Chapter 32: Is There Life After Sex?

February 6, 12:10 PM. Health&Cozy, Staff Lounge.
Madi, dressed in blue scrubs and a white medical coat, sits on the soft blue couch. She sips Lipton green tea from a clear bottle while scrolling on her phone.
Sampurna Bal, in the exact same outfit, walks up to the Automated Robot Barista in the corner of the Staff Lounge and pours hot coffee into her cup.
“So how’s that French guy doing? Signed up for another appointment with you again?” Sampurna asks, referring to Danton. “He’s already attached his ‘tail’ to every girl at DreamArts, and now he’s moving on to us.”
Madi chuckles and sets her phone aside. “He’s persistent, that’s for sure. But I don’t mind. He’s actually a decent patient. Comes in for regular checkups and doesn’t play any games.” She takes another sip of tea. “He keeps trying to convince me to come to his low-budget erotic film screenings, though. I think he’s hoping to seduce me with art.”
Sampurna grins as she stirs her coffee. “Classic Danton,” she says with her noticeable Bengali accent. “But he’s got good taste in women. You should go. It might be fun. He’s got that charming French accent, and he does know his way around a camera.”
Madi makes a noncommittal noise and shakes her head. “I don’t think so. I’m not interested in being his next conquest.” She leans back against the couch cushions. “Besides, I’ve got my hands full with patients who actually need my help. Speaking of which…” She glances at her phone again and swipes to check her schedule. “I’ve got a patient coming in at two thirty. Some student girl from DreamArts. First-timer, so I’ll need to do a full workup.” She tucks her phone away.
Sampurna sips her coffee thoughtfully. “You know, Danton’s always bragging about how many gorgeous women he’s had. Like it’s some kind of achievement.” She smirks. “I think he’s got a spreadsheet somewhere.”
Madi chuckles. “Oh, I have no doubt. That man loves to count his conquests.” She shifts on the couch and stretches her legs out. “But honestly? It’s kinda sad. He’s a good-looking guy, charismatic, talented at what he does. He could probably have meaningful relationships if he wanted to. But instead, he’s just collecting notches.”
Sampurna hums in agreement. “Yeah, he’s like those guys who brag about how many girls they’ve slept with, but they never actually build anything real. Just empty numbers.”
“They’re missing the whole point,” Madi agrees. “Sex is great, sure, but intimacy and connection? That’s what really matters.” She glances at the clock on the wall. “I should probably head back to my office soon. Make sure everything’s set up for my afternoon appointments.”
Sampurna smirks as she sits down on the couch with her coffee. “Alright, go ahead. If that student has anything endocrinology-related, send her straight to me. I’ll see her without an appointment. I’ve got a free slot today from two forty to four. Two patients rescheduled, and one got food poisoning from spoiled milk. She’s having a very intimate toilet appointment at home right now.”
Madi laughs and shakes her head. “You’re evil,” she says, though there’s no real malice in it. She sips her tea again. “Well, I’ll let you know. I’m not sure if she has endocrinology issues. She’s probably here for a routine checkup. But if she needs it, I’ll send her your way.” She taps her bottle against the armrest of the couch. “Speaking of which, how’s that embroidery project coming along? The one with the dragon?”
Sampurna grins. “Oh, it’s coming along great. I’m almost done with the border.”
February 6, 1:10 PM. Château des Rêves, area near the main gates.
“Okay, Kate will be here soon. She texted me,” Amy says as she walks leisurely alongside Kae. “Tonight I have an interview with Ava, and tomorrow the new one arrives.”
Amy wears a blue t-shirt and loose white pants with white sneakers. Kae wears only pink thongs, a pink bra, and white sneakers.
“Kate was on a date in Topanga. She did not use her own car. She used Brian’s car. Her blue Aston Martin stayed at the mansion. So either Brian will bring her back, or she’ll show up in a robotaxi,” Kae says about Kate. She sucks on a pink cock-shaped lollipop. “And what’s with the new maid? She’s definitely the last one we’re hiring through an agency, after all that bullshit with Jonas and his hard-on for Marisol. Now only nepo-HR.”
“Yeah, the agency thing was a mess,” Amy agrees and shakes her head. “I mean, I get it—staff turnover happens. But Jonas? And Marisol?” She scoffs. “I still can’t believe she’s behind all that. Becky is going crazy with her revenge. Her manager, Vincenzo, was here this morning. It looks like he’ll get gray hair if he tries to stop Becky from going to Malibu with her revenge squad or something like that.”
Kae grins around her lollipop. “Mmm, Becky is gonna be brutal. I love watching her put people in their place.” She stops walking and looks at Amy. “So… this new maid. You think she’s gonna be any better? Or are we just taking our chances again?”
Amy sighs. “I don’t know. But she’s got good references from the agency, and her background check came back clean.” Amy tucks a strand of her long dark hair behind her ear. “She’s from Kyrgyzstan. That’s somewhere near China. Good English. Was a model back home, then in Moscow, New York, Los Angeles… Anyway, she meets all the rules, otherwise they wouldn’t let her into the estate. Her name’s Ayzhamal, and she’s 24. I think she shouldn’t have any problems with…” She glances at Kae’s pink thongs and pink bra. “…our ways.”
