He is under my protection.

Vago

Listening to Tana at dinner, I watched the kid picking at his noodles.

"Eat normally," I said.

"Yes," he said immediately.

The kid, surprisingly, immediately sat up straight and started eating. His gaze was attentive, listening to everything Rattana said. Not an ounce of doubt on his face, as if everything the girl said was the final authority on the truth.

"Are you always this obedient?", Tana asked him.

"No, I'm sorry, it's just... I'm often hovering in the clouds, and remarks like that are common for me."

"And what do you usually think about? You don't think anything of the sort, I was just wondering. I get the feeling you're not much in the business world," she clarified.

"Oh yeah, you know how to get under my skin," I thought.

"You probably won't find this interesting, but I often think about what I'd like to paint. About studying. Where I'd like to visit more. That sort of nonsense that isn't worth the attention of adults."

"I knew your father, he often talked about you. His pride was boundless," a soft smile touched her face so naturally.

Boonmi looked at her sadly.

"That's who pulled her tongue," I mentally scolded.

"Yes, he's been very supportive of all my endeavors. Except, unfortunately, I'm only now finding out the price of my success."

"You could have been a little more grateful. He built an entire empire so you could drive a paintbrush around in a sketchbook without a care in the world," I resented him.

"I'd rather, a pencil and a cheap sketchbook than my father's tombstone," well yeah, just the tears we needed.

"Vago! Stop poisoning him. It's not his fault," Tana retorted.

"Guilty, not guilty. Who cares about that now? It's already happened. You need to grow up and take responsibility. Not shivering at the enemy in the living room."

"Vago!"

"I should probably go home after all. I'll call someone at Ant-Man and they'll pick me up. When Trey is ready to be transported, we'll take him home. I'm sorry you had to put up with the inconvenience because of someone like me," I took offense again.

"Hysterical," I whispered to myself.

Dinner ended in silence. Boonmi pulled out his phone a few times, sending messages. Coming out into the living room, Vien informed me that the men from Enthil had already arrived. The little hysterical girl complained to the babysitter after all. Oh well...

Tana arranged for us to bring reporters to his house tomorrow morning. Of course, I've got nothing better to do. If this situation didn't involve this doll's reputation, I wouldn't lift a finger.

"Thank you very much," Boonmi said before the door.

Why do I feel like I'm walking a stray puppy home instead of a grown man?

"Yeah," I nodded.

"If I see his obituary on the news tomorrow morning, I'll admit I won't be surprised," I said tiredly, sitting down in my chair.

"Vago, do you have to be such an asshole? Vien tell him!" - Plumping into the couch cushions, the girl scolded.

"I can't, he pays my paycheck on the card you use to make your purchases. Well, as a matter of fact, he's a real joker of some sort. Standing up to bullets and standing," Vien could finally relax and sit down as usual on the couch, pulling my 'Bride' into a hug.

"But he's a child, don't forget that. He's just had his father killed, there are obligations, and he hasn't even graduated from university yet. You're the ones who were raised by adoptees, and here his father was protective."

"Vien, how's Raon doing?" - I changed the subject.

"Sitting, guarding the bed. Dinner was taken to him. Now even if a war breaks out around here, he won't leave the room. You better tell me what to do with your brother? The men have been sent for him. What's next?"

"We're watching for now. Time for bed, I guess. Gotta get up early tomorrow thanks to that kid," I said as I headed for the stairs.

"Is what Boonmi said about the gestures true?" - Tana asked, looking up at Vien.

"Curious moose," he poked a finger at the girl's nose, "True."

"What's going to happen to him? He'll be eaten and not a hair will be left behind," was the last thing I heard say as I headed towards the bedroom.

Damn boy. So many problems and surprises. He might be a coward, but he wasn't completely retarded. Maybe it wouldn't be so hard to negotiate in the future. If properly tamed, he can fend off strangers, and even under the oppression of fear he can obey his own rules? Why the hell am I even thinking about him? Sleep!

In the morning, by the time I came out of the bedroom, people were already hanging around the house. Tana was checking out obscure packages. Vien sat meekly, nodding as always in response to everything her lover said.

"Finally, just waiting for you. We're all set, we'll shoot the guy first, then you two together. The text is in your mail," she commanded.

Having given her orders, Rattana left first to meet the correspondents and change the boy's clothes. Sighing heavily, I left for the coffee machine.

An hour later, I was sitting in the living room of the Sansiri family. Out of boredom and annoyance, I looked around the room. From where I was sitting, a room with a glass door came into view. The wall I could see was covered with frames. But because of the bright sun, it was hard to make out what they depicted.

Tempted, I decided to see what was there. Painting has always been my passion. It must have come from my mom. She had a way of seeing things that some people couldn't. The three walls were almost completely filled with artwork, and the captions suggested that Boonmi had painted it all.

"He's not bad," I said to myself.

