11
Freen POV
“I'll make sure your death is as painful as possible.”
“As long as I get rid of you.”
“You. You're the reason why.”
I gasp, sitting upright. My back feels damp and my cheeks are wet.
I quickly rub under my eyes and turn to…Nat?
My god. He’s gone.
I take a shaky breath and strain my eyes for any sight of him.
All I can hear is the blood rushing to my head, my frantic heartbeat drowning out even the whisper from the AC.
What if Becky was wrong? What if our contract marriage had the opposite effect? And now my actions have endangered not only Nat’s life but Becky’s?
Mae…what do I do? What do I do? What do I-
“Freen?” Becky and Nat are staring at me from the doorway, concern painted on their faces.
Nat crawls atop the bed, holding the back of his hand to my forehead. “Mae’s warm.”
Then he turns to Becky. “Aunt Nam said she should rest and drink water.”
“We should follow the doctor’s orders,” Becky says, rolling in a cart of assorted breakfast foods.
“Aunt Patt cooked food,” Nat scurried off the bed to grab a bottle of water. Then he flops onto his stomach next to me, holding out the bottle of water. “Here, Mae. Drink, drink.”
I take the water, setting it down in my lap as I run my hand through Nat’s hair. His eyes squint in delight and he scoots closer to me, wrapping around my torso.
“She’s our family’s housekeeper,” Becky explains, taking the water bottle out of my lap. She uncaps it then hands it back to me. “I’ll introduce you two the next time she’s over.”
I take a couple sips before setting the bottle down on the side table. “Thank you.”
I mean to convey my gratitude for more than the water bottle. What Becky has done…It’s more than I expected from anyone much less a friend of a friend.
“Mae drink more.” Nat mumbles into the covers, his eyes peeking over at me.
Hmph.
“Natthawut!” I launch my tickle attack, making him squirm. “Why didn’t you wake me when you got up?”
His laughter brightens up the whole room. “AH MAE! … ahaha …Mae was- Mae was sleeping!”
“Next time, wake me up.” I stop my onslaught of tickles in favor of pulling him into a side hug. “Even if Mae is asleep, ok.”
“Ok.” He mumbles into my shirt, catching his breath. “I’m hungry.”
Becky snorts. “Let’s eat then.”
She pulls out a bed tray table, setting it up in the middle of the bed. Nat helps arrange the plates that Becky sets atop its surface.
Once the table’s set, we all start digging in.
“Mae, try it.” Nat holds out bites of bread, fruit and rice.
“Nat, this one’s good.” Becky cuts bits of meat and fish to place on his plate.
They go back and forth like this as I’m chewing thoroughly. The food’s amazing but the company is even better.
….
Becky POV
“Who’s up for a house tour?” I announce as we clear away the dishes.
Nat jumps to his feet, nearly taking the table with him. With Freen’s quick reflexes, the table holds steady.
“Me! Me!” He’s bubbling with excitement, bouncing on his heels. “Mae?”
“After we wash up.” Freen continues handing me dishes.
“Yes Mae,” Nat nods, seriously. He flies off the bed, taking off toward the bathroom.
Freen sighed before breaking into a smile. “Sorry about that. I’ll talk to him about running in the house-”
I cut her off. “It’s alright, Freen. This is as much your home as it is mine.”
“But-”
“Mae! C’mon!” Nat shouts from the doorway. His face is dripping water and the front of his shirt is soaked. Soap suds covering his squeezed shut eyes and nose.
I snort at the sight.
“Nat!” Freen rushes over then she turns back to the bed. “Sorry, I’ll take care of the dish-”
I wave her off. “I’ve got it.” Then I peek at little Nat who wipes his face with his Mae’s shirt.
Oh.
I drop my gaze after catching a glimpse of her midriff. It…looked smooth and soft.
“Nat!”
“Mae?”
I hurriedly clear the bed and push the cart out of their room.
“Let’s meet in 15!” I holler before closing the door.
I lean back on the cool surface, closing my eyes briefly.
Okay. Tour.
…
We start the tour outside the unassuming house surrounded by patches of grass and flowers.
“Aunt Pat loves flowers so you’ll see lots of them when you go out.”
