Me and Thee & Calm down Mr Rome Special.

Wake Up Call Special #1

They say the "seven-year itch" is a real thing-that couples who've been together a long time often face challenges in their seventh year, sometimes leading to a breakup. But maybe it's just life throwing a test their way, to see if their love is strong enough to pass.

 

"What do you think? Is the seven-year curse real?"

 

Theerakit Kian Arseny, the eldest son of a powerful Russian mafia family and the CEO of a massive corporation with countless subsidiaries, asked this out of nowhere. His most renowned venture was his global fragrance brand, a household name with record-breaking sales worldwide.

 

At the moment, Thee was sitting at his large desk, fingers interlocked beneath his chin, his expression serious. He asked his secretary a question completely unrelated to the stack of work sitting before him. Ralf, his new secretary, had recently taken over from Mok, who was also an old friend. Thanks to Mok's detailed handover and Ralf's years of professional experience, he had a solid grasp of the situation he faced.

 

The number one rule of being Mr Thee's secretary? Peachayarat, his partner and part-time photographer for Arseny Corp, always came first. No exceptions. Whether the matter was trivial or urgent, whether Mr Thee had his hands full or not, Peach's concerns had to be prioritised above everything else. And for Ralf, giving Mr Thee advice or listening to his musings had become second nature by now.

 

"You and Peach are rock solid. This seven-year curse or whatever-it's got nothing on you two." Ralf said with a poker face, his voice calm and matter-of-fact as he slid another stack of documents toward Mr Thee for signing without even a pause in his movements.

 

"But I'm not getting any younger," Thee sighed softly, now nearing his 39th birthday. "Add this seven-year thing on top of it, and... well, who knows? Things might change."

 

Ralf didn't bother replying right away. Instead, he glanced at his watch, then said casually, "Why don't you just ask Mr Peach directly? I'm sure if you talk to him straight, he'll have an answer for you."

 

"You're right." Thee stood up so suddenly that his chair rolled back slightly. Grabbing his bag, he strode toward the door without hesitation, waving his secretary off as if to say, " You're free to go now. Today, his partner was working at the company, and in the evening, he'd pick him up so they could go home together.

 

Peachayarat, or Peach, was a freelance photographer ranked among the best in the country. However, his selective work style and the fact that he'd been taking fewer and fewer jobs since getting married made him something of a hidden gem, so there were not many people who knew his name. But that was fine by Thee. Peach's talent was his alone to admire!

 

Thee stepped into the elevator and headed down to the ground floor, where the company's photo studio was located. On the way, staff greeted him with respectful nods and bows, though no one seemed particularly surprised to see him.

 

"Isn't that the CEO?"

 

A newbie in the studio across the way stared after the tall man until he disappeared from view, her wide eyes filled with nervousness and surprise. That's the CEO. The one who looks so intimidating and is rumoured to be the heir of a mafia family. A young intern in the small studio whispered in awe. "How could someone like me ever get a chance to see him?"

 

"Yep, that's the CEO," an older colleague confirmed, glancing at the tall figure and nodding, which only made the intern's eyes widen even more. The senior chuckled, giving the younger one a light pat on the shoulder. 

 

"Peach is working here today, so the CEO's here to pick him up. Totally normal."

 

"Wait, so Peach really has a boyfriend?!" she asked, her voice tinged with disappointment, like someone whose heart had just been crushed. That made her senior laugh even harder.

 

"Peach is married, and his husband's no pushover either."

 

Of course, Peach's no-nonsense husband didn't hear that conversation. Thee strode purposefully toward the largest studio, throwing open the door and scanning the room for his partner the moment he stepped inside.

 

By the monitors stood a tall, lean man with fair, flawless skin that suggested he didn't spend much time in the sun. His shoulder-length hair was tied into a low bun at the nape of his neck, and he had a well-proportioned figure. The slightly oversized t-shirt he wore made him appear slimmer than he actually was, while somehow emphasising his tall, elegant frame even more. But Thee knew better. Beneath that loose shirt, Peach's slim figure had started to develop faint, defined muscles. After all, Thee was the one who had gotten him into working out in the first place.

 

Thee made a beeline for him, while Peach remained focused on reviewing the photos on the computer screen. When Thee reached him, his strong arm slid around Peach's waist, pulling him into a firm embrace until Peach's back pressed against his chest.

 

Peach wasn't small by any means-he was tall and lean, a picture-perfect example of the average Thai man. But next to Thee's larger build, he seemed almost to sink into Thee's arms. Or maybe it was just because Peach was his partner, the love of his life, that Thee always saw him as his precious little one, even though Peach stood tall, carried himself with confidence, and was a father of two.

 

Peach glanced up briefly, a soft smile tugging at the corner of his lips and leaned into the familiar embrace as though it were second nature. His hands kept working, scrolling through the images without pause. Around them, the staff stole discreet glances but quickly returned to their tasks, unfazed by the scene.

 

Peach had been working part-time as a photographer here for quite a while. Technically part-time, though he felt more like part of the family since he was the older brother of one of the team members and always pitched in when needed. And it was an unspoken tradition: every time Peach came to work, Thee-his husband and the company's CEO-would come to pick him up in person. It had become so normal that no one batted an eye at the sight of the boss hugging their honorary photographer.

