Chapter 10

One Week Later

​Lena adjusted her sunglasses in the rearview mirror of the Toyota Corolla.

​”Do I look humble?” she asked.

​Nut glanced over from the driver’s seat. Lena was wearing a pastel pink Chanel tweed jacket, white jeans, and pearl earrings. She looked like she was going to a garden party at the British Embassy.

​”You look… expensive, Khun Lena,” Nut said honestly.

​”Good. Expensive but approachable. That’s the vibe.” Lena patted the small, bright orange shopping bag on her lap. Inside was the Hermès Rodeo charm-a cute little leather horse that cost more than Nut’s monthly salary.

​”Operation Apology is a go,” Lena declared. “I walk in. I present the gift. We laugh about the misunderstanding. She signs off on the weekly QC report. We leave by noon.”

​”I hope so,” Nut sighed, turning the car into the factory gate. “I brought mosquito repellent this time. Just in case.”

​They parked in the visitor lot. The factory was humming with activity. Trucks were loading pallets of boxes. The air still smelled of chemicals and heat, but Lena felt prepared this time. She had a plan.

​She marched into the lobby, waving her temp badge at the receptionist.

​”I’m here to see Khun Miu,” Lena announced. “Site visit.”

​”Khun Miu is in her office,” the receptionist said. “She’s expecting you.”

​Lena smirked at Nut. “See? Expecting me. She’s probably waiting by the door.”

​They took the elevator up to the second floor, where the executive offices were located. Lena found the door marked HEAD OF PRODUCTION. She took a deep breath, fixed her smile, and knocked.

​”Come in.”

​Lena pushed the door open.

​It wasn’t a fancy office. It was functional. Bookshelves overflowing with technical manuals, a whiteboard covered in chemical formulas, and a large window overlooking the production floor.

​Miu was sitting behind a messy desk, typing furiously on a laptop. She was wearing a simple blue oxford shirt with the sleeves rolled up and her glasses. She didn’t look up immediately.

​”Sit anywhere. Just don’t move the piles of paper on the chairs,” Miu said, her eyes glued to the screen.

​Lena cleared her throat. She carefully moved a stack of invoices off a chair and sat down. She placed the orange Hermès bag prominently on the edge of the desk.

​”Sawatdee ka, Khun Miu,” Lena said, dialing her charm up to eleven.

​Miu finally stopped typing. She took off her glasses and looked at Lena. Then she looked at the orange bag.

​”Khun Lena,” Miu nodded. “You’re back. And you’re wearing… tweed. In a tropical factory.”

​”It’s breathable,” Lena lied. She pushed the orange bag forward. “I wanted to start our weekly meeting with a small gesture. To clear the air.”

​Miu raised an eyebrow. “A gesture?”

​”I feel we got off on the wrong foot last week,” Lena said, flashing her most dazzling, media-trained smile. “I didn’t realize who you were. It was a funny misunderstanding, really. So, I got you a little something. A peace offering.”

​Miu stared at the bag. She knew exactly what that orange color meant. Everyone in Bangkok knew what that color meant.

​”Khun Lena,” Miu leaned back in her chair. “Is that a bribe?”

​”It’s a gift!” Lena insisted. “Open it.”

​Miu sighed. She reached out and took the bag. She pulled out the small orange box, untied the brown ribbon with agonizing slowness, and opened the lid.

​She lifted out the leather horse charm. It was blue and yellow.

​Miu held it up by its strap. It dangled in the air like a dead mouse.

​”It’s a horse,” Miu stated.

​”It’s a Rodeo charm,” Lena explained eagerly. “It’s lambskin. You put it on your Birkin or your Kelly. It’s very… playful. Like you.”

​Miu looked at the horse. Then she looked at Lena. A slow, dry smile spread across her face.

​”Khun Lena, look around you.” Miu gestured to her office. “Do you see a Birkin?”

​Lena looked. She saw a safety helmet on top of a filing cabinet. She saw a backpack on the floor. She saw grease-stained manuals.

​”Well… no,” Lena admitted. “But surely at home…”

​”I don’t carry handbags,” Miu said, dropping the horse back into the box. “I carry a backpack. It holds my laptop and my safety shoes. If I put this horse on it, it would get ripped off by a conveyor belt in five minutes.”

​She slid the box back across the desk toward Lena.

​”Take it back.”

​Lena’s smile froze. “Excuse me?”

​”I can’t accept it,” Miu said simply. “Company policy. No gifts from vendors or clients. Especially not clients on probation.”

​”It’s not a bribe!” Lena’s voice went up an octave. “It’s an apology!”

​”If you want to apologize,” Miu picked up her pen, “then read the file I just sent to your email. It’s the safety protocol for the new production line. I need you to memorize it.”

​”You’re rejecting… Hermès?” Lena looked at the box like it was a wounded puppy. “Do you know how hard it is to get this color combination?”

​”I’m sure it is,” Miu said, opening a folder. “But I don’t need toys, Khun Lena. And I don’t need you to buy my forgiveness with expensive leather scraps.”

​Miu looked up, her expression turning serious.

​”You thought I was a janitor because you didn’t bother to look at me. You just saw a uniform. Giving me a bag charm doesn’t change that. Proving you respect my work… that changes it.”

​Lena felt her face burning. The rejection stung more than she expected. It wasn’t just that Miu said no; it was that Miu made Lena feel cheap. Like a child trying to pay for candy with Monopoly money.

​Lena snatched the orange box off the desk and shoved it back into her purse.

​”Fine,” Lena snapped, dropping the charm offensive. “No gifts. Strictly business. What do you want me to do?”

​Miu smirked. She liked this Lena better. The angry one was at least honest.

​”Strictly business,” Miu agreed. “Grab a hard hat. We have a problem with the labeling machine on Line 3. Since it’s your product, I need you to come look at it.”

​”Is it hot on Line 3?” Lena asked suspiciously.

​”Extremely,” Miu replied cheerfully, standing up. “And noisy. Let’s go, Princess. Your tweed jacket needs some ventilation.”

​Miu walked to the door, leaving Lena fuming in the chair.

​”Nut,” Lena hissed to her assistant.

​”Yes, Khun Lena?”

​”Remind me to burn this jacket when we get home.”

​”Yes, Khun Lena.”

​Lena stood up, grabbed the hard hat, and followed Miu out the door, realizing that for the first time in her life, her money was absolutely useless.