Chapter 35: One Piece.

February 6, 3:00 PM. Sogni Nudi, Dana’s office.
Dana sits at her massive desk with a cup of coffee. The big boss of Sogni Nudi wears a tight black suit jacket with a V-neck plunging almost to her navel, black trousers, and black high-heeled shoes. She takes a video call with Elisabetta Vespucci. On Dana’s laptop screen, Elisabetta lies on the huge sofa-bed at Dana’s house. She wears a white t-shirt and white panties. Both women already share this kind of relationship. Elisabetta serves as Dana’s assistant and one of her lovers.
“Don’t worry, I water all your plants and sort out the paperwork,” Elisabetta says, looking at the laptop screen where Dana’s office and Dana herself appear. “Better tell me how your talk with Beatrice goes this morning.”
Dana leans back in her leather chair and steeples her fingers. “Beatrice? The Filipina? She is great.” She smiles. “I have breakfast with her yesterday. She is intense. Talks about sex like it is her native language. Writes about it like she has some kind of psychic connection to readers’ deepest desires.”
Elisabetta laughs softly and shifts on the couch. “And what about her extra-curricular activities?” She gestures vaguely, referring to Bea’s music career and comic work.
Dana smirks. “She is a triple threat, baby. Music, comics, now this.” She taps her desk. “She has the whole package. And she does not hide anything. No bullshit, no pretending to be some tragic romantic like some of our authors. She just owns it.” Dana’s eyes glint with satisfaction. “Plus, she already has a built-in fanbase. Not just from the music and comics—people already know she has this dark side. The Bealullaby persona is already kind of dangerous. Sexy. It works for us.”
Elisabetta laughs. “Well, finally I impress you with my find! You will thank me later for digging up this Filipina for you. Like, tonight, for example.” She rolls over on the sofa-bed. “Did you like her writing?”
Dana’s eyes flicker across the screen, taking in Elisabetta’s relaxed pose. She leans back in her chair, a smirk playing at the corners of her mouth. “Oh, I love it,” she purrs. “Her writing is incredible. Raw, honest, absolutely filthy.”
Dana swivels slightly, her attention moving between the screen and her memories of the night spent devouring Beatrice’s work. “I mean, have you read some of her stuff? She does not hold back. No pretentious poetry about fucking—it is just pure, unfiltered lust.”
She runs a finger along the edge of her coffee cup, her other hand idly tracing patterns on her desk. “And get this—she already has fans who know her for her music and comics. They are going to lose their minds when they see her name on erotic books too.”
“What, she writes even better than Alex?” Elisabetta giggles. “By the way, for how many months are you sending him to Cambria? Has Valentina already nailed down how long Erodreamarts is gonna run?”
“Better? I do not know if I would say that,” Dana muses, speaking with smooth confidence as she adjusts her laptop screen to better see Elisabetta. “Alex has his own style—poetic, delicate even. But Beatrice… she is like a fucking wrecking ball of sexuality. No holds barred. Raw, honest, filthy.”
She leans forward slightly, elbows on her desk, fingers steepled beneath her chin. “And yeah, Valentina has the timeline finalized—Alex goes to Cambria on the twenty-eighth. Erodreamarts starts in early March, and he stays through September.”
Elisabetta whistles and leans closer to her laptop screen. “The whole summer?! They are gonna promote our town all summer long?! The mayor has completely lost her mind!” She giggles. “Alex still does not know the exact dates?”
Dana shakes her head no.
“Hmm… That is rough,” Elisabetta says. “And how is Kate doing? That rapper is gonna be staying with her—King B, right? They got some collab going or something? You are not thinking that…”
“Kate is excited,” Dana says flatly, sipping her coffee. “Aria says Brian has her thinking about new things.”
Elisabetta frowns. “Did you talk to Aria about this? This King B, I mean Brian—he is Aria’s guy, right? What the hell is going on in Château des Rêves? Is this gonna fuck with Alex? Or have you already completely switched to betting on Beatrice?”
Dana sighs and swirls her coffee cup before setting it down. “Beatrice is incredible, but no—she is not my main concern right now. And yeah, I talked to Aria. She is orchestrating this whole thing.” She gestures vaguely, fingers tapping against the desk. “Brian moving in, Alex leaving for Cambria, Erodreamarts taking over the town. It is like performance art. A little fucked up, but effective.” She glances at her phone, checking the time. “Kate is gonna announce it soon.”
