Chapter 9

The following week, Nani had an important meeting with several company leaders regarding a high-stakes project. Win and Dew accompanied him, but the moment Nani stepped into the boardroom, the entire atmosphere shifted.

The air grew heavy, the once confident expressions of the other executives wavered slightly. It wasn't just his reputation that spoke, it was his presence. Cold, calculated, and utterly indifferent.

Nani took his seat at the head of the table, fingers tapping idly against the surface as he listened. One by one, the company leaders presented their cases, pitching their proposals with carefully chosen words. But none of it impressed him.

When he finally spoke, his voice was calm, almost uninterested but there was an undeniable sharpness beneath it.

"This project will move forward on my terms," he said, his eyes scanning the room like a predator sizing up its prey. "If any of you think you can negotiate for a better deal, you're welcome to walk away."

Silence.

No one dared to challenge him outright, but a few hesitated, trying to mask their frustration. One executive cleared his throat, attempting to salvage the situation. "Khun Nani, with all due respect, our company has invested....."

"I don't care." Nani interrupted smoothly, not even bothering to look up from the documents in front of him. "Your investments mean nothing to me if you can't guarantee results. I don't work with weak partners."

His words cut through the room like ice. Win, watching from the side, smirked as Dew leaned back in his chair, shaking his head slightly. They had seen this side of Nani before but it never failed to remind them why he was feared in the business world.

One by one, the executives conceded. Nani had won like he always did.

As they left the building, Win let out a low whistle. "Damn, man. I almost feel bad for them."

Nani didn't react, simply adjusting his cufflinks as he stepped into the car. He didn't care about their opinions, he had gotten what he wanted.

As they drove through the city, Win suddenly slowed the car. "Hey, isn't that Sky's dad's restaurant?" he asked, nodding towards the small but inviting place on the side of the road. "Should we stop and eat? I miss the taste."

Nani glanced at the restaurant, something in him stirring for just a moment. He was about to agree when his phone rang.

His mother.

He already knew what she wanted.

"Nani, come have lunch with me." Her voice was soft, but he knew there was no room for refusal. She named a high-end luxury restaurant, one that he had no interest in, but refusing wasn't an option.

Win sighed dramatically as he turned the car in the opposite direction. "And there goes our chance at real food."

Dew chuckled. "Guess we're stuck with overpriced salads again." Nani said nothing, but as the restaurant faded from view, he found himself staring at it a second longer than necessary.

The private dining room in the luxury restaurant was quiet and elegant, just as Nani expected. His mother sat at the head of the table, graceful as always, while Nani, Win, and Dew took their seats. The dishes were exquisite, the kind that screamed wealth and sophistication, but Nani barely glanced at them.

Win, however, had already won over the staff, joking lightly with the waiter and earning a soft chuckle from Nani's mother. Dew, as always, remained the quiet observer, watching everything unfold with amusement.

"You've lost weight, Nani," his mother commented, her sharp eyes scanning him like she was reading a business report. "Are you even eating properly?"

"I'm fine, mom." Nani replied simply, knowing full well that arguing would lead nowhere.

His mother hummed, unconvinced, but her attention quickly shifted to Win. "Win, dear, how have you been? You should visit me more often. Unlike my cold son, you actually know how to hold a conversation."

"Auntie, you know I'd come by more if I didn't have to deal with Nani's mood swings all the time."

Nani shot him a glare, but his mother just laughed, clearly delighted. "See? This is why I like you. You should've been my son instead."

Dew smirked, nudging Nani lightly under the table. "Tough luck, man."

Nani ignored them, sipping his tea, already bracing himself for whatever his mother was about to say next. And, of course, it came.

"I've been thinking" she started, far too casually for it to be innocent. "It's time you settled down, Nani. You're not getting any younger."

Nani didn't even blink. "We are not going to have this conversation again, mom."

His mother sighed, but there was no surprise in her expression. She knew her son too well. "You don't even know who it is yet."

"It doesn't matter." His tone was final, unwavering.

His mother studied him for a moment before letting out a small laugh, shaking her head. "I should've known. Even if I brought you the most perfect person, it wouldn't make a difference, would it?"

Nani didn't respond. He didn't need to. His silence was answer enough.

But his mother wasn't one to give up easily. Her gaze shifted, and suddenly, she smiled sweetly too sweetly. "Well then, if Nani won't cooperate..." She turned to Win. "Win, dear, what about you? My friend's daughter is lovely, and you're such a charming young man. She'd adore you."

