In this world where often people are judged by their looks, it is sad that those who do not fare high on the prettiness barometer are made to feel inferior. Do you have any personal anecdotes to share? How to combat such injustice?
“Welcome ladies. Are you Madam Sarah Liam and Madam Amelia Robertson?”, a petite young woman at Dr Damkerng’s clinic wearing the traditional silk Chut Thai uniform called Ruean Ton, including an ankle length sarong and matching five button blouse with three quarter sleeves, bowed and pressed her palms together in Thai greeting.“Indeed we are”, Sarah and Amelia smiled together.“This way madams” , the pretty receptionist led the way to a room and ushered the two friends in.A stunning young woman with heart shaped face, doll like features, flawless pinkish porcelain skin, red moist lips rushed towards them with a warm smile.“Dr Damkerng’s daughter?”, Sarah wondered.“ Welcome. Welcome. I am Busaba, Dr Damkerng’s wife”, the lady who was wearing a more ornate Chut Thai dress called Chitralada which had floral embroidery all along its length introduced herself while holding out her hands.“Wife?”, Amelia gasped at the evident age difference between Dr Damkerng and his wife.The lady burs
Chapter 34 :“It must be from either Dr Keith Torres or his son Peter”, Sarah decided to partly come clean before Amelia opens her mouth and cause trouble.“Dr Torres was our professor from University. He also runs a publishing firm. I was one of his favorite students. Unfortunately Dr Torres has been afflicted with cancer. He is now in the 3rd stage, and his health is failing. He has come to Bangkok nonetheless to attend a two-day writers convention in Pattaya to be held from day after tomorrow, and wants to meet me” , Sarah said while pressing Amelia’s hand as a signal for her to keep shut.She knew that the men would go absolutely ballistic if they hear about the kidnapping effort.“But you’ve changed your number recently. How did they get your number?”, Henry asked.“Oh we bumped into Peter in the trinket market in the morning, and he took my number”, Sarah said casually.“Maybe I and Amelia can go to Pattaya for a day and meet Dr Torres when you men attend the medical conference?
Dr Sam drew Madam Busaba to a side room as soon as Sarah and Amelia excused themselves to wash up after their hearty meal.“What is it Madam? What evil foreboding did you see about Sarah’s future?Please tell me. I will try with my life to save her from harm,” Dr Sam asked, his face reflecting his tension.“I saw danger closing in on her. I saw her sinking into water. And I saw death”, Madam Busaba’s face was dark. She was in pain.“Death?”, Dr Sam’s voice cracked in shock. “You foresaw Sarah’s death?”“We don’t foretell death. Our grand master forbids us. But still I tell you – I don’t think it is Sarah but someone near her whose life is at risk. I don’t know who. The risk is from a young, tall, muscular man. I hope you’re not the man?”, Busaba asked looking Dr Sam up and down in suspicion.“No madam. I will die before I harm even a nail on Sarah’s finger. I genuinely love and care for her”, Dr Sam confessed to the elderly lady making her smile. “Maybe it is her estranged husband?
