Me and Thee & Calm down Mr Rome Special.

Wake Up Call Special #8

The woman straightened her posture, her gaze sweeping the room, a hint of nervousness in her eyes, though she fought to keep her composure.

 

"I need to talk to you. Do you have a moment?"

 

"As you can see, I'm working," Peach replied, lifting the camera in his hands as if to emphasise his point. His lips still held that polite, unreadable smile. "But if you'd prefer to schedule a time, I can meet you later."

 

"That won't be necessary. I can wait," she insisted. Peach tilted his head slightly before gesturing to the side. "In that case, please have a seat over there. I'll finish up first."

 

Neera gave a small nod before turning and settling into the armchair he had pointed out. He watched her for a moment, his expression unreadable, before shifting his gaze to Mok, who still stood beside him, his brows furrowed in deep thought.

 

"Thanks, Mok. Sorry for troubling you."

 

"It's no trouble," Mok replied evenly.

 

"It's my responsibility to protect Arseny's people."

 

The words sent a quiet warmth through Peach's chest. He knew bits and pieces of Mok's past and understood just how much the man respected and cared for the Arseny family. Being acknowledged as one of them meant something-it meant he wasn't just an outsider anymore. He belonged. He had a family now. A real one. Not just him and his sister against the world.

 

"If you don't mind, I'd like to go with you this evening," Mok continued, his brows knitting together as he glanced toward Neera once more. "Something doesn't feel right. It would be better if you had backup."

 

Peach followed his gaze, narrowing his eyes slightly as he studied her. His mind worked through the possibilities, trying to make sense of the situation. "She's just a woman. It's probably nothing."

 

"She could be a decoy. We should be careful."

 

Peach nodded in agreement, his eyes dropping briefly before he spoke again. "So... who exactly is she to Kian?"

 

He needed as much information as possible to prepare himself. Right now, he was in the dark-no context, no understanding of her motives. That left him at a disadvantage.

 

"The Pierce family used to be business partners with Arseny," Mok explained without hesitation. "During that time, she was publicly involved with Thee-mostly to promote their business interests. But in the end, they went their separate ways." His frown deepened. 

 

"Has she done anything to bother you?"

 

Peach pressed his lips together, his gaze flickering toward Thee once more. The man still looked visibly irritated, as if barely holding himself back from storming over. But he wouldn't because he had promised. Instead, he sat rigidly in place, his frustration evident in the tense line of his shoulders. Kian, standing beside him, rested a hand on his brother's shoulder and gave it a light squeeze, amusement flickering in his expression rather than concern.

 

With a quiet sigh, Peach shook his head. Thee's body language was louder than words, clearer than if he had come over himself. But rather than feel annoyed, Peach found himself smiling, a quiet warmth settling in his chest. He knew his lover well enough to understand that this wasn't just irritation; it was genuine concern.

 

"She introduced herself as Thee's ex," he finally answered Mok's question, his tone light, his small smile unwavering. Not a trace of anxiety lingered in his expression. Peach trusted Thee. More than that, even if she had been his ex, that was all she was in the past. There was no reason to let it become an issue between them now.

 

"Ex-girlfriend?" Mok repeated, his brows drawing together even further.

 

"That's what she said." Peach shrugged, completely unfazed. "I don't really care, but anyone who goes out of their way to announce something like that to someone's current partner? They're never doing it with good intentions." His eyes flickered briefly toward Neera. "At the very least, we should find out what she really wants."

 

Mok held his gaze for a long moment. There was something about Peach, something gentle and effortless that made people feel at ease around him. But now, there was a quiet strength beneath that calm exterior, a protective edge that hadn't been there before. And it was clear what-or rather, who-he was standing guard over. The Arseny family. That realisation settled something in Mok's chest, easing a tension he hadn't even fully registered. He let out a slow breath and smiled, the worry in his eyes fading.

 

Mok, the secretary, said. Then, after a pause, "Understood. At the very least, let me go with you. It'll be safer if we handle this together."

 

A grin spread across Peach's face, his eyes crinkling with delight as he nodded. "Of course," he agreed, his tone warm. "I'd appreciate the company."

 

"No way!"

 

Mok let out a long sigh, watching his lover with a steady gaze. He had expected this reaction; there was no way Rome would accept it without a fight. Arms crossed, chin tilted defiantly upward, Rome's sharp features were twisted in open disapproval, his entire expression practically shouting Over my dead body.

