"Khun Venice, Khun Pete asked you to call him as soon as you were done," Big leaned in and whispered into Phayu's ears. Phayu nodded. "Did Papa say why?" he asked. "I am afraid not. But since it is that time of the year, I am assuming it will be about the Gala," Big said. Phayu looked into his drink. He hated these kinds of events, especially since he was expected to go with a partner, and that gave his Papa an excuse to set him up with some 'worthy' one, who would then proceed to bore the living daylights out of him. Most of the time, he would look for possible escape routes and then just disappear. Of course, that would earn him the wrath of his Papa and Uncle Porche, but better that than putting up with those crazy people who thought they could ride his coattails into entering the Theerpanayakul family.

Phayu leaned back on the back seat of the car. Usually, for such meetings, Big drove, and along with Meen, Phayu's personal bodyguard, they were the ones who accompanied him. It gave a sense of importance and prestige when he arrived that way. Although most of them had individual cars, or like some of them, even bikes, but deals were a different story. If he had to show his power as the heir of the family, then it had to be this way. Moreover, Phayu was soon set to take over, not only the family business, but also ascend to the seat of power. Since he was the first-born of the ruling family, the crown was automatically his. While his Uncle Kinn had done a great job before him, with help from his own Dad, it was now Phayu's turn, with his own twin and his younger cousin to help him out. Fah and Pai took every opportunity to make fun of him for that, but he did not care, because as long as they stood by him, it was enough for him. "We are here Khun Venice," Meen said, opening the door for him. "Thank you Meen," he replied and stepped out. "Khun Venice, Khun Pete will be waiting in the family room," Big reminded him. Phayu sighed and nodded. It looked like there was no respite for today.

"Papa, you called for me?" Phayu said, as soon as he entered the room where his Papa sat with his best friend and also brother in-law, Phayu's uncle Porche, with the entire paraphernalia for required for the gala. Designs for interiors, invitations, clothes, and a whole lot of other things lay scattered as the two men walked around with practiced precision born out of years of planning and putting together what was essentially one of the biggest parties of the year. "I did lu. I wanted to talk to you about your partner for the gala," Pete said. "Papa..," Phayu trailed off when Pete glared at him. "You don't have to worry about it lu. We have already arranged someone," Porche said. "No!" Phayu said, immediately backing up. "I am not going with random people again! Nope! No way!" he said, slowly moving backwards in order to escape the new drama. But his back hit something solid.

He immediately turned around to see his Dad standing there, his arms folded across his chest. "Running away lu?" Vegas asked, smirking at his oldest. His uncle Kinn stood behind him, openly snickering at Phayu's appalled expression. "No.. not running but not going with anyone please. Excuse me this year, I beg you!" he said. "Venice..," Porche trailed off when Pai and Fah walked in. "Are you being tortured Phi Chaai?" Pai asked, rolling his eyes, earning a bop on his head from his Dad. "Dad!" he said. "You are next in line. We have found someone for you too," Pete said, earning a bark of laughter from Fah, who immediately covered it with a cough. "Alai?" Phayu asked, glaring at his brother. "You can take a bodyguard as your date," Fah said, now openly laughing. Phayu and Pai choked. "What?" Phayu asked, blushing hard. "Well.. look at our Dad and Uncle, look at Uncle Khun and Uncle Cau, and well.. Uncle Kim is no less a bodyguard to Uncle Chay. You both would fit right in," Fah said.

Pete and Porche burst out laughing at the flabbergasted look on their sons' faces. "Actually, Rome's suggestion is not bad. If push comes to shove, you can do that," Porche said. "We will give you a list of shortlisted candidates maybe?" Pete said. "Eww! No! We will leave now. This is way too much! And we are not going to go with anyone! If you force us, we don't go at all!" Pai said. "We will see. Also, this time we have planned a masquerade ball. And, and this is a very important 'and'.. you are not allowed to miss it, especially Venice, you," Vegas said. "We planned to announce your taking over the family empire, but not until you have someone standing by your side," Kinn said. "You know that this is a very stupid custom, right?" Phayu said. "It's not like you went through this?" "When we took over the family, Pete and Porche were with us, just so you know. All of us had partners by the time the empire came to us," Vegas said. "Yeah, but we are not overthrowing our fathers to take on the mantle now, are we?" Pai said, snickering. Fah snorted and Phayu chortled with glee at the embarrassed looks on the faces of their fathers!

