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Arun came back to the Suriyakarn mansion with a heavy heart. He was surprised to find his mother up and dressed nicely.
“Your sister refused to listen to me and ran off to be with Rawit. They just signed their marriage license a couple days ago,” she remarked upsettingly as she looked at Arun unhappily.
“She is a grown woman now, Mother. She will have to learn to make the right decisions for herself,” Arun remarked.
Mrs Suriyakarn frowned.
“My children never listen to me. They choose partners that are not even good for them.”
Arun frowned, knowing where the conversation was going.
“Is this what you wanted to talk to me about? Amy and Rawit?” Arun quickly remarked.
“No,” Mrs Suriyakarn sat down and stared at her son, “I went and talked to your ex-wife.”
Arun frowned.
“She told me that you are still married, is that true, Arun?”
Arun swallowed as he looked at his mother’s unhappy face. It took him awhile before he remarked, “Yes.”
His mother’s face looked in horror and then in shock. Slowly she began to sob. Calmly, he came to comfort her.
“Your father left me for a woman! And now you are disobeying me for this woman!” Mrs Suriyakarn cried out, her hand went to her heart as if in pain. “How can you have lied to me all these years?!! Have you never loved your mother?!!”
Arun was silent as he held his mother tightly in his arms. Mrs Suriyakarn pulled away from Arun in tears and cried, “You will divorce her this time and marry Theresa!”
Shocked, Arun looked at his mother’s tear stained face. Sad and not knowing what to do, he went down on his knee and held his mother’s hand.
“I am begging, Mother, for you to accept Malisa as your daughter-in-law.”
Mrs. Suriyakarn pulled her hands away as if in disbelief.
“I will never accept her! She is not of our class!”
“Mother,” Arun slowly began, as Mrs Suriyakarn turned away fiercely, refusing to listen further to his words, “I am your son, and love you. That is why I came back to fix grandfather’s company to where it is successful today. I did what you wanted to keep the Suriyakarn’s name well and envied by many. Isn’t this my love for you? Have I not sacrificed my love for Malisa, my wife, in the past for your wishes to keep the family name in good standing? Have I not made the Suriyakarn name honorable? Haven’t I done what you wanted me to for the family?”
Mrs Suriyakarn turned to look at him, upset and less angry.
He took his mother’s hands again.
“As you love me, forgive me for upsetting you in the past, and not telling you that I got married,” Arun sighed, realizing that his immaturity in the past had also caused his mother to be upset. “But I have done everything you wanted me to do for the family. All I ask is that you accept Malisa as my wife and your daughter-in-law…”
Mrs Suriyakarn’s face had tears streaming down. She was heartbroken. But she knew her son loved her, so she wept. After crying awhile, she slowly wiped her tears and remarked, “Tell her to come to apologize to me, and I will think about it.”
Arun looked at her mother’s sad face, and his heart jumped in relief. Abruptly, he nodded his head, having hope that finally his mother would accept Malisa.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Arun walked into the Suripok Architect building with a bouquet of flowers. His heart was full of happiness, but he wasn’t sure how to approach Malisa on what his mother had requested. So he thought, he would try to please her first.
He came to the city as fast as he could after his mother promised to think about accepting Malisa. His mother had wanted him to catch up on the Company’s affair, so he had been busy at the capitol for two weeks. But once he was done, he came straight back to Malisa’s town.
He had tried calling Malisa every day, but only reached her ringtone. He left her so many messages, but never got a call back from her. It concerned him that she was ignoring him as well as giving him a cold shoulder. The thought was in his head as he came and found her desk empty.
He was surprised to find Malisa wasn’t at the building but at his Love Nest, finishing up the finishing touches, as this week was the last week. He smiled. He was excited to let her know that his love nest was a present for her. Perhaps that would make her happy and hear him out.
He drove his car to the love nest and found no more workers there, but a beautiful place full of nature and serenity. He walked through it in delight, full of happiness. But he was looking for her and for some strange reasons he couldn’t find her. Then as he passed the side and saw the beautiful pond and bridge over it, he saw them.
Malisa and Alex were hugging each other tightly as if they were the lovers in that story who found each other over the bridge on the pond.
His heart was in rage as he flew over to the pond. Malisa saw him coming over to them in rage, and pulled away from Alex with a calculating smile. She stepped in front to block Arun from violently grabbing Alex.
“How dare you–!”
She quickly pulled out some papers from her purse, as Alex pulled away from Arun’s grip.
“I spoke to your mother!” Malisa remarked loudly, trying to distract Arun from Alex.
Arun glared at her, then to Alex angrily.
“I spoke to your mother!” Malisa remarked once again, finally grabbing Arun’s attention. She place the papers in front of him. “I’ve signed it.”
Arun’s brows narrowed and he quickly took the papers from her and read it.
“What is this?!”
“Your mother has agreed to pay me $10 million to never see you again,” Malisa remarked calmly. “I’ve agreed and taken the money.”
She quickly pulled out the check and showed it to Arun, taunting him. She needed to be brave and not show her sadness but a cold heart only.
He quickly took the check and looked at it in disbelief. Then he glared at her in disappointment, almost hate.
“I would have given you more, Malisa!”
She swallowed and slowly replied, “Your mother promised me another $10 million if I sign the papers, which I did.” Her voice shook a bit, and she quickly steady it with a cruel smile.
“I’ve agreed to her terms.”
Arun looked deeply into her eyes to see if she was lying to him, but she gave him a cool look, almost uncaring. Angry, he crumbled the check in his palm and threw it to the ground violently, and grabbed her to him.
“Why are you behaving so despicable, Malisa! Why are you doing this?!”
“I need money, Arun,” Malisa calmly remarked, as Alex looked tensely behind her, wanting to jump in. “Because Alex has asked me to marry him, and I have agreed.”
Arun stopped dead in his track as he couldn’t believe her words. “I don’t believe you.”
Malisa calmly pulled away to hold Alex, to Arun’s disbelief. She hugged Alex and laid her head on his shoulder lovingly.
“Alex and I have been in love for a while now, Arun, since I’ve left our dysfunctional marriage. Now after seeing the finished love nest that I created, Alex and I also want to build our own love nest and settle and have children,” Malisa remarked slowly with a smile, pulling all her strength to look happy. She looked at Alex lovingly. “I am in love with Alex.”
Arun’s heart bled. It took all his strength to not murder Alex. But as he looked at Malisa’s happy face, his heart almost died. “I guess all you wanted from me was money to nourish your love life? You could have just said that instead of giving me signs that you were still in love with me, and that we could make it.”
Malisa looked at him innocently. “I tried to tell you, Arun, but you didn’t hear me. I even played with your brother-in-law to destroy your sister’s life, yet you didn’t even understand that my relationship with you was already over 6 years ago when I left. Why would someone who loves you destroy your family if they cared for you?”
Arun swallowed in pain. Hearing her say those words to him was killing him. It took all his strength to finally replied, “Then I can only wish you and Alex well.”
He looked at the contract in his hand disgustedly.
“You didn’t need to sign this. I would have given you $10 million if you had asked.”
With those words, he turned and left them standing on the bridge. It was not until Arun got in the car and drove away, did Malisa’s legs buckled and she fell onto the ground crying. Alex went down and held her, not understanding why Malisa would make the choice to leave someone she loved so dearly. And he had gone along with her acting as she had asked him as a friend. He shook his head, disapprovingly, feeling conflicted with what they had done.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Malisa curled up in her bed and cried all night. Her weekend was spent in bed in tears, until Jenny called her to go out and prepare for her wedding in one week. She went along and picked up her dress and hair piece and smiled as much as she can for her friend. Seeing her friend so in love made her sadder, until Jenny brought her to the men’s tailor shop, where James was trying out his suit.
Jenny took her hands and strolled her into the shop, looking excited as James stood on the podium looking at himself in the mirrors and the tailor was fixing his white tuxedo for him. But to Malisa’s horror, on the sofa looking at him as well, dressed in a finished white tuxedo was Arun.
Her eyes turned from being happy for Jenny to sadness at seeing Arun. He saw her too, but turned away as if she meant nothing to him. He quickly stood up to greet them, ignoring her completely. Glad that he was keeping his distant, she pulled herself together and pretended that he did not bother her. Though when she went to compliment James and smile in excitement at Jenny and James’ happiness, she didn’t see the eyes that looked at her in pain.
“Let’s go out to eat,” James quickly remarked, patting Arun on the shoulder as he carried out his finished suit with him to the car. “It’s been a long and exciting day!”
Arun glanced at Malisa’s uncomfortableness and kindly remarked, “Maybe some other times, my friend. I think you should spend your time with your lady love.”
James shook his head and took Arun’s arms. “What do you mean? You’re my best man at my wedding. We need to talk about what yours and Malisa’s roles will be. After all, you are guarding my precious ring, and Malisa has Jenny until the wedding.”
Arun reluctantly gave in, but Malisa remarked, “I still have some things to do at home, Jenny. You all can go without me.”
Malisa turned to go, but Jenny grabbed her back. “How can you leave me alone when I’m going to be marry in a week, Malisa dear? Don’t you want to spend all your time with me in case you won’t see me anymore?”
She held onto Malisa’s arms tightly and pulled her to the car. She quickly placed Malisa at the back seat. James pulled Arun to the other side of the back seat and pushed Arun to sit next to Malisa. Then James got into the driver’s seat, and Jenny took the seat next to him.
Malisa sat uncomfortably next to Arun, moving as far away as she can from him.
When they reached the restaurant, Jenny refused to let Malisa go, as she pulled Malisa with her into the place. This time, James and Jenny sat together and allowed Arun and Malisa to sit together, though there was much space between them.
“Isn’t it funny,” Jenny began, “That we started like this a year ago, sitting in a restaurant together with the four of us?”
James and Jenny looked at each other lovingly, while Arun and Malisa avoided each other’s eye contact. “We’re going to be starting a new life together, so we hope that you both will be there to help guide us through a married life.”
Arun and Malisa finally looked at each other, but quickly glanced away. Malisa looked sad as Arun looked upset. James and Jenny wonder what was going on with them both, as they both avoided each other and looked upset.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Arun wasn’t surprised when James gave him the keys to the car to take Malisa home, as he and Jenny took a taxi to another place. Malisa looked at him as her friend left her stranded with Arun again. She ponder on whether she should flee or go calmly with him as if he no longer meant anything to her.
When he slowly walked over to the car to open the doors for her, she had no choice but to go along calmly, pretending that she had no problem with him.
They were silent throughout the whole ride to her home. When they finally reached her house, she turned to him calmly and thanked him and smoothly opened the door to leave. But when she was inside the gate, she heard him call her name. She stopped. Her heart wanted her to stop and turn and run to hold him, but she only calmly turned to see him coming through the gate towards her.
He pulled something from his suit, and handed her a check.
“I wanted to give this to you another time, but seeing that after the wedding we may not have a chance to see each other anymore, here is the other $10 million that my mother promised you,” he remarked.
She wanted to cry, but instead she swallowed her tears and smiled. She reached out her hand to take the check, but to her surprise, he pulled it away and grabbed her waist and bent down to kiss her.
She jerked back in surprise, and though her mind was telling her to push him away and slap him, her heart wanted to feel his lips. It seemed like a long time before he finally pulled back and looked at her. His eyes searched hers. Embarrassed, she quickly lowered her eyes before he saw her feelings for him.
“Please give me the check, Mr Suriyakarn,” she replied as cold as she could be.
When he didn’t move, she finally looked at him and saw this troubled look, his eyes trying to understand her. Quickly, she pushed him away and wiped her mouth, as if disgusted.
She turned to him calmly and reached out her hand, palm up, to receive the check. He looked at her and then to her palm.
“Is all you care for his money, Malisa?”
She took a deep breath and smiled, “I’ve lived a poor life most of my life, why shouldn’t I not value money more than anything?”
Sad, he slowly placed the check on her palm.
She took it in delight and looked at the check as if it was gold. To disgust Arun further, she brought up the check to her lips and kissed it.
“If that is all, Mr Suriyakarn, I would bid you farewell, and hope we don’t have to see each other anymore after the wedding.”
Malisa turned to go, but thought of something, and turned back to say, “I shall expect your divorce papers soon then?”
Malisa gave him a smile and turned and left him standing alone in the yard, numb and perplex at her actions. He stood there for almost 20 minute, before he found the strength to turn and walked back to the car.
He didn’t noticed that Malisa watched him by the dark window. She finally let the curtain close, when his car drove off, and wiped a tear from her cheek. She looked at the check in front of her, signed by Arun, and placed it gently in her precious belongings.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Malisa walked half-heartedly into Mr Suripok’s office. She knew he was not going to be happy to see the letter she was going to present to him.
He looked cheerful as he saw her and remarked, “Malisa, how are you this morning. We received rave review from Mr Suriyakarn that he loves his Love Nest! Now that it is complete we will have to give you another project.”
Malisa sadly laid the letter on his desk.
“What is this?” Mr Suripok looked surprise and took the letter and read it. His eyes opened wide in disbelief and he stood up to face Malisa.
“What do you mean you are resigning?! Have I done something wrong?!”
Malisa quickly shook her head, “No, Mr Suripok, I will be moving out of the town.”
Mr Suripok shook his head unhappily.
“Then let me build another architect firm for you in this new town. I will give you 50% profit!”
“I won’t be in the country anymore.”
“What?!”
Malisa slowly remarked, “I’ve decided to try my skills in the States, Mr Suripok.”
“Why would you do that, Malisa? Do you have family there?”
“No, but I do have friends.”
“I don’t know what to say. I don’t want you to leave my company. I will pay you more if that is the problem.”
“It is not,” she began, fidgeting with her fingers, as she didn’t want to share her problems with him.
“Then please give this company another chance. I will double your salary!”
“Mr Suripok, I’ve already decided. I’m sorry.”
Mr Suripok looked at her in disbelief. After it seems like a while before he finally asked, “When are you leaving for the States?”
“The day after my friend Jenny’s wedding.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The wedding was extravaganza. It was decorated in white and peach, with flowers everywhere. Malisa was wearing a peach flowy dress and came with Alex, dressed in a black tuxedo. Though she tried her best to avoid him, Arun looked dashing and handsome in his white tuxedo.
When they walked down the aisle together, she nervously walked beside him to stand at the front waiting for the bride. She didn’t see the eyes that looked at her but heard her heart pounding in suspense. In her mind, she was thinking that when the wedding was over, and James and Jenny was heading for their honeymoon, she would be getting ready to go to the States tomorrow morning. And she would no longer see him. Her eyes glanced at him in fear, as her heart desperately tried to persuade her to stay.
But she closed her eyes and ignored her heart. His mother wanted her out of his life. And Theresa was ready to marry him. She would never have a chance to be with him. Her heart had to accept that. Many thoughts ran through her mind as she saw the happiness of all the crowd surrounded her. Her head was getting light as she struggled to reason with her heart.
She had already packed all her belongings and placed them in a rental storage. She only had two luggage that she was taking with her. She had to give herself a chance to live a peaceful life without all the drama that his family would give her. Taking a deep breath, she dismissed her heart and smiled as she saw Jenny come through the aisle dressed in a white gown.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The night was gay as James and Jenny danced in the middle of the room. Arun was at a corner sulking and drinking as he watched Malisa danced with Alex. He couldn’t count how many drinks he’d had.
“Why are you not dancing with everyone?”
Arun turned to find Mr Suripok coming to sit next to him. Arun smiled and remarked, “I have no one to dance with.”
Mr Suripok looked at the dancefloor and remarked, “I am also sad because my best architect is leaving.”
Arun turned to look at him curiously. “You mean Alex?”
“No,” Mr Suripok replied, “Malisa.”
Arun sat up, surprised at the revelation.
“Malisa is leaving? Where is she going?”
Mr Suripok sighed.
“She wouldn’t say much, except she’s flying tomorrow to the States.”
Arun looked in disbelief.
“Is Alex going with her?”
Mr Suripok looked at him strangely. “Why would Alex go with her?”
“Aren’t Alex and Malisa getting marry?”
Mr Suripok laughed.
“Where did you hear that? I’ve seen them work together and I know Malisa and Alex are not a couple,” Mr Suripok continued laughing and stood up to go somewhere else.
Arun looked in confusion, his heart was feeling a little better. He sat there thinking and drinking. He couldn’t understand what was going on. But he knew one thing. He finally stood up, upset that Malisa was lying to him. He strolled to the dance floor and cut in front of Alex, shoving him aside and grabbed Malisa by the waist.
“What are you doing, Arun?!” Malisa remarked embarrassed that Arun rudely pushed Alex aside and grabbed her waist as if he had the right. She smelled the alcohol on his breath as his eyes looked down at her through his lightly drunk eyes. She glanced to find Alex, but saw him walking away as if not wanting to interrupt them. She couldn’t believe Alex didn’t help her.
“Arun, how dare you treat Alex so?!” She tried to pull his hands from her waist, but he only tightened it and pulled her closer, until his lips was next to her cheek, and she could feel his breath against her skin.
“Malisa,” he slowly replied, his words slurring from the alcohol. “Tell me who do you love? Alex or me?”
She tried to pull away, shock at his words, but his grip was too strong.
“Tell me!”
She looked around and was relief that the music was loud and everyone was pre-occupied in their own happiness and fun.
“I—I don’t need to answer you. You’re drunk. You need to go home. Let me call someone to take you to your room–”
He shook her frustratingly.
“Tell me who you love…and I will let you go.” He smiled charmingly, his eyelids drooping from being drunk.
She looked at him frustratingly then remarked, “Alex.”
He shook his head.
“Wrong.”
Malisa looked at him in disbelief. “Wrong? I told you who I love, so let me go!”
He pulled her roughly into his arms and whispered in her ears, “You love me.”
Shock, Malisa finally managed to tear him away from her and calmly as she could, strolled out of the beautiful ballroom, passing many guests. She needed fresh air. She couldn’t understand why he won’t leave her alone, when she had tried everything to destroy his feelings for her. And yet her heart kept betraying her.
“Why are you lying to me?”
Horrified, Malisa turned to find Arun right behind her as they stepped out into the hotel hallway. He grabbed her wrist and turned her to face him.
“You love me, Malisa. Why won’t you say that?”
Her heart pounded in fear. She couldn’t say that when it could prevent her from leaving. Many people came out to leave, and Arun pulled her away towards the elevator.
“Arun, where are you taking me?”
He turned and smiled at her. “I thought you wanted me to go to my room.”
Scared, she tried to pry her wrist from his grip.
“Let me find someone to take you then…”
“Why?” he remarked, coming close up to her. “Are you afraid that your heart will betray you?”
The elevator opened and Arun pulled her in and finally released her wrist when the elevator door closed and he’d pressed his floor button.
He finally relaxed and pressed against the wall, his eyes never leaving her, as she held her wrist as if in pain.
“You know I’m going to be marrying Alex. You shouldn’t be treating me like this.”
“Really?” He chuckled, making her fumed with anger. “Your chance of marrying Alex is the same as me marrying Theresa, love.”
He continued laughing as he looked at her upset face. It must be the alcohol, he thought, as he felt carefree and naughty tonight. If only she would tell him the truth, then he wouldn’t make things so hard for her.
He observed her as she stared at the elevator door nervously, waiting, as if she was ready to spring out when the door open. He observed how her hair was neatly tied up, and how her peach gown hugged her slender body. Her neck and shoulder was fully exposed, and he longed to kiss them. When his eyes moved to her lips, his heart pounded and he wanted to ravish her here in the elevator.
She was fidgeting, as she glanced towards him at time as if she was worried. Chuckling, he suddenly realized that he knew everything about her and felt stupid that he’d believed her lies at all.
As his floor came, he quickly grabbed her wrist once again as the door open. She winced in frustration, as he pulled her down the hallway to his hotel room.
“Malisa, if you have no feelings for me, then you wouldn’t mind helping me get to bed then,” he slowly remarked as he got his key card out and swiped the door. He quickly opened it and released her wrist, extending his hand out for her to enter the room on her own free will.
Her heart pounded. She knew she shouldn’t enter. She knew she should turn and run back to the elevator, since being drunk, he would have a harder time catching up to her. But as she looked at his irresistible eyes, twinkling with some deep emotions, she couldn’t help but slowly walk into the room.
It wasn’t until the door closed loudly, that brought her back to reality, and she turned to leave the room. But it was too late as she turned to find him blocking the door. His hands reached up to remove his bow and loosen his shirt collar.
“Mr Suripok tells me that you are leaving for the States tomorrow…” his eyes looked at her carefully, never leaving her face as if he was a predator stalking his prey. “Is that true?”
Malisa suddenly felt naked under his eyes, as she placed her arms around herself.
“My life is no concern of yours—”
“Of course it is a concern of mine!” Arun almost shouted, frustrated at her answers. “I am your husband, Malisa! How can you hide things from me?!”
“Husband?! Your mother just paid me $20 million to leave you, which I agreed to! Do you not feel insulted?!”
His face reddened in anger as he moved closer to her, but she kept backing up.
“I feel insulted when my wife lies to me! I feel insulted when my wife thinks she can just run away again like a little girl who has not grown up!”
Her heart burned with anger, feeling insulted at his words, she raised her hand and slapped him on the cheek.
“Don’t come and tell me that you’re the only one who has hurt feelings! If I want to leave, I will leave, and there is nothing that you can do that will stop me!”
Angry, as tears fell down her face, she tried to walk pass him to leave, but he grabbed her back and pushed her onto the bed and tried to kiss her.
She struggled against him to stop, but he only kissed her deeper and pressed his grip on her tighter. His lips only left her mouth to finally kiss her neck and collarbone.
“I hate you…” Malisa murmured as her body reacted to his kisses.
“Then hate me, Malisa,” he whispered as he continued kissing her, “Because I am not letting you go.”
