Wittawin stood watching Teeradon and the stern-faced man—apparently a close acquaintance—emerge from the entrance of The Dazzle club. He couldn't help but wonder if their missing motorcycles had truly been stolen. The police had found Pamorn's bike under an overpass not far from the club. His friend was now accompanying the officers to confirm ownership, while his BMW remained missing—and he suspected it would stay that way for quite some time.
"I'll take you up to check the security footage in the control room. Don't worry—the club takes full responsibility," Teeradon said, his voice unusually serious, his face stern and unfamiliar compared to the expression Wittawin usually saw.
"My bike's insured." Wittawin shrugged.
"You're not upset at all?" Teeradon raised an eyebrow, surprised by the lack of outrage he'd expected.
"I am, but what can I do except wait?"
"In that case, please come in." Teeradon gestured for Wittawin to return to the club.
"We can check tomorrow," Wittawin shook his head, explaining it was already very late. He felt exhausted and drowsy. "Do the parking lot cameras cover every angle? Where I parked was rather dark."
"Niwat, have the lighting checked and add more lights to brighten the dark corners. Also call the security company to see which areas aren't covered by cameras," Teeradon turned to instruct his assistant—the same man Wittawin remembered who had 'escorted' him to meet Teeradon the night he'd been selected by the spotlight as the new Super VIP.
"Let's just take a look," Teeradon said again.
"Reviewing all that footage takes hours—we'd be done around four or five in the morning." Wittawin argued, then turned to walk away casually.
"Khun Wittawin," Teeradon called out and followed.
"We've already filed a police report. The cops seem pretty close to you, so they'll track down the car either way. Whether I get it back or not is another matter, but I think those petty thieves who dared steal my bike will be scared of serious charges and return it soon enough." Wittawin turned back with a cool, steady voice.
"Good way to think about it. Better to stay positive than negative," Teeradon nodded in agreement.
Impressive, really. This is the kind of person I like. Fine, I'll let Wittawin win this round...
"I'll give you a ride," Teeradon changed the subject.
"No need, thank you. I can take a taxi," Wittawin replied flatly, quickening his long strides.
"This is an upscale club. There aren't taxis lined up waiting for guests like in Silom or other areas," Teeradon warned.
"If there are no motorcycles, I'll walk. I have two legs—nothing to be afraid of." Wittawin's voice was firm, shrugging without concern.
"Always so tough, aren't you?" Teeradon muttered to himself, watching the tall engineer's straight-backed figure slowly walking away. But the gaze of the club owner turned thief couldn't help drifting down to the young man's backside.
Wittawin, you'd better be careful. This petty thief might turn into a ruthless bandit who robs, murders, and rapes...
***
Toey smiled when he saw Teeradon enter the office looking dejected. The boss greeted his secretary briefly, then made a gesture of lifting a cup to his lips—a signal that he wanted coffee. The young secretary nodded and immediately picked up the phone to order coffee as requested. He had actually brewed coffee for Teeradon before, but his straightforward boss—even more direct than his previous one—had commented that it was 'completely awful.'
...
"Khun Tin still said it was delicious."
"For Tin, everything tastes good. You put in one sugar cube and you say it's sweet enough, so he agrees it's sweet. I'm honest," Teeradon snapped.
"You're just mean," Toey pouted in displeasure.
"From now on, don't brew coffee for me anymore," Teeradon ordered.
"I only knows how to mix drinks," the secretary defended himself.
"Getting men drunk is expertise, of course," the boss said sarcastically.
"Absolutely. Except for one person, whom I will never waste my drink on," the secretary shrugged and immediately fell silent, leaving it understood who that 'one person' was.
...
After ordering coffee from their usual shop with a five-minute deadline for delivery, the young secretary finished organizing the desk. He then got up from his chair and gently knocked on his boss's office door before pushing it open, since Teeradon hadn't answered when he'd pressed the intercom earlier.
The young executive lay sprawled on the sofa, hand covering his forehead, eyes closed wearily. His left leg rested on the cushion while his right leg stretched out, foot on the floor.
"Completely worn out. This is what you call a fierce tiger that lost its stripes," Toey muttered, standing and tilting his head to look at Teeradon, shaking his head sympathetically. "Everything was fine, but you had to stir up trouble. If you love him, or just like him, why not just tell him directly? Acting like a child, playing these teasing games—when will you two ever get together? Don't make me drug both of you and drag you to bed together."
"What are you nagging about, Toey?" Teeradon spoke softly, eyes still closed.
"Nothing," Toey shrugged. "Didn't sleep last night? Left the club, went home to shower, then came straight to work? You won't last much longer at this rate, just watch."
"Leave me alone."
"When are you going to return his motorcycle?" the caring secretary asked, then startled and automatically stepped back as the person on the sofa bolted upright.
"How do you know? Who told you? Who dared?" Teeradon's voice was sharp, his brows furrowed in displeasure.
"Khun Sarayoot," Toey looked innocent.
"What does Khun Sarayoot know about it?" Teeradon frowned, utterly confused.
"Khun Sarayoot called to complain that his nephew came home with tears in his eyes, refusing to sleep because he was out looking for his beloved missing motorcycle. Oh, not' just missing, stolen.' I'm not stupid, and Khun Wittawin probably isn't either. If Khun Wittawin's motorcycle disappeared from The Dazzle parking lot, there's only one mastermind. Anyone can see it. Only you think others won't figure it out. What a terrible plan—how did you even come up with it?" the secretary smiled mockingly.
