It was the early hours of the morning and Wally and the traveller were still there at Stumpy's Diner having been there all night long. Stumpy walked past and shook their head, disapproving the fact they're still there.
"So, now that you know of Anne's love life and weren't thankfully kicked off a wagon because of it, I shall tell you the tale of what happened to Oum and Bee."
Stumpy then ran out readying his meat cleaver hand. "Where?! Where?! Where?! Where's the bee?!"
"No Stumpy, I was talking to the traveller about Oum and Bee Boonchuy." Wally replied. "Ya know, Anne's parents?"
"Why would their parents name them after an insect?!" Stumpy asked angrily.
"No, I think it's a Thai nickname." Wally replied.
"And you know because…."
"Because I do." Wally replied.
Stumpy sighed. "You may be rich frog, but that doesn't mean you're a genius." The chef walked back inside.
"So, as before, allow me to sing a song about what those Boonchuys were doing when Anne got home."
Wally tuned his accordion and took a deep breath. "Ooooooooooohhhhhh when Anne got home, they comforted her when she admitted she missed Amphibia. They reacted shocked when Anne told them that she died plus were lost about the whole deity bit. Bee tried to keep dangerous government tech but Mr X nor his wife were not having it. Got some more staff at Thai Go, Domino had to expire, on jury duty they exposed a liar and they supported Anne when she became a herpetologist. But right now some man without a soul wants the restaurant to go places will the Boonchuy's give it up? I hope not!"
Stumpy walked out of his diner again. "That song was terrible Wally."
Meanwhile on Earth at the Thai Go, the Thai Go delivery driver, Ned returned on his delivery bike after another successful delivery. He entered the restaurant where he greeted the Thai Go's janitor, Teri whom had decided to give up science after the portal incident. While Ned had gotten older, he looked like he hadn't aged a day. He looked the same except he got rid of his mullet. While Teri dyed her hair purple as a bit of a change and was now wearing a designer shirt that said 'Thai Go Away.'
He also walked pass the Thai Go's new cashier, Emily whom gets mistaken as Karen all the time for some strange reason. "Hey Karen." Ned greeted her.
"It's Emily!" Emily exclaimed. "Why does everyone think I'm a Karen?!"
Ned entered the back where he saw Oum Boonchuy checking how much money the restaurant had made. In the ten years that passed, she had started to get a lot of grey in her hair along with a few more wrinkles along her eyes.
"How much have we made, Mrs B?" Ned asked.
"Oh, we made a lot of money for me and Bee to pay our bills." Oum replied.
"Oh, that's great!" Ned declared. "You know, after 17 years, I'm glad this restaurant is still standing. Usually every restaurant I enter, it goes out of business in about 9 months."
"Me too, Ned." Oum said. "Ever since me and my husband arrived to this country to open a restaurant, we were worried if we were going to make it. We had no second career choice if it failed."
Bee soon entered the kitchen, holding a box in his hand. He himself, had gotten a bit older but his grey hairs were rather invisible but the wrinkles were showing a bit. "I wanted to be a gamer."
"It was never going to make us money, Bee!" Oum exclaimed.
"Have you seen the money they make now?!" Bee asked. "I saw potential in it, but then someone took that idea from me and made millions!"
Oum laughed. "That was never going to work, honey."
"It would have taken 15 years, possibly." Bee argued.
"As I was saying, I'm glad the restaurant is still here. I don't know what I'd do if I wasn't in control." Oum said just as the door to the restaurant opened.
Ned then sniffed the air. "Why do I smell something bad heading our way?"
"Hi, welcome to Thai Go, can I take your order?" Emily asked.
"I am ordering a meeting with the owners of this fine establishment." The voice of a man replied.
"Sorry, if you want a meeting with the owners then you need to make an appointment before closing time." Emily said.
"That's okay, Karen." The man said.
"It's Emily. Read the name tag." Emily said.
"It says Karen." The man informed her.
Emily looked at her name tag and realised it did say Karen. "Dang it!"
Oum walked out of the kitchen to greet the man, whom was bald, Caucasian and appeared to be in his mid 60's. "Can I help you, mr?"
"Well, you and the other owner of this restaurant, actually." The man replied.
Bee poked his head out. "That's me. Who's wanting to know?"
"Rob Cheaphek. Businessman and founder of the franchise chain, Five Dudes." The man replied as he performed a magic trick to make a card pop out of nowhere.
"Oh I know that restaurant." Terri said. "Why are your burgers so overpriced? My brother was so addicted that he almost got himself bankrupt!"
"Well, a burger this good doesn't deserve to be at a price affordable." He replied. "Can I talk to the owners?"
"You should have booked an appointment." Oum said. "But, you're lucky we're closing early. My daughter is coming over with her new boyfriend."
"Great! Employees, please go home so I can talk to your bosses." His request made everyone stare at him with an annoyed look.
"Well, that's rude." Terri remarked.
"I mean, he is a businessman, should we do as we're told?" Ned asked.
"For the sake of not being called Karen again, I'm going home." Emily said before walking out of Thai Go.