She struggled to push him with all her might, but as she felt his warmth and tender kisses, her body gave in and she stopped struggling, and even returned his kisses. When his hands reached to pull her gown down, her heart almost skipped a beat. Being naked with him was no longer a new thing to her, but she couldn’t let him stop her from leaving tomorrow morning.
He continued to kiss her deeply until she couldn’t think no more. Finally, she returned his passionate kiss, hating herself as she allowed him to caress her naked body. She kissed him back and caressed his chest as he moved them to the sound of a beautiful wave, until they laid in each other’s arm exhausted.
Malisa’s eyes opened and she looked to the other side of the bed. It was empty. Slowly she got up from the bed and grabbed her robe to cover herself up. Was Arun in the house or was this all a dream? She strolled to open her bedroom door and slowly opened it, and walked out to the opened living room and kitchen.
To her heart’s content, Arun was there cooking breakfast. He smiled as he saw her and came up to kiss her forehead.
“How are you this morning, love?”
Malisa smiled, and looked at the kitchen counter. Arun had cooked some eggs and pancakes and laid it out nicely with two empty plates. He took her hand and brought her to sit down at the counter.
“I wasn’t sure what you wanted for breakfast, but I made something I thought you might like.”
He walked over to the refrigerator and grabbed the orange juice and pour two cups for them. Malisa smiled as he gave her a pancake and eggs, then he stopped and stared at her.
She stared at him, and realized that he wanted her to try it. Slowly, she took the fork and took a piece of the pancake into her mouth.
It did not taste good, but Malisa lightly smiled at him.
Arun laughed.
“I think you make better western food than me,” he replied.
Smiling, Malisa came over and looked at his batter of pancake, it looked thin and liquidly.
Malisa poured it down the drain and then remarked, “You didn’t follow the directions. If you did, you would have poured milk instead of water.”
She quickly rinsed the bowl and started to prepare the batter again. Arun watched in amusement as she made some pancakes and then she placed them on a plate and gave it to him to try.
He tasted it and it tasted wonderfully. He grinned and picked a piece for her to eat. Shyly, she slowly took it into her mouth. The taste was much better now, she thought, not realizing the look in his eyes.
Before she knew it, he took her in his arms and kissed her.
“You were always the better cooker, Malisa,” he remarked, and tried to kiss her again, but she pulled away shyly.
“I have to get ready for work.”
“I’ve already called Mr Suripok. I will drive you to the house to work there.”
She looked at him in surprise.
“But my papers and tools—”
“I’ve sent someone to pick your things up,” he remarked, pointing to the sofa where a bag was.
She looked at it in surprise, and didn’t notice when he came and took her in his arms.
“Let’s go back to bed, love.”
Malisa shyly looked away and tried to pull away from him.
“We have the whole day to ourselves,” he remarked as he kissed her hair. “I still want to make love to you…”
Malisa blushed red. Her heart was pounding in excitement, but a part of her was afraid still.
“I need to finish your house in two months, Arun,” she replied trying to pry his hands off her.
He tightened his hold and pulled her in closer.
“Take 3 months or a year, for all I care,” he began, “I will pay you either way.”
Malisa wanted to be happy, but she remembered that in two months, she would leave for the States. Her smile faded away. Slowly she turned around to face Arun and smiled, wanting to be happy just for the moment.
Seeing her soft smile, he slowly bent down and kissed her. His hands went down to the back of her knee and picked her up in his arms and slowly carried her to the bedroom.
—————————————–
Malisa’s heart fluttered as her eyes met Arun across the yard. Even though there were many people there, it felt as if her eyes found him only.
Two weeks had passed and Arun had just drove her to the love nest to start on the landscaping, as the house was closed to being finished. It was coming along nicely, as gardeners brought in plants after plants to be planted around the yard.
A small pond was created with a bridge above it, looking exactly like the bridge in Malisa’s picture, the bridge they first met on. She knew it would take the next couple of weeks to finish, and probably leave her 1 week to pack and leave for the States.
She had contacted one of her American friends she had gone to school with during her International Study days, to help her find a place to stay and help her find jobs to apply for. Luckily, English had been her minor. She knew she had to continue improving her English for the next 2 months and had hired an English speaking student to help her continue improving her English during the hours that Arun was working.
The weeks had been happy. She spent it mostly in bed with Arun. They only came out to the kitchen to eat, and then he brought her back to bed. She had finally let go of her anger for him and learn to be happy around him.
———————————————–
Arun came to pick her up on the third week and drove them away from the city.
“Where are we going?”
Arun turned to her and smile.
“I want to surprise you.”
Malisa looked carefully as they drove out of the city and into country sides. It had been awhile that she had gone to the country. She was tired from her work and thinking about leaving Arun was wearing her down. Her heart was heavy at the idea, and she was having second thought.
She turned to look at Arun’s light-feeling face and smiled. Would they survive if she stayed?
Feeling sad, she laid her head on the car seat and dozed off.
———————————————-
It was dark when Malisa opened her eyes at the sound of the car stopping. She was still feeling tired, but she wondered where they were.
Arun turned to look at her and smiled.
“How was your nap, love? You must be tired from work?”
She nodded her head as he parked the car and got out of the car to open the door for her. She was surprised to find them at a hotel.
“Where are we, Arun?” Malisa remarked, curious as to where he was taking her.
“We are stopping here for the night. Then we can continue tomorrow,” Arun remarked, taking her hands in his and leading her into the hotel.
The morning brought sunshine as she and Arun continued driving down the road. Then suddenly after a couple of hours, she saw some familiar landscape. And when Arun turned the car into a gravel road, she knew where they were going. Her heart became excited and she looked at the campground she and Arun had once spent their summer in love.
Now there were new kids in the campground, playing and working. Arun parked the car infront of the main cabin and came around to her side. She slowly opened the door and gazed amazingly at the place. Much had changed, yet much had not change as well. She smiled at Arun, feeling ecstatic.
Arun took her hand and they walked through the campground, revisiting their old places, old cabins, and finally the bridge they first met. The bridge had been repaired, and they were able to walk on it. The river was full today and brimming with some fishes.
Arun held her waist as they stood on top of the bridge and gazed at a plaque that was erected there. To Malisa’s surprise, it read:
In honor of when Arun met Malisa and their love.
Malisa turned to look at him in shock.
“I donated some money to the campground so that they can upkeep it and build a new bridge,” Arun whispered to her. “I had them erect this plaque in honor of when we met.”
Malisa’s eyes watered, as she placed her fingers on the plaque. Could her heart bare to leave him when she felt so much happiness?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Malisa’s heart was heavy. She didn’t want to leave Arun. She wanted to live her life with him as his wife as they once were.
She thought about their time together the last couple of weeks, and she had been very happy. She had planned to leave early from work today, as she wanted to go and surprise Arun tonight. She stopped by to pick up some food so that she could cook for Arun.
But as the taxi dropped her off at Arun’s condo and she happily went to the building door, she turned and found Theresa approaching the door with her. There was a brief unhappy look from Theresa, which was quickly replaced with a smile.
Theresa looked at the bags of food that Malisa carried with her, and remarked, “Can I talk to you, Malisa?”
Malisa slowly nodded her head, knowing she couldn’t trust her. They both walked into the building and sat at a quiet place full of guest sofas.
“I know that you were once married to Arun,” Theresa began, clearing her throat. Malisa looked at her and thought if only she knew that they were still married. A smirk slowly came to her lips. “His life with you in the past had been hardship and unhappiness, and his family almost lost everything had I not stepped in to help—”
“What are you trying to say?” Malisa interjected, not liking where the conversation was going.
“I am saying, that Arun now has the perfect life, with my help. He has become happy, successful and…and rich again…” Theresa slowly stuttered, “I don’t know what kind of feelings Arun has for you, but I do know that he has done very well these last 5 years without you. And I know anybody would want him at the status that he is at now…”
Malisa stood up, feeling insulted at her words.
“Are you saying that I am after Arun’s money?”
Theresa stood up with her.
“Isn’t it obvious? You left him when he was still at his lowest and now you are trying to get back into his life?” Theresa glared at the bags of food Malisa brought with her. “Do you think that after you left, that his heart had not found another? That Arun and I did not share anything intimate?”
Shock at her words, Malisa stared at her beautiful looks. Theresa was the perfect high-class glamorous woman. Had Arun and Theresa been intimate when she had left? The thought made her stomach turned, and she turned to go.
“Mrs Suriyakarn has come over to my house to give me her ring as an engagement present. Whether you leave Arun or not, his mother has chosen me to be her daughter-in-law…”
Malisa turned to look at the ring on Theresa’s finger. It was Arun’s mother’s ring. She knew it well, because she had tried so hard to please her mother-in-law and saw the ring on her many times.
She quickly left Theresa, her heart pounding in heart-ache.
She walked out of the building as fast as she could, as how could she be so naive to think Arun had been faithful to her. Tears drop from her eyes as she waved for a cab.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Arun tried to call Malisa’s phone, but it only ranged. Worried, he drove to her house to find it dark and no one came to answer the door.
He went and sat in his car and waited, worried that something may have befallen her.
Through the windows, Malisa saw him, but stood silent as she watched him get back into his car.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Malisa’s eyes were red the next day as she walked out of her house surprised to find Arun’s car parked outside. She slowly went towards it and found Arun sleeping in the front. A sad smile escaped her lips as she found his sleeping face.
He slowly jerked his head as if uncomfortable, and Malisa turned to go, afraid that he would see her. But to her surprised, she heard him call her name. Her heart stopped, and her leg stopped. Her heart was sad, but she couldn’t find it within herself to run anymore.
Arun rushed infront of her and hugged her, afraid that something had happened to her. Relief that she was ok, he pulled away and looked at her face. He felt something was wrong, as she didn’t look at him, and her eyes were red as if she had been crying all night.
“What is wrong, Malisa?” he softly spoke, “Why do you look unhappy to see me?”
He tilted her face to look at him.
“I am tired,” she spoked after a moment.
She finally looked into his eyes. He looked concerned and almost anxious, as if he was losing her. She pulled his hands away from her face and tried to go back to her car. But he took her hands and stopped her.
“Did something happen last night? Did I do something wrong, Malisa?!”
When she didn’t speak, he pulled her to him frustratingly and gave her a kiss.
She didn’t move nor return his kiss. Her lack of emotions startled him and he pulled away to look at her stoned face.
“Have I not apologized for the past? Have I not given you love, Malisa? Why are you distancing yourself from me?”
Her heart broke, but she only heard herself reply, “I have to go to work.”
With that she pulled away and walked into her car, and drove away. She couldn’t look at him, but kept driving on.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Arun looked frustrated as he came into his condo and threw his suit jacket on the sofa. What had happened to make Malisa cold towards him. Had his mother reached her? He placed his hand through his hair and picked up his phone. He wanted to call his mother and asked her.
But he paused and threw the phone back on the table. He knew his mother would begged him to go home again to marry Theresa, and he knew that was something he could never do.
Taking of his clothes, he stepped into the shower to clear his mind and think.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Malisa sat sadly at her desk. She felt that she was at a crossroad and that she had to decide about her relationship with Arun. Was it love that she still had for him or just a delusion? Was she still so naïve to think that Arun and her could be together?
She went through the day with a heavy heart, and was surprised when she found herself alone in the office. Looking at the clock, it was after noon, so she closed up and walked to the elevator to get some fresh air during lunch. Her mind was still in sadness, when she came out of the elevator to the first floor to find Mrs. Suriyakarn waiting for her by the front. Her legs were frozen to the ground as Mrs Suriyakarn walked towards her in her expensive dress suit.
“I have some words to speak with you.”
Malisa was shocked, but nodded her head calmly and lead them to an area of the building full of empty sofas.
Mrs Suriyakarn sat down before Malisa came and sat across from her. She placed her hand neatly on her lap, hoping that her nervousness wouldn’t show. She had to be brave, after all, his mother was no longer an influence in her life.
“I want you to know that I love my son very much,” she remarked looking at Malisa disapprovingly, “One day when you become a mother, you will understand that you want the best life for your son. And I have already found him a perfect wife, not just for him, but the whole Suriyakarn bloodline.”
Malisa swallowed and clasped her hand together tightly. These were the same words that Mrs Suriyakarn had mentioned to her before but today, Mrs Suriyakarn looked tired, almost much older as if some part of life had left her.
“I want to be frank. How much money do you want for you to leave my son alone?”
Those words should have made her angry, perhaps 5 years ago, but today, she was no longer the immature Malisa. Instead, she smiled and replied, “Mrs Suriyakarn, I believe you wouldn’t be able to pay me.”
“How much?” She quickly got her purse opened and pulled out her checkbook.
Malisa looked at her gesture, feeling insulted.
“If you want to pay me off, I would ask for $250 million, ¼ of what your estate is worth.”
Mrs Suriyakarn glared at her in shocked.
“$250 million! Are you crazy?!”
She quickly took some paper from her purse and wrote something on the check.
“I would give you $10 million to leave my son alone. But you will have to sign the contract that you agree to this money and never to see my son again.”
Mrs Suriyakarn placed the contract paper on the coffee table between them and laid the check on top of it.
“$10 million is too little, Mrs Suriyakarn. Your company is worth near $1 billion, and if I come back into your son’s life, all that would be mine. Why would I take $10 million over $1 billion?”
Mrs Suriyakarn looked at her angrily.
“You already failed with my son in the past. Do you think you won’t fail again? Even if Arun refuse to marry Theresa, there are plenty of high-so women that are willing to give their attention to Arun. Eventually, Arun will be tired of you if I refuse to accept you as my daughter-in-law. $10 million is a generous amount,” she remarked cruelly, looking at Malisa distastefully.
Malisa picked up the check and looked at it, “I can get $10 million from your son already…”
“I can give you $10 million more after you sign the papers!” Mrs Suriyakarn impatiently remarked.
Malisa looked at her. She held herself back from wanting to throw the money and contract back at her, but she knew she was no longer that Malisa.
“I will give you a week to think about it, Malisa,” Mrs Suriyakarn remarked, standing up impatiently. “I don’t want my family to have anything to do with you. Amy will never forgive you for what you did to her marriage. And I will never accept you as my daughter-in-law. So think about that carefully. Not many low-status people have the opportunity to get millions of dollar in their life as you are.”
Malisa stood up, her heart full of fire.
“I am so thankful that you still think of me after what I did to Amy, Mother,” Malisa slowly remarked, “You see, Mother, it would take more than $20 million to get me to leave your son, because we are still married.”
Mrs Suriyakarn’s mouth opened in disbelief.
“You lie!”
Malisa smiled.
“Why don’t you ask Arun? He wouldn’t lie to you, Mother.”
Mrs Suriyakarn looked at her in disgust.
“I am not your mother!”
“But in law, you are, Mother,” Malisa remarked, with a smile to her face. Her hand reaching out to touch Mrs Suriyakarns expensive clothes, but Mrs Suriyakarn jerked away as if in disgust.
“You see, being married, I am entitled to half of Arun’s wealth if you want that divorce paper,” Malisa remarked looking straight at her mother-in-law. “I was being generous with you and asked for only a fourth of it, but seeing how you’ve never treated me well, I may ask for half.”
Mrs Suriyakarn looked deadly at her.
“I don’t believe that my son did not divorce you!”
Malisa looked down at her purse and smiled. “Call Arun and ask, Mother.”
Mrs Suriyakarn tightened her lips angrily, and turned and left Malisa abruptly, as if she needed to hear from Arun herself.
Though Malisa should have been happy that she stood up to Arun’s mother, her heart pained in knowing that no matter how much her love story went, it seem to always stop here. Slowly, she picked up the check and contract and looked at it sadly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Arun came to pick up Malisa after work, but found out that she had left early. So he hurried to her house, and knocked on the door but no one came to open the door. The house was empty and silent.
His cellphone rang, and half-heartedly, he picked it up.
“Where are you, Arun? I have an important matter to speak with you,” his mother remarked anxiously on the phone.
“What is the matter, Mother?”
“I need you to come home to discuss this urgent matter,” his mother remarked firmly.
Arun sighed, “If this is about Theresa—“
“This is not about Theresa!”
Arun sighed again, and slowly replied “I will stop by this weekend, Mother.”
Arun was heavy-hearted as he closed his cell-phone. Where was Malisa? He hadn’t seen her for almost 2 days, and he was getting worried. He quickly picked up the phone and called James.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jenny hanged up the phone and came to sit next to Malisa on the sofa. Malisa was looking very sad and had been crying the whole evening telling her story to Jenny. Jenny still couldn’t believe that Arun was Malisa’s husband, the one who broke her best friend’s heart. But what shock her more was they were still married. Jenny shook her head, not believing what a life her friend was having, it seemed like a soap opera.
“Arun is looking for you, dear. I’ve told James that you are not here,” Jenny remarked, coming to hold Malisa’s hand. “You have to talk to him, Malisa dear.”
Malisa wiped a tear from her eyes. “I don’t know what to say to him.”
Jenny hugged her warmly.
“You are married to him. He is still your husband, dear Malisa. Won’t you give both of you a chance?”
Malisa stifled a sob, and remarked, “I have to let him go, dear Jenny. I can’t continue this hate relationship with his mother and sister no more. It doesn’t make any of us happy.”
Jenny frowned.
“But you’re married to him, not his mother and sister.”
Malisa shook her head.
“Arun loves his mother, as any good son will, and I know it breaks his heart that his mother doesn’t accept me. But I can’t make him choose me over his family,” Malisa sobbed.
Jenny patted Malisa on the head and replied, “Do you love him, Malisa?”
Malisa dried her tears again, and leant her head on Jenny’s shoulder for support. Slowly she nodded her head.
“I don’t want us to repeat the past anymore, Jenny. I don’t want to go through another chapter of hate and fights with him anymore.”
Jenny slowly hushed her crying and continued, “I’m sorry to hear this, Malisa. I want you and Arun both to be happy too. Maybe stay here a couple of days and think about it before you do anything. I don’t want you to lose someone you love because you feel this way. Besides, I need you to be my maid of honor in a months.”
Malisa lifted her head and looked surprise at her friend as Jenny lifted her finger to her to show her the dazzling ring. Malisa hugged her, happy that her friend had found true love. But crying, as she knew she had to let go of her love story.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Malisa kept busy working at Arun’s love nest. Even though Arun came by and asked to talk to her alone, she ignored him and excused herself to be with other workers. For the whole day, she avoided him, keeping Alex close to her whenever she can, or else, she went and helped other workers with the house and landscape.
At time, she would notice Arun gone, then he would come back a couple hours later to talk to her again. She pretended not to hear him, but kept moving to other areas of the place to work. Finally, when the day was done, she took Alex by the arms and asked him to take her home.
Just as she was about to leave, a hand grabbed her arm and pulled her back. She turned to face Arun’s upset face.
“Malisa, what is going on? Why are you ignoring me?”
Malisa pulled her arm away from him calmly and smiled as she took Alex’s arms again. Arun looked even more upset as she replied with a light smile, “Arun, I am sorry, but I have a date with Alex tonight.”
Alex looked surprised, as she tried to pull them away again, but Arun stopped them once more. This time his fist came out and punched Alex in the face. Shocked, Malisa came in to block him and went down to check on Alex, who had fallen on the ground and was touching his face in pain.
“You have no right to take my wife on a date!”
Malisa and Alex both looked shock at Arun. Angry, Malisa stood up and cried, “I have every right to go on a date with anyone! You have no right to use violence on someone I care about!”
“Care?!” Arun’s face looked very angry at her. “How can you care for another man, Malisa, when I am your husband! You should care about me only!”
Alex stood up looking confused and shocked at their conversation.
Malisa tightened her lips in anger and remarked, “I care about Alex. And I despise a man who thinks he can get what he want just because he has money, Mr Suriyakarn!”
Arun’s brow furrowed in anger. She was treating him as if they were distant. He grabbed her arm to pull her towards him, but she pulled away to stand next to Alex. His heart was beating in fury.
“Are you saying that you would give up our love for this man?”
Malisa looked pained at his words. She turned to look at Alex, who looked worried and unsure of what was going on. But she knew she had to let him go. So turning back to Arun, she remarked, “Yes. I would prefer to be with a low class gentleman, then a violent, heartless billionaire.”
Arun felt his heart shattered in many pieces. Was he hearing her words correctly or was he dreaming? Had Malisa chosen Alex over him, her love, her husband?
“Malisa, I ask you one last time. Will you give up our love story for this person?”
Upset that Arun was refusing to give up, she took a step toward him and acted as if she had no care or feeling of him.
“Your love nest is almost complete, Mr Suriyakarn. I am sorry if any of my gesture made you think I had feelings for you. But now that it is near completion, I don’t want you to misunderstand my feelings. Just as Rawit had misunderstood my feelings for him, I don’t want you to have the same fate as Rawit…”
She smiled cruelly, seeing the pain and almost disbelief in Arun’s eyes. As if she couldn’t bear to continue acting cruel to him, she turned and took Alex’s arm and bid them leave.
Arun couldn’t follow them. His whole body was frozen from her words. Had she been lying to him as she’d done to Rawit? Had this all been a revenge act to hurt him?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Malisa sat in Alex’s car. Her whole body was in pain, as a tear fell down her eye. She quickly wiped it away so that Alex wouldn’t see it. Her heart felt torn in two. Could she continue this act for the next month?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Alex dropped Malisa off at Jenny’s place. She was staying with Jenny until her wedding. But moreso because Malisa didn’t want to see Arun. She knew being alone with him could let her change her mind and she didn’t want that to happen now that she had made up her mind to let him go and go to the States to work.
Jenny was busy planning the wedding and wanted Malisa to help her pick a dress and wedding materials. She was glad, as this was taking her mind of Arun. But when she did think about Arun, she felt pain in her heart, and a tear would flow down her eyes, as if she was sad about the thought of letting Arun go.
