Current day 2001….

“Welcome to the 2001 Award for the Mens and Womens of Business in Thailand!” said the announcer. The most successful businessmen and women of Thailand sat at the elegantly dressed tables.

“Please, Ladies and Gentlemen, our first award is for the most successful uprising in the past 5 years!” the spokesperson looked around the room trying to create excitement.

“And the award goes to…. Mr. Andrew Gregson of The Pearl Hotel!” Everyone clapped their hands as Andrew walked up onto the stage proudly.

“Thank you,” Andrew said as he shook the spokesperson’s hand and accepted the bouquet of flowers and a gold triangle with a black marble platform, which indicated the hotel name and his name. Lights flashed from the cameras of the media and reporters. A minute later he walked down and went back to his table on the left of the stage. As he walked pass, he noticed one of his competitor, Sornram sitting at the table in the center row. At the far right of the stage was Touch, also one of his competitor. Andrew sat down and placed the flower and trophy in front of him and looked up at the spokesperson.

“P’Andrew, I’m very happy for you,” said Teya. Andrew smiled back at his cousin. Andrew turned around and saw Sornram.

“P’Sornram, I think that guy is staring at you,” Janie said as she tapped on his arm. Sornram looked at Andrew and smiled and nodded. Andrew did the same.

“And now for the biggest award of all, the reason why we are all here, the award for the most successful and profited company for the last 5 years is……Mr. Sornram Tepituck of The Royal Siam Hotel!” The loudest claps exploded. Sornram hugged his sister and shook hands with other business mens. Hands stuck out to shake his hand as he headed for the stage. He shook the spokesperson’s hand and accepted the big bouquet of white lilies and the biggest trophy. Cameras flashed every second for about 5 minutes, and then Sornram walked down to his table but was blocked by the reporters as they stuck recorders out to get in an interview. Touch and Andrew watched in jealousy and with rage they stood up to leave, then both seeing each other get up, they both sat down again. The ceremony ended and everyone got up to congratulate everyone that won an award. Andrew and Touch got up to exit when they met at the door.

“So, how have you been?” Andrew asked making sure to display the award in front of him.

“Fine, but I see you’re doing pretty good, congratulations on the award,” Touch answered looking at the award.

“Thank you, but I’m not as good as Sornram,” He said as the both of them looked over to Sornram, who was still crowded with reporters and other businessmen around him. Both of the men knew that they didn’t want to talk to each other.

So Andrew said, “Well, it’s getting late now, I have to take my sister home.”

“I didn’t know you had a sister,” Touch questioned.

“Oh, she’s my aunt’s daughter, her name’s Teya,” Andrew said as he gestured to Teya to greet Touch. Andrew didn’t want to introduce Teya to Touch, because Touch had been in many news with woman. Teya smiled and greeted Touch and the person next to him.

“This is Joni, my partner,” Touch introduced. Joni took one look at Teya and recognized her from the covers of fashion magazines and fashion shows that the wives of politicians and businesswoman set up to raise money for charities. He had predicted that she was one of those rich, snobby, stuck-up girl. Teya in the other hand thought that Joni was a role model. He was just 22 years old and still helped Touch run a big company. She remembered him from interviews that he gave in newspaper and magazines.

During all this time Janie was trying to find a way out of the crowd around her brother. She fought her way out of the crowd and went over to the buffet table, not because she was hungry, but she just wanted to look busy. She got a plate and scooped up some shrimps and steamed vegetables and went to sit at her table. She still saw her brother with the crowd at the table away from her.

“Can I sit with you?” said a voice. Janie looked up and saw her best friend.

“Ning!” she said excited. She gave her a big hug and pulled her friend to sit with her. “How did you get here?” she asked.

“My flight got here two hours ago, I called you but the maid at your house told me you weren’t home. They said you were here, so I got dressed and came to see you,” Ning explained.

“Are you hungry? You must be hungry since you just got here. Here, take mine,” Janie pushed the plate over to her friend.

“No, I don’t want to eat this, I want to eat noodles and papaya salad and barbequed meatballs. I saw a restaurant on the way here. Lets go there,” she insisted.

“Always the same, Ning, you know that if your parents find out they’ll be mad,” Janie said. Reminding her that people of their status shouldn’t eat at a lower class restaurant. “Remember what happened last time? The reporters chased us.”

“Yeah, wasn’t that exciting how we had to run so that we wouldn’t be caught?” Ning said.

“Yes, but they still knew that it was you, kune-ying-kullasatree, you are from a royal family and to be caught in a restaurant on the street is unacceptable to your family,” Janie reminded her again.

“Okay, okay stop lecturing me. Gosh you’re like my brother James. He just told me before I left Paris that I must behave or he’ll tell my parents to send me back to him,” Ning complained.

“Yeah, how was Paris?” Janie asked.

“Okay, the same. Oh, James sent you a gift. It’s in my car, do you want to go get it?” Ning asked.

“Yeah, there’s nothing better to do. But my brothers over there with the reporters, how can I tell him that I’m going with you? Oh, wait there’s Sunisa I can tell her to tell him,” Janie said as she got up. She walked over to a lady in a brown suit who was standing next to the crowd. “Sunisa,” Janie said as she tapped her on her arm.