 

"Beautiful," Thee murmured, his deep voice steady as he rested his chin on Peach's shoulder. Peach chuckled softly, zooming in on the image with pride.

 

"I think it turned out stunning. The lighting's perfect, the mood's just right, and the model was natural. Only took one take to get it." He gestured at a sleek, blue-black perfume bottle in the centre of the frame. "Look at that, Kian. The way the glass catches the light, it sparkles beautifully."

 

"Yeah, beautiful," Thee agreed, his voice lowering as he leaned closer and pressed a quick kiss to Peach's cheek. "But I meant you-you're the one who's beautiful."

 

"Kian, stop it!" Peach turned to him with mock indignation, flashing a playful scowl. He took a step out of Thee's arms, but not before a faint blush spread across his cheeks, betraying his flustered state. "I'm still working, you know!"

 

The mafia boss smirked; that soft, bashful tone Peach used to say his middle name-a name reserved only for close family-never failed to melt his heart. It made him feel like his chest was caving in, his love for Peach liquefying every inch of his tough exterior. And when Peach got all flustered like that? It took every ounce of self-control not to pull him into a crushing hug and never let go.

 

"Work's done. Time to head home," Thee said firmly, his deep voice leaving no room for argument. His large hand reached out to grab Peach's well-worn camera bag, slinging it over his shoulder with ease. "Your husband's here to pick you up. You wouldn't leave me standing around waiting, would you?"

 

"Go home already, Peach," one of the younger staff members called out as she walked past with a box in her arms, her tone teasing but cheerful. "If we keep you here any longer, the boss is gonna turn his death glare on us. We'll be lucky to keep our bonuses at this rate."

 

Thee looked up at the woman, a rare look of approval crossing his face. "Dinner's on me tonight. Send the bill to my secretary."

 

"Thank you, Boss!" she sang out, her tone so gleeful she almost skipped away. Peach could only bury his face in his hands, the bright blush on his cheeks refusing to fade. With a long, dramatic sigh, he saved his work onto his flash drive, shut down the computer, and stood to leave. After all, with a husband this loving and protective, how could he not indulge him just a little?

 

A sleek, jet-black luxury SUV worth well into the eight-figure range was already parked outside the door, waiting patiently. Staying true to the classic trope of wealthy CEOs in dramas who always ride in expensive black cars, the vehicle itself had changed-no longer the flashy, compact sports car of his younger days. Instead, Thee had opted for a spacious family car, ensuring Peach and their two kids could travel in comfort.

 

Those two children, though merely orphans they had chosen to adopt, had become Thee's entire world. If one day either of them expressed a desire to take over the family empire, Mr Thee wouldn't hesitate for a second to hand over the reins to the entire conglomerate.

 

Peach had already brought it up before, insisting Thee didn't need to go to such lengths. It was Peach who had wanted to take care of the two children, and he'd planned everything out to ensure they'd stand on their own feet in the future. There was no need for Thee or the Arseny family to feel burdened or uneasy about it. But Thee had simply replied, "We're married. We're one family. Those two kids are our children. Their future is something we'll build together."

 

At the time, Peach hadn't said anything in return. Instead, he just smiled through tears that seemed endless. But inside, his heart was overflowing with emotions, so much that they threatened to spill over. After searching for over twenty years, he had finally found what it meant to have a family.

 

They got into the car, and the driver smoothly pulled away from the studio. Inside the vehicle, neither of them said a word. Thee was focused on reviewing the stack of documents he had left behind earlier to come pick up his husband, while Peach scrolled through the images he'd just taken on his iPad, fully immersed in his work. The only connection between them was their intertwined hands, held tightly together as if nothing could come between them. Seven years had passed, but their love hadn't wavered a bit.

 

Thee glanced down at their hands with a small, satisfied smile tugging at his lips. There was an odd sense of victory bubbling inside him, though he couldn't quite tell what-or who-he was competing against. Unable to resist, he pulled out his phone and snapped a quick photo of their hands, making sure to angle it just right so the wedding ring on Peach's finger was front and centre.

 

Satisfied with the shot, Thee sent the picture to the family group chat, tagging his younger brother overseas for good measure. Only after he'd done all that did he turn back to his documents with a contented sigh. But just as he settled in, Peach pulled his hand away.

 

Theerakit's head snapped up, his wide eyes filled with startled disbelief, though he kept his emotions tightly in check. Peach, however, seemed completely unaware of his husband's inner turmoil. He simply steadied his iPad and, with a look of deep concentration, began scribbling notes on it with a stylus.

 

The mafia boss relaxed his tensed shoulders a bit, but his eyes couldn't help darting back to that slender hand every now and then. Inside, an alarm bell was ringing loud and clear, impossible to ignore. Yet, all Thee did was let out a soft scoff. No way something as ridiculous as the "seven-year itch" could happen to him!

 

After manoeuvring through the heavy traffic and reaching the suburbs not too far away, the sleek black car came to a stop in front of a grand house. Thee stepped out first, turning to carefully help his photographer husband out of the car.