Malisa was feeling very sad, as she sat at her desk at work. The news that she and Arun were still married still shocked her, and now she wondered what the reality of her life would be now. Is she Arun’s wife? Or is she not being separated for almost 5 years?
She didn’t noticed a jolly Alex coming towards her with a rose. He slowly placed it on her desk. It took her awhile to realize it there and she turned to see a smiling Alex.
“What is this?”
“Don’t you remember? It’s the anniversary of our first meeting.”
Malisa looked at the rose, surprised that Alex remember their first meeting together. She picked it up, as her thoughts ran back to Arun and her first meeting. Hating where her mind was going, she wiped the thought away and smelled the rose.
She turned to thank Alex.
“I…I was thinking that I take you out for dinner tonight?”
Malisa looked at Alex’s smiling, kind face. She wondered why her heart did not feel anything for him? He had been a kind man, a supportive co-worker and an understanding friend. Not only that, Alex was attractive as well. Any girl would only be too happy to be his girlfriend. But Malisa’s heart was somewhere else.
Just as she was about to reply, she heard the voice that she dreaded.
“How is my love doing today?”
Shocked at his words, both Alex and her turned to find Arun walking towards them with a bouquet of roses in his arms. Arun saw the rose in her hand and frowned at Alex, but he quickly replaced it with a smile as he brought the bouquet for her and placed it in front of her, covering the rose that Alex bought.
“Love?” Alex remarked shocked as he looked at Arun and Malisa in confusion.
Arun smiled. “Yes…love.”
Malisa stood up angrily, pushing his bouquet aside. She gave him a deadly look, not believing that he would do this to her. What right did he have coming to her workplace and declaring his intimacy with her? Without another word, she took Alex’s arm, provoking him further, and remarked.
“I would love to have dinner with you tonight, Alex.”
She smiled sweetly at Alex, then turned to look at Arun challenging him, as he unhappily looked at her intimacy with Alex. Then without another word, she took her hands from Alex and walked away, smiling triumphantly as she dismissed Arun as if she want nothing to do with him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Malisa walked into Mr Suripok’s office, flushed red, as Arun followed behind her unhappily.
“Mr Suripok, I wanted to tell you that the progress of the ARS Building is going as scheduled and should be done in a month,” Malisa remarked, ignoring Arun. “It doesn’t need my presence there to monitor it for now, so I hope you can give me another assignment.”
Mr Suripok smiled at her words, but he looked surprised at seeing Arun there as well.
“Mr Suriyakarn, you’ve heard Malisa’s word. You should be happy that you can prepare to move in next month,” Mr. Suripok mentioned happily, not seeing the pair’s emotional tension and Arun’s unhappy face.
‘’What about my love nest? My fiancée and I are anxiously awaiting that…” Arun remarked tersely, looking at her face that was avoiding him.
“Mr. Suriyakarn’s love nest…is going as planned…” Malisa started. “I’ll have Alex—”
“I didn’t ask for Alex to work on this project!” Arun remarked cutting her off cruelly.
Malisa finally turned to look at him at his cold words. He looked at her challengingly, knowing Mr Suripok would agree with him and force her to not involve Alex for the project. Her face showed all kinds of thoughts, wondering how she can escape the project to hating him.
Mr Suripok looked surprised at Arun’s tone of voice, and suddenly felt something wasn’t right as they glared at other, either in hate or dislike, he couldn’t understand. He thought everything was going well with their relationship until now. Would his company lose Mr Suriyakarn’s business if Mr Suriyakarn didn’t like how Malisa was performing or was it Alex? Not understanding the situation, he slowly got up and walked over to Malisa’s side to face Arun.
“Of course, Mr Suriyakarn. Malisa is working hard on your love nest…” he began, and then looked even more surprised at Arun’s dissatisfied face. For some reason, Mr. Suriyakarn refused to look at him, but kept staring at Malisa. And Malisa also did not look away. She gave him a cold, angry stare and Mr Suripok suddenly felt scared, as the room seemed quiet and tense. Finally Malisa looked away, her chest heaving upsettingly.
Arun finally spoke then.
“I asked Malisa to work on my love nest only. If the contract has changed, and Alex is now working on it, I should have been told…!”
Mr Suripok shook his head nervously.
“No, no, Mr Suriyakarn. Malisa is still working on it, isn’t that right, Malisa?”
Malisa refused to answer. Even more nervous, Mr Suripok nudged her.
“Malisa?”
Taking a deep breath, Malisa finally remarked quickly, “The love nest is on schedule.”
“Then I want a report of it this evening!”
Malisa glared at him angrily. Her hand curled into a fist by her side as she struggled to not display her anger. Why was he making her life so hard? He finally smiled at her as he saw that he had the upper hand. She would have to be here tonight to present him the report. Satisfied, he turn to leave.
“I have plans this evening.”
Arun stopped in his track and stared at her. He was not going to let her go out with Alex tonight.
“If this is going to be a difficult task for you, Malisa, then I would ask for my money back from Mr Suripok.”
Mr Suripok opened his eyes in shock.
“Of course Malisa will have a report for you this evening!” He looked at Malisa as if she had gone mad.
“I expect it at 5pm then! I will come back here to review it!”
Arun quickly strolled out after his demand. He knew Malisa would be here then, and he would make sure she wouldn’t leave with Alex tonight.
Mr Suripok only stared confusingly at Arun’s exit and Malisa’s tense body language. He wondered what happen. Weren’t they working together just a couple weeks ago? He’d never seen Mr Suriyakarn that angry before…he wondered how Malisa was dealing with this…as he looked at her stern face, and closed fist.
~~~~~~~~~~
Malisa begrudgedly sat at her desk and made an effort to create a report for Arun. She knew it was his excuse to keep her from going to dinner with Alex and control her move. How could she allow him to do this to her?
She was still shock to find out that they were still married legally. Will he tell Mr Suripok that he was her husband? With so many thoughts in her mind, she knew she had to resolve her situation with him else she would have to keep running again.
~~~~~~~~~~
As Arun mentioned, he came back at 5pm to review her report. He requested a formal presentation, and Malisa begrudgedly set up her report on the smart board. Luckily Mr Suripok was in the conference room with them as Arun stood up next to her and tweaked her plans on the smart board and rewrote almost 75% of her process.
Malisa looked at her watch. It was near 7pm and she knew Alex was waiting for her. Mr Suripok was also getting weary as he looked at his phone. Just as 7pm came about, Mr Suripok excused himself to go and pick up some thing for his wife, and told Mr Suriyakarn that he would call him tomorrow morning when Malisa was finished with editing the new process.
Malisa hesitated as Mr Suripok turned to go out the room. She tried to stop him, but a strong hand held her arm back. When the door closed, Malisa tried to pull her arm away from him, but he jerked her towards him and held her in his arms. He smelled her scent and grinned.
“Let me go, Arun!”
He pulled back to look at her with the grin.
“Can’t a husband kiss his wife?”
Malisa quickly turned to look at the door to see if Mr Suripok would come back. When it was empty, she turned back to look at him coldly.
“Why haven’t you signed the divorce paper as you wanted to…once upon a time?”
“That was then…” he remarked. “Now is now. I don’t want to divorce you no more.”
Malisa looked at him unhappily.
“But I want to divorce you!”
He stopped and looked at her deeply. Her words hurted him.
“Why? So that you can start dating Alex?”
“I don’t need to divorce you to start dating Alex,” Malisa remarked, challenging him.
“Then what is it, Malisa? I am very rich now. Do you want half of my wealth then?”
She angrily pulled away from him.
Just then her cellphone rang. Arun grabbed it before she could and saw Alex’s caller id. He frowned.
“Give it to me!”
Arun swung the phone away from her as she tried to grab it. Then he grabbed her waist and backed her to the wall, covering her whole body with his.
“Will you tell him that you can’t see him tonight?”
Malisa looked at him as if he’d gone mad. She tried to push him off her. But he bent in to kiss her. She struggled and tried to push him away. But he was too strong for her. When he pulled away, she quickly wiped her lips, angering him further that he bent in to kiss her again.
The phone rang again, interrupting Arun. Annoyed, he remarked, “Will you tell him you won’t see him tonight…or do you want me to make love to you here?”
Malisa breathed deeply, gasping for air from his kiss.
“Give me the phone!”
He waved the phone in front of her, “Will you tell him or—”
He bent to kiss her again, but she cried, “I will tell him!”
Satisfied, he pulled back, and handed her the phone, his arms still around her as her back was pressed to the wall.
She answered the phone and nervously remarked, “I’m sorry, Alex, I have some work to do tonight. I can’t go with you.”
After a moment, she hanged up the phone and glared at him angrily.
“Are you happy?”
He smiled at her, satisfied. His eyes wavered down to her lips.
“Will you let me go?” she replied unhappily.
He grinned and softly replied, “You are my wife. You shouldn’t be going on dates with another man. For this, you need to make up to me.”
She looked at him in disbelief. If not for the grin on his face and the fact that her body was squeezed between him and the wall, she would slap him.
Before she could reply, he went in for another kiss.
She tried to stop him, but he was pressing in so hard as if their bodies were glued together. She could feel his whole body and his warmth and scent, as he kissed her deeply. Her heart slowly melted, as her body gave him. She suddenly remembered those nights with him and slowly she stopped struggling.
His kiss became deeper and his hold on her tightened, as he felt her returning his kiss. He wanted to make love to her, but he knew this was not the place. Pulling abruptly away from the kiss, he grabbed her hand to take her home.
But she didn’t move. He turned to look at her flushed face. Her lips were red from kissing.
“What is wrong?”
“Where are you taking me?”
“Home.”
Malisa pulled her hand away.
“What is wrong?” Arun asked gently.
Malisa looked at him coldly.
“I am not a wanton women,” she remarked coldly.
He grabbed her hand quickly as if afraid to lose the moment.
“You’re my wife,” he whispered, as he quickly kissed her hands. “Come, I want to take you home.”
She pulled away again.
“I can go home by myself. Have you forgotten that I’ve lived by myself for years?”
Arun shook his head. “No more. It was my fault for not being able to find you. But no more, Malisa. Come.”
Malisa hesitated. Her heart was betraying her as she allowed him to pull her out of the room to get her things. She even went into his car and allowed him to drive her home. Was she so desperate to be with him?
When they got back to her house, he slowly took her hand and walked them into the house, slowly, almost rhythmically. Her heart beated in excitement, as he locked the door and pulled her to the bedroom and sat her down.
“And Theresa, your fiancée? How are you going to explain to her if you don’t divorce me?” Malisa finally remarked, as if a part of her was trying to reason with herself to stop what they were going to do.
He slowly removed her shirt.
“Theresa is not my fiancée, nor is she important to me as you…my wife…” he softly remarked as he threw her shirt onto the bed and bent in to give her a kiss.
Then he slowly unbutton his shirt and threw it on the bed.
He kissed her again, soft and gently as his lips continued down to her neck.
“And your mother—!” Malisa exhaled, trying to deny her feelings. “Wouldn’t she be heart-broken if she found out that you are still married to me?”
Arun paused, his lips at the top of her collarbone.”
“I know my mother will be heart-broken…but I have already chosen my path…” he whispered, his breath hot on her skin. As if not wanting to think about it, he fiercely kissed her and laid her on the bed. She tried to protest, but he wouldn’t let her. His lips covered hers and his hands moved to undress her more.
Her heart betrayed her, as she allowed him to touch her again and make love to her as before. She exploded in ecstasy and they both laid exhausted in bed. His arms intertwined her waist as they both fell asleep, satisfied.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Malisa looked at Arun, sleeping infront of her. It was early in the morning, and Arun was still asleep. But she couldn’t fall asleep. There was much in her mind. She was still his wife legally, but after these nights of being with him, she knew her heart still belong to him.
She smiled, allowing her heart to win this time and let him into her life. She knew there was still much knots to untangle in their life, but she wanted this moment to last with him.
In two months, his love nest would be finish, and she would be free from his projects and his life. In two months, she would leave for the States and find a new job there.
For now, she will let her heart be satisfied and be his wife for two months.
Her hands touched his face and a sad tear fell from her eyes. Did he still love her as before? Or was this all lust and a past that needed closure?
The light was slowly peeking into the room when Malisa opened her eyes. She had slept the whole night—almost too well, she thought in fear. Arun had continually made love to her until she remembered the feelings of love-making and exploded in ecstasy.
She blushed in shame. They were no longer married, yet he had taken her as if she was his. Was she an easy woman? A tear slipped down her face in shame.
His arm wrapped around her waist, and his chest was pressed against her back. She could feel his heavy breathing on her neck as he slept. She needed to get back to her house, she thought desperately. How could she had allowed him to do this to her when she hated him so much.
She wished they had never seen each other. She wished she had turned down his projects, even if her boss loss business…how could she had been so stupid to think that she could handle this? The emotions she had for him and his family were too painful. And now that she’d ruined Amy’s wedding, and he had forced himself on her, what was going to happen? Will he finally let her go or was he going to lash his anger at her as last night?
Afraid that it was going to be the latter, she quickly removed his arm around her waist and tried to leave the bed to find her clothes. But she didn’t get far, when a pair of strong arms came around her waist and he sat up to enfold her in his arms.
Arun kissed her shoulder.
“Where are you going, love?”
Malisa held the blanket tightly around her naked body, even though his arms were inside the blanket holding her naked waist tightly. His words made her tingle all over her body.
“Let me go, Arun. I don’t belong here…”
He chuckled and continually kissed her shoulder. Slowly, he pressed his lips to her back, and then came to her neck. She jerked away, afraid of the sensation it was causing her.
“Come back to bed, Malisa,” he whispered, brushing his lips against her naked back.
She felt his manhood hardened behind her and her heart beated quickly. When his hands moved to fondle her breast, she finally cried out, “You have no right to do this to me! I am not your wife no more!”
His hands stopped and he brought her in closer into his arms, as he placed his chin on her shoulder possessively.
“I am your husband and I have every right to have you whenever I want to,” he whispered possessively, making her heart beat faster. “You have no right to be in a hotel room with another naked man…do you know how angry I am because of that?!”
Malisa swallowed, feeling the pressure of his arms around her tightened.
“If you want to be in bed with a man, then be with me, for I am your husband,” Arun remarked as he started to fiercely kiss her neck and shoulder. His hand went back to fondle her breast possessively and she thought she was going to melt again if she didn’t stop him.
“And what if Rawit we had slept together–!”
Her words enraged him, and he turned her around and shook her angrily.
“Don’t say such a vile thing to me!” Arun remarked angrily. He heaved in anger as he looked at her tear-stained face.
“Would you had done this if you knew we had slept together?” Malisa mocked once more.
Arun contained his anger this time and retorted, “Don’t test my patience, Malisa. You have not seen the monster in me yet. Besides, I know you are not like that…else I wouldn’t have fallen for you.”
Malisa glared at him angrily.
Arun continued, “I know you have not laid with anyone for a while, else you wouldn’t feel so much pain when I entered you….”
Malisa pressed her lips together in anger, as Arun mocked her in satisfaction. He grinned, and she was more upset. She looked at the hands that held her arms tightly, almost painfully, and then turned to look at him.
“Since you already have what you want, will you let me go?” she demanded.
He lessened his hold on her arms.
“Come back to bed,” he began, “You are not going anywhere.”
He moved closer to her to caress her face with his lips, but she flinched back and instead he touched her hair instead. He smiled and continued caressing her hair with his lips. His manhood hardened and he moved in to kiss her. She pushed him away with her hands, but he crushed them between them as he brought her to him to caress her neck.
“I missed you so much, Malisa…” he began. “Last night…was very sweet…”
He kissed her face all over and came to rest on her lips. Malisa hesitated, hating herself that she was giving in so easily to him. But his warm lips made her tingled all over again.
Their kiss was soon interrupted by the knocking of the door.
It was one of Arun’s housekeeper. Her voice was loud outside the closed door.
“Mr Suriyakarn! Mrs Suriyakarn is on the phone for you! She’s been trying to contact you all last night?!”
Annoyed, Arun stood up, naked and all.
“Thank you, Bua. I’ll give her a call from my cell phone,” he remarked, and went to grab his phone from his pant pocket.
He had turned off the phone last night and now turning it on, he saw all the missed calls from his mother. Taking a look at Malisa’s unhappy face, he took a breath and then dialed his mother’s number.
“Hello, Arun!?”
“Mother, what is it?”
“Where are you?! Do you know the chaos we are in?! Amy has been crying all night–! Where are you?!” His mother’s voice was unhappy and demanding.
“I am taking a break at the moment…”
“Come home this instance! Amy has not stopped crying since last night!”
Arun frowned, “I’ve already told Amy not to marry Rawit when he is a playboy. He may be from a high-so family, but he is not a good man. She didn’t listen to me.”
His mother was not happy.
“Are you going to abandon your family during this time?! I’ve also told Theresa’s family we are coming today to ask for her hand in marriage…you need to come home this instance!”
Arun took another deep breath and moved to the window of the room to look at the peaceful waves outside. He didn’t notice Malisa fidgeting uncomfortably over his conversation.
“About the engagement with Theresa, give me a week to think about that…”
Malisa’s mouth opened in disbelief. Hurt, she stood up from the bed to look for her clothes.
“Are you with Malisa?! Arun, you are killing your mother!”
“Mother—”
Arun turned in time to see Malisa dressed up and grabbing a chair to the door to unlock the top lock. Shocked, he quickly replied, “I’ve got to go, Mother! I’ll call you back!”
Arun quickly closed his phone and threw it to the counter and ran up to Malisa, who was about to unlock the top lock. He quickly grabbed her waist and pulled her down. She cried out in protest as he brought her back to the bed.
“Let me go, Arun!”
He fell on top of her and held her hands to her head.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
“Don’t you have an engagement to be with Theresa?!”
He looked at her pink lips, wanting to kiss them again.
“Why does that interest you? Are you jealous?!”
Malisa looked at him in disbelief.
“I am not your mistress, Arun! Nor am I a cheap woman to stay here with a man whose heart is not mine!”
Arun frowned.
“My heart has always been yours, Malisa…”
His words made her angrier.
“You forced yourself on me!? You call that love?!”
Arun smiled.
“You’re my wife? Why can’t a husband sleep with his wife?”
Malisa looked at him in disbelief.
“You cannot have a wife and a fiancée at the same time!” Malisa cried out in frustration.
“Yes, you’re right…” Arun began, then looked as if he was thinking. “Now what are we going to do about that?”
Malisa continued to look at him in disbelief. Did he think this was a small matter or did he think he could get away with something so wrong?
Before she could react, Arun gave her a peck on the lips and released her wrists. She quickly sat up from the bed and moved away from him. She looked embarrassingly away at his nakedness.
“I also have a job to go back to tomorrow…” Malisa began, looking away. “I need to go to the airport.”
Arun stood up casually to go to the closet.
“I’ll call Mr Suripok.”
Malisa looked at him in shock.
“What for?!”
Arun turned around and grinned.
“You’re not going anywhere until I say so…I’ll let Mr Suripok know where you are,” Arun remarked.
Malisa stood up in protest.
“You can’t do that!”
“And why not? All the projects you are working on are paid by me,” Arun mocked.
Malisa frowned.
“I am not rich like you to take so many vacations and still have a job to go back to.”
Arun touched her cheek fondly. “I’ll pay for your missing days of work…besides I am giving more to Mr Suripok then what was originally demanded?”
Arun went to grab his phone.
Malisa looked worried as he looked at his phone. Afraid for her job, she quickly went to hold his arm.
“Please, Arun. Don’t do this to me? I still want to keep my job and reputation—”
“Reputation—?!” Arun glared at her in surprised. He smiled and dialed Mr Suripok’s phone number.
“Hello, Mr Suripok. This is Arun Suriyakarn.”
Malisa’s eyes opened in disbelief. She held her breath as she listened to his conversation.
“I want Malisa to take the first flight tomorrow to Bangkok. I am there at the moment and want to show her my company there as well as my main house, so this can give her some ideas about the decorations.”
Malisa looked at him shocked and relief. When he hanged up the phone, he turned to look at her and smiled. She wanted to thank him, but his mischievousness stopped her.
“Mr Suripok should be giving you a call to tell you to come here…”
Instead of being glad, Malisa frowned.
Just as he finished speaking, her phone rang. She quickly went to retrieve it from her purse. Not to her surprise Mr Suripok was calling her.
Malisa answered the phone and not to her surprise it was the same message that Arun gave him. Malisa pretended to agree with her boss and hung up the phone, angry that Arun manipulated her situation. She placed her phone back in her purse and turned to look at him disapprovingly. He was giving her a smirk.
“I am not choosing to be here,” she remarked, looking at the closed door. “I would like to leave here if you can open the door for me.”
He came up to her and smiled.
“But you are here for work with me, love, so why would you leave?”
Malisa frowned at his mocking.
“We both know that that is a lie, will you open the door or do you want me to shout to your housekeeper to help me here…?”
Arun quickly grabbed her waist and pulled her to him.
“Shout and I’ll kiss you.”
Malisa glared at him in disbelief and tried to push him away, but he tightened his hold on her.
She quickly turned to cry out for help, and before she knew it, Arun grabbed her face and kissed her deeply. She quickly pushed him away and tried to hit him, but he grabbed her wrist, grinning and challenging her to fight him.
“Stop this, Arun! You have no right to keep me here!”
He smiled.
“You wanted us to talk to each other, didn’t you? Now is our chance.”
“But that was when we were married—!”
“We are still married!”
“Arun—!”
He quickly placed his lips on hers again, this time softly. She didn’t move this time, as she felt his gentleness. He slowly lifted his face to look at her.
“Let this be our week to just enjoy ourselves and be with each other, love,” he began. “I have so much to say to you but don’t know where I should begin…”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Malisa dugged her foot into the sand as she sat by the beach and listened to the sound of the ocean. She remembered coming to the beach when she was young with her mother to sell drinks. They were poor and scrambling to make a living, and life was hard on them. Her mother fell ill soon afterward and she had to go and live with her aunt, who had a better living then.