“The gardener also keeps a small field at the back of the property. She shares her delicious fruits and vegetables from time to time.”
I’m proud of my modest home taking the time to describe every little detail to Nat and Freen.
Nat’s eyes twinkle as he runs through the yard, running back and forth to us to report back his findings.
“I saw ants!”
“Mae, I saw a pretty flower!”
“BecBec, look! Look!”
I pat his head, marveling at his excitement over the multicolored pebbles he’s found. Nat could run as far as he's like to.
We’re in a heavily fortified, gated community and everyone in the neighborhood is either affiliated with AGI or the Mafia. I feel at ease knowing they’ll be safe here. Although it wouldn’t hurt to have Gun move back in with his brother down the street. I make a mental note to ask him later.
Back inside, I show off the kitchen that’s filled with state of the art appliances.
“Is that…” Freen walks up to the espresso machine. Patt gave me a hard look when she noticed the new purchase. She complained about it, saying she didn’t even know how to use the damn thing.
I think it’s quite the worthwhile purchase if it makes her smile.
“I’ve been practicing at home.” I admit sheepishly.
Freen beams at me, running her fingers across the counter. “I’ll help you practice.”
Her eyes take on a playful glint.
And I can’t help but remember the first time we made coffee together.
“Let’s go, let’s go.” Nat butts his head into Freen’s side impatiently.
“Of course. Lead the way, Nat.” I hold my hand out, gesturing to the unexplored spaces of the house.
…
I planned for the tour to end in Nat’s bedroom. His room is down the hall from mine and Freen’s, across the spacious bathroom.
I told Gun to fill it with everything a kid his age could possibly want or need.
Nat pushes open the door and stills in the entryway, starstruck.
“MY FRIENDS!” He launches himself onto the bed where his toys are lined up. He animatedly talks to them, explaining all the things he’s been up to since he last saw them. “…and now Mae and I live here with BecBec…”
“Thank you.” Freen bumps my shoulder with hers. “You didn’t have to do this.”
“I wanted to.” I relish in the near contact of our bodies. “He’s a great kid.”
“He is.” Freen looks wistfully at him. “We should get going.”
“Right. Work.” If I could stay in our bubble from this morning forever, I’d want nothing more in life.
…
On the way to work, we drop Nat off to his daycare.
“I’ll be right back,” Freen leans in through the window, holding Nat’s hand. “I’m going to talk to the director about the situation.”
I nod, waving goodbye to Nat.
“Bye bye, BecBec!”
Once they’re out of sight, I ring Gun’s cell.
“Miss.” Gun answers in a clipped tone.
“P’Gun, I want a detail outside the daycare.”
“Yes, Miss.”
“And make a sizable anonymous donation in-person to the director.”
“Anything else, Miss?”
“How are your current living arrangements?”
…
At the office, I let Freen know to head up and get started on any tasks from Ms. Nita.
“I’m going to have a quick chat with HR.”
“Right…we’re married.” Freen smiles shyly. “Then…I’ll see you in the office, BB.”
BB?
“For BecBec.” She explains with rosy cheeks. I might faint from the cuteness. “Is that ok?”
“Yeah.” I nod dumbly. “That’s ok, beb.”
Freen's eyes widen in surprise but she takes the pet name in stride, smiling.
We part in the elevator and I ready my speech as I walk to the HR department.
“Ms. Noi,” I called out to her. “I’d like to talk about..”
“Oh Miss Rebecca! Congrats!” Noi claps her hands onto my shoulder. She retracts her hand quickly when she sees the hardened look on my face. “Sorry about that.”
I nod, keeping my face neutral. Can’t have my employees thinking I’m approachable now.
“Mr. Armstrong already spoke to us about your marriage." She continues without missing a beat. "I was told that he boasted about his lovely daughter-in-law and grandson at this morning's spontaneous board meeting."
Dad did, huh…
…
Freen POV
I figure coffee would be a welcome start to the work day. As I’m pouring the cups, the door creaks open.
"Hey BB, I made coffee…" My smile freezes when I spot a smirking P’Nam in the doorway.
“BB, huh- Oi, Bec!”
