Chapter 28: Beautiful Mess.

February 6, 8:00 AM. Château des Rêves, Amy’s office.
Amy sits at her desk in the section of the office set aside for her work as house manager. She wears a blue t-shirt and loose white pants. Her long dark hair hangs in a braid this morning.
A knock sounds at the door.
“Yes, Lila, come in,” Amy says, checking the papers on her desk.
Lila, dressed in pink cotton shorts and a yellow leather bra, enters Amy’s office, closes the door, and sits down in the chair across from her.
Amy looks up at Lila. “Madi leaves for work at Health&Cozy, so it’s just you and me dealing with this nightmare.”
Amy sets aside the paper she holds and continues. “As Alex likes to say, we live in the best country in the world, in the best state, and in the best town. Hard to argue with that. The SACZ social model lets us focus on our careers without paparazzi, housing issues, stalkers, crime, and all that other crap. Pretty convenient, right, Lila? You live, party, and work right here, or commute to Hollywood, while producers bring their offers straight to us at Dreamside parties in our mansions.”
Lila sighs. “Listen, I get where you’re going with this. Becky—“
Amy tactfully interrupts her. “Let me finish, Lila. So now we come to the Becky topic. Listen, I’m an YouTuber. Don’t want to brag, but a successful one. I have tons of subscribers, sponsors, collabs. I even do commercial shoots and voice acting for cartoons. Balancing my career with my unofficial role here as house manager has always been easy—until this morning. So, Becky Alvarez: successful model, designer, twerk dancer, aspiring singer, soccer and dirt bike racing star, founder of the cosmetics brand Nádherná Beauty, and Kate’s bestie and personal assistant… has lost her mind. Literally.”
Amy leans back in her chair. “From what Jocelyn tells me this morning, Becky is putting together a crew to drive to Malibu and beat the stuff out of Marisol. Literally.”
She sighs. “Lila, I don’t care what Becky does to her public image and career. She’s a grown woman. But how the hell do I explain to Kate, who comes back today from Topanga, that her friend and personal assistant is about to spend the next twenty-four hours in a Malibu police station on charges of assault, disorderly conduct, and who knows what else? Maybe we should invite Aria over. She can explain that Becky’s insanity is just another form of pushing boundaries. This is a nightmare.”
Lila shifts uncomfortably in her chair. “I can try to talk to her. Becky’s just really protective of Kate. And of herself too. She doesn’t like this topic with Jonas and Marisol.”
“Yeah, and that’s the problem,” Amy snaps. “Becky doesn’t get to play police. She’s not hired muscle protecting Kate’s honor or whatever she thinks this is. Yeah, she lives in Dreamside, but she’s also a public figure who should know better. The last thing Kate needs right now is to come home after her date with Brian to this mess.” Amy sighs and stares at Lila. “What the hell got into Becky? I just can’t wrap my head around it. Okay, in the past Marisol tried to poach her head chemist, but that blew up in Marisol’s face. Last night this Jonas guy, on Marisol’s orders, tried something with our security system and messed up too. Now we’ve ditched third-party agencies and gone back to what Alex calls collective nepo-HR. We only recruit through close connections. What else does Becky even want?”
Lila leans forward and studies Amy’s troubled expression. “Becky wants what every ambitious Latina who builds her own empire wants—respect. She started Treslúce Beauty because… It doesn’t matter. Some rich bitch with more money than talent is trying to sabotage her company.”
Amy rolls her eyes. “Jesus. Don’t start whitewashing Becky right now, Lila. You know exactly what I’m talking about. If she wants war, let her have it. But then let Kate deal with her herself. The reason I called you here isn’t to chat all morning. It’s to figure out two things that are bugging me.”
Amy sighs and continues.
“First, we’re supposed to have a new maid moving in tomorrow. Suddenly. We hired her through an agency. Yeah, we’re not doing that anymore after the Jonas incident, but she’s already here. In the US. She’s a foreigner. It feels kinda… well, you get it. Or should we just refuse her and come up with something?” Amy thoughtfully lifts the corner of a paper sheet. “And second, I noticed something weird about Alex.”