Kae laughs and twirls the lollipop between her fingers. “Oh, I’m sure she won’t. Models are used to seeing everything, right?” She gestures at her own outfit. “Besides, she’s probably seen worse in New York or Moscow.”
Amy nods. “Exactly. I’m hoping she’ll be the last one we have to hire for a while. After this, we can just promote from within or bring in people we actually know. No more randoms from agencies.”
They reach the entrance to the mansion, where the fountain trickles softly in the warm afternoon air.
Kae hops up onto the stone ledge of the fountain and swings her legs idly. Amy sits down next to her and crosses her arms as she looks at the automatic gates in the distance. “Definitely, the morning of Saturday, February 3, needs to be inscribed in the history of Château des Rêves.” Amy’s eyes glide over the mansion’s pale stone walls entwined with green vines. “So Aria didn’t let you in on what she’s plotting? I mean, that she’ll show up at 7 in the morning and dump all that crap on Alex about Brian?”
“Yeah,” Kae nods and continues to suck on the lollipop. “Though I didn’t ask. I just figured out right away she was heading to Alex—so I directed her to him, warning that he might be jerking off. Now we know our sneaky blonde ass Kate ditched that morning at Swag&Pop so Aria could talk to him privately. Though Aria apparently overdid it—since he called Lila, and she kicked out the Italian slut, threatening to yank her ponytail.” Kae shrugs. “I didn’t see how Aria left. You know—the morning after the party and you need to clean up the mess… Most of the mansion was still asleep anyway.” She massages her shoulder. “My shoulder still aches a bit. Remember that fat producer who drank a lot at the last party last Friday and told everyone about his intentions to shoot his version of Caligula by Tinto Brass? I found him inside the sofa in the main living room…”
Amy laughs.
“…In the main living room. Inside the sofa. How did he fit in there?” Kae looks at Amy with her languid dark brown eyes, the honed gaze of an OnlyFans and porn video star. Amy snorts. “You know how some people are. They get drunk and suddenly think they’re contortionists.” She leans back on her hands and looks up at the mansion’s grand facade. Then she winks at Kae. “Though I’m sure you cleaned him up pretty well. You’re always so thorough.”
Kae chuckles and swings her legs slightly. “Yeah, well, someone had to help the poor drunk get out of the sofa.” She flicks her long black hair over her shoulder. “So, house manager, have you figured out how to tell Kate what’s going on with her friend and personal assistant?” Kae says playfully, referring to the situation with Becky.
“I don’t know, butler!” Amy says with feigned irritation and smiles. “So… she’ll be here any minute from Topanga in Brian’s car or a robotaxi… And I’ll be like, ‘Kate, last night as soon as you left—our night janitor Jonas tried to hack the security system on Marisol’s orders, but Jocelyn’s people caught him. Becky’s furious—she’s putting together a team right now to head to Malibu and beat Marisol’s face or something like that. Oh, yeah—your Alex seems to have come to terms with the situation with you and Brian and spent the whole morning chatting about something in his room with Chase Runker on video call. So how was your date with big black Brian?’ Something like that—right, Kae?”
Kae laughs and bites down on her lollipop as she watches Amy’s exaggerated delivery. “Something like that,” she agrees. Her dark brown eyes glint with amusement. “Though I doubt you’ll need to tell her about Becky. She probably already knows. If Becky called her.” She stretches her arms above her head. The movement makes her pink bra strain slightly. “And about Brian…” She grins. “Well, I’m sure she’s going to want to talk about that. She looked pretty satisfied when she left yesterday evening on a date with him. I know it.”
Kae snorts and keeps talking as she looks at the mansion’s automatic gates in the distance. “I saw how it happened last night. She came out of Alex’s room dressed in a minimalistic and classic dress—a bright red, long-sleeved piece with a fitted bodice and a flared A-line skirt that ends above the knee. The high neckline is accented with a white pointed collar, giving the look a preppy, school-inspired touch. A slim black belt defines the waistline, while the sleeves are straight and slightly fitted, ending at the wrists without cuffs or embellishments. On her feet are elegant gray heels with a black polka-dot pattern. Her makeup is as soft as possible, with matte rosy lipstick and black mascara. Her hair is worn down with a gentle side part, slightly wavy at the ends, with subtle volume at the roots. Kate didn’t take the elevator; she went down the stairs—probably afraid of running into someone. But I saw her anyway.”
Kae looks at Amy playfully. “Well… then she got into Brian’s car—that cute red Acura NSX. It was around 6 PM. I didn’t hear what they were talking about in the car—I’m not a superhero with superhearing. But I saw them making out passionately for a few minutes. Then they drove off the parking lot through those main gates.” Kae points ahead to the main automatic gates of the mansion. “Hmm… I wonder what she told Alex before going on her date with Brian?…”
Kae pauses. “Probably something about how much she loves him and how this ‘boundary expansion’ of hers will be good for everyone. Especially for her.”
Kae snorts. “Well… If Alex is okay with it, and Kate wants it so bad—then who are you all to get in her way?” she says and looks at Amy. “By ‘you all’ I mean you, Madi, and Lila. Becky probably doesn’t give a fuck—she’s got her own vendetta with Marisol right now.”
