Max Atichart stood motionless , feet apart and arm cross .There were several reason why he came into his son office without knocking the door . For one thing , reporter and paparazzi had been chasing him all morning concerning last night game , asking him why did his son forfeit the game! And another thing , his son was on the front page news of every newspaper in Thailand ! “read the head line Jame”
Jame grab the newspaper his father slam on his desk and scan thru the front page , “The luckiest man in Thailand run off to release himself with hot lover and was disqualify. Miss. Shampoo won the game with little effort..” Jame toss the newspaper to the side and lean back in his seat .
“I had warn you about beautiful woman”
“Dad , that’s not it ---”
“Jame , what you did is unacceptable . This match was an international event and you blow it . For once , can you put aside your hormone for something more important ? I never lecture you about your personal life but please ….do not mix business with pleasure”
“it will never happen again”
“your cousin is back in Thailand”
“did he won in Moscow ?”
“He beat the King Pin with a royal flush and make headline in China , the youngest poker player in history to enter the world wide poker competition ”
Jame’s head whip up , “He won?!”
“Yes . People with skill doesn’t need luck to win a game . With luck you can run out but with skill , it never does . Now, tell me . Who was that girl in the auditorium ?”
There was a knock at the door. A man enter , “Sir , your limo is ready” . Max signal the man to leave and turn to his son , “ remember , no more slip up”
“yes dad”
Max left the office and follow the man down stair . Jame ponder for a moment while fondling with a pencil . The thought of Lavadee was paid to make him lose the yesterday match was impossible to erase from his mind . He suppose it could be business between the two but to use his weakness and after gotten him all work up for a long ride --- she run off. That he can’t accept ! Cause woman doesn’t just run away from Jame Atichart and get away with it ! Yesterday , he suffer an embarrassment lost and today the world is reading about it . He was still furious at both girls for deceiving him but he was not a man who sit around and sulk about it! He snap the pencil in half --- who he kidding , he is at the edge of going insane ! There was a knock at the door and a woman appear .
“Good morning ” said Shampoo with a grin
“It’s you again , what do you want . You won , shouldn’t that be enough ?” he spin in his chair and face the window .
“Remember our bargain?”
“Yes. What is it”
“I have a younger sister I want you to hire”
“
?” he spin around to face her and ask , “Why does she need a job here?”
“My sister had always been the spoil one in the family but it’s about time she learn a lesson in life . If you will , please give her a job here . Any position is fine”
“I lost . It’s unnecessary to use the word ‘please’ . Alright , she can be my secretary assistance for a while”
“ 6 month , is enough time for her to learn the hardship of working”
“ fine with me”
“are you still mad ? I assure you , I pay big money to win that game . I was wrong but you must understand , I have a reputation at stake”
“I have a reputation as well” he snapped and added “but if I may . How much did you pay her ?”
“7 Million dollar”
“I hate to be nosy but do you know this girl?”
“I guess there no harm in telling you the truth , no . ”
“then how in the world you find this girl ?!”
“honestly , I didn’t . She came up to me a few day before the match and suggested a plan to make you lose”
“and you agreed?”
“not right away , no . I told her I will not do such a thing because then , I was very confidence I can beat you but I was wrong…”
“so , you mean to say …at the last minute, that phone call you receive was from her ?”
“I was so desperate to win , I agreed and the rest is history”
“I see..” he nodded while tighten his fist under the desk
“sweet girl and very clever” she reach out to shake his hand and said , “I will send my sister over in a couple more days and thank you for being a good sport”
“don’t mention it” he mutter and shake her hand lamely
Shampoo release his hand and left the room . Jame spin out of his chair once the door is closed . He throw his fists in the air and strangle the oxygen while imagining it was Lavadee’s neck .
“Why does she have to meddle with people affair ?! I could had won if it wasn’t for her! She a money hunger , con artist …whore!”
The following week at Bangkok Bank , Lavadee sat across the desk from a loan officer , as she nervously waited for the man to find the house deed .
“
! Here it is !” said the loan officer and straighten the glasses above his nose
“Thank god!”
“Ok, let see…it’s a 14 Million loan Miss. Taksaorn”
“Wait, it can’t be . My dad said it’s only 7 Million”
“Yes, it is but there also a couple more land deed included with the house”
“Can I just pay for the house loan?”
“Sorry , we can’t allow that . The contract policy had expire , if you came in last week with 7 Million you could had just pay for the house ’s loan separate and take it out but now since you fail to pay back the loan agreement within 2 years according to the contract your father signed , we are here by have the right to sell the property to investor unless the full amount is pay within 30 days”
Lavadee slump back in her seat -- shock and speechless. All her effort was for nothing !! If only her father had take the first 7 Million and pay the house ’s loan a week ago then this wouldn‘t happen, but now the bank need the full payment within 30 days! She grab her purse and storm out the bank . When she got home there was cops and reporter at the front gate .
“what’s going on here ?” she cries out
“Lavadee!! You got to help daddy out !” shouted Kana as two police officer hand cuff him and push him into the car. Reporter came rushing toward her and ask all kind of question . Camera and microphone aim toward her .
“is it true your father gamble all the company money ?” said one reporter
“what does he do with all those embezzle money ? Over 30 million of them!” cries another reporter
“Miss. Taksaorn , how do you feel about having a father with a criminal background!” said the third reporter .
Lavadee cover her faces and run inside the house while the media camp outside the gate . She lock the door and angrily throw her purse across the room.
I need to think . What should I do . I need more money ---but--- where!! What else can I lost ? Virginity ? Gone! Self-respect ? Gone! House ? Father ? Gone ! Gone! Suddenly her cellar phone rang . She answer it , “HELLO!!”
“whoa, calm down . It me Rome . I’m back from Moscow a few days ago . How you been? I miss you”
“Rome ? You back !!”
“Yes . When I was away , I thought about it and realize I was selfish. I‘m sorry to pressure you into marriage. We just finish college and haven’t start our career goal yet . I’m willing to wait until both of us achieve it --- ”
“Yes!”
“
huh?”
“Yes , I will marry you”
“Are you serious ? You’re not joking right ? I ask you 6 months ago ---”
“I change my mind . Let’s get marry”
“Great !! I have to tell my uncle and cousin …I mean …the planning and reservation”
“I don’t care , just marry me within 30 days”
“ are you sure ?”
“You are right , I can’t wait 30 days . Next week if possible !!”
Rome nodded his head as he agreed to everything she said . He hung up and smile happily to himself while clinging the phone close to his heart . Jame walk into his cousin office and notice the boy smiling like a fool .
“Hey ! Rome ! What are you smiling about ?”
Rome snap out of it and leap forward to hug his cousin , “I’m getting marry !!”
“Ok ..that’s good , marriage is good . It’s like a dog lease but a good lease” Jame patted his cousin back to congratulate him and then pull away , he ask “when the hell did you have a girlfriend?”
“she my college class mate and my friend”
“what her name?”
“I’ll bring her to meet the family tomorrow! She very beautiful and smart---” Rome begin to jump up and down like an over hyper kid.
“alright , alright …you getting to excited here . Bring her by for dinner tomorrow night and you can discus the wedding with my father”