"Tomorrow is going to be a very interesting day," Anamarija said.
"What are we going to do?" Torn asked curiously.
"You'll see," she replied with a mysterious smile.
Malai looked at her and shook her head.
"Well, if that's the case, I'm going to bed."
"Me too," Taeng said.
"Good night," he wished everyone before heading toward his room.
"Niran, you're going to bed too," Chak told me.
I was about to argue, but before I could say anything, Chak looked at me and added,
"I can see in your eyes that you're tired."
I quickly weighed my options.
He knows me far too well.
Arguing probably wouldn't end well anyway. In the end, Chak somehow always managed to be right.
"Fine," I murmured.
We went to our room, took a quick shower, and climbed into bed.
Chak picked up a book about how to become the best CEO and started reading.
I simply rested my head against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. Without even thinking about it, I played with the edge of his pajamas.
There was something incredibly comforting about moments like this.
No secrets to hide. No problems to solve. No one demanding anything from us.
Just Chak and me.
I felt Chak's hand move gently across my back, slowly stroking it.
The warmth of his touch made my eyes grow heavier.
"Good night, Chaky," I whispered, leaning over to place a soft kiss on his cheek.
"Good night, my artist," he replied, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead.
A small smile appeared on my lips.
My artist.
For some reason, those two words always made my heart feel warm.
I slowly closed my eyes, listening to his heartbeat beneath my ear.
Tomorrow might bring something unexpected.
But whatever it was, I knew I wouldn't have to face it alone.
And with that comforting thought, I slowly drifted into sleep.
The middle of the night...
I slowly woke up, still half-asleep, and instinctively reached out beside me.
Nothing.
My hand moved across the empty space where Chak should have been.
I frowned and opened my eyes.
"Chaky...?"
No answer.
I turned toward the bedside table and looked at the clock.
3:30 a.m.
I blinked several times.
Where did he go at this hour?
I sat up, rubbing my eyes. The room was quiet, and the faint light from outside barely illuminated anything.
He couldn't have gone far... could he?
I got out of bed and quietly left the room, deciding to look for him.
As I walked toward the living area, I heard voices.
I slowed down.
There were several people talking.
When I reached the doorway, I stopped.
Chak and Kit were sitting at the table, apparently in the middle of a meeting with several of their employees.
I recognized Pim, Amara, and Nona among them.
At three-thirty in the morning? Seriously?
I stepped a little closer.
That was when Chak noticed me.
His eyes immediately found mine.
And only then did I notice what he was wearing.
He had changed into a black shirt, the sleeves slightly rolled up, making him look completely different from the man who had been reading beside me only a few hours ago.
"What are you two doing?" I asked, my voice still thick with sleep.
"A meeting," Chak answered coldly.
Then he looked at me for a moment.
"And you're late."
I stared at him.
Late?
I almost laughed.
There was absolutely no way I was late for something I hadn't even known about.
Of course. Only Chak could wake up at three in the morning, hold a business meeting, and somehow make me feel like I'm the one who arrived late.
I looked around the table.
There was a notebook and a pen waiting on an empty chair.
"There," Chak said, pointing toward them. "You have a notebook and a pen. Sit down and write."
I gave him a short nod.
I walked over to the chair and sat down, then gently tapped my cheeks a few times with my palms, trying to wake myself up.
Kit glanced at me and tried not to smile.
"Are you sure you're awake?" he whispered.
"Barely," I muttered.
I looked at the clock again.
"Isn't it a little too early for a meeting if it's three-thirty in the morning?"
Chak leaned back in his chair.
"Here, maybe."
He paused.
"In Thailand, it's 9:30 a.m."
I stared at him for a second.
Right.
Time zones.
I completely forgot.
I opened my notebook and picked up my pen.
"Okay," I murmured.
I began writing down everything they were discussing while the meeting continued.
My eyes were still heavy, but I forced myself to concentrate.
Every now and then, I glanced at Chak.
He was completely focused, his expression serious and professional.