Elisabetta whistles and leans back. “So this Brian guy is really moving in, huh? Alex is just…”
Dana barks out a laugh and shakes her head. “Alex is adjusting.”
“I do not know the details,” Dana says. She swirls her coffee cup before setting it down again. “Aria says Kate has Brian in her head now.”
Elisabetta frowns more deeply. “What do you mean?”
“I do not know. She does not tell me everything, and I do not ask. But the way Aria talks…” Dana pauses. “She is getting Kate to try things. Push boundaries. And Alex… I guess he is watching it happen.”
Elisabetta snorts. “So, like, they are a throuple now? That is what you are getting at? Or actually fourple—considering Brian is Aria’s boyfriend?”
Dana shrugs. “It is complicated. Alex and Kate are still together. Officially. But Aria has made sure Kate is curious about Brian. And Brian is not shy about pushing his luck. I guess it is so.”
Elisabetta sighs.
“Okay,” Elisabetta says. “We will not stick our noses in there. It is their personal business. The main thing is that it does not affect Alex’s ability to write.”
Dana nods. “Right. That is the deal.” She leans back in her chair, fingers drumming against the desk. “Alex still has to focus on Cambria. Erodreamarts is going to be big—bigger than we expected. The town’s already buzzing about it. I need him at his best.” She pauses. “And I do not want him distracted by whatever is happening at home.”
Elisabetta chuckles. “Yeah, I bet. A whole summer in Cambria? That is intense. You sure he can handle it?”
Dana exhales and rubs her temple. “He has to. We cannot reveal his identity.”
February 6, 4:00 PM. Cocoavilla, big lounge on the third floor.
Brian, Lottie, and Corin head off to fuck in one of the big bedrooms while Aria stays behind in the lounge. She paces along the floor-to-ceiling windows, staring out at the Cocoavilla gardens. She still wears her pink midriff-baring top and ultra-short white miniskirt that shows off her white thong underneath. Aria presses the phone to her ear.
“Oh, Latricia! So glad I finally got through to you. Everything still on? I’m moving into Château des Rêves next week with Brian. Kate has no idea yet. I think you’ll be a very nice surprise for her. You two have been overdue for a meeting for ages. You’re in New York right now, right? Will you make it to Dreamside in time?”
Aria leans against the glass, pressing the phone closer. She bites her lower lip.
Latricia’s voice comes through, sultry and confident. “Sweetheart, I’ve been waiting for your call. Yes, I’ll be in Dreamside by the weekend.”
Aria grins, shifting her weight as she looks down at the gardens. “Mmm, perfect. And you remember why you’re coming, right? I want you to really help Kate… explore her limits.”
Latricia’s laughter is rich and knowing. “Oh darling, I haven’t forgotten. Black dick is her kryptonite, isn’t it? And now she gets to have it whenever she wants.” Her voice drops. “Kate doesn’t know I’m coming, does she? How delicious. I can’t wait to meet her in person.”
Aria giggles and pushes off from the window. “Not yet. I’ll tell her tomorrow. She doesn’t know about you. I want her to be… surprised.”
Latricia hums approvingly. “I like how you think, baby. You know what you’re doing.” She pauses, and Aria can almost hear the smirk. “Tell me, does Kate know how much control I like? Or are you keeping that a secret too?”
Aria grins. “Oh, she’ll find out soon enough. I’ve been… introducing her to new experiences. She’s curious. Brian and Kate already had a date in Topanga. He’s fucked her. She’s starting to crave more. It’s obvious.”
Latricia lets out a slow, pleased hum. “That’s perfect. You’re preparing her just right.” Her words drop to a husky whisper. “I want to see how far I can push her, Aria. How much she can take.”
Aria sinks onto the lounge’s soft yellow couch and stretches her legs out. “Oh, she’s got stamina. You’ll see.” She grins, picturing Kate’s surprised face. “Brian says she’s tight as hell. Makes him work for it. I think she’ll love the challenge you bring.”
Latricia chuckles. “Good.” Her voice flows like warm molasses. “I like a girl who works for it. Makes the victory sweeter.” She pauses. “You know, I’m bringing some… toys. Just in case. Leather, ropes, a few impact play tools. And something special for her tight little ass.”
Aria bites her lip and shifts on the couch as heat pools low in her belly. Latricia continues smoothly. “I think she’ll enjoy learning about discipline. And pain.”
The words send a fresh wave of arousal through Aria. “Kate loves to be surprised,” she breathes.
Latricia chuckles darkly. “I have a feeling she won’t be disappointed. I’ll be gentle at first—just to get her comfortable. Then…” Her voice takes on a teasing lilt. “Then we’ll see how far she can go.”
