"Khun, here's the report of Khun Natthakan Thittipong." Vegas receives enveloped files from his secretary. "His father is doing business with one of our subsidiary company. It seems that their standing in business is shaky now. His sister made a mistake in investing. She rather go for looks than portfolio."

Vegas scoffs a cynical smile. It's just so typical of a rich spoiled little girl that he can't help but to smile. But their lost is his gain. "How much did she lost to make them shaky?"

"300 millions dollars."

He gives a pointed look. "Wow, that's a lot. Her father must've been furious."

His secretary nods in agreement. "Speaking of fathers, Khun, your father made a move to change the ownership of the building in Shukumvit Road from Khun Macau to his name, stating Khun Macau is too young to do business."

Vegas sighs. His father just doesn't want to learn his lesson. "The wedding must be expensive," he gives a sarcasm. "Well, he will think twice if he sees my name as a co-owner."

Vegas already secured the properties under his name, but in Macau's case it's rather tricky as Macau is borderline underage and still under his father's guardianship. He will be 18 in a month. That is why their father is in a hurry.

He rather pay hefty amount of money for lawyers than letting his father's hands on what was once his mother's and rightfully Macau's. His brother will be left with nothing if their father has a say on it.

There's a ding sound coming from his secretary's hand phone. "Your father is in the elevator as we speak, Khun."

"Let him in. I want to know what he says.

In ten minutes, Kun Theerapanyakul wishes he knows what's going on inside his son's head. Vegas has perfected the art of giving smiles. Like right now, for instance. All he wants to do is strangled his father with his bare hands, but instead he offers him a drink with a fillial smile. "What do you want to drink, Pa? Tea? Coffee? Whiskey? Bourbon?"

"Whiskey is fine."

Vegas nods to his secretary whom then hurrily going to prepare the drinks. "In what honor do you wish you to see me that you come here instead of summon me to yours?"

Kun frowns. "I'm not my brother. Big polite words has zero effect on me."

Oh, yes of course. His father is always choosing to be the brash and brute one, no matter how many times his grandparents tried to refined and polished him. Vegas just doesn't understand how his father can still stand in the elite world of riches with his attitude. Maybe his bank account can soften the rudeness for many people.

"You rather hear me saying 'Hi, Pa. What the fuck are you doing in my office?' instead?"

"Vegas! I'm still your father!"

"You don't want me to be polite, you don't want me to be rude. What do you want exactly, Pa?"

"I want that building on Shukumvit Road."

Vegas hikes his brows. "That's Mom's. She willed it for me and Macau."

"That's Macau's, don't lie to me! And as his father I have the right to handle it for him!" Kun shouts, the sound is thunderous but Vegas doesn't even flinch. Gone has the days that he cowars in front of his father.

"That's ours. Mom never stated only Macau has it. It was the lawyers who divided them who said it. And I disagree, so I right it."

"You sneaky little bitch! Snake! Just like your mother. She never said anything about her possesions when she was alive."

"Because she knew if she told you, you just going to gobbled it for yourself and leaves us nothing!"

"I am still your father, Vegas! There is no way that I will harm my children."

"No, your children is whatever bastards and bitches that Aunt Maya has. It's been clear that way for so many years." There is bitterness when he said it. He can't hide it and it's too late to retract it, so he just lets it fly to the air and making the room more suffocating because of it.

"You won't be sitting in front of me now, bearing wealth and finest education money can buy if I'm not a good father."

Vegas scoffs. "Does beating the shit out of your children is also a requirement of a good father?"

Kun snaps and points at Vegas, "You!"

"I'm sorry but I have to end this meeting as I have more important things to do. But I'm warning you, Pa, do not take whatever Macau's and mine. If you push, you will know I can shoved back."

He stands up and shows the door to his father with his hand without a word. Kun reluctantly goes.

***

"I'm going somewhere, clear the schedule for me," Vegas says to his secretary as he enters the car.

"Will you be back after lunch, Khun?"

"I don't know. It depends."

"On?"

But Vegas doesn't answer and drives away. His secretary chuckles and mumbles under his breath, "I feel sorry for that kid. Boss is the type who won't let go even when his teeth are already sinking to the bone."

***

Chay is feeling dejavu as he watches the slick black Mercedez Benz closing in a week later. The window rolls down and a view of the smiling Vegas comes.

"Phi?" He doesn't know what to feel, really. He is happy to see him as if his heart feels like bursting, but he also feels ... uneasy?

He has a boyfriend. He is pretty sure that he can't have whatever feeling he feels right now for Vegas when he already agreed to try it with Nat.