On the easel, facing the large window, was a canvas with a new work, not hard to guess what he'd painted that night, the still glossy strokes of oil that hadn't completely dried, the faint scent of solvent.

It was a small canvas, depicting a backwoods taiga. Something seemed wrong with this work, but the sound of approaching footsteps kept me from concentrating.

"That's where you are. You've seen it, haven't you? Such a look, to write like that, I'm thrilled," my fiancée chirped, gazing into the Christmas trees.

"Where, I didn't see anything. I just walked in," I replied in a calm tone, not realizing what had her so excited.

"Come, stand over here and look," she nudged me in the back.

"What do you see?"

"A forest."

"Look some more."

"If you let me concentrate," I snapped at her impatience.

What did she see here, fir trees, pine trees, snow. I took a step back. And the stubborn, dark taiga began to reveal its secrets. Taking another step, I realized what was confusing me. In the perfectly drawn landscape, painted in rich, fine strokes, the silhouette of a face began to emerge. It wasn't a full face, no. Just a look.

A hard one. A stern look. It sent cold shivers down my spine.

I closed my eyes, sighed, and looked at the work again. You ever hear the expression, "The longer you look, the more you see." It's the same here. Now it's not the paws of a century-old pine tree, but the bridge of my eyebrows. Not the silhouette of a spruce in the shadows, but the outline of a nose.

"Well?" she asked Rattana, breathless with anticipation.

"I saw it," I nodded.

"Did you recognize it?" - she watched my reaction.

But just as I had prepared a few kind words for her about my great and pure love for her obsession, Boonmi walked in.

"Tana, is that okay? They changed the parting and washed it all off," the guy twisted from side to side so the girl could assess his appearance.

"That's better, they're not the owner of the empire after the assassination attempt, but some cheap stage singer," she said indignantly.

Whatever you put on this guy, everything will be perfect on him. Despite how brutal his clothes are, he still looks graceful and elegant. Whether it's the uniform of an Anthil employee, a strict suit, or a leather jacket chosen like today.

"Did you draw all this?" - I asked the question to distract myself first and foremost.

"Yeah, my dad insisted on keeping the artwork at home," he answered with less sadness than yesterday.

"Your girlfriend doesn't mind that your sitters are practically naked?" - Touching the canvases she asked.

"I don't have a girlfriend," Boonmi admitted honestly, dimming his gaze.

"So you're a braggart, talking about the collection?" - Deciding to catch him out, I said.

"No, I just like guys," he said triumphantly, pointing at the images of people with a thin pen, "Mr. Pattana, you said yourself, you need to know everything about your enemies."

"What a little shit." - I growled as I left the room.

"Now I have a sarcasm colleague you can't answer to," Tana caught up with me with a laugh.

"Adopt him and you'll be happy."

"Not out of the question. I like the guy. He's cute!".

Cute...

Of course, with her he's like an obedient schoolboy who gets a hundred pocket money for good grades. But you gotta hand it to genetics, he's got the looks to match. If I had met him in a different situation, I probably would have met him a couple of times....

First we decided to take a picture of Boonmi separately. With Tana. With me. Me and the bride, the three of us. Endless flashes. I don't really like tabloids and such events, but Rattana loves photos, cultural events, exhibitions, auctions. But Vien doesn't like it at all. From his card on days like this, money leaves faster than he can throw himself at bullets.

"How Trey, can I tip him?" - Boonmi whispered to Vien, who was enjoying watching his lover enthusiastically lie to the reporters.

"Ask the boss, it's up to him," he replied briefly.

"Thanks, I'll call Raon then."

"Uh-huh," Vian replied without listening.

"Are you that scared to talk to me directly?" - I asked.

"I just don't feel like it," he turned his back to me.

"Okay, then I'll tell the reporters I don't know anything, my fiancée has a maternal instinct, dragging humiliated and abused foundlings into the house, I have no business with you," I smiled, seeing the look on his face.

Teasing him is a lot of fun.

"Do you have to act like that? You could have said thank you, I'm giving your company a little extra publicity, temper your arrogance. You're not omnipotent!" - he began.

"You see Tana, he's not nice behind your back at all," I said smiling broadly.

Cornered hamster anyone seen, no? Then I present to you his muzzle! Eyes wide open, dislike in his eyes, and he can't do anything.

"Vago! You again?! One more word and I'll tell him your secret, you'll spend your whole life at his feet for his silence," I didn't know what exactly the little devil wanted to tell me, but I didn't want to risk it.

Boonmi frowned and went to the booth. He was asked questions about the company, about the assassination attempt, about the relationship of the two companies. But suddenly a question was asked that was not on the list.

"Is it true that your father introduced an illegitimate son at one of the parties, and it was he who wanted to be killed yesterday, since he was trying to get the truth from the authorities and was conducting his own investigation, unlike you? As far as we know, you have been leading a reclusive lifestyle since the funeral and even there is a different person standing in the management of the company," the girl speaking was as confident as possible in her words.

Boonmi stood so lost and unhappy.