A flustered Becky pushes past her, “She beat me to the door."
Then P'Billy piles in followed by P’Heng and Fay.
“What-” Becky turns to them flabbergasted.
"May and Babe said they'll be here in 15." Fay interrupts, holding up her phone.
“Good.” P’Nam looks like a woman on a mission. "Care to explain, N’Bec?"
P’Heng crosses his arms beside her, looking at Becky expectantly.
"Look I think we should give Nong some spa-" Billy tries diffusing the tense air, stepping up.
"You. Were. There,” P’Nam points her finger at him. “I don't want to hear anything out of you."
P’Billy shuts his mouth, looking helplessly at Becky. He shrugs his shoulders, stepping back behind Fay.
"We're at work." Becky complains, throwing her hands up.
I stand beside her, passing her the coffee mug. "We'll explain at dinner tonight."
“We will?”
“We will. Come over after work.”
And just like that a smile blooms on P'Nam. It isn't lost on me how Heng stares unabashedly at her.
“-We’re here!” May and Babe burst through the doors.
Like a well oiled machine, P’Fay and P’Billy pull their respective partners back out the double doors despite their protests.
“We’ll get going too.” Nam starts walking away but stops her tracks when she realizes Heng isn’t following.
“Actually I have a report to discuss with N’Becky.” Heng tells her, sitting down on a desk chair with papers in his lap.
“Oh ok,” Nam drawls, twisting her hands.
“Would you like a cup of coffee, P’Nam,” I ask, settling in behind the counter.
“I’d love that, Nong.” She smiles brightly, following me.
“Oh please have a seat. It’ll be quick.”
“Oh, you’re not going to teach me.” P’Nam pouts then whispers, “It’s only N’Bec who gets to learn from Kruu Freen.”
“Phi!”
…
Later that evening in good company and with delicious food, we settled in Becky’s large dining room.
Nat is ecstatic with everyone coming over for dinner. May and P’Billy help him set up a small table for all his toys to eat.
“Aww, he’s using the toy food to set their table.” P’Nam gushes. “Aunt Nam will help too.
“Then Uncle Heng too!”
I can’t help but snap a photo of them crowding around the small table. Nat arranges and rearranges the plates of plastic food, explaining which toy likes which dish.
“Bunny and Tako need to sit together because they like the peas.”
“And her? What does she like?”
“Oh Toon! Toon isn't picky but she likes to sit next to Car.”
“Hey you.” Becky bumps her shoulder against mine.
“Hi.” I slowly lower my phone.
“About tonight…how much do you want to share?”
“I don’t think we should lie. But…”
“But?”
“I don’t want our friends to be targeted by Gon and whoever he’s working with.”
“Ok. So let’s share on a need to know basis.”
…
After dinner, I tucked a tired Nat into my bed surrounded by his plushies. I drop a quick kiss on his forehead before meeting everyone in the living room.
“What’s going, Freen?” May asks in a hushed tone.
I sigh. “The night of BillyBabe’s engagement, Gon kidnapped me…”
Babe gasps.
“I’m ok but…” I continue, elaborating on the events of that night. “…he got away.”
“The marriage was a way to protect Freen and Nat.” Becky explains.
“You could’ve protected her all the same without marrying her.” Nam said.
Here we go. I reach out for Becky, intertwining our fingers for comfort.
“…Gon’s disappearance led to some shocking discoveries in the company.” Becky admits, rubbing her thumb over the back of my hand. “Fay.”
“We started conducting an internal investigation and we think Gon might’ve been a scapegoat.”
“The marriage is a cover-up so they don’t know we’re onto them.” P’Billy explains further, squeezing Babe’s hand when he turns to him with disbelieving eyes.
“This is all sounding really dangerous, Nong,” P’Heng leans forward, concerned. “Shouldn’t we leave this to the proper authorities?”
Becky shakes her head.
“Too much corruption. Don’t know who’s paid off or will be…” P’Billy remarks, bitterly. I’m sensing some history with P’Billy and the police.
“Everything said tonight needs to be kept secret,” Becky stresses, her voice strained.
There’s a chorus of agreements before they leave for the night.
Oh Mae, what have I gotten us into…