When we stepped in front of the 5 star hotel hotel, I instantly saw Amara and Pim inhale sharply.
"Wow…" they both breathed at the same time.
We climbed out of the minibus and automatically followed Chak toward the reception. The staff bowed deeply to him, then to Anamarija.
"Welcome, Mr.and Miss Phanprasrit. " they greeted with exceptional respect.
I caught the moment Anamarija flushed lightly.
She offered a soft smile and glanced quickly at Chak, who looked completely unaffected — like this was his normal.
Chak finally turned his attention to us.
"You'll be in rooms of three," he said calmly, almost commandingly.
Then he leaned slightly toward Anamarija and whispered something in her ear — too quick and too quiet for me to catch.
It looked like he was giving her instructions… or a warning.
Just then Non stepped toward me.
"We're together, right?" he asked.
"Yes," Taeng and I answered at the same time.
Meanwhile, Noon approached Pim and Amara. When she looked up and spotted me, she gave me a warm smile.
I returned it, even though I wasn't entirely sure why her gaze made me feel so… noticed.
"Your luggage will be delivered to the private storage room in about twenty minutes," one of the employees announced.
Chak gave us all one last look — his gaze lingering on me for half a second, as if checking whether I was okay.
The receptionist lifted a sleek black box and slid it toward us.
"Here are your room keycards," he said politely.
Chak took two cards first and handed them to Anamarija.
"This is your room," he said quietly — but serious enough that her posture immediately straightened.
Then he faced us.
"Non, Taeng, Niran — this one is yours."
The receptionist handed over three cards, which Non accepted with a respectful bow.
"Please note," the staff member added, "these cards also grant access to the private floor. Only guests under Mr. Phanrasit's invitation are allowed."
Pim and Amara were already receiving theirs, while Noon checked the room number like she wanted to memorize it immediately.
Taeng nudged me with his elbow.
"Okay, this looks fancy," he whispered, lifting the card to the light. "I hope our room has a big mirror. I need space for my preparations tomorrow."
I laughed — but felt someone watching me.
When I lifted my eyes, it was, of course, Chak.
Standing off to the side, as if making sure we all understood the instructions… before he turned toward Anamarija again.
A young receptionist with neatly styled hair and an overly respectful posture stepped toward Anamarija.
He held an elegant black leather folder in both hands.
"Miss Phanrasit," he said, his voice slightly higher — like he was nervous. "This is for you."
He offered the folder with both hands.
"Our executive chef would like to ensure your maximum comfort. Here you can check or add any dishes you'd like to have during your stay. They will be prepared exactly to your preference."
Anamarija had already begun to thank him, when the young man — suddenly bold — added:
"If I may say… you look even more beautiful in person than on television."
Pim nearly choked out a loud "So cute. "
Amara's eyes shot wide.
Taeng froze with his mouth open.
But Anamarija remained perfectly composed — elegant, feminine, confident.
She smiled gently.
"Thank you."
The young receptionist turned beet red, bowed again, and practically sprinted back behind the counter.
Meanwhile…
On the right side of the reception stood another staff member — tall, well-built, with a confident smile.
He had clearly been eyeing Chak for a while.
And then… he stepped closer.
"Mr. Phanrasit," he said softly. "If you need anything… anything at all, please contact me directly. I'm always available."
His voice was too warm.
His gaze… too long.
His smile… definitely flirting.
Chak remained cold as ice.
"That won't be necessary," he replied sharply.
But something in my chest tightened.
He was flirting.
With him.
Right in front of me.
And I don't know why — but it annoyed me.
A lot.
Taeng, of course, noticed instantly.
He leaned in and whispered:
"Ooooh, someone's jealous."
I rolled my eyes, but I could feel my cheeks getting warm.
"I'm not," I muttered.
"Sure," Taeng snorted. "You're just casually glaring at the guy who tried to steal your man."
I looked away — directly into Chak's eyes.
He was watching me.
Just for a second.
Sharp.
Piercing.
Borderline warning.
Then he said:
"Let's go. Your rooms are waiting."
The group headed toward the elevators, all of us still scattered from everything that had just happened.
Pim and Amara were quietly giggling about the receptionist who had flirted with Anamarija.
Taeng was explaining to Non why he desperately needed extra hangers for all his outfits.
And me… I was trying to ignore that weird feeling clawing at my chest.
That "available anytime" line from that guy… and the way he looked at Chak.
We stood in the elevator — me next to Chak, Taeng beside Kit, and Non with Anamarija in front.
The doors slid shut.
No one spoke.
Chak secretly took my hand.
Only the soft hum of the elevator and a slight tension filled the air.
The moment the elevator pinged and the doors opened on our floor, Taeng, Non and I automatically stepped forward.
But before I even took two steps, I heard:
"Niran."
I froze.
Chak's voice was low, firm… aimed only at me.
