Her Inconvenient Boss | Chapter 23
The female guest eyed the tall glass the housekeeper had brought for Wasawatt with keen interest. The drink was a striking gradient, with a deep red base blending into a frothy blue top layered with crushed ice and raspberries, garnished with a vibrant lime wheel on the rim.
"What is that you're having, Wat?"
"A watermelon and raspberry mocktail, sir," Auntie Orn answered.
"I'll have the same."
"Please wait a moment. I will bring out more rice for you as well."
The socialite tilted her head, observing the simple yet meticulously prepared meal. "Auntie Orn, the food looks so appetizing."
"Auntie Orn didn't make it," Wasawatt corrected simply, offering no further explanation. "How is your father, Ginny?"
"He's been called in for questioning. It looks like things are going to be more difficult than we thought..." The young woman went on to describe how others involved seemed intent on washing their hands of the matter and pinning the blame on her father. "Mom says it looks like those bad debts were just nominees for someone else."
"Phanida is right. The real capital group is Ren Tingwei. He has legitimate businesses in Mainland China, but he's moved vast sums out to invest in various liberalized Asian markets—especially Hong Kong. He's practically the mafia there."
The socialite's expression grew somber. "No wonder Dad looks so worried."
"I'll ask Thawal to look into it. He's an expert in money laundering cases." Wasawatt mentioned the manager of MKG, a major investment banking and financial advisory firm they were close with.
"Ginny doesn't know how to thank you, Wat."
Her pale, beautifully manicured hand reached out to cover his larger one as he tapped the table thoughtfully. Just then, the housekeeper emerged with a tray of steamed rice, a herb-infused charred consommé, the watermelon-raspberry mocktail, and plain water.
The young man gestured to his guest. "Let's eat."
Jinjutha had no appetite, having grown accustomed to dieting in the evenings, but she forced a mouthful to please her host. Her eyebrows shot up in surprise the moment she tasted it. "This is delicious!"
"If it's good, then eat more. You've lost weight."
"Lately, I haven't been able to keep much down."
She took several more bites, surreptitiously watching her dining companion with a sense of awe. Despite his playboy reputation, Wasawatt ate relatively quickly and almost silently. He possessed the natural grace of a true aristocrat well-versed in table etiquette, never losing his masculine elegance.
"Is something the matter?" the young man asked when she set down her spoon after finishing only half her plate, resting her chin on her hand and smiling at him.
"I've never seen a man eat as attractively as you, Wat."
Wasawatt laughed as he reached out to press a hidden bell on the edge of the table.
"I probably got that from my mother," he explained, then spoke to the housekeeper as she approached. "Another plate of rice, please, Auntie."
Auntie Orn looked at the dishes, which were more than half empty, and asked attentively, "Would you like anything else to go with the rice, Khun Wat?"
"That won't be necessary. Do you want anything, Ginny? Fruit?"
"I've had plenty. I don't usually eat dinner at all."
When her employer offered no objection, the housekeeper stepped forward to clear the guest's plate. Moments later, she returned with a tray of steamed rice and a small plate of fruit, then withdrew to give the pair some privacy.
Unakarn caught a glimpse of the tray the housekeeper brought back after the meal. She smiled with satisfaction when she saw the dishes were licked clean.
"Khun Wat finished almost everything himself because Khun Ginny is on a diet."
"Khun Ginny...?" Unakarn's brown eyes blinked rapidly as she realized who the guest was. "Is she here?"
"Yes, she's visited a few times. Do you know her, Khun Prae?"
The young woman gave a non-committal hum, an indescribable feeling washing over her. Learning that he had invited the woman who might have harmed her to dinner at his home made her pick up the pace on the half-finished prep work. She didn't know when the female guest eventually left.
By the time she finished preparing the savory dishes, desserts, and fruits, it was past eleven. She began the cleanup with Auntie Orn's vigorous assistance.
"Not finished yet?"
The deep voice from the doorway made the young woman, who was washing equipment, jump. Water splashed onto her, and she turned with a sheepish smile toward her employer, awkwardly wiping her hands on her apron.
"Just finished. Is there anything else you'd like me to do, Khun Wasawatt?"
"Let Auntie Orn handle the rest. You, get ready to go home. Reuk will drive you."
"Auntie Orn already said she'd take care of it. Go get some rest, Khun Prae." The housekeeper chimed in, sounding as if she were reporting her previous failed attempts to follow orders.
"I drove myself to work. I can get back on my own," she told the boss.
"At this hour, it's dangerous for a woman to drive alone."
