We Can Return

10) Echoes in Bangkok

Gun POV 

Gun took a deep breath. For the first time in seventeen years, he was standing at Bangkok airport again. He never thought he would return here, yet here he was. The airport had changed a lot over the years, so no nostalgic memories hit him. Gun feared that returning to his homeland would bring back painful memories of the past, but so far, none had surfaced.

Gun was alone. The other Mommas and the boys were still in the USA, packing and preparing their house for a period of vacancy. Michaela was on her dream trip around the world, which the Mommas had paid for to repay her kindness and care. She had taken them under her wing and became the mother the Mommas never had, and the best and kindest grandmother the boys could wish for.

Gun caught a taxi and gave the driver the address of the hotel. He decided that until he could find a house for their small family, he would stay in the hotel he planned to buy. The hotel itself didn't look bad, but it was clear it would need extensive renovations. Gun checked in under his Thai name, although he went by James Smith in the business world. When the Mommas moved to the USA, they decided to adopt American names under which they graduated and also took Michaela's surname.

Gun inspected the room and then had lunch in the hotel restaurant. He walked through all the public areas of the hotel, making mental notes. He was good at what he did and knew what to look for to increase profit. He was pleased with his decision to buy the hotel, and from what he saw, it wouldn't even be necessary to close the hotel for long for renovations.

Gun sat in the hotel lobby, browsing options for houses in Bangkok on his tablet, large enough to accommodate his small family. He was looking for something with a pool because the boys had always wanted one at home, and he wanted to make them happy. Then someone addressed him. He looked up from the tablet and saw a man standing in front of him. He was dressed in a dark blue suit with a white shirt. His figure was slim, and he looked well-groomed. His hands were resting loosely at his sides. He smiled at him.

"James Smith, nice to meet you. I thought our meeting was next week," said Eart.

He realized who it was. A few years ago, he had accompanied his father to one of their joint meetings.

"Eart Pirapat, nice to meet you. And I'm sorry for your loss," Gun offered his condolences.

"Our meeting is indeed next week, but I decided to move here with my whole family for a year to oversee the renovations and other matters. Until I find a house for the family, I'm staying here," Gun explained.

Eart POV

I went to check on the hotel, mainly to talk to the chefs. My father's funeral is the day after tomorrow, and since this hotel is the closest to the funeral site, we will arrange the catering from here. I'm not exactly a business type, so I decided to get rid of the hotel. I don't have a knack for these things and need to focus on my modeling agency. And I still have three seaside resorts to manage. That's why I thought of contacting my father's old business partner, James Smith. My father always spoke highly of him. I only saw him once, and his face definitely doesn't match the name he has built in the business world.

As I walk through the hotel lobby, my eyes stop on a man sitting in one of the comfortable chairs. He is wearing dark jeans and a white shirt with an open collar, giving him a casual yet still elegant look. On his feet, he has stylish but comfortable shoes. He is holding a tablet, and his eyes are focused on the screen. His face is calm and concentrated, occasionally frowning when he comes across something important. Despite being dressed casually, his demeanor and overall impression are very professional. It's clear that he is someone who knows what he's doing and takes his work seriously.