Chapter Text
The office overlooking the inner gardens of the Lee compound had once been an unused room at Rome’s wing of the compound; It was renovated and converted and now it belonged to Mok. The transition had been… strange.
For most of his life, Mok had stood behind Thee as his best friend, right hand man, bodyguard and assistant. Now he was working for Rome, who was mostly based in Moscow.
But Rome visits Thailand often now and in true Rome fashion, Mok always has to be by his side so naturally Mok had an office here too. Now he needs to review the spending because…
The expenses were alarming.
Mok scrolled down the expense report slowly then stopped, “…unbelievable.”
Rome entered the office moments later, carrying two cups of coffee, “You called?”
Mok didn’t immediately look up, “Yes.”
Rome placed a cup beside him and leaned against the desk to kiss him on the cheek casually, “What’s wrong?”
Mok blushed a little but proceeded rotating the monitor slightly, “Your previous spending habits.”
Rome blinked, “…my spending habits?”
“Yes.”
Mok scrolled down the report again. “Private jet usage.”
Rome shrugged. “It’s convenient.”
“Three international flights in one week.”
“I was busy.”
Mok nodded slowly, “I see.”
He continued scrolling. “You purchased a resort?”
Rome nodded, “Yes.”
“For a vacation.”
“Yes.”
Mok nodded accepting it, “At least you didn’t give it away.”
Rome relaxed slightly.
Then Mok continued reading, “And two villas beside it?”
Rome paused, “…backup villas.”
Mok looked up, “For what?”
Rome considered the question, “…guests? Staff?”
“You bought two villas for hypothetical guests and staff?”
“Yes.”
Mok rolled his eyes and moved to another file.
Payroll.
Mok opened the salary records and immediately went silent.
Rome noticed, “What?”
Mok didn’t answer right away. Instead he rotated the screen again. “This.” Showing Rome the screen
Rome leaned forward, “Yeah?”
Kiat’s salary appeared at the top of the document.
The number was large.
Very large.
Mok scrolled down to another entry.
His old payroll record.
The number was smaller.
Rome cleared his throat, “…well.”
Mok spoke calmly, “When I worked for Khun Thee…”
“Yes.”
“I was his secretary.”
“Yes.”
“And his main bodyguard.”
“Yes.”
Mok turned his chair slowly.
“…I was paid less than Kiat.”
Rome nodded carefully.
“Yes.”
Mok waited.
Rome shifted slightly.
“Kiat negotiates.”
“…negotiate?”
“Yes, he says he needs it if I continue to keep asking for “irrational” stuff.”
Mok blinked slowly, “I was not aware negotiation was an option.”
Rome shrugged, “It usually is.”
Mok sighed quietly and squints his eyes at the screen.
Mok opened a new document.
“What are you doing?”
“Correcting the payroll structure.”
Rome leaned forward slightly, “How?”
Mok typed calmly, “Retroactive compensation adjustments.”
Rome frowned, “…retroactive.”
“Yes.”
“For the years you worked under Thee.”
Mok nodded.
Rome watched the numbers change. “…that’s a lot of money.”
“Yes.”
Rome tilted his head, “Am I paying that?”
Mok glanced up. “You are not.”
⸻
Rome blinked. “…what?”
Mok turned the screen again. The updated document now had a new billing entry.
Lee Family Internal Account
Department: Arseni Thailand Operations
Charge: Personnel Compensation Correction
The account holder was clearly labeled.
Theerakit Kian Lee.
Rome stared eyes coated in mirth, “You charging my brother?”
“Yes.”
⸻
Rome laughed quietly, “You’re billing Thee for your salary?”
Mok nodded calmly, “He was my employer.”
“That’s fair.”
“And he underpaid me.”
Rome thought about it.
“…that’s also fair.”
Mok finished the document and saved it.
“Payment will be transferred from Arseni Thailand’s operational accounts.”
Rome leaned back in his chair smirking, amusement obvious in his tone. “My brother is going to be furious.”
Mok took a sip of coffee. “Yes.”
⸻
Less than an hour after, the office door opened.
Thee stepped inside, “I received a notification from accounting.”
Rome grinned immediately, “That was fast.”
Thee looked between them. Then at the computer. Then back at Mok.