"Goodbye." Terri said before exiting the restaurant.
"Okay, I'll go." Ned declared before leaving.
"Well, getting them to leave was a lot easier than I thought." Rob remarked. "I was about to use the old lawsuit kill shot."
"What do you want Mr Cheaphek?" Oum asked.
"Please, sit." Rob requested.
Oum and Bee both sat down next to each other just as Rob began to unpack his suitcase along with a piece of paper and started to read it. "Okay….."
"Please call us Oum and Bee." Oum requested.
"Yeah. Some people can't pronounce our real names." Bee said. "Not even our own daughter."
"Alright, Oum and Bee." Rob said. "I'm pretty sure you know that your restaurant is really popular in the LA area."
Oum felt flattered. "Well, I wouldn't say it's that popular."
"But it is usually the first thing that comes up on the search engines if you type Thai restaurant in LA." Bee pointed out.
"Correct." Rob responded. "Now, a restaurant this good does not deserve to be popular in LA it deserves to be popular worldwide."
Oum and Bee were surprised by what the businessman was offering to do to their restaurant. "Wait, you want to buy it?" Oum asked.
"Well, buy is a bit of a weak word, I want to franchise it." He replied. "But I can't franchise it without your permission and signatures."
Oum and Bee were taken aback by what the man was offering. He just offered to buy the restaurant so he could franchise it.
"So, if you get our restaurant, you'll just turn our food into one big massive franchise?" Oum asked.
"Yes." Rob replied. "We'll even have our own mascot that I designed on a napkin." He pulled out the napkin which had an image of a tiger with wearing traditional Thai clothing. "Ta, da!"
The sight of the mascot made Oum and Bee stare at it in confusion. "What is that?" Oum asked.
"It's the mascot." Rob replied. "Timmy the tiger."
"That….is terrible." Oum said.
Rob groaned. "I said Tiraya was a better name."
"That means large fish in Thai." Bee pointed out.
Rob groaned again. "Okay, forget the mascot. I just want the restaurant and you'll get your share, I assure you."
"How much are we talking?" Oum asked.
"Well, I'm a generous man, you get 60% while I get 40." Rob replied. "I mean, I feel as though the founders deserve more of the credit."
"So, we will have no say in anything if you buy our restaurant?" Oum asked.
"Yeaaaaaahhh, you'd essentially be handing all your ownership to me." Rob replied.
Bee looked surprised while Oum looked annoyed, yet restrained. "I'm sorry, but the restaurant is not for sale."
"You're right, it's not, but it will be when I name my price." Rob said. "Listen, how's about nine-hundred thousand dollars and I'll be on my way?"
"I said, the restaurant is not for sale." Oum said rather intensely.
"Do you have financial issues?" Rob asked.
"No and the restaurant is not for sale."
"People stealing money?"
"Not one robbery. But still not for sale." Oum said.
"Lack of customers?"
"Do I need to say this in a language you understand?" Oum asked. "R̂ān xāh̄ār mị̀mī k̄hāy."
"S̄eīy lūkkĥā?" (Losing customers?)
"Honey, is he is a businessman." Bee pointed out. "Do you have a dollar bill?"
"Oh yeah." Rob replied before pulling one from his pocket and handing it to Bee.
"This, is your money." Bee said. "Money you want us to have in exchange for our restaurant. But…." Bee then tore the money in two. "…We don't want your money. We are fine if the restaurant is in our hands instead of being franchised into the next fast food restaurant."
Rob was shocked that he couldn't even process any words. "What?! What?! What?! You can't do this to me. I….I…I am the head of the Uh…seventh biggest fast food corporation in the world! You can't do this!"
"We are the owners of this restaurant." Oum retorted.
"So, we can do this." Bee snapped back.
The businessman was at first shocked, but sighed. "Oh, fine." He stood up. "If I overreacted, it's just, I never lose. Except, I found out I was seventh place in biggest fast food franchises, but that don't matter. Anyway, I'll hopefully see you in the future. Maybe when you're in retirement…"
"We'll hand the rights to someone who knows how to run a restaurant." Oum said.
"Right, right, right." Rob responded as he back away. "So, I'll be seeing you soon, bye." He walked out of the restaurant and pulled his phone out to call someone.
Oum sighed. "Why are some people so difficult sometimes?"
"I sometimes wonder the same about you." Bee joked.
"Honey!" Oum exclaimed while playfully narrowing her eyes at her husband.
"S̄eīycı! S̄eīycı!" (Sorry! Sorry!)
"Alright, let's close shop. I can't wait to meet this one."
"Do you think this one might be the one?" Bee asked.
"As great aunt Hom used to say, S̄eǹh̄̒ pæd khrậng." (Eighth time's the charm.)
"That's not even a real saying." Bee retorted.
Later that night, the Boonchuys returned home and both prepared a dish of traditional Thai food for their daughter and her new boyfriend. When Anne and Kevin arrived together, the Boonchuys began doing the one thing both of them were good at, teasing.
Kevin, being Kevin of course started stuttering nervously around his girlfriend's parents when he fumbled his words. So far, the Boonchuys were loving this one even though this was Anne's eighth or ninth so anything could happen with this one.
