On the evening of the third day, Ranee sat still with a cold expression in the private lounge of a famous restaurant located inside a spacious rental office building called the 'Sap Somboon Building,' which stood in the heart of the city's financial district.
The building offered 1,000 square meters of living space on each of its 30 floors. Twenty floors were leased as office space, while the ground floor and the basement — five floors in total — were open for commercial use. Many well-known coffee shops and luxury restaurants served both the employees working in the building and the city's residents. This city was known as one that never slept and was one of the nation's greatest economic centers.
The top five floors were occupied by subsidiaries, including pharmaceutical, chemical manufacturing, and real-estate companies. The rooftop housed a private helicopter pad and a large, luxurious penthouse of more than 500 square meters — known as Mr. Thada's kingdom — belonging to the CEO of 'Sap Osot,' the largest pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturing and distribution company in Thailand.
Today, Ranee did her hair and makeup more elaborately than usual. Her tight black dress accentuated her figure and pale thighs, making her feel uncomfortable when moving.
After walking in, she took off her black cardigan and hung it on the wall. With a cold expression, she sat and ate quietly, like a robot, in the middle of a forced conversation between the two men chatting at the dining table.
"Let's have a drink," Thada said with a smile, lifting a tall glass of fine Burgundy wine.
Ranee glanced at the velvet-colored liquid being slowly poured into the narrow-mouthed glass. Judging from the label, she was astonished by Thada's extravagant taste — a single bottle of Romané-Conti cost more than one hundred thousand baht.
She whispered inwardly, 'Huh? So extravagant — one meal alone costs hundreds of thousands.'
"Thank you, Chairman," Theeradej said nervously, accepting the expensive wine with great humility, even though he was forty-five years old — five years older than Thada.
"You can call me by my name. There's no need to call me Chairman."
"Come on — let's drink to future cooperation." Thada raised his glass, brought it close to his nose, gently swirled it, inhaled the faint aroma, and then took a slow sip.
"Cheers," Theeradej replied, his tone full of flattery.
While the two men indulged in the expensive wine, smiling behind their masks of politeness, Ranee remained motionless. Her expression was indifferent. Her beautiful eyes were fixed on the premium beef steak placed before her. Her cold demeanor made Theeradej feel uneasy.
"Honey, try the wine — it's very smooth," he said sweetly, nudging her gently under the table and placing the glass Thada had poured in front of her.
Ranee picked up the glass, her face still expressionless — no hint of flattery at all. Such an attitude seemed inappropriate for the family of a businessman in financial difficulty who desperately needed a sponsor.
Her demeanor displeased Theeradej, but he could only squeeze her hand on his lap — a silent reminder of the agreement between them.
She brushed his hand away lightly and said, "Cheers," before slowly swallowing the wine.
Once the toast was done, Theeradej spoke up. "Well… about the inhaler production project. You've read the documents on the herbs I sent, right?" He was referring to the investment proposal for his company, which had become severely illiquid after a partner suddenly withdrew, halting the development of a new product.
In desperation, he had tried tirelessly to seek investment, yet no bank was willing to take the risk — until Sap Osot unexpectedly contacted him. He seized the opportunity at once, though he was still puzzled by the proposal.
After hearing him out, Thada glanced briefly at Ranee, who was still staring at the wine glass in her hand. He took another sip and replied calmly, "Let's say I'm considering it."
That answer made Theeradej instantly understand. The flattering smile on his face faltered.
Gently swirling his glass, Thada continued, "Let's eat first. We'll talk business later — the steak will get cold. This restaurant uses high-grade beef imported directly from the Netherlands." With that, he changed the subject and raised his glass again.
Theeradej ended the discussion about the investment and turned to his wife.
"Let's have a drink, darling."
It was not until two hours later that the tense uncertainty finally ended. When Theeradej placed his napkin on the table and lifted his wrist to check the time, he immediately said his goodbyes.
"This evening, I think I should excuse myself — I don't want the children to worry."
He used the child as an excuse to pressure his wife, ensuring she would not make a scene. Rani smiled faintly, her eyes still fixed on the wine glass in her hand.
"Don't worry. Once I've finished reading everything, I'll present your plan to the shareholders' meeting right away," Thada said, extending his hand as he and Theeradej rose from the table.
The two men shook hands as though they were old friends with a deep, long-standing bond. Then, without so much as a backward glance at his petite wife sitting alone with a cold expression, Theeradej turned and walked out — leaving her in the crowded dining room under the mocking gaze of the man across from her.
The sound of something being tossed onto the table shattered what little composure remained between them.
Thada spoke, his voice edged with faint ridicule. "The elevator keycard for the rooftop — and the code to my penthouse: 241288."
His tone was cold and distant. When he finished, he stepped out of the five-star hotel restaurant, leaving Ranee standing alone to the soft strains of classical music.
Rani stared after his tall figure until it disappeared from view. She drew a deep breath, gathering courage, before walking out of the restaurant. Her 165-centimeter frame paused in the hallway of the luxurious building.
She stood there for almost ten minutes before finally scanning the card and calling the elevator to the rooftop, where Thada's penthouse was located.
"Ding…!" When the elevator doors opened, she stepped out, her elegant figure wrapped in a provocative dress, stopping before the large door.
Her slender, candle-like fingers pressed in the code just as Thada had said.
A moment later, the automated system unlocked, and the heavy door swung open.
Rani stepped inside on her black high heels, her compact figure wrapped in a black Dior robe. The high-ceilinged living room felt vast and airy — and from tonight, for the next ninety days, it would be her temporary residence.
Tonight she wore a short, tight dress that Theeradej had bought for her — a fitted skirt whose hem barely covered her hips. Beneath the satin fabric, she wore only silicone pads and a G-string. The design restricted her movements, forcing her to take slow, measured steps straight into Thada's trap, where every path of escape seemed quietly sealed.
While she took in the luxurious, modern penthouse — more than 500 square meters in size — Thada's familiar deep voice drifted from the inner room.
Ranee removed her cardigan and hung it on the hook beside the door. Then she walked carefully in her four-inch stilettos toward the bar counter. She poured a glass of Burgundy and carried it over to the owner of the penthouse, who sat cross-legged on the large sofa.
"Your drink…" she said softly, holding the glass out to him. When she stopped, they were only three steps apart — face-to-face with the man in the black armchair.
"Call me Mister, because I'm not your playmate," he replied, nodding toward the glass table in front of him.