The Heart Knows

Chapter 16: Love Interrupted 2

"Hello, Selene. What is it?" Ohm answers the phone with a deflating sigh...

Fluke wakes up and looks to his side, but he does not see Ohm. He gets off the mattress and tries to look for him. As he can't find him anywhere in the bedroom he decides to go check downstairs, but as he opens the door, he hears Ohm on the phone....

Ohm: Yes, Selene. I will be there tonight... Yes, your father gave me a personal invite... No... I understand...alright.
-call ends-

"P'Ohm, is everything OK".
"Hey baby. You're up. Come here". Ohm takes Fluke into his arms and give him a tight squeeze, kissing his head. "Everything is fine love. It's nothing I can't handle",  he continues.
"Are you sure? Are you having some problems at work? Fluke says worriedly.
"Kind of. Since the owner came, he's been putting a lot of pressure on me. But don't worry too much, mmh. It'll be fine".
Hearing this, Fluke tightens the hug.
"How about we take a shower and get ready for breakfast? Ohm asks.
"OK. Can we have it at the café today?". Fluke asks. "Of course". Ohm answers. They head to the bathroom, brush their teeth and get into the shower together. Once done getting ready, the head to the café. In the car, Ohm tells Fluke about the invitation to the dinner party by Mr Suwan, the Owner of La Torre Group of Hotels. He explains that he does need to go, but also asks Fluke if he can accompany him as his plus one/fiancé. Fluke is apprehensive at first because he knows who is going to be there. After some convincing, he finally agrees.

THAT EVENING
Back at Ohm's penthouse, Ohm and Fluke are getting ready for the dinner party, trying to look their best, but they are both anxious because neither of them really wants to be there.

So now here they are ready for the dreaded event. 

They look at each and sigh then smile as if they are encouraging each other. Neither of them wants to tell the other how they are feeling. They don't want to make the other feel uncomfortable.

Arm in arm, they make their way to the 4th floor of La Torre, where the restaurant where the dinner party is being held, is located. They get there and are welcomed by the waiting staff with welcome drinks. They each grab a glass of champagne and make their way inside.

As they start to mingle... "Ohm!" female voice calls up and before they knew it, Selene comes I'm between them, grabbing Ohm's arm. "I'm so glad you're here. Come, daddy wants to talk to you". With that she pulls him to where her father is standing, completely ignoring Fluke as if he isn't even there and not giving Ohm a chance to say anything. As he is being forcefully dragged Ohm looks back at Fluke, who could do nothing but smile as if saying it's fine, he'll be fine.

Fluke is feeling out of place, but when he sees some of the people he recognized from his internship days, he is at least feeling at ease as he could talk to them.

"Ohm, good to see you again, young man", Mr Suwan says as soon as Selene taps on her father's shoulder. Mr Suwan introduces Ohm to the important-looking people he'd been talking to.

After a while Ohm had gone back to Fluke, but not without the constant and annoying interruptions. Mr Suwan thrn walks to the small podium and grabs a mic and asks for everyone's attention. He calls Ohm to the stage. Ohm and Fluke look at each other wondering what's happening. Ohm smiles at Fluke and reluctantly walks towards Mr Suwan. He is not liking this at all.

Everyone, this is Ohm Thitiwat, the Director of Sales & Marketing here at La Torre Azzura. He has done tremendously well over a very short period of time". Mr Suwan says in his speech. Ohm is just standing there with a nervous smile on his face as everyone applauds. Fluke is there in the crowd also applauding, looking proudly at his fiancé.

"I also want to introduce you to one other important person. Darling, come over here", he calls his spoilt brat of a daughter to the stage as well. "As many of you may very well be aware, this is my beautiful daughter, Selene. She and Ohm studied together in Italy and became very close", the old man continues. Selene is standing there looking ever so proud with the biggest grin on her face.  Fluke's smile is slowly fading slowly. "I am not getting any younger so I am happy to announce that as my retirement is looming, I will be handing over the reigns to my daughter and her suitor, Ohm Thitiwat!". SHOCK!! WAIT WHAT!! Ohm can feel his face getting hot in bewilderment, sucker punched, can't utter a word. Selene runs to Ohm's side and grabs his hand smiling at the cameras. Ohm cannot react. He is numb and his head is buzzing.

Fluke's heart drops, tears start rolling down his face. The few people around him look at him wondering what just happened as they know that Ohm and Fluke are getting married in a few weeks. They are trying to find answers from Fluke. Fluke is numb as he is trying to process what just happened. He heart is beating so fast right now.

"Ohm... Ohm, Ohm!" Ohm is jolted back. "Do you want to say something?" Mr Suwan asks him trying to hand over the mic, but Selene grabs it instead. As Ohm is jolted back into reality, his mind goes straight to Fluke. He searches for him with his eyes and eventually finds him looking straight at him with tears streaming down his face, shaking his head.

"Fluke..." Ohm whispers. "FLUKE! ", this time he calls out trying to run to him, but Selene, still hanging onto Ohm holds him back. Fluke runs out of the venue. He is feeling suffocated. He needs air. Ohm looks at the hand that currently holding him back and shrugs it off. Not caring about what he's leaving behind he runs after Fluke. He must get to Fluke. He must find Fluke. As Ohm finally gets out he sees Fluke jumping into a cab and the cab drives aways. Ohm sees that the cab is heading to the direction where Fluke's apartment is, so he too jumps into one and instructs the driver to follow Fluke's cab.

The two cabs reach the apartment building almost at the same time. Fluke gets out of his cab first. He is numb to his surroundings, until he feels arms going around him from behind, pulling him into a hug. He knows it's Ohm from his scent.
"Fluke! Baby, I love you." Ohm whispers not wanting to let him go. This seems to bring Fluke back to his senses and Fluke takes Ohm's hands removing them from him. Fluke gets out of the hug, turns around and looks at Ohm. The look on Fluke's face is blank, no emotion, but tears are still streaming down his face, and this breaks Ohm's heart. Fluke mangages to wipe away the tears with his hand before he says, "Do you wanna come inside, P'Ohm?"...