At that point Lila interrupts. She raises an eyebrow, her brown eyes narrowing as she leans forward. “You’re right, Amy. We can’t just turn her away. Not that easily. But there’s something we can do. We can bring her in under our terms. Make it clear from the start that Château des Rêves is a special place. If she’s working here, she’s working for Kate and Alex.”
Amy interrupts her. “Okay, I got it. Enough, God.” She sighs. “So, about Alex. Lila, please, just answer short and clear. Here’s what bothers me. Alex avoids parties. Almost always, except Christmas and New Year’s. Yeah, it’s just twice a year, so hardly anyone remembers, but he was at the last Christmas party and the last New Year’s one. I remember for sure. How the hell did he not run into Brian there?”
Silence falls.
Amy continues. “You get what I’m driving at? I only remembered this last night. Okay, he shows up for a bit and then bolts. But he would’ve definitely seen Brian, who was all over Kate. Because that was already after Dolphins and Pirates. Everyone could feel and see it wasn’t just casual chatting anymore. And now Alex says he never even saw the guy until February 3 this year. Meaning last Saturday. And Alex isn’t lying. Which means someone—and by someone I mean Aria—was actively making sure they didn’t meet. Lila, stop dodging and admit it. You feel the same as me. Aria’s cooking up some shady stuff.”
Lila frowns as she realizes Amy is right. Meanwhile, Amy keeps going.
“What’s the deal here? Besides the whole ‘pushing boundaries’ thing? Real estate? Money? Did Aria fall for Alex and want to split him from Kate? With Kate it’s obvious: Aria and Kate have been friends since college, and let’s be real, Aria has had Kate wrapped around her finger.”
Lila exhales sharply through her nose. “You’re right, Amy. It’s weird. And you know what? I think Aria has had a soft spot for Alex this whole time. But not the way you think.” She leans forward and lowers her voice. “I’ve seen it. Tiny things. It’s not romantic, I guess, not the way we think of it. But it’s something.”
Amy scoffs. “Oh, please. You’re telling me Aria has a secret little crush and decided to break up Kate and Alex by throwing Brian at them?”
Lila shrugs. “I don’t know about a crush. Maybe it started as a little crush, but now it’s more complicated. Like… she likes Alex, yeah, but she likes the idea of controlling him more. The challenge of him. The way he resists her.” She pauses. “She likes watching people struggle, Amy. Especially people she respects. Like Alex. And Kate too.”
Amy sighs. “Listen, Alex asked me not to tell you, but I’m gonna… I know about that bug you and Becky planted yesterday morning in Alex and Kate’s room. Alex told me everything. Don’t worry, I’m not mad. At least now I don’t have to repeat everything to you word for word. I hope you destroyed that crap… I mean the bug—because Kate might not like it.”
Amy picks up a sheet of paper and nervously folds it into some abstract shape.
“Madi knows too. He told both of us yesterday in Madi’s room. February 5 turned out to be way too… eventful.” She leans back. “We’re all on the same side, but… Are you sure our tactic is the right one? I mean… just letting everything run its course? Sure, it’s pretty interesting watching Kate get charmed by Brian, but…”
Lila tilts her head, considering. “I think it’s a mistake to try to control this, Amy. Kate’s not some fragile thing that needs protecting. She knows what she wants. And right now, she’s excited. I mean, well—Brian’s fifteen inches. That’s not just some new toy, that’s a fucking experience.”
Amy grimaces. “Yeah, I know. And I can’t blame her. Hell, I’d be curious too if some dude came along with that kind of equipment. But Alex—“
Lila interrupts. “Alex is gonna be fine. He’s nervous, yeah, but he’s also… intrigued, in his own way.” Lila continues. “I mean, he’s a writer, right? An erotic writer. He’s always wanted to be in a story like this. Well, here it is. In real life. And honestly, I think part of him is relieved. He gets to be a little freaky without having to initiate it. This way, Kate makes the first move. She’s the one exploring new territory, and he gets to… be there for it. Watch.”
Amy bursts out laughing. “Oh my god, I can’t… I don’t remember any of Alex’s books having interracial cuckold plots… Okay, fine.” She calms down. “Lila, do you have any crisis manager in mind? We need one in the mansion. Because a little more of this—and I’m gonna lose my mind.”
