Rachel drove past the imposing entrance of the mighty Vivera Tower and took the ramp down to the parking. Marisa continued to silently sulk in the backseat after having been mercilessly teased by her friends on the long drive back from the university. As Rachel skilfully backed into her assigned parking slot and turned off the car engine, Monica removed her seat belt and turned to Rachel.

"Rache, shouldn't you change out of your university clothes before leaving for your dad's place?" asked Monica concerned.

Rachel shook her head in denial. "The traffic will get worse if I delay any longer."

"Then drive safely and stay the night there. Don't drive back alone so late at night," cautioned Monica.

"I swear Monks, you are beginning to resemble a mother hen day by day," groused Marisa.

Rachel broke into laughter and with twinkling eyes, winked at Monica. "You know she is right, don't you? Now go. Otherwise, I will be late. Thankfully the classes finished early today."

Monica frowned, "I miss the dorm room the three of us shared last year. It was so cozy there while it feels so lonely here".

"Why couldn't we have gotten apartments beside one another instead of us being shoved into the 12th floor and Rache being banished to the 32nd floor," pouted Marisa.

Monica rolled her eyes, "Maybe they were all the apartments available at that time. This is a highly coveted tower."

Rachel cleared her throat, "The apartment across mine is still empty. Besides there 8 apartments on each floor, if Dad wanted, he could have arranged for us to be on the same floor. But he wouldn't want that would he?"

"Over-fraternizing with the staff," mumbled Marisa under her breath.

Rachel was shocked. "What?"

"Of course, I and Monks have heard him say it several times. No big deal."

Exasperated Monica facepalmed. "Nothing stays in your stomach, Mars."

Looking straight ahead, Rachel tightened her grip on the steering wheel. "Both of you should get going now". Her voice was devoid of the earlier humor.

Monica threw a worried glance her way. "For God's sake Rache, don't do anything impulsive. Else Mars and I will also have to pay."

Rache merely turned on the powerful engine of her car.

The two friends sighed and alighted from the BMW. With identical worried expressions on their faces, they watched Rachel pull out of the parking and speed up the ramp.

..............................................................................

When her father's imposing mansion came into view, Rachel was startled out of her thoughts. Unconsciously her distracted mind had followed the right route and brought her back to her childhood home.

Even though the gate had silently pulled back, she sat awhile at the entrance taking in the elegant columns and French windows, the graceful lines of the imposing white structure, the sweeping gardens adorning the front.

When a worried guard came peeking into her car and knocked on her window, she broke out of her revere and drove past the gates. As she navigated the long driveway adjoining the blooming front garden, she remembered the last time her 9-year-old self had played with her mother here. Her laughter had echoed loud and free in these mansion walls till the sudden death of her mother in an accident.

Later under the adage of her overbearing father, she had grown silent and her home had turned cold and unwelcoming. She had been desperate to graduate from school and move out. Her dad had been insistent that she study law but when she secured admission to Bangkok's top engineering college, he had grudgingly acquiesced.

Even then her life would never be free from his interference as he proved to her by forcing her to move out of the dorm room, she shared with her friends into a high-end apartment tower with snobbish occupants. Monica had not been wrong; Rachel also found her apartment cold and lonely. 

With a sigh, Rachel alighted from her car and handed her keys to a guard to park her car. As she hurried up the steps, the magnificently carved wooden doors opened to reveal Mr Davis and Mr Taylor.

"Hi, Mr D and Mr T,", greeted Rachel cheerfully.

The two men smiled. "Hello there, Rachel," replied Taylor swiftly. "How have you been? How is the university going?"

"Good," replied Rachel with a smile. "Though I am sure you would have heard if it was otherwise".

Taylor laughed appreciatively.

"Is my girl up to any good? Have her scores improved?" grumbled Davis. "Seriously, I was the one to end up with the clown of this trio."

Rachel grinned widely. "A smart clown at that," she shot back triumphantly. "She placed thirty-ninth this term whilst Monica placed tenth."

"Only because you were decommissioned and had the time to tutor her," retorted Davis good-naturedly.

"Seriously, Rachel we can talk to Professor Gabriel. Your marks shouldn't have to suffer because of your fracture," said Taylor.