 

"I plan to go with Mok. Just the two of us," Peach stated calmly, unfazed by the younger Arseny's outburst. Instead of stepping back, he moved in closer, lightly tugging at the hem of Rome's sleeve with gentle fingers. Tilting his head up, round eyes glimmering with quiet determination, he spoke again-this time, his voice carrying a soft, almost pleading lift.

 

"I'm a man too, you know. I want to protect the person I love, just like he protects me. Can't I do that?"

 

Rome, who had been ready to launch into another heated argument, abruptly shut his mouth. From the corner of his eye, Peach saw Thee's expression shift. The deep furrow in his brow didn't relax completely, but his storm-grey eyes brightened, his mood visibly lifting despite himself. Peach gave his sleeve another small tug, and just like that, the normally stone-faced mafia finally gave in.

 

"Fine," Thee relented, exhaling through his nose. One large hand landed on Rome's head, holding him firmly in place just as he was about to start protesting again. "But if you so much as get a scratch on you, I'll hold everyone accountable."

 

Peach nodded without hesitation, his confidence unwavering. Then, with a gentle push, he nudged Thee back toward the hotel, signalling him to leave first. Meanwhile, he turned and made his way toward Neera, still seated on the same small sofa, with Mok trailing beside him.

 

As they walked, Peach glanced back briefly before chuckling. "Rome still looks really pissed off."

 

"Leave him be," Mok replied, his voice neutral. But there was a faint curve to his lips, and even the edges of his usually sharp gaze had softened. Peach noticed but chose not to comment, simply smiling to himself before refocusing on the matter at hand.

 

He had received so much love from the Arseny family, far more than he ever could have imagined. Once, it had just been him and his sister against the world. But now, he had a place, a family that had welcomed him as their own. And now, it was his turn. It was time for him to protect his family.

 

Peach came to a stop beside the sofa before settling into the large armchair next to it. His posture was composed, hands loosely clasped together as he met Neera's gaze with quiet patience.

 

"Apologies for keeping you waiting," he said smoothly. Though his lips curved into their usual faint smile, it didn't quite reach his eyes. 

 

"What can I do for you, Neera?"

 

The woman remained still, her gaze locked onto him as she openly scrutinised him from head to toe. But Peach didn't flinch. He met her stare evenly, unbothered by the sharpness in her eyes. He had faced far worse. Before he had even started dating Thee, he had been dragged, literally, before mafia bosses by their bodyguards. A woman's assessing gaze hardly fazed him.

 

"Do you even realise you're being deceived?"

 

"_Excuse me?" Peach blinked, genuinely confused. The question had come out of nowhere, completely out of context. Neera sighed softly, shaking her head as though pitying him. "I don't know what he has told you, but Thee is a mafia boss. He has no heart. You're nothing but a cover for someone to keep up appearances while he leaves you to raise another woman's children. I don't want you to end up as I did."

 

For a second, Peach simply stared at her, then flicked his gaze toward Mok, who had been standing silently at his side. Even the usually composed former secretary looked thrown off. His brows were furrowed, lips pressed into a thin line, a rare expression of outright displeasure on his face. Clearly, Peach wasn't the only one lost in this bizarre conversation.

 

Suppressing the amusement bubbling up inside him, Peach turned back to her, choosing his words carefully. He could sense that she was being sincerely misguided, but not malicious.

 

"I'm sorry," he said, his voice calm, measured, "but to be honest, I don't really understand what you're trying to say." He kept his tone neutral, his small smile remaining in place to keep things from becoming too tense. "Thee has been nothing but good to me. We love each other. There's no deception here, so there's nothing to worry about."

 

Neera wasn't convinced. "Do you really think this is right?" she pressed. "I've been exactly where you are. I was with him for six whole months, and he was cold. Heartless. He doesn't love anyone. You're making a mistake by throwing everything away for him. One day, he'll leave you, too."

 

Peach didn't respond right away. The ever-present curve of his lips faded into something more neutral as he studied her. She was hurt. That much was obvious. But she wasn't bitter at least, not in a way that sought to cause real harm. He could see it in her eyes: worry, jealousy, but no real ill intent. And he wasn't surprised by what she was saying.