Amy lets out a soft chuckle and shakes her head as she stretches out her legs in front of her. “I know, I know. But it’s still weird to think about.” She flicks her gaze toward the gates where Kate will return from her date. “Like… I get that Alex is being open-minded and whatever. But is he really okay with this? Or is he just trying to be mature about it?”
Kae shrugs and swings her legs slightly as she leans back against the fountain’s edge. “I think he’s okay with it. Mostly. I mean, he doesn’t seem thrilled about it, but he’s not freaking out either. And that’s actually pretty impressive for him.” Kae catches Amy’s mock-reproachful look and adds, “Okay, fine. He had a couple of nervous breakdowns over this—and Lila handled them. First, after Aria left that morning, he whined the whole Saturday about his ‘cuckold fate,’ sitting on the grass at the far end of the mansion’s massive lawn in his pink shorts and a pink t-shirt. He was drinking cola and complaining to Lila—and she was calming him down while teasing him at the same time. Typical ‘big sister’ for our introverted erotic writer with a history of panic attacks. Then they had a ‘battle’ on the grass—and Lila obviously won. Then in the evening Kate came back—and Alex talked to her in his old office on the first floor. Apparently very warm and emotional—since both of them calmed down after that. Then Alex had a nervous breakdown in the car…” Kae thinks. “Yes, according to Lila—right in his Tesla, when he was driving home from Beverly Hills after talking to Brian on Sunday at 3 PM. Meaning the day before yesterday. According to Lila, he even broke down during their video call. But after all that, Alex is holding up pretty well.”
Kae takes another bite of her lollipop and rolls it around in her mouth thoughtfully. “Honestly, I think he’s just handling it better than anyone expected. I mean, he’s not some possessive alpha male who would go ballistic over this. He’s… different. And that’s what makes it complicated.”
Amy nods and drums her fingers against the fountain’s edge. “Yeah… he’s just taking everything in stride, isn’t he? Like he’s observing it from the outside, processing it as a… story or something.” She lets out a soft laugh. “Can you imagine someone being that detached about their girlfriend having a sidepiece?”
Kae snorts. “Well, we live in Dreamside—a nearly closed-off SACZ from the outside world, with a population of about 10,000 creative types and IT folks protected by DHOA security from paparazzi and all sorts of lowlifes. Open relationships and all kinds of sexual experiments are the norm here. Sitting right in front of you is an example—butler and OnlyFans slut in one package.” Kae points to herself. “But I’m fine with it. Erotic art is kinda art too and all that. And those who think otherwise—they don’t get in here.” She pauses. “Though our town’s Tourist District is open to outsiders. But it’s mostly like the tourist areas in LA anyway. In any case—it was you, Lila, Madi, and Kate herself who spent the whole weekend and Monday convincing Alex he had nothing to fear—that Kate would still love him even if she occasionally bounces on Brian’s black cock. That’s why he’s so ‘detached’ now, as you put it.”
Amy hums in agreement and shifts her weight slightly as she looks toward the gates again. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. It’s just… weird to think that we’re living in some kind of… advanced society where this is normal.” She glances at Kae with a smirk. “Or maybe we’re just hedonists who’ve made up a bunch of rules to justify our own behaviors.”
Kae grins and nudges Amy’s shoulder playfully. “Oh, please. Don’t act like you haven’t been flirting with your friends and coworkers at the mansion, sweet ASMR artist. Various producers and sponsors among the guests at our parties clearly want more than your artistic abilities. They wonder how you fuck. Just think about it. You’re as much of a hedonist as the rest of us.”
Amy chuckles and rolls her eyes. “Fair enough. But still…” She pauses and bites her lip. “I just worry about Alex. He handles this so well right now, but what happens if things change? What if Kate starts feeling something real for Brian? Or if Alex starts to regret it?”
Kae tilts her head. “Then they deal with it. That’s all there is to it. Although you and Madi got named ‘Alex’s mommies’ or something. Seriously, you’re both not their babysitters, Amy.” She grins and nudges Amy again. “Alex and Kate are adults. Besides, I think Alex gets something out of this arrangement too. Not just practical benefits.”
Amy raises an eyebrow. “Like what?”
Kae shrugs and sucks thoughtfully on her lollipop. “Well, for starters, he’s a writer. This whole situation fascinates him. Like he’s experiencing something he might have written about before. But also, I think he likes the idea of being part of something big. Something worth writing about. Maybe not immediately, but eventually.” She smirks. “And let’s be real—he’s not exactly the most confident guy when it comes to sex. Maybe this arrangement makes him feel like he’s on top of something, even if it’s not completely in his control.”
Amy hums in agreement and looks away thoughtfully. “Yeah, I can see that. Alex does like to observe people.” She sighs. “I’ve already discussed this with Madi and Lila and even with Daria. We all reach similar conclusions, but still… Four years of exclusive relationships for each other, and Kate suddenly decides on this? Of course I understand it all started at that party when Aria brought Brian.”
