4

The early morning glow painted faint streaks of gold across Bangkok's skyline as Kay arrived at the KM&C facility. The building, standing in its dark precision, felt more imposing under the quiet of the early hour. Staff were scattered, moving with deliberate efficiency, but Kay's presence immediately sharpened the air.

He walked through the halls briskly, a file tucked under his arm and his sharp gaze fixed ahead. Today was different. Today, he would see just how far Almeida's chaos had spread and whether it could be reined in.

The workshop area was a maze of half-finished sketches, raw materials, and an unmistakable energy that somehow still felt disorganised. Khamron was already there, seated on a large table as if it were his personal throne, his sketchbook splayed open beside him. He was deep in thought, a pencil in his hand, but his eyes lifted the moment Kay's footsteps echoed through the space.

"Early as ever," Khamron said, his smirk sharp as he leaned back on his hands. "Don't you get tired of being perfect?"

Kay stopped just short of him, his posture straight, his tone even. "Don't you get tired of testing me?"

Khamron grinned wider, as though the challenge itself fuelled him. "You make it fun."

Kay exhaled slowly, placing the file down on the table beside Khamron's sketches. His voice dropped into that measured calm that left no room for argument.

"I don't have time for fun. These adjustments were due yesterday."

Khamron's gaze flicked to the file, then back to Kay. "I delivered exactly what I said I would. You just can't see the vision yet."

Kay arched an eyebrow, his calm unyielding. "Your 'vision' doesn't matter if it can't be executed."

Khamron tilted his head slightly, his grin softening into something quieter, more observant. "You're so controlled all the time. Don't you ever wonder what it's like to let go?"

Kay's eyes narrowed faintly, but his tone stayed cold. "No. And I wouldn't recommend pushing me to try."

For a moment, the tension lingered between them, sharp and unspoken. Khamron's smirk returned, though something flickered behind his gaze—curiosity, maybe, or something darker.

"Suit yourself," Khamron said smoothly, pushing himself off the table.

Kay didn't respond. He simply watched as Khamron strolled toward the far side of the workshop, his movements lazy but deliberate, as if he owned the space. Kay exhaled quietly, suppressing the faint urge to wipe that smirk off Khamron's face for good.

Amon stood near the window of Hiran's office, his presence unmistakable even in silence. The collaboration discussion from the day before had gone well enough, but Amon wasn't the kind of man to leave loose threads.

Hiran entered briskly, his face composed but betraying subtle tension. He smoothed his suit as he approached his desk, nodding faintly at Amon.

"You're early," Hiran said, his tone polite but cautious.

Amon didn't turn from the window. "I like results, Mr. Lunalilo. So I ensure they happen."

Hiran swallowed softly, stepping behind his desk. "The finalised proposal will be ready by tomorrow morning. I'll oversee the team personally to guarantee precision."

Amon finally turned, his dark eyes locking onto Hiran's like a spotlight. "Good. I won't accept delays."

Hiran held his ground, but under Amon's unrelenting stare, something in his composure faltered. Amon's presence was a force of nature—calm, predatory, and deliberate.

"You seem distracted," Amon observed, his voice dropping into something quieter but sharper.

Hiran's throat tightened faintly, though his expression remained neutral. "I assure you, Mr. Acainé-Saelau, my focus is on this collaboration."

Amon smirked faintly, his tone bordering on mocking. "Make sure it stays there."

The weight of the words lingered long after Amon left, leaving Hiran alone in the office. He exhaled shakily, pressing his palms against the desk as he struggled to regain his composure.

Amon Acainé-Saelau-Charoensuk was dangerous. And he had no doubt that working with him would be far more than he bargained for.

The halls of KM&C echoed faintly with the hum of machinery as Kay walked through the facility alone, his steps sharp and purposeful. The day had been long, but work rarely loosened its grip on him.

He entered his office and shut the door with a precise click. For a moment, the silence wrapped around him like armour. Kay settled at his desk, his sharp gaze flicking through the reports in front of him.

