5
Freen POV
My check-in with Ms. Nita went well. We had a working lunch at a nearby japanese restaurant. Instead of continuing the orientation like I’d expected we do, Ms. Nita steered the conversation to light-hearted topics and office gossip.
“Be careful around Mr. Gon,” Ms. Nita warns, tracing her finger around the lip of her cup. “That man has a short temper and is known to throw tantrums when he doesn’t get his way.”
“What does the company have to say about his behavior?” I find it hard to believe that Becky would let a man like that run amok in her company.
Ms. Nita scoffs. “He’s distantly related to the Armstrong’s so HR is hesitant to do anything without concrete proof.”
“That’s..Will I be working with him often?” If he’s anything like my father, I’m determined to avoid this man at all costs.
“No. You’ll mainly be with Ms. Rebecca. He might show up at meetings if his supervisor decides he can tag along.”
I look down at my plate to hide the slight smile on my face as I recall my meeting with Becky. Her presence is an unexpected welcome to the uncertainty of my return to Chiang Mai.
…
Back at the office, Ms. Nita leaves me with HR to pick up my freshly printed badge and office freebies including a very nice leather satchel. It’s large enough for my work issued laptop and the various orientation packets I received. As I’m leaving the room, I thank Ms. Noi and the other HR employees for all their help today.
“Thank you again, everyone!” I try to convey my gratitude as best I can with everything I’m carrying. “You’ve made this such a smooth orientation for me.”
“No problem, Ms. Chankimha.”
“Good luck with work, Ms. Freen!”
“Su su na!”
I hobble over to the elevator, waiting for the doors to open.
ding
As I’m about to walk in, a body pushes past me and I lose my balance. I fall to the floor and all my things go flying. I look up toward the elevator doors to see the face of a man sneering before they close shut.
What a jerk!
With a huff, I stand to pat myself off before gathering my things.
“Here.” A voice says, with their hands outstretched with my loose papers.
“…Fay?” I’m surprised to see such a familiar face. “Thank you for your help.”
Fay makes an easy-going smile. “May didn’t tell you that I work at AGI?”
“No, she didn’t.” I’m flabbergasted. Why didn’t Fay bring this up the other night?
“That’s just like May.” Fay rolls her eyes fondly. “Look I gotta run but it was nice to see you P’Freen.”
“Yeah ok, bye Fay,” I tell her as she darts down the hallway.
Once I have everything accounted for, I make my way back to Becky’s office. As I’m walking up to the secretary desk, I noticed an ‘Under Renovation’ sign posted atop it.
Weird. I don’t remember that sign this morning.
I knock on Becky’s door. “Hi, it’s Freen.”
“Come in.” Becky’s voice sounds muffled through the thick double doors.
I push open the heavy door and find Becky behind her desk, pouring over a mountain of documents.
Oh.
I didn’t know glasses could be so attractive on a person. Or maybe they’re attractive because Becky is wearing them.
“-reen. Freen?”
“Yes,” I blink back to focus.
“How can I be of service,” Becky smiles, her eyes glinting like she knows what’s going on in my head. I sincerely hope she doesn’t.
“The sign outside…” I trail off when we make eye contact again. Those damn glasses.
“Right,” Becky clicks her tongue. Could she be any more attractive?? “Won, our custodian, said he found some termites in the desk so we’ll need to get it replaced.”
Termites?
“-Our interior designer said it’ll take 3-4 weeks for a replacement to get here.”
Interior designer..
“-So in the meantime I figured we could temporarily set you up in my office.”
“The office has its own interior designer,” leaves my mouth before I can process I’ve said the words.
Becky chuckles. “That’s right. My father had a very specific vision when putting the office together. Including the furniture.”
My cheeks burn. “Where should I work?”
“Anywhere,” Becky gets up, stretching her arms up. I catch a glimpse of her midriff and immediately avert my eyes. “We can bring in a desk or…”
“Or…” I raise an eyebrow at her playful smirk.
“Or..we can share mine,” Becky wiggles her eyebrows and I unintentionally let out a giggle. “I mean the desk is wide enough to fit a handful of people.”