Kae takes the lollipop out of her mouth. “That was September 2 last year. There were a ton of guests at the party. We had to use several rooms on the first floor. The party actually runs from Friday morning, September 1, to Sunday morning, September 3. But Brian and Kate’s introduction happens exactly on September 2. Aria introduces them. I remember it like yesterday. Kate wears a silver dress, and Brian impersonates Elvis in the party room on our improvised dance floor. In the adjacent room, which we call the ballroom, someone sets up a small mini-golf course. Kate spends half the night there.” Kae looks at Amy. “While Alex, as usual, hides upstairs on the third floor. He still fears his panic attacks coming back.”
Amy shifts and crosses her legs as she leans against the fountain’s edge. “I know. It’s just hard to wrap my head around. All those years, and then this happens out of nowhere.” She lets out a breath and shakes her head slightly. “I mean, I get that Alex isn’t exactly the most virile guy. And I’m not saying he’s bad in bed or anything. Alex is amazing, but he’s not Brian.”
Kae snorts and pops the lollipop back into her mouth. “Yeah, no kidding. Brian has this whole presence about him. And the dick to match. I’ve seen it up close in Aria’s photos on her phone.” She winks. “And you too. Aria shows them to every girl for the past few months.”
Amy groans and rubs her temple. “God, don’t remind me. Every time Aria comes over, she makes a point of showing Kate the damn photos. And Kate doesn’t even hide how interested she is. It’s so obvious now.” Amy shakes her head. “I mean, I get it. It’s impressive. But still. Alex was never insecure about it. He’s always been so sure of himself in other ways.” She looks at Kae. “But now? Now I wonder if this is why he’s so calm about it. If he knows he can’t compete with Brian and decides to just calm down.”
Kae giggles. “Fuck, Amy—you haven’t forgotten that Alex’s laptop is stuffed with porn? That’s his job spec as an erotic writer. He watches porn, gets aroused, and inspiration comes. For the same reason Lila dresses like me. Well, not only for that. We have the same taste in clothes. Why hide your beautiful sexy body if Dreamside is a warm paradise town without puritan shit?” She rolls her eyes in pleasure. “And lately he’s been watching a lot of interracial porn. Especially lots of videos with blondes who look suspiciously like Kate. And a bit like Madi—but that makes it even spicier. Apparently he’s aroused by the thought that his Kate will get fucked in all holes by Brian’s black cock. He just fears showing it so he doesn’t seem like a wimp or gay. Fuck, Dreamside is full of gays—and many of them are quite masculine. Apparently his immigrant brain is still cluttered with that savage bullshit from that shithole country he came from. But maybe when Brian moves in with us, Alex will one day be able to stay in the same room with the two of them during the so-called process. Maybe he’ll even suck Brian’s cock together with Kate.”
Amy winces and shakes her head. “Okay, okay, enough, Kae. I know about Alex’s porn habits from Lila.” She pauses and sighs as she leans back against the fountain’s edge. “But you might be right about the interracial thing. I’ve seen his search history. He’s been looking at a lot of videos with black guys and blonde girls. But I don’t know if that means he’s excited about it happening or just curious.”
Kae smirks and sucks loudly on her lollipop. “Oh, he’s excited about it. You can tell. In the last couple of days he gets this look in his eyes sometimes when Brian’s name comes up. He’s conflicted, yeah. But I think he’s also kind of turned on by it. In a weird way. Like, he’s nervous, but also eager. I’ve seen him when Kate talks about Brian. His face gets this expression, like he’s trying to play it cool but can’t help being interested.”
Amy snorts. “God, he must hate that.”
Kae grins. “Probably. But at the same time, it’s kind of funny. Alex is always so serious about everything, but this?” She gestures vaguely. “This is just funny. Like, he’s terrified and also kind of getting off on it.”
Amy says thoughtfully, “You know, as for parties… There’s one detail that I didn’t notice right away. I already told Lila about it this morning. Alex only attends two types of parties—Christmas and New Year’s. He always comes down and hangs out a little—even if not for long and in a limited circle of people, but still. Alex and Brian don’t cross paths at all at the last Christmas party, and at the New Year’s one too. Aria somehow arranges everything so that Alex doesn’t find out about Brian ahead of time. Lila replies to me this morning, ‘I think Aria has had a soft spot for Alex this whole time. But not the way you think.’ She explains that Aria likes Alex, but not in a romantic way, but in some other sense.”
Amy smirks. “Aria has a crush on Alex? All her playful flirting over Alex these years in Kate’s presence, which amuses Kate a lot… All this takes on some other meaning.”
Kae barks out a laugh, the sound sharp. “Oh, that’s rich. Aria? Having a ‘soft spot’ for Alex?” She shakes her head and takes another lick of her lollipop. “That girl is trouble, but not in the way you think. She’s calculating. And yeah, she does like Alex—just not in the way a normal person likes someone.” Kae wiggles her eyebrows. “She likes that he’s such a damn mess. That he’s got all these secrets. That he’s so conflicted about everything. It makes him more interesting to her than just some boring boyfriend she can fuck whenever she wants.”