Back at Leo Ad agency, Robert was winding up his work before his impending trip to Thailand. His assistant Josiah barged into Robert’s room all excited.“Boss I have finally found out about Butterflies Ad Agency and Sophia Baker”, he breathlessly announced.Robert raised his brow in anticipation.“Butterflies Ad Agency has divided equity partnership among four partners. Sophia Baker is one of the partners. She is a divorcee. She was previously married to construction tycoon, millionaire Kenneth Brown. It seems Kenneth is still hung up on his college crush, a woman called Lucy Morris and was banging her in the 5-star Marina Hotel by the Bay when Sophia walked in on them. She had since then filed for divorce even though the entire Brown family had undertaken to drill sense into Kenneth and requested her not to break her marriage. The proceedings were very messy with charge and counter- charge. Kenneth did not want to divorce Sophia, more so because his father threatened to disinherit hi
“ Oh no !”, Jessica screamed hysterically while putting on her clothes, ‘ Josiah catch her and destroy the photos or we are both doomed. We will both loose our jobs and I will never get a chance of becoming Mrs Hudson.”“ Why do you want to be Mrs Hudson? We both know Robert is near bankruptcy, all thanks to your disastrous seduction. You want to marry a pauper?’, Josiah snorted while zipping his pants and running after Amber Honey.Amber Honey herself was running after Robert, who in turn was heading towards his car waiting to take him to the airport for his Thailand trip.“ Sir, Robert Sir”, Amber shouted as she ran after Robert.Suddenly strong hands gripped her waist and pulled her in between two pillars, while clapping her mouth.“Peace ma’am. Stand still”, Josiah hissed and took away Amber Honey’s mobile, as the woman’s eyes rounded in shock.He deftly deleted all the photos before handing the phone back to her.From the corner of her eye, Amber Honey saw Robert leaving in his c
“Sarah’s in danger. We have to reach her”, Henry pulled Dr Sam aside. The Medical conference was nearing its end for the day and the delegates were just about to go for high tea.“What!”, Dr Sam was shocked. “Danger?”“Yes. Her bastard ex, Robert Hudson has landed in Bangkok. He’s probably checked us out at this Medical Conference and has headed to the Writers Meet”, Henry informed.“The Writers’ Meet? How did he know Sarah is there? And are you sure Robert is here ?”, Dr Sam was astounded.“Yes. Dad’s assistant just called me. Dad has put a mole in Robert’s office and she informed about Robert’s itinerary. Seems Robert does not know Sarah is there. He felt she’ll be here with us. He has gone to the writer’s conference to check on good writers. Someone called Honey”, Henry informed as the duo headed out hurriedly.“Honey? She’s top tier. Fat chance that she’ll write for a scumbag like Robert !”, Dr Sam scoffed.“Oh don’t underestimate the man’s charm. Don’t forget he had our Sarah eat
“Death. I saw death. I saw Sarah sinking and water all around”, Madam Busaba’s predictions hammered Sarah’s head as she was sucked into the large wave.Sarah had eavesdropped as Dr Sam pulled Madam Busaba aside to hear what she foresaw in Sarah’s coffee cup reading.The elderly lady had clearly spelt out that she saw danger from a tall, young, muscular man.Sarah clutched her stomach and said a silent goodbye to her unborn child as she closed her eyes and continued sinking.So far away from home. Far away from her father and family. If this is what destiny had written for her, how could she fight it?, Sarah thought without trying to swim up, or stop herself from sinking.--------------“ Murderer! Murderer ! You have killed not one but two lives”, Amelia was shrieking hysterically as she clutched on to Robert preventing him from running away.“I did not push her. Someone pushed me from behind. I just fell on her due to the sudden push”, Robert tried to clear himself.Where had he seen
Beep. Beep.The low beeping sounds of the ventilator and the tubes attached to various parts of Sarah’s body as she lay in coma in the hospital bed, were punctuated by whimpering sounds from Amelia sitting close by.She and the many doctors attending Sarah had forced Henry and Dr Sam to go for a shower after two whole days of non-stop watching over her. Dr Sam had got down to assisting the hospital’s doctors and had personally monitored Sarah’s CT Scan, MRI and a host of other tests, after which they had decided to move her from the ICU to a VIP room where one of the three could stay until Sarah was stable enough to be flown back to the States.They had kept the accident secret from the Hill family for now as they did not want father Theodore Hill to hit the panic button.“I couldn’t protect you even though I knew Robert is a scoundrel with criminal bent of mind”, Amelia whimpered, massaging Sarah’s limp hands and feet.“I couldn’t protect the little precious soul inside you”, Amelia
“We can’t allow this. It will be terribly embarrassing for both families. Besides contrary to what you say, I don’t see any motive. My sister has already left Robert Hudson and signed the divorce papers. Dr Sam will get nothing further by demonizing Robert”, Henry reasoned, “And now let me go and check on my sister.”Henry excused himself.“But sir..”, the Thai Police started to speak but was interrupted by Henry again. “I’m sure this is a wrong track. Didn’t the hooded fellow who carried out the dirty job say that the man who commissioned the job spoke to him in fluent Thai language? Sam doesn’t speak Thai at all.”“But he could have covered his tracks and hired someone to speak on his behalf”, the Police reasoned.“What the hell!”, Henry was angry. “This is a wrong track I tell you. I think that bastard Robert himself planned this whole thing out to come out looking like a saint and frame Dr Sam as he is desperate to get Sarah back after he realized she is rich.”“You should investig
