All Along, You

XV- THE WEDDING KISS

PETE's POV:

Come to think of it, my life has never been comfortable but still, isn't this a bit of an overkill?

"What do you say, Pete? I'm sorry for pressuring you but Luigi specifically asks for your presence in the wedding of his daughter. He says he feels bad you couldn't eat anything at lunch earlier. I don't want to put you through it knowing your history with Vegas but Luigi is a valuable investor so I'm asking you a favor. Please." Khun Korn tells me. I really don't want to go and somehow I'm still internally Khun Korn's employee but I have to prioritize myself and my feelings.

"I'm sorry, Khun Korn but I will do a lot of things for you just not this. I hope you understand" I answer firmly to which he nods.

I do not understand what obsession Khun Luigi has but he seems to want me to witness the wedding. That alone is making me suspicious. Why should it matter that I couldn't eat that lunch he prepared? It's not as if he prepared that for me. Unless he did...plan it out, I mean. Of course he should run a background check on the man his daughter is marrying. If he did, it would not be hard to trace back to the time when we dated. It's not like the relationship was hidden. We were together all the time. If there were photos, we'd be seen intimately close to each other. That would be the easiest. I believe I was Vegas' last or maybe even "only" confirmed boyfriend or Porsche because people thought they ran away to elope but now I don't even understand.

Maybe, given Vegas' history with only men, Khun Luigi would suspect that Vegas was not interested in women and so he's maybe trying to see if Vegas would react to me. That would be stupid. If Vegas had any bit of affection for me, I'm sure...I'm sure he wouldn't have let me go.

Whatever the reason, going to that damned wedding would be sacrificial on my part and I'm not a masochist to that extent. I'd withstand any amount of physical pain or maybe even count on it but heartbreak? No way. I'm not going to put myself through it again.

I hear a sigh.

"I fully understand, Pete. It is ridiculous, isn't it? It's just that I don't understand Luigi's fixation towards bringing you there. Perhaps he knows about you and Vegas. You don't have to go there if you do not want to. I just had to ask because Luigi said he wouldn't sign the contract if Kinn doesn't bring you there with him. And Kinn's been preparing for the contract to be perfect for almost a year now. I even asked him to bring you along"

Khun Kinn was told to bring me with him? He never told me. I guess he was being considerate of me so he did not ask. Somehow, I feel like Khun Korn is trying to persuade me to go.

It is unfair to base the contract on a stupid invitation but then, mafia lords can be so petty, wanting to control people with their money or power just because they can. I have excused myself and bowed to Khun Korn and somehow have gotten myself in front of Khun Kinn's room. The door was slightly open but I knock still before coming in. Khun Kinn seemed too preoccupied to notice me as he run his fingers stressfuly through his hair. He brought out a huge pile of paperwork and started inserting them little by little in a paper shredder. That must contain the research he conducted to perfect the contract.

"Khun Kinn?" He was surprised and I see him holding a gun at my direction.

"Shit. Pete, it's you. Sorry, I didn't notice" he must be really stressed. The thing with Porsche's stunt earlier and now the contract.

"Uh, sorry. The door was open. I was also wondering if I can help you with anything?" I say and I wonder if he'd ask me to to Vegas' wedding together. Of course, I'd refuse. I came here to apologize to him about that but he doesn't seem like he wanted to ask me anything so it would be weird to bring it up. He walked towards me slowly and at whatever distance I think he'd stop, he continued to stroll until he was too close.