Jame hadn’t thought that living without Lavadee would be this difficult . In fact , he hadn’t thought about anything beside her well being. With a sigh, he glance over at his cellar phone that was laying over the pile of document on his working desk , throwing the pen in his hand away and shoving the un sign papers to the side , he reach for the cellar but hesitated . Had it only been seven days since she left ? It seen like weeks, months or even years ! He dread the thought of having to return home to dine alone , feeling lonely and depress .
“You want to have lunch together” said a familiar voice .
“Rome!” he frown , the last person Jame want to see. Obviously by the smile on his cousin face it must be a sunshiny day or … Lavadee must had return back Rome . He felt a sharp pain in the heart.
“She came back! And right now we are taking thing soon” Rome happily sigh and smile as if he hit the lottery. Even his eye was sparkle with love .
“That‘s…good. I’m glad it work out ok” Jame pretend to look busy and scan thru the pile of document on his desk , his heart was acing and how he wishes his cousin will leave .
“She told me the reason why she left for several months without a trace ”
Jame froze , “She did ?”
“She said she needed time to explore other option in her life , even though I wasn’t quite sure what she meant by that . She asked me if I love her truly and willing to accept her condition with no regret . I love her , Jame . So I told her of course.” Rome smile and added “ Now , I’m excited because we are having a baby! It doesn’t bother me anyone who father the child because it wasn’t her fault . Yesterday , I pick her up and we went shopping for baby stuff !”
“That’s…wonderful . Had you told my father yet ?”
“Not yet but before I do . I want you to promise me not to tell Uncle about Lavadee ‘s child isn’t mine . It doesn’t matter because child is mine now and nothing will change that”
“Sure, man. Not a word” said Jame as he watch his cousin tap the desk with his palm and thank him. After seeing Rome back to his normal self again he was relief but deep down he was hurting and fighting the urge not to express it . He pretend to smile every time Rome look his way . Suddenly , there was a buzz on the intercom . Jame reaches over to press a button , “What is it”
“Sir , can you come to the lobby” said the secretary
“I’m busy at the moment”
“This can’t be wait sir. It’s very urgent”
“Unless some kind of mafia holding my employee hostage , trust me … it can wait .”
With a panic voice the secretary shakily said , “I believe we are at their mercy then. There several Chinese men outside your office with guns and demanding to see you”
Jame swallow hard . “Tell…them I’ll be out there in a minute” he press the close button and quickly stood up .
“What’s wrong ?” Rome asked .
“It’s King Pin and his men they are after me . They are outside my office at this very moment”
“Why are they after you?”
“It’s a long story”
Outside the office several Chinese men all dress in black suit was pointing guns at the employee . The hostage had their hands in the air and shaking with fear . One of the man pull out a chair to let their boss sat down . The oversize authorize man had one of his man lit a cigar . He reach over and snatch it . Smoking and puffing while impatiently waiting for his future in law to come out . A delivery boy who came out of the elevator was immediately seize by one of the man in black . With large automatic guns clicking at every angle the boy squeal and fainted . The tension in the room was terrifying and life threaten . Moment later Jame and Rome appear.
“I see you had not change a bit my future son in law” said King Pin with a smirk and signal his men to aim the gun toward the new comer .
“Can we discuss this in a less violent way ? Holding my employee at gun point isn’t going solve anything”
King Pin continue to smoke his cigar . Frowning , he signal his men to put a way the weapon and at that moment several employee let out their breath as well as their hands. “My daughter is also here but she is being held in the hotel room . If she see you it will be hard for me to do my job. You are very lucky to escape from me but not this time . You have two choice . Marry my daughter or die”
“This is Thailand not China . We have law and order . You can’t force me to do anything”
King Pin does his wick laugh , the sound a pig will do when eating and said “My dear boy , by the time the cop get here you be dead ”
Rome tense and look over to his cousin “Jame , I don’t think he joking.”
“I can handle this” said jame and return to the villain “Let’s settle this in a game”
King Pin left his brow , “ A challenge ? Didn’t my other daughter beat you once before ?” he laughed and follow by a louder roar from his men .
“If I win you leave me alone”
“And if I win you marry my daughter”
“Jame are you sure about this ? We can always goes to the police” said Rome
“Deal” said Jame and walk over to King Pin to shake hand and seal the deal .
“It’s a pleasure to be challenge by the luckily man in the world” said King Pin while squeezing the hand shake harder than normal . Jame flinched and manage to pull his hand way from the death grip .
“We’ll settle this next weekend at my casino”
“prepare to lose my future son in law …prepare to lose” with that said King Pin and his men left the building . Everyone quickly scatter away to make way for the mafia king and his gang . Rome turn to his cousin . “He very tough but I have fate in you as well. And who is this daughter of his ?”
“You remember Shampoo? The girl with the accent ?”
“Yes. She a lovely girl”
“She annoying. Trust me . I’m good as dead if I marry her” he assure the death statement with a worry frown on his forehead .