The Boonchuys made some Suki which Kevin found great even though he hadn't tried a lot of Thai, this was surprisingly delicious. The couple were seated in front of the Boonchuys so they could watch the couple with a keen eye.
"So Kevin, Anne told me you're a marine mammalogist, is it usually messy?" Oum asked.
"Are you kidding me, is cleaning an animal enclosure never messy?" Kevin asked.
"Trust me, you won't believe how much mucus I have to clean in the toad enclosure." Anne said.
"So, how long have you been dating?" Bee asked.
"It's only been a week." Anne replied. "So, he's kind of new to this."
"What?!" Oum exclaimed. "You never had a girlfriend?"
"M-my nervous stutter never helped." Kevin said.
"Somehow, it helped with me." Anne retorted while playfully nudging her boyfriend's arm.
Oum playfully smirked. "So Anne, C̄hạn ca rx h̄lān?" (Will I be expecting grandchildren?)
Anne then almost choked on her water and narrowed her eyes at her mom. "Mom! Why have you gotta ask that every time I get a boyfriend?" Anne asked, annoyed. "This is like the 9th time!"
"Ninth?! I thought it was eighth." Bee said. "Which one did we forget about?"
Despite not speaking any Thai, Kevin kind of figured out what Oum was asking her daughter and started sweating. "W-w-w-what? Grand-grandchildren? Oh c-c-crap! I m-m-mean, I'd like children. B-b-b-but it might not hap-hap-happen with Anne as much as I-I-I-I-I-I…." He noticed Anne was giving a shocked stare. "Ah! I never meant that i-i-i-in anyway. I'm-I'm fine with a relationship that do-doesn't involve marriage o-or-or-or children! Oh-craaaaaaap!"
Oum and Bee smirked, finding Kevin's stuttering quite amusing. All of other Anne's boyfriends were either jock jerks, passive aggressive manipulators or just people who have no idea how to be in a relationship. But Kevin was someone who was trying despite his first relationship.
Bee turned to his wife. "Chxb xạn nī̂ cạng." (I like this one so far.)
"C̄hạn k̆ h̄emụ̄xn kạn." (So do I.)
So to avoid any more awkwardness, Kevin decided to switch the conversation. "So, Anne told me you two owned a Thai Go. I remember when I first moved to LA me and my family entered the restaurant after a long journey from Connecticut."
"Really?" Oum asked. "What for?"
"Job opportunity for my mom and there were far too many strange occurrences going on there." He explained.
"Strange occurrences?" Bee asked.
"Stuff I'm not allowed to talking about." Kevin's response made Anne raise an eyebrow. "But, I am allowed to talk about my Uncle."
"What's so interesting about him?" Anne asked.
"Well, he is a massive businessman who doesn't exactly like to lose." Kevin replied.
"So, like the majority of them?" Oum asked.
"Yeah." Kevin replied. "But I hope it's not someone you know because that would be a stupidly stupid coincidence."
"Yeah, like your uncle is the owner of TFC." Anne retorted.
"Speaking of businessman, you won't believe what happened to us today." Oum said to her daughter.
"What?"
"Some, pardon my Thai, dumbass businessman thought he could buy our restaurant and turn it into a major franchise." Oum said.
"What?! Are you serious?!" Anne exclaimed angrily while Kevin looked side-to-side awkwardly.
"Oh yeah." Bee replied. "He wanted our restaurant so he could turn it into the next big franchise."
"He even had a mascot." Oum said. "A mascot!"
"Of what? A tiger?" Anne scoffed.
"Actually, yeah." Bee said.
"So, I'm assuming you're not selling it?" Kevin asked.
"Oh not in a million years." Bee replied. "I mean, unless we hire someone capable to take over."
"Yeah, they're going to have to prove themselves to us if they wish to take over." Oum said.
"I mean, what are they going to do, do something drastic like break in to our restaurant?" Bee laughed.
The next day, Oum and Bee were having breakfast together. They were having some cereal while watching a news report. "…..Jacob Hopkins, historical expert and town lunatic, according to Gravesfield residence, says that the strange light that was seen throughout town is connected to one of its residents. Author of The Human Witch, L-"
Just then, the phone started ringing. "I got it." Bee declared as he stood up. When he got to the phone, he answered it.
"Hello? Boonchuy residence."
"Mr Boonchuy, my name is Detective Frustra, we need you to come down to your restaurant."
"What's wrong?" Bee asked.
Later, when they arrived at the restaurant, they saw that the police had surrounded the restaurant along with some detectives. The restaurant had a broken window and the tables were scattered along with the chairs.
Oum and Bee were horrified by what they were seeing right in front of them. Oum had her hands on her mouth while Bee had his hands on his face.
"What happened?" Bee asked.
A detective with a brown moustache and a bald head with a few pieces of hair on the side of his head. "Detective Fustra, we spoke on the phone."
"What happened?" Oum asked.
