My Dear Mistress

The Boss's Command

Anchaya let out a joyful scream that echoed through the house when the admission results came out that she was accepted into every choice she selected.

“What’s going on, Anchaya?” Noom poked her head into the room to inquire while watching a late-night drama in the hall. Her face showed quite a bit of surprise at Anchaya's scream, luckily Aunt Mai was already asleep.

“I got into university, Noom!”

“Where did you get accepted?”

“Every choice I selected, both in Bangkok and in the province.”

“So, where will you choose to study?”

“I probably need to ask Uncle Phon first.”

“And where do you want to study?”

“I used to want to study in Bangkok, at one of the top universities in Thailand, but now I want to study in the city. I don't want to leave here.”

“Anyway, you have to ask the boss first, right? To see where he will let you study, because you are known as the boss's wife, after all.”

“Not a wife, just a fake mistress,” Anchaya corrected.

“Whether a wife or a mistress, it’s the same thing. He does pay you a salary, right? But if you want to study here, it shouldn’t be a problem. Bangkok is far away. If you go to study there, I’d be lonely.”

“You managed before, didn’t you?”

“Well, that was before, but now you’re here. It’s better than being with Aunt Mai alone.” In the evening, after the drama ends, Aunt Mai chants and then sleeps, while she stays up late, wanting someone to chat with and watch late-night series.

“Same here. I used to want to continue my studies in Bangkok, but now I don’t want to go. I want to study in the city so I can stay here.” Because from here to the city is just a few kilometers, taking a shared taxi called a songthaew back and forth is convenient.

“But it depends on the boss, doesn’t it?”

“I don’t want to study elsewhere. I don’t want to go, I don’t want to go,” Anchaya repeated until Noom couldn’t stand it.

“Don’t think about that now. We need to celebrate your acceptance first. How about having a Thai barbecue?”

“The boss doesn’t allow me to go anywhere.”

“We can make it at home.”

“That’s good. We can invite Nan, Duang, and Uncle Phon to join us.”

“Then let’s go to the market.”

“Great, I’ll go too.”

“Didn’t the boss order that you shouldn’t go anywhere?”

“That’s true, but just going to the market shouldn’t be a problem, right?”

“Should we ask for Uncle Phon’s permission first?” Noom didn’t want the boss to cut her salary again if he got angry because Anchaya disobeyed orders by going to the market with her.

Anchaya called Uncle Phon, but he didn’t allow her to go anywhere, not even to the market, because the boss ordered it.

“Oh, does the boss really plan to keep me cooped up in the house?” Anchaya complained.

“Exactly. Do you still want to stay here if you're going to be stuck in the house like this?”

"I still want to stay here," Anchaya replied without hesitation.

"Looks like you're charmed by the boss,"

Anchaya didn't answer but smiled sweetly.

"Oh, the boss is even older than your dad, you know."

"But he's younger-looking and more handsome," Anchaya replied, her beautiful face still smiling sweetly.

"Aren't you still affected by that day?"

"Which day?"

"The hot day,"

"Oh, I haven't forgotten, but everyone needs to have hope."

"Keep hoping. Maybe one day the boss will notice your determination, but for now, I'm heading to the market."

"Let me give you some cash. Today's my treat," Anchaya said, then quickly ran to her room to grab two gray banknotes for Noom.

"Two thousand, really?"

"Yes, buy everything you want to eat."

"Then I won't hold back, okay?"

That day, after wrapping up the house chores, all the maids gathered at the pavilion. The barbecue party kicked off with delicious food and fun, full of chatter, laughter, and playful teasing.

Anchaya loved this kind of vibe. Even though they weren't family, living and working together made them feel like siblings.

She hoped to stay with her sisters in this house for a long time, without anything making the boss upset enough to ask her to leave.

"What did you say, Uncle Phon?!" The next day, Phon came with orders from the boss, which made Anchan's heart sink with disappointment.

"The boss wants you to study in Bangkok."

"I want to study in the city."

"The boss wants you to study in Bangkok."

"No, I won't go!"

"Ann, why are you being stubborn? The boss is kind enough to send you to study at a university in Bangkok. Everyone wants to study there. Why don't you want to go? Didn't you want to go at first? Otherwise, why would you choose it as your top choice?"

"But now I don't want to go."

"Why don't you want to go?"

"I want to stay here."