The paperwork—progress updates, budget breakdowns—blurred slightly at the edges as a faint pulse began at the base of his skull. His fingers drummed against the desk, his breathing even but deliberate. The control he'd cultivated for years sat at the forefront of his mind.

The knock at the door was faint—almost polite—but Kay knew exactly who it was.

"Come in," he said flatly, not looking up.

The door opened, and Khamron stepped inside with his usual self-assurance, a sketchbook tucked under his arm and a grin that looked far too pleased for no reason.

"You're still here, boss," Khamron said smoothly, stopping a few feet from Kay's desk. "Overachieving again?"

Kay exhaled slowly, setting the pen down and meeting Khamron's gaze with unflinching calm. "What do you want, Almeida?"

Khamron grinned wider, his voice a playful hum. "Maybe I just wanted to see you."

Kay's brow lifted faintly. "Then you're wasting your time."

Khamron ignored the dismissal, stepping closer. He set his sketchbook on the edge of Kay's desk, flipping it open to a series of new designs. The movement seemed casual, but his body language was deliberate—invading Kay's space, challenging him.

"I wanted your opinion," Khamron said innocently, though his voice held a teasing lilt. "Unless you're too busy."

Kay looked down at the sketches briefly, his sharp gaze catching every detail. "It's acceptable."

Khamron smirked, leaning over the desk to close the gap between them further. "That's it? 'Acceptable?' That's all I get?"

Kay's eyes narrowed slightly, his pulse quickening in a way that set off warning bells in his head. "You're pushing boundaries again."

Khamron tilted his head, his voice low. "What happens if I push just a little further?"

The words, the proximity—it was all too deliberate, and Kay felt it. A shiver of impulse ran through his veins, sparking at his fingertips like electricity.

Kay's breathing hitched slightly, his grip tightening on the edge of the desk as his brain screamed at him to stay still. But Khamron didn't back away.

"You're too resistant, Kay," Khamron murmured softly. "Maybe you're just waiting for someone to break you."

Kay shot to his feet, his chair scraping back sharply. Khamron barely flinched, his grin sharp, but Kay wasn't looking at him anymore. His hands braced the desk, the muscles in his jaw tight as his body vibrated with something raw—sensual and dangerous.

His breathing grew uneven as the impulse surged—heat flooding his system, tightening his chest. He wrestled against it, clenching his fists as though the tension could anchor him.

Khamron's expression flickered with curiosity, his voice softer now. "Am I making you angry... or something else?"

Kay's teeth gritted, his voice a low growl. "You're done here. Leave."

Before Khamron could push further, the door opened sharply.

"Amkarn," Amon's voice cut through the tension, smooth and deliberate.

The shift was instant—Kay's fists unclenched, his chest heaved with an uneven breath, and Khamron straightened, his usual smirk faltering as Amon stepped inside.

Amon's dark gaze swept between them, sharp and unyielding. "Leave."

Khamron hesitated just slightly, glancing at Kay with a flicker of something unreadable before gathering his sketchbook. "Sure thing, boss."

He strolled out without another word, but the tension lingered, thick and suffocating.

The tension in Kay's office clung to the walls like smoke after Khamron left, leaving Kay breathing heavily, his grip still tight around the edge of the desk. His chest rose and fell sharply, as though the air itself had turned heavy.

Amon didn't speak right away. Instead, he stood at the corner of the desk, watching Kay with a measured calm. Without a word, Amon grabbed the pill case and water bottle from the cabinet, setting them down in front of his younger brother.

"Take them," Amon said evenly.

Kay's hands shook faintly as he uncapped the bottle and swallowed the pills, his gaze avoiding Amon's. It wasn't often that his impulses flared like this, and the loss of control left a bitter taste in his mouth.

Amon waited in silence, watching as Kay's breathing began to settle. After a moment, he pushed away from the desk and straightened.

"I'll be back," Amon said, his tone carrying no room for argument.

Kay shot him a faint glare, but Amon had already turned toward the door.