I furrow my eyebrows. “And this way you can keep an eye on my work.”
“Gotta make sure you’re not slacking off, Ms. Chankima.” Becky plays along, moving to grab one of armchairs opposite hers. She moves it beside her own and clears her things off the desk to make space for mine.
My heart warms at the thought of working together with such a kindhearted boss.
“Don’t worry, Ms. Armstrong. I’m a hard worker.” I reassure her with a gummy grin. I start unpacking my bag and placing my items atop the desk.
Becky takes her seat. “There are no doubts in my mind that you are anything but a hard worker.”
She sounds so sincere that I can’t help stealing a glance at her.
Her smile widens when she catches my eye.
Being this close to Becky in glasses is criminally underrated.
“Thank you.” I whisper shyly, taking my seat and sorting through my papers.
Becky hums appreciatively. Her keyboard clacking lulling us into a productive peace.
…
After work, I meet up with Babe and Nat who just happen to be in the area.
“He was adamant about waiting for you to get off work,” Babe shrugs, holding my work bag and duffel filled with Nat’s sports balls.
Nat tightens his arms around my shoulders as I cradle him on our walk back to the apartment.
“Did Mae have fun at work,” Nat asks, resting his check atop my shoulder and looking around at the people walking past us.
“I did. My boss is a funny person,” I tell Nat, rubbing his back in soothing circles.
“Fun boss,” Nat mumbles, his body slumping against mine as he falls asleep.
“You must’ve had quite the day if he’s this tired,” I whisper to Babe.
Babe gives me a toothy grin. “Billy met up with us around noon and we might have spent a few hours at Lotus’s Kham Thiang. I swear Billy looked like he was having more fun than Nat when we were in the bouncy house area.”
“Thanks again for watching him.”
“My pleasure. Nat’s an angel. I mean compared to the other kids we saw at the playground, your kid is a saint.”
“Does Billy know that Nat is…”
“No. It isn’t my business to tell.”
“But you’re getting married to him, aren’t you? It’s a little late to be keeping secrets, Babe.”
His eyes widened in surprise. “How’d you-…who told you?”
“Please. You’ve been flashing that ring at me since this morning. It’s seriously blinding when it catches the light.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
“I was waiting for you to tell me.”
Babe gives me a bright smile. Almost as bright as the ring on his finger. “He proposed last night on our anniversary. After I had, of course. Poor baby was so nervous, he knocked over a bottle of wine.”
“Aww Billy.” I bump Nat up so he rests more comfortably in my arms. “I’m happy for you Babe.”
“Thanks Freen.” Babe beams, staring at his ring. “We’re holding a small celebration tonight. May and Fay are coming. Want us to bring you back anything?”
“Nat and I will be fine with the leftovers from the other night.” I appreciate that Babe knows I’ll rather be with Nat than out on the town with them. “Have fun! But also stay safe.”
“Of course,” Babe reassures me. “Billy works in security after all.”
I nod along, more than happy to take in the sounds of the city around us.
…
Babe walks us back to the apartment, leaving a quick kiss atop Nat’s head and giving me a tight squeeze before taking off.
Nat talks excitedly during dinner, recounting his adventures to all his toys and me.
“-and then. And then Uncle Billy did a flip like Kamen Rider.”
“Kamen Rider?”
“Yeah Kamen Rider! He’s like other riders but he’s a hero. He saves people like Mae.”
“Like me?”
“Pretty ladies.” Nat smiles like he hasn’t said such a sweet line. This boy is going to grow up to be quite the charmer.
“Where’d you hear about this Kamen Rider?”
“Uncle Babe told me about him. We watched a show today about him.” Nat fidgets in his seat. “Uncle Babe also said there’s Kamen Rider movies.”
“Did he,” I hid my smile behind my glass.
“He did, he did.” Nat insists. “So Mae…can we watch a Kamen Rider movie tonight?”
“Sure. Let’s do it!”
“YAY!” Nat cheers, fist pumping the air.
I wish for nothing more than to continue sharing moments like these with Nat.
…
I fiddle with May’s multiple TV remotes, trying to figure out which turns on the TV and speakers and other gadgets we’ll need.
