Impasse

2. Caught

OmniVentures Ltd.is located in Bangkok's Central Business District. A huge glass and steel building with beautiful views of Lumpini Park from its office windows, it's a company people would kill to work for. No one knows that better than the two men currently standing in the office on the top floor of the building.

One of them is Nail Thanakumchai, second highest ranking employee of the company--a feat which is impressive, considering his age. Nail has the uncanny ability to pull information out of people whether they want to give it or not, which makes him extremely useful to the man standing in front of him.

As CEO of a company with holdings in various investments, nonprofit organizations, and nightlife, Chalam Tian Samongkonchai is not a man to be underestimated. Usually, his demeanor is one of a sensible and pragmatic businessman who can charm anything out of anyone. Today, however, his temper is on the edge of fraying.

"What items specifically are missing?"

Nail doesn't flinch under his superior's shark-like gaze. "That is unfortunately information we don't have."

"But?" Chalam's voice has a dangerous undertone.

"They came from your personal archive, sir. A place very few people have access to."

"As I am well aware," Chalam clenches his hands to prevent them from smashing into the face of his subordinate. "Do you at least know who removed these particular—items?"

"I can get them back," Nail says. "It shouldn't be too much of a problem."

"For your sake, Nail," Chalam's voice is deadly. "It had better not be."

The two men are so engrossed in their conversation, that neither of them see the other person standing just outside the doorway. The eavesdropper moves toward a door at the end of the hall, which leads to a back stairwell. After making sure no one else is around, he pulls out his phone and dials a number. He speaks rapidly before the person on the other end of the line can say anything.

"Kai's in trouble."

There are a lot of people here tonight.

Kai supposes he shouldn't be surprised the crowd is so big tonight. Not only is Nightshade one of the trendiest new nightclubs in the city--both for tourists, and native Thai--it's also a Friday night. Or maybe Saturday morning? Either way, it's hot, and it's crowded, but if he stays then he doesn't have to think, so he has no intention of going home anytime soon.

Unless the two jackasses lurking in the corner force him to leave. One of them Kai has never seen before, but the other one is a person that makes the hairs on the back of Kai's neck stand on end: Nail, assistant to the CEO of Omniventures--the company where Kai is currently interning--and someone you never want to get on the wrong side of. Which is apparently what Kai has done, because Nail and the other guy have been following him since he left the OmniVentures corporate office earlier that evening.

A frosted glass appears on the bar in front of him. He raises his eyebrows, glancing up into a pair of dark eyes glittering with mischief.

"You made me a mojito?"

"No," Luca perfectly matches his expression. "I made you a Thaijito, with extra lime. You look like you need it."

"Really?" Kai lifts the glass, and the smell of lime, lemongrass and ginger wafts into his nose. Yep, there is definitely extra lime in that. "It's not bad."

"I think I owe you a drink," Luca winks at him. "But only if you promise not to make me regret it by being too charming."

Kai winces, and not from the tang of ginger at the back of his throat. "You don't owe me a drink, and what makes you think that line will work?"