"Introduce yourself please," I stepped forward, the camera flashes immediately stopped.

"Shoot, the broadcast must go on, why has everyone gone silent? I think I asked to introduce myself, the correspondent who just spoke," I continued.

The questioning girl mumbled something inaudible.

"I don't know where you got such crazy gossip from, but Mr. Boonmi Sansiri is the sole heir of Ayson Sansiri! I know which party we're talking about, but there wasn't even a word in there to call the security chief Mr. Boonmi, who was injured yesterday, the receiver. It was about this young man being the heir's closest associate and assistant. Since Ayson-san was a friend of mine, I am more privy to the matter. Boonmi is a creative child who creates magnificent paintings. Business at such a young age is not interesting to a student of his line of work, it was decided by the shareholders' meeting that for the duration of his studies, the president's place will be filled by a hired employee. Ison Sansiri's personal assistant. As far as we can see, his leadership is effective and brings only positive trends in the development of the company. Mr. Trey, who is now in a private clinic, was actually in charge of the investigation. Or do you think this kid should be beating the crap out of the police? Moreover, I'm also directly involved in the investigation of my friend's murder," it wasn't in the script, but I felt furious seeing the kid like that.

Standing half a step behind Boonmi, I could feel him trembling. When I finished, he lifted his face, looking so pitiful.

Knowing it wouldn't be seen, I put my hand on his back, and leaning over said: "Don't be afraid, I'm with you."

"Everyone saw that you were the one who rescued the young gentleman from the fire yesterday, how do you comment on that?"

"What comment do you want? The truth or what the fake pages are writing?" - I went back to the script.

"Truth."

"I'm a normal person, if someone around me needs help, I'll give it."

"At the cost of your own life?" - that wench again.

Looking towards Vien and Tana, I nodded slightly, confident that he would understand me.

"Would you like me to hide? I realize the carnage would create more publicity, I'm sorry to deprive you of such precious news," I smiled broadly.

"But he's your competitor, do you think it's appropriate? In the official photos of last night's event, you were next to each other and afterward and even left together, how do you explain that?" - asked the guy already questioned.

"Our companies are in the same field, we are not at war, on the contrary Pattana and Sansiri Companies have a common project coming up and we were going to discuss it over dinner. Which my fiancée Mrs. Rattana and the president of Sansiri were to attend."

At this point, Vien gestured to me to turn on the earpiece. Fixing my supposedly hair, I pressed the little noticeable gadget in my ear.

"Raon, he can hear you. Speak," I heard Vien say.

"Vago, here Trey passed the files, if you believe them, Mr. Supalai is involved in the deaths of Ayson and Mr. Hamhaeng, but that's not all. Found common channels of money transfer from Supalai to Tuantong. It's all through firms, of course, but it's not small amounts," Raong fell silent, and I nodded to Vien.

" He understood you."

Boonmi was answering a question about his career and plans, my hand was still on his jacket. I tapped his fingers a little, getting his attention so he'd realize it was worth wrapping up.

"I would like to summarize this conference with a statement. Mr. Sansiri is under the protection of my family and myself. I wish to warn all those involved in the attack yesterday, initiating my friend's accident, as well as my father's death. And if anything, all of a sudden, completely by accident, happens. People involved can start picking out their marbles now. Thank you for your attention, we have some urgent business to attend to! Let's go!" - I nudged Boonmi.

"Vien, leave someone here, Boonmi. Pack the things you'll need for the near future. Tana, cancel all business and personal appointments," I commanded.

"What's wrong?" asked the frightened boy.

"Can you not ask questions and just do as I ask? What do the kids need in there? Clothes, pajamas, tearless shampoo, toys, gadgets? You have five minutes," I barked.

"Vago," he turned to me.

"Ufffff, where's your room?"

"Over there," he nodded toward the hallway.

"Great," I took him by the collar of his jacket and betrayed his acceleration.

"What kind of kids are you, why can't you be like at the table, you say eat you obey, you say get ready you get ready!"

"Yeah I was just asking, put me down, I'm coming! I'm coming!" Boonmi rambled, his feet barely reaching the floor.

Christ, that kid could be dragged around with one hand and not get tired. He can't stand up to the giants of the shadow business, he weighs as much as a dozen AK-47s, maybe 12.

"How much do you weigh?" - I put him on the floor in front of the door.

"Fifty-six pounds," he replied.

"Well that makes it about 14, not much," I noted to myself, comparing it to my own weight.

"A lot! At 170 I wish I weighed less," he resented me.

"Come on don't talk, I wanted to visit a friend, here pack your things, you'll stay with me."

"And your fiancée?" - He raised his coal eyes at me.

"She's on temporary vacation too, keep her company! Get a move on, eh? Please."

This is going to be difficult. Such a talkative child I want to kill immediately. We'll have to be quick about this.

"Can we get a killer whale?" - Holding a large fish, Boonmi asked.

A true son of his father. All I had to do was nod in agreement.