"P'Nang Yaem just had a full engine overhaul. She won't break down easily." She spoke softly, reflexively wiping a bead of sweat from her forehead, looking exhausted after a full day's work.
His sharp eyes narrowed. "Have you eaten anything yet?"
"Oh, goodness!" Auntie Orn gasped, looking distressed. She turned to the young woman as if only just realizing. "You started working the moment you got here and haven't had a bite. I completely forgot."
"I sampled plenty of the dishes. I'm full," she murmured as his handsome face darkened. She offered a respectful wai to the housekeeper. "I'll be going then. If you need anything tomorrow, Auntie Orn, just call me."
"I will. Hurry home and rest now."
The young woman removed her apron and reached for her handbag with a touch of bashfulness, as the Big Boss was still leaning against the doorframe, watching her as if waiting for an answer.
"Khun Wasawatt, you can have P'Reuk drive behind me until the mouth of my alley. Give me five minutes, and I'll meet him at the parking lot."
She said this and hurried into the bathroom to freshen up, brushing her teeth and splashing water on her face to wake herself up. She didn't bother with makeup since she'd be showering and sleeping once she got home. She finished in under five minutes and stepped back out.
The Big Boss was still waiting exactly where she had left him.
Unakarn realized then that he must have showered; he looked perfectly refreshed in casual attire—a t-shirt and men's shorts—yet remained as devastatingly handsome as ever.
A sandwich was thrust toward her. "Eat this in the car. Let's go."
"Thank you." She offered a wai and took it, her heart lightening, but her eyes blinked in surprise as he followed her out of the room.
Unakarn said nothing, assuming he was seeing her to the elevator as a matter of courtesy. But his large frame slipped into the rectangular car before she could press the button for the parking level. Her brown eyes went wide.
"Are you going out, sir?"
"I'm driving you."
"But P'Reuk..."
"Reuk will drive behind us. I'll ride back with him."
"There's no need for you to go to the trouble of driving me, Khun Wasawatt."
"Next time you come up to work, Reuk will be the one picking you up and dropping you off. You don't need to drive yourself."
She was speechless for several seconds until they reached the parking level. Stepping out of the elevator, she turned to face him.
"I prefer driving myself to work. Even if it's late, I can get back. There's no need to trouble anyone to fetch me."
"When did I say it was a trouble?"
"..." She lost her tongue again as he arched an eyebrow and held out his hand.
"Car keys."
"Mr. President..."
The employer looked exasperated. "Just call me by my name."
"Khun Wasawatt... are you going to have P'Reuk drive P'Nang Yaem... I mean, my car back?"
"I'm driving it myself."
"But..."
"The keys, Prae. You're making us both waste time."
The soft command, which carried an undercurrent of intimidation, had Unakarn fumbling for her keys and handing them over. She turned to wai Reuk, who had just walked up.
"Hello, Khun Prae. Ah, are you coming along too, Khun Wat?"
"Yes. You drive behind us. That way you'll know where to pick her up next time."
Reuk answered politely but suppressed a smile as he got into the luxury European car, watching his boss cram his large frame into the semi-antique Japanese car that looked far older than its years. It took a good moment for Wasawatt to adjust the seat.
"Perhaps I should drive?" she asked deferentially.
"I don't much like being in a car driven by others."
Wasawatt shrugged as he pulled out, having pushed the ancient seat back by a foot to give his long legs room to stretch.
Unakarn wrinkled her nose, feeling a slight surge of annoyance. "Is it because I'm a woman?"
"Others. I mean every gender, including LGBTQIANP+."
"I've been driving for six or seven years. I've never hit anything, not once."
"Ever been hit?"
"I've been rear-ended twice."
"I started driving at twelve. I raced on the track for years without an accident. On the road, unless I intend to hit someone, I've never been hit. That's a more reliable statistic."
The Big Boss credited himself with a straight face, leaving his listener agape.
She found herself gripping the seat when P'Nang Yaem swerved onto the main road—which was relatively empty late at night—with an acceleration and speed she herself would never dare use. She stole a nervous glance at him from the corner of her eye.
As comical as it seemed for a man of his stature to be driving P'Nang Yaem, seeing him racing her outdated Japanese car was so far from her imagination that Unakarn could hardly believe it. She watched him with wide, dazed eyes...
Until his deep, resonant voice broke her reverie.
"Eat your sandwich."
"Oh, I'm not very hungry." The truth was, she was too excited to eat.
"Women. Every single one of you must be on a diet."