"Well, someone got hungry and decided to eat at the restaurant." Detective Fustra replied sarcastically. "Yeah, they smashed the window with a brick and when they saw that you weren't here and threw the restaurant furniture about and ate your money."
"Ate our money?" Oum asked.
"Oh sorry, I usually respond to stupid questions with sarcastic responses." Detective Fustra replied. "It's a medical condition. But in all seriousness, your restaurant was robbed and they stole all the money you had in your vault."
"What?!" Bee exclaimed in shock.
"Do you have any leads?" Oum asked worryingly.
"No. They must have covered their tracks pretty good." The Detective replied. "I mean, I hate to be blunt but by the looks of things, your restaurant might go out of business. Sorry."
The restaurant owners were horrified by this revelation. Oum, especially, looked horrified.
Minutes later, their employees Ned, Terri and Emily arrived looking horrified. "Oh no! Oh no! Oh no!" Emily panicked. "My job!"
"Oh, I hope they haven't damaged the bike!" Ned panicked.
Terri froze. "Well, at least you have a cover." She whispered to herself.
"What happened here?" Ned asked detective Fustra.
"Well, a bunch of annoying singing chipmunks burst in. They were method acting for their fifth movie so they decided to get rabies shots and mess up a random Thai restaurant."
"Really?" Ned asked.
"No! It was robbed!" Detective Fustra replied.
"By singing chipmunks?" Ned asked while Detective Fustra groaned.
Another few minutes passed and Anne and Kevin arrived. "Mom, Dad!" Anne exclaimed.
"We saw the news." Kevin said. "Luckily, the boss man was nice enough to let us check up on you."
"Are you okay?" Anne asked.
"Anne, we're fine physically and psychologically." Bee replied. "But financially, we're doomed."
"What?!" Anne asked.
"Y-y-you're doomed?" Kevin asked.
"If we don't make enough money for this month, then we'll lose the restaurant." Oum replied.
"Oh, don't worry." Anne assured them. "You'll get there."
"Anne, we had ten thousands dollars in the vault and that is enough to keep the restaurant open." Oum explained.
"If we don't make that money then the IRS will close us down." Bee informed them.
"T-t-t-that is awful!" Kevin stuttered.
"Is that the stutter of my dear nephew?" Asked a voice that made Kevin boil.
"P-p-please don-don-don-don't let it be h-hi-him." Kevin pleaded. To Kevin's shock, Rob Cheaphek approached them while the Boonchuys narrowed their eyes at the businessman.
"What a massive coincidence. My little nephew is dating the daughter to my next sellers? What are the odds of that? Hey, how's about an awkward uncle/nephew hug?"
"Hey Uncle Rob." Kevin sighed.
"Wait, that's your uncle?!" Anne asked.
"Rob's your uncle?!" Bee exclaimed.
Kevin sighed. "Unfortunately."
"So, saw that your restaurant got robbed." Rob sighed. "No robberies and this happened. Sad and disappointing. Anyway, since you might not have a restaurant due to some cruel monster doing that."
"I assume you're using this tragedy as an attempt to buy our restaurant?" Oum asked.
"Ha! You already know me well." Rob remarked. "No better time to make money than with a tragedy."
"That's not even a good motto." Detective Fustra remarked as he walked past.
"And what are you? Motto critic?" Rob retorted.
"Oh yes! I am the motto critic and I have this to say, what's the motto with your motto?" Fustra asked sarcastically.
"Fustra, you're not helping." Oum said.
"Yeah, I know." Fustra said. "I really need to look at my condition more." The detective walked away as he drank some coffee.
"Was he really a detective?" Rob asked.
"No, I'm a psychiatrist!" Fustra replied sarcastically.
"Not helping Fustra!" Bee yelled.
"Sorry!"
"So, since this could be the end of your restaurant after this awful act, how's about I give you, what's say, ten thousand dollars for it?"
"No way!" Anne responded aggressively. "If you think-"
"Anne, let me and your dad handle it." Oum took a deep breath. "You no good, greedy, khotr, bastard! How dare you try and take our restaurant after what has happened to us?! Is this how you get your sick kicks!"
Rob was surprised the ferocity. "Woah! I guess I should have listened to my sister. Never piss off a restaurant owner. Well, if you change your mind my penthouse is located at this address. Hope you can drop in so we can discuss further things. Besides, what choice do you have?" He then turned to his nephew, whom was narrowing his eyes at him. "Oh and Kevin, you can come if you wish and bring your little girlfriend as your little plus one." He gave a grin before walking away.
The Boonchuys and Kevin continued to narrow their eyes at the businessman. "Are you sure you're related?"
"I wish the blood test came as negative." Kevin replied.
Later that same day, Bee, Anne and Kevin were cleaning the mess in the restaurant while Oum sat on one of the chairs, contemplating what is to be done next.
"As much as I appreciate your help, you two, you really should be going back to work." Oum said. "Especially you, Kevin."
"Mom, I couldn't just sit and work after what had happened." Anne replied.
"And I ch-ch-ch-chose to come." Kevin replied. "I-I swear I-I-I wasn't intending on st-stalking your daughter. I know it look-looks like it but…..Aww crap!"