Amy giggles. “Well… Most likely that’s the case. But anyway—it turns out that Aria starts all this not only for Kate and Brian but also for herself.” She adjusts her blue t-shirt and loose white pants. “The main thing is that in our soap opera, it’s not all going to end with murders due to jealousy and all that stuff.”
Amy looks at the screen of her phone. “It’s already 1:25 PM. Kate will arrive soon. She sent me emojis.” Amy shows Kae the screen. The message from Kate reads: “🍆😆🚕😘”
“Oh, that’s perfect,” Kae says with a smirk. She adjusts her pink thong and pink bra. “Look at her, all excited about her date in Topanga. I bet she’s still got Brian’s cum from last night in all her holes.”
Amy groans and shakes her head. “God, Kae. You’re terrible.” She laughs anyway and taps out a quick reply to Kate: “😉 Kae and I are waiting for you at the main gate. Are you taking a robot taxi? 🤨” Then she turns to Kae. “Seriously. You and your obsession with Kate and Brian. It’s like you get more turned on by this than they do.” Amy grins and bumps Kae’s shoulder lightly with her own.
Kae licks the edge of her lollipop and considers Amy’s words. “Well… maybe I do.” She smirks and shifts to sit cross-legged on the fountain’s edge. “But only because it’s so fucking hot. Kate being so taken care of. Brian being so massive. Alex being so…” She waves a hand vaguely. “So conflicted and aroused and confused all at once. It’s like a really good porno, but real life.”
Right after Kae speaks, the mansion’s automatic gates open. A silver robotaxi pulls onto the Château des Rêves grounds. It does not head to the parking area. Instead it stops near the fountain where Amy and Kae sit.
Kate steps out. She wears a minimalistic classic dress—a bright red long-sleeved piece with a fitted bodice and a flared A-line skirt that ends above the knee. The high neckline features a white pointed collar, giving the look a preppy school-inspired touch. A slim black belt defines the waist. The straight sleeves end at the wrists without cuffs or embellishments. Elegant gray heels with a black polka-dot pattern cover her feet. Her makeup stays soft with matte rosy lipstick and black mascara. Her hair falls down with a gentle side part, slightly wavy at the ends and with subtle volume at the roots. A stylish black shoulder bag hangs at her side.
The robotaxi makes a small turn and drives back out through the gates, which close behind it.
Kate walks up to the fountain, smiling.
Amy sighs. She knows the deadpan humor competition between Kae and Kate is about to start.
“Oh, look, our favorite golfer is back!” Kae exclaims. “So how many balls did Brian sink in your holes?”
Kate sets her bag down on the fountain’s edge. “I lost count after the first nine.”
Amy snorts and shakes her head. “Kate, please tell me you didn’t actually count.” She smiles because this is exactly the kind of nonsense Kae and Kate love.
Kate leans against the fountain and crosses one ankle over the other. “Well, technically I stopped counting when I started focusing on just experiencing it. You know? The whole process.”
Kae bursts out laughing, loud and delighted. “Oh my god, she’s actually keeping track of Brian’s strokes now! This is perfect!” She licks her lollipop, eyes bright. “So what’s the final tally? Did he beat his own record?”
Kate tilts her head slightly. “I’d say he came pretty close.” She straightens one sleeve of her dress with deliberate care. “There was definitely a sustained effort.”
Amy groans and covers her face with one hand. “Kate, I swear to god, if you start talking about Brian’s stamina like you’re critiquing a golf swing, I’m leaving.”
Kate blinks innocently. “I wasn’t going to say that. I was going to say he’s got a good drive.” She pauses, then adds, “And a strong putt.”
Kae slaps her thigh and cackles. “Oh my god, stop!” Amy wheezes, cracking up despite herself. She shakes her head and looks between them with exasperation. “You two are awful. Absolutely awful.”
Kate smiles and settles onto the fountain’s edge next to Kae. The three of them now sit in a row with their legs dangling over the water. She stretches her arms behind her back and arches slightly. “I can’t help it,” she says, voice light. “It’s fun. And you two seem to enjoy it too.”
Amy exhales, still grinning. “I mean, yeah. It’s ridiculous. But it’s also really funny.” She nudges Kate’s knee with hers. “And Kae just loves watching you say the most graphic stuff with that innocent voice of yours.” Amy points at Kate with a knowing smirk.
Kae licks her lollipop and watches Kate with bright eyes. “She’s got a gift for it, doesn’t she? Kate could probably describe the filthiest things in the world and sound like she’s discussing a tea party menu.”
Kate shrugs and adjusts her dress slightly. “I just like precision. Clarity. It’s easier to understand the technical aspects that way.”
Amy snorts. “Technical aspects? Is that what we’re calling it now?” She shakes her head, smiling, then shifts her gaze from Kae to Kate. “Listen, here’s the thing. We didn’t want to text or call you about this, but…”
Kae cuts Amy off. “It’s nothing major, Kat. Last night, right after you left with Brian for Topanga, the night janitor named Jonas tried to hack our security system. Jocelyn’s people caught him. Turns out he did it on Marisol’s orders. You know her, that bitch Becky keeps clashing with every now and then.”
