Ambivalent

31. Big Picture

Akara

Being in Panit's office was suffocating. Like a spoiled kid, he was griping at everything without any sense of shame.

"All I have to do is to give him the cards, right? I won't do anything more, I am warning you."

I rolled my eyes, feeling slightly bad for Kamol. Seriously, who would want such an heir for the family business?

As I expected, I heard Kamol yelling at Panit through the line and with a grimace, the latter ended the call.

"Even the illegal work has to be taken care of by me."

What?! What the hell did I hear?! Can they still be involved in illegal business?

I stared at Panit intently to decide if I heard it correctly, but noticing my gaze, he just shrugged it off and sat down on his seat.

"Do you need me tonight?" I asked aloofly although I was dying to hear the reply 'yes'.

Panit drummed his short fingers on the wooden surface as he contemplated his choices. Then he smiled creepily and said "yes, but my father won't know about it. I am not that crazy to meet him alone."

Bingo! Let's see if you deceived me as well...

As the anticipation for the night was huge, I couldn't concentrate on anything. In order not to miss anything, I didn't leave Panit's office except the time I called Ying to tell her to buy lunch for Rune.

When the clock hit eight, the action started. Checking around frantically, Panit directed us to the underground parking lot. There we took another elevator which was activated by Panit's card and went down to -2. From the restless fidgeting of Panit, I understood that whoever was the newcomer, that couldn't be good.

At -2, two guys with black suits and huge muscles greeted us. Unfortunately, they searched us thoroughly and got our cellphones and jackets. Then another duo came and led us to a black Jaguar.

"Was it necessary, Mr. Jake?" Panit asked with annoyance as soon as a dominating old man emerged from the car.

Wait a minute! Isn't it that notorious prostitution king, Jake?!

"In our business, precaution means everything, little Kamol," Jake answered with a simper, making Panit red as a tomato. Not minding him, Jake continued "did you bring the cards?"

"Here," Panit held out the yellow envelope in his hand and Jake took it.

After checking the content, he said "very well, I will send you the fish next Thursday as planned. Say hi to your father."

The fish? The girls?

"I will," Panit bowed slightly and Jake hopped into the car again. When the car disappeared, the men gave our belongings back and got into the second car, following the first one.

Panit mumbled something, but being too immersed in my own thoughts, I didn't hear him.

Now everything was clear as the day. Why Kamol couldn't find the evidence of Aof's illegal business... Why he had to use me against Aof... Why Panit needed a bodyguard just like Rune...

From the beginning, Kamol had never planned to get rid of the illegal business, he just wanted to get rid of Aof, so Rune was the only way. By using my anger, he set Rune up and using him, he got rid of Aof without hurting the illegal business.

I was such an idiot!

But I was a dangerous idiot... There was no way I would suck all up and keep silent. I was already dying to hurt them because of what they did to Rune, but now, the things were more serious.

Damn it! If only I could record the meeting!

Letting out an annoyed sigh, I followed Panit to his car and when he left with the other bodyguards, I drove to my flat, thinking what to do next.

Although I wanted to share my discovery with Rune, I decided to keep it to myself until I had some concrete evidence.

Next Thursday...

I had to capture something useful before next Thursday so that I could take some action or call the police. Then I would inform Rune about the happenings and finally reveal that revenge wasn't the only reason why I used him. Maybe he would forgive me if he learnt that I tried to save innocent lives, that I wasn't too selfish.

Well, it sounded like a good plan, so of course it had to be spoiled...