The day of the gala, Phayu woke up early, but didn't bother to get up from the bed. He was in no mood to be thrown to the wolves, so he pulled the cover over his head and snuggled in, hoping that he would be forgotten and he could ignore the whole shebang. But his burgeoning hopes were trampled by a horde of elephants when his phone rang with his Dad's number. "PHAYU VENICE THEERPANAYAKUL! ARE YOU AWAKE OR NOT?" Phayu flinched at the sound of his Papa's voice. The man was clearly in a towering temper, and had used his husband's phone because Papa knew that he might not pick up his call. "I am coming Papa," he said, sounding despondent even to himself. But he knew he had to go, so he freshened up and left his room, joining Pai on the landing. "You got an earful too?" he asked. Pai nodded, looking as depressed as Phayu felt. "We might just have to run away after tonight," he said. Phayu hmphed. "We have to first get through this horrible night," he said. "Dude! Forget night. First lets go get through theday!" Pai muttered, and Phayu could hardly blame him for sounding so disgruntled.

Thrown into the intense planning that went into the festivities, the night came faster than expected. Phayu dressed up and just as he was about to leave the room, someone knocked. "Enter!" he said. Meen entered. "Khun Venice, your Papa has sent your mask for the evening," he said. Phayu turned around and took it from the offered tray. It was a beautiful juxtaposition of modern yet luxurious and while it covered only his eyes, it still gave him a mysterious air. And since it was Papa's choice, it was obviously gorgeous to look at. Phayu sighed. Every year, there was some new shenanigan. "Anything wrong Khun?" Meen asked, sounding concerned. "No Meen. Just very tired of this," Phayu replied. "Khun Venice..," Meen trailed off, hesitant. Phayu looked at him. "What is it Meen? All well?" he asked. "I know this will sound very weird, but do you believe in destiny?" Meen asked. Phayu looked up at him in surprise. "I don't really know, but I wouldn't have pegged you as someone who believes in things like that Meen," he said.

Meen was silent for a few minutes. "Actually Khun, I am not all that superstitious. But I was brought with a grandmother who was. My Yaa was.. well.. religious? I guess you could say. With religion comes superstition I presume, so yes, she did believe in it," Meen said. "And the reason you are asking me this is?" Phayu asked, still a bit surprised. "I am sorry Khun," Meen said, sounding apologetic. Phayu waved him off. "No, no. I don't mean to scold you or berate you. I am asking you genuinely," he said. "I have been with you now 6 years and have attended 6 galas as well. I know you are asked to find the right partner for yourself. But with all due respect Khun, you will not find anyone until your own heart is not in it. The 'right' person may be missed because we didn't want to follow our heart at the 'right' time," Meen said. Phayu frowned. "Are you saying that I am not attracted to anyone because..," "You don't open your heart to anyone," Meen completed Phayu's sentence. Phayu stood silent, staring at mask in his hand. "Maybe you are right," he said, consideringly. "And maybe I should try something different, right? Maybe your Yaa's advice may turn lucky for me."

Phayu mingled, as per his duties, alone, or with his fathers, or his brothers, as the situation demanded. Several of their connections were there, making it imperative that they spent their time well. Music played in the background and some people even danced to the music in pairs, including his father and uncles. It felt good to see them so relaxed and enjoying themselves as all their lives could get tedious and mundane. Despite the masks, Phayu could see the happiness and contentment on their faces and that made him feel much at ease. He had hoped that he would always find someone like that for himself, but he knew that it was not just that simple. He looked around the room, feeling a bit depressed about his situation, but he could not really do anything about it. He turned away sharply, nearly bumping into someone, who immediately stepped back, profusely apologising.

