The Key To Your Heart - Track 4
Pairing: Pedro Pascal x Musician!Reader
Gif by:@sh214
Series Summary: After writing your feelings for Pedro into a song, it gains a lot more popularity than expected. Ultimately it brings both criticism and support, with new possibilities around the corner.
*! New warnings will be listed first !*
Series Warnings: 18+ only (MDNI). Mentions of food, weight loss, weight gain, dieting, weighing, potential eating disorder, food guilt. Potential for puns/dad jokes (name of my blog, and the fic) should give that away. This is my first fic which should be its own warning, lol. Also some cursing. Mentions of masturbation (f) maybe more smut later idk. Sadness, reader is pretty depressed. Poor body image. Rude people. Bullying-ish and just lack of support? Anxiety. Age gap! Reader is in her mid 20's, Pedro is current age (48).
Other stuff: Reader is plus sized. AFAB. Inexperienced. Also has a dog, but you can pretend it is another creature probably. Further, in case it isn't clear, italics almost always are the reader's inner thoughts!
Word Count: ~2.3K
Series List: Here!
Miss last chapter? Here!
Hi there! To those of you who have read and are still with me, THANK YOU! I love you all. I'm sorry that my chapters are taking longer and longer. Work has been a bit more hectic lately and I also just had some serious writer's block with this chapter. That being said, it feels a little rough and I apologize if its awful lol. But either way, thanks for hanging in there with me and please let me know what you think! Your comments make me happy!
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You groaned, stepping out of bed and drifting towards the bathroom. Your face was sticky and your eyes stung from crying late into the night. It was silly, naive, and frankly stupid… but sometimes you can't control how hard emotions hit. Seeing that Pedro didn't actually watch your video was a let down - to put it mildly. Obviously he's a popular guy. A star. He has better things to do.
You should be grateful he even responded to your Instagram message before. Even though it hurts, surely he has more interesting things to do than message someone like you. Just because you wrote a song and he said he liked it doesn't mean he owes you anything more.
So after a fitful night's sleep, you were utterly exhausted; physically, mentally, and emotionally. Luckily, it was still your weekend and you could rest today.
More like spend the day wallowing in your self pity… you think, disdainfully at yourself.
Looking in the mirror, you notice your puffy eyes. There's some new acne, and a mop of frizzy hair on your head. After using the toilet, you step on your bathroom scale before your shower; a morning routine you started during years of dieting. Another 3 pounds. Up again?!
You look in the mirror, pinching your stomach with a sigh. I guess I shouldn't have had those cookies yesterday…
The food guilt creeps up as you think of the goodies you've eaten recently. Cookies yesterday, fast food the day before. You were bitter that you weren't one of those people that could just magically eat whatever they wanted without gaining an ounce.
But you aren't, and you should know better.
Frustrated with your appearance, you begin your usual internal debate about how to fix it.
Maybe I should go back on the diet…
But the diet caused you so many problems. Remember the stomach issues? The hunger? The lack of joy? Binge eating on cheat days until you were sick?
But! I lost so much weight!
Yeah, until you started gaining weight…
Maybe I didn't cut enough. People said I looked so good. I was *almost* skinny.
Maybe people would like me more if I was skinny… Maybe Pedro would like me if I were skinny. There's no way he would be with me looking like this.
These were the debates that plagued you for months… years… a lifetime.
You showered, tears beginning to flow again as you tried to push out the thoughts. He was probably just busy, but either way you knew you didn't have a chance.
Your friends were right. You were an obsessed fan. It was… concerning, as they said. They pitied you when you felt sad about your feelings. Just find someone you actually have a chance with, they pushed. Someone real.
But... he did message you. Maybe he didn't even know you had an interview yesterday? Maybe he watched it later. You were being utterly ridiculous. It didn't matter anyway.
But what you didn't know was that Pedro felt just as disappointed. He wanted to be the one on your list. The one you loved. He went to bed just as mopey as you did and woke up just the same.
_____
Having washed away your bad feelings as best as you could, you gave Skipper a kiss on his little forehead and made some coffee while scrolling Instagram. You were nervous to see what people had to say about your interview, but you had to face the music eventually.
