Chapter Text
Cover me in sunshine,
Shower me with good times,
Tell me that the world's been spinning since the beginning,
And everything will be alright.
When Pete, who came to Bangkok from his village, first started looking for a job, he did not expect that his legs and urgent financial need would lead him to a company providing care-givers for kids and the elderly.
On the other hand, why not? There is no other vacancy on the horizon anyway.
Having lost his parents early, Pete, as a teenager, was busy with numerous younger cousins who came to visit their mutual grandmother on vacation.
So there is nothing surprising, at least for him, that he is now standing in the doorway of the mansion in front of a young man who hired a babysitter for his child.
Surely, such rich people as he and his wife disappear from the house since morning till night — each on their own business.
But Pete has no idea how wrong he is.
"I hired a babysitter. A woman."
"I know. But I appeared to be the only one free among the staff."
Even without this, not a very friendly expression on the face becomes far more severe.
"I don't even doubt why," the owner of the house arrogantly raises an eyebrow, and then takes a couple of steps back, "well, come in. I'll tell you about your responsibilities."
Pete exhales. He was afraid that he would be turned away from the threshold. The company would consequently punish him.
"Do you have any recommendations? Have you worked with children for a long time?"
"Khun…"
"Vegas. Khun Vegas."
"Pete," he folds his hands and tilts his head slightly.
"I'll remember, "the arrogance in the voice does not decrease. "So? Will you answer my question?"
"Uh, actually, I'm on probation, this will be my first working experience. I mean, the official one… Almost at the early age I was taking care of kids, my cousins and neighbors."
"Quite impressive," they purse their lips with displeasure, "it's not easier yet. Okay. Follow me."
Pete is so nervous that he only has time to look at the surrounding out of the corner of his eye: very stylish expensive furniture, not so much of it, but because of the gray tones everything seems somehow gloomy. Pete hasn't been inside for five minutes, but he's already experiencing the same state when they say "the vibes are pressing." The walls of an incomprehensible shade, either yellow or green, only add heaviness.
All right. Maybe it differs in the nursery.
Pete pulls up his backpack on the shoulder, which does not escape the attention of Vegas:
"What's that? All your stuff?"
"Yes."
"Hmm, I paid for a month in advance. Or were you not warned that the work involves round-the-clock child care? And that means living in a house, huh?"
"It's all right. That's enough for me."
"Okay."
The nursery, next to which his potential room is located, is on the second floor.
"My bedroom is at the end of the hall. But I warn you in advance: I hired a babysitter just so that the child does not have a desire to get in my way. The door of my room, respectively, is also taboo. Got it?
Pete nods. The manner of this Vegas speaking, expressively adding English words at the end, looks amusing.
"Wonderful."
My bedroom. My room. So, is he...
"Here it is."
In the nursery, the situation is not much happier: white walls, white furniture, a big teddy bear, which will scare a one-year-old baby, rather than calm and cheer up.
"What is your son's name?"
"My son? No way!" Vegas snorts with the same cold arrogance in his voice, "this is my father's child. From his second wife. Dad died in an accident, and this lady ran away three days ago, leaving Venice sleeping in his crib. You see, I didn't agree to pay for her weekly spending on trinkets. Well, she decided to reward me with a farewell gift in the form of her son."
Pete is very embarrassed. And, probably, in such a situation it is difficult not to feel sympathy. After all, a young guy - we may be the same age — has been given a huge responsibility. But this Vegas, even after his revelations, does not appeal to pity.
"I understand you."
"That's good. Well. I handed over the child to you. Do it. All you need to cook is in the kitchen. There's a separate cabinet with formulas and so on. The cook will show you. His things are here, in the chest of drawers. And a box of toys. I bought him a teddy-bear yesterday, but he just screamed."
"Of course ... a toy as tall as you are. For him, it's a whole monster."
"Mhm. Do you mean I look like a monster?"
"That's not what I meant. It was about the toy."
"Okay. Here," Vegas puts a bank card in front of him, "this is for expenses — food for the child, clothes, — the children are growing up fast right?"
Pete nods.
"Yeah. Well, do you need diapers or what else?"
"There's enough for now," Pete manages to notice the presence of a couple of packages of diapers and napkins that stand behind the dresser.
"Take it. But keep in mind: I control the costs. Everything should go only to the kid."
"Yes. Sure."
Does he seriously think that I want to rob him?
"Okay. Good luck."
"Thank you… Does Venice always sleep so soundly?" Pete smiles to lighten the mood somehow.
"No, I gave him sleeping pills. This little devil didn't let me sleep all night but…"
"Are you out of your mind?!" forgetting about his position and the fact that his employer is in front of him, Pete jumps to the crib in horror.
"What's the big deal? He's sleeping."
Pete grits his teeth: is he dumb or is he pretending?
"So, we need to rinse his tummy urgently."
"How?"
"How do you think we are going to do it?"
Vegas shrugs off, throwing on the move:
"Figure it out on your own. You get paid for it."
I didn't doubt it.
Pete turns away, looking for the bathroom door: he needs to wash his hands and save the baby from the irresponsible actions of his older half-brother.