The next morning they arrive at Thailand . Rome receive a call and since it was urgent he ask Jame to take Lavadee home first. In the taxis cab , Jame and Lavadee sat too close to their window side as if they want to leave a huge gap between each other . There was a moment of awkward silent .
“ are you plan on banging my cousin ” he straight out said it without sparing any modesty.
Her jaw drop a notch while turning to the side and glare at the horrible man! “I’m not a he-she whore that bang guys”
“I need to know! I can’t--” he bit his lip in frustration
“Well, it’s none of your business . I’m married to him . I will only be doing a wife duty”
“Almost married.” he corrected
The taxis cab look up at the rear window and wonder why the couple didn’t keep their voice down as if they didn’t expect someone is presence with them. Personal conversation should be discuss behind close door!
“I had promise him my loyal . Rome love me . I own it to him. If he desire to have me ..then I’ll be …his.” she swallow and wonder why her decision bother her all the sudden
“Yes, of course” he wave his hand about , “one or two man at the same time isn’t something new to you” he said icily .
He didn’t see the hurt in her eye when she turn to look at him and at the moment he turn to face her , she stare out into her side of the window , “you are right , so leave me alone . After Rome help my father out of jail with his money, I won’t ask any more from him , ok ! If that what you afraid of”
The taxis stop at Silver Palz . Lavadee quickly got out of the car and disappear into the apartment building. Jame direct the driver to take him to a local bar . After a couple drink at the club he was back at his condo . Laying in his king size mattress ..drunk and muttering a name he desperately despise but couldn’t stop calling .
Once again he is back to work at Palace Casino. Everyone had missed him and give out a loud cheer when he walk into building . His father give him a pat and was glad he made it safe . The weeks he was gone there was many challenger and some had stay at the Casino’s hotel to wait for his arrival . Jame had always look forward for a challenger but after all the adventure he gone thru it weary him out . There was something missing inside . He couldn’t even roll a prefect 7 in a dice game nor can he guess what’s his next card is in a black jack game. It was a nightmare when he couldn’t hit a number in a roulette . He can’t get …lucky! Even his secretary beat him in a game of chess and she haven’t even fully learn the rule! He was losing his mind .He figure to gain back his luck he decided to accept every challenger that come to him and everyday gone by he loses to every match. With in the weeks that follow he was making head line news and magazine cover. “Lucky man in the world drop from the list” , “He isn’t so lucky any more!” , “He might have luck in woman but on the table he a loser” ect , ect.
Jame ball up the newspaper and throw it across the room . He drop into his chair and spin self into a head ace . Ever since he decided to stay at his condo instead of returning home he haven’t seen Rome for weeks . Rome had his own company to worry about while Jame had his father casino to take care of , so the two hardly cross each other now a day since Jame had move out the house. His father often ask him to come home but Jame refuses . There a good reason why not too and he is too pride to admit it. He was afraid to see Lavadee living with his cousin under the same roof with him. It’s hard to digest the fact the two are probable smooching upstairs while he lay in bed alone knowing the woman his cousin had marry was once his. He turn to find his old self with the girls he usually hang out with but everyone of them became to much a hassle . Also , recently he had learn Lavadee’s father is release out of jail and his case is on trial . Which mean Lavadee probable had succeeded in using her charm to persuade Rome to use his power and money , in return a wife full attention and probable a good lover . Ah, wife -- how he despise the idea . The phone on his desk ring . He press the speaker button
“What is it Sua”
“You cousin is here to see you”
“Tell him I’m not here”
“He said it’s urgent”
“I don’t care . I don’t want to see him!”
“It’s to late . He heading toward your office”
Jame pound his forehead with his palm and slouch in his chair . Rome charge into the office and slam the door shut . He seen frustrated and edgy . He begin to pace the floor and couldn’t seen to find the word.
“Yes ?” Jame asked . He cross his leg on the desk
“She pregnant!” Rome blurted out
Jame shifted and drop to the floor . He quickly jump up and straighten his tie . “Con…congratulation” he manage , even though he was finding it difficult to accept and he felt his heart just drop to his stomach by the news.
“You don’t understand . I don’t know who the father is !” Rome run his hand thru his hair and finally sat down . He was shaken and looking disoriented
“She had an affair ?”
“I don’t know ! But it’s not mine”
“How can you be so sure ? I mean , even though she might sleep with another man while she with you , it’s possible the child is your and not the other man”
“I’m 200 % sure it’s not mine ! Because after she return back from the island she asked for some time alone before she come to live with me as my wife. I mean , after all the drama that happen I figure time is the best healing process . I had never touch her . I should have ! Even if the child isn’t mine there no way I know it because by then I’m already with her ! But now how can I accept her child ? I mean those kidnapper probable rape her and any one of them could be the father ?! Those ugly monster !?”