As you could have predicted, people were running through the potential suspects (or prospects, that is) who have brown curly hair and brown eyes. Some supported you and loved your interview. Others criticized you for being too chicken to show yourself.
You weren't used to this level of attention, and you really weren't sure you enjoyed it. But you were grateful to have your two lives kept separate, your true persona still shaded in privacy.
What you did not predict, was a notification popping up from Pedro, interrupting your scrolling. Forgetting to breathe, you immediately clicked on it. If the message were food from the oven, you would've burnt your hand the way you grabbed it so fast.
Perhaps I should've been a little more chill about opening this so quickly... Oh well.
Pedro Pascal messaged you: "Hey! I watched your interview yesterday. You did fantastic. I know fame is new to you and you're nervous, but you're a natural."
Your heart swelled. He did watch it!! He must have just been busy during the live stream.
You replied: "Pedro! You watched it!?! Thank you so much. That really means a lot to me."
Pedro read your message immediately, but instead of sharing in your level of excitement, he was hit with a wave of confusion instead. She must just be trying to not hurt my feelings. She already knows I watched it.. unless she didn't even notice my name. Or she didn't care enough to look for it…?
He decided to play along with it anyway. "Absolutely, I did. I've had it marked on my calendar since the day it was announced a couple days ago and watched it as it was streamed live."
His response took you by surprise, and then made you angry. If he really watched it, he would know that they gave you a list of the people who watched it live. Why was he lying to you about it?
You started to plan out your response, maybe even send an accusatory comeback, but then you thought about it again.
Why would he lie about it? What would he gain by lying? He messaged you.
With this in mind, you instead chose to take a different approach. One better designed for fishing. One you had to be very careful about, so as not to reveal the fact that you looked for his name.
"Wait!? You watched it live? I didn't see you on the list. You're one of the few people I've spoken to who actually seem genuinely friendly and interested in having a conversation with me. I had sort of hoped you were listening."
There. That doesn't sound too revealing, right? Totally friendly…
Pedro opened your message and was met with both confusion, and something else he wasn't expecting. Hope. Did you look for his name??
Still, he wanted to address the confusion. "You didn't see me on the list? That's odd.. but I'm sure there were a lot of names to scan through. Maybe my name was just buried in that list."
You knew it wasn't buried. He was the only name you looked for. The only name you cared about seeing on that list, not that you'd admit that to him right now. But you also didn't want him to feel that insignificant either.
"There were a lot of names, I'll give you that. But I swear you weren't there. Were you logged into your account? Maybe your Internet crashed, or you missed part of it?"
Instantly he remembered the ten or so minutes that Oscar interrupted him.
Oscar!
"Oh shit! That's it. Oscar barged into my house while I was watching it and I slammed my laptop closed."
"Oscar… Isaac? Wait, why did you slam your laptop closed?"
"Yeah, that's the one. And… I don't know. He just surprised me, I guess. It wasn't a planned visit."
Slamming your laptop closed is an odd reaction to your friend visiting, but okay, you thought.
"So you closed your laptop, and missed a few minutes. And that must have been the moment they pulled the list of viewers."
Pedro replied. "It must have. But I was there, more than happy to listen to what you had to say"
If my name had been on the list, would her answer have been different? When asked whether the man she loved was on the list and she said no, would my name have changed anything? Pedro wanted to ask you these questions. But he couldn't. Not only was he scared, but he also didn't want it to come off as some douchey comment that made you uncomfortable. He wanted to get to know you better, even if just as a friend, and he wouldn't let a silly little crush ruin that.
You sent a response that could be deemed as friendly or neutral, still cautious. "Thank you Pedro. I'm really glad you watched it."
He replied without hesitancy. "Of course. But, I am sorry that your guy wasn't on that list."
He sounds genuine. Not like he's fishing for information like everyone else on the internet. In turn, you decide to be playful with your response. Risky, but still not too revealing. "It's okay. It turns out that list wasn't as accurate as I once thought it was" you typed with a smirk.
"So maybe he was watching after all," Pedro answered.
"Maybe he was."
Pedro soon changed the subject, "I did enjoy hearing about your favorite things, though. You may know this already, but I love movies. Some of the ones you mentioned are a couple of my favorites as well. But as for your favorite books, I haven't read them, but I've been meaning to find a new book to read."