Win's eyes widened, and he immediately looked at Nani and Dew for help. "Wait, hold on, Auntie—"

Dew took a sip of his drink like he hadn't heard anything.

Nani casually checked his watch, completely uninterested.

Win glared at both of them, signaling desperately for support, but they both ignored him.

"Auntie, I'm still young! There's no need to rush me—"

"Nonsense. You'd make a wonderful husband." his mother continued, as if she hadn't heard a word. "I'll arrange a dinner. You'll meet her, and I'm sure you'll get along well."

In the middle of the meal, Nani's mother's phone suddenly rang. She sighed, clearly displeased by the interruption, but excused herself, stepping outside to take the call.

As soon as the door closed behind her, Win turned to Nani and Dew, looking thoroughly betrayed.

"You two are seriously just going to let me suffer here?" He jabbed his chopsticks in their direction, his voice full of disbelief.

Dew sighed dramatically, leaning back in his chair. "Well, you are the favorite."

Nani, completely unfazed, took a slow sip of his drink before raising an eyebrow. "Enjoy your date."

Win groaned, throwing his head back. "This is unfair. Why me? What about Dew?"

Nani paused mid-bite, his lips curling into a smirk. "Well, a gossiper like you missing this information is a pretty big loss." He set his chopsticks down, casually wiping his fingers. "Dew already has a major crush on the new intern, Tee."

Win nearly choked on his drink. "What?" He whipped his head toward Dew, eyes wide with curiosity. "Since when? How did I not know this?"

"Tragic." Nani said

Win narrowed his eyes at Dew. "And you just weren't going to tell me? Wow. I thought we were friends."

Dew shrugged, playing it cool, but the faintest pink dusted his ears. "It's not a big deal."

Nani smirked knowingly. "Not a big deal? You stayed late at the office three times last week just because Tee was still working."

Win's jaw dropped. "You, the guy who bolts out the door the second the clock hits six, suddenly decided to stay late three times last week? Just because he was still there? Who are you, and what have you done to my friend?"

"True." Nani mused, leaning back. "Maybe we should tell my mom about Dew's little crush instead."

Dew instantly straightened. "Don't you dare."

Nani and Win shared a look. Win grinned. "Oh, I totally dare."

Dew narrowed his eyes. "If you don't stop him, Nani, I'll tell your mom about your weakness too."

Nani barely blinked, unfazed. "What weakness?"

Win and Dew exchanged a knowing glance before Dew smirked. "Oh, come on. Do we really have to spell it out for you?"

Win leaned in, eyes gleaming with mischief. "It starts with 'S' and ends with 'ky.'"

Nani scoffed. "Ridiculous."

Dew raised an eyebrow. "Really? Then let me ask you this, have you ever been that nice to anyone before?" For a moment, Nani didn't respond. He simply stared at them, unimpressed.

"Nani, I'm serious. You're being way too soft on that classmate of yours." Win said, eyeing him critically. "If you don't feel anything, then don't mess with his heart. Weren't you the one who said he's just a kid?"

Nani's expression remained unreadable, but his grip on the glass in his hand tightened slightly.

"I'm not playing with anyone's heart." he said coolly.

Win let out a sharp laugh, shaking his head. "Come on, man. You're letting him get away with things no one else could. You never let people stay around you like this."

Dew nodded, arms crossed. "Exactly. If you really don't feel anything, then stop acting like you do. You're being too soft with him. Consider your actions, Nani. If you don't mean it, don't lead him on."

Nani's jaw clenched. He hated being put on the spot like this. "He's just a kid." he muttered, as if trying to convince himself.

Win shot him a knowing look. "Yeah? Then why are you the one acting like a fool?"

As they returned to the company, Nani found himself distracted. Win and Dew's words lingered in his mind, playing over and over like a stubborn melody he couldn't shake. He knew he treated Sky differently, but he never thought it was enough to be noticed by others. Could he really be letting someone affect him this much?

Annoyed with his own thoughts, Nani ended up leaving the office earlier than usual. Normally, he was the last to leave, the one still buried in work long after everyone else had gone. But today, before Win and Dew even realized it, Nani had disappeared without a trace.

