From Frost to Flame

Chapter 12: A Chance Encounter

After a long day at college, Pete finally made it back to his apartment. He freshened up, then sank onto his bed, exhausted. His eyes grew heavy as he stared up at the ceiling, and before he knew it, he drifted off to sleep.

At 5 p.m., his phone's ringtone jolted him awake. He squinted at the screen, seeing Porsche's name flashing.

"Hey, sleeping beauty!" Porsche teased as soon as Pete picked up.

"Hey, Porsche..." Pete mumbled, rubbing his eyes.

"Finally awake?" Porsche laughed. "Did you at least get a good nap in?"

"Yesss... I guess I needed it." Pete stretched, still half-asleep.

Porsche chuckled. "Well, don't get too cozy! Did you call Kinn yet?"

"Oh, no-! Damn, I totally forgot." Pete sat up, instantly more alert. "I slept right through it."

"Figured you might," Porsche said with a laugh. "Call him now, sleepyhead. Tomorrow's the weekend, so it'd be perfect if you all could meet up then."

"You're right. I'll call him now." Pete took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts.

"Oh, and Pete," Porsche added, a note of seriousness in his voice, "don't forget to prepare your best stuff to show them. This is your chance to impress, okay?"

"Got it. Thanks, Porsche," Pete replied, feeling more focused. "I'll let you know how it goes."

"Perfect. Just text me the time after you talk to Kinn, and I'll pick you up tomorrow." Porsche's tone was light, but the support in his words reassured Pete.

"Will do." Pete smiled, ending the call.

He exhaled, his fingers hovering over Kinn's contact. Finally, he tapped to call, mentally preparing himself as the line started ringing.

After a few rings, Kinn picked up the call. "Hey, Pete!"

"Hey, Kinn," Pete greeted, feeling a surge of energy.

"How are you?" Kinn asked, his voice warm.

"I'm good! How about you?" Pete replied, relieved to hear Kinn's friendly tone.

"I'm good too, thanks," Kinn responded. "So, what's up?"

"I called to let you know that my test is over," Pete said, a hint of excitement in his voice. "I was thinking, how about we meet tomorrow?"

"Sure, Pete. That sounds great!" Kinn replied enthusiastically.

"Maybe we could grab lunch?" Kinn suggested.

"Yes, that would be nice," Pete agreed.

That sounds perfect, " Kinn agreed politely. "All set then. I'll text you the address." Just make sure you won't be late!"

"Of course! I won't be late," Pete promised, feeling the anticipation build.

"Awesome! I'll send you the details shortly," Kinn said before they exchanged goodbyes and ended the call.

Five minutes later, Pete's phone beeped with a new message. It was Kinn. He quickly opened it to find the address: The Grand Luxe Hotel at 1 PM.

As Pete processed the name, he felt a wave of surprise wash over him. The Grand Luxe Hotel was one of the most expensive hotels in all of Thailand. His heart raced at the thought of meeting Kinn and Vegas in such an extravagant place.

He couldn't help but feel a mixture of excitement and nerves. "Wow," Pete whispered to himself, still in disbelief.

With the meeting set, he spent the next few minutes imagining what it would be like to finally meet Vegas. He was excited to meet Vegas, though he couldn't quite understand why; after all, it was just an internship meeting. The thought of seeing him in person stirred a mix of anticipation and nervousness in Pete. It felt surreal, almost like a dream, and he was determined to make a good impression.