Me and Thee & Calm down Mr Rome Special.

Wake Up Call Special #3

Peach stood at the gate, staring at his husband in disbelief. He didn't like drawing attention to himself, so when Thee suggested sending him on a private jet and even leaving it in England for him to use during his trip, Peach had simply given him a deadpan look, raised one hand to block the idea, and firmly declined.

 

"Or, would you like a new jet with your name on it? I can have Raf place a rush order right now."

 

"No, thank you," Peach had replied, his tone even more resolute. Inside, though, he couldn't help wondering why this particular jet seemed so determined to stay tied to him. And another thing, could jets really be ordered on express delivery?

 

Shaking his curiosity aside, asking might just land him with a new jet for real, Peach had left the conversation there. But now that the time had come to say goodbye, Thee surprised him. Instead of pulling any last-minute stunts, the man simply hugged him tightly, as though he didn't want to let go, and murmured, "A journey of three thousand miles... if it's meant to be, we'll meet again."

 

Peach blinked, utterly baffled, and turned to Raf, who was standing by with his usual impassive expression. The secretary cleared his throat lightly and offered a quiet explanation.

 

"The boss has been learning Chinese lately."

 

Peach didn't need to ask what kind of "learning" that involved.

 

Letting out a long sigh, Peach figured it might be time for him to start watching some Chinese dramas. At this rate, he'd need to brush up on the language himself if he wanted to keep up with his husband. But Theerakit wasn't done. The mafia boss pulled Peach into one last embrace, kissed him gently on the temple, and released him without a word of protest, letting him walk toward the gate freely. Now that was strange.

 

Peach found himself glancing back at Thee every so often as he walked away, though not because he doubted Thee's feelings for him. He could feel the man's unwavering love in everything he did, a constant warmth that never faltered. No, what puzzled Peach was how easily Thee was letting him fly off to work abroad for a whole month without putting up a fight. But if he said there was something else planned, that would make more sense.

 

The lingering doubt stayed with him all the way until the plane landed in England. Despite flying first class with plenty of space and a bed that could be adjusted, he couldn't sleep deeply. Even after he got off the plane, he still felt a little groggy from the jet lag, so he decided to head straight to the hotel and get some rest for the day.

 

Peach slept for a full ten hours. When he woke up again, it was around 3 a.m. Even though he wanted to sleep more, he couldn't manage it, so he got up to freshen up with a shower. He was used to working overnight until morning, so 3 a.m. wasn't a problem for him at all.

 

After a refreshing shower, he got dressed, checked the time against Thailand's time zone, and dialled Thee's number. The phone rang only once before Thee picked up quickly. The screen showed the image of the young man in a fitted suit.

 

[Are you awake already?] Thee asked, glancing at the clock briefly. [3 a.m. is pretty early, don't you feel dizzy?]

 

"Probably just jet lag. But I think I've had enough rest." Peach smiled widely as he replied, his eyes scanning his lover. Is it a busy day for you? It's only 9 a.m."

 

Normally, Mr Thee would head to the office around 9:30 to deal with paperwork, and the daily departmental report meeting would start at 10:30. Since it was around nine in Thailand now, Mr Thee must have already been at his desk. But the desk looked messier than usual.

 

[Ah, work's been a bit hectic lately,] Thee said with a smile, before naturally changing the topic. [How's everything on your end? All good? Need anything more?]

 

"Not at all. Everything's running smoothly, maybe even better than expected," Peach laughed lightly.

 

Peach had always been a simple, easygoing person. Even after marrying Thee and being showered with expensive luxury items, living a life of comfort that had almost become second nature to him, he still stuck to his frugal habits and could be stingy with his spending. He preferred to use only what was necessary.

 

[That's good,] Thee said, offering no further comment. He just smiled faintly, his gaze fixed on Peach, almost as if he wanted to reach through the phone and pull him into an embrace. His large hand lightly brushed the phone screen.

 

[Miss you.]

 

The soft words, almost a whisper, in a low, husky tone with a rough edge, made Peach's ears tingle. His cheeks flushed, but he simply smiled and whispered back, his feelings matching Thee's.