The fact that he was a reader made your heart flutter; the thought of him sitting with a book, his glasses perched on his nose, brow furrowed as he stroked his thumb over his lip in deep concentration. You were overjoyed at the thought of him reading *your* favorite book and potentially having someone to talk to about it. Before you knew it, you had frantically sent multiple excited messages.
You: "Oh! If you read any of my favorite books we HAVE to talk about them!"
Second message: "AGH the first book I mentioned is my favorite, out of all of them. The ending blew my mind. And the characters were just so amazing! Well except for that one guy.. but I won't spoil that…"
Third message: "But my favorite character has the greatest lines!!! Sometimes I like to quote it but nobody else gets it. And the way the author describes the settings is so magical, it makes you want to be there."
Pedro caught himself smiling at his phone, wrapped up in your excitement, as you were finally able to talk to someone about your favorite book. It was adorable how happy you seemed.
He started to type a reply when you sent another message. "Shoot… I'm sorry. I got a little too carried away…"
"Who told you that?"
Huh?
"Who told me what?" You asked.
"Who made you feel like you had to stop talking when you became excited about your interests?"
His question took you aback, but your mind struggled to pinpoint the answer to it. There's been so many people that have told you that over the years. People you assumed were friends. An old crush who didn't like multiple text messages at once. Classmates who would complain or make fun. It was routine.
"Oh. It's not a big deal. It's just something I've heard over the years. But I also know how I get and I don't want to be too much. I'm sorry. I don't want to monopolize the conversation too much either. But hey, you didn't mention, what are your favorite books?" You tried to change the topic.
Pedro felt that protective feeling bubble up in his chest again.
"Over the years!? There have been multiple occasions?" Pedro shook his head, even though you couldn't see through the text. "I'm sorry anyone ever made you feel that way or said anything to imply that your interests weren't worthy of being heard. Fuck them. They should be thankful that you shared your interests."
They should be grateful to hear your beautiful voice get so excited. To get to see your excitement and smile, Pedro thought to himself angrily. He hoped he could someday witness you getting excited over your interests in person too.
"Thank you Pedro. But really, it's okay. I know I get a little… obsessive and crazy, especially with sending multiple texts, so I don't blame them. Haha. :)" you tried to soften the mood.
"I don't want you to ever feel that way with me. I liked hearing you talk about your interests."
You began to type, but Pedro beat you to the punch.
"In fact… if you'd like to talk more," he gave you his phone number. "Feel free to text me, or you can call me too. I like talking on the phone, but I know not everyone does."
Holy shit. Is this real life? Did Pedro Pascal just give me his phone number? And ask me to call him?
Truthfully, your introverted self really didn't like talking on the phone. But the idea of talking to Pedro, hearing his voice on the other end of your phone was too much to handle.
What you didn't realize, was that Pedro wanted it just as bad.
Your fingers danced over your phone keyboard, trying to find the right words for a reply. What do you say when the love of your life (that you didn't think you would ever have a chance with) gives you his phone number?
Pedro watched anxiously as the three dot-dot-dots of typing appeared and disappeared over and over. His heart was racing, and he began to worry he may have overstepped this time.
Why did you give her your number? She's going to think you like her!!!
But you do like her, you idiot, Pedro berated himself.
He ran his hand down his face, waiting for your response in agonizing suspense. But instead of hearing the pop of a notification, his phone began to ring instead, an unknown number displayed on the home screen.
Wait… is that her? Is she CALLING me?!
He answered frantically, practically dropping his phone in the process.
"Hello?"
"Hello? Pedro? It's me.."
You heard him give a breathless laugh before answering with a gentle "Hi."
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Thank you for reading!! Let me know your thoughts :) More will be coming soon. I know this is a painfully slow burn lol. Thanks for being patient.
Next chapter! Here
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Taglist: (Want in? Let me know!)
@pedrotonin @starcrossed02 @lightupsketchersperson @cartoon-garbage04 @tyferbebe @maryfanson @gwendibley84 @faithfullyyours2000 @brilliantopposite187 @hc-geralt-23 @jenniferpendragon
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Coast hotels risk losing out on tourism stimulus cash
New Post has been published on https://newscheckz.com/coast-hotels-risk-losing-out-on-tourism-stimulus-cash/
Coast hotels risk losing out on tourism stimulus cash
Coast tourism stakeholders could lose up to Sh1.8 billion of the Sh3 billion tourism recovery economic stimulus funds, state officials have warned.
