"Hi, admirer."
New rolled his eyes when he recognized the voice on the other line. It was Earth, his ever annoying batchmate in university. He wasn't supposed to be acquainted with him but his unrequited feelings for Tay made a way for their lives to be entangled in a way New wouldn't even dream of in the first place. It was their University Week and each faculty had to come up with a booth and a gimmick to lure customers. Their faculty decided to come up with a confession booth where people could assign a member of the faculty to deliver whatever the customers wanted to the ones they liked. Of course, New grabbed the opportunity to make use of their booth to confess to Tay. But what he didn't expect was the assigned person accidentally gave his poem to Earth. He was still furious until this day considering he clearly wrote Tay's name on the envelope that contained his poem. Since then, Earth constantly bugged him saying he didn't have to use a messenger to confess his love.
"What?"
"I like you too," Earth replied before laughing on the other line. "Don't you miss me?"
"I don't know you. Bye."
"Hey! Hey! Wait. Can I come see you?"
"I'm busy with work. I don't have time for you," New replied as he massaged his temple and closed his eyes. He just wanna go home and take a rest.
"Oh really? But you're just sitting there doing nothing."
New automatically opened his eyes and looked around. He almost lost his shit when he saw Earth standing outside his office. The walls of his office were glass and he forgot to put the blinds down.
Earth then entered his office uninvited and opened his arms.
"Aren't you gonna hug me?"
New scoffed and turned his computer on. He'd rather face a bunch of reports than talk to the man in front of him.
"You do know well you just can't barge into someone's office without being invited."
"I'm the grandson of the owner of the company. I can do whatever I want. Besides, I haven't seen you in years."
Earth flashed a bright smile as he sat down on the chair in front of New's table.
"Had I known you're the grandson of the company's owner, I would have applied in another company," New rolled his eyes as he worked on his computer, typing nonsensical words that would come up in his mind in the attempt to make Earth realize that he was busy.
"Have dinner with me tonight."
Earth leaned on his desk while putting on a puppy face obviously pleading for New to grant his request.
"No."
"Oh come on. Didn't you like me way back in college? You wrote me a poem remember?"
"You do know very well that it wasn't for you."
"But it was delivered to me. So it was mine."
"Why? Is your name Tawan Vihokratana?"
Earth didn't answer but pouted instead as he leaned back in his seat.
"If you don't mind, I've got some work to do. I don't care if you're family of my boss, I need you to make your exit."
"You're so mean to me," Earth sighed and jumped on his feet. "Fine. I'll leave you alone."
New sighed in relief as he watched Earth make his way to the door.
"For now! I'll see you soon, babe!"
Earth beamed at him before completely disappearing behind the door.
âââ
Tay frowned as he listened to his father's rant over the phone. He had been calling him nonstop and all he wanted was to turn off his phone but when his father messaged him that he'd come over if he didn't answer, he had no choice but to give in. The least thing that he wanted to happen was his father coming over his unit and him receiving sermon for hours. He'd rather talk to him over the phone because at least he could pretend that he was listening without being reprimanded.
"Yes Dad," Tay heaved a deep sigh before pressing the loudspeaker.
|What is this news I'm getting that you're asking for money from your grandmother? I already told you not to bother her if the money your asking for is for the putting up of your so-called business. If you wanna start your own business, do it without leeching on other people's money.|
"Dad, I told you I can pull this off. I just need a certain amount of money to start my own company. Don't you want this, too? Me standing on my feet and making my own name?"
|I put all my hard work in our family business for you to inherit it. You're our only child for Pete's sake. If you're planning to put up your own company, to whom the hell will I give ours? I can't manage it forever.|
"I don't wanna work like I'm being pampered just because I'm the successor, Dad. I-I want to start from the very beginning for me to understand how it really is."
|Son, you don't have to do it. You're entitled to our company and you have all the rights to be on top.|
"Dad. I-. Fine. I'll think about it. Just not now, Dad."
|Okay. Think it over and I hope you'll make the right choice.|
Tay plopped in his bed as he ended his call with his father. He never really wanted to work in their company for first, he didn't wanna go all through the pressure that came with being the successor and second, he wanted to make his own name for himself. He was able to save up for the company he was building but his money was not enough so he asked for his grandmother's help. He also asked the help of Off but he was also trying to save for the clothing line that he wanted.
1 message received
Dad
I know you're pressured about working in our company but think it over son. If you want I could ask my friend to let you work in his company for a while before working in ours. In that way, you could start in the position that you want.
Tay sighed before replying to his father's message.
Okay. I'll do it.
âââ
New frowned when he found Earth sitting inside his office when he went to work the next day. He'd been texting him last night that his hands were itching to block his number.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
"Good morning, loml," Earth flashed his brightest smile at New who was placing his things on his table.
"What the fuck is loml?" New scoffed still irritated at Earth for invading his office again.
"You really should stop cursing. But if you want I could fuck you."
New immediately got hold of the stress ball he had on his table and aimed for Earth but the latter just singlehandedly caught the ball and even played with it, throwing it into the air and giggling before catching it.
"I'm just kidding!"
New just neglected Earth and proceeded to opening his computer so he could start his work. Earth was still in his office, touching random things and giving comments on how organized his office was. He was about to tell Earth to leave when his superior entered his office.
"Good morning, Sir," New greeted as he stood up from his chair.
"Good morning, New. Oh, Earth you're here. What are you doing here?"
"Just checking on our employees Grandpa," Earth responded as he approached him and made a wai.
"What are you doing checking on them when you don't even wanna work here. Oh by the way New. My friend's son is gonna work here before he starts working in their own company. I want you to guide him especially today, his first day."
"But sir. I'm an HR manager not a senior specialist. And besides why doesn't he wanna work in their own company?"
"His father said that he didn't wanna face the pressure of being the owner's son so he opted to experience the job here since our companies are just related. I trust you New and I know you could do this. Of all my employees I know you're the best one to acquaint him with how a company works. And don't worry, it's just for a couple of months just until he gains enough experience."
His boss patted his shoulder before turning to Earth.
He was about to retaliate to point out that it was not part of his job as an HR to guide the employees but his employer's phone rang. If that person really wanted to gain experience, then he should be assigned to a senior specialist who could teach him the ins and outs of a business.
"Oh he's here. Okay, don't worry. Your son is in safe hands. New come on. Let's go meet him."
New scoffed as he followed his boss to meet this "employee." It seemed that he used his connections to get in and that was what irked him the most. He just hated manipulative persons who use their money to get into a higher level of the societal hierarchy.
He was currently ranting in his mind when he heard a buzz coming from the employees. They were speaking in hushed voices and they kept looking at one direction. With furrowed eyebrows he followed where they were looking and gasped.
"No fucking way."
âââ
Tay slid the documents back into the envelope. He was reading some documents about the background of the company his father was referring to. In terms of influence and success, their company was certainly a match to this one. He was about to stand to prepare for his night out with Off but a certain paper lying on his floor caught his attention. He might have missed that one so he didn't notice it earlier.
He picked it up and scanned the contents. It contained a list of the employee and their position in the company. He was about to return it to the envelope when a certain name caught his attention.
New Thitipoom
Human Resource Manager
He immediately dialled his father's number.
"Dad. I'm taking your offer of working in that company in one condition.
Their HR manager will be my guide until the end."