"So now you're calling me stupid? You're going too far, Khun Toey. Do you know who you're talking to?" Teeradon glared.
"I know I'm talking to Khun Teeradon," Toey replied coolly. "But this time you've gone too far. You've really hurt Khun Wittawin's feelings. Are you having fun? You're going to make Khun Wittawin hate you instead of love you."
"Enough, Toey. Enough," Teeradon stood up and walked to open the office window, letting air flow in. "Don't lecture me."
"I'm not lecturing. I'm just acting as that little voice that should speak up in your ear when you're about to do something inappropriate."
"You're being too harsh, Toey. Don't act like I have no common sense. I might just fire you," Teeradon spoke sternly, staring out the window aimlessly.
"Go ahead and fire me then. If you fire me, I'll go work as secretary for Khun Sarayoot's company. No wait—Khun Wittawin's company. Then I'll help strengthen Khun Wittawin's relationship with his other partner—both business partner and romantic partner," the fearless secretary challenged his boss.
"That soft guy? He can't compare to me in any way—not in status, looks, style, or size," Teeradon hissed through his teeth, thinking of Pamorn's face and feeling even more heartbroken.
"They're very close, you know. They work at desks next to each other every day. They grew up together. He gets to..." Toey deliberately left the sentence unfinished, but seeing Teeradon stand still pretending not to care, the provocative secretary continued, "Oh, you're probably not interested in knowing. I'll stop talking then. You must be tired of your secretary's chatter."
"If you're going to talk, then talk, Khun Toey. Don't be so dramatic," Teeradon looked away from the window, shot his secretary a sharp look, then turned back to the window.
"The missing motorcycle last night brought them closer together and made them sympathetic toward each other. Khun Wittawin rode on the back of Khun Pamorn's bike while looking for his own BMW. Khun Sarayoot told me he saw Khun Pamorn drop Wittawin off at home, and they stood hugging. He even kissed Khun Wittawin's cheek. Khun Sarayoot went inside because he was sleepy, and when he woke up in the morning, he still saw the motorcycle parked there, but he rushed to work without waking his nephew."
Wittawin spun around to stare at his secretary, eyes intense as he tried to determine if his secretary was joking or not. Toey stood motionless, staring back at his boss without flinching.
You underestimate me, Khun Teeradon. Someone like me wouldn't fail a lie detector test...
"Taking things slow won't guarantee you to get what you want, but that fresh piece of meat with the clear face, dark eyebrows, prominent nose, and red lips is going to be devoured by someone else at this rate. Even if you're the lion king, you won't be able to win him back. Especially when you're holding one fish in your hand while trying to catch another one that keeps wriggling and won't be caught easily." Finishing his speech, the charming secretary walked straight to the door to let his boss contemplate his wisdom alone. But as he neared the door, he couldn't resist adding a teasing remark: "If you want help returning what you stole to its owner, just tell me. Toey is happy to serve."
"I don't need it," Teeradon replied curtly, still staring out the window.
The office door closed softly. Teeradon let out a long sigh and walked to his desk, but had to stop when the door opened again and his secretary's pale face appeared.
"Next weekend, Khun Sarayoot is taking the employees on their annual company retreat to an island. He invited me to come along, but I probably can't stay at the same hotel as his company employees—that would look bad."
"Where? Don't beat around the bush," Teeradon asked sharply.
"I don't have a fancy place to stay yet, and all the regular hotels are fully booked because it's a long holiday weekend," the secretary tilted his head thoughtfully.
Teeradon slowly exhaled, looked down at the floor patiently, then gradually raised his head, narrowing his eyes at the pale-faced person who stood calmly in the office doorway.
"Want a suite or villa with a private pool? Should I book it for you?" Teeradon asked slowly and clearly.
"I can make the booking," the secretary smiled widely, his tone cheerful. "For you, it needs to be a private villa, completely fenced in, with a swimming pool and both indoor and outdoor jacuzzis. Okay?"
Teeradon didn't answer. He turned away slowly and walked to sit in his chair behind the desk, looking at the computer screen before reaching to open a photo of Wittawin in swim trunks alone, smiling broadly by the pool.
Private pool, indoor and outdoor jacuzzis? Will I be swimming and soaking alone or with two people? I'm not sure anymore...
Find a backup like usual, Teeradon. If you get frustrated, you'll have someone to substitute...
That would be crazy. I'd ruin everything. If he found out, I wouldn't want to lose Wittawin...
What? Not want to lose Wittawin? Are you insane? You're obsessed. He's just one ordinary person. This is getting ridiculous. So difficult to drag him into bed —better to quit. There are stars, singers, models, or other socialites ready to jump in the pool or wait in the jacuzzi for me. And if I get bored with celebrities and want to be with someone ordinary who isn't glamorous and flashy, there's Pirayu with his beautiful smile, cool personality, intelligence, cuteness, easy conversation, and peaceful companionship...
So why do I only think about Wittawin? Is it because I haven't gotten him according to my desires, making it feel like a challenge and making me want him desperately?
But deep down, I feel that even if I got him, I'd still think I want him again and again without getting tired. When we're close, I feel like my body has strange chemical reactions...
Is this called love at first sight? Because from the first time I met Wittawin, I've been thinking about him constantly...
No way. Love at first sight doesn't exist. I don't know how to love anyone. I just want to have fun...
Ugh, why is it so confusing, chaotic, and torturous? Why? Why?
***