Chapter 9: Crossing the Line

“I asked you first,” Naphat said, her voice laced with anticipation, waiting for a clear answer.

.

.

Janevee hesitated, unsure of what to say. She knew her answer could shape the future of their relationship. If she dismissed it as something casual, it might put Naphat at ease. But if Naphat harbored deeper feelings, such an answer could destroy her chance forever. On the other hand, being honest about her feelings could open the door to something real—but it could also end with her losing the chance to stay close to Naphat.

After a long pause, Janevee decided to tread carefully.

“I think… you were drunk,” she said evenly, keeping her emotions tightly in check.

Naphat’s head whipped around, her gaze sharp with frustration, though she fought to keep her feelings in check.

“But you weren’t drunk,” she retorted immediately.

Janevee looked into Naphat’s eyes, searching for something unspoken. But all she found was the same confusion reflected back at her. Deciding to steer the conversation elsewhere, Janevee forced a casual tone.

“Well… it was a win-win for both of us, wasn’t it? We were both happy that night, right?”

Her voice sounded lighthearted, but inside, Janevee couldn’t tell if she had chosen the best response.

Naphat turned her gaze away in silence, her expression unreadable. But a faint hint of disappointment flickered in her eyes. Taking a soft breath, she changed the subject.

“Tomorrow, my assistant will drop off some of my clothes at your house. Let your housekeeper know to expect them,” she said, pointing ahead. “Just drop me off here. I have something to take care of.”

Janevee pulled over as instructed, watching as Naphat stepped out of the car. Without thinking, her eyes followed Naphat’s retreating figure, her mind swirling with uncertainty. Had her words unintentionally created a distance between them?

That night, after taking a shower, Naphat collapsed onto her bed, exhausted. She grabbed her favorite plush stingray—a wide-grinned toy she often hugged when she needed comfort. Its smile reminded her of Janevee’s mischievous grin, and she couldn’t resist mocking it.

“Well… it was a win-win for both of us, wasn’t it? We were both happy that night, right?” she mimicked Janevee’s tone sarcastically, lightly hitting the plush toy in irritation before letting out a sigh.

The lingering frustration from Janevee’s words stirred a mix of emotions in her. It wasn’t anger so much as an overwhelming urge to shake off any thoughts about that night entirely.

Janevee’s words reflected exactly who she was.

Janevee was, and always had been, just Janevee—a person who never got too emotionally involved with anyone. If Naphat had been hoping for that night to mean something, then she had only been fooling herself. She should have known better.

From now on, she told herself, she would keep her distance. No more slip-ups. No more nights like that.

…

The following afternoon, at the headquarters of Thanarat Securities Public Company Limited, Naphat sat in the office of the Chief Executive Officer. Her face was tense, reflecting a mix of stress and worry. She glanced at the clock—it was nearly 1 PM—but she still hadn’t left for lunch.

Despite her best efforts to force herself to focus on the urgent work in front of her, her thoughts kept drifting back to Janevee’s words from the day before.

.

“Well… it was a win-win for both of us, wasn’t it? We were both happy that night, right?”

.

The memory of those words echoed in her mind, sparking a fresh wave of irritation. Naphat clenched the papers in her hand so tightly they crumpled before she tossed them into the trash in frustration. Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm herself and refocus on the work in front of her.

Just then, a knock at the door interrupted her. Thinking it was her assistant, she called out for them to enter. But instead of her assistant, Janevee stood there, holding a bouquet of purple hydrangeas and a large bag of food. The sight only reignited Naphat’s annoyance.

“What are you doing here?”

Her voice was cold and firm, her expression carefully composed. Deep down, she could see that Janevee had clearly brought the flowers and food with good intentions, but she couldn’t help wondering why Janevee felt the need to go to such lengths. After all, their relationship was nothing more than a fake arrangement.

“Well, I heard it’s already past one, but someone around here has been too busy working to bother eating lunch,” Janevee replied casually. She set the bag of food on the nearby table, her wide smile reminding Naphat of the grinning stingray plush she’d punched out of frustration the day before.

“And how exactly did you know I haven’t eaten yet?” Naphat asked, suspicion creeping into her tone.

“I called your assistant,” Janevee said with a smug grin, as if it had been the simplest thing in the world. She then held out the bouquet of hydrangeas. “Here, hydrangeas. Your assistant mentioned you like this flower. Aren’t they beautiful? Do you like them?”

Janevee beamed proudly, having gone out of her way to find the most elegant and meticulously arranged bouquet, hoping it would please Naphat.

Naphat glanced at the flowers in her hand, and before she could stop herself, a faint smile tugged at her lips. But it wasn’t long before she composed herself, masking her emotions with indifference. She replied curtly,

“Hmm,” before turning her attention back to the documents in front of her, pretending to be absorbed in work.

Seeing Naphat’s indifferent reaction, Janevee felt a twinge of disappointment. Still, she refused to give up.

“Hey, I got your favorite sashimi set from your go-to restaurant. It’s got everything you like—especially the Hotate and Akagai.”

Janevee spoke with enthusiasm. “Shall we eat? I’ll plate it for you. Oh, and there’s unagi rice too!”

Her words made Naphat glance up, watching as the tall woman busied herself carefully arranging the food on the table. She set her documents aside, leaned back in her chair, and observed Janevee’s meticulous attention to detail. Finally, she got up from her desk and approached her.

“Thank you,” Naphat said flatly, though her tone was neutral. Her eyes searched Janevee’s sharp features, trying to decipher what was going through her mind and why she was doing all this.

