Chapter Text
Nothing about yesterday’s orientation had prepared him for this.
As a former assistant bank manager, Alan had assumed that starting over as a lowly loans and investments banker would be easy. Boy, was he wrong.
He half-listened to the older woman seated in front of him —Miss Hong, or something , he couldn't remember— natter on and on about everything except loans and investments.
“… my little giraffe, just in case I’m gone unexpectedly” she was saying now, twisting her wedding ring anxiously.
Alan stared blankly at her till he realized she was waiting for him to speak.
Then “oh! Erm…” He fumbled, cheeks reddening. “Can you please repeat that? I didn’t quite hear you”
An embarrassed smile spread across her wide face. “I was talking too much, wasn’t I?”
Before he could lie to her, she continued. “You know, Mr. Alan, you can just tell me when I’m talking too much next time. I have an issue of talking too much.” she said, while talking too much.
“I actually sell chicken at the large west market, so I have to talk twenty-four seven!” Her stubby arms flailed for emphasis.
“In fact, I should be happy I don’t have to talk so much with you, but I just can’t help myself when I meet new people. I simply must know--”
Alan could feel his eyelid twitch behind his glasses as he bit his tongue to stop himself from responding.
“--it’s so nice, you know? My Gaipa, that’s my little giraffe, I think he’ll come back to continue the trade after college--”
“--Ma’am!”
The silence that followed was almost reverent. The banker’s wide eyes mirrored that of his client, as he clapped a hand over his mouth in shock. Shouting at customers wasn’t a good start to his new career.
He quickly put his hands together to apologize “Ma’am-- Miss…” His eyes darted across the documents on his desk as he tried to remember her name.
“Hong” she supplied.
“Miss Hong, I am so sorry for shouting” He pleaded with a bow.
“Forgive me. I promise you International Bank of Thailand isn’t rude to it’s customers. I am so sorry. Please carry on” he encouraged her, dying on the inside.
He couldn’t bear to lose this job on the first day, especially after such sterling recommendations from his former boss. And mostly because of Wen.
What would his boyfriend think when he saw Alan had lost his job?
He would say Alan was “going too far” to win his love, and that would cause another fight continuing from last weeks’. Just because he couldn’t bear an old woman talking.
The woman who was watching him with a concerned expression.
“Are you okay, Mr. Alan?”
“Yes, ma’am. I’m really sorry about that” He shook his head in resignation. There was no way HR would let him stay after this--
Her sudden, bubbly laughter shattered the tension. Alan was very confused.
“You’re very funny, Khun Alan. Are you scared I’d tell on you?” she asked between gasps.
“Your predecessor and I used to talk like this all the time! I can’t stand the professional stuffy atmosphere!”
His predecessor? The man who'd retired before him? Mister... Something?
Her small wrinkly hand covered his own on the table with a pat, “Please feel free to tell me when I talk too much. Your time is precious after all!”
Alan stared at her in confusion. Maybe she was lying and would rush off to HR after this.
“I’m not joking, and I won’t run off to tell HR after this” she said, eyes twinkling.
“O…kay… Ma’am? Miss Hong?” He tentatively responded. “You said you wanted to invest?”
“Yes, and call me Bee,” she settled back into her chair. “I was saying I’d like to buy some shares for my son, Gaipa…”
Maybe this job wasn’t so bad after all.