This is the same man who was holding me in his arms a few hours ago.
And now he's sitting here looking like the CEO everyone is afraid of.
I smiled faintly to myself before lowering my eyes back to my notebook.
I guess this is what loving a CEO looks like.
And as the meeting continued, I quietly took notes, trying my best not to fall asleep right there at the table.
An hour later...
The meeting was slowly coming to an end.
One by one, the employees said their goodbyes and disconnected from the call until only Pim, Amara, and Non remained.
I put my pen down and rubbed my tired eyes.
Finally... I wasn't sure how much longer I could keep my eyes open.
Chak noticed and quietly reached for me, wrapping an arm around my shoulders and pulling me closer to him.
I immediately leaned into his embrace.
"Better?" he asked softly.
"Much better," I murmured.
Pim smiled when she saw us.
"So, Niran, what have you been doing while you were away?" she asked.
I looked at her curiously.
"Why do I feel like I'm about to hear a lot of things?"
Amara laughed.
"Because you are."
Non nodded.
"You have no idea how much has happened while you were gone."
I raised an eyebrow.
"What happened?"
The three of them exchanged looks.
Chak tightened his arm around me slightly, clearly listening too.
"Well..." Pim began. "There have been quite a few things happening at the company."
"And not just at the company," Amara added.
I looked between them.
Why did that sound suspicious?
"Okay," I said, sitting a little straighter. "Tell me everything."
They immediately started talking, explaining all the little things that had happened while we were away.
Some were serious.
Others were surprisingly funny.
Every now and then, I couldn't help laughing.
"I can't believe I missed all of that," I said.
"You were busy enjoying Slovenia," Non reminded me.
"That is true."
I glanced at Chak.
He was quietly listening while occasionally rubbing my back.
Suddenly, Kit pushed his chair back and stood up.
"Well, I think that's enough for today."
He stretched his arms above his head.
"My boyfriend is definitely missing me by now."
I laughed softly.
"Taeng?"
"Who else?" Kit replied with a grin.
He looked at Chak.
"Good night."
Then he looked at me.
"Good night, Niran. Try not to fall asleep sitting there."
"I make no promises."
Kit laughed.
"Good night, everyone."
He waved at Pim, Amara, and Non before heading toward the bedroom he shared with Taeng.
I watched him disappear down the hallway.
Then I looked back at Chak.
He was still holding me.
I rested my head against his shoulder.
Maybe I had woken up because something was missing beside me.
And now that I was back in his arms, I finally felt completely awake—and completely at home.
Pim, Amara, and Non soon said their goodbyes as well.
"Good night, everyone," Pim said with a small smile.
"Good night," Chak replied.
"Good night," I added, trying not to yawn.
One by one, they disconnected from the call until the living room finally became quiet.
Chak closed his laptop and placed it on the table.
He looked at me.
"You're exhausted."
"I'm not that tired," I mumbled.
The moment I said it, I yawned.
Chak raised an eyebrow.
I looked away.
"Okay... maybe a little."
A small smile appeared on his lips.
Without saying anything else, he stood up and gently slipped one arm beneath my knees and the other around my back.
"Chaky!"
Before I could react, he lifted me into his arms.
"I'm perfectly capable of walking," I whispered.
"I know."
"Then why are you carrying me?"
"Because you're half asleep already."
I wanted to argue, but my head had already found its comfortable place against his chest.
Maybe he was right.
As he carried me down the hallway, I could hear his steady heartbeat beneath my ear.
The warmth of his body and the familiar scent of his shirt made my eyes grow heavier with every step.
When we reached our bedroom, Chak gently placed me on the bed.
He pulled the blankets over me and tucked them around my shoulders.
"Sleep, my artist."
I looked up at him through half-closed eyes.
"Good night, Chaky..."
"Good night."
He leaned down and kissed my forehead.
I barely had enough energy to smile.
The moment my head touched the pillow, I closed my eyes.
I only wanted to sleep for a little while...
But within seconds, I was already completely asleep again.