MY ESAN HUSBAND #10:
Her hands were shaking when she reached to take the drink from Nadech but they were shaking so bad that she didn’t get a good grasp of the glass that it slipped from her hands and fell back on to his lap. Oh no! She couldn’t believe that happened, was he going to be mad at her because tonight he was not that friendly or receptive to her. She quickly looked around for some napkins and found some on the table beside the club chair he was sitting in. That was all she needed to cause more animosity towards herself and her family. She didn’t know what was required of her and her family now if six hundred and fifty million bahts was required to be repaid on Monday. She started to dab at his thighs and realized he stiffened. Oh how expensive was his tailor-made suit, it was a designer brand what else would he wear but her eye for fashion confirmed his taste. He held her hands tightly to stop her from continuing her cleaning and she froze.
“Enough. Clearly the loan information has shocked you. If you do not have the funds then think carefully and I suggest you sleep on it. How about marrying this Esan husband of yours? Am I really a bad catch? Besides your boyfriend there should have been with you or he should have come and get you by now. If I was your boyfriend I wouldn’t allow you to be in the same room with another man. All dressed up and you cleaned up well Yaya. To think if you wanted to leave a good impression the first time we first meet this would have changed my mind immediately. You are beautiful, very beautiful actually.” He grabbed her chin to make her look up at him and keep eye contact. Will she accept him and his offer?
“Not in a million years. Let go of me now.” That was her answer and she pulled her chin away from his grasp. She tried to walk away from him with whatever pride she had left but he stopped her from leaving him. With her temper yet again she elbowed him in his gut, he was very fit that she met hard abdomen.
He doubled over once more because this woman had a lot of strength in her attack; her inner strength he commend more. Watching her sashaying her way out the door, he couldn’t help but chuckle slightly even with the pain he was feeling. Did he really want to take on the task of being her teacher and husband? Can he tame probably the most stubborn and hard-headed woman he has ever had the misfortune to have met?
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“Por said Nadech wasn’t affected by seeing you with him. But what happened between you and him in that booth. You were gone for a bit. He didn’t try anything did he?” Taew tried to get some form of answers from her older sister Yaya.
Yaya couldn’t respond all she could think about was the loan amount. How was the feat to repay going to ever happen? She confronted her father and he paled but he never denied the amount. It was definitely very bad for her. She literally now had no choice. What and why they wanted her as the bride she couldn’t understand. Nadech must have women lined up at his door why was it so hard for him to just choose one of them and be done with it?
The vow between best friends shouldn’t be passed down to their children. It wasn’t fair to any of the party and especially her. She was not ready and she felt she could not take on this endeavour and willingly become this arrogant man’s wife. Then she was to consent to live in the woods after the wedding. Honestly she’s never encountered any form of wilderness and Esan people. She did a quick look up on Wikipedia, to find more information on this culture but the information was so limited. She wouldn’t be able to properly prepare herself. But first things first, she needed to figure out how to get out of this predicament. Maybe it was time to be serious with Nadech and they needed to work together to get out of this pre-arranged marriage made by their fathers.
“Oh he wasn’t happy about it but I don’t think he cares. We are not in love and we are definitely not compatible. I don’t understand our fathers and their traditional ways, it is the twenty first century isn’t it? Taew I don’t know what else to do. What is the media saying? Have you seen the papers or anything on TV?” she replied to her sister and seeing Taew shaking her head.
They were both quite surprise that there was no news that leaked out about herself and Por. Was it not news worthy but they planted the event last night. There was definitely a lot of media coverage but as of this morning nothing about her made it to the news. The media and gossip columnist were all given the leak information. It was only rumours but at least she could have that as an excuse. She was attached to someone else. Who would have the heart to break lovers apart? Mr. CEO never said anything about Por. Of course not because all he cares about is getting his money. It was his bread and butter milking off the interests of those who have the misfortune to ask a loan from him and his company. And he thought he was a great catch for her. If she was deaf, blind and desperate or destitute, if even those reasons will ever change her mind to marry him.
“Nothing big sis, I wonder why? Oh my god do you think he had anything to do with it. I think it must be your Mr. CEO!” Gubgib blurted out.
Yaya looked at her sister blankly, her Mr. CEO, her nothing, how could he play a role in dismissing the media coverage. No way, how can it be? Can he? She looked at both her sisters and they all came to the same conclusion. He must have paid the media. He had that type of money. How dare he do this to her! Why did he want to win over her so much what was so beneficial of this marriage?
