SOLID

Nightmare in a Person

Thank you so much for all the love and support I really appreciate. Hope this year will be your best so far. It's the longest chapter yet.

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Peat's world crumbled. He had confessed his feelings and felt his heart tear apart. What hurt him most was the fact that he could tell Fort loved him too, it was written over his face. But he just couldn't understand why he wouldn't man up to tell him. His head was already aching for days already and crying again would make it worse, so he took a pain killer and tried to go back to sleep. One thought kept crossing his mind "will I give Fort up?" This idea stayed with him as the pain killer took effect and he was soon asleep.
Fort got home quite late, he went for a drive all over some parts of Thailand to clear his head. Why wasn't he brave he thought to himself. One week without seeing Peat was like torture to him. He knew very well that he loved Peat too, he wanted the best for him. He felt he couldn't take care of him and it hurt. He had been cursed to be unhappy or he just didn't want to be. He felt undeserving of the love he was receiving.
Later that day, he got text "I need 12k, I need to take my friends out." Fort was in no state to answer this time around. He left the message unanswered after seeing it, he didn't send the money, he wasn't bothered at all. It was a shock for the other party not to get what she had requested for. She sent another message across, and even called but there was no one answering. She was furious " who did Fort think he was not to answer her messages?" At this point the only thing she could do was wait till the next day. She was going to march up to his office and make him listen.
The next day there was a company event, hosted by ATS to thank all the share holders, Peat's father was out of town so he had to go in his stead. He looked for excuses to avoid the event but his father called him personally to get a gift for the CEO  of another company that will be in attendance and another one for Fort, he was to pick it up as it was personally done by the respective designers. When he arrived the Tailor's shop, he found the gift to be two suits. He smiled to himself, he was going to be giving a suit to the person that broke his heart. The irony, before he left the shop he drank their complementary champagne, he apologized for taking three glasses, but he really needed it. He got into his car. This was the first time in a long time he gave himself his pep talk he added an extra line this time " I choose to be immune to Fort, Fort is handsome but he has no hold on me." It was funny when he said it but he knew his reality.

The party was quite executively done, it was strictly by invitation and was attended by the creme de la creme of society. Although Fort was a man who was willing to go on his knees for Peat, he has one of the best reputations. He has status and money.  He could call one person and a thousand will come, that was how grand he was, Peat's family wasn't too bad either, but they were one of the numerous large businesses. Fort's company was known to produce major electronics cars, buses and expanded to furnitures because of how good the products were, it just kept expanding. The quality never dropped so it was an added advantage.

At the event Peat had given one of the bags to one of their business partners and he appreciated it, the only one left was the one for Fort. He told his secretary to hold onto it. All the times he tried to approach Fort, he was stolen away by someone else. At this time Peat was already tired of chasing him, he thought it would be easy for him to come in drop the presents and leave but getting Fort to notice him was quite difficult. So he sat somewhere else he could have easily left, but he was using the excuse, "my father said I must deliver this myself."
His pep talk wasn't working either, Fort attended the meeting looking extremely good, he got on a navy blue suit, well fitted, he work a white shirt inside. The suit was so well fitted that it looked like the buttons were going to pop open, Peat was drooling on his seat trying not to look. He failed miserably and was glancing at him. His figure was enough to make anyone envy, and he was one of them. But reminded himself that he got his heart broken by the jerk in front of him so he had to compose himself. Fort was talking to a guest and ended up smiling. Peat was sold. He was mesmerized. He put his hand on his chest to check if he was still alive.
Fort also kept glancing at Peat, anytime he saw him approach him with a gift in his hand he would act like he didn't see him and face another person, he wanted him to stay till the end. He wanted to keep looking at him, so anytime a guest was talking to him, he made sure to position himself in a angle where he could see Peat. Although the things the guests were saying was supposed to make him laugh, it was him looking at Peat that made him smile. Half way through, he even had his eyes welled up with tears, he quickly cleaned it up. It was time for his speech and he went up to give it. He began by thanking everyone in attendance.
He began " I really appreciate everyone in attendance here today, I feel loved. When I started this business six years ago, I was not expecting it to get this big. I'll try to be responsible in my approach to business and friends. Thank you so much. I do hope we can continue to work on a flowery path in the years ahead." He looked directly at Peat as he declared " Do not be afraid of chasing what you want. Do not let your past define who you are." He raised his glass to make a cheers and everyone followed " I cheers to new partnerships and relationships in the years ahead." He ended his speech with a resounding clap from everyone. These statements greatly confused Peat. When the event was all over, those that had gifts for him presented theirs, and left, it was just a formality though, Peat was the last on the line because he had no intention of fighting with anyone so anyone that came behind him, he let them cut in line in front of him. It was finally his turn he gave the gift to Fort. He didn't take it, he told him " I need to wear it to check if it was my size." Peat rolled his eyes at this statement as he looked at some other gifts and they had clothes in them. He didn't protest and simply asked "do you want to wear it here or what?"
" Of course not I'll wear it in my office to check if it fits." Before Peat could respond Fort held his hands and took him upstairs to his office. He tried to protest but people were there and he didn't want to embarrass Fort. At his office he took off his navy blue suit and picked up the one Peat brought. He put it on and it was perfect. Peat was captivated. He had to control his facial expressions. Fort walked towards him and Peat took steps back, with each step forward, Peat took one back, Fort finally opened his mouth and asked "how do I look?"
"Average" Peat answered snarkily.
"Peat?"
"Yes."
"Peat?"
"Yes."
"It's good to hear your voice again."
"It's my pleasure."
"Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
" Can I chase you this time?"
Peat turned, it was like his ears were hearing something else. He looked at Fort, he didn't bother to ask what he said, he assumed his ears were deceiving him
"Peat, I am sorry."
"Peat, can I ask you out?"
"Peat will you date me?"
"Peat, I actually really like you, not like, love, I actually love you."
" I want to be with you, I know it's impossible now after disappointing you so many times and hurting you too.
Peat was so confused. He didn't understand what was happening, he was sure he was hearing what was being said but he was taken aback
Before he could respond, a lady entered the room, she walked up to where Fort was, and slapped him. Peat was thrown aback and astonished. The words that left her mouth was pure contempt. She spoke to him like he owed her, and when Fort saw her he was like someone who had been paralysed. She yelled
" How could you not respond to my messages, who do you think you are? My brother died because of you and you know you promised to take care of me." Fort couldn't say anything he stood there like a statue, not moving or talking.
Peat finally spoke up and asked who she was.
She turned and looked at Peat
" Do you like this one too? You're wasting your time, you promised me you'd never fall in love and be happy, because you genuinely loved my brother before he died, so who do you think you are to want to be happy."
Peat couldn't stand the Fort slander and asked her
"How could you say such a thing to a person,  did Fort stab him?
"No, he died in a car crash, but Fort loved him and should take responsibility in death." Peat wasn't sure of what he was hearing, he facepalmed. He was disgusted and it was evident with his facial expression. He was going to curse her out, he walked to where Fort was and gave him a hug first. He sat him down and faced the lady, he held onto Fort's hand, he was going to finish her today because he knew she was the reason for Fort and his suffering, his because the man he liked couldn't tell him back because of her. She thought she was a nightmare, but she to meet up with a tormenter .