I looked back over my shoulder.
His eyes — dark. Unreadable.
"We need to talk."
He said it slowly, leaving no room for argument.
Taeng elbowed me, eyes full of mischievous shock.
Non raised his brows at me in a bro, good luck way.
"Uh… okay?" I managed to say.
"Top floor," Chak added, motioning toward the button. "My suite."
The doors slid shut right in Taeng and Non's faces — they stared at me through the narrowing gap with the biggest eyes in human history.
The elevator continued upward — just the two of us.
I leaned back against the wall, my heart beating way too fast.
Chak stood there, only a few centimeters away, close enough to ruin my breathing but not close enough to touch.
He didn't talk.
He didn't move.
He just stared.
And somehow… I knew this conversation would be anything but normal not.
The elevator doors opened with a soft ping.
Chak stepped out first, not even checking if I was following — as if he was completely sure I would.
And… he was right.
The hallway was quiet, covered in thick beige carpet and lit by warm wall lights. Everything felt too luxurious, almost intimidating.
Kit glanced at his keycard and the room number.
"Okay, this is mine," he said, stepping two paces to the left — his room was right at the corner.
Anamarija stopped in front of the room directly across from Chak's.
"PH-03," she read softly, giving a quick glance toward Chak's room on the other side of the hallway.
Chak stood in front of PH-01 — diagonal from Anamarija's room, as if overseeing the entire floor.
When he looked at Anamarija, his expression softened for a brief moment before returning to his usual cold demeanor.
"If you need anything, I'm here," he said, with that typical commanding distance.
Kit turned to Anamarija and smiled playfully.
"Oh, nice, almost neighbors," he remarked, trying to ease the tension.
I stood between them, but I didn't have time to think — because the next moment, Chak's gaze shifted to me.
"Niran," he said low and firm.
"We need to talk."
I followed — three steps behind.
Every time I raised my eyes, all I saw were his broad shoulders, the muscles under his shirt, and the way he carried himself… strict.
Too strict.
Is he angry?
Disappointed?
Or is something even worse waiting for me?
He unlocked it with his keycard. The soft click echoed in my chest like a crack.
The door swung open on its own.
Chak walked in.
He didn't look back at me.
He didn't say come in or follow me.
He didn't need to.
I knew he wanted me to.
I swallowed — my heartbeat loud and wild — and stepped inside.
When the door closed behind me, it felt like the world disappeared.
Just the two of us.
And the conversation I clearly couldn't avoid anymore.
The door clicked shut behind me — soft, almost unnoticeable — but to me it sounded like the whole world had just locked itself outside.
The penthouse was huge. High ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the ocean, dark wood, marble surfaces… everything looked cool, elegant, perfectly in Chak's style.
And he stood in the center of the room, his back turned to me.
He didn't move a single centimeter when I stepped inside.
I didn't even hear him take a deep breath.
All I felt was tension — the kind that slips under your skin and refuses to loosen.
After a few seconds — seconds that felt like minutes — Chak finally turned around.
His eyes…
Cold.
Sharply focused on me.
Too intense to hide a single thought.
"Sit," he said quietly, almost dangerously calm.
I didn't sit.
"Chak—"
"Niran. Sit."
That tone… it sliced.
I took a step toward the sofa without breaking eye contact, then slowly sat down.
Chak remained standing.
The flowers in the vase behind him looked more relaxed than he did.
Finally, he spoke.
"Do you think I didn't see it?"
My throat went tight.
"See… what?" I managed.
Chak let out a laugh — not amused, but like someone who's annoyed to the point of disbelief.
"That guy. Your ex-boyfriend," he said sharply. "The way he talked to you. The way he looked at you."
My heart skipped.
"He wasn't—"
"Yes, he was."
His voice was low.
Edges sharp.
Even the air around him felt heavier.
"Everyone saw it," he continued. "Taeng almost laughed out loud. Non stared. Even the girls noticed."
He stepped closer.
Now he was only a few meters from me.
"And you," he said softly, "you didn't push him away."
I stared at him, confused, almost shocked.
"Chak… you're angry because someone flirted with me?"
He didn't blink.
"Not angry," he said. "I'm… irritated."
I huffed a small laugh.
"Same thing."
"No," he answered. "If I were angry, he wouldn't be working there tomorrow."
… oh.
I wasn't sure whether to laugh or be terrified.
Chak stepped closer again.
So close I could see the muscle in his jaw twitch as he clenched his teeth.
"Just—" he paused for a moment, which was unusual.
Like he was weighing every word.
"Just… don't let random people touch you with their eyes like that."
His voice wasn't cold anymore.
It was low. Too personal.
Too honest.
"Why."
Chak stared at me… long.
Too long.
When he finally spoke, it was quiet, almost involuntary:
"Because he touched what is mine."
"Yours." I whispered.
"You're just mine." Chak said slowly.