"Why do you want to stay here?"

"I want to stay in this house."

"Oh, do you want to stay so much that you'll defy the boss's orders? Do you want to make the boss angry? I assure you, not only will you not get to study in Bangkok, but you also won't be able to stay here," Phon threatened, tired of arguing with her.

"Uncle Phon, please help me. I really want to study in the city."

"Are you crazy? No one can help you with this. It's up to the boss. What's wrong with you? Why are you being stubborn? Think about your future. Can you be selfish now? What's so good about this house that you want to stay, even though studying in Bangkok is the best option?"

"Because this house has the boss."

"Oh, Ann, you're bringing trouble upon yourself. Haven't you learned from last time? The boss already said he's not interested in someone your age. Are you stubbornly insisting on being his wife? If you really want a husband, go study in Bangkok. There are plenty of good-looking guys who are your age there."

"I don't like people who are my age."

"But the boss doesn't want a wife under twenty, especially not you. He definitely doesn't want you."

"Why not me? It's not like I'm ugly."

"Because you're stubborn and always causing trouble. Especially this time, if the boss finds out you don't want to go for such a silly reason, not only will you not get to study in Bangkok, but you'll also be thrown out of this house."

Hearing that, Ann's eyes welled up with tears.

"That's the cruelest thing ever."

"The boss is so good to you, and you still call him cruel?"

"Then why does he want me to go?"

"I don't know, and I don't dare to ask. Trust me, Ann, don't be stubborn. You once told me that if the boss orders you to do something, you'll do it. Don't you remember?" Uncle Phon softened his tone, almost pleading with his niece.

Ann didn't reply but nodded because she had indeed said that to Uncle Phon.

"The boss said he'll let Noom go with you."

"Really, Uncle Phon?" Her expression brightened.

"Yes, really. The boss will let Noom study any trade she wants, whether it's beauty, tailoring, or cooking. It's up to her."

"Have you told Noom yet, Uncle Phon?"

"Not yet. I wanted to tell you first."

"Well, if the boss wants me to go, I'll go. But can I see him before I leave?"

"No need. The day you leave, he'll see you off."

"Really?" Ann's voice was filled with excitement and joy.

"Of course. Why would I lie to you? But I won't be going with you. When the boss isn't around, I have to take care of all the work."

"That's fine. Just having the boss see me off makes me the happiest."

"Alright, study hard. Once you graduate, you can find a good job. Don't be reckless. Live your life well. We must strive to be good and ambitious, and life will be peaceful. Don't choose the wrong path like your father."

"I'll study hard. I will have a good life and take care of you when you're old, Uncle Phon."

"Take care of yourself first."

"But Uncle Phon, you don't have a wife or kids. Who will look after you when you're old?"

"I'm only thirty-three. I'm not getting old anytime soon. And who knows, I might find a wife soon."

"You're too picky, and you're not that handsome."

"Hey, you cheeky little niece."

"What are you two talking about, uncle and niece?"

"About Uncle Phon's future wife."

"What? Does Uncle Phon have a wife already?" Noom's voice sounded shocked, and her expression matched, with a hint of disappointment in her eyes. Ann noticed it clearly, making her wonder if Noom liked Uncle Phon.

"Hey, are you crazy? I don't have a wife yet. Ann just says whatever comes to mind. Anyway, it's good you're here. So, here's the thing..." Phon explained to Noom about going to Bangkok with Anchaya and that the boss would let her choose any vocational course she wanted.

"I really don't want to go," Noom said.

"Oh, you two are really difficult about this. Why don't you want to go? Didn't you say you wanted to study beauty skills?" Phon asked Noom with a slightly annoyed tone because dealing with Anchaya alone was already giving him a headache.

"I can study in town. Ann can also attend a university in town," Noom replied.

"You two are just alike. Do you want to go talk to the boss yourselves?"

But both quickly shook their heads.

"Then go study in Bangkok. That's final."

"So, um... when will you get a wife, Phon?" Noom asked.

"That's my business. You don't need to worry about it. Just do what the boss says. That's final." Then Phon walked off the porch, annoyed by the two girls despite their age difference.

Anchaya and Noom exchanged sad looks.

"I don't want to be away from the boss," Anchaya said.

"I don't want to be away from Phon either," Noom added.

Then they both sighed together, feeling dejected because they couldn't defy the boss's orders anyway.

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