone home yet, Prae?"
"I just finished talking to P'Oum, my supervisor."
"Are you still scared?"
She offered a small nod, looking up at him for only a second before casting her eyes down, realizing she was being observed with scrutinizing intensity.
"Can you guess who did it?"
Unakarn thought for a fleeting second, then shook her head, not daring to answer.