Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
Hunter
I had looked up recommendations for what she could eat to take care of her hangover. Congee had been recommended, a mild porridge, as well as ginger soup. And of course, eggs. Toast was mentioned as well, but I didn’t know which to tell her to go for. For beverages, coconut water was recommended as well as orange juice. I turned and watched her by the dispenser as she drank cup after cup of water. I had never seen her so… disheveled.
There was no makeup on her face, her hair had definitely only lightly seen a brush, but her clothes, though, were prim and proper. They were also a complete and total reversion to whom she had been before the previous night, and upon seeing her again this morning, I truly couldn’t decide which version of her I preferred. Did I want who she was the previous night? Who we were together, or was it time to revert? Did she even remember?
I had woken up long after midnight with her body still draped over mine. I was so damn exhausted that the reasonable thing was to fall right into bed, but if she had woken up in my arms, perhaps things would be even more awkward and complicated than they currently are. I'd taken her to her room, and seeing her wrapped underneath those covers, so warm… so beautiful, I'd wanted to be beside her. Even now… I wanted to ask how she was doing. I had hangover medicine; I'd contacted Mr. Kit to get it for me before the sun had even risen, but I didn’t know how to hand it to her without outrightly shifting the dynamics of our relationship.
Sighing, I lowered my head and started on the fruit salad I had previously rejected. She came over then with water and sat down.
“I’m ready to leave whenever you are, Sir,” she said, and I lifted my gaze to hers. She reached into her briefcase, and I watched as she retrieved a hair tie and tied her hair away from her face.
“You need to eat something.”
Her movement stopped, and then she looked at me. The ghost of a smile curved her lips, and then she looked away again.
“I can't hold anything down. I, uh… I went past my alcohol limit last night.” I returned my attention to my fruit salad.
“They have congee here,” I said. “Rice porridge. It's bland… it's suiting. It’ll help you get through the day.” She watched me, and then she nodded slowly.
She got up again and returned a few minutes later with the steaming bowl. When she set it down, however, I sighed.
“That's too bland; you might not be able to eat it. You should have added some meat or sauce. They have chili oil.”
“I can,” she said. “I’m fine… I can go through today, but… I literally cannot handle salt right now. I'm just going to try this because you recommended it.”
I couldn’t hold back anymore. I reached into the pocket of my jacket and retrieved the bottle.
“Take some of this. Your head must be killing you.”
“It is, Sir,” she replied. She stared at the bottle, and then looked at me again.
“Don’t worry; I've done the research. It’s safe for you to use.”
She smiled. “That wasn’t what I was concerned about. I- “
She shook her head, refusing to continue, and I decided to leave things the way they were.
“What's our schedule for today?” I asked when I saw that she was barely eating her meal. She would taste it, pull away, and then she would try again. It was a torturous, endless cycle.
“Well, um…” She tucked her hair behind her ears. I didn’t miss the slight tremble of her hands.
“Conference at ten. We’ll be heading there after breakfast. Networking lunch afterward in the same venue, and we left the evening free in case any new appointments came up from the networking lunch. There’s also the option of going out for a traditional Thai theater performance later on tonight. I’ve arranged for Kit to be available to drive you there. I've already secured the tickets in advance so I can come along as well if you wish.”
I listened to her words, and then I nodded.
“Do you like watching theater performances?” I asked. She seemed a bit startled by the question, but soon enough responded.
“Not exactly, Sir,” she said. “But I’d love to see it, so I’d be more than willing to come along so that I can assist you as well. Plus, this is Thailand, and I’m pretty sure it’s going to be a very unique and enjoyable experience for you.”
I watched her until eventually she pushed the bowl aside and picked up the medicine instead. She looked behind to read the instructions, and then she opened the bottle herself.
There was nothing else to say, at least for now, but I couldn’t stop talking to her. For all I knew, there would be close to literal alternative chances to do this for the rest of the day, so I couldn’t help but want to take advantage of this short but quiet time we had together. If more time passed, perhaps we would both altogether forget that last night had even happened.
My heart clenched with worry even at the mere thought. I didn’t want her to forget. I also didn’t want to forget either, but with the way she currently was with me, it felt as though her entire body had been turned into ice.
She was so distant… so unreadable. Maybe she truly wasn’t feeling well and needed the rest.
“Why don’t you take today off?” I asked her, “You might not be able to handle today if you keep feeling like this.”
At this, any sign of weakness immediately left her face as she stared at me.
“You sent me away yesterday as well, Sir,” she replied. Her words didn't shock, and her gaze filled with concern.
I wondered briefly until I replaced all that I had said to her the previous day.
“I'm not going to fire you,” I told her. However, she picked up her spoon again, completely distracted, and obviously forgetting to realize that she had already set it down and rejected the food.
“You need the rest today.”
“And yesterday?” she asked. She faltered. “I am-”
She stopped, and I knew what she had wanted to complete the statement with.
“You got drunk working,” I said. “You didn’t just decide to suddenly go out drinking and then return late this way. I know how efficient you are and how seriously you take your job, so don’t worry. Take the rest you need, and I'll handle the conference today.”
“Can I say no, Sir?” she asked. I was a bit startled to hear this because what employee in the world ever rejects a few days off?
“We’re flying to Phuket tomorrow, right?” I asked, but she shook her head.
“No, Sir, the conference continues tomorrow.” she replied. “You have another keynote to give tomorrow, and then the rest of the day is free. There is a jazz performance though late in the night. It is at a bar not far from the hotel. It's a really famous place, so I included a note to it in case you were down for attending after dinner.”
“So when are we flying to Phuket then?” I asked.
“The day after tomorrow. You have the entire day free, and the next as well before we have to return for the conference.”
“Hm,” I replied. “Alright. Sure you don’t want to eat something else before we leave?” I asked. “You won’t get access to food again before lunchtime.”
She lifted her gaze once again and watched me.