Amy picks up again. “Anyway, Becky’s fucking furious. This morning she bolted to the Residential District and started rounding up a crew to head to Malibu and, quote, ‘beat the shit out of Marisol.’ Her manager Vincenzo showed up at the mansion this morning looking for you, but we didn’t tell him that you…”
Kae interrupts again. “…we didn’t tell him you went off on the ‘Black Eggplant Tournament.’ He found out where Becky went and took off after her. So for now you don’t have a personal assistant, Kat.”
Kate blinks. Her face shifts from amusement to mild concern. She angles her face slightly as she considers the news. “Oh,” she says simply. Then, after a beat, “Well, that sounds about right.”
Amy studies her face. “Yeah. I figured you wouldn’t be too surprised.” She nudges Kate’s knee again. “You know Becky. She doesn’t take shit like this lying down.”
Kae licks her lollipop with exaggerated relish. “And by ‘lying down,’ I mean ‘sitting on top of someone while they’re lying down.’” She waggles her eyebrows.
Amy groans and shakes her head. Kate sighs, rests her elbows on her knees, then turns and gazes out toward the main building of the mansion. “I suppose I should call her,” Kate says thoughtfully. “But honestly, I don’t want to get in the middle of it right now.”
Amy nudges her again. “Come on, Kat. Becky’s your assistant and bestie. You’ve got to at least check in with her.”
Kate’s lips curve slightly. “She’s technically my assistant and bestie,” she corrects. “But she’s also Becky. She doesn’t need supervision. She needs to be left alone to do whatever violent thing she’s planning.”
Kae leans forward and rests her chin on her fist. “And what exactly do you think she’s planning?” she asks, amused.
Kate shrugs. “Probably something involving a baseball bat, a car chase, and a lot of screaming.” She exhales softly. “She gets results. I just don’t always want to be around for the process.”
Amy laughs. “Yeah, fair. But you know she’s going to want to tell you all about it afterward.”
Kate’s smile turns slightly wicked. “Oh, I know. I’m looking forward to that part.”
Amy watches her for a moment, then tilts her head. “So… how was Topanga?”
Kate stretches her arms out behind her again and relaxes. “It was fine.”
Amy smirks. “I’m glad. By the way… Alex.” She pauses. “Alex is doing fine. He spent the whole night and morning talking to Chase Runker on video call.”
Kae cuts in. “Yeah, Chase — that bald literary agent, Alex’s first friend in this country, the one who introduced your boy to Dana.”
Amy sighs. “Um, Kat… So what about you, Alex and Brian? Which one is your official boyfriend and all that?”
Amy and Kae look at Kate. Kate shrugs, the motion fluid and graceful. She taps her fingers against the fountain’s edge and considers the question. “I don’t know that I have an ‘official’ anything,” she says at last. “Alex is Alex. And Brian is Brian.”
Amy snorts. “That’s the most non-answer I’ve ever heard.”
Kate gives her a sidelong glance. “It’s the most honest answer I can give right now.” She shifts slightly and crosses her legs at the ankle. “Alex and I have been together for a long time. We understand each other. We work well together. But…”
“But what?” Amy presses, leaning forward.
Kate exhales slowly and looks out over the grounds. “But Alex isn’t… he’s not the kind of person who takes risks easily. He gets overwhelmed. He needs things to be stable and controlled.”
Amy nods. Understanding flickers across her face. “And Brian?”
Kate’s lips curve slightly. “Brian is… intense. Focused. Adventurous.” She pauses. “He doesn’t ask permission.”
Kae hums thoughtfully. “And you like that about him.”
Kate doesn’t deny it. She simply shrugs. “I like a lot of things about him.”
Amy watches her for a moment, then sighs. “Kate, be careful with this.”
Kae giggles and looks at Kate. “So Alex is now your Cuck Boy, and Brian is your Big Man?” She shifts her gaze to Amy. “Gotta tell Madi to prescribe Alex a shit-ton of sedatives for when our literary-erotica genius gets shoved into the corner like expensive old furniture.”
Amy winces slightly at Kae’s words, but Kate doesn’t react beyond a slight change in posture. She straightens up, crosses her arms, and keeps looking out over the grounds. “I wouldn’t put it that way,” she says finally. “Alex isn’t… he’s not a Cuck Boy. He’s just… different. He sees things differently.”
Kae licks her lollipop. “Mhm. And Brian sees things differently than Alex.” She leans closer to Kate and speaks more quietly. “He sees you differently too.”
Kate glances at her, then looks away again. “I know.” Her voice softens, though she still looks relaxed. “And Alex knows that too.”
Amy sighs. “Okay, I’ll say it.” She looks at Kate, who still sits on the edge of the fountain with her arms crossed. “I hope you don’t dump Alex. You’ve been with him for four years, and he loves you. And I doubt Brian would ever do what Alex is doing for you right now.”
Kae straightens up. “Well… Amy’s right, actually. I think it’s weighing on Alex a bit. As a writer, he’s probably already come up with a thousand scenarios overnight and this morning of you dumping him. So be careful with him.” She pats Kate on the back. “Otherwise I might lose my butler job if Norwin’s uncontrollable gravity tears this whole place apart.”
