Five years had passed and Pralee was completing her last year at university. She fast tracked and was able to complete a four years degree in three. For the most part it was an enlightening adventure with the academics. There was a budding romance between her bestfriend and classmate and she was the go between. It was always the good girl Pralee who helped be the chaperone for young love. Unfortunately for her own love life it was non existence. She grew up to be a tall and lean woman with average curves in all the right places but yet no one dared to approach her since she started her first year of studying business marketing management at the elite university. She was still extremely shy therefore due to that she seemed unapproachable but regardless of that Pralee didn't allow romance to be a priority in her life. It was landing a job at one of the top executive marketing company that was her ambition and they've accepted her intern application and she hoped to be given a fully paid position at the end of her assignment. All her professors provided excellent references for this high achieving student. She was very grateful for the opportunity.
She was was overly excited to start the upcoming week and anticipated her expectations will be met. Looking at her friends flirting shamelessly she cleared her throat with a mock matronly stern sound. They all laughed hysterically and then planned out their weekend for a day of food and fun in the sun.
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Interesting, thought Wynn. Pralee wanted to intern at his company? Did she have any idea who the CEO was? Non other than the accused assaulter if her sister. That was a part of his life that he still held a bitter vengeful feelings towards Arita and her whole family. Whoever really physically attacked her was roaming around freely. The one good thing about people with money is that his family could fight a case that couldn't provide evidence, money was a non issue. But still his name was brushed with the stigma of his past. He waited for this day to arrive. Pralee just happened to be the first to volunteer herself to his vengeful game. He had her followed as soon as they forwarded all applicants for his approval. He wanted to know what his enemies were up to. His company was a highly prestigeous and confidential industry when helping bigger companies stay competitive in business marketing. It was a young company but its revenue ranked among the top fortune companies worldwide. He couldn't afford incompetence at his workplace and Pralee came highly recommended. Looking at the photos his private investigators provided showed she was no longer the lanky teenager but a tall beauty that competed with her older sister Arita's attractiveness. The girl he thought would make a good wife, luckily he dodged a bullet there. Marriage was not a part of his lifestyle. He kept it casual and brief, most women obliged to that especially when generously compensated in bed and gifts. Arita, he was informed was currently on her honeymoon, coincidently again in one of the places he owned as a vacation escape. Funny how their lives continued to intertwine. Sad and cruel at the same time for these sisters, thought Wynn in anger and anticipation.
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Staring back at her was a confident and sophisticated looking young woman, all traces of a teenager was replaced. Even at twenty one, if she was makeup less and casually attired she was always mistaken for an underage kid. Now she looked more her age. She donned on glasses to add to the mature look she wanted to achieve even though it sometimes gave her headaches but she was always forgetting to book a new examination which may help with the side effects.
As she stepped onto the front entrance she looked up at the towering glass building. It was reflective of a golden jubilee, bright, very clean and super modern. But not too inviting. The front desk receptionist looked up and smiled warmly at her. She walked around to introduce herself as Rosie and asked her to have a seat and her supervising manager will be with her shortly. She didn't know what position she was going to place first even if it was mailroom clerk, she was here, was given the opportunity to work for this top company. She heard her name called out and a man that didn't looked much older than her came to greet her.
"Good morning, you must be Pralee? I am Montana, I oversee the Administration department and so today you will be a junior staff to one of my executive administrator that will be taking a paternity leave in the next month or so. Welcome to Excel International Corp. Please follow me and I shall show you to your new office space." He stated and turned with Pralee following gingerly behind.
She was a little surprised that she wasn't joining the marketing team but again she was grateful to be part of this world. All eyes watched her as she passed the office space, the administration department was massive. But for the most part they were all friendly and welcoming. She finally met Simon, he was a soon to be father and was anticipating to go on leave to help his wife care for their new child. Already Pralee was happy to know the new workplace can afford to accommodate work life balance for their employees. Her attention was needed currently as she was told that their CEO was here today, a rare occasion for the company on this side of the globe. Pralee became nervous because on day one of her intern she was already going to be introduce to the person who created this marketing industry dream.
The door opened for their entrance and as Pralee walked inside, a tall, broad shouldered man with an immaculate hairstyle turned to face her. Pralee knees almost buckled beneath her. He was the same yet his eyes darkened as he fixed it on her. Face not smiling. Wynn. Her heart beated loudly within her chest and her breathing became shallow. He was the CEO of her dream job? She thought he was never returning back to this country since his bitter experience with her sister and her family. She wondered if he knew about her sister marrying? At one point this man could have been her future brother in law but now her bosses boss's boss.
"Miss Waasirak? A pleasure. Welcome to the team and I hope we met with your expectations?" He asked with a smile not quite reaching to his eyes.
Pralee thought he acted as if he didn't know who she was. She for one would never forget his face, he was older but still as handsome than ever or more so. Where had that thought came from, she chastened herself immediately.
"Thank you, sir." She replied not knowing what to call him, by first name would be unprofessional especially when it seems he didn't remember or recognize her. Although sixteen was a long time ago and she had a lot of growing up to do both physically and emotionally.
With a curt nod, he proceeding to fire out demands with Simin and Montana to go over his morning schedule. By the time lunch hour came around, her headache was starting, she excused herself to go to the ladies' washroom. Taking off her glasses she wiped the sweat off her face. Wynn was immaculate with his professionalism and very hands on with the day to day operations of his company, it was admire able. There goes her school girl crush rearing its ugly head. Her affections would be doomed if she let it fester up and survive, reality was that the man didn't remember her.
As she stepped out of the washroom, a hand grabbed her wrist and she was quickly ushered into the nearby stairwell. It was Wynn, he quickly ran his hand through his hair and it fell perfectly back into place. What was he doing? And with her.
She was about to ask but he spoke first, "No longer sweet sixteen Pralee, did you really think I didn't recognize you? You and your sister have a very similar look but you seem to be more innocent looking, I say seem as I have learned my lesson from the past"
His words made her blush from guilt and embarrassment. What was he getting at?
"I am not my sister but please isn't it all water under the bridge? My sister has moved on and so should you. Look what you've created..." She replied but was immeditiately pulled into Wynn's embrace before she could continue.
"Moved on, no Pralee, this is what I lived for, to clear my name and have you and your family pay for accepting words from your deceitful, cheating and manipulative sister of yours..."
The resounding slap marked his cheek. Pralee slapped him, he didn't need to go on about her sister, everyone made mistakes in their past. But just as quickly in retaliation Wynn grabbed her underneah her chin and with one fell swoop his lips captured her protest. Her struggle was futile and his kiss was meant to punish.