“…what is this?”
Mok replied calmly, “Retroactive salary correction.”
Thee read the number. Then looked up slowly. “…you charged me.”
“Yes.”
⸻
Thee stared at him.
Rome tried not to laugh.
Peach’s voice echoed from the hallway, “Is something wrong?”
Thee looked down at the report again. Then back at Mok.
“…this is extortion.”
Mok replied politely, “It is accounting.”
Rome leaned back in his chair, clearly enjoying the moment. He knew putting Mok in charge of finances had been an excellent decision for his finance department he did not know it would come with entertainment like this.
—————
Thee stared at the number on the screen for a very long time. Then he looked at Mok. “…this is excessive.”
Mok sipped his coffee calmly. “It is accurate.”
Rome leaned back in his chair, already enjoying this far more than he should.
Thee tapped the desk once, “We can negotiate.”
Mok blinked, “…negotiate?”
“Yes.”
“You were my employee.”
“Yes.”
“Which means we can discuss terms.”
Mok tilted his head slightly, “That opportunity has passed.”
⸻
Thee pulled out a chair and sat down.
Rome whispered quietly to himself, “This should be interesting.”
Thee ignored him. He leaned forward slightly.
“Let’s review the situation.”
Mok folded his hands on the desk, “Yes.”
“You worked for me for many years.”
“Yes.”
“I provided housing.”
“Yes.”
“Security.”
“Yes.”
“Food.”
Mok nodded, “Yes.”
Thee gestured to the screen.
“So perhaps the salary adjustment should reflect those benefits.”
Mok thought about it, “…no. All of the guards and staff who know about both the inner and outer workings of the Lee family are compensated with those benefits already in place.”
⸻
Thee frowned, “You’re being unreasonable.”
Mok shook his head slightly. “No.”
“You were underpaid.”
“Yes.”
“And now you are charging me.”
“Yes.”
Thee leaned back in his chair slowly, “…I don’t like this.”
Rome laughed quietly.
⸻
Thee studied Mok carefully, “You never complained about your salary before.”
Mok nodded.
“That is correct.”
“Then why now.”
Mok considered the question for a moment. Then answered calmly, “Because I recently reviewed Kiat’s payroll records.”
Rome immediately looked away.
Thee blinked, “…Kiat.”
“Yes.”
Thee frowned. “What about him?”
Mok gestured toward the screen. “He was paid significantly more than I was.”
Thee thought for a moment. “…that...”
⸻
Mok sighed softly.
“If I had known how much Kiat was being paid…”
Rome immediately covered his mouth.
Mok continued calmly,
“I would have transferred to Khun Krit’s service much earlier.”
Rome started coughing.
Thee stared at him flabbergasted “…you’re saying you would have abandoned me.”
Mok nodded politely.
“For better compensation.”
⸻
Rome was now visibly struggling not to laugh.
Because he knew, Mok would never have left Thee. Not back then.
Not when things were still uncertain.
But Mok was being petty.
And Rome had never seen him enjoy it this much.
⸻
Thee leaned back slowly, “…you are bluffing.”
Mok met his gaze calmly, “Perhaps.”
Rome finally spoke.
“He absolutely is.”
Mok ignored him.
⸻
Thee looked at the number again.
Then sighed, “…fine.”
Rome blinked, “You’re paying it?”
Thee stood, “Yes. I had 2 people replace you and they are still… inefficient together.”
Mok nodded politely, “Thank you.”
Thee pointed at him, “But this is the only time.”
Mok smiled faintly, “Of course, Khun Thee”
⸻
Thee walked toward the door then stopped.
“…how much does Kiat make again?”
Rome answered immediately.
Thee stared at the ceiling briefly, “…I regret my decision.”
Then he left.
⸻
The office fell quiet again.
Rome finally looked at Mok, “You were bluffing.”
Mok sipped his coffee, “Yes.”
“You would never have left him.”
“No.”
Rome smiled, “…that was still impressive.”
Mok shrugged slightly, “I am learning.”
Rome leaned back in his chair, “And what exactly are you learning.”
Mok glanced at the financial report.
“The Lee family has more money that they can spend.”
Rome laughed.
And somewhere else in the compound—
Thee was approving the invoice.