She had wanted to learn to swim, but never had the chance.
She didn’t hear Arun come by to sit next to her.
“What are you thinking about, love?” he softly asked.
Malisa turned to look at him. She wanted to cry because she had not had an easy life, or any family who would stay with her long. In truth, she was angry at him, because he had promised to be her best friend, and hadn’t been the best person in her life. She quickly turned away to hide her tears.
“I remembered when we were dating that you mentioned the beach,” Arun started. “And I wanted to take you to a beach house…”
Malisa’s eyes watered. She didn’t want to think about the bittersweet past.
“I bought this house, so that you can enjoy the beach every day,” Arun remarked.
“Why?” Malisa began, not wanting to cry. “We are no longer married…you don’t need to do anything for me anymore.”
He turned her to kiss her forehead.
“There is much that I wanted to do for you, but couldn’t back then…” Arun replied. “This is your home as well.”
Malisa quickly wiped a tear away from her face.
“Do you plan to keep me here as your mistress while you marry Theresa?” Malisa mocked.
Arun didn’t reply as he kissed her on the head.
Upset that he didn’t reply, she pushed his arms off her, and turned to face him.
“Just because I have no one to protect me now, doesn’t make it easy for you to do whatever you want with me…I am not willing to be here, nor need your affection,” Malisa spoked angrily.
She stood up to go, but Arun grabbed her arm.
“I promised your aunt that I would take care of you,” Arun replied. Malisa turned to look at him, shock that he mentioned her aunt after all this long time. “And I will keep that promise.”
Hurt and insulted by the memory of their bitter ending, Malisa raised her hand and slapped him across the face. She couldn’t stand anymore of his promises, nor stop the tears that came down her face.
“If you cared so much about your promise to my Aunt, you wouldn’t have hurted me so much back then! If you cared so much about your words, you wouldn’t have broken my heart or insulted our marriage back then and force me out of your house like a homeless orphan!”
Arun turned to look at her angry tear-stain face. He felt the sting on his cheek and the hatred in her words.
“I never wanted to see you anymore!” Malisa cried out angrily. “Wherever you go, or whoever you are with, I don’t want to know any more! I hate you that much–!”
She didn’t finish her words, before Arun grabbed her and pulled her into his arms.
Shock, she couldn’t move, as he held her tightly.
“I know I have done much in the past that hurted you,” Arun whispered. “But my heart only feels for you and I don’t want to give you up…just because of the difficulties that came into our lives.”
Tears swelled in her eyes at his words.
“I know you have gone through much, in life and with me, but I know that living without you made my life more incomplete than ever, Malisa,” Arun remarked as he came forward to kiss her forehead.
“Even if you can’t forgive me yet, at least know that I am still your husband who cares for you.”
He held her tightly, scared to lose her. Malisa only stood silently as tears came down her face.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Arun made dinner for them and they took strolls by the beach and he held her hand tightly, reminiscing their dating life. At night, he held her in bed, as they slept next to each other. She had wanted to remain cold and unmoving, but when he kissed her, she melted under his warmth, and soon she was allowing him to make love to her again.
As the week slowly moved by, Malisa felt more relaxed and loosen at being in his company. A part of her missed him, and she found herself at times holding him back, as if afraid to lose him. She’d return his love-making and at times fiercely. Would this all be a dream after the week ended? She was afraid to answer that question. And soon it was becoming clear.
It was near the end of the week, and Arun had gone to take a shower after their mid-day love making. Out of curiousity, Malisa took his phone and looked at it. Not to her surprise, his mother’s missed calls showed up the most, but also Theresa’s phone number was there. She placed it back and felt sad. How can she and Arun be together when so many people came between them?
Her heart ached when she thought of him. Why did her heart feel so much for him when it was not a good thing? Silently she quickly went to grab her luggage and packed up.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Arun was feeling very happy as he felt refreshed after the shower. Coming out with a towel over his lower body, he came out to see Malisa, only to find the room empty. It was only in the afternoon and Arun had wanted to take Malisa into town to shop, but she was nowhere to be found.
His heart suddenly felt a tinge of fear as he looked for her purse and belongings. They were nowhere to be found. He quickly put some clothes on and went outside to look for her. He went for a mile or so until he realized that she was not there.
He came back to the house to wait for her, knowing somehow in his heart that she had left him again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Arun was scowling when he came back to the Suriyakarn mansion on a Monday morning. His mother met him first and scolded at him.
“How can you abandon us at this time, when your sister’s life is in ruined?!”
Arun silently went into his room and took out some clean clothes.
“Did you not hear me! Arun, you’re mother is speaking with you–!”
“Enough, Mother!” Arun almost shouted, and stopped as he saw his mother’s shock face. He continued, gentler, “I am sorry that Amy’s wedding was ruin…but perhaps it was for the better.”
“You don’t love your sister and me no more…” his mother started wailing, making him feel guilty.
“Mother, no matter how much I do for you and Amy, it seems like no one is ever happy…” he started to say, then sadly replied, “Have you both thought of my feelings at all?”
His mother looked at him in shock, as if those words should have never come out of her son’s mouth.
“How can you say such a thing! Everything I do is for you!”
Arun turned to go, tired of explaining himself.
“Arun! Why don’t you understand your mother at all?!”
“I understand, Mother, but maybe what you want for me is different from what I want in my life,” he quickly remarked and went into the shower room and closed the door, as if he didn’t know what more to say to his mother anymore.
His mother looked at the closed door in shock. She was beginning to lose her son again, and she was not going to take it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Arun came out, dressed in a blue business suit. He was going to go to the Suriyakarn company today to check on the business there. He had gone to visit his sister in her room. She looked desperate.
“My life is ruin because of Malisa! I hate her!”
“Let Rawit go, Amy. He is not good for you.”
She shook her head desperately.
“No, Rawit and I talked. He was tricked!”
Arun shook his head. “Rawit is a grown man. When a grown man goes to a hotel room for a girl, he knows what he is doing, Amy, tricked or not.”
Amy shook her head desperately, not wanting to hear more.
“He loves me! She just tricked him…!”
Arun silently left the room unhappily. He didn’t know how to get to his sister as well, as he knew Rawit was not a good man, yet his sister was madly in love with him.
Adding to more of his troubles, the maid came by and told him that his mother was ill in bed and wanted to see him. Arun went into her bedroom and saw her looking unwell in bed. He went and held her hand.
“If you don’t love us no more, then you can leave…just like your father,” she remarked hurtfully.
“I’m not going to leave you, Mother. I’m your son…”
He kissed her hands and continued, “But I need you to love me too and accept the person I love.”
His mother abruptly took her hand away.
“Never! Our family has noble blood, we cannot marry commoners.”
Arun took her hands again gently.
“Look at what happened with Amy. You wanted her to marry a noble man, and he is not good at all. Malisa is my wife…and I am asking you to give her a chance…”
His mother glared at him in anger.
“She is no longer your wife! I can never accept a peasant to be my daughter-in-law…Theresa is a good woman, and is of noble blood. She will be a good wife for you.”
“And will you want our story to also end up like yours and father? Will you give Theresa a life like yours?” Arun looked into her mother’s hurtful face, “You said that you knew father never loved you, but you married him anyway…was it worth it? Marrying a noble man to live in misery like this every day?”
Anger showed on her face, but slowly waters welled in her eyes.
“I loved your father, but he had a wicked heart.”
“And I love you, Mother, but you are driving me away…because you can’t accept me for who I am…” Arun desperately remarked, “Even if I marry Theresa, I will not come home anymore.”
Arun sadly stood up to go.
His mother looked shock as he walked out of her room. Tears swelled in her eyes as she thought of her marriage life.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Malisa was sad as she went to work. To her relief, Arun did not call her or come to bother her at her work place. There was a lot on her mind, as she knew her heart was aching for him, but there were so many things that made it hard for her to allow her heart to follow what it wanted.
Alex and his friends invited her for dinner and she went just to take her mind of them. But it didn’t work. While they talk happily, she sadly sipped her drink and almost left early to be alone and think.
It was near dark, when returned back to her house, her mind lost in thought. Though she tried to not think about him, it was hard. She walked into the gate and locked it and when she turned, to her heart’s pain, Arun stood there at the door looking at her in a blue business suit.
She stopped in her track, not knowing what to do. Her heart wanted to run to him and hold him, but her mind stopped her. He was angry as he observed her stop in her track.
Slowly after a few minutes, he walked up to her.
“Why did you leave me?”
He continued walking towards her as she didn’t reply.
“Why do you run away from us?”
Malisa’s eyes watered. She wanted to cry to him and have him hugged her, but a part of her was wary of him.
“There is no us,” she quickly remarked, wiping a fallen tear from her face, and continued coolly, “I had work to come back to.”
Arun’s eyes narrowed upsettingly, as he stopped in his track at her words. He observed her quiet, almost rebellious, posture. Even though the gate light showed on her face, it hid a part of her eyes, and the tear that fell.
“I wanted to bring something to you…something that I’ve been meaning to tell you.”
Slowly, he took out some folded papers from his suit jack, and handed it to her.
Hesitantly, she took it and opened up the letter. Her eyes opened in shock as she saw what it was. It was their divorce paper that she had signed 6 years ago. But when she looked at the bottom of the page, his signature was missing.
“What is the meaning of this?” she remarked in shock.
Arun came up to her and embraced her in his arms.
“It means that I am still your husband…and you are still my wife, in law, and in heart” he whispered as he finally held her close in his arms. And to his contentment, she didn’t protest. He didn’t see the tears that came down her face, shock, but also joy in her heart at the knowledge.
After a moment of silence, Malisa pulled away and dried her tears once more. She did not like what was happening. How could he have kept this from her all this time? After all, wasn’t he the one who sought the divorce? So how could he not have submitted the papers into court?
“Please leave me alone,” Malisa remarked, the divorce papers dropping to the ground, as she pushed pass Arun to go to her house.
“Malisa, what are you afraid of?!” Arun cried out as she walked passed him.
Malisa finally stopped and turned to look at him.
“You can’t do this to me, Arun. You asked for the divorce and now you are telling me that we are not divorced?” she remarked, tears streaming down her face. “I am not a woman without feelings, who doesn’t feel hurt. I am not a woman to wait by the side of the street waiting for you to pick me back up whenever you have a change of mind!”
Arun went and held her as she tried to slip away again.
“Malisa…please listen to me…”
Malisa pulled away, but he kept bringing her back to him.
“I was wrong in the past…I didn’t love you as I should as a husband…Malisa…I’ve regretted it every day…” Arun remarked, holding her as tight as he can, as if she would leave him. “I searched for you everywhere after you left me…do you know how many dark nights I went through? I couldn’t even look at the divorce papers for years….and how could I when I missed you so much…”
Arun held her tightly, squeezing her as if he didn’t want to lose her again.
“You are the only one in my heart. Please don’t leave me anymore.”
Malisa cried into his arms. His words were bitter-sweet, it brought back all the pain and suffering she went through. Did he love her and she just didn’t understand it? Could she had left her happiness back there?
Her heart ached at all the thoughts in her head.
But she remembered the last time she saw him with Theresa, he had said they no longer loved each other. How can he come and declare this to her when she had heard his words.
Upsettingly, she pushed him away and walked away to her front door.
“Malisa…”
She dried her tears and swallowed away her hurt and pain. She won’t let him hurt her no more. And she won’t fall for anymore false affection.
“I have important work tomorrow that I need an early sleep,” Malisa slowly remarked, her back turned to him. “I hope that you will sign your name on that paper and submit it to court.”
With those words, she opened her front door and walked in, closing the door behind her…closing him away from her. Her heart was too numb to feel anything for now.
Arun stood out there looking at the closed door. His heart felt as if a knife had been placed there, and the blood was draining out. He turned to look at the divorce papers on the ground and he slowly picked it up.
Malisa smiled as she watched Rawit sitting across from her in the restaurant. She knew that Rawit was flirting with her, but she wanted that. She wanted to make Rawit fall for her. So she flirted back, bashing her eyes and smiling sweetly.
When lunch was done, Rawit stood up to go and pay. To her delight, he left his phone on the table. Quickly she took it and snapped a picture of her puckering her lips up as if to kiss. Then she quickly placed the phone back on the table.
When Rawit came back, Malisa quickly took his arms as they left the restaurant.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Arun sat in his condo desk, looking upset and dark. His phone rang, and to his expectation, it was his mother.
He knew his mother would call him after he sent Amy home.
“Hello, Mother, how are you doing?”
“Amy tells me that you’ve re-united with your ex-wife? Is that true?!”
Arun took a deep breath.
“Malisa is working here with me…”
“How can you be back with her?! She is not worthy of you! She’s not even comparable to Theresa, who’s done everything to help our business!” she cried, “So you lied to me about going there for business, only to be with her—!?”
“Mother, please—I did come here for business, and did not know Malisa was here. Besides, this was the site you picked—”
“Oh, so now you blame me?!” his mother continued crying, “You will come home now and let Mr Juripol handle the business there! You promised me that you would marry Theresa in 3 years time, and it’s already been 5 years! We will plan your engagement with Theresa this instant—!”
Arun took another deep breath.
“I have a lot of work here, Mother. The ARS building is already being built, and many important decisions about the business need to be decided. I can’t come home now.”
His mother started crying at the other end of the phone.
“You never loved your mother! You’re just like your father, who has his heart somewhere else, always!”
“Mother, please…”
“If you don’t come and marry Theresa, then you can send your mother to the grave…”
“Mother, don’t say that…”
Arun listened as his mother continued crying. He knew he couldn’t lie to her about his heart, but he also knew how much she had suffered from his father’s betrayal.
“Next month is Amy’s wedding…you will get engage to Theresa the day after that!”
Arun sighed unhappily.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Arun walked up to Malisa’s front door and knocked on it. No one came to answer and he knocked again. It was 6pm and he knew she should already be home, since he called her work place and they said she had left.
Unhappily, after a moment of knocking, he turned around and glared at the front gate. Where did Malisa go? His heart ached as he thought of Rawit being with her.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Arun slept outside Malisa’s gate as he waited for her. Finally a car came by and Malisa got out of the car. Arun slowly awoke and glared at the clock. It was almost 10 pm. Upsettingly, he watched as Malisa smiled sweetly at Rawit, who kissed her hand, and handed her a shopping bag.
Malisa waved as Rawit got back into the car and drove away.
His heart was enraged.
He quickly got out of the car as Malisa opened the gate. He followed her as she opened her front doors, and he grabbed her arm and flung her around to face him.
“Where did you go?! Did you know I waited for you for so long?!”
Malisa looked surprise at seeing him. She quickly tried to pull her arms away, but he held it firm, as he shook her angrily.
“Wherever I go is my business!”
She freed herself from his hold and walked into her house. He followed her angrily.
“Rawit is going to marry my sister next month…! You have no right to be flirting with him!”
Malisa placed her purse and shopping bag on the sofa and turned to face Arun.
“Rawit is still a single man, so we have every right to spend time together! Please get out!” Malisa shouted, pointing to the door and angry that he would demand her to do things as if he had the right to.
Arun heaved in anger at her reaction. His mother was forcing him to marry Theresa, and Malisa was turning him away. Angry, he turned to the door and instead of leaving, he slammed the door shut.
Shocked, Malisa walked over to open the door again, but Arun caught her along the way and picked her up and carried her to the bedroon. Malisa cried, shocked at his reaction and beated on his shoulder, as she scrambled to free herself.
But Arun held her firmly, as he opened her bedroom door and flung her onto the bed.
“Are you crazy!” Malisa cried out as she sat up on the bed, recomposing herself.
Arun was heaving in anger. She tried to get off the bed, but Arun pushed her back onto the bed.
“Perhaps I am not making myself clear, Malisa,” Arun started, as he bent down to level his eyes with hers. “You are my wife, and you have no right to be with any other man!”
He looked down at her body and back to her shock face.
Malisa was upset. How dare he came and tell her things that no longer were true? She wanted to hurt him for all the pain he put her through. How could he come and claim her as if they were still married? Before she could stop herself, she remarked, “Rawit may be inlove with me…”
Arun’s eyes narrowed angrily. She knew her words provoked him, as he grabbed the back of her head and pushed his lips to hers possessively.
She was shocked at the pressure he held her as his lips pressed on. Before she could stop him, he pushed her onto the bed and covered her body with his.
Malisa tried to push him off her. But he refused to allow her to move as he kissed her passionately, as if he needing to feel her. His hand finally left her arm to unbutton her blouse, and Malisa cried in shock.
“Arun, stop! Are you crazy?!”
Her hand came out to ward him away from her blouse but he continued to unbutton her blouse until it was all undone and he pushed it to the side. His lips finally left her lip, as he moved to look at her naked body beneath him. Her breast was still protected by the bra.
Quickly, he slipped his hand inside her bra, and grabbed one of her breast. Malisa groaned, and pushed him away as hard as she could, but he covered her mouth with his again.
“Arun, stop!”
His lips covered her neck and slowly moved down toward the top of her breast, as his hands pulled her bra aside. So much feeling welled up in her…good and bad…why was her body responding to him so much, yet her heart was tearing in two? A sob escaped her lips as a tear dropped down her face.
Arun stopped. He knew he wanted her, but he didn’t want to see her hurt.
He finally stopped and looked into her eyes. She refused to look at him, her face was wet with tears.
“Please do not be with Rawit anymore,” Arun whispered almost caringly, his breathing hard.
Malisa’s heart melted. She wanted to believe that Arun still cared for her.
“You have no right to tell me what to do,” Malisa stubbornly retorted, still refusing to look at him.
Arun swept her hair off her forehead lovingly and bent down to kiss it.
“I’m telling you because I don’t want Amy to have any more problems with you.”
Malisa’s heart felt hurt. So he was doing this all for his sister? She pushed him off of her and sat up and finally looked at him angrily. She quickly dried her tears and covered herself up.
“If you cared so much about your sister’s feelings, then why don’t you send Rawit back home to her?!”
Arun looked at her in disbelief. He grabbed her in frustration.
“Why don’t you understand what I am asking of you, Malisa?!”
She pushed him away again, wiping more of her hurt tears. Why was her heart so hurt still?
“I understand fairly well, Mr Suriyakarn. You think I am not worthy of Rawit and your circle of high-so,” she remarked upsettingly. “But I can tell you that I rather have a common person like Alex in my bed then any high-so men in your circle.”
Arun narrowed his eyes angrily. Her words hurted him, and he wanted to lashed out, but he saw her trembling lips and tearful eyes. He reached out to touch her again, but she backed away, disgusted at him.
Her re-action hurted him and he hardened his heart. Wanting to hurt her as much, he replied, “If you’re that disgusted with me, then you don’t need to worry any longer. Next month, when my sister gets marry to Rawit, I will also be tying the knot afterward.”
Malisa looked at him in shock. Did he say he was getting married? She thought she felt her heart bleed, but she hid it well with a light smile.
“Congratulations…” she murmured pretentiously. Her head was getting light.
Arun did not look happy at her reaction.
Malisa quickly slipped past him to the living room to open the front door, but before she could, Arun caught her arms.
“Is that it? Are you so happy to get rid of me, Malisa?!”
She quickly wiped a tear that she did not want him to see, before turning to face him with a smile.
“We have no relationship with each other, Mr. Suriyakarn. Of course I should be happy for you…you are my client…” she replied, injuring him more.
Shocked, Arun whispered, hurtfully, “Is there really no more love in you for me, Malisa?”
Malisa’s heart felt like dying. Did she love him or was she hurt that a love that could have been, had gone so wrong and ended up hurting her so much?
Malisa pulled her arm away from him.
“I never loved you,” Malisa spatted, angry that his life was so complete with a family, while she had no one. “Even when we were young, it was never love…just childish affection…”
Arun swallowed painfully. He thought his heart was dying.
Malisa smiled wickedly, pretending to be happy.
“Theresa fits you well…but who knows…perhaps you and Theresa may marry ahead of your sister…” Malisa grinned slyly. “Because Rawit may cancel the wedding and marry a low-so girl like me. Wouldn’t that hurt your sister much?”
Arun’s eyes narrowed angrily. He walked up to her and placed his eyes firmly to hers, that she almost could hear his heart beat.
“I will guarantee you that Rawit will not cancel the wedding…my sister will be married next month, Malisa,” Arun spoke to her so firmly and surely, that Malisa’s heart almost stopped.
Arun was upset with her, so he continued, “Even if Rawit doesn’t marry my sister, I doubt he will marry a low-so girl like you, Malisa. What can you provide him? Except to quench his thirst in bed…” Arun remarked forcefully, hurting her, “I did not know that you had stooped yourself so low to provide satisfaction to a man who would only use you and throw you away like a ragged doll. What? Have stealing 10 million dollar not made you shameful enough?”
Malisa’s hand came out to slap him, as hurtful tears streamed down her face, but Arun caught her wrist before her hand could injure him.
“As they say, once a low-so, always a low-so…” Arun remarked slowly, knowing the pain he was causing her.
Malisa thought her heart was going to burst out in pain, as she raised her other hand to him, but he grabbed it, as if expecting her to hit him again.
Before she knew it, he pulled her in and forcefully kissed her. But just as fast as he pulled her in, he pushed her away, and remarked, “I’m glad I had you then when you were still young and innocent.”
With that comment, he turned and opened her front door and walked out, leaving her heaving in tears and anger. She clenched her fist angrily as tears streamed down her face. She hated him with all her heart, and she would make sure his sister suffered the same fate as her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Malisa woke up in the middle of the night to a deep pain in her head. But it was the pain in her heart that she felt. Someone had put her in her pajamas, and she quickly turned to the side. But to her sorrow, it was empty. Arun was not sleeping beside her. He had not slept in the bed with her for months now.