Aria squirms on the couch and presses her thighs together as Latricia goes on. “You know I love breaking in new girls. Making them understand how much they need to obey. And Kate? She’s got that sweet little submissive energy. I realized this from her photos on Instagram.”
Aria nods even though Latricia cannot see her. “She’s definitely submissive. Alex…” She trails off, biting her lip. “He doesn’t dominate her. Not really. He worships her, yes. But Kate? She likes being controlled.”
Latricia’s pleased hum vibrates through the phone. “Perfect. She’ll thank you for this, Aria.”
Aria’s hand drifts between her thighs, pressing lightly against her dampening panties. “I just want her to experience everything,” she murmurs. “Everything she’s never had before.”
Latricia speaks with rich amusement. “I can see why you’re so invested in this.” Her voice drops lower. “You enjoy watching her get taken, don’t you? Enjoy seeing her used?”
Aria exhales sharply, fingers rubbing slow circles through the fabric of her thong. “I enjoy seeing her happy,” she corrects, but there is no real denial in her tone.
Latricia chuckles knowingly. “Of course. And seeing her happy with someone who isn’t Alex makes you happy too.”
Aria does not answer. She bites her lip harder as heat pools between her thighs. Latricia does not need an answer. “Don’t worry, Aria. I’ll take good care of your bestie.”
February 6, 4:00 PM. Château des Rêves, Alex and Kate’s room.
Since Becky is off the mansion grounds—and she will stay gone for a long time, busy with her Malibu vendetta against Marisol—Daria steps in as Kate’s personal assistant on top of her caddie duties.
Right now Daria wears a loose blue t-shirt covered in One Piece anime characters and loose white shorts. She sits on the Sexodrome with her legs crossed, fiddling with the fabric of her rainbow sock while she studies Kate’s work materials. Several offers from Hollywood producers for ad shoots and public events sit alongside letters from Swag&Pop clients. Not all of them are professional. Some are outright love letters from potential buyers of Kate’s paintings.
Alex is not in the room. He has already left for another tutoring session with Sarah. Daria knows about it now, so the circle of people aware of Alex’s secret—that he writes English poorly and Lila has been helping him—grows by one.
Kate sits at the desk chair, fixing her hair while she looks into a handheld mirror. She wears a loose white shirt and black home pants.
“Damn, I didn’t even know there was so much of this stuff…” Daria whispers. She runs her hand across the tablet screen. “But I’ll handle it. I think.” She shifts uncomfortably on the Sexodrome, her socked foot bouncing. “I’m not sure if I should open all these letters or just forward them to your agent. It’s a little… personal.”
Kate laughs and sets the mirror down. “Oh, Daria. You can open them. They’re mostly harmless.” She stands, stretches, and joins Daria on the giant fold-out couch-bed. “Sometimes they’re sweet. Sometimes… well, let’s just say creative.” She sits next to Daria and peers at the screen. “Which one are you reading?”
Daria scrolls quickly, avoiding Kate’s gaze. “Just the first few. Mostly compliments about your art.” Her fingers tremble slightly as she opens one message—a rambling, passionate love letter from a fan who met Kate at a gallery opening. He describes in detail how he wants to “taste every inch of her perfect skin” and “ruin her for anyone else.”
Kate snorts and leans closer. “Oh my god. This one’s special.” She reads aloud, mimicking the writer’s style with exaggerated drama. “’The way your paintbrush moves across the canvas is like watching poetry in motion, and I can only imagine how those same hands would feel against my body.’”
Daria shifts. “Uh, yeah.” Kate keeps going, grinning. “’Every brushstroke reveals your mastery, just as I would revel in mastering you.’” She pauses and raises an eyebrow. “’I want to watch you come undone beneath me, Kate. I want to be the one who makes you forget everything but my name.’” She meets Daria’s wide eyes with a mischievous grin. “That’s quite the proposal, don’t you think?”
Daria laughs. “That’s so basic and dumb! Damn, how often do you get shit like this? It’s straight-up trolling…” Her Russian accent thickens with the laughter. “And Becky reads this crap all the time? Is that part of being a personal assistant? Wading through these pathetic spermatoxins…” She pauses. “I don’t know how to say it in English… Basically, cum went straight to their brains.”
Kate bursts out laughing. Her body shakes as she leans against Daria’s shoulder. “Oh my god, spermatoxins!” She calms a little, still grinning. “Becky is a pro at this. She reads every single one and ranks them. The worst ones she saves for Alex.”