"Hey Kev, I get you wanted to help." Anne said. "But you shouldn't have followed."
"After the way they treated me yesterday, I just had to help." Kevin explained.
"So wait, you're the nephew of Rob Cheaphek?" Bee asked.
Kevin sighed. "Unfortunately, I am."
"I mean, being the nephew of one of the richest people in America must be really easy." Bee remarked.
"To be honest, I never wanted to be rich." Kevin replied. "At first, it was extravagant and grand, but then it got tedious. I mean, all the parties, all the lavish clothing and fine dining, it bored me. So, you can tell why my family was surprised that I wanted to be a part of a regular school instead of home school or private school."
"I'm surprised you never told anyone you were in fact rich." Anne said. "Honestly, it would have gotten you a girlfriend faster."
Kevin blushed and began to stutter. "I-I-I-I just wan-wanted people to like-like me for me. Not the riches."
Anne smiled. "Well, that plan worked."
"So honey, what now?" Bee asked.
Oum looked as though she was still busy thinking about everything. She looked around the restaurant, sadly. Does she have to lose everything she and her husband have worked hard for? "I don't know." Oum replied.
"Mom, you can't give up the restaurant." Anne said.
"I know, but what if I have to?!" Oum replied. "I don't wish to give it up to some rich asshole, no offence Kevin."
"I hate him too." Kevin said.
"But, what if giving everything I built upon, all the sweat, all the hard work, all the money, what if I need to give it all up to save this restaurant?" Oum asked.
"And turn into some stupid fast food corporation?!" Bee exclaimed. "We can't lose this restaurant, Oum! This is our whole life!"
"And we could lose the restaurant!" Oum yelled.
"I don't want to lose the restaurant!" Bee exclaimed. "I don't know what we'll do!"
"Early retirement?!"
"Oh no, I have a few more years before I spend time playing RPG's with my friends!" Bee yelled back.
Oum sighed. "Maybe this is the only choice we have if the restaurant stays alive." She walked in the kitchen to cry while Bee sighed with sadness.
Anne and Kevin watched on, feeling helpless about everything. "Do you need to be left alone?" Anne asked her dad.
Bee sighed as he sat on the chair. "You two should go back to work."
"Oh no, me and Kevin are not going anywhere." Anne declared. "We will do everything to help you get this restaurant back on track."
"You two can try, but I doubt anything of good will happen." Bee said.
"Hey, don't give up hope dad, you'll save your restaurant." Anne assured him.
"Just don't let my uncle get to you." Kevin said. "I mean, it's not like this is the first restaurant he brought after a tragedy."
"What do you mean?" Bee asked.
"Well, if you're aware of the history of Five Dudes, you know it was once a small fast food chain ran by the brothers, Dick and Rick Dude." Kevin explained. "They refused Rob's offer to let him franchise their restaurant and then that night, someone robbed their restaurant and stole their money and then the next day…" It was at this moment, he realised something. "….they handed him the restaurant to save their business."
Bee and Anne went wide eyed in shock. "Wow, that sounds really suspicious." They turned around and saw Detective Fustra reading Not Enough Time To Kill by John Gristham. "I mean, wow. I thought I was a good detective."
"How long have you been there?" Bee asked.
"The amount of time it took for you to finish the conversation." Fustra replied.
"So, are you going to interview Mr Cheaphek?" Anne asked.
"Uh, yeah! Because a hungry detective always interviews his suspects on an empty stomach!" Fustra replied sarcastically.
"So, you're not going to interview him?" Kevin asked.
"No. Because I'm hungry." Fustra replied.
"Uh, should we do it ourselves?!" Anne asked angrily.
"No, leave it to the raccoons!" Fustra replied sarcastically.
Luckily, the three of them saw through the sarcasm and walked outside of the restaurant, leaving a hungry Fustra, frustrated.
"Hey! Should I go up to the counter to order? Or do I need to sit here?!"
Outside, Kevin, Anne and Bee were outside the ally, discussing their plans in motion. "Soooooo, we're going to try and get Rob to confess?" Bee asked.
"Yup." Anne replied. "I think so."
"You're lucky I know the way to his penthouse." Kevin said.
"So, how are we going to do it?" Bee asked. "I mean, what are we going to do? Search through his phone for contacts that seem suspicious? Or try and record everything he says?"
"All of those." Anne replied.
"So, we're about to get into some kind of mischievous trouble?" Bee asked.
"Oh for sure." Anne replied.
"Should we let your wife know?" Kevin asked. "I mean, it is her restaurant and we should try and save it." Everyone started to think about it for a moment.
Later, they arrived at the penthouse known as the Mockatomi Plaza with Oum in tow, looking at her husband with confusion.
"So you're suddenly deciding to sell the restaurant?" Oum asked.
"Well honey, what choice do we have?" Bee asked. "It's the only way we can make our money."
"I guess you're right." Oum reluctantly agreed. "I just hope he isn't busy."
When they got to the top floor, Rob answered the door and there appeared to be a party going on behind him. "Oh hey, you came here to chat about the deal?"