He drove without much thought, his mind still preoccupied, until he found himself in front of Sky's father's restaurant. Without hesitation, he stepped inside, ordering his food like any other customer. But as expected, his presence didn't go unnoticed.



The staff exchanged surprised glances, whispering among themselves. It was rare to see someone dressed in a full suit walk into such a casual place, let alone someone with Nani's cold and commanding presence. He looked completely out of place, yet he sat there, eating quietly as if he belonged.

As he ate, his thoughts drifted back to Sky again. Was he truly being soft on him? The idea was ridiculous, he had never been soft on anyone.

Just as he was about to finish his meal, a familiar laugh rang through the air. Nani instinctively turned toward the sound, his sharp eyes catching sight of Sky walking in, holding a small child in his arms. Sky's niece giggled as he playfully lifted her up, his entire face glowing with warmth.

And then, as if sensing something, Sky's gaze met Nani's. Sky's eyes lit up with that unmistakable spark of joy the moment he saw Nani sitting at the table.

His smile widened, and the warmth that spread across his face made him look like a child who had just spotted something precious.

"Nani!" Sky called out, his voice light and filled with surprise. He gently set his niece down, who immediately dashed off toward the table where Nani was sitting. Sky followed, his steps eager and carefree, looking every bit like a kid who had just seen his favorite person in the world.

Nani couldn't help but notice Sky's childlike joy, his innocence, and the way he carried himself with such openness, as though the world didn't have the power to weigh him down. It was something Nani had never really seen in anyone else, and for a moment, he felt an unfamiliar tug at his chest.

"What are you doing here?" His tone was light, like he was talking to an old friend, and it was as if his presence had brightened the whole room.

"I came to eat. Is that a problem?" he replied, his voice calm, though something about the way Sky looked at him made his usual guarded demeanor crack just a little.

Sky shook his head, still smiling widely. "Of course not!" he laughed.

"It's just that... it's a surprise to see you here. You're not exactly the type to come to a place like this, are you?"

Nani raised an eyebrow, a faint smile curling at the edges of his lips. "Guess I can surprise you sometimes." he said softly, though his words didn't quite match the quiet turmoil in his mind.

As the moment lingered, Sky's niece tugged at Nani's sleeve, her curious little eyes wide. Nani looked down at her, his smile softening as he gently lifted her into his arms, surprised at how easily it came.

Sky, watching them with an amused grin, said "Looks like she's taken quite a shine to you. She's not usually this clingy."

Nani glanced at Sky with a raised brow. "She's just curious, that's all." he replied, his voice unusually warm.

Sky chuckled, the sound light. "She's a bit of a handful, but I don't mind."

As if on cue, Sky's sister in law suddenly appeared at the kitchen door, her face slightly panicked. "Sky! We've run out of oil for the kitchen. We need more to keep things running."

Sky sighed, realizing the mistake. "I totally forgot to stock up." he muttered to himself before turning back to Nani. " Would you want to come with me to grab some oil? It's just a quick ride."

Nani paused for a moment, thinking. Nani found himself nodding, his decision made without much thought. "Sure." he said quietly.

As they made their way to Sky's motorbike, Nani could feel the cool night air beginning to settle in. The ride itself felt oddly comforting, the engine's hum providing a steady rhythm beneath them. Nani found himself looking at Sky from behind, a soft expression crossing his features without him quite realizing it.

As they coasted down the road, Sky's motorbike zipped smoothly through the streets. Nani, still not used to the feeling, kept his grip on the sides, trying to steady himself with the things he was holding. It wasn't working as well as he'd hoped, and the wind tugged at him, making him feel a little unbalanced.

Sky glanced back, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "You sure you're okay back there?" he teased, feeling a little extra playful today.

"I'm fine." Nani grumbled, but just as the words left his mouth, Sky revved the engine and accelerated a bit faster than before. Nani's stomach dropped, his body jolting slightly as the bike picked up speed.

In an instinctive move, Nani's arm shot forward and wrapped around Sky's waist, pulling himself in close. His heart raced, but not from fear anymore.

Sky laughed softly, his voice a mixture of amusement and reassurance. "See? You can hold on to me. I won't bite."

Nani tried to keep his composure, his hand lingering lightly on Sky's waist. "I didn't want to." Nani muttered, his voice a little quieter now. "But you sped up too much."

Sky grinned, the warmth of the moment settling between them. "It's okay. You're safe." The tension eased, and Nani found himself holding on without thinking twice.