 

"Miss you too."

 

After a brief goodbye, Peach ended the call and sat there, staring at the phone for a moment before deciding to get out of bed. He couldn't sleep anymore and didn't want to disturb his lover while he was working. After chatting for a bit with his younger sister on the phone to let her know he had arrived safely and to remind her he hadn't forgotten her souvenirs, he decided to go for a walk and explore the area around the hotel.

 

He stepped out of his room. The hotel had been booked in advance by Mr Thee, and when he arrived, a car had already been waiting to take him there. He'd been too tired to take in his surroundings when he first arrived, but now he had the chance to really look around. 

 

The hallway was long, covered with deep red carpet, and had glass chandeliers hanging along the sides. There were large arched windows from floor to ceiling, giving a beautiful view of the garden next to the building, filled with flowers in full bloom, basking in the first light of the morning. The hotel Mr Thee had booked for him was nothing short of perfect. Peach smiled softly. Even though they were far apart, he could still feel the care and effort Thee put into looking after him.

 

He turned left and headed outside the hotel, instead of toward the restaurant. He wasn't much of a breakfast person, even though Mr Thee had been trying to break that habit for a while. It didn't help much. Plus, it was too early for him to eat anything, so he decided to take a walk and enjoy the cool, fresh air that he couldn't get in Thailand, hoping it would help wake him up.

 

With a photographer's spirit, Peach couldn't let such a beautiful morning slip by without capturing it. The shot was just too perfect to pass up. He stepped a little further and found himself in the garden. It seemed that this large hotel had multiple gardens, each with a different design concept. In front of him was a garden focused on lush greenery and beautiful flowers, laid out like a maze made from trees. The maze wasn't too tall, only about five feet high-just enough to be at eye level with a person but not so high that you'd risk getting lost. The walls, made of trees, were interspersed with flowers that not only looked beautiful but also gave off a sweet fragrance.

 

Peach raised his camera and began snapping photos as he walked. The weather was perfect, not too hot, and the atmosphere was so peaceful that he lost track of time, absorbed in the beauty around him. But when he turned the camera in another direction, a woman suddenly appeared in the viewfinder. He paused for a moment, quickly lowering the camera. Taking pictures of strangers without permission was bad manners, especially when the person was staying at a luxury hotel like this, definitely not someone he wanted to offend. Even though his husband, Thee, had significant influence, Peach always believed in avoiding unnecessary problems for his family.

 

The woman had noticed him. She scanned him quietly, her expression not overly surprised. It was Peach who felt awkward under her gaze, so he only offered a small smile as a greeting, giving a slight nod of his head. She held his gaze for a while before a small, somewhat distant smile tugged at her lips. The tension in the air seemed to lift, but for some reason, Peach felt a chill settle deeper in his bones.

 

"Good morning," Peach decided to speak up, offering her a small smile in return. The woman slowly walked toward him, her smile wide, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. She was a striking woman with long, golden hair that cascaded straight down to her waist. Her large, beautiful blue eyes, set in deep sockets, gave her a more intense, even intimidating look, rather than a soft, sweet appearance. She was tall and slender, and while there were some signs of age, her beauty still stood out, making her impossible to ignore.

 

"Hello, I didn't expect to run into you here."

 

"Sorry?" Peach asked, genuinely puzzled. "Have we met before?"

 

She was incredibly beautiful, and although she was probably in her forties, she still stood out as stunning. As a photographer, Peach didn't think he could possibly forget someone so striking, even if they'd only met once.

 

"You probably don't remember me, but I know who you are," she replied, still wearing that unreadable smile.

 

"You're the lover of the heir to the Arseny family, the big shot. You're not exactly someone who goes unnoticed."

 

Peach froze for a moment, his expression stiffening, but he kept the small smile at the corner of his lips. Inside, his mind was racing, trying to come up with a way out of this situation quickly.