"Yes, I think we're about ready to make it." Bee replied.
"I don't know honey. I'm still thinking the pros and cons." Oum informed her husband.
"And she'll make it once she sees a more detailed outlook to a franchise." Anne responded.
"Great." Ron said. "Oh and Kevin, thank you for bringing your girlfriend along."
"My pleasure u-u-uncle." Kevin responded while stuttering.
"Ah, don't be nervous Kev, please come in." Rob said.
Once they were inside, Anne pulled her boyfriend to her. "Babe, think you can try and control the stutter?" She whispered.
"I wish I-I-I-I-I can." Kevin replied.
The party itself wasn't big but wasn't small. There were a bunch of people just either drinking or eating some of the menu items from Rob's business which included burgers, fries and soda. The guests consisted of food connoisseurs, other rich people or Rob's friends.
"Wow, this is quite the party." Oum remarked.
"Yeah. What kind of rich people party has fast food?" Anne asked. "And why aren't more people like this?"
"You mean you want more fast food businessmen who are heartless and wish to market small restaurants that don't wish to be franchised?" Kevin asked.
"Well….not in that sense." Anne responded.
"I don't know if this is the best place for me to think about things." Oum said while Anne took one of the fries from the counter.
"Oh don't worry, I'm pretty sure Uncle Rob will find a private place for you to think." Kevin assured his possible future mother-in-law.
"Come on honey, let's just enjoy the party for a bit." Bee encouraged his wife while taking a shot glass and drinking it in one gulp.
Oum stared at her husband with a bit of concern. "Are you sure you're okay with giving up the restaurant? I mean we could keep trying to get the money back."
"Nah, I now think it'd be good to franchise our restaurant." Bee said. "I mean, how else will people who can't get to LA try our food?"
Oum stared at her husband suspiciously. "Hmmm. C̄hạn mị̀rū̂ ẁā thảmị khuṇ t̄hụng thảtạw ǹā s̄ngs̄ạy." (I don't know why you're acting suspicious.)
Just then, Rob arrived while he was on the phone and put it in his pocket. "Ookay, I just got a phone call informing me that the prince of Austria and his wife have arrived. Along with their daughter, something, something, something, the Sequel? So, I'm going down to greet them. Oh and Boonchuys, be in my office if you wish to talk things out. Deals and that. Be up in a minute, oh and Kevin, how's about a hug from your uncle?"
"Sure." Kevin replied instantly before hugging his uncle.
"Ah, there it is." Rob declared. "The awkward uncle/nephew hug." But the hug was going on a lot longer than it should. "This is going on longer than it should. It's like you're trying to mug me." Kevin then let go of his uncle. "Well, see you later." Rob left the room to greet the Austrian prince and his wife.
"Well, guess we better get going." Bee declared. "To the office! Wait, where is the office?"
"Oh don't worry, I know where it is." Kevin assured his future in-laws. "Just over to the right."
"Follow me honey." Bee said enthusiastically while Oum continued to give him a suspicious look.
While the owners went to wait in the office, Anne stared at her boyfriend with a raised eyebrow. "Why that long hug?"
"So I can get his phone." Kevin replied as he pulled his uncle's phone from his sleeve.
Anne was impressed. "Where did you learn to pick pocket?"
"Would you believe me if I said my sister spent most of her high school years pickpocketing me?" Kevin asked.
Anne was amazed. "How much of your family is there I don't know?"
"Right, I better look through his contacts." Kevin said before tapping the first contact and letting the phone ring.
"HELLO?!" Said a loud male sounding voice.
"Wow, they sound aggressive." Anne remarked.
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING AGGRESSIVE, LADY?! NOW I'M AGGRESSIVE BECAUSE YOU ASSUMED I WAS BEING AGGRESSIVE! DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?! I AM THE PRINCESS OF AUSTRIA! PRINCESS GREND-"
Kevin hung up on the phone looking as surprised as Anne. "Wow. So, that was the princess?"
"You'd think they'd be more ladylike." Anne said.
Meanwhile, in Cheaphek's office Oum and Bee sat down on a chair where they noticed some complimentary macaroons, a jug of lemonade and cookies in front of them.
"Oh, I hope they're for us." Bee said rather enthusiastically. "Because that would be amazing."
Oum stared at her husband with a worried look. "Honey, I seriously don't know how to feel, about how enthusiastic you are."
"What? Why?" Bee asked. "You wanted to sell the restaurant."
"I was thinking about it." Oum reminded her husband. "I don't want to sell the restaurant, but I'm thinking of the pros and cons of things."
"Well we're here honey, we might need to make the decision a lot quicker before he comes back." Bee said.
Oum narrowed her eyes at her husband, feeling like he was getting more suspicious. "Okay Bee, what's going on?"
Bee began sweating. "I just don't want us to have any financial problems. I mean, what are we supposed to do? Beg to our daughter to give us some of the money she makes? I mean, maybe Rob could be the only way we get our financial life back on track."
Oum stared at her husband suspiciously. "You think that Rob might have been behind the robbery, don't you?"
Bee laughed nervously but stopped when Oum's glare got more intense. "Okay, I do."