This is because of lack of compliance and crucial documents required by the government, pointing to a possibility a huge number of businesses are operating illegally.
Lack of Tourism Regulatory Authority licenses and Kenya Revenue Authority compliance certificates among other key documents contributed to the low number of applications from the region.
Some of the players could be operating illegally and that is why they find it hard to provide the key documents that are required by the government as it could eventually expose them for tax defaults.
Government authorities have been forced to engage stakeholders for the second time, before opening the portal to enable them apply for the funding to help them refurbish their establishments.
For the past one week, officials have held tourism stakeholder’s meetings in Taita Taveta, Kwale, Mombasa and Malindi.
In the Malindi meeting there was concern over few applications from Kilifi and Lamu counties.
The Coast region has been allocated the lion share of the kitty (60 per cent) owing to its key role in the tourism sector. The rest of the country has been given Sh. 1.2 billion.
Currently, the total applications are Sh7.29 billion with the Coast region having only sent applications worth Sh1.5 billion.
Kilifi county applications are Sh317 million, while Kwale and Mombasa so far have applications worth Sh214 million and Sh942 million, respectively.
Taita Taveta ‘s applications stand at Sh52 million while Lamu county which is also a key tourism destination had no single application.
Tourism Finance Corporation(TFC) managing director Jonah Orumoi said of the Sh 1.5 billion applications from the Coast, many gave the wrong purpose for the funds, with a huge number seeking support to settle debts and off-set existing loan facilities.
“We had challenges in terms of wrong purposes considering this is a refurbishment fund to ensure the beach products are well refurbished and fit the competitiveness of the market,” he said.
He said the government will dispatch a team to help applicants from the five coastal counties to understand the application process in order for them to fully benefit from the fund.
TFC is leading disbursement of the loans capped at Sh50 million per establishment.
Investors with a chain of facilities however qualify for up to Sh200 million, at five per cent interest, payable after one year for 10 years.
Maureen Awuor, the chairperson of Kenya Hotel Keepers and Caterers Association North Coast region, said most of the tourism businesses are not fully compliant.
Tax compliance is among the major challenges, she noted.
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Các nhà phát triển mất hàng tỷ đồng trong sự sụt giảm thị trường bất động sản: The Standard #thôngtin #địaốc #ủythácđầutưbấtđộngsản [ad_1] Vào năm 2015, nhà cung cấp dịch vụ tài chính Stanlib Kenya đã ra mắt Quỹ đầu tư bất động sản (Reit) được chờ đợi nhiều, lần đầu tiên cho Sàn giao dịch chứng khoán Nairobi (NSE). Reit được nhắm mục tiêu vào các cá nhân tìm cách đầu tư vào lĩnh vực bất động sản, ngay cả với số vốn hạn chế và được giới thiệu với mức giá Sh20 trên mỗi cổ phiếu. Nó đạt đến đỉnh cao của ngành khi các nhà phát triển đang kiếm được hàng tỷ đô la từ việc mua, phát triển và lật đổ bất động sản thương mại và dân cư