#progression 39

Lane never expected to become a mafia therapist, mainly because she assumed there would never be such a thing. While she grew up mafia-adjacent, rather than truly in the mafia, she was often too close for comfort. She lived with Auntie Jing and Uncle Direk when she was a teenager. Their space was small in comparison to what the Theerapanyakuls have, but still more than huge and luxurious enough to have a staff quarters and provide family suites to family and friends. While she lived there, she received the best education, opportunities to be taught in musical instruments and foreign languages by the highest ranked professionals, and had her college experience fully paid for by Uncle Direk. He was so kind to her for the longest time. She had known that he could be brutal and cutthroat. She also had known Tay never particularly warmed to him, but tried to be kind and peaceful regardless.

“It's to set an example.”

He told her that when he was twelve. She's surprised he never became a therapist. Instead, he opted to work with Kinn on the more legitimate businesses and talk to his father when needed. Despite Lane being allowed to study whatever she wanted to study, she only learned the plans made for her once she got her master’s. Uncle Direk and Pa sat her down, said that she caught the eye of a young business man due to her looks and academic accomplishments, and that it would be good for the family if she gave him a chance. The way they worded it initially was suspicious, but seemed to offer free will. She had assumed that if she didn't like him, she could stop seeing him and focus on herself.

She knew she wouldn't like him within seconds of meeting him. She was twenty-four at the time. Kovit was forty-five. She grit and bore it as he put his hand too far up her leg, talked about how easy on the eyes she was, and asked if she wanted to be a mother. When she told him that she wanted to work on a career and probably wouldn't even think about kids until she was at least thirty, he said there would be no need for her to have a career. Lane immediately went back to Uncle Direk’s compound and told him and her father no. She thought there would be no issue until there clearly was, that she was part of a deal and had no choice. It resulted in her mother, Aunt Jing, Tay, and even Time all getting involved. It also resulted in her mother divorcing her father and Aunt Jing trying to divorce Uncle Direk. She didn't make it out of that one. She supposedly died of natural causes, but both she and Tay feel differently.

Taking this job could have been a conflict of interest. She played with Khun when they were children and hung out with him on and off until he went to an international boarding school for upper secondary school. Tay and Kinn were attached at the hip since infancy. She has been involved enough with their family throughout the years to know the Theerapanyakuls are not unlike the Lerttravinonts, except the Theerapanyakuls are even more wealthy and powerful. But that also means the younger generations of those families are victims. So when Kinn called her up, bluntly told her what happened to Kim, and asked if she could become his therapist, she did so without hesitation. Surprisingly, she has never once felt hesitation, even after taking on Kinn and Chay as well. Tankhun has even toyed with scheduling a session for himself, and that would arguably be a bigger conflict of interest, since they were sort of childhood friends. While part of her feels like she is professionally compromising herself, she also recognizes that people in this life tend to become severely damaged by death, manipulation, and witnessing things that are incredibly traumatic. It leads to such extreme trust issues that their prospects on healing appropriately are limited.

It's also likely a reason she chose this career path to begin with. It took her a while to overcome the trauma she faced from growing up adjacent to it. But it had been worse for her cousin and for the Theerapanyakul children. She can honestly say Tay is much better adjusted than the Theerapanyakuls, but he has known Uncle Direk’s true colors for a lot longer. There is something more sinister about Korn. He's too pleasant and soft spoken, flexible about his sons’ preferences and hobbies, yet had more control over them than Uncle Direk ever had over Tay or herself, at least up until recently. He alarms her.

He especially alarms her when his focus is on her.

“Ah, Lane,” Korn says, approaching her, “It's nice to see you. I take it you just had a session with Kim or Kinn?”

He’s friendly - almost soothing - and he is wearing a sweater meant for a grandfather. She supposes he is one now, but he probably shouldn't be.

“I am leaving a session now, yes,” Lane says, keeping the answer vague, “How are you, Khun Korn?”

Korn gives her a smile, “Oh, I am doing well. Just busy, now that I have taken some work duties up again. How have you been?”

“I’ve been fine,” Lane says, “Busy as well.”

“So I've heard,” Korn says, “I talked to Direk this morning. He said he heard you got engaged very recently.”

Lane nods and says nothing.

“Must be something in the air,” Korn says, chuckling, “Tankhun and Arm, now you and…Rolan. That's his name, isn't it?”

Lane keeps her breathing steady as she confirms her fiancé’s name.

“Yes, that's my fiancé’s name.”

“You met in school, didn't you?” Korn asks, “You knew each other for a long time, but only got together a few years ago?”

“We were friends for quite a while, but only started dating after we were both licensed.”

“He's a therapist in the pediatric oncology unit at Samitivej, isn't he?”

Lane nods once, “Yes, Khun Korn. How did you know that?”

Korn just smiles and doesn't answer her question.

“That's noble work,” Korn says, “Probably very challenging and upsetting at times.”

“It is,” Lane says, “Working with those who have significant or terminal illnesses can be very upsetting, but especially when they are children. But Rolan has the right temperament for it. He's very patient and kind.”

“That's good to hear,” Korn says, “Direk seemed to think otherwise.”

Lane breathes out through her nose, “My uncle hoped I would pick a suitor who was willing to work for him. But Rolan is good for me and we have a lot in common. I'm actually meeting him pretty soon for lunch-”

“At Baan Suan Sathorn?”

Lane feels her heart drop, “Yes, Khun Korn. How did you know that?”

“Lucky guess,” Korn says, smiling oh so pleasantly, “You aren’t meeting him until one. Come have tea with me.”

Lane’s feet feel like lead. She really should have accepted Kinn’s offer to walk her to her car.

“It's already set up,” Korn says, glancing over his shoulder, “Don't begrudge an old man of some company.”