Oum then sighed. "K̄hxbkhuṇ phracêā!" (Thank God!)
Bee was surprised. "You thought the same thing?"
"I mean, he showed up out of the blue offering to buy the restaurant after it got robbed. Someone's got to find that suspicious." Oum replied.
"I know, right?!" Bee asked.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Well, if you knew how suspicious the situation was, then it would make us suspicious." Bee replied.
"You're too good at being suspicious." Oum retorted.
"Oh."
"Did you even have a plan?" Oum asked.
"While Kevin looks through his contacts you and I distract him." Bee replied.
"And how will we get him to confess?"
Bee raised his finger and then pulled it down. "I have not thought of that."
Oum sighed. "I've seen cheesy cop shows and one of them is to notice when their stories don't line up. Plus, you better be recording everything."
"Trust me, I've been recording since we arrived." Bee assured her.
Just then, Rob walked in with a black eye. "Wow! Apparently I've done something wrong."
"You okay Mr Cheaphek?" Bee asked.
"Sorry, I got punched in the eye by the prince's wife." Rob replied. "Turns out it wasn't their daughter wasn't the sequel, it was the threequel. So anyway, let's get down to business." He sat on his desk getting the contract out. "Now, how much are you willing to sell the restaurant for?"
Bee grinned. "How about ten thousand dollars?"
Rob seemed surprised. "Huh, I thought the price might have been higher. But now, it's coincidentally the same amount of money that was stolen from the restaurant."
Oum raised her eyebrow, already that seemed suspicious he knew the amount that was stolen. "I see huh."
"Okay, ten thousand dollars." Rob declared. "Now I just need your signature and we can get this thing going."
"Yeah, definitely." Oum declared. "Both of our signatures." Oum was about to grab the pen, but hesitated and pulled back. "Do you mind if I give this some time? I…..okay, this is going to sound ridiculous."
"No. You still wish to feel in charge a little longer." Rob said. "I understand. Really, I do. Just take all the time you need."
Meanwhile, Kevin and Anne had gone to the girl's bathroom just so they could go through the contacts in private without anyone bothering them. So far, they had gone through many contacts but with no luck.
"Okay, just to recap, we pissed off the Princess of Austria, got a confused old man, the founders of Checkers Pizza and Kate Winslet for some reason." Anne said.
"Well, let's hope the next one is actually someone of use." Kevin said before pressing the next contact.
"Rob, do you know what time it is?" Asked a voice that made Kevin freeze.
"Uh oh, it's mom." Kevin whispered.
"Kevin?! Is that you?! Wait, what are you doing with your uncle Rob's phone?"
"Uh…." Anne responded awkwardly.
"Wait, is there someone with you?" His mom asked. "Is that this Anne you've been talking about?"
"Uh….Hey Mrs Goode, me and Kevin are busy right now, so bye." Anne nervously hung the phone up and Kevin sighed.
"Wow. That was close." Kevin remarked. "Let's try the next contact."
"How do you know your uncle hasn't deleted his suspicious contacts?" Anne asked.
"My uncle usually keeps his contacts un-deleted so he doesn't lose track." Kevin replied.
"Could it be one of those times?" Anne asked.
"I don't know, this next number looks suspicious." Kevin replied before pushing the number with strong confidence.
"Hi, Seinfeld's Calzone, can I take your order?"
Kevin hung up. "Okay, wrong number. But maybe it's this one." Kevin pushed the next contact.
"What is it Rob?! What the hell do you want?!" Asked an intimidating voice.
"Uh….." Anne said.
"Is it on speaker?! Don't put it on speaker!"
Kevin pushed the button to make sure it wasn't on speaker and listened to the aggressive voice.
"Look, about the ten thousand dollars you hired me to steal, I hid it in a secluded place no one will ever find it." The voice said before an awkward silence happened. "But since you're on the phone, it's in a treasure chest in my backyard."
Kevin grinned. "Thank you." He said before hanging up. He gave his girlfriend a confident smirk. "Anne, we could lock up my uncle."
"Quick, get the number." Anne said before Kevin dropped the phone on the floor.
"Aww crap, I dropped it!" Kevin groaned.
"Here, let me get it."
"No, it's probably a bit sticky."
"Eww, Kev, don't describe it."
"Sorry, you know how it is in bathroom's. You don't know what they could be on the floor."
Outside the stall, a grown woman in her late twenties to mid thirties with big arms, big fists, brown hair, a mole on her cheek and was holding a baby in her arms. She was unfortunately listening.
"Well, we still need it." Anne said.
"Yeah, I've been in dirtier situations."
"Do you think it was a good idea for us to do this in the women's bathroom?"
"Uh….We should have done this in my uncle's closet."
The grown woman knocked on the door in anger. "HEY YOU TWO! DON'T DO IT AT A PARTY! THERE ARE CHILDREN HERE!"
Meanwhile, Rob was watching Oum wander in his office, taking a few deep breaths while Bee was eating a macaroon as opposed biting his nails in anxiety.
