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It’s been five years, he’s waited five years for this day. The only thing standing in his way is how cramped he feels when he thinks of talking to him.
There were four hours left until he would arrive and there was too much to do.
“It’s just tea, Herman.” Robert had coaxed him into this idea of having tea with his crush, one of the richest men alive and he was sweating through his suit at the thought of talking to Chad.
“I’m going to drown myself,” this was an empty threat but he still would go through with it if he had to wait any longer.
“Quit talking like that, look-I've picked up some lemon cakes from Chase’s. “ Robert walked over to him, he felt his anxiety swell just at the thought of something he had no control over. He knew how up-tight he was being so he tried not to let his own feelings affect his tone.
“I’m sorry, what?”
“It’s a delicatessen. “
“Oh..yes, those are fine. Old sport.” Robert was in fact older than Herm but the nickname had stuck before he could realize how much he hated it. He grabbed a flute from one of his servers and reminded himself to sip and not chug the champagne.
“Herm, I know how anxious you are. Why don't you put your feet up and leave setting things up to me?” another spike in anxiety, why did he have to be so controlling.
“Alright.” he felt like breaking the glass in his hand but he calmly set it back down on the tray, dismissing the server to go back into the kitchen.
“And remember, it’s only tea!” he shouted after Herman as he followed the serve through the kitchen doors.
That was getting on his nerves. “Staff, prepare the oysters and slice the cakes. Remember that if this luncheon fails that this will make or break all of your careers here.” he said with a malicious tone, channeling all of his anxious feelings into one attack against his harmless staff which were all scurrying around now that he had given them orders.
It was time to get changed, he couldn't decide. There were so many suits but thankfully Robert had suggested keeping things casual. He settled for a dark blue pin stripe suit, his red hair combed back with enough product that he should probably stay away from his lighter.
“How do I look?” he asked as they were walking towards the impossibly small cabin.
“Perfectly tailored. It’s only tea Hermy, calm down. He felt like screaming.
“Okay, now what? We’ve got food and drink covered.”
“Remember it’s nothing too serious, just tea with Chad. stop being ostentatious.” Robert added a laugh but they both knew it was forced.
“Ah, yes, I'm forgetting the decoration.” he clapped his gloved hands and a servant rushed to get some shrubbery to bring with them.
“Are you hearing me?”
“Yes, yes I'm hearing you. It feels like we’re going to rewrite the stars, Rob-Robert.” oh no, the stuttering is starting again.
“Hey, calm down, Hermy, you’ll do just fine. You have enough under your belt to win this guy over.” They stopped where you could see the front of the cabin and panic instantly filled his stomach.
“I’m going home,” Herm looked into Robert’s eyes with sheer panic.
“No, wait” but he had already made up his mind.
“He’s late so I'm off to go scream in a jar, thank you for helping but I cannot wait all day.” Robert was torn between looking at the empty road in front of the cabin, his watch, and the-now-empty space where herm was a second ago. He had bolted.
Just then as Robert looked back at his watch and to the road in front of the cabin, a figure walked out from behind one of Herm’s magnificent trees that lined the walkway into his mansion and right up to the bay where Robert lived.
It was Chad, looking up at where Robert was. Oh no was all he could think.