She slowly sat up. Her tears kept coming down. She finally stood up and went to the closet to gather her things. After awhile, she opened her night stand drawer and pulled out the divorce papers.
Not wanting to think too much about it, she quickly signed it and placed her wedding ring on the signed document.
Without another thought, she silently left the room and the one house that she thought her heart belonged and could make as a home.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Malisa avoided Arun as much as she could for the next couple of days. And it seemed as if he did the same. Even when they saw each other at the ARS Building site, Arun didn’t acknowledged her, and she silently slipped away as if being closed to him was making her hard to breathe.
But when Rawit called, she picked up the phone and spoke to him sweetly. Rawit came and picked up Malisa for lunch, and she went with him spiting Arun. She didn’t see the facial expression on his face as he watched them silently and upsettingly.
Malisa was glad that he avoided her when she went to work on his house. It was coming along very well as well, as the house was in the stage of getting built and landscaped.
But when Malisa came home after work, her heart sank in pain. How could she continue to work for him when he marries Teresa? Could her heart contain the pain that she was carrying?
She thought of all the times they spent together, young and innocent and in love…how could their love have gone so wrong? Tears came down her face as she remembered the love they once shared…when they were young and innocent.
The ARS Building had two more months of building and Arun’s house would take another 3 months to finish building. Most of it didn’t need her to be there anyway, so in a months’ time she could request Mr Suriya to transfer her to another city.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“I’m leaving for the capital tomorrow morning, sweet Malisa…won’t you let me come and hold you tonight?” Rawit whispered, touching Malisa’s hand and kissing it.
A month had already passed, and Malisa knew it was Amy and Rawit’s wedding this weekend.
“Oh, Rawit. I will be so sad…” Malisa exaggerated. “I’m going to miss you so much.”
Malisa placed her head in his arms.
“You won’t forget me, will you?” Malisa sweetly remarked.
“Let’s go into my condo and spend the night there.”
“Promise me, you won’t forget me?”
“Of course not, sweet Malisa…”
Malisa raised her head and smiled.
“Then give me something from you as a token of your affection for me…and I will come to your condo tonight.”
Rawit looked around in his car, and then looked at his very expensive Patek Phillipe watch that Amy had bought him. He hesitated for a moment and then quickly took it off and gave it to her.
Malisa took it and smiled from cheek to cheek. She quickly gave him a peck on the cheek and replied slyly. “Let me finish my work tonight and I’ll drive over to your condo.”
Rawit looked ecstatic, excited that he would finally get to sleep with her, but thinking about how he would get his watch back from her as well.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Malisa waved as Rawit drove his car away. Her smile finally died when she turned back to her workplace and walked in. She felt Rawit’s hand crawling all over her body and she knew he wanted her, but she was not going to be at his place tonight. Instead after work, she packed up a suitcase and booked a flight back to the capital. She clenched Rawit’s watch in her palm as her thoughts wondered to him. She would leave for the capital tomorrow morning and make the Suriyakarn pay for the pain they gave her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Arun looked sad as he drove up to Malisa’s house. It was dark. Was she out with Rawit again, he wondered. He wanted to see her again, but a part of him wanted to let her go as well. After all, his mother was waiting for him at home to engage him to Teresa. And knowing his mother, in a month’s time, she would have their wedding prepared. And whether he liked it or not, he was going home early tomorrow morning for his sister’s wedding.
How could he marry Teresa, when his heart was somewhere else? Could he really let Malisa go?
Sadly, he drove the car away.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Leek drove the Mercedes car to pick up Arun from the airport in the early morning. He was very happy to see Arun back at the capital, because Mrs. Suriyakarn had been in a very bad mood lately.
Leek frowned as he saw Arun, also not looking very happy. He wondered what was wrong with his employers lately. Leek quickly grabbed his luggage. For some reasons, his bladder started to bother him. He shouldn’t have drunk all that soda waiting for Mr Suriyakarn.
Did he want to run to the bathroom first or wait almost an hour before they get to the Suriyakarn mansion? Leek, finally decided, that being old now, he didn’t want to take the chance of stopping somewhere else that he knew Mr Suriyakarn would not be happy to for him to use the restroom. The airport would be a better place to do it at.
Smiling nervously, Leek quickly knocked on the window and notified Arun that he needed to use the restroom. Arun nodded without a thought, as his head was somewhere else.
He was thinking of Malisa, and how much she made him upset the last month. How can he marry Teresa when he was just thinking of Malisa?
Frustrated, Arun looked out of the black window of the car to observe the many people that came out of the airport, and he thought he saw someone that looked like Malisa.
Arun frowned, even in the capital, she was still in all his senses. He was seeing things. Did he miss her that much? Arun turned away frustratingly. But when he looked back, his mouth almost dropped.
Standing on the curb just a few yards away from his car, was Malisa!
What was she doing here?!
Arun almost jumped out of the car, but Leek came back and got into the driving seat.
“I’m soo sorry, sir. There were many people there…”
Arun didn’t hear Leek’s remarked as he watched Malisa wave down a taxi and got in.
“Leek, I want you to follow that cab.”
Leek turned to look at the yellow cab that Arun was pointing to.
“Now!”
Leek quickly started the car, and followed the yellow cab that Arun pointed to. Who was he after, Leek wondered, focusing hard on the cab, as he saw how desperate Mr Suriyakarn looked in the back seat.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Malisa had turned her phone off as she knew Rawit would call her, but her plan had to go accordingly. She sat in the yellow cab. The sun was warming up nicely and she was ready to go to her hotel and rest up before she met Rawit again tonight.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Leek stopped the car at the Wonsakarn Hotel. Strange, Arun thought. He watched as Malisa got out of the taxi and walked into the luxurious hotel to the front desk. Pon Wasakarn was a good friend of him, and his family owned this beautiful hotel.
He continued watching as the receptionist gave Malisa her room key, and she walked away pulling her small luggage with her toward the elevator.
Just at that moment, his phone rang, his mother calling him.
He quickly signaled Leek to drive home, his mind on Malisa, wondering why she was in town, and hoping it was not related to his sister’s wedding.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Malisa stared at herself in the mirror. She had gone shopping and bought a sexy lingerie and some sleeping pills. It was near 8pm in the evening and she knew that Rawit was home preparing for the wedding tomorrow.
She quickly turned her phone on and not to her surprise were many voicemails from Rawit. She took a sigh and quickly dialed his phone.
“Hello..??!!”
His voice was angry and desperate.
“Rawit, dear…”
“Where were you last night, Malisa, I waited for you all night!”
“I was so overwhelmed with work last night, Rawit that I fell asleep at work…”
“I called you so many times, but you didn’t pick up!”
“My phone battery died, dearest…but I wanted to tell you something…please don’t be angry with me, my sweet Rawit,” Malisa sweetly replied. When Rawit calmed down, Malisa remarked, “I wanted to surprise you tonight. I am here in the capital.”
“What? Where are you?!”
“I want to give you a night you will never forget before your marriage tomorrow. Come and meet me at the hotel.”
“Which hotel are you at?”
“The Wongsakarn Hotel…I even bought a sexy lingerie…dear Rawit…I wanted to make up for missing last night,” Maiisa flirted, hoping he would agree to come.
There was silence at the other end of the phone for a moment, then Rawit replied, “I’ll see if I can drop by for a while tonight around—around 11pm.”
Malisa grinned happily.
“I’ll be waiting…my room number is 325.”
Malisa smiled as she hunged up her cell phone. Now all she needed was some wine.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rawit was right on time, as Malisa expected. She knew he wouldn’t miss an opportunity he thought she was going to give him.
She had prepared some wine and slipped in some crushed sleeping pills into the wine. She was in a sexy pale pink dress as she opened the door for Rawit, who grabbed her forcefully around the waist and tried to kiss her. But she turned away pretending to be shy and took him by the hand and brought him to sit on the bed.
She had laid the sexy lingerie on the bed for him to imagine, and to her satisfaction, it made him excited, and he pulled her to sit on his lap as he tried to kiss her.
“We have the whole night, Rawit. Let’s drink some wine for our night together…” Malisa tease. She quickly got of his lap and grabbed the wine she just poured. She gave him the one with the sleeping pills and bid him to drink with her.
He gulped it down quickly and took their glasses and put it on the table, wanting to kiss her again. She quickly stood up and giggled, pretending to flirt with him, “Let’s put some romantic music on…”
She walked over to her purse and grabbed her phone and slowly put music on. When she turned around, he grabbed her again and tried to pull her dress off, but she softly avoided his gesture and picked up the sexy lingerie on the bed.
“Let me go and take a shower and put this on and then we can play…” she sexily remarked, “Why don’t you lay down and relax and enjoy yourself here…and I’ll be right back…”
Rawit was heating up as he watched her wink at him and slowly left him to go into the bathroom. He quickly took off his shirt and laid on the bed. He was getting very hot watching her seductively move around him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Malisa locked the bathroom and placed her ear to the door. She had given him a good dose of sleeping pill that should get him to sleep right away.
After about 15 minutes, she slowly sneaked out of the bathroom to check. And to her relief, he was snoring. She called out his name, but he didn’t answer. She nudged him, but he didn’t move. Relief that he was knocked out, she quickly threw the lingerie into the trash. She knew that he would wake up in the morning again, but she was ready for him with another drink.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Amy was pacing the grand floor of the ballroom with her phone in her hand trying to call Rawit. Tears were coming down her face as the phone lead to Rawit’s voicemail.
“Where is he?!”
Rawit’s parents were anxious as well. It was 1pm and no sight of Rawit anywhere. The wedding was scheduled to start at 1pm and all the guests were already settling in their seats in the grand ball room.
Mrs. Suriyakarn was very upset, yelling at Rawit’s parents, and her security team to go and find Rawit. Arun sensed that Malisa being here had something to do with Rawit being missing…did she really convince him not to marry his sister? His eyes narrowed in anger. He quickly saw his friend Pon Wasakarn, and asked him to call his hotel to check if a “Miss Malisa Sontichai” was still checked in her room.
His friend Pon thought it was a strange request from Arun, but did as he was told.
“The receptionist says Miss Sontichai is still in room 325. She booked the room until tomorrow,” Pon remarked.
Arun knew Malisa was up to something. He watched as his sister fidgeted in anxiety and fear as the crowd looked at her wondering where her groom was.
The security team came in and notify the Suriyakarns that Rawit had was not in his hotel room, nor had anyone seen him this morning. He had left a note that he went to get a wedding gift for his new bride but never returned.
Amy cried into her mother’s arms.
Just then her phone rang, and to her delight, it was from Rawit. Amy quickly picked it up as everyone else gathered around her.
“Rawit, where are you?!” Amy desperately remarked.
But instead of Rawit’s voice, it was Malisa’s.
“Rawit will not be coming to his wedding…”
“Who is this?!”
“I am the ‘low-life’ that you kicked out of your house 6 years ago.”
Amy screamed.
“Malisa! How dare you!”
“Rawit will not be coming to the wedding…as he spent the whole night with me and is more satisfied with me then a high-so girl like you,” Malisa replied.
“I don’t believe you!” Amy cried out. Her mother and Arun came to hold her. Arun looked angry as he heard Malisa’s voice continue, “I can send you a picture of Rawit then if you don’t believe me.”
He heard the phone text ring, and Amy desperately opened up the text message and saw a picture of a naked Rawit sleeping.
Amy screamed and threw the phone at the ground. The whole crowd started to get louder and louder as they wondered what was happening.
Arun quickly asked an elder to notify the guest that the wedding had been postponed and to apologize for them to leave, and had the security team bring his mother and sister back home.
While he went out angrily and drove his car to the Wongsakarn Hotel.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Arun had never driven this fast before. It took him half the time it would naturally take him to reach the Wongsakarn Hotel. He burnt his tires as he stopped infront of the hotel, and not to his surprise Malisa was checking out.
He angrily got out of his car and approached her as she walked out of the front door of the hotel. She looked surprise to see him, but grinned satisfactorily when she saw how angry he looked. He was dressed in a shining black suit that made him look exceptionally handsome…but his eyes were enraged.
He grabbed her luggage and hand and dragged her to the car. He opened the door and shouted, “Get in!”
She touched her wrist in pain. He had never been this aggressive to her, she thought. She looked into his eyes and saw something that scared her. He looked like he wanted to murder her.
Calming herself and thinking she was just seeing things, she remarked, “I have a plane to catch. I don’t have time for any business chat with you.”
Arun narrowed his eyes angrily and walked up to her until she could feel his breath on her face.
“Get in the car or I will embarrass you as you have done my family today.”
His eyes wandered to her heaving chest, and she quickly stepped back and brought her arms up to shield her chest as if she was naked. Swallowing hard at what to do and not wanting to fight him in public, she slowly got into the car unwillingly.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Malisa held her breath as Arun drove the car off, speeding as if they were on a race track. She glared at him angrily, knowing also how angry he was with her.
“Where are you taking me? I have a plane to catch!”
Arun didn’t look at her or reply to her question. Malisa looked to the lock at her door. She knew she would get injured if she opened the door and jump out. That would be crazy…but would it be crazier to stay in the car?
As if sensing her thoughts, Arun grabbed her wrists with one of his hand tightly, not allowing her to touch the door.
“Let me go, you bastard!”
But he held her tighter.
Frustrated, Malisa finally replied again, “Where are you taking me?!”
Arun finally replied.
“You’ve always wanted a beach house, didn’t you? So I bought one, and I’m taking you to see our beach house!”
“Our beach house?! Are you crazy?!” Malisa remarked in surprise. “We’re no longer married!”
Her words seemed to upset him more, and he pressed the gas on the car. Malisa had to hold her breath, fearful that any moment they may crash.
It was almost an hour before he turned the car into a neighborhood and came upon a beach house. It was beautiful, surrounded by plants and banana trees, making it look hidden from the other houses.
Arun parked the car abruptly and got out around to where she was. He opened the door and grabbed her arm and pulled her out roughly. He dragged her into the house cruelly and even though she protested and cried out in pain, he continued pulling her through the house until finally he came into a large bedroom, and threw her onto the bed.
“Have you gone mad!” Malisa cried, her wrist hurting as she sat up on the bed. He was treating her like a ragged doll and she didn’t like it at all. There was a tinge of fear in her heart as she looked into his fierce eyes.
He pulled his tie off his neck angrily and threw it onto a chair, and then he took of his suit jacket and threw it at the same place.
Malisa looked in fear as he angrily took his clothes off, until he was bare-chested. Then as he unbuttoned his pants, Malisa fearfully scrambled off the bed and ran to the door, but he grabbed her waist and slammed the bedroom door shut. He threw her back onto the bed and went to lock the door.
There was a lock near the top of the door and he knew she would not be able to reach it without a chair, and he locked it.
“What are you doing, Arun! Stop this madness!” Malisa remarked getting off the bed and moving away from him as far as she could. Seeing his naked chest, was making her fear but also made her body tingle with some sort of warmth that she did not like it.
He slowly took his pants off…and then his underpants. And she thought she would faint. She had not seen him for a long time, and now he was fully naked in front of her and she couldn’t put her eyes on him or what he was showing her intimately.
He walked closer to her, his manhood in front of her.
“I have been too kind to you, Malisa…”
“What are you talking about?!” Malisa remarked, fearful, as he approached her closer and closer until her back touched a wall. And he covered her body with his. She felt his chest and warmth…and his manhood pressing against her, and she squinch in protest.
Her hands came up in retaliation and pushed him as far as possible, as she tried to run away once more. But he grabbed her waist and threw her onto the bed.
She cried out as her back hit the bed with him on top of her.
“Stop, Arun–!”
But she didn’t get far with her words, before he covered her lips with his roughly. Her hands couldn’t push him or do him any injury as he seemed to be glued to her. Before she could think, he quickly encircled her waist and rolled her on top of him and quickly unzipped her dress.
Shock at his swiftness, her hands tried to stop him but he rolled her back onto the bed with him on top and pulled her dress down. Her words of protest did nothing, as he continued to pulled her dress down to her waist until only her bra was showing.
He didn’t let her protest any further, as he covered her mouth with his and moved his hand beneath her bra and grabbed one of her breast. Malisa let out a moan, trying hard to deny the feeling of her body’s needs. His lips traveled to her neck and slowly moved to the top of her breast.
Greedily, he pulled her bra off and covered one of her nipples with his mouth. Malisa groaned in ecstasy. She had to stop him or her body was going to betray her. Her hands came up to push him away, but he seemed like a rock above her.
His mouth turned to the other nipple and sucked it greedily, driving her crazy. Before she knew it, he pulled her clothes off her. She felt his pulsing manhood near her, and almost as much as he needed it, she allowed him to enter her. But his need was too much and he entered too quickly.
It had been a long time that she had laid with him, and she felt as if his huge manhood was tearing her apart, as if she was still a virgin. It hurted for a moment.
Arun seemed to sense her pain and stopped. His kisses became gentler.
“Malisa…I’ve missed you much…” he whispered, as he kissed her lips, neck and breasts. He continued suckling her nipples and felt her loosen up. He slowly entered again, and felt her ease up. It had been a long time, since he had been inside of her and it felt so warm, he didn’t want to leave at all.
But his need was great, as he had waited for her for a long time. So he thrust deeply inside of her and groaned. He wanted her so much, as he gathered her in his arms and continued kissing her.
He began to rock her and looked at her face, her lips slightly parted in ecstasy. She moaned as he sucked on her breast again, pleasuring her. He needed her so much, that his pace fastened. He wanted to feel her so much as when they were first married and inlove. He wanted her to love him…
With that thought, he entered her one last time and spilled his seeds into her. His body shook as he stared down at her beautiful face. Her eyes were closed. They were both wet from the lovemaking. He knew she hadn’t been satisfied, but that would come later, he thought. For now, his need was satisfied, and he was happy that she had not laid with Rawit.
He fell on top of her, making sure he didn’t squash her. He still was inside her and didn’t want to leave yet. He wanted to make his claim on her and would make sure she knew that she was his. He closed his eyes to relax, but to his surprised, she pushed him away and tried to get up.
He grabbed her waist and pinned her back down onto the bed.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
Malisa swept a tear from her face. Her back was towards him.
“I have a plane to catch,” she remarked coldly. “If you are satisfied, I would like to leave.”
Arun pulled her to his naked body possessively.
“I am not satisfied. We still have a lot to talk about.”
Angry at his words and what he had done, Malisa tried to pry his arms of her waist upsettingly.
“Let me go, you monster!” Malisa cried, with tears streaming down her face. “Haven’t you assaulted me enough?”
Arun shook her and turned her to face him.
“Monster?! Who is the one who drugged a man from his own wedding?!”
“He came willingly!” Malisa cried, “If I had not drugged him, he would have done the same to me as what you just disgustingly did!”
Arun shooked her angrily.
“You lured him to see you so that you could drug him to miss his wedding, Malisa! Don’t think that I don’t know what you did! Why must you cause so much problem?!”
Malisa glared at him in disbelief.
“Me? Causing problem?! I did not steal your $10 million! I did not lie to you or cheated with another to cause our marriage to break up!” Malisa cried, tears streaming down her face. All her hurt was coming out and she wanted to scream it all to him. “You promised my aunt you would love and take care of me and you lied! All your words you’ve promised me to protect me were all lies! And now you’ve taken my body as if it’s yours to take!”
Her hands came out to pound on his chest angrily.
“I hate you, Arun! I hate you so much!”
Arun grabbed her wrist angrily and pressed them beside her head.
“I’ve forgiven you for all you’ve done in the past, Malisa. I am also willing to forgive you for what you just did!”
She looked at him in disbelief, “I’ve not done anything wrong in the past to need your forgiveness. And now what I’ve done does not need you to forgive me…I’ve enjoyed the pain I’ve caused your mother and sister as they have once did that to me.”
“Malisa–!” Arun was not happy with her words.
“What?! Do you think I am the stupid, innocent Malisa in the past who won’t retaliate?”
Malisa jeered at him.
“Perhaps I should call Teresa up to come and see what you have done to me here…then enjoy her pain as well. Will she marry you now if she knew you’ve slept with another woman—right before your engagement?!”
Arun angrily pressed his lips to hers, kissing her roughly and silencing her. Malisa moved her face to the side to avoid his further assault. But her eyes open in shock, as she felt his manhood hardened again. He continued to kiss her neck, his hands finally releasing her wrists as they went to grab her breasts. His lips took her nipples again, and she tried to push him away.
“Stop, Arun–!”
He looked at her and grinned, “I thought you wanted to call Teresa to see what I’ve done to you? So let me continue…”
He greedily pushed her legs apart with his knees, and before she could protest, he entered her again.
It seemed like nightfall when Arun finally laid on the bed and fell asleep, satisfied and tired after their lovemaking. Even Malisa was tired as she allowed his arm to be around her waist and fell asleep beside him.
Malisa spent all her times working on the ARS International building with Rawit. The building was ready to be built and Malisa was excited for it to come into fruition after 6 months of planning.
One day when she was in conference with Rawit, Arun and Theresa, a very jealous Amy came storming into the room and before Malisa could react, slapped her.
“How dare you try to cheat with my fiancée!” Amy replied angrily, as Rawit came in time to pull her back at attacking Malisa more.
Malisa held her cheek in pain and surprise as Arun came beside her to hold her.
“What are you doing?! Have you gone crazy?!” Arun shouted at his sister angrily.
“Theresa called and told me that your ex-wife is trying to hook up with my fiancée!” Amy shouted at Arun, looking at Malisa in disgust, “I’m just teaching her, her place…this lowly dog!”
Malisa face burned with anger. Though she felt the sting on her cheek, she walked up to Amy and slapped her, shocking everyone as well. Amy screamed and tried to attack Malisa, but Rawit held her back.
“The next time you hit me again, I will press charges on you, as well as make sure the news report on your lowly behavior!” Malisa spatted angrily, “Let’s see how your hi-so face will look in jail!”
