Tin is back in Thailand to resume being the Medthanan heir. He is finally ready to deal with all of his past misdeeds, including the mess with Pete Pichaya and his boyfriend, Ae. He now has the skills to fight his brother, Tul, for the family compan...
Pete sighed. No matter how old they got, this one friend of Ae's never changed. Can needed work desperately. He had to drop his final semester due to lack of funds. Working as a bartender, being cute, he was able to get back into school and would only be half a year behind the rest of them. However, an Athletics student was always hungry, if it wasn't food, Can was thirsty.
No matter what Pete or his mother said, they couldn't break Can's one bad habit of finishing the patron's leftovers. Can only shrugged and said, "Why waste perfectly good food? Someone is starving in the world, and that's me!"
Can turned, the empty glass in his hand and met Pete's eyes. He smiled and Pete helplessly gave a half laugh. You can't resist the monkey, as his old football coach Techno called him. He was a monkey. Can only smiled bigger, knowing he wasn't in trouble and put the glass for cleaning. "What tab, boss?"
"I'm comp'ing it." Pete replied, absently. Tin was different. Very different, he mused as he watched him walk out of the lounge.
Food forgotten, Tin left the hotel and walked. It felt strange to be out in the streets of Bangkok. He never walked anywhere before, preferring to drive, take taxi's, limo's or chauffer service. His cars were at the house. He needed air. He needed to think. Walking it was. He stopped in front of a 7-11 and bought a ramen and a can of beer and laughed.
How ordinary! Sitting outside, in his suit, he ate his bowl of noodles and drank his beer and slowly walked back to the hotel. He nodded to the concierge and headed to the elevator. At his room, on the 28th floor, an elderly man in a well fitted, expensive Louis Vuitton suit stood, tapping his foot.
Tin sighed. He really wanted to run, again. It was too late in the day for this confrontation. When Tul said father wanted to see him, he actually meant it. It took less than four hours to get his attention. That must be a record!
"Hello, Father." Tin greeted, moving around him, pulling out his key card and opening the door. "Please, do come in." The hotel room was spotless. You couldn't even tell he had been there for a week.
"I know you have been back a week, Tin. Why didn't you come to the mansion?" His father wasted no time. He sat down in the armchair and crossed his legs, looking directly at Tin.
Tin walked to the minibar and opened it. Ah, yes, there was beer. Grabbing the can, he looked at his father, "May I offer you a beverage?"
"Whiskey. Tin, come home." The look on his father's face never changed.
Tin refused to look at him, at least for now. He poured out the whiskey, neat, into a glass tumbler and handed it to him. Then he popped open his beer and sat down in the straight backed chair by the small table. "Father, I hate that house. Why should I come home?"
"Will you come home if Tul moves out?" Tin almost snorted. Why did he want him back now?
"Tul already lives separately, besides, how are you going to evict your favorite son and grandchild just for your fucked up son? Be reasonable, Father. When I wanted to work with you, you chose Tul. You threw me away."
Tin failed to see how his father's hands shook holding the whiskey glass. "I didn't make a choice, Tin. Life made choices for me. You made your own choices as well. I want you back home where you belong."
"I need time, Father. You do realize that I was gone for over three years. I never heard from the step-monster or you once in that time? You never tried to call, or send a letter. It was nice to know you wanted me as a son then." Tin didn't bother to hide his bitterness.
The glass clattered to the table as his father stood. "You know how to find me, Tin. You've always had the power to ask for help when you needed it." He walked to the door. "It's time to grow up. The phone works both ways, not one way."
Watching the door close gently was unsatisfying. Tin felt the overwhelming need to cry. Was his father calling him a spoiled child right now?
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Two weeks went by with Tin living at the hotel. He found it comforting to have room service for his morning and noon meals rather than attend the dining room. Why he drew attention, he did not know. He hadn't begun a social life since his return yet word had spread like wildfire that the young Medthanan heir was back.
The tabloids were filled with gossip about what 'trouble' was going to begin now that he was in Bangkok. Tin was not amused. There was only one person who could be stirring the proverbial pot and his father wanted him back in close contact?
Not a fucking chance.
Not one hope in hell. He needed more information on what Tul was spreading. He had stayed here, in Thailand his whole life, he had a wider network with the newspapers and internet. Before Tin could fight, he needed every avenue to information.
Sighing deeply, he stopped at the front desk. There was no one there! It was the very first time since Tin became a guest that the desk was unattended. Surprised, he hit the bell quite briskly, several times.
Ding, ding, ding!
"Hang on! Don't get your panties in a twist!" A cheerful voice yelled. "It's my first time and I really don't know how to tie this damn bowtie!"
"Come out front," He replied, impatiently. "I'll tie it for you."
Can popped out, holding the slim slip of black fabric. "Would you? I've been trying to follow the instructions on the box but all I've done is wrinkle it!"
Tin gingerly took the badly mangled piece of fabric and felt like laughing. "What were you doing to this? Tying knots? Never mind." Swiftly, he pulled Can to his chest and brought his hands up under his, the way his butler taught him. "Like this, see?" Then he undid the bowtie and left it hanging.
Can trembled when their gazes met in the mirrored wall. "Why'd you untie it? It was perfect!" He wailed.
A belly laugh escaped Tin. He couldn't stop it. He held the smaller man's gaze and simply said, "You need to learn how to tie it. I'm here, so tie it."
Can felt butterflies in his belly. The face above his shoulder was handsome, in a cold way but the gaze was warm, inviting. As were the hands that had held his as they guided his hands. It took time to steady his nerves before he could lift them to try again.
"Oh." A blush spread across his face and Tin was fascinated. He honestly couldn't remember the last time he saw someone, anyone blush. "Is this right? It doesn't look right?" The man's voice was filled with doubt as he studied the bowtie in the mirror.
Tin broke out into laughter again. "No, it's not. Untie it and try again." Several tries later, Can had mastered tying the tricky bowtie.
Can bowed low, from the waist. "Thank you Mr. Medthanan! I take back every bad thing I ever said about you! Now," He asked, moving behind the counter, "How may I help you today?"
Tin was intrigued. As far as he was aware, they had never met. How bad could he have been to be cursed out by this man? Shrugging it off, he replied, "I want every daily newspaper and tabloid delivered to my suite as early as possible." He nodded his thanks and left.
Can sighed and looked mournfully at the computer system. "I wish you would have stayed. I know how to eat and run. Not use this fancy computer." Just then, Pete showed up. His ma knew Can wouldn't be able to handle the front desk alone.
"Hi Can, did anyone ask for assistance?"
"Pete! Oh thank goodness!" Can gave Pete a huge hug and Pete couldn't help but laugh. Mothers always know.