Lila smirks. “I might have someone in mind. You know who Sadie’s college mentor was? Ava Schneider. She’s good. Sharp. Knows how to handle PR disasters without pissing people off too much. And she’s got a big mouth. Which is perfect for dealing with the staff here.”
Amy raises an eyebrow. “Um… ‘she’s got a big mouth’? In what context of English are you saying that? And how long have you known her?”
Lila smirks and leans back in her chair. “Oh, I’ve known her a long time. Like, pre-Aria long time. Before any of us really knew Aria, I mean. She is a poetry teacher and was Sadie’s mentor back when Sadie was still a proper DreamArts student. Used to go out with her a lot too.” She rolls her eyes. “Sadie’s always had a thing for smart girls who can talk circles around her. Anyway, Ava’s… fun. Sharp as hell. And she’s got a mouth on her that can cut through bullshit like a hot knife. Perfect for this place.”
Amy crosses her arms, considering. “A poetry teacher, huh?” Amy muses. “Sounds like someone who’d know how to spin a good story. But… can she handle the kind of drama we’ve got here?” She gestures vaguely at the mansion around them. “I mean, you’re talking about potentially having to spin something where the lady of the house is her best friend’s boyfriend while her boyfriend is… allowing this to happen.”
Lila snorts. “She is a teacher of poetry history, to be more precise. But yes, that’s why she’s perfect. She doesn’t get flustered by weird situations. And she’s got no personal stake in any of this. Plus, she’d get a kick out of it. This whole thing would be like…” Lila waves her hand. “A fascinating text to her. Like some over-the-top romance novel come to life. She’s smart, Amy. She’d understand the dynamics instantly. And she wouldn’t judge, not in the way you’re thinking anyway.”
Amy sighs and rubs her temples. “Fine. But if you bring her in and she starts dissecting everything like some college professor in a lit class…” She trails off, shaking her head. “I swear, I’m gonna lose it. This whole thing is already giving me a headache.”
Lila grins. “Perfect. That means she’ll fit right in. So, what do you say? Wanna invite her over for a little chat?”
Amy tucks a strand of her dark hair behind her ear and looks at Lila with her brown eyes. “So… Are you sure she’ll be able to combine her teaching job with our… madhouse? She’ll have to live here, after all. What about her family?”
Lila waves a hand dismissively. “No family. She is not married and is not currently in a relationship. Her life revolves around teaching and… well, collecting interesting people to observe.” She smirks. “And you know what? She’d probably be thrilled to live here. I mean, look at this place—it’s just concentrated Dreamside, a goddamn LA soap opera with better sets and more money. It’s cooler than DreamArts—here, adults play children, not the other way around. She’d love every second of it.”
Amy huffs a laugh and shakes her head. “Great. So basically, we’re hiring a nosy professor to analyze our relationship drama like a thesis project.”
Lila grins. “Basically. But she’s good. And she’s discreet when she needs to be. Or… mostly discreet.”
Amy giggles and adjusts her blue t-shirt. “Okay… God, if we lived in any normal part of the LA area instead of SACZ, the gossip and scandals would have completely destroyed our careers and personal lives by now.”
Then she looks at Lila’s yellow leather bra and smirks. “Judging by that, you and Alex are writing cyberpunk erotica today?”
Lila snickers and glances down at her outfit. “Yeah, something like that. Though I think this is more ‘near-future urban fantasy’ than ‘cyberpunk.’” She adjusts the strap of her bra, the smooth leather creaking slightly. “The story’s set in a world where augmented reality and smart clothes are so common that you can customize your outfit with just a thought. But instead of being some corporate dystopia, it’s basically just… LA, but with cool tech.”
She leans back in her chair and stretches her arms above her head. “Like, imagine if every rich bitch in Bel-Air could swap outfits by just tapping their wristbands. Or if every guy in West Hollywood had smart suits that made them look like they stepped out of a damn fashion show. And yeah, there’s a sex tech angle too—augmented reality porn that feels real, vibrators synced to social media, that kind of thing.”
Amy waves her hand, laughing. “Stop. Don’t tell me everything—I’ll read it when it’s already in book form. Anyway, contact Ava then—I’ll have a talk with her at a time that’s convenient for her.”
