Chapter Three
Informal Acquaintances
Oh my God.
Neeramon Panudej privately had a fangirl seizure in the women’s bathroom and then double-checked every stall to make sure she had the entire bathroom to herself. Goodness, her new boss was cuter than she had expected! She had seen his picture in various tabloids and on television but the guy was definitely better looking in person. Who cares if he is married? It isn’t a crime to have a secret little crush on a married man.
“There you are.”
Neeramon slightly jumped at her co-worker’s presence.
“Looking for me, Yui?” Neeramon pretended to wash her hands.
“Khun Pattaratida is looking for you,” Yui informed.
“I’m coming.” Neeramon grabbed a few paper towels, wiped her hands clean, and tossed the dampened towels into the garbage by the door.
She followed Yui down the hall and pretended to pay attention to her surroundings.
“You’re so lucky,” said Yui.
“What?”
“You get to travel with Khun Phuwarit,” Yui replied. “I’m so jealous. Everyone is.”
Neeramon’s jaws dropped and she stood where she was frozen to the spot.
“What did you say?” she asked reassuringly.
“You get to work on the new project with Khun Phuwarit…
one-on-one.”
This came as a total surprise to Neeramon. Yui was dismissed by Pattaratida and was asked to shut the door upon exiting the office leaving only Neeramon.
“Please sit down,” said Phuwarit, pointing an empty chair across from him.
Neeramon nodded once and slowly sat down in one of the two chairs across from Phuwarit.
“P’Pat has told me that you’re a hard worker,” Phuwarit began. “I would like to thank you for that.”
“As a result…
Pattaratida took a seat next to Neeramon.
“…we are giving you a chance to prove yourself and build knowledge,” Pattaratida finished. “As you know we are working on a potential partnership with Raza Fine Jewelry of India but we have very limited knowledge of Indian jewelry. A lot of research will be involved and the entire company will be very busy for the next few months as we develop business meetings and marketing campaigns.”
“I am flying to India this Sunday,” Phuwarit added. “And you’re coming with me.”
He got up from his leather office chair and put both of his hands into his pockets.
“There’s a lot to do and we’ve no time to waste,” he said. “We will be there for three weeks just for research.”
“You will come back with a full report and direct the company meetings afterwards,” Pattaratida explained. “Phuwarit and I will be in and out of the office for various business meetings outside of the company so we need you to inform and lead the company of the direction we will be taking.”
“What do you say, Khun Neeramon?” Phuwarit asked.
Since she had entered the office Neeramon tried very hard to contain her excitement. She was like a broke college girl that had just won the lottery.
“Yes,” she replied. “I will do my very best.”
Thank goodness she didn't stutter! She was pretty sure that her heart had skipped a few beats but it was all over now. She had to prepare herself for business and make work her top priority so there was no time for foolishness. Plus, she had to remind herself that Phuwarit is a married man.
“What are you doing?”
At the end of the day, Neeramon still found herself fangirling over her boss. It seemed like everywhere she was he was lurking in her shadows. She’s exaggerating now. After all, she is his secretary.
“I’m trying to flag down a motorcycle,” Neeramon replied.
“Why don’t I just drive you home?” Phuwarit offered.
He would like to know more about his new secretary. It is a critical position and he wanted to make sure that she’s most suitable for it. So far, he knew that she is detail-oriented and professional but he must make sure that she has a great personality too.
“I’d rather not bug you,” Neeramon replied.
“But I insist.”
Neeramon nodded.
Before she knew it, she was seated beside her boss in the front seat. There was a moment of awkward silence.
“What do you like most about your job?” he asked.
Weird. How does he know if she even likes the job? Was she being too obvious?
“I…uh…
“Are we being too hard on you for your first week?” he interrupted.
“No, not at all,” she quickly answered. “I like challenges.”
Phuwarit smiled, “Seems like P’Pat hired the right assistant for me.”
They drove for an additional half an hour as they discussed various things that were non-work related. It felt good to not discuss work outside of work especially with a boss like Phuwarit.
“Right here.” Neeramon pointed to a tall building and Phuwarit put the car in park. He unbuckled his seatbelt, got out of the car, and opened the door for his assistant.
He hadn’t done this for a woman in a long time.
“Thank you.” Neeramon thanked him for opening the door.
Phuwarit stepped backwards a few steps to give her some walking space and backed right into someone walking.
“You!”
“Phuwarit!”
“You!”
Phuwarit smiled brightly at the sight of his best friend, Pittaya. It had been about a year before he last saw the guy. Neeramon watched as the two shared a hug.
“You guys know each other?” she asked them.
“You know this girl?” Pittaya asked Phuwarit.
Phuwarit nodded and introduced Neeramon to Pittaya as his new assistant. Pittaya laughed and patted Phuwarit on the shoulders.
“Good luck my friend,” he said.
Phuwarit was confused.
“What’s so funny?” Neeramon asked Pittaya.
She was overly annoyed by his presence and having him as a next door neighbor only made things worse. Her perfect day was now completely ruined. How could two very different people become friends?!
“Isn’t it funny that the person you hate the most you end up seeing the most?” Pittaya asked.
“Pitt, what are you talking about?” Phuwarit wore a bewildered expression on his face.
“This woman here, your new assistant, is my next-door neighbor,” Pittaya replied. “I don’t know what I’ve ever done for her to hate me so much but now she is your assistant and she’ll have to just put up with me. Isn’t that funny?”
Phuwarit smiled and shook his head.
“That’s enough, man.”
“Khun Phuwarit, ka, thank you for the ride home.” Annoyed, Neeramon completely ignored Pittaya and climbed the short flight of steps up to the building.
Phuwarit turned to Pittaya, who was rubbing his nose.
“That wasn’t very nice,” said Phuwarit.
“Don’t worry,” said Pittaya. “I tease her all the time.”
“You are exactly how I remembered you a year ago,” Phuwarit laughed. “Haven’t changed one bit.”
“And you are still the same moron that I know,” said Pittaya.
They both laughed and agreed that it was better to have a conversation with drinks, perhaps several drinks. It had been a long day for Phuwarit but he had to admit the workload that welcomed him eased his mind of everything that had happened the past year.
“So how are you and Khun Wipaa?” Pittaya took a sip of his beer and set the glass down on the coaster in front of him. “You’d think that one-year is a short amount of time but a lot can happen within a year.”
“You’re right,” Phuwarit agreed. “A lot has happened. We’re no longer together.”
“What?!” Pittaya exclaimed, jumping up from the sofa.
Everyone in the club stared at them.
“Sit down, will you?!” Phuwarit tugged on Pittaya’s arm.
“What happened in France?” Pittaya asked. “And where’s Khun Wipaa?”
“Like I said, a lot has happened,” Phuwarit replied. “And I don’t know where Wipaa is right now; perhaps, she's still in France.”
Phuwarit downed his glass of beer and ordered another one. Wherever Wipaa was Phuwarit hoped she was happy. She’s probably dining at a fancy Parisian restaurant with the man of her dreams right now. Whoever that man was, he is lucky. Phuwarit was once that lucky man.