“How dare you–!” Amy screamed and tried to push Rawit away to hit Malisa, but Rawit pulled her back and dragged her out of the room screaming and shouting. “You are a dog that no one wanted! Even my brother threw you out in the street and you’re begging for some food now from my fiancée–!”
Malisa burned in anger as Rawit dragged Amy out of the room until only she, Arun and Theresa was left. Theresa smiled in triumphant and walked out of the room grinning from ear to ear.
The room became silent then, until Arun’s hand came out to touch her burning cheek. Malisa flinched away. A tear dropped from her eyes, but she turned away and wiped it quickly, hurt at the words that Amy spoke.
“Let me look at your cheek,” Arun spoke gently, holding onto her.
Malisa turned to face him boldly.
“My welfare is no concern of yours, Mr Suriyakarn,” Malisa remarked sarcastically. “I am used to animals attacking me and making me their prey and scapegoat.”
Malisa turned to go, but Arun held onto her arm.
“I am concern, Malisa,” Arun remarked. “I have been concern for you for a long time now…”
More tears fell from her eyes at his gentle words, but she quickly wiped them away, and faced him unemotionally.
“I don’t need your concern. I can take care of myself. You should be more concern about your relationship with your fiancée and hi-so status,” Malisa remarked, and pulled her arms free and walked out of the room.
Arun watched as she left him there. He sighed worriedly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Malisa stared at herself in the mirror. Her left cheek was red from earlier.
Amy had done too much for her to forgive her.
Her thoughts wandered back to the days when Arun brought her to live with them in the mansion as his wife. There were days when Arun wasn’t home, and Amy and some maids would come to bully her. She would hide her tears and bruises from Arun because she had not wanted Arun to have trouble with his family.
Amy had tore some of her portraits that she created and messed their bedroom to make it seem like Malisa was lazy and a bad wife. Arun had been forgiving, until the $10 million necklace she bought his mother. Even to this day, she couldn’t believe how stupid she was to think she could buy her mother-in-law’s love.
Amy had created so much friction in her marriage, excusing her of having an affair and stealing the $10 million. How can she forgive a person as her?
And now, she was still the same bully and vicious person, attacking her in daylight and infront of Arun. Malisa thought of her plans. She was going to hurt Amy as much as Amy had hurted her life. How can she forgive her now after what happened today?
She vengefully comb her hair and thought of her plans.
Just at that moment, her phone rang and to her delight it was Rawit.
“How are you doing, Malisa love?”
“I miss you so much, Rawit…” Malisa sweetly lied. “If only you are here to hold me, my pain will go away.”
“I will come to your home, my sweet Malisa,” he replied, “Just tell me where it is.”
“What about Amy, Rawit?”
“Amy is flying back to the capital so she won’t hurt you anymore, my beautiful Malisa.”
Shocked to hear that, Malisa remarked, wondering how that came to be. “You are such a gentlemen to protect me from your fiancée…I hope it didn’t make you have any problems with her?”
“No,” Ravit remarked, “Arun was the one who sent her home. He was very upset with Amy and threatened to send her to jail himself if she ever did this again. I think I’ve never seen him this angry before…. I didn’t even need to do much. Even Theresa is back at the capital now–”
“Theresa?” Malisa remarked, surprise at the whole situation.
“Yes, Arun dropped them both off at the airport. Arun was very upset with Theresa gossiping to Amy, and forced her to return to the capital.”
Ravit paused and then continued, “Let me come and hold you for tonight, by sweet Malisa?”
Just then the doorbell rang and Malisa went to see who it was.
To her surprise, Arun stood out there.
“Ravit, dear. Let me call you back…” Malisa quickly hung up the phone, ignoring his last words, and opened the door.
Arun stood out there holding onto bags of grocery.
He immediately barged in without her approval, surprising her and laid the bags on her kitchen counter.
“What are you doing here?” Malisa remarked, annoyed that he came into her home without her approval.
“I came to cook for you,” he replied as he took out the groceries from the bags.
“I can cook for myself,” Malisa remarked.
Arun ignored her and continue cleaning the vegetables in the sink. He turned and smiled at her, as he cut the vegetables and took out her pots and pans.
“Do you not have any pots that I can use?” he chided.
Annoyed, she went and got out the other pots.
He gave her a huge smile and thanked her, and continued cutting the vegetables and meat
“Are you not afraid your fiancée will be upset with what you are doing here?”
Arun grinned and remarked, “You women are soo possessive about what and where we men do and go? Do we not have a say in what we want to do?”
Malisa frowned, and sarcastically replied, “How ironic that when we were married, you were spending most of your times with Theresa…and now it is reverse…”
Malisa almost looked depress, but Arun was in a happy mood instead.
“Theresa and I never spent our times like yours and mine,” he blatantly replied with a smile, and continued, “For comparison, I never cooked for Theresa”
He gazed at her and gave her a wink. Though it should have made her happy, his presumptuous attitude made her more upset.
To her luck, the phone rang with Rawit’s caller id. She had forgotten about him. Quickly, picking it up, she sweetly greeted him, wanting to spite Arun.
“I’m so sorry I forgot about you, dear Rawit,” Malisa pretended.
Malisa smiled as Arun looked at her with a frown.
“You want to come over? I would be delighted–!”
Before she could say more, Arun came up to her and took the phone from her hand and ended the call.
“How dare you–!”
Before she could curse at him, he placed his lips on hers quickly stopping her words and surprising her. Then as quickly as he came, he went back to the kitchen with her phone and placed it on top of the refrigerator.
“You shouldn’t be flirting with a man who is going to get marry soon.” Arun lectured her.
Malisa was still shocked with the quick kiss, that his words weren’t clear to her. When it was, she mischievously replied, “Perhaps I am attracted to men who are taken…”
Arun looked at her and frowned.
“The Malisa I know is not a trouble-maker or home-breaker.”
Malisa was not happy with those words. Afterall, wasn’t she in a relationship broken up by home-breakers?
“She is no longer the Malisa you know,” she harshly remarked, challenging him.
When he didn’t but ignored her words and continued cooking, she got more upset. She wanted to bate him, and get him angry, but somehow he seemed light and happy today.
She watched as he continued cooking, almost humming to himself.
Her thoughts went to her conversation with Ravit earlier, mentioning what Arun did with Amy and Theresa. Her heart suddenly felt light as she watched him, and her mind wandered back to the times when they were still inlove.
They both would cooked in the kitchen together and tease each other. He would kiss her and try to get more out of her. They were young and happy, and there were no stress of responsibilities to anything and anyone.
She wondered how he must have felt when he had to take over his crumbling family company. He must have suffered much? Was she to blame as well? To cause so much trouble for him?
“I bought an ointment for you too for your cheek.”
Malisa awoke from her thoughts and turn to see Arun coming towards her. His hand reached out to touch her cheek and rubbed the ointment on it.
She allowed him as she looked at his face. He was still handsome as when she first fell in love with him, but his eyes looked more grown-up now.
“Does it hurt?”
Malisa looked into his eyes and shook her head slowly.
He smiled and replied, “I am sorry for what happened. I should have protected you…”
Malisa couldn’t reply. She wanted to believe that he was sincere but it was hard for her to trust him.
He turned back to the kitchen and remarked, “I cooked your favorite dish, and some more…”
He started setting up the table and placed all the dishes on there. Then when it was complete, he pulled a chair for her.
She gazed at the 3 dishes that he cooked. They all smelled delicious as he gave a spoonful of each dish to her. He watched as she tried them and was delighted when she told him that it was delicious.
Malisa couldn’t feel the pain on her cheek anymore, as her heart was feeling something that she was afraid to have. So after dinner, she allowed Arun to clean up as she went to clean herself up to get ready for the night.
She came out and watched Arun happily cleaning her kitchen, and she felt some bittersweetness in her heart, wondering why Arun was treating her so nicely. She finally remarked, “What do you want from me?”
Arun paused and looked at her sad face. Slowly, he came up to her and held her arms and whispered, “I want you to be happy.”
He led her to the sofa and sat them down.
“I don’t want you to be sad or mad, Malisa,” Arun gently replied, as he caressed her hair. “I want you to be loved and appreciated.”
Malisa looked at him suspiciously.
Arun caressed her cheek, the injured one, and continued, “There is so much I want to say to you, but I don’t know if this is a good time.”
Malisa frowned and replied, “I only work on your projects, Mr Suriyakarn. You don’t need to share anything about yourself with me.”
Arun shook his head gently and smiled, “There is much I haven’t said to you in the past, that I need to tell you and even more…”
He paused, and caressed her hair. He gazed into her eyes and slowly bent down to try to kiss her, but she turned away.
“You’ve come to do your part…will you be leaving now?” she quickly replied, her heart beating very fast.
Arun smiled. He pretended to yawn and stretched himself out on the sofa.
“I think I’ll just take a nap here,” he remarked, ignoring her horrified look.
She quickly came and nudged him back up.
“You have your own place…please go and sleep there instead.”
Arun pretended to fall onto her, and encircled his arms around her.
“But this is where I want to sleep tonight,” he teased.
She tried to remove his arms around her but he held her tightly around the waist.
“Dear wife, won’t you let me sleep here?”
Horrified, she tried to push him away as he teased her.
“I am not your wife, Arun!”
He pulled her against him and fell onto the sofa with her on top of him. He smiled as he held her tightly down on his chest.
“Sleep, Malisa,” he ordered lovingly as he tightened his hold on her.
She tried to push off him but he rolled her onto the sofa beside him. Then he closed his eyes as if tired.
She was squeezed between the sofa and him, so after struggling for a while, she stopped and looked at him.
He did seem to look very tired, as he slept beside her. She felt his heart beating strongly and his breath deep and slow. For one moment, she wanted to touch his face again.
She studied his tired brows and peaceful face. Why did her heart move so much in his arms? Did she really miss him?
So instead of waking him up, she allowed him to sleep and she also closed her eyes and doze off dreaming about their once upon love.
It felt so right to be in his arms. She’ll think about how wrong it would be to be with him tomorrow, she thought, as she allowed herself to be held in his arms.
~~~~~~~~~
The morning felt so relaxing, as Malisa woke up, realizing she was still in Arun’s arms. She gazed at his face and saw how relax he looked. His scent gave her sweet memories as she remembered those times she spent in his arms.
She tried to squeeze herself out of his arms and sit up, but it awoken him and he opened his eyes to view her sitting up on the sofa. Slowly, he yawned and sat up with her.
He caressed her cheek and smiled, and replied, “Did you have a good rest, Malisa?”
She nodded shyly and quickly got up to go to clean up. Somehow she couldn’t look at him this morning…she felt very shy. But she had to get ready for work in 2 hours, so she used this opportunity to avoid him.
Her heart was skipping really fast and she had to calm herself down. Why did she feel so light-hearted today? Was it because she was falling inlove again with Arun?
When she got dressed and came out, to her surprise and dishearten, Arun was gone. But he left her a letter at the door.
My love,
Thank you for allowing me to sleep here. I will see you at the office today.
With love,
Arun
Malisa smiled and placed the note close to her heart. Her heart was smiling in contentment.
~~~~~~~~~
There were a dozen missed calls from Rawit last night, Malisa saw on her phone. So she gave him a call this morning to apologize.
Rawit was upset but wanted to take her out for lunch. She quickly accepted, even though a part of her heart was thinking of Arun.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Malisa did not know where to go anymore. In one month’s time, she would have to find a place to go. Where would she go when she no longer had any family? Tears flowed down her eyes and to make matters worse, the sky thundered and rain.
She almost didn’t feel the cold and stinging of the rain. It mixed with her tears and the pain in her heart. And she kept walking, with pain all over her body and mind. Where was she to go?
It was dark, when she finally came back to the mansion. To her surprise, Arun was home. He stood at the top of the staircase waiting for her.
“Where did you go?! Do you know what time it is?!”
Malisa was numb, and cold. She was dripping wet from head to toes. She couldn’t look at his eyes after seeing him earlier with Theresa, and hearing their conversation.
She walked passed him, but he grabbed her arms and forced her to look at him.
“How can you go out this late and make me worry about you?!”
She finally looked at him coldly.
“Why would you care where I go when we are getting a divorce soon?” she replied coldly.
He looked in disbelief at her words.
“So you want to divorce then?” he remarked.
She couldn’t reply. In truth, it wasn’t what she wanted, but there was so much pain in her heart.
“I will grant you your wishes to marry Theresa,” Malisa replied after a moment, a tear streamed down her face, but it was hard to tell, when she was dripping wet.
Arun looked upset.
“So you no longer want our marriage?” he remarked firmly. “So you are letting go?”
She glared at him angrily.
“Isn’t that what you want, Arun Suriyakarn? Isn’t that why you gave me the divorce paper?! Isn’t that why you’ve spent all your time with Theresa, a perfect hi-so wife?!”
Malisa tried to leave. She was upset.
“You know I am working hard to bring my company back on top, Malisa,” Arun shouted as she tried to go into the house. “You know that there is much on my shoulder! Why can’t you understand this?”
Malisa stopped and turned to look at him disgustedly.
“I understand very well what you want, so you don’t need to insult me anymore! We haven’t talked for months now, nor had a decent conversation as husband and wife…What more do you want to say?” she cried, thinking about the words he said earlier to Theresa. “I know you no longer love me and that you will be kicking me out of this house…what have I done to deserve this treatment from you?! Have you forgotten your promise to me?!”
Malisa’s head was getting dizzy as she cried her heart out to him.
“Do you know that I have no family anymore!? Is it because of this that you think you can throw me out whenever you no longer love me?! How can you treat me worse than an animal?! Didn’t you promise me that you will love me and be the family I never had? How can you break your words, Arun–! ”
Malisa held her head in pain. She saw Arun’s worried look as he came towards her to hold her. But her vision was getting blurry. She pushed against him and cried out, “Do you think I am so low that I would beg you to keep me here?! How can you think so low of me?! How can you hurt me this much! I hate you, Arun! I hate your lies! I hate your promises! I hate everything you’ve said to me! How can you hurt me so much?! How can you? And you don’t even trust me! How can my heart be hurt this much! I hate you, Arun! I hate you—”
Before she could finish her line, Malisa blacked out.
Arun caught her as she fainted. His face was worried.
~~~~~~~~~~
To Malisa’s delight, there were a dozen roses at her desk from Arun. She was very happy and smelled the flowers in joy.
The ARS building was in construction and so she could focus more on Arun’s house.
Her heart was light and she was humming the whole morning when the phone rang and Rawit called to pick her up for lunch. The day had passed quickly she thought.
She stood up and got her purse. She was wearing a peach dress that flowed down to above her knees.
When she got outside to the curb, Rawit was parked out there waiting for her with some flowers. He gave them to her in delight, but to her surprise, Arun drove up behind Rawit’s car and got out of his car.
“Arun, I did not know you were going to be here today,” Rawit remarked surprisingly.
Arun looked disapprovingly at them.
“I came to pick Malisa up for lunch,” Arun remarked firmly, annoyed to see Rawit.
“Oh,” Rawit looked surprise, as he glanced to Malisa confusingly.
She smiled at him and looked to Arun pleasingly, “I am sorry, Mr Suriyakarn, but Rawit was the one who contacted me for lunch first.”
Rawit gleamed in joy, as Arun looked at her displeasingly.
Rawit quickly went to open the door for her. But as Malisa passed Arun, he grabbed her wrist.
“Don’t do this, Malisa. You’ll only create more problems between you and Amy.”
Malisa smiled, pleased at his words. She gently removed her hand from his hold, and replied, “Why would you think that, Mr Suriyakarn? I am only returning the same gesture as what your sister gave me.”
With those words, she turned away, flashed Rawit a charming smiled, and entered his car.
Rawit looked at Arun in triumph as he got into his car and drove away.
Arun looked at their departure displeasingly. His face was dark and upsetting.
Malisa sat on the bed with tears on her face as she looked at the divorce paper on her hand. Arun no longer loved her, she whispered to herself.
For days, she stayed in her room, unable to eat, crying and thinking about the divorce paper. She visited her aunt, wanting to share her grievances and look for an arm to hold her in comfort, but couldn’t when she saw her aunt’s illness getting worse. Who was she to share her sorrow with? Even when Arun knocked on her door and asked for her to open the door, she couldn’t answer him.
“Malisa, your aunt is in the hospital.”
When she finally heard her aunt’s name, she quickly dried her tears and opened the door. Arun stood out there, looking as depress as her as he repeated his words. She quickly got her purse and walked out of the mansion towards the road to get a taxi, until Arun took her hand.
“I will drive you there.”
“No,” Malisa remarked, drying more of her tears. “We are going to get a divorce soon, so I don’t want to burden you anymore.”
Arun looked hurt and took her hands again.
“Malisa, your aunt is my aunt too. Please come with me,” he remarked gently.
She hadn’t heard him speak to her as gentle as this for a long time, she thought. Did he still love her? Knowing how important it was to see her aunt, she nodded her head and went with Arun.
When they got to the hospital, the doctor greeted them with bad news. Her aunt had lung cancer and was in its final stage. He warned Malisa that she didn’t have many days left.
Malisa cried even more, because her aunt was her only family left. She quickly went into the room and saw her aunt lying on the hospital bed, looking very pale. Arun came behind her and looked very sad.
Malisa came and cried onto her aunt’s arms and held her tightly.
“What is wrong, child?”
Malisa lifted her head up to look at her aunt’s kind face. She could feel her aunt’s spirit leaving her body, as it felt so weak.
“Don’t leave me, Aunt. I have no family but you in my life.”
Her aunt smiled gently and patted her head. Arun came beside them and sat next to Malisa.
“You have your husband, dear child. Don’t cry. “
Malisa looked to Arun and cried even more. How could she tell her aunt that Arun had requested a divorce? How much sorrow must she go through?
Her aunt’s hand came to touch Arun’s hand.
“Arun loves you, child. Don’t you, Arun?”
Arun nodded sadly, swallowing guiltily, as he remembered the divorce paper he gave her.
“Aunt…you’re my only family member,” Malisa cried, “Please be well…I still need you in my life.”
Her aunt only smiled and stroked her hair as she cried onto her aunt’s arm.
Arun tried to comfort her, but Malisa only kept crying.
~~~~~~~~~
For days, Malisa stayed and slept in the hospital with her aunt, hardly eating and growing thinner. A month later, her aunt finally gave her last breath, and Malisa cried until she couldn’t any more. Arun helped her with the funeral and stayed with her for all the days until the end.
Malisa stared into the fire where she said her last good bye during her aunt’s cremation. Her aunt’s last words rang in her mind as her aunt had felt something was wrong with their marriage when Malisa kept crying. “…not all marriage will be easy, dear child…there will be misunderstanding…there will be people coming in to break you up, but you have to fight for it if you want it…else why would you marry him…if not to spend your whole life with him?”
Beside her, Arun stood, and Malisa’s aunt’s last words to him, ranged in his ear: “Dear son-in-law, you must love Malisa for she will have no one after me. I know Malisa is very stubborn and fast-tempered , but only because she’s never had any family. She’s had to struggle on her own and though she won’t admit it, she’s also very vulnerable inside. You will be her only family now…so I ask that you remember that…and love her as her only family member…cause that is what she treasures the most…a family to love her.”
~~~~~~~~~~~
As Malisa came to the office the next day, there was a vase full of roses with a note from Arun. She had forgotten her phone in his car, and was going to call him from her work phone to ask it back. But the note told her another thing.
“Come to my condo at 5pm to discuss the project and join me for dinner.”
Malisa frowned. She did not want to go to such an intimate setting with him. Luckily, Rawit called her to meet with her about the ARS International building. Malisa quickly accepted.
Rawit was a play boy, as she learned, but it was easier then to charm him, she thought. She purposefully added more makeup and lowered her shirt to reveal some cleavage.
He stared at her cleavage the whole time as he flirted with her. Finally, he invited her over to his condo for dinner.
“I have to meet Arun tonight for another project. Why don’t you go with me?”
Rawit only happily accepted.
~~~~~~~~~~
Arun had been preparing dinner for Malisa. He wanted her to be please with his cooking that he had put so much effort in.
When the door bell ranged, he was so excited, that he forgotten to peep through the door hole to see who it was. He automatically opened the door and instead of Malisa, Theresa stood there.
“Hello, dear. What are you doing right now?” Theresa sweetly asked.
Arun tried not to look disappointed as he looked at his watch. It was only 4:45pm. He slowly closed the door as Theresa walked in happily.
“Are you cooking, Arun? It smells good!”
Arun quickly went and covered his food.
“What are you doing here, Theresa? What can I do for you?” he quickly remarked.
“I want us to go out tonight, Arun…it’s Friday and I want you to show me the town.”
Arun frowned.
“I have a meeting at 5 today, so I am not able to do that. How about tomorrow?”
Theresa frowned and placed her arms around his neck.
“Since I’ve been here, you have ignored me, not like when we were in the capital…you took me everywhere!”
“It was my mother’s request, Theresa,” Arun quickly remarked, looking at his watch again.
“Who are you meeting with?” Theresa suspiciously remarked, “Are you getting back with your ex-wife, Arun?”
Arun smiled at the thought.
“Malisa left you, Arun! And you still want her back?” Theresa did not look happy. “While I did everything and you are treating me like a guest?”
Just at that moment, the door bell ranged and Arun went to open it, ignoring Theresa’s remark. But to his distaste, Rawit stood out there with Malisa.
Arun looked unhappy as Theresa laughed at seeing them.
“My my my…don’t you two look nice together, Malisa and Rawit…I wonder what Amy will do if she found out about you two?”
Rawit frowned at her, while Malisa smiled.
“We are here for work only, Theresa, ” Malisa replied sweetly, pretending like she didn’t understand her message. “I didn’t know we were going to have a full house here.”
Malisa looked deviously at Arun and continued, “Mr Suriyakarn is so nice to invite us all for dinner.”