 

"Papa, Dad, you're home?"

 

The voice of a teenage boy drew their attention, and they turned to see him standing by the front door, smiling. Around fifteen or sixteen years old, the boy had been waiting for them and started walking over as soon as the car stopped.

 

"Mhok, no plans with your friends today?" Peach asked with a gentle smile, his voice so warm it made the boy bow his head slightly, displaying a softness that was a stark contrast to how he acted at school.

 

"Our group project's done now, so no plans today. Marn is showering upstairs-she'll be down soon." The boy replied. Even though he was only fifteen, nearly sixteen, he was already taller than his adoptive father.

 

"Alright, then let's have dinner. You kids must be starving," Thee nodded once, his voice calm yet unusually gentle, lacking its usual commanding tone.

 

The three of them walked to the dining room, and just as they were settling in and chatting, a young girl came hurrying down the stairs. Her features were starting to show hints of elegance, and it wouldn't be long before she blossomed into a beautiful young lady.

 

The girl took her usual seat at the table, then glanced up at her adoptive father with a small frown, her displeasure evident. "Papa, you skipped lunch again today, didn't you?"

...Though, if only she weren't so bossy.

 

"Peach, you didn't eat?" Theerakit, seated at the head of the table, immediately turned to interrogate him as well, his sharp gaze cutting through the air. Despite his commanding tone, the concern in his eyes was impossible to miss, leaving Peach scrambling to raise both hands in surrender. He offered a small, sheepish smile as all three of them stared at him in unison, their collective worry unwavering.

 

As a photographer, Peach's work often didn't come with fixed breaks. If the lighting was just right or the atmosphere perfect, he'd sometimes keep shooting without taking a proper meal break. It was a habit that constantly worried both his husband and the kids. Even though Peach had been trying to fix this, old habits died hard.

 

"The shoot ran over a bit. The previous model had another gig to get to, so I figured I'd just get it done in one go. Didn't have time to grab lunch," Peach explained, his voice tinged with guilt. I'm sorry, sweetheart. I didn't mean to make you worry."

 

"If Papa ends up with a stomachache, everyone's going to worry even more," Marn puffed her cheeks out, her eyes full of concern as she glanced up at him. "And you too, Daddy! If I don't pack you a lunch box, you will never eat properly either!"

 

Thee slumped his shoulders, looking sheepish. "Sorry. I was stuck in meetings all day."

 

"Let's eat, everyone," Mhok chimed in, trying to steer the conversation elsewhere. He reached over to gently ruffle his younger sister's hair. 

 

"Thanks for always taking care of everyone, Marn."

 

Marn pouted a bit more but didn't say anything else. With that, they all began their meal. The family wasn't too strict about table manners, so talking while eating was the norm. Not long into dinner, Thee naturally started asking about how things were going at school.

 

By the time they finished eating, the housekeeper brought out dessert: large, stuffed bua loi dumplings swimming in creamy, fragrant coconut milk. Peach poked at his dessert absentmindedly, staring at the bowl for a moment before finally speaking up.

 

"Next week, I've got to travel abroad for work," he said. Theerakit, who had just taken his first bite of the dumpling, froze mid-chew. His eyes snapped up to meet Peach's, wide with disbelief.

 

The mafia boss prided himself on knowing every detail of his husband's schedule. And it had been ages since Peach had taken any job that required travelling, let alone overseas. Hearing this out of the blue left him stunned.

 

"What kind of job? When? Where? Why didn't I hear about this?" Thee fired off the questions rapid-fire, his brows furrowing deeply. Peach simply gave him a small, uneasy smile, clearly reluctant to say more.

 

"It's a photography job. A magazine in England invited me to shoot for them."

 

"How long will you be gone?" Mhok asked, his brows furrowed just like Thee's, and for a moment, they looked so alike it was uncanny.

 

Peach noticed and smiled faintly at the thought, but didn't comment. Instead, he answered seriously, "The actual shoot should only take three or four days, but I'll need to meet with them for briefings beforehand. All in all, it'll probably take about a month."

 

"It won't be dangerous, right?" Mhok pressed, his tone more serious now. Marn, being the little girl of the family, didn't fully grasp the complexities of her dad's work. She understood bits and pieces, but not in-depth. Mhok, on the other hand, was older and more aware. When he got old enough, Thee had started explaining the reality of their family's situation and his line of work to him in straightforward terms.

 

Thee had always said that his father had done the same for him. The best protection, he believed, was understanding the risks and being prepared for what might come. Shielding the truth behind a curtain of secrecy wasn't the right way to protect someone.

 

"It won't be dangerous," Peach reassured, offering a small smile. He knew exactly what Mhok was worried about. "Dad will make sure someone goes with me. Plus, Uncle Rome's already over there, so there's nothing to worry about."

 

"Peach..." Thee's voice came out shaky, his expression still clouded with unease. Peach simply smiled and reached out to gently pat the back of his husband's hand.

 

"We'll talk about this later tonight, okay?"

 

Thee froze, feeling like he'd just heard a thunderclap crash behind him. Was this it? Was the infamous seven-year itch really coming for him now?