Losing Game

Chapter 21 - September Ties

September 2021 - Roughly Two and a Half Months Ago : 

Each side of the conference room table was filled with every shareholder or investor from the Namsiripongpun family companies. On the left side is where people from T&S Art Gallery sat and then on the right was those from Namsiri Bank. Right at the head of the table sat Thanom, who would occasionally glare at his grandson at the front of the room. This presentation was something he did not want to give him just yet due to him only being back in the country for less than four months, but his wife convinced him otherwise. Her most valid point was "how is Saint supposed to learn everything about our companies if you never give him the chance to prove himself." Arguments with his grandson were easy and ended up with him winning - but with his wife? There was no surrendering from her at any point. She was as stubborn as her own mother so it didn't come as a shock when her own son became the same way. She was right though. Saint had attended these meetings when he was away but never contributed to them. Given their family's current situation, it was only a matter of time before Thanom started to make Saint more of a prominent figure in their companies.

Any nervousness Saint felt would increase by a thousand percent when he caught his grandfather's stare. It would send a shiver down his back and cause him to gulp whatever saliva he had. The only person who was helping him feel less nervous was Orn and Mild's uncle who was seated on the right side of the table. He was one of the few people who got to pick whatever side they wanted to sit at since he had investments in both companies but was a major shareholder for the bank. The presentation was almost two hours long with every idea Saint shared and the questions from those listening. He was proud of everything he did but the thought of it not being enough for a certain someone came back up in his mind. He was prepared for the rejection of everything he just presented but was hit with everyone approving of a new T&S Art Gallery being built in the States and three more banks going somewhere within the world.

It was nearly noon when Saint was granted his freedom for the rest of the day. His phone was going off the wall from his friends wanting to know how everything went, but he ignored their messages. There were two places he needed to go to before the day turned dark. With Mew still being in America for another week or two, he had no ride to one of the locations unknown to every other worker so he convinced the driver who picked him up earlier to take him back to his apartment. There he would change back into his normal clothes, put whatever items he needed into his bookbag, and take his own car to the first location of the day. His heart began to beat faster when Orn's caller ID popped up on his screen as he was stopped at a red light. "She must be done golfing or relaxing in the clubhouse" he told himself. He'll admit that he thought about answering the call but something told him no. Something inside of him knew this was only for him to do.

When he finally arrived at the location, it all felt too real. Memories of everything two years prior began to fill his mind and tears started to form. He tried his best to pull himself together before exiting the car. Luckily he started to grow accustomed to the hot Bangkok weather again because if he didn't, he would be in pants and a sweater in the dreadful 90 degree weather. Instead of looking around like a lost duck, he went to ask the groundskeeper of where the certain location would be. She was shocked to see someone younger coming to visit but he quickly explained who he was and she gave him her condolences. After taking him right to the spot, she said goodbye and went about her day.

Thorn Ritthirong Namsiripongpun

March 18th 1971 - January 5th 2019

A wonderful father, son and friend

who will be missed