Theresa’s jaws dropped at hearing that Arun invited them for dinner but not her. She looked to Arun, but Arun didn’t say anything. He was annoyed that Rawit was next to Malisa.
Rawit childishly went to the kitchen and opened up the food.
“I didn’t know Arun could cook!” Rawit remarked, “Amy tells me you never cooked.”
Theresa was obviously angrier, but she hid it well.
“Well, I am hungry too, and wouldn’t mind some dinner,” Theresa chimed in as she went to sit on the sofa, with her back facing them, clearly upset.
Malisa smiled cunningly at Arun.
“Why don’t I leave these drawings here, and you can take a look at them afterward,” Malisa remarked, “I see you must want to spend time with your fiancée…so Rawit and I can go and eat somewhere else.”
Theresa looked delighted at Malisa’s words.
But as Malisa came to lay the drawings on Arun’s desk and turned to go, Arun grabbed her wrist.
“Dinner is already ready, so you will stay for dinner,” he remarked firmly, challenging her.
Her smiled died as she looked at his hand holding her wrist tightly. He smiled at her, as she stood frozen as to how to respond to him without causing a scene. Her thoughts wondered to why he would take the chance to upset Theresa, his fiancée.
Rawit grasped his hands together and replied, not realizing Arun and Malisa’s tension. “I am very hungry, Malisa, so since Arun already has dinner, let’s eat here.”
Arun grinned, and challenged her to reject his offer; after all, Rawit was not on her side. But he knew Rawit well, and Rawit had no money and would hardly be able to take Malisa out.
When Malisa did not challenge him, Arun slowly released her wrist.
He finally smiled and went into the kitchen to set up the table.
~~~~~~~~~
Malisa parked next to the hotel that Rawit was staying in, and turned to find Rawit looking at her sweetly. He took her hand into his hand.
“Won’t you come in, my sweet Malisa?” he whispered, as he kissed her hand.
Malisa had to hold back her cringed and instead smiled sweetly back.
“Rawit, you’re such a sweetheart, but I have to go back and finish some work for ARS International.”
“I can help you with that,” Rawit softly remarked.
Malisa smiled very deeply, and replied, “You’re too sweet, Rawit, but you already have a fiancée…”
Rawit smiled and kissed her hand again.
“That doesn’t mean anything,” he replied with puppy eyes, “You are here and you’re now the most important person in my life.”
Malisa pretended to look inlove and blush.
“Rawit, you’re making me fall inlove with you…” Malisa flirted.
“Come upstairs and be my love for tonight then?”
Malisa pretended to look at her watch.
“Oh, my, it’s already 11pm and I still haven’t finished that piece yet.” She looked to Rawit and sadly replied, “Let’s do another night.”
Rawit looked sad and after a moment, got out of the car and waved goodbye to her.
After Malisa drove away, she quickly wiped her hand on a tissue paper, and took a deep breath to release her disgust.
She knew Arun was angry with her for leaving with Rawit, but he couldn’t do anything because Theresa was in his condo. She wondered what they were doing now, alone, in his condo.
She quickly nudged the thought of her mind. She couldn’t think about that anymore, because he no longer meant anything to her.
Her heart felt a pinch of sadness as she drove home.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Arun looked out of the window angrily with his arms crossed on his chest.
He had taken Theresa home and he knew Theresa was upset with him. But his mind wandered to Malisa. How could she be with Rawit?
For some odd reason he felt she was purposefully doing this, but was it because of him or his sister, he wondered. He had wanted to talk to her nicely today and tell her some things.
He was sorry for the past…he was sorry for hurting her…and a most important thing…but now, he was upset with her.
He tried calling her, but she was not picking up. Angrily, he threw the cell phone on the sofa and looked gloomily out into the dark night.
~~~~~~~~~~
For days Malisa was dressed in black. Her mother-in-law and Amy kept taunting her to leave and sign the divorce papers. But Malisa couldn’t. She wanted to save her marriage, as her aunt had told her.
She made lunch and dinner for Arun and brought it to his office every day. They couldn’t speak to each other, each having their own thoughts.
Arun wanted to say sorry, but he couldn’t. And Malisa didn’t know what to say to him anymore. So she just dropped of the food and left quietly. She had begun to look for a job in architecture, and gone to many job interviews.
When Arun came home, his mother and sister whispered to him that she had been gone all day, all dressed up and had probably gone to see a new lover.
Arun was sad. He needed to clarify their marriage with her to ask if she still wanted to marry him? But he wasn’t ready to approach her. His company was getting better and he wanted to focus on that first. Once his company was back on its feet, he would have a good talk with her.
After two months, Malisa finally found a job, but it was in another town far away. She wanted to talk to Arun and asked him to allow her to go for a few months for an intern.
But when Malisa got to his office he wasn’t there. So being a good wife, she tidied up his office, and put his things away in his huge closet.
Just then, Arun walked in with Theresa, and Malisa stood frozen in the closet. The door was closed up enough for them not to see her.
“Arun, dear, I have already begun to prepare our wedding…when is your wife leaving your house?”
“I don’t know, Theresa. I am very busy right now to think about that.”
“But your mother told me you already asked her for a divorce?! And she still refuses to leave?! Does she have no shame?”
Malisa’s heart pounded in disbelief. She did not see the frown on Arun’s face.
“I have already picked out my wedding dress…and am just waiting for you to come tell my parents when our day will be…”
There was silence, and Malisa slowly peaked to see Theresa hugging Arun from behind as he sat in his desk looking at some paper. Her heart sanked at seeing their intimacy.
“You don’t love her anymore, so why don’t you just kick her out, Arun?”
There was silence, and then Arun remarked, “Give me a month, Theresa.”
Malisa’s heart almost cried out. A tear slipped down her eye. Was he truly going to kick her out in a month?
Theresa continued, “Amy tells me that your wife has a new lover…!”
Arun tried to pull her arms off him, uncomfortably. Finally Theresa let go and looked at the ring on her left finger.
“I love the ring your mother gave me. It is gorgeous! Aren’t you excited for our new life, Arun?!”
Malisa was feeling faint as her heart pounded in pain as she heard Arun remarked, “Even if Malisa and I divorce, I would not have time for another wedding…”
“Do you still love her, Arun?”
There was silence before Arun remarked, “No…Malisa and I no longer love each other…”
There were some exciting giggles from Theresa, just before the door open, and the secretary came in to tell Arun that Mr Thomas was in the meeting room waiting for him.
Arun thanked her and stood up and left the room with Theresa.
Malisa finally came out then, her heart felt dead and lifeless. She knew then that there was no point in saving her marriage anymore. It was obvious that Arun no longer loved her and was planning to go on with the divorce in a month’s time.
Mrs Suriyakarn was more upset each day that Malisa refused to leave Arun. And Amy, Arun’s sister was also very mean to her.
One day when Malisa was trying to cook dinner for Arun, Amy came in and trashed all her ingredients and supplies. Upset at what she did, Malisa fought with her and ended up slapping Amy. All their commotions had stirred up the maids and they reported it to Mrs Suriyakarn.
Mrs Suriyakarn called up her lawyer to draw up a divorce filing for Arun. And when Arun came home late that evening, she requested him to come to her room.
Amy was there crying and covering up her red cheek telling Arun that Malisa had been very bossy and slapped her, and that she was only trying to tell Malisa to cook the way Arun liked his food, and Malisa got upset with her and threw the foods at her. Mrs Suriyakarn demanded Arun divorce Malisa immediately and handed him the divorce paper.
~~~~~~~~~~
Malisa sadly walked into her house as she thought of the past. How could he say that he knew her heart? Didn’t they hurt each other because they didn’t trust each other’s heart?
She stared at her house, empty and without anyone waiting to smile at her. A tear slipped down her face.
~~~~~~~~~
Arun was exhausted. He was tired from work and problems at home were the last things he wanted to hear about.
But even with his mother demanding him to divorce Malisa, it was not what he wanted. But he was tired of fighting with both his mother and Malisa. He brought the papers with him to their bedroom and found Malisa there sitting on the bed, quickly wiping her face full of tears.
“Why did you fight with Amy today?”
Malisa was surprised that he came back to their bedroom, but she couldn’t believe her ears at his words. She felt that he already thought it was her fault.
“I didn’t purposefully fight with Amy, she came to fight with me…!”
“And why did you fight with her then?!” Arun was getting upset. He thought she should be smarter than to be involved with his sister who he knew didn’t like her.
Tears came down her face again at his harsh tone. Did he truly not love her anymore?
“If you think I am wrong already, then what else do you want me to say!?”
Arun was very upset.
“First you caused a huge problem for me at work, now you want to cause problems at home? Are you not tired at all, Malisa?!”
Tears came down her face at his cruel words.
“Why do you think so badly of me, Arun?! I am trying my best to be a good wife to you, but you constantly think I am doing bad!?”
“Is taking $10 million and almost causing your husband’s company to go into bankruptcy not bad? Fighting with your in-laws, is this not bad? Malisa, do you not have parents to teach you how to be a good person?!” Arun bit his tongue, knowing he shouldn’t had said those last words, as he saw more tears came down her face and knew that his words was making her more upset.
He knew that Malisa didn’t have any parents, and he had given his words to love her and be the family she didn’t have. Now he knew he was betraying his words to her and there was a glimmer of guilt in him as he threw those words at her. He wished he could take them back.
“I am not fortunate like you and Amy to have parents who lies to you! Or one who tries to manipulate my life until I no longer know what is right or wrong…” Malisa spatted angrily, “Your mother is a horrible person, who lied and manipulated your life until you hated me. She tried to kick me out of the house every time and calls me vulgar names! What kind of mother is she to act this despicable? And you expect me to tolerate this?!”
Arun should have been regretful of his words, but her words burned his heart at the insult of his mother, and he became very angry. Before he could stop himself, he threw the divorce papers on the bed.
“Well, now you don’t have to deal with my mother anymore, Malisa. You are free to go once you signed these papers!”
He turned around frustratingly, as he was not able to look at her as he couldn’t believe what he had just done.
Her face drained of colors as she looked at the papers lying on the bed. Her hand shook as she took them and read them.
She had to hold herself as she almost fainted from seeing the divorce filing. She couldn’t say anything as Arun frustratingly couldn’t listen to the silence anymore and walked out of the room.
~~~~~~~~~
Arun was silent as he stared out of the night sky of his condo. There was much in his mind. The cellphone rang and took his mind of his thoughts. He looked at the caller id and frowned.
“Hello, Mother, how are you doing?”
Mrs Suriyakarn did not sound happy on the end of the phone.
“You’ve been gone for a long time, Arun. When are you coming back? My future daughter-in-law is waiting for you and anxious…when are you going to propose to her?”
Arun cleared his throat uncomfortably.
“I have much work to do here, Mother. I cannot think about that for now.”
His mother was not happy.
“Do you not want to get married before I leave you all?” she started crying. “My only wish is to see my grandchildren and you won’t even give me that before I die…I am sick and almost ready to go…?”
Arun frowned. He knew his mother always tried to get him to do things for her out of pity.
“Amy is getting married in two months, Mother. She will be able to provide you with some grandchildren.”
Mrs Suriyakarn frowned.
“If you don’t come back home, then I am sending Theresa there to accompany you!”
Arun frowned, quickly replying, “No, Mother, I will come back when the project is stable.”
When Arun got off the phone, he did not seem happy. He knew there would be more trouble if his mother knew that Malisa was here.
~~~~~~~~~
For some reason Malisa was light-hearted today as she stared at the drawing she made for Arun of the house she dreamt of. It was coming along and she was very pleased with it. She had included the pond and bridge and plants of various species.
Today she was going over to the ARS International site to make sure that the site fitted well with her drawing. She needed Mr Juripol’s to confirm the drawing details.
To her surprise, Arun was there as well.
Arun requested a waterfall be added to the sign, and additional trees and glass windows.
Malisa quickly added the details, confirming with him.
As they finished, Malisa was about to leave, when Arun grabbed her hand and ask her to go to lunch with him. As Malisa looked into Arun’s eyes and was about to answer, she heard a voice that she despised.
“Arun!”
Malisa and Arun turned to find Amy coming towards them. Beside her was a young man…and a beautifully dressed Theresa.
When Amy saw Malisa, her face looked horrified. She quickly ran up to Arun and aggressively pulled her brother’s hand from Malisa’s.
“What is she doing here, Arun?!”
Arun frowned.
“What are you doing here?!”
Amy looked in disbelief at Malisa, before answering her brother.
“Mother wanted me to bring Theresa here to see you as well as get Rawit to work with you…” then she stared at Malisa coldly, “Why is she here?! I thought we got rid of her a long time ago!”
Malisa felt nausea as if the past was coming back to her in full force. The hatred in Amy’s eyes was the same and she knew she was not going to repeat the past again. Gathering her strength, she tried to excuse herself, but Arun stopped her.
“Malisa is working for the architecture firm that I hired to draw up the ARS International building.”
Amy’s mouth opened in shock.
Theresa, who had been silently observing, moved in. With a smirk, she extended her hands out to shake Malisa’s hand.
“It is good to see you again, Malisa.”
Malisa hesitated. She knew Theresa was a very smart woman, and unlike Amy, she didn’t express her true intention openly. And she knew in the past, Theresa wanted them to break up in the first place.
When Malisa did not shake Theresa’s hand, the young man named Rawit came in and introduced himself. He seemed interested in Malisa. He also extended his hands out to shake Malisa’s hand.
“My name is Rawit and I am Amy’s fiancé.”
Rawit smiled at her charmingly, and because Amy looked shocked and horrified, Malisa shook his hand to spite her. And as Arun looked at her unhappily, she gave Rawit a charming smile.
“It is a pleasure to meet you…Rawit…I am sure I will enjoy working with you.”
Malisa gave Amy one last look before she left the scene just as Amy screamed and tried to claw her but was stopped by Rawit.
Arun shook his head in frustration, wondering how he was going to handle his mother and sister now that Amy knew Malisa was back in his life.
~~~~~~~~~
Amy was very upset with Rawit and her brother. She threatened to break up with Rawit if Rawit ever touches Malisa or talk to her again, and not wanting to anger her more, Rawit nodded his head like a child.
She wanted Rawit to go back to the city with her, but Rawit sweet-talked to her and told her to trust him. He needed to learn about the family business and manage the new building. Besides, he would come home every weekend, so Amy shouldn’t need to worry.
Amy finally gave in, but she turned to complain to Arun about Malisa, threatening to call their Mother up to tell her about his interaction with Malisa.
“If anything happens to Mother, then you will be responsible,” Arun scolded her.
“Theresa is mother’s future daughter-in-law! How can you still fool around with that woman!?”
Arun looked to Theresa, who seems calm as she looked at them.
“Theresa is a family friend. Besides, this is business, not a courting.”
Amy looked at him suspiciously.
“Is that why you refuse to come home? Because of her?!”
Arun looked away. He didn’t know how to answer that. Luckily, Theresa chimed in, “Creating a new building is a lot of work, Amy. I am sure Arun is working hard to get the business building in, and not fooling around as you think.”
Theresa smiled at Arun, but felt disappointed that Arun did not seem enthusiastic at seeing her.
~~~~~~~~~
Malisa sat on her bed and stared at the drawing of her dream house. Today was an intense day as she met Amy and Theresa again. She was at first surprised, and then angry. Amy had done everything in her life to ruin hers and Arun’s marriage, and Malisa was very upset. It was because of Amy that Arun finally gave her the divorce paper.
A tear slipped down her face. She was going to fight back and not allow Amy to make her upset again, after all now she had already lost Arun. She would make sure Amy feels the same feelings she had too.
With that vengeful thought, Malisa’s mind wondered to Rawit.
~~~~~~~~~
The week went by and to her surprise on Thursday morning, Arun came by with Theresa by his arms and Rawit.
Mr Suripok welcome them quickly and asked if Theresa was Arun’s wife?
Arun quickly denied it, but when Mr Suripok asked if she was Arun’s fiancée, Arun turned to look at Malisa, who pretended not to be listening.
Avoiding the question to spite Malisa, and unknowingly making Theresa hopeful, Arun introduced Rawit.
Mr Suripok requested Malisa to bring them to the conference room to discuss the ARS International building design. Rawit gave her a big smile as he saw her. And she quickly returned the smile.
She felt happy to see Arun unhappily looking at her closeness to his future brother-in-law.
The meeting went longer than she’d hope because Rawit kept talking to her. By noon, Theresa pulled Arun’s arm, requesting they leave for lunch.
“Come with us to lunch, Malisa dear,” Rawit remarked sweetly.
Malisa looked to Theresa, who looked displeased and Arun, who looked annoyed at Rawit’s sweetness. Though she should have rejected, against her better judgment, she smiled sweetly back at Rawit and accepted.
~~~~~~~~
Malisa knew Arun was upset with her as she and Rawit flirted in the car. But Theresa seemed amuse and satisfied that Malisa was not interacting with Arun.
When they got into the restaurant, Rawit pulled out a chair for Malisa opposite Arun.
“You are such a gentleman, Rawit. I love gentlemen,” Malisa sweetly remarked.
Rawit had on a huge smile as he sat next to her. Arun sat down and stared at Malisa in displease.
Rawit opened the menu for her and remarked, “You can have anything you like, Malisa dear.”
Malisa purposefully touched Rawit’s hand that held the menu for her. Unhappy, Arun cleared his throat loudly.
“What’s wrong, Arun?” Theresa remarked, coming to touch his shoulder.
“Have you called Amy today, Rawit?” Arun remarked loudly.
At the mentioned of Amy’s name, Rawit straightened in his seat.
“I will call her tonight.”
“Rawit, dear,” Malisa quickly replied, “I want you to choose for me.”
Arun looked on upsettingly as Malisa continue to sweet talk to Rawit. Though Theresa should have been happy that Rawit was charming Malisa, she felt that Arun was further away from her than ever.
~~~~~~~~~~
When they dropped Malisa back to the firm, Malisa got out, took out a business card and gave it to Rawit.
Rawit lit up in happiness and waved goodbye as Arun drove them off away quickly.
Malisa finally took a breath then, knowing how disgusted she was truly of man like Rawit. If her heart had not set out to take revenge on Amy, she would not even take a glance at him.
~~~~~~~~~~
Alex had dropped Malisa off at the house and Malisa had opened her gate, locked it and went to open her front door, when a hand took her by surprise and sprung her around.
“What do you think you are doing with Amy’s fiancée?!”
Malisa glared into Arun’s eyes.
“Who are you talking about?” she pretended.
He nudged her closer to him. “You know who I am talking about! Rawit! What are you doing flirting with him!?”
Malisa smirked, “And why should that be your concern, Mr Suriyakarn? After all, I am a single woman.”
Arun looked like he wanted to shake her aggressively, but instead he taunted her, “Are you jealous that Amy has a fiancée? Is that why you are flirting with him?”
His words upsetted her, and she pulled her arm from his grasp.
“Your sister doesn’t exist in my world anymore…that is the power of divorce, Mr Suriyakarn. If you’ll excuse me, I am tired and want to go home.”
She looked at him and waited. But he didn’t move, instead he observed her carefully.
“You are jealous.”
Malisa’s eyes narrowed upsettingly.
“I am not jealous!”
He grabbed both of her arms this time.
“Are you jealous of Theresa then? Is that why you wanted to go to lunch with us…to see how close Theresa and I are?”
Clearly upset, she tried to pull away from him. Her upset looks pleased Arun.
“Tell me that you are jealous of me and Theresa, Malisa,” Arun mocked pulling her closely to him.
Angry, Malisa pushed him away.
“Theresa can have you all she want, for I am not interested in a man like you, Arun!”
Arun looked upset, and before she could open her door to slip away, he grabbed her back and forced his lips on hers with both of his hands holding the side of her head.
She tried to push him away as hard as she could until she got tired, and finally after a long while, stopped. And his kiss got softer and softer until she yielded and actually encouraged him. Did her heart betray her?
His hands loosen their hold on her head and she finally turned away her face to the side, away from his kiss. A hurtful tear slipped down her face.
“Why are you doing this, Arun?”
He breathed in her scent and kissed her hair.
“I don’t want to see you with another man, Malisa. My heart is jealous of you,” he breathed.
She finally turned to look at him, shocked at his words. His eyes gaze into hers with a deep emotion. She wanted it to be true that they never hurted each other and that it was all a dream. Can they heal the past and continue with the present?
Malisa shook her head quickly, not accepting that Arun had requested their divorce and now he wanted her back. He was hurting her only.
She slowly pulled away from his embrace.
“Our story ended already,” she slowly remarked, brushing the tear from her face, and standing strong infront of him, “I have moved on with my life without you. Whoever I choose to be with from now on, is none of your business…even if it is Rawit…”
At the mention of Rawit’s name, Arun’s eyes turn savaged, and he grabbed her arm cruelly.
“You will be a plaything to Rawit, Malisa!” he yelled at her, “Rawit is a playboy with no money! You will gain nothing from him!”
Malisa lifted a corner of her lip and remarked, “I am not looking to gain anything from Rawit, except companionship.”
He stared at her in disbelief. He finally shook her angrily.
“If you need companionship, I’ll pay you for it!”
He dragged her away from her house towards his car parked outside, as she tried to pull her hands away from his grasp.
“Where are you taking me!?”
Arun continued dragging her out the gate.
“I need companionship today, Malisa. And I will pay you for it!”
He opened the door of his car and pushed her into the seat. She tried to sit up and he pushed her back.
“Do you want me to make love to you in my car?”
Arun came onto her and tried to kiss her. She squealed upsettingly and pushed him off her.
“Will you accompany me or do you want more?”
Malisa looked at him breathless from struggling with him, and turned to look at her neighborhood embarrassingly.
When she finally sat still, he closed the door on her and got into the car and drove them away.
~~~~~~~~~
“Where are you taking me?” Malisa asked after a moment of silence in the car.
