Few hours before Meesha went missing!
Turning her head, Meesha spots a man in his early twenties who appears to have no sense of style thanks to his pink shirt with green butterfly-print on it, white and green check pj's, and flip flops.
His hair messy and puffy eyes evident enough that he hasn't slept for days.
Meesha knew right away that he was her assistant; scanning him from head to toe, he was exactly the same as she had seen in old photos.
"What are you doing here? And it was you last night, right? posing as an investigator, Meesha asks.
It is funny, though, that while she can recall his identity, she can not recall his name. She turns her back on him and hits her forehead with a fist, trying to recall his name.
The guy rolls his eyes, moves in front of her and pointing to his face, he goes, "I-I am Kevin."
He wishes she remembered his name for once. Not even once has she remembered his name since the day she first met him.
"Omo, How forgetful!" Meesha feigns a friendly smile.
"Peeeeeeeeeeee" Kevin stomps his feet and screams.
Meesha covers her ears, glancing around and raises finger to her lips for Kevin to shut his mouth.
Kevin pouts and makes a puppy eyes, "You left me alone, and that witch is looking for a chance to kick me out," cries Kevin.
"She threatened me if I couldn't get you back, she will kick me out."
Kevin collapses onto the ground, complaining about how awful he feels. Since this is the only way he can keep his job, he followed Meesha here and asked her to return.
Looking at Kevin, Meesha feels bad. Kevin is as naive as a lamb who doesn't know when he will be slaughtered.
Meesha asks him to get up and suggests that they talk elsewhere because nobody knows who she is and if she tries to persuade Kevin here, he might make things worse.
*******
Guests are making their way to the venue. The Kio Charitable Trust, which supports underprivileged and orphaned children in Asia, is hosting a significant event today.
It is one of the largest events held in Bangkok each year, and it attracts well-known Asian business personalities.
Today's event is essential in determining who will be awarded the food catering contract. For the past few years, the contract has been held by billionaire hotelier Mr. Tor Sirikul, and no one has been able to replace him.
Sasha Oberoi has emerged as a rival to Mr. Tor Sirikul; while she is still far behind Mr. Sirikul, she has made a significant impact in the restaurant industry.
Sasha joined her family's business in 2026 and now serves as managing director. Authentic Indian food has been served in their restaurants since the establishment of this business by her father, Ashok Oberoi.
But when Sasha persuaded her father to take a chance, he decided to include traditional Thai cuisine as well. She eventually received an invitation to present last year after all of her hard work, but her proposal was turned down.
This year, she has left no stone unturned and is confident that they will steal the contract from the Sirikuls.
"Please be seated; the tasting test will begin in a few minutes," announces the host.
Sasha, seated in the second row, can feel the pressure building up as the judges prepare for the taste test.
She looks around and sees the people from different corners taking part. She nailed the first round of presenting the proposal, but now it is time for the main game.
This time, Mr. Sirikul, who usually does not attend these kinds of gatherings, came in person. Sasha could feel the air of confidence and pride around him. She is just behind Mr. Sirikul and could hear him talk.
Mr. Sirkul whispers, putting on an air of formality, "I am here to show my support for the event; the food tasting is just an excuse."
The people sitting beside him are no less than him, but his demeanor is kind of intimidating. They feign a smile as they listen to him.
"Why even invite proposals if the winner's gonna be Sirikul's every year," Sasha remarks, looking up at the sky.
Sasha's heart sinks when Mr. Sirikul catches a glimpse of her after hearing what she said. She confidently turns her head away, as though it were not her.
The host remarks, "Tasting such authentic Thai food cooked by non-natives was a pleasant surprise."
With excitement in his eyes, Sasha's assistant grabs her arm, suggesting they might win the contract. Sasha asks him not to celebrate too soon, though.
"The food prepared by each institution was exceptional, but there must be one who is one step ahead of exceptional."
Opening the envelope and looking up into everyone's eyes while gripping the microphone, the host declares, "The one who is entitled to the victory today is none other than Sirikul & Sirikul hotels, Mr. Tor Sirikul."
The applause fills the venue. Mr. Sirikul rises to thank the coordinators and looks at Sasha as he takes his seat.
"The contract will be signed tomorrow. It was an amazing day, and we hope you will continue to support the Kio Charitable Trust."
"I thank each and every one of you for joining on behalf of the trust. Please move to the dining hall; the food is ready."
"Again, thank you, and let us get together again next year."