Rachel smiled at the two men who had always shown far more interest in her well-being than her father had. "No, I can manage. Once I submit a few pending assignments, my performance will improve for this term."

Davis glanced at his watch. "Good. Then we shall take your leave. Contact us if you need any help."

Rachel watched their retreating backs, mustering the strength she would need. Sighing, she turned around and rang the bell.

The door was opened by none other than Mrs Suppasit, their short and rotund housekeeper. "Miss Rachel," she squealed as she pulled Rachel in for a warm hug.

Rachel laughed and wholeheartedly returned the loving embrace. Here, this was the reason she came back often. After her mother's death, Mrs Suppasit took her under her wings. She had embraced Rachel to sleep the nights Rachel had woken up terrorized by nightmares, she had pampered and coddled Rachel through bouts of depression and nursed her through high fevers. By all means that counted, she had been Rachel's mother.

Finally, Mrs Suppasit pulled back. "Quickly go and get changed, Miss. I have laid out your freshly ironed dress on the bed. The master will be down for dinner at 9 pm. You must be present in the dining room before that."

Rachel nodded, pulling out her phone she sent a short message to Monica.

"Miss," called Ms Suppasit. "All your favorites have been made for dinner. Master seems to be in a good mood. Let it remain that way."

Rachel turned back and nodded before hurrying to her old room. She had exactly 15 minutes to be ready.

..............................................................................

At 9 pm sharp, dressed in a formal dress with her hair tidily pinned up, Rachel seated herself on one end of a twenty-four-seater dining table. Picking up the napkin, she laid it on her lap as she anxiously awaited her father's arrival. 

Soon enough the butler held open the door as Mr Daniel walked in dressed in a formal black suit and claimed the seat on the other end. Without glancing at his daughter, he gestured to the butler to start serving dinner as he meticulously opened the napkin and placed it on his lap.

"Dad" muttered Rachel politely as the first dish of the seven-course meal was laid before her.

"Rachel", acknowledged Mr. Daniel, taking a sip of his wine. "How is the university treating you? Though they wouldn't dare to treat you shabbily."

"Good" replied Rachel.

"Are your friends happy with their apartments? Well, they must be for it is far above their station."

Rachel nodded politely.

"Do you remain a Student Council member and Debate Team Captain?"

Rachel nodded in agreement.

"Good," muttered Mr Daniel. "It is a step towards your future as a politician. The skills you learn today will be useful one day. Professor Gabriel has promised that you shall be named Student Council President in the final year. See that you keep your performance up. If it hadn't been for me, you wouldn't have been given those positions."

Rachel gripped her fork tighter and forcefully chewed her food though she found it difficult to swallow over the lump in her throat.

Thereafter the meal continued in silence, the only sound being the clinking of the cutlery against the plates. Finally, a strawberry ice cream sundae was served to Rachel whilst black coffee was placed before Mr Daniel. Mr Daniel picked up his napkin and wiped his mouth. Rachel tensed up. Now it shall begin, she thought with resignation. She was no fool to assume this dinner had been arranged because her father wanted to meet her, likely he needed her for something.

"You will be attending my campaign events next month," he stated, picking up the mug of steaming black coffee placed before him.

"But Dad, I wouldn't be granted leave. Besides the semester exams are in two months, and I can't afford to miss any more classes or lab."

Mr Daniel smirked. "Davis has arranged debate competitions with other local universities in those districts on the same days, so you can wrap up your debate competition and head to my events directly after. The university will be forced to grant you leave. It is only a matter of seven events over ten days. Davis has sent you the schedule."

Rachel hissed under her breath, seven grueling competitions over ten days that too a month before the semester exams. The university would not grant them any exemptions. She was doomed and along with her the results of the Marisa and Monica would also suffer. When would they train the newbies? Then she also had to commit to memory of the public speeches that would be expected of her. She could kiss her dream job goodbye.

Mr Daniel got up from his chair. "A politician should be adept at dealing with high stress and managing time efficiently. This is your future, not the silly degree I have allowed you to pursue. Davis will give you the prepared speech."

When the door closed behind Mr Daniel's back, Rachel picked up her ice cream bowl and hurled it at the wall. The butler didn't even blink an eyelid.

"Game on Dad," she muttered. "But I shall not accept defeat. Nothing can or will stand between me and my freedom." 