Phayu took stock of the boy, because that's what he was, and felt something stir, both in his heart and elsewhere. There was.. something very appealing about the boy. Although his face was partly covered by the mask, Phayu could make out sparking eyes and the pouty lips. "I am so sorry Khun! I really am!" the boy stepped backwards, looking panicked, even through the covering on his face. "If you will dance with me, I may consider forgiving you," Phayu said, his eyebrow quirking. The boy's eyes widened and his mouth fell open in surprise, but he nodded. "Okay," he said softly.

Phayu took him in his arms, gently twirling him about, finding the boy a perfect fit in his arms. He could feel heat pool in his stomach as the boy came closer and closer. Phayu spun him around, and then pulled him closer. He could feel the shape of his body igniting desires he had no idea he even possessed. He could hear his mind trying out different excuses to get the boy even closer. He slowly danced him out into the balcony, pulling him closer, wanting nothing more than just marking his territory. He had no idea what the boy looked like, not even what his name was, but there was something about the boy that really made him comfortable, and he could not say that about many people. The boy's scent filled his nostrils, a gentle floral one that made his made his senses reel.

"What is your name sweet boy?" he asked, trapping the boy between himself and the high rails, caging his body with Phayu's own. He could see the faint pink tinge on the boy's skin and it thrilled him. "My name is Varain, but everyone calls me Rain," he whispered, his voice softly carrying into Phayu's ears, a soft siren's call beckoning to him. "That's a beautiful name," Phayu said, gently biting the lobe of Rain's ear. Wow, he thought. The boy was fucking perfect; not just his name, but also the way he fit, the way he smelled, the way his eyes sparkled, the way he blushed, the way he just felt. Rain shook his head. "It is! Your name is perfect!" he breathed near Rain's ear and leaned back to see the blush. Rain bit his lower lip and Phayu caught it with his thumb, gently pulling it away. "Don't do that sweet boy," he said. Rain looked a bit confused. "You might hurt himself. Plus, these pretty lips are mine to bite," Phayu said, smirking.

Rain blushed again and Phayu leaned in. "May I?" he asked. Rain looked up at him, his eyes searching for something. Phayu could almost taste the boy's innocence and feel it in his bones that he would most likely be Rain's first. His body hummed in anticipation when Rain nodded slowly. Phayu bent down, brushing his lips over the boy's, once, twice, leaning back to see Rain's eyes flutter close. He slotted his lips to Rain's again, kissing him gently. Their mouths were closed, but the softness of Rain lips moulded around his made Phayu feel like he had finally found perfection. Rain sighed, and Phayu gently slipped his tongue inside Rain's mouth, earning a soft moan that directly hit places that it shouldn't have. Suddenly Rain stepped back with a small shudder. Phayu felt bereft, but it was good in a way, because he had been very close to losing control. He had been tamping down his desire to mark this boy all over, so in a way, it was good that Rain had taken that moment away.

"I should.. I should..," Rain stuttered, and Phayu smiled. "I am sorry Khun, I should go," Rain said, brushing past him, but Phayu held his wrist. "Running away baby boy?" he asked. "No.. no..," Rain said, sounding perplexed, making Phayu smirk. The boy was truly innocent. "Do you think I am going to let you go now that I have had a taste?" Phayu asked. "Khun..," Rain began, but stopped when Phayu put a finger on his lips. Rain immediately stepped back and made his way away from Phayu at nearly a run. "You are adorable. But you can run away now nuunoi. I will find you later," he muttered, a silent vow.

Phayustepped back into the party, earning a knowing grin from Pai and Fah, andlargely ignoring them. But his father pounced on him as soon as he went up toget a drink. "Ven! Where the hell were you? I have been looking for you for a whilenow!" Pete said. "I was taking in some air Papa. Sorry," Phayu said. Petelooked a bit mollified. "Okay, that's fine, but right now, I need you to comewith me to meet someone," he said. "Papa!" Phayu whined. Pete rolled his eyes."Not that kind of someone you idiot! A family friend we haven't met for years!They just came back from France. And Dr. Type is the reason we still have yourDad with us in such good condition," he said, eyes unfocused on the memories ofthose far away days. "Okay Papa, let's go meet them," Phayu said.