Billionaire Biker Boy

Chapter 38 - Men These Days

 

It was already noon by the time Wonchana managed to get his soon-to-be boyfriend into the car.

 

"Are you really hungry? The place I'm taking you to is about half an hour's drive away," he asked.

 

"Not too hungry. The shumai and buns from this morning kept me full for a while," Samut replied, not counting the sweetness the man in front of him had been serving up nonstop.

 

Wonchana drove back onto Rama Il Road, heading toward Samut Songkhram. After crossing the Tha Chin River, he made a U-turn and took a highway that cut through to Nakhon Pathom. Not long after, he parked at a temple and led Samut onto a boat that took them to 'Ban Phaeo Suan Prow', a charming restaurant nestled in a coconut grove.

 

"Wow, it's so pretty! How do you know so many cool places to eat and visit?" Samut exclaimed. The well-informed man chuckled and said, "It's all thanks to P'Ong. He's always finding new spots to eat, visit, and take photos. I just follow him around. And when you're on a motorbike, you can weave through places cars can't go, so you end up discovering hidden gems."

 

"That sounds so fun!"

 

"Well, next time there's a trip, I'll take you along," Wonchana promised.

 

"Great! I'll have videos to post on TikTok," Samut said, his bright, sparkling eyes captivating the man watching him.

 

"In that case, on the way back, I'll take you to buy a GoPro. That way, your photos will be clearer and easier to take," Wonchana offered. The new employee's eyes widened. "Don't we need to hurry back to work? This is technically slacking off, Mr Vice President. Who can I report this to?"

 

The company owner burst out laughing. "No need to report it. I'm not worried. I already told you, you're my exception."

 

Seeing the smaller man pout, Wonchana gently nudged him into the restaurant. "Let's hurry and order. It's almost 1 PM."

 

As they stepped inside, Samut was immediately captivated by the stunning cake display. His feet were rooted to the spot, mesmerised by the array of beautifully decorated cakes.

 

"Wow, these cakes are gorgeous... But the prices are so high. How do they sell in a place like this?"

 

"The shop's been here for years, so they must be selling just fine," Wonchana replied.

 

A staff member came to greet them and led them to a table. After placing their orders, Samut took out his phone to snap pictures of the surroundings. Naturally, the tour guide didn't miss the chance to request a selfie.

 

"P'Win, don't post it! Everyone will know I'm slacking off," Samut interjected.

 

The man enabling the slacking laughed. "Alright, but you aren't slacking off. You're fulfilling your duties."

 

Samut wished to ask what duties those were, but he feared the answer would make his heart race even more. Just then, a lifesaving call from Katewadee came in. Wonchana answered, one hand casually resting on Samut’s soft, tousled hair.

 

'Men these days are all into each other, huh?'

 

A whispered comment nearby caught Samut’s attention, and he glanced over. One of the 'men these days' found himself looking at two beautiful women. One was strikingly chic, while the other had a sweet, delicate beauty. They were whispering, and the chic one seemed to be scolding her friend.

 

‘Air, keep it down. You're gossiping about my customers, and they're looking over.'

 

‘I'm not gossiping. Besides, guys like them ‘aren't interested in gals like us.'

 

Samut sighed internally. People like this were everywhere. He wanted to tell them that the lack of interest was simply a matter of manners. If they encountered someone with a sharp tongue, they'd probably run away fast.

...But why do they both look so familiar? Are they celebrities?

 

Samut lowered his gaze to his phone but couldn't help overhearing the conversation at the next table. The sweet-looking woman had started speaking in a normal tone.

 

"Just eat the cake. You ordered it, so finish it."

 

"Ugh, I'm not eating it. I have a shoot tomorrow, and I don't want a bloated stomach. I only ordered it for Instagram photos. I'm helping promote your shop, so you should cover it," Air replied.

 

"I own the shop, Air. I'm sick of eating this stuff. I'll just pack it up for you," the sweet one said, calling a server to box up the cake. Samut’s interest would've ended there if the chic woman, who seemed to be a model, hadn't asked, "So, Jen, are you catching a ride back to the city? Meeting your boyfriend?"