He is also sure that Vegas doesn't have that kind of feeling for him. That man still sees him as cute little Porchay, a little brother that he needs to protect. So, it's better to create a distance rather than enclosing the gap.

"Hi," Vegas smiles wider. "I want to take you to buy that glasses that Macau broke."

He immediately refuses, "No, Phi. That's ok. Hia said he will take me this weekend." He lies. Porsche is busy lately, he came home late almost every day.

"Hey, Macau broke it so it's my responsibility to buy it for you."

That makes sense, but being in a closed environment with his wet dream is unthinkable.

"No, I'm ... Nat is going to pick me up."

Vegas's smile doesn't even falter when he says, "So call him and say I got you for today."

Seeing Porchay's hesitation, Vegas adds, "What's the matter? You're afraid he will be jealous?"

"No, no. He's not like that."

'He should be. What kind of fucking boyfriend is Nat if he isn't jealous Porchay spending time with another guy?'

That is what Vegas thinking, but he knows better not to blurt it out.

"C'mon, I don't have all day, Baby," he says in a smooth English. Porchay blushes but doesn't say a thing to refute it. He steps into the car and closes the door. "Seat belt," Vegas reminds him and he awkwardly follows the command.

The ride is silent, but Vegas is busy with business phone calls that he can't escape the urgency. Porchay stays quiet as to not disturb the older in his work.

"Sorry fo that," Vegas says, "Work is one hell of a bitchy mistress."

Porchay smiles at the crude parable. "That's ok. I understand."

Vegas smiles wider. "Thank you, baby."

Porchay swears his heart stops beating for two seconds there. He wants to ask what's with the endearment, but doesn't dare to. He remembers Vegas called him similar to that in the past, although not this ... seductive?

But maybe he's just imagining things. Vegas can't be seductive to him. No way.

So his only option is to stay quiet.

Vegas knows that and plays that to his advantage. He thinks he knows now how Porchay's mind works from his probing questions to Porsche and Macau. Maybe he will make mistakes along the way, but nothing that he can't fix.

"So what kind of glasses that you want, Porchay? Reading glasses? Sun glasses? Fashion glasses?"

"Reading glasses. Just the ordinary one. Nothing too expensive."

Vegas purses his lips. "Hm. We'll see about that."

"No, Phi," Porchay is already panicking. He knows Vegas's tendency of buying things from when he was little. Even though Porchay is not his biological brother, the quality of things he bought for Porchay is the same as Macau. Sometimes even the exact same thing. "Please, I only need a good pair of glasses. Not the whole store."

Vegas laughs. "Yes, sure."

They arrive at the optics and Porchay immediately ushered to get an eye check up while Vegas watches the process. It gets the employee who performed it sweat a bullet and become unnecessarily more polite to Porchay.

Out of consideration for the employee, Porchay asks, "Phi, can you get out?"

Vegas frowns. "Why?"

Porchay hesitates for a second. "You can take a look at the models. See if there is anything good for me. Pick something ... For me."

"Good idea!"

When Vegas is gone, both Porchay and the employee sigh a relieved breath.

"Thank you, Khun," the employee smiles.

"Don't mention it."

"Your faen is intimidating."

Faen. "Oh, no. We're just Phi - Nong."

The employee nods politely. "Sure."

Porchay curses inside his head.

When they are finished, Porchay finds Vegas already has a tray of choices for Chay to try. He lets Chay tries it one by one in front of the mirror while the employee explain the goods as a background noise.

All of Vegas's picks are good and suitable for him. There is one glasses that he really likes but he backs out on choosing it when he learns the price. He picks the more reasonable one instead.

Vegas is eyeing him, a little displeasure is playing on his lips. He walks closer to Chay. He picks up the one that Porchay likes and carefully placing it on Chay's face. His fingers brush Chay's ears and hair lightly, making the face of the younger red and hot. Vegas pretends not to notice.

"I think you look best in this," he says in a low voice.

Porchay tries to refute. "But it's too expensive."

"Porchay, it's within the budget."

"Your budget, you mean," Porchay rebels.

Vegas clicking his tongue inside his mouth. "Yes, that's right. Because I'm the one who pays for it."

"But ..."

"Baby," There's a warning in his voice. "Shut up."

Porchay is giving him that rebellious look, but he doesn't back out. Vegas hands the glasses to the employee, "We'll take this. Make it two for a spare."

The employee bows and hurriedly processes.

Phi - Nong my ass, he thinks.