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She shook her head, refusing to continue, and I decided to leave things the way they were.
“What's our schedule for today?” I asked when I saw that she was barely eating her meal. She would taste it, pull away, and then she would try again. It was a torturous, endless cycle.
“Well, um…” She tucked her hair behind her ears. I didn’t miss the slight tremble of her hands.
“Conference at ten. We’ll be heading there after breakfast. Networking lunch afterward in the same venue, and we left the evening free in case any new appointments came up from the networking lunch. There’s also the option of going out for a traditional Thai theater performance later on tonight. I’ve arranged for Kit to be available to drive you there. I've already secured the tickets in advance so I can come along as well if you wish.”
I listened to her words, and then I nodded.
“Do you like watching theater performances?” I asked. She seemed a bit startled by the question, but soon enough responded.
“Not exactly, Sir,” she said. “But I’d love to see it, so I’d be more than willing to come along so that I can assist you as well. Plus, this is Thailand, and I’m pretty sure it’s going to be a very unique and enjoyable experience for you.”
I watched her until eventually she pushed the bowl aside and picked up the medicine instead. She looked behind to read the instructions, and then she opened the bottle herself.
There was nothing else to say, at least for now, but I couldn’t stop talking to her. For all I knew, there would be close to literal alternative chances to do this for the rest of the day, so I couldn’t help but want to take advantage of this short but quiet time we had together. If more time passed, perhaps we would both altogether forget that last night had even happened.
My heart clenched with worry even at the mere thought. I didn’t want her to forget. I also didn’t want to forget either, but with the way she currently was with me, it felt as though her entire body had been turned into ice.
She was so distant… so unreadable. Maybe she truly wasn’t feeling well and needed the rest.
“Why don’t you take today off?” I asked her, “You might not be able to handle today if you keep feeling like this.”
At this, any sign of weakness immediately left her face as she stared at me.
“You sent me away yesterday as well, Sir,” she replied. Her words didn't shock, and her gaze filled with concern.
I wondered briefly until I replaced all that I had said to her the previous day.
“I'm not going to fire you,” I told her. However, she picked up her spoon again, completely distracted, and obviously forgetting to realize that she had already set it down and rejected the food.
“You need the rest today.”
“And yesterday?” she asked. She faltered. “I am-”
She stopped, and I knew what she had wanted to complete the statement with.
“You got drunk working,” I said. “You didn’t just decide to suddenly go out drinking and then return late this way. I know how efficient you are and how seriously you take your job, so don’t worry. Take the rest you need, and I'll handle the conference today.”
“Can I say no, Sir?” she asked. I was a bit startled to hear this because what employee in the world ever rejects a few days off?
“We’re flying to Phuket tomorrow, right?” I asked, but she shook her head.
“No, Sir, the conference continues tomorrow.” she replied. “You have another keynote to give tomorrow, and then the rest of the day is free. There is a jazz performance though late in the night. It is at a bar not far from the hotel. It's a really famous place, so I included a note to it in case you were down for attending after dinner.”
“So when are we flying to Phuket then?” I asked.
“The day after tomorrow. You have the entire day free, and the next as well before we have to return for the conference.”
“Hm,” I replied. “Alright. Sure you don’t want to eat something else before we leave?” I asked. “You won’t get access to food again before lunchtime.”
She lifted her gaze once again and watched me.
Chapter Twelve
Madison
Things were just too uncertain... too strange. We were talking, but we were saying nothing. I needed answers, but I wasn’t getting any. I needed food, but I couldn’t eat. Perhaps I really should take his offer of a break because I didn’t think I was going to survive the day. But I couldn’t be useless two days in a row. I had prepared for this conference to assist him. If I was going to be this incompetent, then he would have brought another staff along, but he had trusted me. Sighing, I shook my head and instead opened the bottle of medicine and drank from it as directed. It was absolutely the worst, but I managed to bear the acrid taste because it was my only hope now. Before we left, however, there was one question I wanted to ask him.