She picked up her phone and sent a quick message to a recently added contact before storming off to her room. Without bothering to change back into her familiar clothes, Rachel collected her meager belongings and drove back to her apartment.

.................................................................................

On the other end of Bangkok, a closely knit family of four had just sat down for their family dinner.

"Danish, take some more meat. Look how thin you have become, surely you haven't been eating well lately and now you don't even come home often," said Salena Zacharia passing the bowl to her son.

Danish grinned briefly at his kind and gentle mother before helping himself to the chicken roast.

His sister Sarah let out an aggrieved sigh. "Mom, you don't love me as much as you love Hia. See you have completely ignored me from then."

Salena scowled as she placed peeled shrimp on Sarah's plate.

Salena glared at her silent husband. "Eat Miss Drama Queen. I pamper you every day. Thanks to your father, I have to beg your brother to come back so I can feed him properly."

Sarah giggled as Jay Zacharia choked on the rice, he had been busy chewing. Quickly gulping down the water Danish poured for him, he looked at his annoyed wife. "Darling, why are you cursing me? It is your son who wishes to pursue an internship along with his studies. I never forced him to. Ask him if you wish."

Danish nodded in agreement. "Dad never forces us to do anything, Mom."

"Yes, but that doesn't mean he will keep you so occupied. He could make your life easy if he wished. He is the Chairman and CEO of OPG Technology," grumbled Salena.

"Mom," said Danish gently, his grey eyes softening. "Dad never had it easy. He started this company from scratch and took it to where it is. How can I slack off? That wouldn't be fair to the other employees."

Jay clapped with approval though he went back to eating his meal the moment his wife glared at him.

"Hia, is your university holding an Open House this month?" Sarah hurriedly intervened.

Danish swallowed his food. "Yes, around the end of this month. Why? Are you interested?"

"You know I am," replied Sarah irritably.

"Then you better study hard instead of watching drama series on your laptop the whole day. Dad might be a trustee but admission is solely based on merit", smirked Danish.

Salena blinked and glared at her daughter. "You watch dramas on your laptop and here I assumed you were studying. Young lady, you are grounded this week."

Sarah groaned before sticking out her tongue at her brother. Danish burst out laughing seeing his seventeen-year-old sister behave like a five-year-old.

Jay shook his head in exasperation."Son, I heard you had some trouble in the Swimming Club lately and all its activities have been suspended for two months?"

Danish sighed. "The freshmen were angry with the list of selected club members and ransacked the club room."

"Will you hold trials again?" asked Sarah.

Danish shook his head firmly. "The trials were held following all the university requirements. Those selected have won their membership fair and square. Fresh trials shall not be held. The others just have to accept it. And honestly, we can't keep training those not cut out to be athletes. It is draining our club resources."

"I completely agree". Jay picked up a potato slice and tossed it in his mouth.

Brows knitted in worry; Salena glanced at her son anxiously. "Then you have more time to focus on your studies. I know swimming is your passion and business your future. Still, you must at least score decent grades. The recent spate of competitions you have taken part in has made you miss a lot of classes. You must have a lot to catch up on."

Danish placed a reassuring hand on his mother's shoulder, "Yes Mom. With the free time I have, I intend to complete my pending assignments and lab reports. A classmate has already agreed to help us."

Salena smiled greatly relieved.

"Son, you can shift into your new apartment in Vivera Tower this weekend. I have just received the keys, take it with you," said Jay.

"Dad you shouldn't have purchased such an expensive apartment. I feel guilty," replied Danish.

Jay smiled, "It is worth it if it reduces your commute to the office and your university. I can arrange another apartment in the same tower for your friends to rent though it might not be on the same floor as yours".

Danish let out a laugh. "They have already moved out of the dorm and rented an apartment close to Vivera Tower."

"Good", replied Jay.

Danish's phone pinged. Curious, he opened the message from an unknown number and promptly choked on the water he had been drinking.

"Who is it, Hia?" asked Sarah curiously. "A friend?"

"No, an enemy" replied Danish warily.

Sarah eyed him suspiciously as Danish reread the message he had received.

"Meet me after class tomorrow in the debate club room. Bring your friends as well. I am not done negotiating."

Interesting, he thought as he got up from his dinner. "I have a call to make, excuse me."