Kate lets out a short laugh and shakes her head slightly. “I know, I know.” She uncrosses her arms and leans back, resting her palms against the fountain’s edge. “Alex… he’s handling it better than I expected.”
Amy raises an eyebrow. “Really? Because from what I, Madi, and Lila heard, he’s been losing his shit in quiet little bursts all this time.”
Kate sighs. “Yeah, he’s… processing. He doesn’t wear his emotions on his sleeve the way Brian does.” She speaks without bitterness, just matter-of-factly. “But I can feel it. He’s worried.”
Kae tilts her head. “So, what’s coming up in the near future?” She narrows her eyes slyly, turning her face into the funny mug of some Pokémon. “February 12 is Abraham Lincoln’s birthday, which Dreamside has celebrated since its founding in 1995. And you’re supposed to be at the parade opening ceremony at Mayor Navari’s request.”
She gives her septum piercing a light tug. “Also, a few rich Japanese collectors are eyeing your paintings, and there are ten offers from Hollywood producers on the table…”
Kae pauses. “Collectors from my country… Maybe I slept with some of them… Anyway, it doesn’t matter. How are you going to handle all this without Becky? Sure, you have Daria…”
Kae glances at Amy, then back to Kate. “I think Daria will manage. This calm and stoic little Russian one should handle it. She’s probably the most chill person in the whole mansion these past few days.”
Kate exhales softly and shakes her head. “God, Becky. I hate that she’s doing this.” Amusement and exasperation mix in her voice. “But I also love that she’s doing this. It’s… Becky.”
Amy chuckles. “Yeah, that about sums it up.”
Kate taps her fingers against the fountain’s edge and stares out across the grounds. The late afternoon sun casts a warm glow over the rolling hills.
“Anyway,” she continues, shifting slightly. “I do have a plan for the Lincoln celebration.”
Kae raises an eyebrow. “Oh, I don’t doubt it… After all, thanks to Mr. Lincoln, Brian can keep sinking his balls into all your holes. And as for Becky… Well, Daria needs to learn too, right? And Becky needs her revenge on Marisol. Plus, Becky’s career is insanely loaded: model, twerk dancer, aspiring singer, designer… And soccer and dirt bike racing on top. Maybe Daria will eventually take over as your full assistant, Kat. Right now she’s basically just handing you golf clubs.”
Kae adjusts the strap of her pink bra. “Ah… And of course Nádherná Beauty—Becky’s little cosmetic baby… What can you say? Becky’s a multitasker, just like you.”
Kae pauses in thought. “While Lila’s just a model and Alex’s assistant. And Alex is just… an erotic writer. Like attracts like.”
Kate exhales a quiet chuckle and shakes her head. She leans back slightly on the fountain’s edge. “You have a way of making everything sound so… calculated.”
Kae grins around her lollipop. “Because it is. Life is calculated. It’s just a matter of who does the calculating.” She nudges Kate’s shoulder lightly. “And who gets calculated.”
Amy lets out a soft groan and rubs her temples. “God, Kae. Can you not sound so… predatory?”
Kae shrugs. “I’m just honest. You’d rather I lie?” She turns her focus back to Kate.
Amy looks off into the distance at the closed automatic gates of the mansion. “By the way… so when is Brian moving in with us? You did tell Brian about it, right?” She looks at Kate. “So what did Alex suggest to you, that he should move in here?”
Amy looks at Kate and waits for her answer. Kae also looks at Kate. Silence hangs in the air. Behind the girls, the only sound is water from the fountain they sit on the edge of. Kate exhales softly and watches the water ripple as it cascades down into the basin. She thinks of Brian’s reaction at Topanga, the way his fingers tightened on her waist when she first mentioned it.
“Yeah,” she says finally. She glances up at Amy and then to Kae. “He’s moving in soon. Probably next week.”
Amy whistles lowly. “Oh. That’s fast.”
Kate shrugs. “Why wait? It makes the most sense.” She crosses her legs and leans back slightly on her palms. “And it’ll give Alex time to adjust.”
Kae bumps her shoulder against Kate’s. “Time to accept that his little artist is moving on.”
Amy lets out a long groan. “Kae, stop it.” She looks at Kate. “Kat, but this Erodreamarts thing that starts in May… Dana insists that Alex leave for Cambria on February 28. Supposedly so no one finds out that he writes at least fifty percent of Sogni Nudi’s bestsellers under female pseudonyms. From the outside, it really looks like you’re replacing him with Brian.” Amy stretches her arms over her head and cracks her joints. “Kat, have you already talked to Dana about this? I mean, not about the whole Brian situation. God forbid. But sending Alex into exile in another part of California feels like way too much. He could just stay here and keep quiet. The mansion is huge, and there are always more than five hundred people around. We don’t even know exactly how long this so-called media marathon is going to last.”
Kate shifts and crosses her arms over her chest. “I know,” she murmurs. “I’ve thought about it. But Dana has her reasons. She’s worried about the company’s image, and honestly? I get it. The whole thing with Erodreamarts is delicate. If people found out Alex writes under all these pseudonyms…”
She exhales and watches the water in the fountain. “It would be chaos. Sogni Nudi’s brand is built on this idea of women authors, and even though it’s not illegal or anything, people would freak out. Especially with how controversial some of those books are.”