“Yes, oh Janie, how can I help you?” Sunisa replied.

“Can you tell my brother that I’m going home with Ning?” Janie said. Sunisa nodded and fought her way back into the crowd. Janie grabbed her small purse and followed Ning out of the door. At the elevator they met Andrew, Touch, Teya and Joni. Joni pressed the buttons and waited. Teya wanted to know Joni more than just how Andrew introduced them. She tried to smile at him, but he didn’t look at her.

Finally Teya asked Joni, “ What position do you work as at Touch’s company?” She questioned hoping for an answer. Joni looked at her and then turned away.

He turned around and answered, “I’m the manager of marketing.” Teya looked amazed.

“Really? That’s sounds fun,” she said. Joni shook his head slightly and laughed at her answer.

“Fun? No, no, it’s not fun, you know how hard it is to persuade someone that the product you are selling them is the best? Every bath that I make is my sweat and blood, so if you want to call it fun, it is a mistake,” he answered. Teya looked down. She felt sorry and in a way she was angry at the answer that she received. Why did he get all angry? Why did he come on so harsh? Those were the questions on her mind.

“Sorry, I didn’t know that you thought of it that way,” she answered. Now it was her that didn’t want to talk to him. She turned and faced the elevator. Joni also turned and faced away. He felt satisfied that he could tell the rich girl some reality, and yet in a way he felt ashamed.

During all this time Touch and Andrew were too busy noticing Ning and Janie. They didn’t even notice that Teya and Joni were talking. All of them knew each other, from magazines, newspapers or they met at other social gatherings. Janie tried to keep her distance from the two men, because she knew that her brother had mentioned to her to not speak with their group of people. Ning in the other hand thought that it would be exciting to know them.

“Hello, Kune-ying, Janie,” touch said.

“Heloo,” Ning said as she turned to greet Andrew. Janie sttod behind Ning and didn’t do much. Andrew turned around and greeted her with a nod and a smile.

“Are you leaving already?” Andrew asked.

“Yes, I just came to get my friend,” Ning answered. Andrew looked at Janie, but she turned away uncomfortably.

“Looks like your friends really tired,” Andrew said. Janie looked up and pulled Ning away from the group.

“What are you doing?” Ning asked.

“We can take the next one,” Janie whispered. Andrew was going to walk over and talk to them when the elevator door opened. The four of them got in and waited for Janie and Ning. Ning pulled Janie into the elevator. Janie was pulled too quickly that she couldn’t stop, then she landed in Andrew’s arms. Andrew quickly caught her in surprise. Quickly Janie pulled away. Andrew smiled and covered his mouth. Janie turned around and stared at the door. Knowing that Andrew was behind her made her uncomfortable. She could feel the air from his breathing on he neck and sleeveless arms. Ning stood still smiling as Touch stared at her. Teya and Joni didn’t look at each other. Finally the elevator came to a stop and Ning and Janie got off on the second floor where Ning’s car was parked. They waved good bye to each other and left. Ning and Janie walked to the car and got in.

“I think Andrew likes you,” Ning teased.

“You are crazy….Andrew Gregson? I don’t think so, my brother would shoot him before he could come close to me,” Janie warned. The two girls smile at each other and giggled. Ning pulled out of the parking lot and exited the building. On the way home they stopped at a restaurant and had something to eat. They left the restaurant and when to Janie’s house. Ning parked in front of Janie’s house.

“What are you doing this weekend?” Ning asked her friend before she got out of the car.

“Nothing, why?” Janie answered.

“My aunt is taking a trip to the beach, do you want to come with?” Ning asked.

“I have to ask my parents and then I’ll call you,” Janie shut the door and waved goodbye. She entered the house through the smaller door where her maid was waiting. She handed her purse to the maid, which indicated for the maid to put the purse away. Janie walked passed Sornram’s office on the way to her room.

“P’Sornram, are you still working?” Janie asked. “This is your house, not your office, it is a place to rest,” Janie said aas she saw the folders from the office.

“It’s nothing, I’m just doing a little checking before tomorrow’s party for the congressmen,” he said as he closed the folder. Sornram’s hotel was a popular place for any organization, from business meetings to social parties.

“Yeah, Ning just told me that her aunt is taking a trip to the beach, do you want to come with us?” Janie invited. She knew that if her brother went then there was no way her parents would say no.

“Ning, Kune-ying Kullastree?” he asked.

“Yes, my friend from school, remember?” Janie reminded her brother.

“The beach, huh? It’s sounds nice. Sure, I can come with you. When is it?” he answered.

“This weekend,” she said as she yawned. Sornram was too busy thinking of some other thing to notice that his sister had exited the room. Janie ran to her room and dialed Ning’s number. They planned their whole vacation out and spoke of how fun it would be. They talked for almost two hours and then both grew very tired and went to sleep.

The week went by so fast that the next time the two friends met it was on the day of the trip. Sornram pulled in front of the big white mansion. In front of the house a van was being loaded with luggage. They got out of the car and went toward the steps. Ning came out wearing a jean, white button shirt, a ponytail, and a sunglass.

