Nunew accidentally crashes CEO Zee Pruk Panich's car when working as a valet. He expects Zee to make him pay back the cost of damages but the young businessman has another arrangement in mind.
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"He's not answering."
I stared at my phone as it went to voicemail, the screen illuminated with an all too familiar name. I tapped the device to end the call, frustrated that Nunew was once again doing this to me. Hadn't he learned the last time? Not answering calls. Not coming home when he said he would. Did he not realize what that does to me? The goddamn worry. The possibility that he might have run away again. That these last few weeks had been a fucking dream. My fingers gripped the phone harder, staring at his contact info, tempting me to press call once more.
"Maybe it's a busy night at the bar."
I glanced up at Janis, watching as she crossed her legs, her hands tapping impatiently along the black stone of the kitchen counter.
My lips pulled into a tight line as I slipped the device back into my pocket, hoping she was right. Though, everything in me screamed otherwise. I couldn't figure out why but something tugged at the base of my spine, sending a creeping chill along the vertebrae, settling low in my stomach until I felt nauseous with uncertainty. Something was off. My fingers twitched as I crossed my arms over my chest, willing myself to not take out my phone again. It'd been an hour. If he was going to call me back, he would have done it by now.
"What are you worried about, Zee?"
I glanced at Janis, a glare on my features. "Do I have to have a reason to be worried?"
Her hands folded on top of the counter as she leaned over it. "It's about your father, isn't it?"
Goddamnit, why did she have to know me so well? I needed to learn how to shut her out. Or at least hide some of myself from her, particularly the parts that included my father.
She waited for a moment before asking, "Has he contacted you since..." Her voice trailed off as her chocolate eyes scanned my face.
The bruises were still there, vividly purple with a sickening yellow hue lining the edges. The swelling had started to go down but the pain was as prominent as ever, reminding me each time I talked of how easily he had shut me up. How easily I'd fallen before him, caving to his will once again. As I always had. The shades staining my face only fueled the hatred I held towards myself. They fanned the fury sparking deep within me, glowing yet hesitant to erupt. Eventually the fire would race out of control but for now I had to keep it contained. I needed the calm to think clearly. To plan my next fucking move.
"No." My voice was strained as I answered.
"Well, that's a good thing," She paused. "Right?"
"There's nothing good when it comes to him. He may be quiet for now but that doesn't mean he isn't planning some fucked up scheme behind my back." I sighed as my arms folded tighter over my torso, holding me in check. "He's always ten steps ahead of me, Janis. No matter how I hard I try to beat him, he's always in the goddamn lead."