Amy nods slowly. “Yeah, I get that.”
Kae snorts, not hiding how much she enjoys the whole mess. “What a fucking drama, Kat… After all, you’re gonna have to admit one way or another that Brian is your boyfriend in front of those few media people they’ll let onto the mansion grounds. And in front of everyone else too. While Alex’s existence has to stay hidden.” She pauses to think. “The staff won’t be a problem for the most part. They mostly don’t give a fuck. But some of them will definitely think they won the bet.” Kae makes a vague hand gesture. “You know, for months now they’ve been running bets on whether you’d leave Alex for Brian or not. It started back in September last year, when you two began constantly chatting at every party under Aria’s watchful eye. Of course that’s not news to you.”
Kate lets out a short laugh and shakes her head. “I know. It’s stupid, but I guess I can’t blame them.” She leans forward again, elbows on her knees. “I mean, I’m not leaving Alex. Not really. But yeah. It’s complicated.”
Amy nudges her shoulder lightly. “I get it, Kat. It’s your life, and it’s messy as hell right now. But if it helps, at least you’re being honest with everyone.” She pauses and glances at Kae. “Even if some people enjoy the drama a little too much.”
Kae grins unrepentantly. “Drama and cuck-comedy, by the way.” Kae strikes a theatrical, thoughtful pose. “Right, we still need to remove all the Alex-related memorabilia from the mansion. Anything that could lead especially nosy journalists straight to him while they’re hanging around our place. And we gotta convert Alex’s office into Brian’s studio so he can write rap or whatever. And Alex’s old office needs to be turned into a boxing ring, since Brian isn’t just a rapper, he’s a boxer too…”
Amy sighs. “Kae, if you keep going, I’m drowning you in this fountain.”
Kate chuckles and shakes her head. She watches the water flow smoothly over the fountain’s stone basin. “I don’t think we need to hide every single trace of Alex,” she says finally. “That feels excessive.”
Kae smirks. “That’s true. But we’ll still have to remove something.” She looks at Amy. “And you know it too, ‘Alex’s mommy.’”
Kate smirks and shakes her head. “I’m not hiding anything from the world, Kae. Just managing perceptions.” She leans back and stretches her legs out. “Brian moving in doesn’t mean Alex is leaving. It just means we’re making room for everyone.”
Amy looks at Kate. “By the way… So where will Brian live after all? We have free rooms in the main building, but not that many.”
Kae giggles. “Well, he’ll live in one room with Kate, Amy. Especially after Alex leaves for Cambria.”
Kate’s fingers tighten slightly on the edge of the fountain. “Yeah,” she says quietly. “That’s what I figured.” She glances at Amy, who watches her carefully. “I mean, it’s the most logical arrangement, right? This place is huge, but we can’t exactly put Brian in a different wing forever. And I don’t think Alex will be back that often, at least not in the immediate future. So it just makes sense.”
Amy nods slowly. “Makes sense.” She studies Kate’s face for a moment. “This will happen on February 28, when Alex leaves for Cambria? Or are you going to evict your boyfriend from your shared room right now so Brian can move in?”
“Yeah, right now. What’s the point in dragging it out?” Kae giggles. “Alex and Kate’s room becomes Brian and Kate’s room.”
Kate’s fingers dig slightly into the edge of the fountain, but she doesn’t look away from Amy. “Yeah,” she says, voice steady. “I think that’s the plan. Unless Alex comes up with something else.”
Amy exhales through her nose and tilts her head. “And what about Alex? You’re not worried about him at all?”
Kate glances down at the water and watches the ripples spread outward. “I am,” she admits. “But he’s the one who suggested it. He said he wants me to be happy, and this is what I want.”
Amy doesn’t press.
Kae grins and stretches her legs out beside the fountain. “So the official date is…?”
Kate hesitates, her fingers tapping lightly against the stone. “Soon,” she says finally. “Probably next week. Before Erodreamarts starts getting too crazy.”
Amy nods slowly. “Makes sense. That way you can all adjust.”
Kae looks at Kate. “And in which room next week will you send Alex? You need both of them to be nearby, but not to run into each other. And so that it doesn’t look especially humiliating for Alex.”
Kate exhales slowly and watches the fountain’s steady stream of water. “I haven’t decided exactly,” she admits. “But not in the mansion proper. Too many staff, too many people coming and going. Maybe one of the guest houses.”
Amy raises an eyebrow. “That’s a sensible solution. But it’ll still be close enough that you can check on him whenever you want.” She pauses, then adds, “I don’t know. The staff will notice everything anyway. Overall not a great idea with this whole Brian moving in with us, which Alex himself suggested. But on the other hand, it’s really convenient and logical. How are you going to split time between the two of them? You remember Alex’s panic attacks four years ago? We can’t let them come back.”
Yes, Kate remembers them. From this thought something starts to ache in her chest. She exhales slowly and stares down at the fountain’s rippling water. “I don’t know,” she admits finally. Her fingers trace idle patterns on the stone. “I’ll figure it out. It’s not like I’m abandoning Alex.”