Rob gave them a smile. "I see you like the macaroon Mr Boonchuy." Rob remarked.
"Oh yeah. That's why I'm taking a nibble at a time." Bee said.
"Well, let's hope no one takes them." Rob responded. "Right, I'm not exactly a patient person so I'm going to give you five minutes before I let you go off and wallow in your inevitable failed business. I mean, that thief is one shifty fella."
Oum groaned. "Alright."
Just then, Bee got a text and answered his phone. The text read was from Anne and it said 'We might have proof.' Bee gave his wife a nod, whom realised she had to think of a plan so they won't sign anything.
Bee then looked to the jug of lemonade and the macaroon he had in his hand and threw it to the floor in front of his wife's foot. She noticed it and tripped perfectly, so it hit the lemonade, causing it to spill on the contract and Rob's clothes.
"Oh! Oh! Unbelievable!" Rob exclaimed. "This is just great." He searched through his pocket and froze. "Wait, where's my phone?"
"Listen Rob, sorry about my wife." Bee said.
"Yeah, my feet have gotten weak at my old age." Oum responded. "So, we're going to make our leave."
"Yeah, think you can bring a spare contract tomorrow?" Bee asked.
"Yeah, yeah." Replied the surprisingly annoyed Cheaphek as he got off his chair and attempted to walk out of his office. "I now have to find my phone."
Then, Kevin and Anne walked in the office. "Hey uncle, you dropped your phone." The marine mammalogist handed his uncle his phone.
"Uh….Thanks Kev. Where did you find it?"
"You don't want to know." Anne replied. "Come on, Mom and Dad."
"Okay, Anne." Bee responded as he walked out of the office along with his wife.
"We'll see you tomorrow to discuss things." Oum said.
"Wait, I can just go to the print-"
"Tomorrow!" Bee interjected.
The Boonchuys and Kevin left the office and walked through the door. "Good luck with the party." Anne yelled.
"Yeah, great party." Oum responded before slamming the door, leaving Rob confused.
"Huh, quite an abrupt exit." Rob remarked.
"HEY ROB!"
Rob turned around and saw the muscular woman from the bathroom charging towards him.
"Princess Grenda, what's happening?"
"YOUR NEPHEW AND HIS GIRLFRIEND DOODLING AROUND IN THE BATHROOM, THAT'S WHAT!"
"Huh?" And before the confused businessman could respond, Princess Grenda punched him really hard in the face.
The next day, at the restaurant the Boonchuys and Kevin were having a late night celebration after saving the restaurant. After handing recorded evidence and a tip to detective Fustra, police found a treasure chest of ten thousand dollars in a thief's garden. But since the thief was good at thieving and being a rat, he ratted out Rob Cheaphek as being the orchestrater, leading to the both of them to being arrested in an instant.
Oum, Bee, Anne and Kevin clinked their glasses together in celebration for their restaurant had been saved.
"To the restaurant." Oum said before she and the others took a gulp of their Mekhong Thai spirit.
"I can't believe it, we saved the restaurant." Anne said.
"Even though me and her almost got punched in the eye by the Princess of Austria." Kevin said.
"Well, if we're trying to expose a criminal businessman, don't do your evidence analysis in the bathroom." Bee suggested.
"So Kev, how do you feel about your uncle being locked up?" Oum asked gently. "Are you by any chance sad?"
Kevin just nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders. "Eh, I didn't like him anyway."
"Yeah, me neither." Anne agreed.
"I hated him when I first saw him." Bee said.
"Is there anyone that doesn't?" Oum's joke got everyone in the restaurant to laugh.
Bee then turned to his wife. "So, by the time when we get to the age of retirement, who are we going to give the restaurant to?"
Oum blew a raspberry. "Are you kidding me?! Giving up the restaurant to anyone for retirement would be the last thing I'd do! I am going to keep working at this restaurant even if a broken back kills me!"
"You know what, I'm doing the same!" Bee declared before kissing his wife on the cheek.
"Hey guys, the news is on." Kevin declared. "I think it's about Rob."
The news reporter, whom was named Molly-Jo Batson was standing outside the Five Dudes headquarters reporting on Cheaphek's arrest.
"This is Molly-Jo Batson, reporting live on the scene of the Five Dudes Headquarters in Portland, where its founder, Rob Cheaphek is under arrest for orchestrating a robbery. He organised the robbery of the Los Angeles restaurant, Thai Go along with thief, Bobby Jackson AKA Ice B."
"Mr Cheaphek! Mr Cheaphek!" The other reporters yelled out.
"Oh wait, here he comes." MJ runs toward Rob Cheaphek, whom was being forced away by the police. "Mr Cheaphek! Mr Cheaphek! Mr Cheaphek! Do you have any words?!"
"Well, in a way these black eyes from the Princess of Austria and my nephew fooling around in one of my bathroom's with his girlfriend should have been a sign that I was going to end up this way."
Oum and Bee froze at this statement and turned to their daughter and boyfriend, whom were as silent as they were. Anne was sweating while Kevin looked like he was about to begin another stutter fest.
"Well….Did we need to know that?" Oum asked.