“Eat first, Preme. You can get back to work after. You don’t want to end up with a stomachache, do you?” Janevee said with a warm smile. But when she noticed Naphat’s serious gaze fixed on her, she froze.

Naphat was staring at her as though trying to figure something out.

“What are you looking at?” Janevee asked.

“I’m just curious,” Naphat replied.

“Curious about what?”

“Why you’re doing all of this, Janevee.”

“Why not? Am I not allowed to?”

That question made Naphat take a deep breath before responding honestly.

“We’re just fake dating. You don’t have to act like we’re actually a couple.”

Her words hit Janevee hard, like a punch to the gut. Though she tried to maintain a playful smirk, deep inside, she felt an ache she couldn’t ignore. Still, she laughed softly and looked at Naphat with her usual carefree demeanor.

“I’m just try to blocking anyone else who’s trying to hit on you.” she said lightly.

Naphat raised an eyebrow in confusion. “For What?”

“Yeah. You made me drop everyone I was talking to, but I have no idea if anyone’s secretly trying to woo you. If I have to give up all my prospects, then you’ll have to lose all yours too. I’ll make sure everyone around you knows you’re my girlfriend,” Janevee said with a sly grin.

Naphat was momentarily stunned by her words. Janevee would always be Janevee—flirty, cunning, and never willing to let herself be at a disadvantage.

“You’re unbelievable…”

Naphat raised her hand, intending to lightly hit Janevee, but before she could make contact, Janevee caught her wrist. In one swift motion, she pushed Naphat against the wall, leaning in so close that her warm breath brushed against Naphat’s ear.

“Arguing with your girlfriend at work might not leave the best impression on your staff, Miss CEO,” Janevee whispered teasingly into Naphat’s ear, punctuating her words with a soft puff of air.

Naphat’s face turned crimson. She tried to suppress her embarrassment, struggling to regain her composure under the playful assault of the sly woman before her. But Janevee wasn’t about to stop teasing.

“Your ears are turning red, Preme. Are you embarrassed?” Janevee asked mockingly, her sharp features lit up with an amused smirk.

Naphat tried to push her away, but Janevee held her ground, leaning in even closer. Her warm breath brushed against Naphat’s cheek, and the tip of her nose was so close it made Naphat’s heart race uncontrollably.

“Let me go,” Naphat demanded, her voice trembling.

Her reaction only seemed to encourage Janevee further. The sight of Naphat’s flushed ears and shy expression made her teasing all the more satisfying.

“I miss the person who said they liked being made all red that night,” Janevee murmured softly, her lips grazing the edge of Naphat’s ear. “And tonight, we’re sharing a room again, aren’t we?”

Initially, Janevee just wanted to make Naphat blush for fun, but being this close, surrounded by the sweet scent of Naphat’s perfume and seeing her shyly flushed ears, stirred a deeper longing in her. Her eyes wandered to Naphat’s smooth, pale neck, and she couldn’t help but wonder—what would happen if she pressed her lips there? If she kissed and sucked lightly, would Naphat’s skin flush the same way it did that night? Especially if she gently bit down afterward?

The thought made a mischievous smile creep across Janevee’s face.

But the closeness began to take its toll on her restraint. Having touched Naphat once before, she now found herself yearning to touch her again. The low-cut, backless dress Naphat was wearing today only added to the temptation, her exposed skin irresistibly alluring.

Janevee unconsciously leaned in, her sharp nose brushing against Naphat’s soft neck. She pressed her face against it, trailing gentle kisses along the curve of her throat, savoring every moment. A soft moan escaped Naphat’s lips, breaking the silence between them.

But just then, a knock on the office door shattered the moment.

They both pulled away hastily. Naphat’s assistant entered, pausing briefly upon seeing her boss with Janevee. The assistant gave a sheepish smile and quickly said, “Excuse me,” before closing the door behind her, leaving the room silent once more.

The interruption jolted Naphat back to her senses. She turned to Janevee, glaring at her with frustration.

“From now on, you’re banned from coming to my office, Janevee.”

“What’s this? I show up here for the first time, and you’re already banning me?” Janevee smiled cheerfully, completely unbothered by the earlier incident.

“I don’t care. Just leave the way you came. And tonight, at your place, we need to talk,” Naphat said firmly.

“What now, Preme? What’s there to talk about?”

“We need to set some ground rules while we’re fake dating—what’s allowed and what isn’t. Otherwise, I think some things might be crossing the line,” Naphat stated, her tone serious and resolute.

The weight of her words made Janevee pause for a moment, the playful smile slipping from her face as a flicker of seriousness passed over her features. But it didn’t last long before her mischievous grin returned.

“Crossing the line? If I remember correctly, the one who crossed the line first… was you, Preme,” Janevee said, smirking.

“Leave, Janevee,” Naphat said sharply, cutting the conversation short.

But Janevee simply laughed softly. Her sharp, beautiful eyes glinted with mischief as she leaned in close, her voice dropping to a whisper near Naphat’s ear.

“Don’t forget to eat, my love,” she murmured teasingly.

With that, she straightened up and left the room without further resistance, leaving Naphat standing there, her face burning with embarrassment as she struggled to regain her composure.

Naphat tried to return to her desk and resume work with a stern expression, but her carefully crafted demeanor quickly crumbled. She couldn’t stop the small smile that crept across her face, no matter how hard she tried.

…

Hojicha Studio Writer

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