Amon found Khamron leaning lazily against one of the workshop tables, flipping through his sketchbook as though nothing had happened. At the sound of footsteps, Khamron glanced up, his smirk returning instantly.

"That was quick," Khamron said, his tone teasing. "I thought you'd still be calming him down."

Amon's expression was cold, his gaze sharp enough to cut through steel. He stopped a few steps away from Khamron, his voice low and deliberate.

"Listen carefully, Almeida," Amon began. "If you're going to fuck around, it won't be with Kay."

Khamron blinked, though the grin didn't leave his face entirely. "I don't know what you're talking about—"

Amon stepped closer, and the temperature in the room seemed to drop. "Don't test me. Stay in your lane, or I'll make sure you regret stepping out of it."

Khamron's smile faltered for just a second, the weight of Amon's warning settling over him like a stone. For all his confidence and charm, there was something in Amon's presence—something cold, predatory—that couldn't be ignored.

Khamron lifted his hands in surrender, his voice quieter now. "Relax, boss. I was just having a little fun."

Amon's gaze didn't waver. "Kay is not part of your fun."

Without waiting for a response, Amon turned and walked out, his footsteps echoing sharply against the floor. Khamron exhaled slowly, shaking his head with a faint, uneasy grin.

"Noted," he muttered under his breath.

Back in Kay's office, the silence had settled like a blanket. Kay sat in his chair, his breathing calm once more as the pills took effect. He was steady again—his control firmly back in place.

Amon returned a moment later, setting a fresh bottle of water down on the desk.

"Better?" Amon asked quietly.

Kay didn't respond immediately, his sharp gaze flicking to the door as a faint knock echoed through the room.

"Enter," Amon said, his voice colder than before.

The door opened, and Prawan stepped inside, his movements smooth and calculated. His gaze lingered on Kay for half a second before shifting to Amon, the faintest of smiles tugging at his lips.

"Long day, gentlemen?" Prawan said smoothly, his tone polite but laced with something sharper.

Amon stepped in front of Kay's desk, positioning himself between Prawan and his younger brother. His posture radiated quiet dominance, his dark gaze unblinking.

"What do you want, Prawan?" Amon asked, his tone clipped.

Prawan tilted his head slightly, his smile remaining intact. "Nothing urgent, I assure you. I was merely passing by and thought I'd check on the progress here. After all, Almeida's work is integral to Kaímon's success."

Kay's expression hardened at the mention of Khamron, but Amon spoke first, his voice like steel.

"Almeida's progress is none of your concern. You'll hear about it when you need to."

Prawan's eyes flicked briefly between the two brothers before settling on Amon. "Of course. I only meant to offer assistance. Unnecessary tension can derail even the most carefully planned projects."

Amon took a slow step forward, his presence heavy enough to silence the room. "And you think you're the solution?"

Prawan's smile widened faintly, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Not at all. I simply like to stay... informed."

Kay's hand clenched against the arm of his chair, but Amon's cold, unwavering tone cut through the air.

"You're overstepping."

Prawan inclined his head slightly, his voice as smooth as ever. "My apologies if it came across that way."

The words were polite, but the look in Prawan's eyes betrayed something deeper. He lingered a moment longer before stepping back toward the door.

"Well, I won't keep you any longer. Goodnight, gentlemen."

The door clicked shut behind him, leaving the room heavy with silence.

As Prawan walked down the quiet hallway, his footsteps steady and deliberate, a faint smirk tugged at his lips. The calm veneer he wore so well slipped slightly, revealing something colder beneath it.

"I see," Prawan murmured to himself, his voice barely audible. "A little pressure, and they're already cracking. Perhaps Almeida's chaos will be useful after all."

He adjusted the cuff of his suit as he stopped near the exit, glancing back toward Kay's office with a faint gleam in his eye.

"Control is such a fragile thing. Let's see how long they can hold it."

With that, Prawan disappeared into the shadows of the facility, leaving nothing but the faint echo of his steps behind him.