Eight:
The arrive at JW Marriot hotel. Mr. Apinan brings Leila and Woradej into the buffet.
"Father, here?"
"Yes, Wora. Here."
Leila looked astoundingly at all the food. "Wow, I've never seen this much food before, not even when Dad took me to that actresses' wedding!"
"Like it, Leila?"
"Yes, Uncle. How could I ever thank you enough?"
Mr. Apinan leans closer to Leila, whispering. "Leila, just as long as you make Woradej hate Pim, I'll be fine. However, don't make it too obvious." Mr. Apinan laughed at the idea. He could picture Pim's face in his mind.
Leila giggled. "Isn't that quite mean, uncle?"
"Course not, Leila. I am his father..."
Woradej walks back. "What about you being my father, Father?"
Mr. Apinan tries to look innocent. "Uh, nothing. Let's go eat, I'm starving."
Leila makes her way to the buffet and picks out a bunch of food. Suddenly, she bumped into this guy. "Sorry..."
"It's ok, Miss." The man hesitated. "May I know your name?"
"Leila. Leila Cloverdale."
The man reached for Leila's hand a kissed it. "Leila, nice to meet you. I'm Eric. Eric Dalton. I work with the directors of a drama series. I was going to ask you if you were interested in being one of the main ladies."
Leila's eyes widen. "Me?"
"Yes, yes you." The man grinned.
Leila turned to Mr. Apinan. "Uncle?"
Mr. Apinan placed his plate on the table and came to Leila and the man. He reached out his hand. "Hello, I'm Mr. Apinan, Leila's uncle."
"Sawasdee krup, I'm Eric Dalton. My father is friends with Khun Deang."
"Oh, is your father Rick Dalton?" Mr. Apinan thought back to the old times.
"Yes, that's him." Eric couldn't stop staring at Leila. She was beautiful beyond any woman he's seen.
Leila blushed. "Is there something on my cheeks?"
"No, Leila." Eric turned back to Mr. Apinan, talking.
Just at that moment, Woradej came. "Leila, you haven't gotten any food yet. I thought you were hungry."
"Uh, not really..."
"Not really? C'mon, I'l bring you to get something."
"It's ok, P'Wora. Your father already knows you hate me. You don't have to hide it."
"No, really. Just come, will you?" Woradej gave Leila 'the stare' befor pulling her to the table. "Leila, that man is dangerous."
"You father seems to talk to him well..."
"My father's playing it, don't you see him moving his hands? He does that to signal."
Leila looked back and forth. "Signal?"
"Yes. You see, this guy used to be my friend. His father was my father's friend. One day, he cheated on my father and got his money."
"Oh, really?" Leila's face fell. Too bad, she thought.
"I might lie to you about a lot of things, but not this. I might not like you, but I certainly don't want you raped."
Leila's eyes widen. "RAPED?"
Woradej looked annoyed. He whipered to Leila. "Quiet down, will you? Don't you see people staring?"
"Well, yes..." Leila turned to Woradej. "Why are you being so nice anyway?"
Woradej turned red. "Nothing. So what if for a second there I thought you were Pim. I forgot that you didn't have a mother, and Pim does."
Leila's eyes were swelling, tears were in her eyes. She dashed into the bathrooms without saying a word.
"Leila, wait. I'm sorry!" Woradej ran after Leila.
"Go away, P'Wora. I never want to see you ever again!"
"I'm sorry, Leila. Truly I am."
Leila turned to face Woradej. "How can I be sure you're saying that because you want to say it. You could be saying it because you want Uncle to believe that you didn't do anything?" Leila sobbed more.
Woradej pulled on the tissue and handed it to Leila, realizing how stupid he's been. However, she kept making himself feel so, so - easy...