ở vùng ngoại ô mọc lên ở Nairobi. Trong một cuộc thảo luận về truyền thông tại một khách sạn ở Nairobi vài tuần trước khi ra mắt Fahari, các nhà quản lý quỹ Stanlib từ Kenya và Nam Phi đã thể hiện sự lạc quan rằng Reit là câu trả lời cho việc mở ra khu vực bất động sản trị giá hàng tỷ đô la của Kenya cho đại chúng, thậm chí là những người có thu nhập tùy ý. Nhiều nhà đầu tư bán lẻ muốn đầu tư vào bất động sản nhưng bị kìm hãm vì cần đầu tư vốn cao và rủi ro liên quan đến nó, một trong những nhà quản lý nói với các nhà báo. Ông nói, chúng tôi xử lý sự cần mẫn và đưa ra lời đề nghị kèm theo cho các nhà đầu tư, ông nói thêm rằng công ty sẽ áp dụng cách tiếp cận khoa học để phân tích cung và cầu để đảm bảo các dự án có tỷ lệ thoát nhanh và lợi nhuận cao. Mô hình tương tự, người quản lý quỹ lập luận, đứng đằng sau sự phát triển của Thành phố Nam Phi, Sandton, trung tâm mua sắm bán lẻ lớn nhất Châu Phi thuộc sở hữu của Liberty Group - công ty mẹ cũng sở hữu Stanlib. Để biết thêm về câu chuyện này và những câu chuyện khác, hãy lấy Bản sao của Báo Tiêu chuẩn. Theo dõi ngay " Đầu tư ban đầu Reit hứa với những người Kenya bình thường rằng họ sẽ có cơ hội sở hữu một phần của hàng tỷ bất động sản. Điều này đã không xảy ra. Năm năm sau, câu chuyện đã có một bước ngoặt ảm đạm. Stanlib Kenya hiện đang hoàn tất giao dịch bán hết các bộ phận kinh doanh của mình, bao gồm Fahari iReit cho ICEA Lion trong một thỏa thuận dự kiến hoàn thành vào ngày 29 tháng 2 năm 2020, chờ phê duyệt theo quy định. Với Fahari iReit ngày hôm qua bán lẻ ở mức Sh9,60 mỗi đơn vị tại NSE, việc bán có nghĩa là các cổ đông sẽ mất hơn 1,6 tỷ đồng trên giá trị giấy của khoản đầu tư ban đầu của họ. Chúng bao gồm các nhà đầu tư lớn như chi nhánh tư nhân của Ngân hàng Thế giới - Tập đoàn Tài chính Quốc tế (IFC) - đã chìm trong Sh678 triệu và hiện sẽ rút tiền mặt dưới một nửa số tiền đầu tư. Hiệu suất đáng thất vọng của ủy thác đầu tư bất động sản đầu tiên của Kenya, làm nổi bật những biến dạng trong thị trường bất động sản Kenya, khiến các nhà phát triển và nhà đầu tư thua lỗ hàng tỷ đồng. Tháng trước, công ty cho vay thế chấp Tập đoàn Tài chính Nhà ở (Tập đoàn HF) tuyên bố sẽ đóng cửa đơn vị đầu tư, HF Development and Investment Ltd (HFDI) trong một động thái nhằm cắt lỗ và tăng cường thanh khoản. Tập đoàn HF HF đã bắt đầu quá trình thực hiện tái cấu trúc nội bộ công ty liên quan đến hai công ty con thuộc sở hữu hoàn toàn có lợi của mình là HFC Limited và HF Development and Investment Ltd. Trước đây là Hiệp hội Xây dựng Kenya, HFDI là một trong những nhà phát triển nhà ở sớm nhất vào những năm 1980 và 90. Nó chịu trách nhiệm cho các phát triển nhà ở lớn bao gồm Buru Buru, Komarock, Ngei và Woodley bất động sản trước khi đi ngủ vào cuối những năm 1990. Tuy nhiên, sự cạnh tranh gia tăng từ những người mới tham gia trong hai thập kỷ qua và tỷ suất lợi nhuận giảm do nhu cầu thấp khiến doanh nghiệp không bền vững. Năm 2018, HFDI đã lỗ Sh172 triệu, gần gấp ba lần khoản lỗ Sh60 triệu đã đặt trong năm 2017. Công ty cũng đang ở giữa Clay City đang phát triển ở quận Kiambu - một khu dân cư trị giá Sh5 tỷ bao gồm 1.520 căn hai và ba phòng ngủ có giá lần lượt là Sh6,7 triệu và Sh7,7 triệu. Việc đóng cửa HFDI nắm giữ 33% cổ phần của Clay City hiện khiến dự án mất cân bằng với thời hạn hoàn thành vào