 

The Arseny family was powerful and influential, but they also had as many enemies as allies. His relationship with Thee, although never widely publicised, was never hidden either. Thee had proudly introduced him at events, making it clear who he was to those around them. So, having someone approach him as the lover of the Arseny heir definitely warranted a more cautious, wary approach. The woman seemed to remember something and gave him a nod. 

 

"Well, I guess I'll see you around." She said, before turning to leave. Peach watched her walk away, noting the complexity in her gaze before silently turning his own eyes elsewhere. He'd tell Mr Thee about this later.

 

As soon as Peach made his way back to the dining room, he pushed the encounter with the woman out of his mind. There was nothing more he could do except stay cautious and focus on his work. The only thing on his mind now was finishing his job so he could head home and be in Thee's arms sooner. He wouldn't deny it; he was already missing Mr Thee.

 

After finishing his meal, he returned to his room to sort himself out. It didn't take long before he was on his way to the meeting location. Today was just a preliminary gathering for the team, with the actual photo shoot for the event's honorary model scheduled to start in a couple of days. 

 

The meeting place was a huge photography studio. Peach walked in, his eyes sweeping around in excitement. Even though he was a well-known photographer in Thailand, stepping into such a large studio still felt like a big deal. It was his first time being in a space this grand. He headed straight for the meeting room. After knocking a few times, he quietly opened the door. Inside, there were already three people, each relaxing in different corners.

 

"Hello, you're Mr Peach, right?" A man with tan skin walked up to him, shaking his hand enthusiastically. His curly hair was tied back into a low bun, and his friendly face wore a welcoming expression. He adjusted his black square-framed glasses as he spoke. "I'm Nathan. I've heard your name before. Your award-winning photo shoot three years ago was stunning."

 

"Thank you, Mr Nathan," Peach replied with a polite smile, then turned to greet the others. "Hello, I'm Peach."

 

"I knew it had to be you. When the editor told us they'd be inviting a photographer from Asia, your name was the first I thought of," said the woman, walking over to shake his hand. "I'm Lawrence. Nice to meet you."

 

Peach nodded respectfully. "I've heard your name for a while, Lawrence. The photos from the last Olympics-your angles and timing were just perfect."

 

"Damn!"

 

The conversation that was just about to pick up again abruptly halted at the sound of a harsh, derisive chuckle. Everyone turned silently toward its source, a tall, lean man seated nearby. His short, slicked-back blond hair was immaculately styled with wax, and his pale blue eyes perfectly complemented his tailored dark navy suit, straight-cut slacks, and polished black leather shoes that gleamed like mirrors.  He swept his sharp gaze across the group, the narrow corners of his eyes and deeply set sockets radiating an air of arrogance so intimidating that no one wanted to get near him.

 

"Finished buttering each other up yet? Can we finally start talking business now?" His laugh carried a trace of scorn as he sneered, "Honestly, such nonsense. Always caught up in a mess when it comes to you, Yellow Monkeys."

 

Peachayarat turned to look at him silently, the faint smile lingering on his lips not faltering for a second. Only his eyes seemed to grow colder, an icy chill rolling off him quietly yet unmistakably. The arrogant man glared back, but the cold stare froze him in his tracks. He stumbled over a couple of incoherent grunts, then quickly spun around and walked off, not daring to utter another word.

 

Turns out Mr Thee's knack for freezing people in their place with nothing but a stare came in handy now and then. As if nothing had happened, Peachayarat shifted his gaze back and smiled warmly again before turning to Lawrence. "I'm not late, am I? Have we already started discussing business?"

 

"You're not late at all," the woman replied, grinning so widely her eyes practically sparkled. She clearly found his little display earlier rather impressive. "Come on, then. Tomorrow, all the bigwigs will be here. We need to sort out who's doing what today."

 

Peach nodded in agreement and walked over to the board in the centre of the room. Nathan had already stepped back from the group and was waiting there, looking visibly relieved. Clearing his throat softly, Nathan straightened himself up, trying to regain a composed, authoritative demeanour.

