Thailand uses right-hand drive vehicles, exactly like back home in India. For an experienced driver like Rahul, slipping behind the wheel felt completely natural; it was just a matter of getting familiar with the sheer power of the machine.
And most importantly, a man must never say 'I can't' in front of a beautiful woman!
"Alright! I'll drive slowly, just give me the directions," Rahul agreed readily.
He gently placed Divya's injured foot on the floorboard and softly closed the passenger door before walking around to the driver's seat. As he did, he spoke directly into his DJI camera lens:
"Guys, I promise you this isn't scripted. I am actually about to drive a Porsche Panamera."
After saying that, Rahul pulled open the door and slid into the plush driver's seat.
Divya's face was still flushed a deep shade of crimson. Seeing Rahul settle in, she took the initiative to speak, her voice losing its icy edge. "Ra... Rahul, how about I hold the camera for you?"
"Sure," Rahul handed his gear over without a second thought.
Divya hadn't expected him to be so direct and unpretentious. This simple gesture caused her favorable impression of him to rise significantly. A woman who looks cold and intimidating on the outside often has a highly observant, delicate mind on the inside.
At this moment, Rahul was silently rejoicing that he had watched so many luxury car review videos on YouTube; otherwise, even with a Panamera in front of him, he wouldn't have known how to start the damn thing.
Rahul pressed the push-to-start button, and the Panamera's engine roared to life with a deep, guttural boom. He didn't know if it was a V6 or a V8, but as he lightly tapped the accelerator, the car glided out of the VIP parking space with effortless grace.
Approaching the parking lot exit, the mall security guard saw the Porsche and immediately stepped onto the road to halt all other traffic. He specifically directed Rahul's Panamera to merge safely onto the main road, throwing a crisp, respectful salute as they passed!
The VIP service was incredibly blatant. What Rahul didn't know was that in Bangkok, high-end supercars like Porsches and Ferraris were practically treated like royalty, complete with dedicated parking zones guarded by specific security personnel. It was a city that unashamedly catered to the ultra-wealthy.
Rahul pressed the gas, listening to the muffled roar of the engine, his heart surging with excitement. Work hard on YouTube, and buy a Porsche of my own later!
Divya looked over and saw the pure, unadulterated smile on Rahul's face. He looked like a big kid who had just been handed his dream toy. Being around a guy so full of vibrant, carefree energy made her unconsciously forget the immense pressure of her corporate life.
Watching his focused profile as he navigated the Bangkok traffic, a soft smile crept onto the corners of Divya's mouth.
"Left or right at the next intersection?"
Rahul's voice interrupted her wandering thoughts.
"Right. That glass building ahead is our company headquarters."
Rahul turned the steering wheel, and the Panamera smoothly merged onto the adjacent street. He drove a few hundred meters, but suddenly pulled over and stopped at the side of the road.
"What's wrong?" Divya asked, somewhat confused.
"Wait for me, I'll be right back."
Rahul dropped those words, pushed the door open, and jogged out. Divya watched him run toward a brightly lit pharmacy on the sidewalk, her expression turning slightly dazed.
Did he go to the pharmacy? How could this Indian guy be so incredibly meticulous? The wealthy local guys she usually dealt with were notoriously fickle; they only cared about showing off their money and, more often than not, ended up cheating. Rahul was proving to be on a completely different level.
While Divya was lost in a daze, Rahul came jogging back out of the pharmacy. He was carrying a small plastic bag that clearly contained medicinal oils and pain-relief patches.
Divya instinctively raised his camera, pointing the lens at him as he opened the door.
"Alright! I bought you some Tiger Balm and cooling patches; it should help bring the swelling down."
Rahul sat back in the car and handed the bag to her.
"Khop khun kha," Divya whispered, looking at the medicine in her hands. Her sharp eyes softened, filled with genuine, touched emotion.
Rahul pulled back onto the road and, under Divya's direction, finally stopped in the VIP underground garage of a sleek, brand-new corporate skyscraper. Looking at the surrounding architecture, Rahul felt a brief sense of déjà vu, as if he had seen this towering building in a magazine before.
