Her Inconvenient Boss | Chapter 20
"What are you even talking about, Kimmy!"
Khemin shrugged, his lips curling into a dismissive pout. "I'm just saying what my intuition tells me."
As it happened, that intuition was notoriously accurate. Even when his insights seemed far-fetched, none of his colleagues ever dared to take them lightly.
"Your senses are failing you this time. You're talking nonsense. Your internal wiring must be fried."
"The Boss and Prae? Seriously!"
Unakarn pulled her car into the restaurant's parking lot at exactly six-thirty. She quickly locked the vehicle and headed inside.
"A table for Mr. Issara, please," she informed the waiter who approached to greet her. She followed the staff member to a seating area toward the back, which offered a fair amount of privacy.
The young man, who had been waiting for her, stood up with a look of delight as soon as he saw her. He was dressed in a casual suit and appeared more handsome than the last time they had met.
Issara even stepped forward to pull out her chair with the poise of a true gentleman. "I thought you weren't going to show up, Nong Prae."
"I had some business, so I'm a little late. I'm sorry."
"For you, I could wait forever."
The young woman waited until the waiter set down the menus and announced he would return in five minutes before she looked the young senior directly in the eye.
"You look well, P'Is."
"As do you." Issara's eyes flickered with a shimmering intensity as he swept his gaze over her face and the parts of her figure visible above the table. He felt an overwhelming surge of excitement; it had been months since he'd seen her. "You look a bit thinner, but much sexier."
Unakarn offered a faint, fleeting smile before lowering her gaze to the menu—a gesture the onlooker misinterpreted as shyness.
"It's my treat today. Order whatever you like."
"I don't eat much for dinner. Please, go ahead and order for yourself."
"Surely you aren't worried about your weight like other girls."
"I just don't want to feel uncomfortable in my clothes, so I've cut back on evening meals. It's not exactly a diet."
Once again, Issara's gaze drifted down, surreptitiously tracing her silhouette. At a glance, she seemed soft and curvaceous, but in reality, she possessed the waist of his dreams—slender and tapering into rounded hips that complemented a bust slightly fuller than the average Thai woman's. Her graceful limbs were hidden beneath loose clothing that covered more than it revealed, yet she never failed to stir his desires.
Unakarn lifted the menu, using it as a shield to hide a quiet sigh at his blatant, incautious scrutiny. She opted for something simple—a smoked salmon salad and fruit juice—while Issara ordered wine and a medium-rare steak for himself.
"I'll be back in a moment; I need to use the restroom."
She excused herself just as her juice was served. Issara nodded quickly. "Take your time."
A look of triumph settled on his face as he watched her walk away. He slipped a hand into his breast pocket, pulling out a small paper packet that resembled a salt sachet. He emptied the contents into her tomato juice and stirred it thoroughly for a few seconds.
A few minutes later, Unakarn returned to her seat just as the food was being served.
"Why don't you try a glass of wine with me? This bottle is excellent."
"I don't really drink. Please, help yourself."
"The juice is good, too. It'll keep your skin as beautiful as it is now."
She smiled politely at the flattery, waiting for him to begin before she started eating.
"I went to the police station today to give my statement. I tried to tell them everything I know, hoping they'll find the culprit. I'll be doing some investigating on my own as well." Issara began the story, knowing that this was the only reason she had agreed to come.
"..." She listened in silence, as Inspector Thrit had already called her that afternoon.
'He had an eyewitness at the time of the incident, and his statement was quite useful. I don't believe he was the one who carried it out.'
'And the other person?'
'Khun Ginny also has an alibi. But you have to understand, this is a case of hiring someone else to do the job. The person who gave the order doesn't need to be at the scene, right?' The young inspector had reasoned in a level voice. 'In this instance, we lack hard evidence because we haven't caught the person who actually threw the acid yet.'
'You don't know who it is?' she asked, knowing there was CCTV footage.
'We've identified him. He's a petty thief with a history of snatch-and-grabs to fund a drug habit. He was caught once years ago. By the time the police reached his residence, he was gone. Neighbors said he came back briefly to pack and left immediately. We found no clues in his room as to where he might have gone. The suspect has no known relatives or friends in that area, and his name is listed in a central house registration.'
'Do you think you'll catch him, Inspector?'
'I hope so... but it will take some time.'
"You probably want to know if I suspect anyone," Issara prompted.
"Yes."
"Ginny, of course. I ran into her at the station as I was leaving, so I asked her straight out if she was following through on her threats." Issara's expression turned grim as he mentioned his ex-fiancée. "But she just provoked me, telling me that if I wanted to know, I'd have to wait and see for myself."
"Is it possible it could be someone else?"
"I can't think of anyone who hates you as much as Ginny does."
Unakarn sighed inwardly and continued eating without much appetite. Sensing her lack of interest, the young man quickly changed the subject.
"How is work at your company?"
"I'm still on probation, but it's quite fun."
"Interested in resigning to come work with me? I'll pay whatever you ask."
"Is that the same offer you made to Parichat, P'Is?"
Issara froze, his steak knife mid-air, and looked at her in confusion. "Nong Prae... who did you hear that from?"
"I just found out by chance before I came here. That's why I'm asking."
The young woman set down her spoon, her hands folded on the table as she gazed at him with an air of innocent curiosity. Under her gaze, he forced a laugh.
"I confess, I don't know anyone by the name of Parichat because HR hasn't notified me yet. But I did hear that someone from Kent Industries applied for a job with us. You don't think... this is some plan to poach staff, do you?"