He wasn’t going to get away with this, who did he think he is? Did he not know who he was dealing with? She may be a Thai woman but that was the only cultural thing about her. In New York she knows the difference between dependent and independent. She wasn’t a woman to bow to any man!
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“What do I owe this pleasure to have a visit from you Yaya? Care to sit down or are you going to stand there, arms crossed and spitting fire?” He sat leisurely in the patio chair. He was in his casual clothes and he looked much younger than his age. Yaya tried to keep with her anger or his attractive physique will distract her from her plans.
He was waiting for her at the bistro as she chose this public place. She was intimated by him? It was a compliment and a surprise to see her act this way with him. She didn’t sit down as he suggested, tapping her foot and taking shaky deep breaths; was she counting underneath her breath? Why was she so anxious and exasperated? When she called him he knew it was her right away. She is very intelligent after all or for some reason knows how he works. It was quite refreshing, a woman challenging him.
“I will be sitting in a moment. How dare you!” she finally sat down and placed her palm on the top of the table, inches from his fingers. He wanted to touch her.
Wait where did that thought come from? It has been awhile since he had a sexual liason; it had been over six months already? The mergers with the Hong Kong banks were really enveloping his personal life. He was still young and had a healthy appetite. Something must be arranged soon. Or else she will be his next target which will be inappropriate to lust after one’s future bride and an unwilling one. If her frown right now was any indication of how subservient she was feeling towards him.
”What did I dare do? I have no idea what you are accusing me of. I thought I was invited to come and share a congratulatory drink and you will be handing me the money your family owe us. But I guess that isn’t the case. Were you hoping for a negotiation?” he looked at her dead on. What was her next move? It didn’t look like she had a plan, but yet she stared back and smiled?
“You know damn well you paid the media off. What happen to my news? What are you hiding behind that cold exterior of yours that no woman is willing to marry you? You are a thirty years old man, still handsome, rich and young. Are you demented? Have a mental illness like when we first met. No one will condone that stalker-ish mode right?” she smirked at him, that’ll show you!
“Actually I am only doing my duty as an eldest son. I marry you, use you when I find it necessary and move on. You live in your little narrow-minded world and I will continue on with my lifestyle. I don’t see the harm in our union.” He shrugged, she wanted to play. Oh he will eagerly play with her.
She opened her mouth then closed it. He just said he will use and discard her? What kind of monster was he? She was definitely out of her element now.
“I will not oblige to your whims. My father confirmed our debt we have with you but he said your father allowed him some time. What do I need to do to repay you back? It is only marriage you are after? If so can you read this over and add or make changes then?” She went into her purse and saw him push back a bit from his chair.
That is right you weren’t expecting this, she didn’t bat her eyelashes either, she was dead serious now. She was up all night with her sisters trying to build a strict contract stating what can be or cannot be done in their marriage. The marriage was to last five years only. Or if he so wishes he can dissolve it but pay a contract cancellation fee of six hundred and fifty million bahts. Her father’s business was still prospering but somehow he convinced his father to ask for the loan back much sooner than verbally agreed upon by the men. Was it because she refused to marry him?
“This is amusing. Five years with you is equal to 650 million bahts. What do you take me for? How do I trust you or what do I gain from this?” He looked at her as if she grew horns.
“Just read it over and let me know. Your father said it made sense to him, so if you have a real problem with it then take it up with your father. At least he keeps his vows and promises like a real man. If you are so desperate to marry me then sign on the dotted line. Have a good day Khun Nadech.” She saluted him.
Then she walked away. Inside her heart was quaking so badly. She felt she was going to past out. She did it. It wasn’t so bad. He still didn’t admit he had control over the media, but he wasn’t going to have full control over this impending and intrusive marriage.
She wore red, a one piece short suit and her navy blue blazer. It must have been the loud colours that distracted him so much. When she pulled out her contract, he was flabbergasted and watched her walk away. Not looking back. Her back ramrod straight and the regal brat returned to her isolated castle. He started to read the contract, all 10 pages and its terms. He let out a loud laugh.
The people stared at him. Yes this was quite entertaining for sure. A wickedly handsome man in his washed dark denim and black t-shirt, but clearly he wasn’t all there as he was laughing out loud by himself. What a shame as some of the young women thought especially when he first joined the patio scene. He was very pleasing to their eyes and hearts.