 

Rumours about him and Thee had spread wildly, exaggerated beyond recognition. But neither of them had ever bothered to correct them. There was no point in people believing what they wanted, and they had more important things to deal with than chasing down gossip. But what struck him about Neera was that she wasn't just repeating rumours. She believed them. And that was what made him pause. What exactly had she seen, or heard, to be so convinced?

 

"The only thing I can tell you is that Thee and I love each other. No one is deceiving anyone," he said evenly. "As for the children, I take care of them because I want to. Because I love them." His patience was wearing thin. This conversation had gone on long enough.

 

"If that's all, I'll take my leave," he continued, his voice polite but firm. "And I sincerely hope we don't meet again...

 

"You really chose that heartless man over your own mother?"

 

The sudden outburst made him freeze. His dark eyes flickered, shrinking into something sharp and unreadable, his expression turning impossibly cold.

 

"..What did you just say?"

 

Neera faltered, nearly flinching at the shift in his demeanour. Peach had always carried a warm, easygoing air-approachable, kind, quick to smile. That was why she had been worried when she first heard about him. But now, for the first time, she was seeing something entirely different, something dangerous. Had he spent too much time around Thee, absorbing that same suffocating presence? Or had she struck a nerve too deep to ignore?

 

"..Your mother," she continued, her voice faltering slightly, as if realising too late that she had stepped onto unsteady ground. "Aunt Malee, she misses you. She said she's been trying to reach you, but he keeps blocking her. I know how dangerous he is, so I came to warn you-"

 

"You should go back to her," Neera pressed. 

 

"Don't risk your life for-"

 

"I don't have a mother. I'm an orphan. You must have me confused with someone else."

 

He stated, voice steady, detached. There was no hesitation, no flicker of doubt. His tone sharpened into something edged and unforgiving. "And don't assume you have the right to dictate how others should live their lives," he said, voice quiet but lethal. 

 

"Don't measure people by your standards, drawing lines and pointing fingers as if you know what's best. Because the truth is, you know nothing about anyone's life but your own."

 

Neera's breath hitched. Her eyes widened, not just in shock, but in something dangerously close to fear. Peach said nothing more. He stood, offering nothing but a quick, indifferent nod before turning on his heel and walking away. His pulse thundered in his ears, too loud, too fast. He didn't know if it was from fury or something worse. All he knew was that he needed to get out. Away from this place. Away from her words.

 

He moved quickly, barely aware of his own footsteps, barely seeing anything ahead of him. His mind was stuck in a loop, his thoughts spiralling back to a single, overwhelming instinct. To run. To find somewhere small and dark, somewhere to hide. Just like he used to.

 

"Peach!?"

 

Peach jolted at the sound of his name, snapping his head up in alarm. His eyes were wide, his breath ragged, beads of cold sweat clinging to his forehead despite the chilly air. His entire body was tense, recoiling instinctively from the firm grip on his arm, struggling to pull away until his gaze met a familiar pair of smoke-grey eyes. Eyes filled with nothing but warmth. Nothing but love. The second he registered it, registered him, his body slackened.

 

His breath hitched, and only then did he realise he had been holding it the entire time. His whole frame trembled, legs dangerously close to giving out beneath him. Thee, just as shaken, wasted no time pulling him in, locking him in a tight embrace. One hand pressed against his back, the other cradling the back of his head, anchoring him. A deep, rumbling voice murmured quiet reassurances against dark strands of hair. Gentle hands rubbed slow, steady circles down his back. Soft, lingering kisses were pressed into his hairline, a wordless promise that he was here.

 

From the corner of his eye, Theerakit caught sight of his younger brother watching in tense silence, brows drawn together in deep concern. Rome met his gaze, gave a silent nod of understanding, and said nothing. Thee turned his focus back to Peach, speaking in a voice so low only he could hear.

 

"Let's go back to the hotel," he suggested, fingers idly twirling the ends of his hair. "You should rest. And I haven't even had the chance to hold you properly since we got here. I missed you, you know."

 

"Don't you have to speak with Ivano?" Peach tilted his head back just enough to meet his eyes, though he made no effort to put distance between them.

 

Thee frowned, clearly torn. "Then you go first," he said after a moment. "Just walk right in. I bought the hotel; you won't have any trouble. My people are already there. They know you."

 

Peach exhaled, some of the tension in his chest dissipating. "I already booked my own room," he muttered. Thee fell silent, contemplating something, but his grip didn't loosen in the slightest.

 

"Then I'll just buy that hotel too."

"Kian!"