Rome notice the uncertainly within his cousin feature . He heard from employee that Jame had not been himself since the return home . The unusual lucky that Jame once possessive was running out and the ladies that flock around him had suddenly decline . There was several changes as well , Jame had not once goes against him and Lavadee , which were oddly strange since he strongly oppose it in the past . There was also the way Jame seen to avoid looking him in the eye as if he was hiding something . Rome shook the thought away and patted his cousin back “Come on , I’ll buy lunch”
Lavadee was looking over some legal documents concerning her father case in the living room. The lawyer and her father had gone down to the company to retrieve more evidence from the accountant department. She been busy with father trial and hadn’t the time to clean the apartment . Rome offer to come over and be a maid for one day though it was sweet of him , she reject his good intention but he refuse to accept quick her denial and came down to her apartment anyway . Since morning to late in the afternoon , he had clean the floor , scrub the toilet , wash the dishes , vacuum the carpet and any other household task that was available .
“Had I told you what happen at the casino a few days ago ?” said Rome from the kitchen . He was preparing lunch and was slicing the meat.
Lavadee held her breath . She thought about that awful man again . She been trying to forget about him all weeks and now there no avoiding it . “No, I had not heard”
“Jame had challenge King Pin . The upcoming match is this weekend. King Pin and his men held the employee at gun point.”
Lavadee turn around in the sofa and asked “ What do King Pin want?”
“ He wanted Jame to marries his daughter .” Rome laughed at the idea and continue to wash the vegetable in the sink
“M…marry ?” suddenly her cheek heated with rage , twisting her body back she try to continue where she left off but she couldn’t focus .
“Yeah, but if Jame win this match he wouldn’t have too”
“If he loses ?” she couldn’t help asking even though she hate herself from wanting to know when she suppose to stay mad at the bastard.
“He promise to marry Shampoo”
Lavadee shove the document away and slouch against the sofa with her arm cross. Not understanding why she so upset with the last statement. She doesn’t like it that Jame challenge King Pin even though it seen like a good way out but if he loses the outcome -- she shook her thoughts away . Either way , win or lose he still had it good . Shampoo is a beautiful girl . Without realizing it she had crumble paper in her hand . She release her grip and was ashamed of herself for being jealous . She had suppress her hurt from the break up and try to enjoy the happiness Rome had offer her even though she haven’t completely give in to his kindness. Rome had ask her to come live with him at the mansion and consume their marriage but she told him she needed more time and wanted to wait till the baby were born . She know it in her heart it was just excuses . She hate herself for not giving a good man a chance.
At six forty-five , Jame was sitting in his car in the parking lot of Lavadee’s apartment building. When he arrive at four o’ clock he saw Rome enter the building and decided to wait till his cousin leave -- if he even leave at all!! The thought was twisting his stomach into knots even though he should except the situation by now. He had told himself not to come see her again but he couldn’t control his heart . For the pass three night he had park his car out side and sit quietly while staring up the apartment window to Lavadee ‘s room . He reach over to change the radio station and listen to a softer music . It wasn’t until seven thirty when he saw Rome walk out and got inside the car. Jame waited till his cousin drove out and then he quickly got out of the car . Once inside the main office , he took a deep breath and took the next available elevator . Shoving his hand into his pocket he pace around the small space , part of him was excited mix with fear , he wanted to see her but he was also worry she will be angry and upset. He felt like a thousand different mixture of cereal stirring inside of him as it bunch and crunch together . He glance over at the lighted floor level , 2, 3, and 4. The bell rang and the door slid open .
Jame’s spirits soared as he came face to face with Lavadee . Before he could said anything she spun on her heel and head down the hallway. “Lavadee!” he call out. She quicken her step . She step inside her room and was about to slam the door when a hand came up to press against it . Losing her strength she release the door and quickly make her way toward the bedroom instead. Suddenly , she felt her arm was being pull backward and her cheek slam against his chest . Trap in his embrace she struggle to break loose but his grip became tighter at each attention to escape .Defeated . She glare up at his face , “What do you want ?!”
He was about to open his mouth to speak but he couldn’t seen to find the words . Lavadee watch his gaze drop to her lip , and in a state of vulnerable , she knew it only a matter of second before he kiss her . It had always been that passion when they were together but she was a fool then and now she know better , “ Don’t touch me” she said. He slowly release her and she quickly step away from him .
“I..I..was just around the neighborhood” he begin at the same time thinking up a lie , “I..I thought I should drop by and see how you doing”
“Well, you should leave soon because Rome is coming back any minute now”
His fragile heart dented, “Yes . Your husband” he could almost swear he could hear the word ‘almost’ from her lip but it was just wishful thinking he decided but the little gasp in her voice and the soft look in her eyes touches him . Mesmerized by the feeling unfolding inside him , he silently held his palm out to her , his gaze lock to her . She bit her lip and turn round . Her finger felt cold as she constantly rubbing it against each other . She can hear his foot step from behind her . His warm breath above her ear and felt his hands on her shoulder
“Lavadee” he whisper against her hair