BEYOND THE AROMA

CHAPTER 4 – THE DREAM THAT LINGERED

KIET

The first rays of sunlight slipped through the curtains.

My eyes opened slowly.

For a few seconds, I remained perfectly still.

The dream...

It felt so real.

I could still hear Papa's gentle voice.

"Never let this become colder than your title."

I closed my eyes again.

"...Good morning, Papa."

The room was silent.

Only the soft hum of the air conditioner answered me.

I sat up and ran a hand through my hair before walking toward the floor-to-ceiling window.

Bangkok was already awake.

Cars flowed through the streets below like rivers of light.

Another busy day.

Another list of meetings.

Another day carrying the Thanakorn name.

I picked up the silver picture frame from my bedside table.

It was an old family photograph.

Father stood on one side.

Papa stood on the other.

I was between them, no older than eight, smiling brighter than I ever did now.

A small smile crossed my lips.

"I still miss you."

After placing the frame back on the table, I walked into the bathroom.

Warm water poured from the rainfall shower.

Steam filled the room.

Usually, my mind became clear during my morning shower.

Today...

It didn't.

Papa's words kept repeating in my head.

Then another voice joined them.

"People don't remember luxury."

"They remember stories."

Narin.

I frowned.

"...Why am I thinking about him again?"

I turned off the water and wrapped a towel around my waist.

A few minutes later, I dressed in a charcoal-gray tailored suit with a crisp white shirt and a black tie.

Every detail was perfect.

Everything exactly where it belonged.

As I walked downstairs, the staff greeted me one after another.

"Good morning, Young Master."

"Good morning, sir."

"Breakfast is ready."

I nodded politely.

"Thank you."

The dining room was already prepared.

Fresh fruit.

Coffee.

Warm bread.

Eggs.

Everything had been arranged with precision.

Father sat at the head of the table, reading the morning business newspaper.

Without looking up, he smiled.

"You woke up later than usual."

"I did."

He folded the newspaper.

"Rough night?"

I took my seat across from him.

"...Not exactly."

The housekeeper poured fresh coffee into my cup before quietly leaving the room.

Father noticed my expression immediately.

"Something is on your mind."

I stirred my coffee slowly.

"I had a dream."

His eyes softened.

"About him?"

I nodded.

"Papa."

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

The dining room became very quiet.

Finally, Father smiled gently.

"What happened in the dream?"

I looked down at my cup.

"We were in the garden."

"The old one?"

"Yes."

"He was sitting beneath the mango tree."

Father's expression changed.

"That was his favorite place."

I smiled faintly.

"He looked exactly the same."

"He smiled at me..."

"...and called me his little Alpha."

Father chuckled quietly.

"He always called you that."

I continued,

"I told him I wasn't the man he wanted me to become."

Father immediately shook his head.

"He would never think that."

"He said the same thing."

I looked out the window.

"He told me I had only hidden my heart."

Father remained silent.

Then I added,

"He asked me if someone had caught my attention."

Father raised an eyebrow.

"And had someone?"

I hesitated.

"There is... a new employee."

"The designer?"

I looked up in surprise.

"You know about him?"

Father smiled.

"When you've run a company for forty years, you learn that good news travels slowly."

"...But interesting news travels very fast."

A quiet laugh escaped me.

"He's different."

"In what way?"

"He doesn't care about my title."

"He tells me exactly what he thinks."

"And he challenged your ideas."

I nodded.

Father leaned back in his chair.

"You know..."

"Your Papa admired people like that."

I remembered the dream.

"The people who change our lives usually are."

I let out a slow breath.

"I don't know if he'll change my life."

Father smiled knowingly.

"I'm not talking about love."

"I'm talking about perspective."

He reached for his teacup.

"Sometimes..."

"The right person doesn't walk into your life to agree with you."

"They walk in to remind you that even a CEO still has something to learn."

I looked at Father for a long moment.

Then, for the first time that morning...

I smiled.

A genuine one.

Father noticed.

"There it is."

"What?"

"The smile your Papa always loved."

Outside the dining room windows, the morning sun shone over the Thanakorn Estate.

Neither Father nor I knew it yet.

But today...

The stubborn Omega who had challenged me on his very first day would once again test my patience.

And perhaps...

Teach me something my business books never could.

Father set his teacup down and looked at me for a long moment.

"There is something I've been meaning to tell you."

I looked up from my breakfast.

"What is it?"

His expression softened.

"It's about your Papa."

The mention of Papa immediately caught my attention.

"What about him?"

Father smiled faintly.

"Years ago, before he became ill, he often spoke about your future."

I remained silent, listening.

"He always hoped you would find someone who would love you for who you are, not for the Thanakorn name."

I lowered my eyes.

"That sounds like him."

"He also admired one young Omega very much."

I frowned.

"Who?"

"Narin Phuwan."

The name made me stop eating.

"...Narin?"

Father nodded.

"Your Papa met him several times when he was a child."

"The Phuwan family visited us often."

"He used to say that little Narin had a warm heart and honest eyes."

I thought back to yesterday.

The fearless Omega standing in the conference room.

The one who challenged every opinion I gave.

"He never mentioned this to me."

"You were studying overseas most of the time."

Father smiled.

"Your Papa once joked that if fate was kind, perhaps one day Narin would become part of our family."

I looked at him quietly.

"Was he serious?"

"He never tried to force your future."

"He simply believed that, if the two of you ever met, you might understand each other."

The dining room fell silent.

Finally, Father spoke again.

"You've carried the company for years."

"You've achieved more success than I ever imagined."

"I think it's time you considered building a family of your own."

I leaned back in my chair.

"And what are you suggesting?"

"I would like to invite the Phuwan family to dinner."

"A simple family gathering."

"We haven't seen each other in quite some time."

I stared at the morning sunlight shining through the windows.

Yesterday, Narin and I had been arguing in the office.

Now...

Father was suggesting inviting his family to dinner.

Life certainly had a strange sense of humor.

"What do you think?" Father asked.

I was quiet for several seconds.

Then I answered honestly.

"If Papa believed Narin was someone special..."

I paused.

"...then I want to respect his feelings."

Father watched me carefully.

"I'm not saying this because I know Narin."

"I barely know him."

"But I trusted Papa with all my heart."

I smiled gently.

"If this was one of his wishes..."

"I have no objection."

"You may send the invitation."

Father's face brightened.

"I'll contact Anan and Rin this afternoon."

I nodded.

"Let's see where fate leads us."

Father chuckled softly.

"Your Papa always believed that some meetings happen for a reason."

I picked up my coffee.

For some reason...

The image of Narin's determined face crossed my mind again.

The stubborn Omega who had no idea our families had known each other for years.

Nor did he know...

That my late Papa had once hoped our paths would cross.

Outside, the morning sun rose higher over Bangkok.

Neither Narin nor I realized that a simple family dinner invitation was about to change both of our lives forever.