“Wait a minute …you mean to tell me , all these weeks she was living at her apartment …alone ?”
“Yes! I’m a fool . I should have taken her as my wife . Then I wouldn’t be in this mess!”
“O’ my god” Jame straggler toward his chair and drop down .
“Jame!! What should I do ? She wouldn‘t talk about it and she haven’t‘ answer any of my phone call”
“I-I..I…need to go . I have an important errant …er...um...to do ” he leap from his chair and dash out the door . Twenty minute later he was banging at the apartment room 319. “Come on Lavadee ! open up! I know you in there! We need to talk” he shouted . Several nearby room open their door to observe the commotion . The neighbors whisper among each other and finger pointing .
“Go away!” came her voice from the other side of the door.
“Unless you want me to shout out our dirty laundry , you best open up!” he threaten.
He heard the chain cling and the lock pull . Then the door slowly open . He smile. “Woman , what take you so long” he took a step and her hand immediately push him back
“Just say what you come to say ! You are not allow in my room”
He settle his hands on his hip and adjust his jaw , growing quite annoyed with her sudden fear of him. “Alright , fine ! Rome came into my office this morning and said you are pregnant and the child is not his”
The neighbors linger around the hall longer than usual . Several woman gasp in shook while the man push their kid back inside the room. Lavadee bit her bottom lip and snap her brow together . “It’s none of your business!” she whisper furiously
“It is if I’m a possible father!” he announce loudly as if he hadn’t notice the crowded hall way .
“You are not ! So go away!” she was about to slam the door at his face but his hands came up to shove it wide open .
“Then tell me who is the possible father ? Are isn‘t it because you don‘t know ” he snapped . Leading against the door frame with his arm cross and determine to get to the bottom of the mystery !
Furiously enrage by his arrogance statement she shouted , “it was a dog outside my room ! Happy!” she try to close the door again but the force of his hand hauling it was making it possible. Defeated and exhaust she let goes of the door . She walk inside and went to laid down on the sofa . She was wore out from her morning sickness and last night she had little rest . She was up all night crying her eye out after having to break the news to Rome . She know she can not hide it because soon her body will reveal itself . Rome had been very generous with her family . The case against her father is being trial even though she couldn’t save the family house because the deadline was expire during her adventure in China . The house was sold to the higher bidder by the time she return to Thailand .
“Ok, now you going avoid me by sleeping away ?” came his reply . He close the door and lock the chain. He kneel down beside the sofa and touch her cheek . She push his hand away .
“Leave me alone” she mutter while waving a scent stick toward her nose
“Are you sick ?”
“It’s normal”
“Normal people doesn’t lay around with scent stick in their nose !”
“It’s normal for pregnant woman”
He held his breath , “tell me the truth , the child is mine …isn’t it ?”
“Geez , how can I possible know ? I mean , there are many guys in my life” she was being a pest , he felt like strangling her at that moment .
“Ok, let’s assume it’s mine . I’ll support you and the child in any possible way . I’m not a heartless creature , sure I can be a jerk at time but you can’t denial me of my child .” he reach out for her hand and stare deeply into her puff eyes . “ just tell me the truth” he whisper
There was a long pause before she speak again , “Yes. I’m almost 2months I believe.”
“it was that night in the cave wasn’t it ?” he ask softly as his thump stroke her cheek . She nodded . “Wow, this is shocking” he breath out heavily , “I…I’m going be a father . This is earth shattering . Now , the hard part . When are you plan on telling your husband?”
She narrow her eye , “ me ?”
“I can not tell him ---”
“And you think I can ? It’s your fault !”
“He your husband” he reminded her
“Almost” she corrected
“it was your sexual urges” he protest
“I thought you said it’s normal for two healthy young people with high sexual urges to do such a time!”
“I was trying to make a conversation!” and then he pause to narrow his eye on her , “ and you said you were not a horny whore ” he chuckle
She blush brightly , “ I ..I ..was lost ..” she spatter
“alright , let’s just forget about Rome for a moment . You are moving to my condo today.”
“what ?! What about my father?”
“Just tell him the truth. You are pregnant not by your husband but by another guy and now you are going to elope with him”
“you make it sound so easily said” she frowned
“you know what , leave your thing here . I’ll buy you new one . I just want your body and my child inside” he didn’t wait for her cries in protest . He lift her in his arm and carry her out the room . Shocking the neighbors and snickering clerks . He dump her careful into the passenger seat , buckle the belt and planted a soft kiss on her temple . He felt like the world is showering happiness because at that moment he was more alive than he had ever been since their return to Thailand. He expect her to scream and kick but she only talk , not shouting but calming suggesting the idea of living with him is going to cause sandal. He secretly think she is very happy with the idea just as much as he did . She is just to stubborn to admit it.