 

"Nope. Oat is working overtime. He said the end of the year is always busy. You can head back on your own. I'll wait for my mom to pick me up. She's at the company today."

 

"Your mom's amazing. Everything she touches turns to gold," Air said.

 

"We're lucky Grandpa left us a lot of inheritance land and businesses. Mom said she only became an actress for the connections. She doesn't even love acting."

 

"So jealous. By the way, when are you and your young boyfriend getting married? I need to prepare my bridesmaid dress," the model teased.

 

"Dad's consulting a monk for an auspicious date. We're not sure if it'll just be an engagement or a full wedding."

 

"What? How can you not know? Isn't it your decision?"

 

Oat's family wants us to wait. He just started working and wants to save up for the dowry. But my dad said he doesn't care about the dowry... Honestly, I think Dad likes him more than I do."

 

"Weird, but hey, it's good if your parents like your boyfriend, right?"

 

Samut’s small fingers swiped into his photo album. Thankfully, P'’Win had taught him to save pictures to the cloud, so all his photos since moving to Bangkok were intact. He scrolled back to the day they had grilled river prawns and found the Polaroid photo he'd taken of the wall. He zoomed in on the person's face in the picture sitting next to Sirichok.

 

...Bingo.

...Why do I  keep running into things related to Oat's love life?

 

Samut quickly closed the screen just as Wonchana ended his call. Seeing the man's neutral expression, he asked, "Is there a problem at work?"

 

"Not exactly. Do you remember Mr Wichien, the guy we ran into at the mall?"

 

When Samut nodded, Wonchana continued, "Turns out the factory that makes our sauce uses his machinery. There's been an issue because he downgraded the quality of the machines, making the metal thinner than it should be. This caused bottling discrepancies, even to the point where glass bottles broke on the conveyor belt. That's why I went to the factory yesterday. I ordered them to demand compensation and blacklist his company. He just called to complain because I won't let his company bid on new machinery."

 

"That's awful. Why do people always cut corners like that?"

 

Wonchana smiled. "Because most people still judge based on price. They act like raising prices is a crime and flock to the cheapest option. You've probably seen the policy I gave the procurement department-that they don't always have to choose the lowest bidder but should consider performance too."

 

"I've seen it... That makes sense. Do you need to rush back to handle it?"

 

"No, it's not that urgent."

 

"Then why did you decide to slack off today?"

 

Samut was still curious, feeling that P'Win wouldn't come out just to play around. The mastermind behind the slacking smiled. Could he admit that he just wanted to take his Little Chihuahua on a factory tour? Especially since he had other plans for Samut, who definitely wouldn't pass probation? Instead, he simply said, "I just wanted to give you a tour and take a break. Nothing more."

 

The food began arriving: crispy fried fish with fruit salsa, shrimp crispy dumplings, beautifully presented green curry with rice noodles in a woven basket, and crab fried rice with chunks of white crab meat and bright orange roe scattered throughout.

 

Samut took out his phone to snap pictures of the food, while Wonchana helped adjust the plates like a professional food stylist. The shop owner, whose friend had already left, watched them with interest.

 

As the two men finished most of their meal, Wonchana raised his hand to call a server for the dessert menu. The shop owner stepped in to hand them the menu herself, waiting to take their order.

 

"Do you have any dessert recommendations?" Samut asked.

 

The sweet-faced woman detailed, "For drinks, we have coconut coffee, iced cocoa, and fancy options like floats. For cakes, our bestsellers are taro coconut cake and strawberry cake. Mango and passion fruit cakes are also popular for their stunning presentation and delicious taste, though their distinct aromas mightn't be for everyone."

 

Samut looked at the menu and turned to the one paying. "P'Win, do you want more coffee?"

 

"Sure, I'll have the coconut coffee, no sugar," said Wonchana, who had tried it before and wanted it again.

 

"Alright, one unsweetened coconut coffee, one lightly sweetened iced cocoa, and one strawberry cake," Samut ordered.