Rahul parked the car perfectly. Divya reached to open her door, but Rahul stopped her.
"Don't move. Let me help you."
He got out, walked around the hood, opened the passenger door, and gentlemanly extended his hand to her. Divya hesitated for a split second before reaching out to grasp his warm, calloused palm.
But the moment her injured foot touched the concrete floor, she let out a sharp cry of pain.
"Don't try to walk. Come here, I've got you."
Hearing his steady voice, Divya nodded obediently. She took the initiative to wrap her arm around Rahul's waist for support.
"Hold onto my neck."
Divya hesitated again, her Ice Queen persona crumbling, but finally looped her elegant arms around his neck. The next second, Rahul effortlessly swept her up into a princess carry.
Divya's face was burning hot, her heart beating frantically against her ribs. If her subordinates saw this scene, their jaws would shatter on the floor. How could the famously strict, untouchable CEO look like a shy, flushed teenager in the arms of a vlogger?
Holding her securely with one arm, Rahul bent his knees to grab the bag of medicine from the seat. Under Divya's quiet directions, he carried her toward the private executive elevator.
The elevator shot up without stopping until it chimed on the 28th floor.
At Divya's strong insistence, Rahul finally set her down on her good foot and, supporting her tightly by the waist, helped her hobble out of the elevator.
The moment the doors opened to the massive, open-plan corporate floor, Divya immediately attempted to slap her cold, authoritative "Ice Queen" mask back on. She pointed toward a set of double glass doors.
"Take me to my office first."
As Rahul slowly helped her walk across the floor, the staff working late in the Santiya headquarters were absolutely stunned!
"No way... is that our Director?!"
"Look! A man is holding her waist!"
"Isn't she famously untouchable? She rejects billionaire heirs without even blinking because she's so focused on work!"
"Why is she letting a guy touch her like that today?"
"Wait, look at him... why is he so ridiculously handsome?!"
"Yeah! He doesn't look Thai. He looks like a Bollywood superstar!"
"Could he be the new wildcard spokesperson she went to scout today?"
While the company's gossip mill ignited into a blazing inferno, Rahul had already helped Divya into her spacious, luxury corner office.
Gently placing her on the plush leather sofa, Rahul carefully removed her flat shoe and instructed: "Lie back and don't move. I'll rub some of this ointment in for you."
"It's just a sprain, nothing broken. The swelling will go down once the oil sets in."
Looking at this incredibly handsome man crouching at her feet, Divya agreed as if possessed by a ghost. "Okay... please be gentle. I don't like pain."
Rahul scooped out a bit of the herbal Tiger Balm, rubbed his palms together to warm it up, and gently began to massage Divya's swollen ankle. His thumbs worked the tension out with practiced, soothing pressure.
Divya's expression was completely unnatural. This was the first time in her adult life she had been in such an intimate, vulnerable situation with a man. Her heart was a chaotic mix of deep shyness and profound appreciation.
Just then, a sharp knock echoed from the frosted glass of her office door.
The sound startled Divya like a frightened rabbit, and she immediately jerked her foot back. After taking two deep breaths to desperately calm her racing pulse, she called out in her authoritative CEO voice.
"Come in."
Her executive secretary pushed the door open—and immediately froze. The usually unsmiling, terrifying Director was sitting on the sofa with a face flushed completely red, looking like a teenager caught sneaking out.
Oh my god, the secretary thought to herself. The Ice Queen is in love!
Divya quickly pointed to Rahul, who was calmly wiping the excess ointment off his hands, and instructed her secretary with forced professionalism:
"Go and draft a standard talent contract. We are officially hiring Mr. Rahul as the new global face of Santiya."
"Right away, Director," the secretary nodded quickly. "How should the compensation package be calculated?"
Divya looked at Rahul's striking face, her eyes softening despite herself. She held up one finger.
"For his first set of promotional campaign photos... set the base fee at 1 million Thai Baht."