FORTUNE: A FREENBECKY STORY

Chapter 62 🃏

The boardroom door crept open and a young man walked through the doors holding a laptop and wearing a backpack.

As the young man turned around Freen caught sight of him. She recognised him.
"Khun Freen." Richie greeted with a bow
"Richie?" Freen said
"This will probably come as a shock to you. I've only just been recruited." Richie said
"You must be good then" Heng said
"Well... yes." Richie smiled

Richie looked over at Billy as though he was asking for approval. Billy nodded.

"Before I present the software there are a few key things I need you to know Khun Freen, Khun Heng." Richie said
"Just call me P'freen" Freen replied
"Same" Heng said
"Ok, so... when I joined the organisation we were looking for you P'Heng. I improved the software that combed through all surveillance footage relating to your disappearance. While doing that I spotted something. I recognised the calling card. The Joker. It was the same calling card I found when my father was attacked, when I had a car accident and it was in threatening mail we received." Richie said

"Get to the punchline Armstrong." Billy said
Billy looked around at the faces in the room and noticed that none were alarmed by any of what he was saying.
"I believe that the Mukhtar killed my father and have been threatening my family. So I created the software that will allow us to unravel them. I've been working on it for the last 3 days" Richie said
"Yes, Richie has developed the perfect algorithm to correctly predict the perfect windows within the Mukhtar's very complex money laundering operation to seize their cash right from under them." Billy said

Richie looked over at Freen.
"P'freen, you don't seem surprised by anything I just said." Richie said
"I didn't know about it but it didn't surprise me. Given what I now know about your family." Freen said
"Know about our family?" Richie said
"We'll discuss this another time" Freen said

"We're conducting the final tests right now before we go live at noon today with it." Billy said
"Good work. Thank you Richie." Non said as he stood up

Freen leant over Non and whispered, "we need to talk."
"Sure." Non said
They both exited the room and slipped into the corridor.

Heng got up and approached Richie.
"Armstrong? Becky's brother right?" Heng said
"Uh yeah..." Richie said
"I'm Freen's brother." Heng said
"Uh I know Phi" Richie said
"Aren't we basically in-laws then?" Heng smiled
Richie looked around the room at princes Non's family confused at Heng's boldness to say something like that so openly in the presence of his actual in-laws.

"Anyway, how's Becky getting on?" Heng asked
"She's fine" Richie replied
"Has she said anything to you about Freen?" Heng asked
"I mean, she won't shut up about Freen" Richie muttered
Heng smiled until Richie reluctantly cracked as smile also.

"Non, thank you for everything you did to find Heng." Freen said
"It was all Billy." Non said
"Thank you anyway." Freen said
"It's the least I can do" Non said
"I want you to know I will still honour our agreement. I just want to ask one thing of you." Freen said
"Becky?" Non said
"How did you..." Freen muttered
"Anyone who's been in a room with you two for even a second can tell that you're in love." Non said

Freen blushed.
"It's not like we're romantically involved" Non said
"I just wanted you to know. I don't know if we'll ever work but I wanted to tell you myself. When she hurts me she breaks me and that scares me but when I'm broken she's the only thing that keeps me together. There are so many misunderstandings between us and I wouldn't even know where to start to clear things up." Freen said

"I've already cleared things up with her." Non said with a smile
"You what?" Freen said
"I told her there's nothing romantic between us." Non said
"Oh, yeah, thank you." Freen said
"I have to go, I'm meeting my brother to discuss The Mukhtar" Non said
"Ok, thank you again" Freen smiled

Billy wheeled Heng out of the room.
"Speedy let's go! We're going to be late for lunch." Heng said
"We'll keep you informed about testing and launch later today." Billy said
"Thank you." Freen said