A Dangerous Liaison

-8-

three weeks later

Nino

Sunday

Nino briskly stepped into his father's office, the splendour of the expansive room immediately washing over him. An elated smile crept onto his face—this space, with all its authority, power. and history, was now his. The large wooden desk, positioned regally opposite him, seemed to beckon him as the new heir to the empire. Above it, the monumental family portrait loomed, a constant reminder of the legacy he now carried. His father's painted gaze seemed to pierce through him, judgmental and watchful, as if assessing his every move.

Nino continued his inspection of the office, heart heavy. Shelves lined the umber-colored walls, each one burdened with vintage books, ornaments, and framed memories. The laminate floor gleamed under the soft light, leading to a dark green carpet that softened his steps as he approached the leather sofa by the windows. Nino allowed himself a rare moment of relaxation, inhaling deeply as he crossed his legs. The day's tasks had been grueling, from the endless reading of Pa's will to dealing with Star's ridiculous tantrum over her inheritance.

Now, however, the disputes were behind him, and the real work could begin. The thought of his father's shady business dealings loomed in his mind like a dark, thunderous cloud. Now that he was alone in the house, with his siblings and Ma out visiting Pa's grave at the temple, he could make those necessary arrangements in private, vowing to visit Pa's grave another day. 

He missed his father terribly, but he had to overcome his grief - for the sake of the family. 

Just as Nino was settling into his thoughts, the door creaked open. Three men stepped in, the first face immediately recognisable - his father's trusted business partner. Nino had been expecting him. P'Chon entered, extending a hand with the kind of smile that didn't reach his eyes. The years had not been kind to him; the man looked as though life had cursed him with the burden of age. Behind him were two younger men Nino failed to recall from Pa's past meetings. 

Nino shook their hands, each one firm and businesslike. "Gentlemen," Nino began, his voice steady. "Can I offer you a refreshment?" He gestured toward the port glasses on the side table, but Chon declined with a slight wave of his hand, eager to get to the point.

"Condolences for your loss," Chon said, his tone deceptively soft. "Your father was a great man. This must have been a terrible shock."

Nino felt a flicker of irritation at the man's tone. His father had warned him about this man, about his manipulation, and his insatiable hunger for power. And now that hunger was aimed directly at Nino.

"Yes, it was a shock," Nino replied curtly, pouring himself a glass of port as if to steady himself. "But your text mentioned something urgent. What is it?" He watched as Chon's dark eyes followed him, as if calculating his next move. 

Chon took his time, glancing briefly at his men before speaking. "The money laundering cartel, out of town..." His voice was unusually hesitant. Nino's heart skipped a beat - one of Pa's most dangerous and profitable ventures, the cartel, was not something to be taken lightly. It was a fortress of secrecy, a factory built far from the prying eyes of Bangkok and guarded with threats and bribes that kept it untouchable.

But Chon's sudden unease told a different story. The man was wringing his hands, his usual confident bravado replaced with a nervous energy that set Nino on edge. Something was wrong, and Nino could sense it.

"The payments to the workers haven't come through for the last two months," Chon continued, his voice barely masking the fear. "Some of them are getting restless, threatening to go to the authorities if they aren't paid by the end of the week."

Nino's mind raced. How could his father, the man who had drilled into him the importance of money equating silence, have let this slip? If these men talked, the entire operation - and subsequently the Jitkunattapol family - could be exposed. The room seemed to close in on him as the severity of the situation weighed on his conscience.

"Why didn't my father pay them? He knew what was at stake!" Nino's frustration rose to the surface, his voice edged with desperation. He couldn't afford to lose control now, not when the stakes were this high.

Not when he was just getting started. 

One of Chon's men, the taller one, spoke up. "We believe he did pay, but the money didn't arrive."

Nino's heart froze. "Didn't arrive?" He repeated, his voice low, as if speaking the words might make them untrue.

"No," the man confirmed, shaking his head. "We suspect someone might be intercepting the payments."

This was worse than Nino could have imagined. Someone was carrying off the money, someone who had the nerve to meddle in their dangerous enterprise. This wasn't just a mistake; it was a direct threat. Whoever it was, they were treading on thin ice, and Nino knew he couldn't let this slide.

He leaned forward, his voice falling to a dangerous whisper. "Keep an eye on the factory. No one goes in or out without a worker's pass or proper identification. I don't care what it takes, we can't afford any more mistakes. Do you understand?"

The younger men nodded in unison, their fear of him palpable. "Yes, Mr. Jitkunattapol."

"I will deal with this personally," Nino added, his tone final. "You may leave."

As the men left, Nino sat back down, a cold resolve settling over him. Whoever had dared to question his authority would soon regret it. He would find them - and if bribery didn't work, he would make sure they never crossed him again.

Even if he had to hold that gun to their head and pull the trigger. 

+--------+

two chapters in one day...oh gosh

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until the next chapter....