Judging

Felix steps into the room. It's bright, but not enough to make his eyes blind. The sound from a news–perhaps on TV–invites him like an old friend.

"Mr. Nitthitorn..."

"Come in, Felix.."

Felix carefully steps closer. The bed is in a mess–white duvet wrinkling on the bed– as he lays his eyes on Jupe. He wears his black satin robe, hair tucks in neatly. That man is just taking a shower, based on his clean appearance.

"We can bring this conversation to the hall. I don't wanna wake her up..."

As Felix is about to mention it, a girl slowly rises up from the bed. She hides her face behind the messy hair, scoots down from the bed before grabbing her attire on the floor–a white shirt and black pencil skirt.

"Ask Kasia for help. I already arranged a car for you..." Jupe calmly instructs the girl to leave. He hands a thick note of money before she leaves the room, still staggering on her way out.

Felix sends the girl with the corner of his eyes. Assuming by her attire, he can guess her age. He grits his teeth as he lifts up his head and looks at Jupe.

"I hope this won't last long, Mr. Nitthitorn..."

"Stay out of my business and do your part properly, Felix..." Jupe sips his cigarette while glaring at the boy. "Why didn't you tell me about the police visitation at Tony's funeral?"

Felix sighs. "It's not important. They just want to conduct an investigation, but were acting rude. So, we have to chase them out, at least until they have a warrant."

"Whose the target?"

Jupe's inquiry makes Felix pause. He forces his brain to think about any excuse to protect the truth from Jupe. If he knows about Reis's dark past, he will definitely use that to get to the girl.

"The whole family of Sawati and Ratchana. It's normal to start an investigation within a close circle of friends," says Felix. Crossing his finger and praying that Jupe will take his excuse with no objection.

Jupe calmly ushers Felix our of the room. The breakfast is ready, but Felix politely decline it. He sits across Jupe calmly, although the windwhirl inside is unexplainable.

"There's a rumor about a movement that targeting our community," says Jupe. "But, like I said, it's a rumor. No evidence whatsoever. But, this is a good opportunity for us..."

"How?" asks Felix, in short.

Jupe smirks while sipping his coffee. "Those rich morons decided to hire some bodyguards. Including Ratchana."

"Okay. The bell is still not ringing, sir..."

"If that old man Tan decided to hire some bodyguards, that means, the whole family will have them as well. Especially Reis. So, I think, I can place some of my people as her bodyguards, as a tracker..."

Felix feels like dying. His throat is sagged dry as he listens to the plan. Jupe is planning to control Reis even before the relationship builds. With Jupe's bodyguards controlling Reis's movement, he will take a chance to meet her whenever he wants and do whatever he wants.

Reis will live like a bird in a cage.

"Don't you think it's a bit... Exaggerate?"

Jupe glares at Felix. He is familiar with the boy's bluntness, but lately, he tends to vocal over his action. A thread of a traitor slowly visible from Felix.

"Are you expecting me to trust you in this? You've been in their nest for almost a month, but there's not one time you let me meet her in private. You make me waiting like a fool, Felix..." Jupe replies to the boy in a sarcastic note.

Felix balls his fist. He know, Jupe will points that out. He's not good in handle his emotions and sometimes that matter makes him failed.

"Remember Felix, I hire you to spy on Reis so I can find her weakness before we get marry. To be a totalitarian over a powerful woman like Reis is not cheap. She the golden goose of the Ratchana family. If I can control her, that means I can take over the Ratchana as whole," Jupe reminds Felix the purpose of his existence in his plan.

"I'm sorry for not playing my part properly, Mr. Nitthitorn..."

"Forget about it. I can't blame you that much..." Jupe waves his finger up. "Besides, working for a month isn't enough to snoop around. I know you're still trying to fit in."

Felix nods earnestly. Although, he's already familiar with the system and flow of The Bubbles and the Ratchana siblings. He rather plays coy.

"But, please... Arrange a private meeting for me. I really want to meet and talk to Reis. It's a crucial move," says Jupe, almost as if he is begging to Felix.

"I'll see what I can do, Mr. Nitthitorn..."

"Great! That's more like it!" the man's voice chimes in happiness.

Felix's guts churn inside. He knows what Jupe is up to. That man is always ready to drag any woman in his bed. And he thought of doing the same with Reis, unknowingly that she's not like any other woman.

But, like Felix has a choice anyway!

***

"Miss Ratchana needs to be at Axl Arena by ten. The stylist team had already prepare for her outfit..."

"It's two hours from now, Ran. Is it okay if I fetch her this early?" asks Felix over the call. He enters The Bubbles HQ in a hurry after his meeting with Jupe.

"She just came back from Taiwan, so she needs some time to get ready," says Ran. "I'll wait for you guys at the Axl Arena. Please take care of Miss Ratchana, Felix."

Felix keeps his phone in his pocket after the call ends. He swiftly walks towards the elevator, when he notices a group of secretaries swarm in front of the foyer of the elevator.

Five in total. All girls.

The sight is normal for Felix. Working at NitTech, there are more than just five female secretaries, plus a few more male secretaries as well. So, he just suck up his tummy, wears his serious face and wait for his turn for the elevator.

"Psst...!" a simple hiss catches Felix's hearing. He just simply ignores it.

"Is that Miss Ratchana's new PA?" one of the secretaries infuses an inquiry to her friend.

"Yes. Used to do his intern at NitTech!"

"Gosh! Not only handsome, he's a bright student, too!"

Felix sighs as he hears a shameless conversation about him, right under his nose.

"Hands off, girls. You know who he works for..." a girl dare to land a gaze on Felix, as if he's an enemy. "He's a property of the Queen Bee. No one should ever touch him."

"I wonder, how could he landed the job? I mean, it's not easy even for P'Jun. How can this lame boy got his way?" another shush within the crowd.

"With that face and body, I bet..." another girl mocks Felix. "Ah... Warm the bed of Queen Bee, and bam! Got a super post overnight..."

"You mean... The Gala Night at Ratcha?" the crowd is getting hotter. "So, it's true? I heard, she brought him home!"

"Now you know how he landed the job already!"

"Ahem!"

A simple, but harsh tone from behind shuts the conversation immediately.

"Mr. Phaya..." those girls squeal as they scoot away from the man. He was wearing a light blue shirts–folded sleeves– a pair of black slacks with a nice half-bun black hair.

"I wonder how can a group of secretaries wander aimlessly, gossiping about their own boss, right in front of her personal assistant..." Phaya throws a comment. "Are you guys on the way to get fired?"

Felix almost bursts into laughter.

"No! We...we just finish attending a weekly meeting!" one of the girls upstand the group.

"And, right after that, gather around like a group of aunties, badmouthing Miss Ratchana?"

"Mr. Phaya, how dare you call us aunties!"

"Only old geezers feel bitter over everything..." Phaya glares at them. "Because they're old, they slowly becoming useless..."

The girls shut. They stare at Phaya with a full hatred. The COO of The Bubbles is known for his sharp mouth. This is just a small fragment of it.

The elevator opens slowly, revealing Ran with a bunch of files in her hand. As she sees Felix, she immediately jumps out of the elevator.

"Hurry up, or you'll be late!" Ran pushes Felix in, before she jumps out of the elevator. The door closes, and the elevator swiftly levitates upstairs.

"Aou... What's going on here?"

"Nothing. Just chatting with a bunch of jobless people..." Phaya scowls as he walks away from the crowd, leaving Ran, blinking her eyes while looking at the group of secretaries.

"I have no time to gossip around. Don't ask that from me!" Ran gushes as she also leaves the spot right away.