My lovely driver

13. Old acquaintances

Fluke had gotten off the bus and was walking towards Cooheart's Cafe. He'd gone through a long day of job search interviews and for a few seconds regretted fighting with Ohm before getting on his motorcycle. But now he couldn't go back and needed to follow through.

"What's up, my love?", Cooheart asked as he saw his friend enter with his head down once more.

"No luck today either...", Fluke replied and took a newspaper from his backpack. Sitting on one of the benches, he underlined with a pen the job offers that seemed most interesting.

Seeing the scene repeat itself once more, the owner of the Café took a slice of cake and a cup of tea. Even if it wasn't much help, at least he could make sure Fluke didn't pass out from hunger.

"You know that no one looks for jobs in the newspaper anymore, right? That's what the internet is for, remember?", he didn't fail to tease.

"Earth, go take care of your business and I'll take care of mine!", Fluke stuck his tongue out at his friend.

"You ungrateful one, take this cake here! And try to eat it all!", Cooheart said crossing his arms in front of his chest and with a stubborn pout molding his lips.

Even though it was late, a man opened the door to the Cafe. He was wearing a leather jacket and dark wash jeans. On his head, he had a baseball cap with a football team's shield on it. The guy seemed to be looking for something, so Cooheart warned him:

"Sorry, sir! We're closed! But you can come back tomorrow, we open at 9 am!", Cooheart said with a professional smile.

The strange man seemed to quickly glance around the establishment cataloging details and then left as if the owner of the place hadn't even spoken to him. The two friends thought it was weird, but shrugged their shoulders and didn't pay much attention to the fact, refocusing on Fluke's job search and Cooheart sharing how his day had been.

The baker felt sorry for his friend who had seemed so in love just weeks before, but was now looking for a way to make a living for himself because he had separated from his husband after a silly fight. Not that Cooheart would tell him his opinion. The poor thing already had enough to deal with, so he was only willing to help as he could.

********

Fluke was sitting in front of Mr. Kao Noppakao Dechaphatthanakun's desk. The man had carefully combed black hair and the suit he wore looked like it had been tailored just for him. He looked a lot more like a model straight out of a magazine page than a businessman. But his husky voice caught the unemployed boy's scattered attention.

"I see you were a driver for the Ritprasert Holding Company's Ohm Thitiwat?", he raised an inquisitive eyebrow.

"Exactly! Do you know him?", the boy asked with wide eyes.

"Let's just say it pretty well! In fact, it's been a while since I've seen him, I was away on business. I heard he got married, did you hear anything about that?"

"Yes, let's say I was around!", Fluke smiled sadly.

"Well, if the iron CEO hired you, it means you're worth it! You're hired!", Kao smiled, showing that behind the serious facade, there was also a malleable guy.

The job for Kao was essentially the same that Fluke performed for Ohm for months before they got married, so there was nothing new. Running frantically to opposite sides of the city while trying to avoid accidents was almost automatic and part of his system. Even so, that didn't mean he had become immune to surprises.

"I think you'll know where we're going!", Kao commented before sending the driver a message containing the address of where he would have a meeting that morning.

Ah, he really knew the place.

"Love!", Ohm blurted out when he saw the driver getting out of the car to open the door for Kao.

The newcomer watched with curiosity the exchange of uncomfortable looks between his driver and Ohm, until he decided to speak:

"Cousin, I knew you missed me, but not enough to call me that!"

Ignoring Kao's joke, Ohm went without thinking towards Fluke with open arms, but only to find himself rejected. The driver took a step back, pulling away. Ohm swore he heard the man in front of him whispering under his breath a "Don't come any closer!" warning.

Noticing the unstable mood, Kao once again tried to calm the tempers:

"Oh my god! Are you married to my driver? So we're practically all of the same family!"

"I know, right! I'm too lucky! Maybe the luckiest man on the planet!", Ohm said unashamedly, making Fluke blush at the remark.

Kao and Ohm exchanged a few more pleasantries until they decided to head for the elevator, but Fluke stayed behind.

"Aren't you going in?", Kao asked, holding the elevator door.

"It wouldn't be appropriate, Mr. Dechaphatthanakun.", Fluke replied without meeting his boss' eyes.

"Ah... alright then...", he decided to drop the topic for the comfort of everyone involved even though it created a huge doubt in his mind.

The meeting lasted a few hours and extended into the afternoon as well. Kao and Ohm were cousins, but their companies had been partners from the time their parents were CEOs and wanted to catch up on all papers now that they were both on Thailand.

Anticipating the awkward situation in which he might put Fluke yet again, Ohm decided not to accompany his cousin to the parking lot.

"It was a long day, Fluke! Do you have any suggestions for relaxing?", Kao asked as he got into the car.

The driver had the perfect idea for when the heart felt sour and soon they arrived at Cooheart's Café who didn't miss the opportunity to flirt with the handsome CEO and tease his friend all at once:

"I wonder where is this mine you dug to get so many handsome men!"

The easy compliment drew a grin from the businessman. Something neither of them expected but was interrupted by Fluke.

"Coo, can you behave please? He's my boss!"

"That's what you said last time and where are we now? If he treats you badly, tell me I'll pull his hair!", Cooheart tried to make a face, but the result was as adorable as a bunny trying to be fierce in Kao's eyes.

"Hey, hey, crazy! Mr. Dechaphatthanakun has been treating me very well, ok?", Fluke defended the boss and felt an emptiness in his chest when he said those words. It was like he was betraying himself.