 

The sweet-faced woman confirmed the order and passed it to a staff member before turning back to the customers. "Are you perhaps a YouTuber?" she asked.

 

The small customer smiled and replied, "No, just a regular TikTok user. I'm not famous or anything."

 

"Oh, but even if you're not, we have a promotion right now. If you post a review and tag our TikTok or Facebook, you'll get a 200-baht voucher. You can use it immediately," she explained.

 

"If I post on both platforms, can I get 400 baht?" Samut asked.

 

The sweet-faced shop owner laughed. "It's only 200 baht per check, but if you post on both, I'll throw in a whole cake for you to take home."

 

"Alright then, you can expect the video soon," Samut agreed. The woman handed over her phone so he could add the shop's social media accounts on both platforms.

 

"Didn't you say you wouldn't post because you didn't want people to know you're slacking off?" Wonchana teased once the shop owner had stepped away.

 

Samut froze, hesitating. "True... but a whole cake costs 150 baht, you know."

 

Wonchana chuckled. "I could buy you a cake, you know that, right?"

 

"Oh, but it's not the same! Free stuff feels like a victory," Samutr argued.

 

"Even if I buy it for you, you still win," Wonchana countered.

 

Samut puffed out his cheeks at the man named 'victory,' who was gazing at him with soft eyes. When their drinks and desserts arrived, Samut's eyes widened at the shop's extravagant presentation. The iced cocoa came in a round wine glass, topped with thick chocolate sauce, a mountain of whipped cream, thin waffle crisps, Oreos, various chocolate-coated sticks, and a beautifully placed flower.

 

Wonchana's coffee was served in layers: creamy white milk at the bottom, rich black coffee filling most of the glass, and a large piece of white coconut flesh on top, garnished with a cinnamon stick and a flower. The cake was a round masterpiece, surrounded by sliced strawberries and adorned with flowers, resembling a miniature garden.

 

Samut took out his phone to snap photos as usual, editing video while eating with Wonchana, taking on the role of feeding him bites of dessert as he worked on his video. Once the video was done, Samut rested his chin on Wonchana's strong arm and gave him a pleading look. "I'll post it on Facebook and tag you, okay?"

 

Wonchana laughed. So, it's all about the free cake in the end. "Sure... but can I ask for a reward?"

 

"What kind of reward?"

 

Instead of answering, Wonchana leaned in and planted a soft kiss on Samut’s cheek before casually turning back to his phone, acting as if nothing had happened. The owner of the now-blushing cheek buried his forehead into Wonchana's arm in embarrassment.

 

"P'Win!"

 

"Yes?"

 

"That's so embarrassing!"

 

"Then I'll have to do it more often so you won't get embarrassed anymore."

 

"Ugh, I'm not talking to you anymore!"

Wonchana laughed as Samut posted on both apps...

 

'Boss @Win Chana took me to see the factory and then stopped by here for a meal. It's so delicious!'

 

Afterwards, Wonchana called for the check. The sweet-faced shop owner, having seen their reviews on both platforms, came over to ask which cake they'd like.

 

"I'll take the taro coconut cake," Samut, the lover of freebies, replied.

 

"Will you eat it today? Coconut doesn't keep for long if you're saving it for later," Wonchana pointed out, pulling out a 1000-baht bill. 

 

Before Samut could respond, the shop owner chimed in, "Our coconut cake uses fully cooked coconut sauce. It can be refrigerated for three days. We don't add preservatives either. We'll pack it with ice for you."

 

"In that case, I'll take three more pieces, packed separately," Wonchana ordered, handing over two 1000-baht bills.

 

"Who are those for?" Samut asked, turning to him.

 

"For my secretaries. I have three of them," Wonchana explained. The smaller man nodded in understanding. When the staff brought over four cake boxes along with the change, the two of them carried the cakes back to the boat to return to the temple.

 

The sweet-faced shop owner watched the pair until they were out of sight. Then she glanced down at her phone, where the small customer's Facebook profile was still open.

 

...Works at Sardina and is from Songkhla.

..Could he be Oat's friend?

 

Her slender fingers swiped through Samut’s friend list...