Arun glanced at her and grinned.
“Why are you afraid? Why would I harm my wife?”
“I am not your wife, Arun! Where are you taking me?”
Arun only grinned as he continue driving, knowing she was frustrated.
He took her to a fancy restaurant and had her sat down across from him. Malisa stared at him the whole time, wondering why he was doing all of this.
He looked more lively lately, she noticed, and his eyes twinkled as he spoke to the waiter. Was he happy lately? Malisa almost smiled as she looked at his handsome face, but quickly frowned as Arun eyed her.
“I hope you don’t mind me ordering for you, for I remember what your favorite dish is.”
Malisa frowned, not wanting to be happy with him. Could her heart be happy again with him? She was afraid to know the answer. So she avoided his eyes and glanced toward the lovely restaurant.
“How long have you lived here, since you left me?”
Malisa stared at him, surprised and upset at his accusation.
“I didn’t leave you. You wanted me to leave!”
Arun frowned and glanced at the customers in the restaurants glancing at them at Malisa’s loud words.
“So why did you come to this town? Did you have a lover here?”
Malisa stared at him in disbelief. How could he be maiming her so.
“Did you want me to say ‘yes’? Would that make you feel better?” she mocked.
Arun frowned and leant in toward her.
“I just find it funny that this is such an unknown town in our relationship together…yet when I looked for you after you left me, I did not think that you would come to such a small town as this…”
Malisa thought she heard him wrong…did he say he looked for her? She covered up her thoughts, thinking she probably heard him wrong.
“If someone is going to start their life all over again, then it should be an unknown town,” Malisa remarked sadly.
Arun didn’t look happy at her words. They were silent for a while, each thinking about what the other had just said. Arun observed Malisa unhappily. Did she really no longer loved him?
Luckily the waitor came with their food, and Malisa finally took her mind off them to look at what he’d ordered her. It was indeed her favorite dish, curry duck. Her heart almost melted at the notion that he remembered. She slowly ate her food, finally reminiscent some of their love in the past.
“Rawit will be working with Mr Juripol on the ARS International building,” Arun started, “I hope you will remember that Rawit is Amy’s fiancé.”
Malisa gave him a cold stare at his meaning, and then she smiled.
“I am sure Rawit will also remember he is your sister’s fiancé,” she remarked sarcastically. “Cause I am not responsible for other people’s feeling if they do have them for me.”
Arun glared at her angrily.
“I hope you will represent your firm professionally, Malisa.”
She grinned, almost pleasingly and remarked, “Well, if you, who is our client is taking me to dinner now, how can I refuse other events with another one of our client, Mr Suriyakarn?”
Arun narrowed his eyes. “Do you want me to request you off the ARS International building project, Malisa? I could if you challenge me? Perhaps you just want to focus on my love nest with my future wife?”
Malisa’s smiled died and she looked upset.
“Does Theresa even know that I am creating this home for you both?”
Arun smiled.
“It is my present…why does she need to know.”
Malisa did not look happy as she ate her food. A part of her heart felt pain knowing that she was creating her dream for him and Theresa.
When dinner was over and Arun and Malisa got back into the car, there was a deep sadness in Malisa’s heart as Arun drove them away. She didn’t want to work on her dream house for Arun and Theresa.
Just at that moment, Malisa’s phone rang, and she quickly took her cellphone out of her purse and looked at the caller id.
“I guess your future brother-in-law is in need of companionship today as well?” Malisa mocked, trying to forget her sadness and almost looked please.
She was about to answer the phone, when Arun took her cellphone from her hand and threw it to the back seat. Malisa angrily looked at him.
“You have no right to do that!”
“I am paying for you this evening, so I have every right!”
Malisa sat back angrily. Just then Arun’s cellphone rang and Theresa’s caller id showed up.
Malisa looked displeased, as she remarked sarcastically, “Your fiancée is calling…”
Arun smiled at her reaction and took the call, to Malisa’s horror.
“Hello.”
Arun paused, and then continued sweetly, “You are so kind to help me out with that. I will come and take a look.” He paused again, and then, “I won’t be available this evening, as I have an appointment with a contractor, but I’ll take you out for lunch tomorrow and we can go over that plan.”
After a while, he hanged up the phone and grinned wider as he looked at Malisa’s pouting face as she sulked beside him.
“Why did you not accept?”
Arun glanced at her again.
“Would you be happy if I accept?”
“Why would it matter? I am no one to you now…you should spend your time with your fiancée.”
Arun smiled, enjoying that Malisa was jealous of him.
“I will go and surprise her after I drop you off, Malisa,” he replied pleasingly and winked at her.
Angry that he was going to go and see Theresa late at night, she sulked more and moved further away from him.
He chuckled at her reaction. She was obviously jealous of him, he thought pleasingly. His hand reached out to stroke her hair, and she flinched away from him.
“I’ll go buy some roses and wine…I’m sure Theresa would be very happy!” he chuckled as he glanced at Malisa’s horrified look. After seeing how hurt Malisa looked, he whispered, “Would you like me not to visit her tonight, Malisa?”
She glared at him angrily, wondering what he was trying to get at. He grinned as he glanced towards her.
When Arun drove her to her house, she quickly opened the door to leave. But Arun also got out and came to her side as she opened the gate and walked to her front door.
“Are you going to invite me in?”
Malisa stared at him unhappily, as she fumbled for her keys in her purse as she got to her front door.
“I thought you were going to surprise your fiancé tonight.”
He laughed and moved closer to her. His hand came around her waist and brought her closely to him.
“I want to spend some time with you, Malisa. I’ll go see Theresa later tonight instead.”
Disgusted, Malisa pushed him away as he laughed. He obviously was enjoying teasing her.
“Leave me alone, Arun. I hate cheating man!”
Arun quickly grabbed her hand and placed it on his chest.
“Are you jealous of me and Theresa, Malisa?”
She tried to pull her hand away. His eyes twinkle with delight at her frustration.
“Say that you love me and I won’t visit her tonight.”
Malisa took a deep breath. What was Arun getting at, she wondered frustratingly. Was he playing with her or was he cheating with her?
Arun came toward her as if he was going to kiss her, but she turned away. Delighted that he was causing her heart to move, Arun grinned and kissed her head instead.
“Good night, Malisa. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Arun finally released her hand on his chest as she turned to look at him. He gave her a sweet smile and turned to leave. Malisa’s heart beated in ecstasy. Was she angry or happy at him?
She turned and watched as he walked out of her gate and to his car. Her heart was beating so fast as he turned and smiled and wink at her one last time as he got into his car. For one moment, she thought she felt happiness.
5 years ago
Arun’s mother never liked Malisa because she came from a poor family with no parents, except a poor aunt. His mother had already prepared him to marry Theresa, who came from a very wealthy family.
But Arun had married her secretly without his mother’s approval, and his mother had been so upset that she became ill in bed.
Arun’s father had had an affair with a younger woman and left the family wealth in shamble, but Malisa did not know about the financial trouble.
She was astonished with the wealth that Arun was surrounded by, because Arun never told her who his family was, so she never knew he came from wealth and luxury.
When Arun’s father left his mother, his mother called him back to take care of her family’s company which was crumbling. And she was so unkind to Malisa.
Malisa wanted Mrs Suriyakarn to like her so much, that she went and bought the necklace that Arun’s mother wanted. Arun had entrusted her with the checks and credit cards to buy household supplies.
Even though it was worth $10 million, she thought Arun would understand that she was trying her best to win his mother’s love.
But when she gave Mrs Suriyakarn the necklace, the old woman did not even smile at her or thank her, instead she looked extremely happy and quickly put it away.
She thought life would be better from now on that she was pleasing her mother-in-law, but instead it got worse.
Arun came home and scolded her for using up $10 million, finally revealing to her that his company was in trouble and near bankruptcy. He demanded she returned the necklace or he would lose the company.
When she went to ask Mrs Suriyakarn for the necklace back because Arun had requested her to return it, her mother-in-law played dumb and pretended she never received anything from her. Even when Malisa pleaded with her to save the company, Mrs Suriyakarn turned cold and unmoving.
Malisa was in shock. When Arun asked her why she hadn’t returned the necklace, she told him the truth, and he went to ask his mother about the necklace, but she continued to play dumb. Instead she accused Malisa of taking the money to a secret lover and blaming his poor mother of being involved with her money laundering.
Arun’s sister, Amy, was there too, and backed her mother up, claiming that she witness Malisa with a man, and that Arun better be careful because Malisa may steal money from him.
Arun was very upset and stressed out with the company situation that he didn’t have time to listen to her explanation but only demanded she return the necklace. This in turn, made Malisa upset with the lies of her in-laws and that Arun did not believe her.
This was the event that started their bitter journey and their endless arguments and distrust. Malisa’s name was on the check, and why would she buy such an expensive jewelry without his approveal. His mother did like expensive jewelry, but how could his mother hide $10 million from him, when the company is hers to begin with, Arun thought upsettingly.
Malisa couldn’t get Mrs Suriyakarn to return the necklace, and she didn’t have $10 million to give to Arun. He became very stressed out and upset with her as he tried to look for other money to save his company. And their distance slowly started.
His mother wanted him to ask Theresa for the money, and when he was going to lose the company, he finally did.
~~~~~~~
Malisa dreaded going to work and as she expected, he was there early in the morning in Mr Suripok’s office. She was quickly asked to go into her boss’s office to face the one man she was dreading to see.
“Mr Suriyakarn brought a sketch of the house he would like us to work on,” Mr Suripok spoked, not feeling the tense atmosphere between them.
Malisa already knew what sketch he meant before she took the sheet of paper from Mr Suripok. She avoided his eyes.
“I informed Mr Suriyakarn that this is a concept that cannot be done in the plot of land he bought,” she remarked coldly.
Mr Suripok looked at her as if she had gone mad.
“The land here are very lush and should be easily implemented, Malisa,” Mr Suripok remarked, looking stunned and embarrassed as he glanced at Arun’s frown. “I’ve checked the land and the drawing and we should be able to work on this…”
“I am willing to offer 3 times more than what you are charging me to have this house built for me,” Arun chimed in, looking at her fully.
“Of course, that is very generous of you, Mr Surykarn…and I know Malisa will do an excellent job with it.” Mr Suripok looked at Malisa unhappily as she looked away rudely.
Arun smiled, and stood up.
“I know Malisa will do a good job that is why I am paying well for this project.”
She finally looked at him. There was a twinkle in his eyes as he observed her with a slight grin on his face. It made her unhappy.
“I shall request a status of the project every Friday afternoon. I know the ARS International building will take up most of Malisa’s time, but I am expecting some status every week on this project.”
Mr Suripok nodded his head quickly, kindly trying to make up for Malisa’s rudeness.
When Arun left the office, Mr Suripok scolded her. Malisa quickly made an excuse that she wasn’t feeling well this morning. Concerned, Mr Suripok allowed her to leave, knowing how much money she was bringing into his company and not wanting to over-stress her.
~~~~~~
Malisa looked at the drawing in her hand. It was a copy of the one she drew for them years ago surrounded by banana trees and other natural plants and flowers. It seemed like only yesterday when they were still young and in love…was it all a dream?
She couldn’t understand why he wanted them to be in each other’s lives again, nor why he would want something from the past that had ended bitterly.
She sighed.
If Arun wanted her to implement her design, then she would do it and show him what she her dreams had been. Feeling better, she quickly got out a huge white drawing sheet out and started drawing.
~~~~~~~
Malisa was very upset when she found Arun spending more and more time with Theresa. But he mentioned that Theresa was only helping him regain the company back.
Her mother-in-law had repeatedly verbally abused her, forcing her to leave the house and let him marry Theresa because Theresa fitted Arun as a wife more, and if she refused to leave Arun, then one day Arun would leave her as she was a low-class woman who knows nothing about high-class culture.
Malisa became very worried. And as Arun ignored her more and more, Malisa started feeling more and more insecure that when they saw each other, they argued and argued until Arun slept in his own room and hardly came home for dinner.
When Arun refused to come home for dinner, Malisa felt more fearful, as his mother kept repeating that she was preparing Arun and Theresa’s wedding when Malisa finally leave as Arun no longer loves her.
She waited for him and demanded to know if he was planning to marry Theresa…and they argued and argued for days until Arun said yes and mentioned that it would be best that they divorce.
Feeling hopeless, Malisa ran to her aunt and cried. Her aunt was also ill and coughing a lot lately.
“Do you love him, child?”
Malisa nodded her head. She couldn’t understand why the more she asked of him to be with her, the further it drove him away.
“Then do good to him,” her kind aunt replied, stroking her hair. “You must be patient with your husband. He must be stressed with work, and you must be the good wife and support him. Bring him dinner at work if he can’t come home for dinner. Do all the good things that will make him see your goodness and love. And if he doesn’t want you anymore, then let him go to his happiness, for that is your love for him…to see him happy.”
That day, Malisa dried her tears and went back to the Suriyakarn mansion. The next day, she cooked him lunch and brought it to his office. He was surprised to see her there and with food. But he was still distrustful of her and distant. He was worried that they would argued again, but he only found her quiet as she gave him his food with blessing and left him to work in peace.
~~~~~~~
Malisa reported to Mr Juripol on the ARS International building, but to her surprise, her creativity expanded as she worked on the house that he asked for. It had been a long time that she focused on something she wanted, and to create the house she dreamt made her very happy.
But when it was time for her to meet him on Friday afternoon, she frowned. Mr Suripok had given her an address to Arun’s meeting place and when Malisa got there, she found out that it was a high-end condo.
She requested at the front desk to see Mr Suriyakarn, and the front desk attendant gave her the room# and told her to take the elevator to the top floor.
Not liking where she was going, Malisa was surprised, after knocking on the door and Arun opening the door, to find him in a fresh white shirt, with his sleeves pulled up and his shirt unbutton to show his chest. Malisa swallowed and thought of the warmth she used to have when she touched him there.
As if sensing her thoughts, Arun grinned and opened the door wide for her.
“Come in.”
Malisa swallowed and moved her eyes away from his chest.
“I would prefer if we talk somewhere else.”
He observed her in a peach dress, looking very pretty with a scarf tied on her head like a headband.
“What’s wrong? Are you afraid to be alone with me?”
Malisa took a deep breath. In truth, she was…but she didn’t want him to know that.
“Why should I be afraid? This is business.”
Arun grinned and opened the door wider for her, raising his hand to beckon and challenge her to come in. Against her better judgment, Malisa slowly step into his condo and saw how elegant it was.
There was a beautiful kitchen to her left and a living room in front of her with windows that reached from the ceiling to the ground that seem to see the whole city below. To her left was an office space, and a door that was opened and showed his bed. She swallowed as she saw the bedroom, and quickly turned to try to leave, but Arun had quickly shut the door behind her.
He beckoned her to sit down in front of his office desk, as he went to the kitchen to get her a drink. Malisa nervously sat down on the chair and stared at the bed through the door, as she sat her drawings down.
Arun came back and sat a glass of water in front of her, and then he sat down comfortably and looked at her charmingly.
“Do you like my place?”
Malisa fidgeted in her seat, trying to avoid looking at the bedroom.
“It is nice,” she quickly remarked, and reached down to grab her drawings and laid them out on his desk.
Arun observed her nervousness and grinned, and then he turned to look at the drawings. It pleased him to see her drawings and he smiled.
“It is a good start. Of course, you will be responsible for the landscaping and interior decorating…”
Malisa looked at him in surprise.
“I am an architect, not a landscaper or interior decorator…”
Arun grinned.
“I’ve seen your place and I know who you are, Malisa. That is why I am paying 3 times your company’s asking price…so that you can finish this project from start to finish.”
Malisa didn’t look happy.
“I don’t know how you want me to do your landscaping…or…or…”
He grinned and stood up and walked over to the open window to look down at the city.
“I want you to see something here.”
Malisa slowly rosed and walked over to the window to where he was and saw the beautiful city full of trees and plants and flowers…it was so different from the capital where there were traffics and smogs. For one moment, seeing the whole small city infront of her gave her awe.
“It is beautiful…” she started.
Arun looked at her, and at her lovely face lightly smiling at the sight, and he came slowly closer to her.
“I want you to add a pond…and a bridge…”
Malisa turned to look at him and held her breath as he looked at her with something in his eyes that melted her heart, that she didn’t noticed that he was slowly easing toward her.
“I want a bridge that looks like the bridge…where I first met a girl…” he slowly remarked as he came up so close to her that she could feel his breath,“…who I fell in love with.”
Her heart beated quickly as she looked into his eyes and for one split second a part of her heart yearned for the past. A tear threatened to come down her eyes, as her heart remembered the bittersweet ending between them. And she turned to go, afraid to stay and show him that part of her heart.
But he quickly stopped her and wrapped his arms around her from behind.
“Tell me that I am still in your heart, Malisa…” Arun softly spoke.
The tear finally came down her eye.
“Tell me that you never left…that you still love me….”
A sob escaped her mouth, as he slowly turned her around to face him. He gently wiped the tear from her face and before she reacted, he bent down and kissed her.
Her heart fluttered like a flower that first bloom and all her memories of their love returned, that she allowed him to kiss her and she kissed him back.
And before long, he wanted more, and his kiss grew stronger. And when he picked her up from the ground, he didn’t even break their kiss, as he carried her to the bed.
Before she could protest, he laid her on the bed, still kissing her. She tried to push him off her as she knew where they were going would only end up with her in pain. But try as she might to push him off, he continued kissing her aggressively as if he couldn’t get enough of her. He took her scarf off from her hair and laid it on the bed.
Then his hand went under her shirt to touch her skin, Malisa breathed deeply, feeling the warmth and her need for his touch grew. She knew it was wrong, as his hand continued to explore her, until it came to her breast, and it snapped her back to reality, and she quickly pushed his hand away, and tried to rise.
“No…”
Arun pushed her back to the bed and continued to kiss her.
“No…stop…I am no longer your wife…!”
Arun stopped and looked at her angrily.
“You are still my wife, Malisa!”
He tried to kiss her again, but she pushed him away.
“Stop, Arun! This is wrong…we are no longer husband and wife!”
He looked at her, and observed her and then shook her angrily.
“No, because you want me to pay you, isn’t that what you should say instead?!”
A sob escaped her throat at his cruel words, and her hand came out to slap him. He looked at her half-crazed and kissed her ferociously, trying to unbutton her shirt, as she tried to stop him.
“I hate you, Arun! I hate you!” she cried, and before she could stop herself, she uttered the words, “I no longer love you!”
Arun stopped and looked at her angrily, his heart etched with pain. With all the power in him, he finally stood up and allowed her to sit up and quickly button her shirt. Tears were streaming down her face at what had happened and she quickly got up and ran out of the bedroom.
She quickly collected her things by his desk, and quickly put her shoes on and opened the door and left as quickly as she could.
Arun breathed deeply, hearing the sound of the front door closing. When he looked at the bed, he saw her scarf that he had taken of her. His heart felt the pain as he took the scarf in his hand and felt its softness.
~~~~~~~~~~
There were days when he went to lunch with Theresa for business purposes, and Malisa still dropped of the food for him, even though her heart was in pain that he was with Theresa.
Arun knew his mother wanted him to marry Theresa, and somehow he felt his mother may be involved in staging his relationship with Theresa with the company failing, but he didn’t have time to investigate because he was busy trying to bring the company back.
He also knew Theresa liked him a lot and she was trying to win his affection too. And with Malisa and him always arguing, he began to be closer to Theresa. In fact, he enjoyed being in the company of Theresa more than his wife, and he knew this made Malisa more angry.
~~~~~~~~
Malisa sat in her car and cried. She didn’t know whether she was sad because he insulted her or whether because she couldn’t be with him like before.
When she got back to the office, Alex asked her where her scarf was.
Forgetting that she left it at his place, she quickly made the excuse that she took it off in the car.
~~~~~~
Malisa kept herself busy working with Mr Juripol on the ARS International building. But when Friday came around, this time she requested Alex to go with her.
Arun had requested that they meet at a restaurant this time, and to her surprise he seemed cool, as if nothing happened between them last week. But he didn’t seem please that Alex was with her.
She showed him the new drawings and he smiled and made some requests.
When the food came, Arun was particularly unhappy to see Alex giving her some food, as if they were lovers.
When Malisa excused herself to use the ladies’ room, Arun questioned Alex.
“Do you have a girlfriend?”
“No,” Alex innocently replied shyly. “The closest to that is probably Malisa…but we are very close friends.”
Arun frowned. He didn’t like Alex being close to Malisa.
“Does Malisa have a boyfriend?”
Alex shook his head. “I’ve never seen her with another guy, so I don’t believe so…”
Arun smiled.
“So why haven’t you asked her out?”
Alex chuckled lightly, “I did once but if you know Malisa, she is a very hard-worker. I think her job comes before any relationship.”
Arun only smiled.
When Malisa came back, Arun quickly changed the topic.
“I approved of the changes and will be excited to see it in your drawing next week,” he replied nonchalantly.
Malisa looked at Alex’s blushing face and wondered what they were talking about. She looked at Arun’s lukewarm face and frowned. She knew something was up. But Alex only smiled at her gently.
When the meeting was over and they left the table, Alex went to the men’s room and left her there with him. She tried to leave the restaurant, but he grabbed her arm and pulled her to look at him.
“Don’t you think you should leave Alex out of our relationship?”
Malisa pulled her arms away from his hold.
“We have no relationship, Mr Suriyakarn, except this business of yours,” she replied coolly.
He grinned and moved up close to her and placed his face very close to her as he remarked, “We shall see what relationship we will have, Malisa. For I know your heart as much as you know mine. And I know those words you mentioned last week is not true.”
With those words, he took his leave and walked out of the restaurant, leaving her stun and breathless. When Alex came out, she almost didn’t notice when he spoke to her. She had to recompose herself as his words had made her flush red.
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