“You guys got here so fast,” Ning said to them as she approached them.

“P’Sornram, this is Ning, remember?” Janie introduced while Ning shook hands with him.

“Ning, how many people are going?” Janie asked seeing all of the luggage.

“There’s you guys, me, my aunt, and my two small cousins,” she reported. Janie asked Ning to take her to the restroom to freshen up, so Sornram walked around the yard. He wondered into the gardens full of rose bushes. He followed the circular stone steps which had tall bushes of roses planted on the side. The roses were in full bloom which made him want to see more. Sornram lost track of where he was and just kept going deeper into the garden. Then he noticed a white little porch, which extended from the upper room of the mansion. Then out of nowhere a woman in white silk and laces stoop up. Her hair was black and long, all the way down to her lower waist. Her eyes were circular and wide, her lips were pink and full. Sornram hid between some of the bushes and watched the mystery woman in silence. He couldn’t tell if what he was seeing was real or maybe it was just his mind playing a trick on him. He watched as she spoke to her roses, saying that they should eat a lot so that they will grow to be beautiful like the rest. After she put the pot of roses down she entered the room. Sornram just stood in awe.

“P’Sornram!” Janie screamed for her brother. Sornram heard his name and followed the path back to the front of the house.

“P’Sornram, where did you go? Ning and I came out and couldn’t find you,” Janie asked.

“I saw the roses in the garden and was too busy looking at them,” he answered.

“Yeah, the roses. My aunt is the one that planted them, she loves roses,” Ning said. Sornram looked back at the garden and wondered if that mysterious woman was Ning’s aunt. But she couldn’t be, she was so young, maybe in her late twenties. Sornram thought to himself as Janie and Ning smiled at each other. All of a sudden kids voices stormed out of the house.

“No, it’s mine,” the boy said.

“Nah ah, it’s mine. Mom said that yours are the blue ones, remember?” the little girl in a pink shirt and red skirt said.

“But I don’t like the blue one, I like red,” he argues.

“Anan, Manee, stop it. Give me that,” Ning said as she took the red shovel and bucket. She handed them to the maid to put in the van. “Now, you both can play with them when we get to the beach,” Ning said. “Now, get over here,” she said as she walked them to Janie and Sornram. “This is Janie, and her brother Sornram,” Ning said. “This is Anan and Manee, they’re my niece and nephew,” Ning was interrupted by the two kids voices.

“Mom!” they shouted. Everyone stopped and looked up at the lady in white who stood on the top of the stairs in front of the door. The two kids ran up to her, but before they touched her they stopped.

“Why were you guys so loud? Why were you shouting?” spoke the lady. Sornram couldn’t believe what he was seeing. She was real. It was her it was the mysterious woman from the porch in the garden. All he did was stare at the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

“This is my aunt, Suvanant,” Ning introduced seeing that Sornram was stunned by her appearance. “This is Janie and her brother Sornram, they will be joining us on our trip,” Ning explained as she smiled.

“Nice to meet you,” Janie said as she put her hands together and bowed in the traditional Thai style. Suvanant did the same. Suvanant rushed the kids into the car and got in the van herself. Sornram and Janie found that Suvanant wasn’t talkative, especially with people that she didn’t know.

“Just follow us, okay?” Ning instructed to Janie, because she knew Sornram was more concentrated on every move that Sornram made.

“Okay,” Janie said as she dragged her brother to their car and got in. They finally got to the beach after hours of driving. They pulled up in front of a white wood house. The driver opened the door to the van and revealed Ning in the seat next to the door. Sornram and Janie got out and looked around. Suvanant got out and stared into the van.

“Sone, Anan and Manee is asleep, come carry them to their room,” she instructed to the driver. Sornram hearing this rushed to Suvanant’s side to offer his help.

“Here I’ll get Manee and he can get Anan,” Sornram said as he carried Manee out of the van. Sone picked up Anan aand followed Sornram and Suvanant up into the house. They placed the kids on their own separate beds. The driver left the room to go carry the luggage out of the car.

“They are adorable, you must be so happy to have them as your children,” Sornram said to Suvanant. Suvanant nodded. She stood up and exited the room and Sornram followed.

“Where is Ning?” Suvanant asked one of the maids cleaning the room.

“They went for a walk,” the maid said down on her knees. Suvanant turned around and looked at Sornram.

“Are you land Janie going to be staying with us?” Suvanant asked.

“Why? You don’t want me to stay here?” he asked. Suvanant was expecting a yes or a no answer, “Don’t worry, Janie can stay here and I’ll go stay at a hotel.” Suvanant didn’t mean it in that way, but she thought that was the best thing to do, since he was a guy and everyone else there were either a woman or a married man like Sone.

“Then, I’ll walk you to your car,” she answered. The two walked down to the front of the house. Sornram opened the trunk to the car and took a bag out.

“This is Janie’s stuff,” he said as he left it on the steps. Suvanant stood still as he got in his car and drove off. On the way to the hotel Sornram had a flashback to when he was only a child.

1980’s………..

“Mom, where did you get this ring from?” Sornram asked as he felt his mom’s finger.