The Nice Guy (Book 1)

Chapter 27

Tin stared at his father in disbelief. Why was he finally curious about what the hell he was doing with his life? He'd never bothered with him before. Tin withheld his sigh, smoothed his disinterested face on and went into military parade rest. That fucking boarding school he was dumped in at the wee age of eight paid off in some ways.

In a monotone voice, "Nothing, sir." To every damn question, his absentee father asked, Tin only replied with, "Nothing, sir." If his father wanted a dutiful son, let him go to his favoured older brother, Tul. 

Now angered, his father stood and threw a sheaf of papers in Tin's face. "Really? Nothing? Then tell me why I have to clean up this mess?" 

Tin bent down and picked up the papers and almost fainted at the words. Pete was suing him for attempted blackmail??? What the fuck? He'd never blackmail... Oh fuck! The god-damn date!

His father threw another sheaf of papers at him while he was reading. This time, Tin knew what they were. They were the receipts from the detective agency. His father knew he had Pete under surveillance for months now. 

"You'd better explain yourself, boy. All of it. Or this time I won't do a damn thing to help you." His father's face was drawn. He looked so old.

Tin only looked at him as he heard his brother laughing from the doorway. "Old man, I don't need your help. You only care about Tul anyways. You believe that this is the truth so go fuck yourself." Tin pushed past his brother and snarled, "Stay the fuck away from me. You may have his blessing. But I already have the money. Remember it."

In his room, Tin gathered all of the investigation reports and sent them to Pete's lawyer with an explanation with a formal apology. In the letter, he wrote that he understood that Pete and he had settled the matter months ago, and he had followed Pete's wishes by staying away but he had been concerned by the reports on Trump. He hoped that the lawsuit could be dropped. 

Then Tin went and searched out overseas universities that had programs that met his needs. It was time to leave home again. To hell with staying where he wasn't wanted. It wasn't like anyone here was going to miss him.

One week later, Ae pounded on Pete's door. "Please, Pete, open up! Let me in!" Ae had only seen Pete once since he'd returned from being kidnapped. That fateful morning Pete showed up at the dorm and Ae paid the taxi and held him as he cried and cried. Ae had listened, and fought down his anger and glee as Pete told the story of what happened to Trump.

 Pete gratefully cradled his phone when Ae returned it. Pete called his mother, then Ae took him to see a doctor and dropped him off at home. It was Ae who called the lawyer and explained that Pete was safe. The lawyer destroyed all of Trump's information immediately, knowing if they involved the police, Pete would never be safe.

Ae held him tightly, explaining the plan that the lawyer and he had come up with to protect him from ever being taken advantage of again, and Pete only cried harder. Later that day, Pete sent Ae home and told him he'd call him once he had some sleep. The call never came.

Ae was worried. Very worried. Aunty Jiew came to the door and smiled. "Master Ae, so  nice to see you." She opened it wide and gestured for him to come in. 

Ae gave a small bow and looked around. "Where's Pete, Aunty?" 

Petch entered the living room and indicated for Ae to sit. "Please, Ae, sit down. Jiew, would you bring us something to drink?"

Ae perched on the edge of a couch and crossed his hands. "Mother, where's Pete? Why haven't I heard from him?"

Petch smiled sadly, "I'm afraid I have bad news, Ae. Pete's no longer in Bangkok. Actually, he's not even in Thailand."

Ae stood up and paced. "He wouldn't leave me without saying good-bye. Pete's not like that." He turned and looked at Petch, tears in his eyes. "He wouldn't just leave me."

Petch stood and hugged the boy who was huskier, darker but only slightly taller than her. She considered him just as much her son now as Pete. "You're right, Ae, he wouldn't just leave you. Pete felt he had no choice but to go."

Softly, Petch continued, "I don't know how much Pete told you of his father. but he's never been able to stand up to him. When his father heard about the kidnapping, he automatically assumed that Pete was taken because of him. Arrogant fool."

Tears now stood in her eyes and she released Ae and sat back down. Looking at her fingers, twisting together, "He forced Pete to pack up his stuff and move to Germany. He has a new number. All contact is going through his new wife, even from me."

Ae was numb. His body was trembling. Pete was living with a homophobe who refused to recognize he existed. "But... But he hates who Pete is! How could Pete go?"

Petch leaned forward and grabbed Ae's hands and held on for dear life. "Pete escaped once. We have to believe in him. He's stronger than we believe, Ae. He's my son, I know he can do it."

Petch and Ae gave each other comfort, knowing it was once again Pete that was in the hardest spot. All they could do was love from afar and pray.

Dreary Germany... How Pete hated Berlin! It was hotter that Thailand in the summer months and freezing cold in the winter. He hated wearing so many layers to stay warm and his feet were always cold. His father believed that 'Men' were 'Men' in Berlin. They drank and smoked and noisy, but all Pete saw were how many hit on him.

There were so many of those 'men' in their 3-piece business suits that did business with his father, he refused to go to his company anymore. It sucked because he couldn't even TELL his father or he'd be accused of lying again. He hated Berlin. He hated his Father for doing this and he definitely hated his step-mother!

It was that witch who was monitoring all of his communications with home. He had to find a way to send a message to Ae... He would send a letter, but he didn't have a mailing address and no way to get one. He was smart, it would take time but he'd do it. A bunch of mail arrived and one came from the law office. There was the insurance package about the car. That's odd, he thought, we were suing...