From Frost to Flame

Chapter 1: Fractured Mirrors

The early evening sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm golden hue over the bustling streets of Bangkok. The air was thick with the mouthwatering aroma of street food, drawing passersby toward vendors lining the sidewalks. From his penthouse office atop a luxury skyscraper, Vegas surveyed the city sprawled beneath him.
The Chao Phraya River shimmered in the fading light, a silver ribbon winding through the heart of the metropolis.
At 24, he was a billionaire managing his family's luxury real estate business, but tonight, he felt more like a solitary figure lost in the urban jungle.

Leaning against the floor-to-ceiling windows, he stared into the vibrant city below, feeling completely detached. The laughter and chatter of the streets below felt like a distant echo, stirring only feelings of resentment.

Memories of his ex-boyfriend, Nawee, intruded uninvited—each recollection a reminder of the love that had turned to betrayal.
Nawee's deceit—betraying Vegas with Aiaoon—was still a raw wound. The image of Nawee's smirking face haunted him, and he felt bitterness clawing at his insides.

"Vegas?" A familiar voice broke through his reverie. Kinn, his elder brother, sauntered into the office, his carefree demeanor a stark contrast to Vegas's brooding intensity.

"You're not going to stare at the city all night, are you? Come on, we have plans!"

"Plans?" Vegas asked, raising an eyebrow. The last thing he wanted was to step outside the bubble he had carefully constructed around himself. "I have work to do."

Kinn crossed his arms, leaning against the doorframe with a playful smirk that Vegas had come to know too well. "You always have work to do. But this is important!
You promised Porsche you'd join us tonight."

"Porsche?" Vegas's interest was piqued at the mention of Kinn's boyfriend, who had become a close friend. "What's so special about tonight?"

Kinn stepped closer, eyes sparkling with mischief. "Pete will be there. The architecture student I've been telling you about? He's cheerful and optimistic. I think you'll like him."

"Just what I need—another reminder of my failures," Vegas scoffed, shaking his head. But Kinn's enthusiasm was infectious, and a flicker of curiosity sparked within him, though he quickly doused it.

"You won't know unless you give it a shot. Come on, brother. For once, let loose a little. It might do you good." Kinn's tone was earnest, and Vegas felt a crack in his icy facade.

With a reluctant sigh, Vegas glanced back at the cityscape. "Fine. But only for a couple of hours," he relented, though his heart was heavy with skepticism.


Meanwhile, across the city at a vibrant café in Thonglor, Pete sat with Porsche, his best friend since childhood. The café buzzed with energy, a mix of laughter and clinking glasses.

Pete, a final-year architecture student, animatedly flipped through his sketches, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

"You won't believe how much I'm looking forward to meeting Kinn's brother tonight!" Pete exclaimed, nearly bouncing in his seat. "I've heard so much about him! A billionaire at 24? It's like something out of a movie!"

Porsche chuckled, taking a sip of his iced coffee. "Yeah, well, don't get your hopes up too high. Vegas is... complicated. Trust me, he's not the easiest person to work with."

"Complicated?" Pete mused, his brow furrowing. "What do you mean? I love a challenge! Maybe I can impress him with my ideas and passion!" His voice was laced with youthful optimism, eager to prove himself in a high-stakes environment.

"Just be careful," Porsche warned, his tone serious now.

"Why should I be careful?" Pete asked, confusion flickering across his face. "Isn't this an opportunity for me to shine?"

Porsche sighed, leaning in slightly "He's been hurt before, and his last relationship was... messy, to say the least. Vegas doesn't trust easily, and he's not one to be impressed by flashy credentials or bravado. You might find it's more demanding than you expected to break through those walls."

"But every experience is a chance to grow," Pete insisted, determination shining in his eyes. "If I can show him that hard work and a genuine approach can lead to something great, maybe it'll help him open up—not just to me, but to the possibilities around him."

Porsche raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "True, but remember, he might have some walls up because of that heartbreak. You may not just be impressing him with your skills; you might need to show him that opening up can be worthwhile, too," Porsche added, glancing thoughtfully toward the door as if sensing the weight of Vegas's past.

Just then, the café door swung open, and in walked Kinn, his easygoing smile radiating warmth as he scanned the room. When his eyes landed on Pete and Porsche, he waved enthusiastically. "There you are! Ready for an unforgettable night?"

"Ready as I'll ever be!" Pete replied, bouncing slightly in his seat, a ball of nervous energy. "Are we waiting for anyone else?"

"Just Vegas," Kinn replied casually, glancing at his phone. "He said he'd be here soon."

As they chatted and joked, Pete's heart raced with excitement, mixed with a touch of anxiety. He couldn't shake the feeling that tonight could change everything for him—especially if he could impress Vegas with his ambition and drive while perhaps softening the edges of a heart that had been frozen by past betrayal.