Teeradon tilted his head back, studying the four-story commercial building that housed Network Solutions. 10 PM in the evening, and he was lucky that one of 'his people' inside the company had instructed security to leave the door conveniently unlocked.
His capable secretary had mentioned that Wittawin liked to secretly sleep at the office. Pamorn had confirmed that tonight, Wittawin wasn't out celebrating Christmas and was currently 'disobeying orders' from Sarayoot by sneaking back to sleep in his workspace.
Light spilled from the second-floor office. Rock music drifted out from within. Teeradon craned his neck, searching for the person he wanted to see, but Wittawin wasn't visible in the room. He tested the door handle gently—it turned easily. Gratitude for his luck bloomed in his chest as excitement bubbled up like a young man about to break his parents' rules.
What face will Wittawin make when he sees me pop up in the middle of his makeshift bedroom?
Well, he probably won't chase me out kicking and screaming. I'm not here to do anything terrible—just to invite him out for Christmas...
Stubborn as a mule. This calls for serious persistence...
***
Wittawin stood before the mirror, tilting his right cheek to examine the fading scar. He picked up lotion, smoothing it slowly across his face before flashing himself a grin and turning to grab a pair of small white boxers to slip on.
The young engineer hung his towel on the rack and walked into his office-turned-bedroom, head down, scanning for his favorite light blue tank top that he'd pulled from his backpack but forgotten somewhere.
Wittawin hummed softly, mood bright. The stereo played "Only You" by Bank Nitinai, the popular singer who'd just released a new album. Initially, he'd never listened to the baby-faced crooner, assuming he only sang saccharine love songs. But once he'd actually heard him, he'd grown fond of the powerful voice that contradicted the appearance and personality.
'Because there's only you,
I don't look at anyone else
Because you're in my heart,
every day, every night
So I keep fighting on, never wavering
If only I could have you, then I...'
Wittawin froze. His mouth fell open, eyes widening in shock as he looked up to see a tall, devastatingly handsome man standing in the middle of the room with an amused smile, eyebrows raised.
"Khun Teeradon. How did you get in here?" Wittawin's voice came out strangled.
Teeradon didn't answer. He tilted his head toward the door as if to say he'd come through there, naturally, before turning back with that smile, sending sparkling glances toward the man standing in the middle of the room wearing nothing but tiny boxers.
"Merry Christmas, little Santa. Wait—or are you a reindeer?" Teeradon's smile dazzled as his eyes swept Wittawin from head to toe. "Actually, I think you're more of a snowman."
God, he really is snow-white...
"Get out. Now." Wittawin snapped.
"Whoa, is this how you treat guests, Wittawin? Someone goes to all the trouble of wishing you Merry Christmas. I came to invite you out for some drinks to celebrate."
"I don't celebrate. I'm going to sleep." Wittawin turned left and right, hunting for a shirt to throw on, inwardly fuming at Teeradon while simultaneously feeling embarrassed under that devouring stare.
Practically drooling. Coming here with that playboy face—I want to jump over and punch that smirking expression right off...
"I'm taking you out to celebrate." Teeradon stood his ground.
"Good night." Wittawin's voice was clipped as he dismissed his guest, then turned to walk toward the back door of the office, needing to escape Teeradon's presence—or at least find a shirt first. After that, he'd come back and 'chase' Teeradon away properly if the man refused to leave.
But suddenly the lights cut out. Both Teeradon and Wittawin exclaimed at once, followed by a loud crash and Teeradon's cry—he must have walked into a desk or something.
"Khun Teeradon, just go home already. What are you doing here making trouble at this hour?" Wittawin shouted.
"How can I go back? I can't see anything. Ow, that hurt," Teeradon's voice replied from the darkness.
"Just stand still. Don't move or you'll bump into things and break them."
"Oh great—you're worried about your stuff getting damaged instead of whether I'm injured." Teeradon complained.
"I don't know why you even came here in the first place," Wittawin muttered, feeling his way toward the back of the office to check the electrical system.
"Wittawin, where are you going?" Teeradon called out when the other man's voice grew distant.
"I'm not running anywhere. I'm going to check the power."
"Don't leave me here like this. I'm afraid of the dark." Teeradon's voice turned soft.
"Are you insane? You're a grown man, built like a tree. What's there to be afraid of?" Wittawin complained loudly.
"If I said I was afraid of ghosts, you'd think I was being ridiculous."
"Just stay right where you are," Wittawin dismissed, thinking Teeradon might be pretending. The young engineer walked to the door and stepped out, heading straight for the electrical panel. Fortunately, light from outside the building provided enough illumination to see. Soon he stood before the control box. Wittawin pushed the electrical panel to the 'ON' position. The lights flashed bright for less than three seconds before going out again as the breaker flipped back down. Wittawin cursed irritably, hearing more crashing sounds from the office. He shook his head slowly, exasperated that Teeradon wouldn't listen.
What kind of person is this? Stubborn as a child. Maybe I should leave him in the dark for a while. Wonder if he's really afraid of the dark...
And what's he really doing here? That bit about inviting me to celebrate Christmas is probably just an excuse. He probably came here intending to...
Hey, wait. Is he planning to ambush me here? Playing games to this extent? How bold. And who let him into the company? The guard wouldn't dare unless someone had given orders...
Someone's definitely playing traitor. It wouldn't be Sarayoot. The only suspect would be Pamorn. Damn it, that labor bee. Just wait till I see him next time...
***