 

"Alright, we're going to divide up responsibilities. We'll be interviewing four high-profile business figures, each one a prominent name currently in the spotlight. A couple of them have... let's say, murky backgrounds that could be dangerous. So, I can't stress this enough-be extremely cautious. Don't accidentally offend anyone, no matter what."

 

Peach gave a small nod of understanding. These businesspeople were probably a lot like Mr Thee, not the kind of people an ordinary person should mess with. He glanced down at the file he'd just been handed, a faint, almost imperceptible smile tugging at the corner of his lips as his eyes softened slightly.

 

Before he could help it, Kian's name flashed through his mind. With a quiet cough to himself, he tried to shake off the sudden warmth creeping into his cheeks, focusing

instead on flipping open the file. Inside was information on an Italian businessman he was assigned to photograph tomorrow. The document outlined a brief summary of the man's personal background, enough to give him a sense of what to expect.

 

"Who did you get?" Lawrence whispered, leaning in curiously. Peach tilted the paper slightly in her direction without hesitation, letting her take a look.

 

"Ivano Simone, a forty-year-old businessman from Italy," he said, glancing at Lawrence's file out of the corner of his eye. It looked like hers was about a businessman from mainland China. So, the magazine's claims about promoting diversity weren't just empty words. 

 

Giving the red-haired, sharp-featured, green-eyed woman the Chinese businessman seemed fitting in some ironic way. But she didn't seem all that interested in her own subject; she was far more intrigued by the name in his hands.

 

"That guy's really famous! I heard he started as a small-time fruit farmer and built it into a global food industry empire. No idea how they even managed to get him on board for this."

 

"Your subject's just as big a deal," he replied, gesturing toward the photo of the nearly sixty-year-old man on her page. "Yi Chuan, he's basically the ultimate trader. People all across Asia know him. They say he can sell anything."

 

"Chinese people really know how to make money," Lawrence said with a long, admiring sigh, making him chuckle softly. Money really was a universal language.

 

"They'll be arriving one after another tomorrow. The magazine's team will pick them up," Nathan chimed in, exhaling heavily. "The staff will brief us on the concepts where, when, and how to shoot-but ultimately, we'll have to adapt to what each of them wants."

 

He nodded slowly, taking it all in. This wasn't like shooting a standard model. These were influential figures, each with their own quirks and conditions. There was no doubt it'd require some on-the-spot problem-solving.

 

"Besides the names, there'll be a host to handle the interviews," Nathan continued. "Their job is to lead the conversation with the guests. Our job is just to take photos. The concept includes three sets: one formal set with a white backdrop, taken during the interview; a second set at a famous landmark in England; and a third casual set. That last one is completely up to negotiation-where and how it's done will depend on what works best for each guest."

 

Nathan, who was leading the project, let out a long sigh while waving another set of documents in his hand.

 

"As for François' part, I'll take care of it myself."

 

Peach offered a faint smile, simply saying, "Good luck with that," before getting up to leave. As he walked out of the meeting room, ready to head back to his room and prepare, he briefly considered calling his partner. But before he could act on the thought, Lawrence called out to him.

 

"Hey, tomorrow's going to be a grind. How about we celebrate a bit tonight?" Lawrence asked, miming the motion of clinking an invisible glass of alcohol in the air. Her bright green eyes sparkled with a playful, inviting gleam.

 

Peach chuckled softly and waved his left hand dismissively. "I'll have to pass. Still a bit jet-lagged. And if I don't get proper rest, my partner might scold me."

 

Lawrence narrowed her eyes, catching the flash of silver from the ring on his left ring finger as the sunlight hit it. She let out an exaggerated sigh, her expression torn between mild irritation and amused resignation.

 

"Go on, then, Mr Family Man," she teased, waving him off half-heartedly. "Ugh, I'm so done with people who are 'taken."

 

Peach couldn't help but laugh as he said goodbye, heading back to his room. On the way, he pulled out his phone and tried to call his partner. After doing the time zone math in his head, he figured there was still a slim chance to catch Mr Thee before bedtime. But by the time he got back to his room, there was no response from Mr Thee, nor from Raf, his secretary.