Daria snorts and scrolls through more messages. “God, this one says he wants… Oh, fuuuuck.” She glances sideways at Kate. “Do you ever respond? Or is that against the rules or something?” Her fingers hover over the screen.
Kate rolls her head back dramatically and stretches out on the couch beside Daria. “Oh no, the rules are very strict,” she deadpans, lips quirking. She grabs her phone and scrolls with a practiced eye. “I used to respond to the really sweet ones, but then I realized—“ She stops on a graphic message and reads in a faux-serious tone. “’When I imagine you riding me, I see your hips rolling like the tide, your blonde hair cascading down as you take control.’” She squints at the screen. “’I want to be the sand beneath your feet, the ocean at your command.’”
Daria laughs and shakes her head. “Okay, that one’s not bad actually. Sounds kinda… poetic in a weird way.” She glances at Kate, who now reclines with her feet up and one arm behind her head. Something about the way she sprawls there feels unsettlingly comfortable. The thought warms Daria’s chest.
Kate notices and arches an eyebrow. “What? You think I should respond?” Her voice carries mock curiosity laced with teasing.
Daria swallows. “No!” Both girls laugh.
“I’m amazed at how calm you are,” Daria says. “Amy has been… um… stressed out all day. I guess because of Becky, the new maid arriving tomorrow, and that one… what’s her name…” Daria adjusts her loose blue t-shirt. “Ava. Ava Schneider. Amy and Lila decided to hire her as crisis manager.” She swipes across the tablet screen.
At that moment the door opens and Amy peeks in. She still wears the same blue t-shirt and loose white pants from this morning.
“I’m literally here for a couple seconds,” Amy says, scanning the room. “Is this still Alex and Kate’s room or has it already become Brian and Kate’s?” She looks at Kate. “Has Becky texted you? Neither Lila nor I can get through to her. Is she already in Malibu beating Marisol’s face in or what?”
Kate rolls her eyes and stays stretched out lazily on the couch-bed. “Amy, you know Becky’s probably halfway to Malibu by now, getting all worked up and ready to sabotage whatever security system she can get her hands on. And she will clearly do it better than Jonas.” She sits up a little and rests her chin on her palm. “As for this room, well…”
She glances at Daria, a mischievous spark in her eyes. “For now it’s still mine and Alex’s, but I have a feeling that’s about to change.” She looks back at Amy and grins. “Besides, what’s the big deal if I’m hosting Brian here instead of Alex? It’s just a few extra guests in the house.”
Amy sighs and steps further inside. “A few extra guests, sure.” She scans the room again. “This is so Becky. If Jonas tried to hack our security system on Marisol’s orders, she’ll hack every security system in California in revenge—and it won’t matter if they’re connected to Marisol or not. Whatever.”
Amy leaves and closes the door behind her. Kate lets out a long breath and leans her head back against the Sexodrome cushions. The room falls quiet except for the faint hum of the air conditioner. Daria’s fingers hover over the tablet, but her attention drifts—half on the messages, half on the way Kate keeps glancing at the door like she expects someone else to walk through it. Alex will not arrive anytime soon. He left for his tutoring session with Sarah, scheduled for 5 PM.
“You’re thinking about Alex,” Daria says. It is not a question. She tucks her legs under her, making herself smaller on the enormous couch.
Kate smiles faintly, but something distant lingers in her expression. “Maybe. I just… don’t know if I’m doing the right thing. With Brian, I mean.”
Daria blinks. “But you like Brian.”
“I do.” Kate’s voice stays quiet, thoughtful. She traces lazy circles on the cushions with her fingers, her gaze fixed on the door as if she expects Alex to walk through it. “It’s just… complicated. Alex is so good to me. So patient. He lets me do whatever I want, even if it means sharing me with someone else.”
She looks at Daria, her blue eyes searching. “And that’s what worries me. Am I taking advantage of him? Or am I just being selfish?”
Daria shifts and pulls her knees up to her chest. “I think… I think Alex likes knowing he’s the one who gives you everything. Even if that means sharing you.”
Kate nods slowly, a small smile playing on her lips. “That’s what he always says. But I can’t help wondering… what if he starts to resent it? What if he gets jealous?”
Daria’s lips twitch into a sly smile. “Are you asking me or yourself?” she teases.
Kate laughs, the sound warm and musical. “Both, I guess. You know Alex. He wouldn’t say anything. Not unless it really bothers him. I think that’s what makes this so… thrilling, actually.”