She thinks for a second. “Yeah, there’s a free room right here on the third floor of the main building. This office and Alex’s office are close. Alex and Kate’s room is here too, along with a bunch of other stuff. Probably Kate will put Brian here when he moves in.” Lila stretches her legs out and crosses them at the ankle. “God, if she kicks Alex into a separate room and lives with Brian in their current ‘Alex and Kate’s room,’ fucking on that sexodrome… That’s gonna be a nightmare.”
“Yeah, it will be,” Amy says. “But hey, it’s not like Alex will be here full time anyway. Not with the Erodreamarts gig coming up.” She smirks. “And if Kate wants Brian in there with her…” She shrugs. “That’s between them. We just have to be ready for the drama.”
Amy groans. “I hate this. I swear, this is worse than dealing with groupies. At least with groupies, you know they’re just after one thing.” She exhales sharply. “This is like watching someone build a house on unstable foundations.”
Amy looks at Lila, tilting her head. “I can’t believe you and Alex didn’t tell Dana about this whole Brian situation when you went to Sogni Nudi yesterday. That should’ve been the first thing you said the moment she mentioned Erodreamarts. How long is it gonna last? Two months? Two months of Kate having sex with Brian and doing events in this media marathon while Alex is in Cambria? Do you realize how quickly Kate’s gonna start getting used to Brian?” She studies Lila’s face. “From the look on your face, I can see it bothers you. So don’t play the clown, Lila. This is serious.”
Lila exhales slowly and adjusts her position in the chair. She uncrosses and recrosses her legs, fingers idly tracing the leather strap of her bra. “I know. I know it’s serious. But…” She hesitates, her usual smirk fading a little. “What was I supposed to do? Blurt it out to Dana in the middle of Erodreamarts planning? ‘Oh, by the way, Alex’s girlfriend wants to fuck her bestie’s boyfriend, and Alex is… well, he’s not exactly thrilled, but he’s handling it. Here’s Alex next to me—confirm that, Alex.’”
She scoffs and shakes her head. “Dana would freak out.”
Amy leans forward, elbows on her desk. “She wouldn’t have freaked out if you’d framed it right. You’re her star, Lila. She knows your role as Alex’s personal assistant. She wouldn’t have dropped the Erodreamarts project and risked her relationship with Mayor Navari just because of Alex and Kate’s personal drama.” She studies Lila’s face. “But that’s not really the reason, is it? You were protecting Alex. You didn’t want Dana to think he was some weak link.”
Lila doesn’t deny it. Instead, she looks out the window toward the mansion grounds bathed in morning sun. “Alex doesn’t need that kind of pressure right now.”
Amy exhales and shakes her head. “Lila… you can’t protect him from everything. Madi and I figured that out a long time ago. Yes, that silly nickname ‘Alex’s mommies’ is partly true, but even we figured it out. And honestly, maybe he needs the pressure. Maybe he needs to realize what this is doing to him before it’s too late.” She rubs her temple. “I get it. You love him. You see how it’s eating him up. But hiding it from Dana? That’s just delaying things. Alex isn’t stupid. He knows what this is doing to him. He just doesn’t know how to handle it yet.”
Lila finally meets Amy’s gaze. Her usual smirk returns, though it doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “Oh, I know what this is doing to him.” Her voice drops, rougher now. “I know because I’m watching it happen right in front of me. The way he pretends everything’s fine when we’re hanging out. The way he laughs at jokes even when they don’t land. The way he zones out for five seconds before forcing himself back into the conversation. The way he looks at Kate when she’s not looking at him.”
Amy’s fingers tighten on the edge of her desk. “He’s trying so hard to be okay with this. But he’s not, is he?”
Lila shakes her head slowly. “No. But he will be.”
Lila sighs. “Yes, he’s afraid of losing Kate. Emotionally. He doesn’t care who she fucks. But…” She hesitates. “He doesn’t want to be irrelevant. To her. To this house. To his own life.”
Amy watches her closely. “And you think letting this play out without interference is the right call?”
Lila shrugs. “What am I supposed to do? Tie Brian to a chair and yell at him to stop? That’d just make things worse.” She shifts in her seat and crosses her arms. “No. I think we just have to wait. Let Alex figure out what he actually wants. And if he really wants to be with Kate forever, then he’ll fight for it. If not…” She trails off, her face darkening slightly. “Then we deal with that when it happens.”