Ambivalent

20. Ominous Bills

Akara

I found my favorite spot in the entire hotel:

The glass guardrail in front of Panit's office.

Why? Because I could see the door of the accounting office if I looked one floor down, leaning on the guardrail. Like a devoted pervert, I was watching the certain door to see Rune whenever Panit was in his office.

For two weeks, I silently watched every movement of Rune from his office door to the elevator. Though it was a limited time, I noticed lots of things about him, for example, Rune wasn't having lunch in the cafeteria, he was just buying some coffee and snacks from the vending machine on the ground floor; he had constant headaches as his hand was always on his temple, messaging it non-stop; he looked tired and sick all the time as he refused to get a transfusion...

Indeed, I got the information by watching him from afar, but it doesn't mean that I didn't try to talk to him. As Panit was forced to stay in the company during working hours as if he had tons of work to do, he was taking a nap inside his locked office after the lunch break. During that precious time, I went to Rune's office a few times to talk to him, but he was adamant. No matter what I did; trying to apologize, bringing him a decent meal, giving him some pills for headache...

No reaction.

Rune just spared me a glance if I was lucky before throwing what I brought into the trash bin under his table. As there was another girl, Ying, working in the same office, she witnessed the happenings most of the time. One time, she even followed me out and tried to defend Rune, saying he was usually quite nice. I assured her that I deserved the treatment and asked for her help. Then she became my ally who was responsible to take the things I bought to Rune, pretending it was her doing not mine.

However, as Panit was leaving the hotel at five pm as well, I never had a chance to follow Rune to see how he was going back home or where he was living. Of course, I asked Ying about Rune, but she had no information on Rune because he was nice yet distant.

Well, thanks to my betrayal, I guess...

Like that, days passed in a foreboding silence until Panit sent me to the accounting office with some bills.

I took a deep breath in front of the door and entered with a slight smile. "Hi," I greeted Rune who refused to acknowledge my presence.

"Panit sent me to give these to you," I explained as I put the bills down in front of him.

He grabbed the bills and checked them one by one with an apparent disdain in his eyes. When he was done, he threw them on the table and said "tell that stupid Panit that he can't use his personal spending as hotel's expenses."

"You finally talked to me," I said softly with zero relevance to the topic. What can I say? I guess I was too happy to be treated more than a ghost for once.

Hearing what I said, Rune's eyes widened for a millisecond before he controlled his expression. Tapping on the bills, he said "take these back to Panit," and focused his attention on the computer screen again.

I sighed as I put the bills together and left Rune's office silently.

As expected, Panit went ballistic, seeing the bills in my hand. Snatching them from me, he rushed to the accounting office again. Being afraid of the possibility he would harm Rune, I followed him.

"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING?!" Panit shouted at Rune as he threw the bills on his face before I could prevent him.

Rune remained calm. Looking at Panit aloofly, he said "my job?"

"YOU...!" Panit darted forward, so I caught his arm, pinning him on the spot. "LET ME GO! YOU WORK FOR ME!" he kicked a rumpus while trying to get rid of my grip, but he had no chance before me.

"Don't embarrass yourself more," I said coldly as I pulled him out of the office under the strange gaze of Rune which was focused on me.

"YOU WILL PAY FOR IT, RUNE!"

"STOP IT!" I yelled and dragged him back to his office while curious eyes were watching everything.

"Wait until my father learns about your behaviour!" Panit threatened me as soon as we were back to his office.

I looked at him with a bored expression and sat on the chair. "Are you sure you want him to learn about your childish behavior, Mr. General Manager?" I dared him, "what about the nightclub and striptease club bills? Does your father know about them?"

That shut him up. Glaring at me, he sat on his undeserved seat and told me to get out. Gladly, I obeyed his command and left the office to buy Rune lunch.

Later I realised that I shouldn't have left that Panit bastard alone...