"I don't know anything about plans. My position is too small for that."
"So, are you interested in coming to work for me?" he repeated.
"Oum was the one who invited me to work there. I haven't even finished my probation. If I resigned, I wouldn't be able to look her in the eye."
"But I'm so worried about you. Especially after I found out what Ginny tried to do. I don't want you out of my sight again."
"I can take care of myself. I'll be very careful." She answered softly as usual, avoiding any harsh rejection.
"Regardless, I want you to come help me with the business. It's better than working for someone else." He took the liberty of reaching out to clasp her fair hand on the table, his eyes filled with a plea that few women could refuse. "In case you eventually have a change of heart... one day, this will become our family business."
"I think..." Unakarn lowered her head slightly as if blushing, but she sat up straight and carefully withdrew her arm with a gentleness that Issara mistook for lingering affection. "It wouldn't be appropriate."
"How long are you going to be this cold to me?"
"There are rumors at the office about you and Ginny... and that leaked clip..." she began.
"If you saw the clip, you'd know that Ginny and I are truly finished."
"She seemed both heartbroken and very angry."
"What do you expect from a harlot like that?" Issara's expression darkened again, though his voice softened when he saw her wince. "I'm sorry for being crude, but I really can't stand it."
"Are you sure, P'Is, that she...?"
"Ginny has had a thing for that guy Wat for a long time." Issara stopped himself as if suddenly remembering something. "Oh, I forgot that you work for him."
"So you don't like Wasawatt?"
"It's bad enough that my fiancée was obsessed with a man notorious for being a playboy. But in the end, for her to go and have an affair at his condo—insulting me to the point where someone couldn't take it and had to tell me—how do you expect me to feel?"
"Who was the one who told you?"
The young man opened his mouth to answer, but then changed his mind. "I promised them I wouldn't mention their name."
"But if Ginny has had feelings for Wasawatt for as long as you say, why would she come back to you?"
"Haven't you seen the latest news about him and Shama Ditthawat? That family is several times richer than Ginny's. No matter how many women Wasawatt has, they're all just passing fancies. His real partner is the daughter of a national real estate tycoon."
Unakarn listened in silence and nodded. "You said you wanted to see me."
"I once tore my own heart out to do what you asked—to go back to Ginny. But it still fell apart." Suddenly, Issara stood up from his chair, walked around the table to her side, and knelt down, grabbing her fair hand. "Just as my heart still only has room for you."
"Please stand up, P'Is. It's embarrassing." She tried to pull her hand away.
"I'm not embarrassed. If you don't give me a chance, I'm going to stay right here."
Unakarn swallowed hard, feeling incredibly awkward. Although her corner was relatively private, her instincts told her that people at other tables were staring, watching a handsome man on his knees professing his love.
"Am I interrupting something again?"
The deep, stern voice coming from so close made the young woman pull her hand back frantically. She turned to see the tall, imposing figure standing with his head tilted, hands in his pockets, watching the touching scene with a smile on his face.
Yet, his eyes were so cold she could feel it.
"Wasawatt."
"I was wondering why the voice sounded so familiar. It's you, Prae."
He said this and looked down at the young man still kneeling on the floor until Issara was forced to stand, feeling as though someone was looming over him.
"Sorry to call you out, but your sweet little scene is blocking the way."
"I didn't expect to run into you here, Wasawatt."
"Who did we run into, P'Wat?"
A strikingly beautiful woman who had just arrived leaned out from behind him, looking at Unakarn and Issara with inquisitive eyes—particularly at the man. "He looks so familiar. Do I know you?"
"Prae is an employee at my company. As for Mr. Issara, you probably saw him at the party at your house, Shama."
"Issara Lucknara, right? There were so many guests that day my head was spinning... we didn't have a chance to talk."
"I'm glad you remember me, Shama."
"And this is...?" Shama turned to the young woman standing stiffly with a pale face. "What is your relationship to Mr. Issara, Khun Prae?"
"I am a junior from the same university as P'Is."
"I hope Wat and I aren't interrupting a special moment."
"I was just about to leave."
"You can relax around me, Prae... you can call me Shama."
The socialite reached out first with a charming smile that could easily enchant any man.
Unakarn gave a strained smile as she gently took the other woman's hand before pulling away, but her hand was held fast. The beautiful woman tilted her head, her eyes shimmering.
"So, we know each other now."
"Ah, yes."
"Next time I go to see Wat at the office, I'll stop by to chat." Having said that, she finally let go of her hand and turned to cling to Wasawatt's arm with an air of intimate familiarity. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Mr. Issara."
"Likewise."
Unakarn clasped her hands in front of her, squeezing them together in a reflexive flinch as those sharp, piercing eyes looked directly at her.
It might have been her imagination, but she felt he was displeased, even though his handsome face still bore that same good-natured smile.
She waited until the tall, imposing man and the slender, elegant woman—a perfect match—had walked past. Then, she grabbed her handbag, pulled out a banknote sufficient for the meal, and placed it on the table.
"I'm leaving now. I need to pick up some things for the house; otherwise, it'll be too late."
"Let me follow you home." Issara glanced at the tomato juice, which was only slightly diminished, with a sense of frustration.
"I brought my own car."
"And about what I asked for... our situation..."
"I came to see you to confirm my original answer," the young woman interrupted gently. "P'Is... please take care of yourself."