Kwan Khao returned to her desk with a strange heaviness in her chest.
The contract lay open before her, a few crisp pages filled with polite legal language.
She read it once. Then again. Then a third time, just to be sure she hadn't misunderstood.
It was... odd.
According to the document, the company agreed to keep her as a full-time employee for the next two years.
Her salary, benefits, and position would remain the same—but she could not resign during the contract term.
In other words, the company had just guaranteed her job for two years, no matter what happened.
It made no sense.
The one who gained from this was her.
The one who lost was the company.
Who writes a contract like this?
She frowned, flipping through the pages again. Something about it didn't sit right. It was almost as if someone wanted to make sure she couldn't be fired... or leave.
Half an hour later, the meeting began.
Every department head gathered in the conference room, sitting apart, masks in place, as if distance alone could keep the world outside from breaking through.
Usually, Sinee would send out the meeting agenda days in advance—but today's invitation had been a single line:
Urgent meeting. All staff required.
No details. No explanation.
Just urgency.
When their boss walked in, the room fell silent. He took his seat at the head of the long table, folded his hands, and spoke without preamble.
"Everyone, I'll be brief. The company was sold last week. A new management team will take over tomorrow."
The words dropped like a stone into still water.
Gasps. Whispers.
Someone spoke up first, disbelief in her voice. "Sold? To who?"
Another asked, "What happens to us?"
A third leaned forward, worry etched in his eyes. "And what about the client contracts?"
Their boss raised a hand, steady but weary. The murmurs died down.
"The buyer is a private investor. A young businessman with multiple ventures. His management team will step in starting tomorrow. Until new policies are announced, please continue your current work as usual."
He paused, then added gently, "For those who may not be retained, the new ownership will still be required to honor our severance terms under labor law."
Kwan Khao sat frozen.
The words sold last week echoed in her mind—
and suddenly, the odd contract made sense.
Her boss had known.
He'd known the company was changing hands, and he'd wanted to protect her.
The contract was his way of shielding her from being dismissed under the new owner.
Her throat tightened with unexpected gratitude.
At least two more years.
Two more years to survive, to provide for Tonkla, to hold her ground.
But as the meeting drew to a close, one question kept circling in her mind—
one that made her stomach twist with unease.
Who was this new owner?
And why did she have the horrible feeling...
that she already knew the answer?