Chapter 3
After work hours ended, everything continued as usual, just like every other night. All the singers were busy preparing to head home. However, the dressing room was still filled with intermittent laughter and chatter among the four women.
"Pin, can I talk to you for a moment?"
While Pandao was busy packing her things to get ready to go home, she had to turn around at the sound of a waitress who'd just pushed the door open.
"Is there something you need?"
"Ms. Pharima asked me to call you to meet her in VIP Room 9."
"Ms. Pharima? At this hour?"
"Yes, she wants to see you right now."
Pandao's eyebrows furrowed in surprise. Normally, Pharima never called her to the VIP room. If there was any important work matter, Pharima would usually call everyone to her office.
Despite her curiosity, Pandao responded to the waitress with a sweet voice.
"Thank you. I'll head out now."
Pandao thanked the younger girl and then glanced at her close friend. On nights when their schedules matched, she'd hitch a ride home with Pimprapa since they lived in the same direction. However, being called in after work hours might mean she'd have to take a taxi home alone.
"Maybe I should wait for you. It probably won't take long."
"It's fine, Pim. I don't want to trouble you. You go ahead."
"Are you sure? Taking a taxi alone this late can be dangerous. I can wait."
"It's okay. I don't know how long Ms. Pharima will need to talk. You should go ahead. I'll take my usual taxi home and text you when I get there."
"Alright, if that's what you prefer. Just text me when you get home. Take care."
"Sure, see you later, Pim."
Pandao smiled softly before grabbing a perfectly fitting jacket from the hanger to put over her singing outfit, which she hadn't changed out of yet. Then, she headed toward the VIP zone, which was sectioned off.
It took her a while to weave through the crowd to reach the VIP room. She looked up at the number on the door before knocking and pushing it open without waiting for the person inside to get up and open it.
The door swung open, but the person sitting on the sofa inside wasn't the one who'd called her. Pandao froze, her heart pounding irregularly because the beautiful woman sitting with her legs crossed was staring at her as if she longed to devour her.
Even though they were both women, her heart fluttered easily under that gaze.
The door slowly closed behind her as she stood there nervously. Despite the cool air from the air conditioner, her face felt hot. Not even her close male friend, Patwi, had ever made her feel this way.
Was it because this woman's eyes were so dazzling and filled with an indescribable emotion?
"Are you going to stand there all night?"
The smooth voice of the elegant woman in front of her snapped Pandao out of her thoughts.
She awkwardly greeted the older woman. She knew this woman as Pharima's close friend and had seen her several times when she visited the club, but they'd never personally met.
"Um... I'm sorry. Ms. Preem asked someone to call me here, so I came as instructed."
"Pharima just left the room a moment ago. She said she had urgent business to attend to and would be back soon," Phatthira explained, slightly irritated by Pandao's nervous demeanor. "Have a seat."
"Uh... thank you."
With the invitation, Pandao chose to sit on the sofa opposite Phatthira. However, sitting face-to-face only made her feel more awkward.
Phatthira was an incredibly beautiful woman. At one point, Pandao had mistakenly thought she was only a few years older than her. If she hadn't known that Phatthira was Pharima's peer, she wouldn't have guessed that this woman was a decade older than her.
Pandao stole glances at Phatthira's side profile. The white shirt with rolled-up sleeves and dark pants weren't particularly formal, but they looked so good on her that Pandao couldn't help but stare.
While Pandao was quietly observing, Phatthira suddenly turned to face her.
Once again, that gaze made her feel like she was being devoured.
Strangely, she didn't feel repulsed by Phatthira's gaze, unlike when others looked at her the same way.
"Would you like a drink? Wine, whiskey, or a cocktail?"
The smooth voice pulled Pandao out of her thoughts, which were mostly about the woman in front of her.
"No, thank you. I'm just waiting for Ms. Preem. Once we talk, I'll leave."
Phatthira smirked slightly. She was sure that women who worked at nightclubs knew how to drink. They might even be better drinkers than her. So, there was no need for this woman to act innocent.
"Don't drink, or can't drink?"
"I'm not very good at it. I can't handle alcohol well," Pandao admitted, even though she worked at a nightclub.
"That's unusual. You work at a nightclub but don't drink alcohol."
"..." Pandao chose to stay silent, seeing Phatthira's strange smile.
"But I think one cocktail won't hurt. Consider it a drink with me. Or are you going to refuse?"
"Well... alright."
Unable to avoid it, Pandao reluctantly agreed.
Phatthira pressed a button on the table to call a server to take their order. After a while, the drinks arrived, and Pandao had no choice but to take a sip.
Phatthira watched Pandao's full lips as she sipped the drink. Her awkwardness made Phatthira want to help her drink it.
Her eyes wandered to Pandao's ample chest peeking through her shirt. Even a glimpse was enough to fuel Phatthira's imagination.
Just staring at her stirred Phatthira's emotions. Everything about Pandao, from her face to her voice, captivated her.
This woman had an irresistible charm.
"Afraid of getting drunk? Or does it taste bad?"
Despite Phatthira's calm demeanor, her gaze made Pandao's face flush again.
Pandao put the drink down, having only taken a small sip.
"No, but as I said, I can't drink much."
Pandao smiled slightly, but just then, the door opened, and someone walked in, much to Phatthira's annoyance.
Why now?
"Oh! Pin, when did you get here?" Pharima asked, surprised. But seeing her friend's expression, she sensed something was off.
"I came when you sent someone to call me."
"I sent someone?"
Pharima pointed at herself, realizing what was going on. She glared at her friend, who remained unfazed.
She wanted to pinch her mischievous friend for using her name.
So sly and shameless.
"Well, I had something to discuss, but now there's nothing. Do you want to go home? I'll take you."
"I don't want to trouble you, Ms. Preem. Thank you. If there's nothing else, I'll be going."
Though confused, Pandao quickly declined and stood up. But Pharima didn't give her a chance to refuse.
"I'll take you. It's late. Go change, and meet me at the car in fifteen minutes."
"Okay," Pandao agreed and hurried out.
Once she was gone, Pharima turned to her friend, intending to scold her. But seeing her friend's indifferent expression, she could only glare in frustration.
Underneath the calm demeanor, how many people knew just how cunning someone could be? Who would've thought Phatthira would have the audacity to use her name to deceive others and still act as if nothing had happened?
Her friend really was something else.
...
A sporty BMW pulled up in front of the apartment entrance around one in the morning. Pandao didn't hesitate to turn and thank the car's owner for kindly driving her home so late, even though their route home was completely different from hers.
"Pin."
"Yes?" Her hand, reaching for the car door, paused. Pandao turned toward the voice of the person behind the wheel. "Ms. Preem, is there something you need?"
"In the eyes of outsiders looking at working women like us, whether they're women or men, they probably don't see us much differently. You know that, right?"
"Yes, I know. I'll take good care of myself. You don't need to worry, Ms. Preem."
"Then go up and rest. Don't you have a class to teach tomorrow?"
"Yes, I do. I'll be going now. Thank you so much for driving me. Drive safely, okay?"
Pharima nodded slightly, watching the slender figure walk into the building with a feeling that was hard to describe.
She loved and cared for Pandao like a sister, but her best friend Phatthira was putting her in a difficult position.
Because if everything went according to what theother party wanted, the one who'd end up heartbroken would undoubtedly be theinnocent Pandao.
Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: ZingTruyen.Xyz