“Sister save me from the hell cat”, Mathew whined beseeching Nancy, making her double up in laughter.“Sarah and grandma are the only two people who can make dad cower and take a back seat. Since Sarah is indisposed, try grandma. Though I have doubts whether she will listen to you. She’s been crying herself hoarse since the past two years that you’re getting old. She even spotted a grey hair on your head!”, Edward laughed at Mathew, trying to scan through his thick dark brown hair and find more greys.“Goddammit! I’m just 28. There was no grey hair on my head. I’m sure you guys put some powder and instigated grandma!”, Mathew retorted, making even the matronly Rosie laugh and shake her head at the bantering. She loved the Hill family children and knew that Isabella’s coming into the family would spell bad news.“Just because I don’t have a steady girlfriend doesn’t mean I can be paired with just anybody! Am I a cow that the Hills bought which can be sold and led by the noose to be fas
Chapter 47 :Isabella Sinclair groaned and palmed her head as she opened her mobile and unblocked Jessica Williams. Her eyes rounded in shock seeing the super hot Mathew Hill with another woman. She had been busy visiting top designers for the super rich and shopping for her attire and accessories for the evening dinner with the Hills through the past few days which had left her exhausted. She was getting a body massage at a luxe spa when Jessica’s irritating phone calls started disturbing her.To Isabella, Jessica was a pest, always sweet talking her to somehow slide her way to bag some projects which the Sinclair Industries might throw like crumbs to a stray. As Jessica couldn’t manage any appointment with her canny father, shrewd business magnate Albert Sinclair, she was desperately wooing the daughter to make a side entry. Isabella however did not generally mind the sycophancy as it gave her ego boost and also added to her string of followers, but sometimes it got to her nerves. L
Sitting in a dark corner of the luxury hotel’s night club, Jessica who was waiting for her date for the night who had not arrived yet, spotted Sophia Baker and her beau in their romantic reverie. Her entire being started burning with jealousy.Why does everyone she knows manage to ensnare some magnificently handsome and young men while she has to wait for a potbellied middle aged man to date and pay her bills?, she cursed her fate, wondering who the demi- God lookalike drool worthy man was.She bent over to a hustler sitting in the adjoining sofa with gaudy make –up, similarly waiting for a client.“Hi Anne! Do you know the man dancing with that slut in white gown? I kinda know her, so curious about who she managed to screw.”“Oh my God! He is Mathew Hill, the middle son of business tycoon Theodore Hill. Is he a decillionaire?”, the hustler gushed. “Who is that whore? How did she manage to wrap the walking stack of dollars around her cunt? Why can’t I ever get such luck? God !”, she
Chapter 45 :Mathew Hill, the second son of business tycoon Theodore Hill was introvert by nature from his childhood. Cocooned in himself, he preferred spending time playing and watching different sports. From soccer, tennis to car racing, parachuting, skiing and water sports, he excelled in every sports and even represented his University in some of them.Additionally, his business acumen was the sharpest among the three brothers, with some business heads vouching that his astuteness, acumen and business foresight was even better than the shrewd Theodore Hill.Blessed with chiseled features just like his other two brothers, tall and toned physique, deep set aquamarine blue eyes, sun tanned skin and dark brown haired Mathew had branched out the Hills Industries into the power sector, solar manufacturing, defence and aerospace.His aura and reputation were such that very few could fathom that he had a fun side to his character as only a handful of people apart from his family and sele
“Madam I think we should inform Sarah about this development”, Rosie spoke out the moment the troublesome conniving duo left.“How many times have I told you Rosie Ma not to call me Madam! You call my husband and his brothers by name, Sarah by name. You’re a mother figure to all of them. They call you Rosie Ma. How and why am I different?”, Nancy’s cold demeanor disappeared the moment the door closed and she hugged Rosie.“Let me call you Madam. You’re the eldest daughter-in-law of the family and are the rightful lady head of the Hill empire after the death of Mrs Hill”, Rosie said wiping a tear. “Edward your husband was in middle school and the others were younger when their mother died so they fondly started calling me Rosie Ma and have continued ever since. They have showered lots of affection on me and I never felt the need to have my own children. You too are like a child to me. Also like the Hill children you too are humble, kind, respectful and very affectionate. I am blessed.