tháng 12 năm 2019 đã hoàn tất. Việc đóng cửa tiếp tục kết hợp những thách thức đối với công ty mẹ, vốn đang phải vật lộn với những thách thức thanh khoản trong những năm gần đây. Theo kết quả tài chính mới nhất, Tập đoàn HF đã báo cáo mức giảm 77% lợi nhuận từ Sh183 triệu trong năm 2017 xuống còn Sh41 triệu trong năm kết thúc vào tháng 12 năm 2018. Home Afrika, một nhà phát triển niêm yết khác hiện đang phải đối mặt với những cơn gió ngược, đang đàm phán với các nhà đầu tư chiến lược để duy trì hoạt động vì chi phí hoạt động tăng và thị trường sụt giảm. Khoản lỗ của công ty trong năm kết thúc vào ngày 31 tháng 12 năm 2018 đã tăng hơn gấp đôi lên Sh346 triệu từ Sh181 triệu trong năm trước. Theo báo cáo tài chính gần đây, doanh thu giảm 59% từ Sh263 triệu trong năm 2017 xuống còn Sh109 triệu trong năm 2018, đẩy công ty tiến sâu hơn vào màu đỏ. Điều này được cho là do sự tăng trưởng chậm lại trong lĩnh vực bất động sản trong bối cảnh tiếp cận tín dụng bị hạn chế và sự suy giảm chung về sức mạnh chi tiêu giữa những người mua lô đất và nhà ở, công ty nói trong một lưu ý kèm theo kết quả tài chính. Năm 2013, Home Afrika trở thành công ty đầu tiên niêm yết trên Phân khúc thị trường doanh nghiệp và tăng trưởng NSE với mức giá giới thiệu là Sh12 trên mỗi cổ phiếu, niêm yết 405 triệu cổ phiếu phổ thông định giá công ty hơn 4,8 tỷ đồng. Vốn hóa thị trường Tại một số thời điểm, giá cổ phiếu đã nhảy vọt lên Sh25, định giá công ty ở mức hơn 10 tỷ. Nhưng bây giờ nó là một vỏ với vốn hóa thị trường Sh214 triệu như giá ngày hôm qua của Sh0,53. Các khoản nợ của công ty cũng đã vượt mốc Sh1 tỷ so với tài sản trị giá Sh357 triệu, khiến công ty rơi vào thế bí đỏ. Điều này có một rủi ro đáng kể khi áp lực buộc công ty phải đáp ứng các nghĩa vụ của mình, một yếu tố được thừa nhận trong báo cáo tài chính gần đây. Không thể truy cập vốn cần thiết có thể ảnh hưởng xấu đến đầu tư, dòng tiền, kết quả hoạt động hoặc tình trạng tài chính, báo cáo của Home Afrika trong báo cáo. Ngoài ra, nếu công ty đang đi vào thị trường để thu hồi khoản nợ trước đó, nó có thể gặp rủi ro mặc định. Dan Awendo, Giám đốc điều hành của Home Afrika cho biết họ đang đàm phán với một nhà đầu tư chiến lược để có nguồn vốn mới. Các cuộc thảo luận về vấn đề này vẫn đang diễn ra với các nhà đầu tư chiến lược, tổ chức Awendo cho biết. Những điều này cần có thời gian vì các nhà đầu tư phải đến và đánh giá rất nhiều thứ và thực hiện sự chuyên cần của họ, vì vậy chúng tôi đang chờ quá trình đó được kết thúc. Chúng tôi hy vọng thỏa thuận sẽ kết thúc trong nửa đầu năm nay. Ông Awendo cho biết công ty đang trong giai đoạn nâng cao trong việc thành lập một đơn vị mới để quản lý và cho thuê bất động sản, ngay cả khi họ nhìn vào kế hoạch nhà ở giá cả phải chăng của chính phủ. Chúng tôi đã tuyển dụng nhân sự và điền vào các vị trí với những người sẽ quản lý tài sản, ông nói. Chúng tôi cũng đã xác định được một vài dự án mà chúng tôi sẽ bắt đầu và chúng tôi rất lạc quan rằng điều này sẽ cất cánh. Kinh doanh cốt lõi của chúng tôi là nhà ở và chúng tôi dự định sẽ gắn bó với mô hình kinh doanh của chúng tôi. Đừng bỏ lỡ những tin tức mới nhất. Tham gia kênh Telegram kỹ thuật số tiêu chuẩn ĐÂY. Chủ đề liên quan Ủy thác đầu tư bất động sảnđịa ốc . [ad_2] Nguồn
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