“Mae, where's your phone?” Nat asks, setting up his toys to watch the movie alongside us.
“I think I left it on the side table.”
“Ok~”
I continue fiddling when I hear..
“Hi Auntie May!” Nat giggles. “Mae is fighting with the TV, can you help her?”
“Nat!” I didn’t expect him to call May. I didn’t know he knew how to use my phone.
“Hi Uncle Billy! Hi Uncle Babe! Hi Auntie Fay!”
I take my phone out of his little hands.
“-put your Mae on the phone, Nat.”
“Speaking,” I say, my tone stern. My other hand tickling Nat’s tummy as retaliation for calling his Aunt May.
Becky POV
“Ah yes Mama Bear,” May says, before waving Fay down and motions to her phone. Then she weaves out of our VIP section of the speakeasy, continuing to gesture while on the phone.
“Everything ok,” I ask Fay who nods, waving off my concern.
“Just a slight situation at May’s apartment.”
I simply raise an eyebrow in question.
“Our friend and her kid trying to get the TV to work.”
“Where’d May go?” Billy stumbles over to us, his arm wrapped possessively around Babe’s waist.
“Just missed her.” Fay takes a sip of her liquor.
Billy pouts. “I wanted to talk to Nat some more.”
“We can see him tomorrow,” Babe laughs, holding his palm against Billy’s chest to steady him. “I want to include him in our wedding.”
“Really!” Billy’s eyes are sparkling as he lifts Babe and twirls him around.
“As long as his Mae is fine with it. He could be our flower boy or ring bearer!”
“My best man!”
“Hey!” Heng interrupts. “Who’s your best man, huh! You can’t be thinking about replacing me, Billy! You asked me when we were twelve!”
“Hey!” Billy claps a hand on Heng’s shoulder. “If you met Nat, you’d let him be best man too.”
“Who’s Nat?” Nam says curiously. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t curious about this mystery person too.
“Our nephew!” Billy says, proudly. He puffs his chest out, hand still curled around Babe’s hip.
“But Franky doesn’t have any kids.” I ponder aloud.
“Franky having his own kid!” Billy guffaws, almost doubling over from laughter. “That kid doesn’t even have a faen much less a kid.”
“Well Babe is an only child.” Nam presses. Which is great. Means I don’t have to.
“Nat is our friend’s kid.” Babe explains, gently running his hand up and down Billy’s back to get him calm.
“I’m back!” May announces, flinging herself into Fay’s arms. Fay is all smiles now that May is back in her arms. She twists her faen around, arms slung around her waist.
Ahh..there are so many couples around.
“I can feel you grumbling, Nong,” Nam bumps my shoulder. I watch the others knock back shots and sing horribly off-key to the music reverberating off the walls.
“Do you ever feel lonely, P’Nam?”
Nam straightens at my sober tone. “Sometimes I do. But I know I’m not ready for anything serious right now.”
“You mean you’re not ready for anything serious with Heng.”
“Oi Bec!” Nam admonishes, shoving at my shoulder.
“Phi! I almost fell over.” I’m clutching my drink tightly as I sit back up.
“Sorry, sorry.” She bats her eyelashes at me in apology.
I roll my eyes. “So..how do you bear the loneliness?”
“Oh Nong..” Nam pulls me into a side hug. “You should talk to her.”
“But-”
“Nope. No buts. If you’re feeling lonely and she isn’t even yours yet then you should talk to her.”
“What if she doesn’t like me?” I hang my head, heart heavy as it imagines that possibility.
“Oh please.” Nam rolls her eyes. “You two were practically flirting in front of me.”
“We weren’t!”
“OW! Why are you two having a secret conversation and not celebrating my marriage!” Billy throws his arms around us and pulls us away from the booth.
“Slow down..You aren’t married yet.” Nam laughs.
“Oh but I will be.” Billy smiles mischievously. “I’m going to be married.”
Billy wanders away, dazed. Nam and I watch him latch onto Babe and yell, “WE’RE GETTING MARRIED!”
The whole group cheers.
I catch Babe looking at Billy like he can’t quite believe how he got this lucky in life.