Meanwhile, mayhem had broken loose at the Hudson Manor after Robert’s mother Carol Hudson and sister Larissa learnt that Sarah was Theodore Hills’s daughter and also the world famous author Honey C. whose books earned enormously and who was pursued by Hollywood film producers to sell them her book rights !“We have done hara-kiri mom!”, Larissa whined.“ Who would have ever thought that obese koala bear who slogged day and night without complaining is someone born with a golden spoon in mouth and had a battery of servants and maids at home to do the menial jobs she did here?”, Carol palmed her head in dismay.“Cornelius, advice, what can we do now to somehow get into good books of the Hills family?”, Carol cried wringing her hands. “Mercifully Robert has not yet finalized the divorce so legally Sarah is still Robert’s wife. Maybe we can capitalize on that?”“Foolish woman, Sarah has signed the papers. It is your son who is dilly dallying. If the Hills get on that, the divorce will be
Chapter 42 :“They took your mobile forcibly? What’s happening?”, Amelia exclaimed.“This is getting highly curious. The Thai Police showed us footage of Robert pushing Sarah. They said someone had anonymously sent them the footage not wanting to be involved. Was that fake?”, Henry asked flabbergasted.“No worry. No worry. I have another mobile”, the old woman vendor gave the two a toothless smile. I transfer footage there. I show you if you buy me a mobile”, she said.“We will”, Henry promised.Soon the woman brought out another mobile hidden under the folds of her dress.“New Mobile?”, she asked smilingly. Henry paid her fifty thousand Baht “Too much”, the old woman returned forty thousand Baht to Henry saying “Only 10,000 Baht for very good phone.”Amelia hugged the woman touched by her honesty and told her to keep the money as gift, but the woman wouldn’t take more than 10k.She next showed the young couple a video wherein the tourist was maybe capturing the scenic view. It was a
Chapter 41 :“Milly! You think you can hoodwink me with your hair bleached golden?”, Peter had walked in breaking Amelia’s reverie.Amelia jumped up in shock with her mouth opening like a goldfish.But before she could utter anything, another rich baritone interrupted.“Who are you calling Milly? You’re making a mistake Mr Publisher, Peter. She is my fiancée, Amelia, a childhood friend of both mine and Sarah’s. We all grew up together”, Henry walked in and stood in front of Peter, with his taller built dwarfing the man with brooding and crafty grey eyes.Amelia startled in shock. Fiancée? Grew up together? Why was Henry covering up for her?Dr Sam walked in next adding to Peter’s discomfiture. “We understand your concern for Sarah, writer Honey for you. Rest assured, we will inform you the moment she recovers, but for now, lets not crowd around her, and importantly, not say anything that might make the current situation more stressful for any of us. We are going through a bad time Mr P