Daria raises an eyebrow. “Thrilling?”
“Yeah.” Kate meets her eyes, excitement flickering there. “He trusts me so much. And I love that.” Her fingers play with the hem of her white shirt. “But sometimes… it’s exciting to wonder if he might not be as unaffected as he pretends.”
Daria shifts again, uncomfortable but unsure why. She has never seen Kate like this—so open about something that feels intimate in a way different from her usual flirtations. Different from how she talks about Brian. Kate tilts her head slightly. “Does that sound terrible? That I want to push his limits a little?”
“No.” Daria shakes her head quickly. “I just… I don’t know how to answer. I mean, I think it’s kind of… sexy? That you want to see how far you can go.”
Kate’s face brightens with a slow smile. “Yeah. It is.” She leans back, stretching her arms above her head. Her shirt rides up to reveal a sliver of bare skin. “Brian is so different from Alex. Alex is careful. Thoughtful. He makes love like he is solving a puzzle, like he wants to know exactly what I like.”
She trails off, gazing at the ceiling as she remembers. “Brian doesn’t care about that. He just… does what he wants.”
Daria ponders this while she scrolls through materials on the tablet. She glances silently at Kate, who lies next to her on the giant fold-out couch-bed. Daria stretches her legs out, cracking her joints, but stays seated. Then she lets out a little chuckle.
“Um… I heard from Amy and Kae today that Brian is moving in with us next week. You’ll be sharing this room with him, this bed… um… couch-bed… And you’re sending Alex to a guest house? Is that like…” Daria lightly scratches her head, fixing her dark bobbed hair. “…a joke or for real?”
“Real,” Kate says softly. “I mean, not a joke, exactly.” She turns her head to look at Daria, her blue eyes alight with something playful and restrained at the same time. “Brian’s moving in, yeah. And Alex…” She hesitates, biting her lower lip slightly before she continues. “He’s going to stay in the guest house before Cambria. It’s easier that way.”
Daria hums and tilts her head slightly as she observes Kate’s expression. The way she speaks—soft but firm—makes it clear this is something she has decided on, something she has already thought through. And yet, something else lingers there too. It shows in the way she looks at the door as she talks.
“You know,” Daria says carefully, “a lot of girls would be nervous about that. Having two men in their space like this.”
Kate’s smile widens, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “I’m not most girls.” She rolls onto her side, props her head up with one hand, and looks directly at Daria. “Besides, it’s not like I haven’t thought about this. About… pushing things further.”
Daria shifts again, her fingers unconsciously gripping the tablet tighter. She does not respond immediately, but she listens closely. Kate continues, her voice quiet but steady. “Alex knows I’m curious. About… other things. Other experiences.”
Daria stays quiet for a moment, then speaks. “Well… I don’t think anyone should be judging here at all. I mean, I’ve become way too… American for that.” She thinks for a second. “Although even in Russia I wasn’t exactly too…” She makes a vague hand gesture and lets out a small chuckle. “You know what I mean.”
Daria looks at Kate with mild curiosity. “And what now? Starting next week you’re officially Brian’s girlfriend? And with Alex… um… you’re on a break, formally? Mmm… temporary?”
Daria scratches her head awkwardly and adds, “Don’t get me wrong. I’m just saying it based on… well, like, you’ll be in one room with Brian, and Alex won’t even live in the main building of the mansion anymore.”
Kate lets out a breathy laugh, the sound almost musical, as she rolls onto her back and stretches her arms above her head. The movement makes her shirt ride up further, revealing more of her toned stomach. She watches the ceiling for a moment before answering.
“Not officially anything,” she says, her fingers idly tracing patterns in the air. “I don’t know. I guess… I’m with both of them. But in different ways.” She turns her head to look at Daria again, her expression unreadable.
Daria giggles. “Oh, I think I’m starting to get it… Probably.” She chuckles. “I’m just thinking people are gonna get confused. Like, are you ‘Alex’s girlfriend’ or ‘Brian’s girlfriend’? Though once Erodreamarts starts, you’ll definitely have to play ‘Brian’s girlfriend.’ Because info about Alex will need to be hidden, and he will be in Cambria anyway…”
Kate exhales softly, smiling at the ceiling. “I know. It’s… complicated.” She turns her head to look at Daria again, studying her with an unreadable expression. “I don’t need a label. Or maybe… I need more than one. I don’t know. It just feels right.”
Daria watches her carefully, not judging, just listening. “Yeah… I think I get that. Like, Alex is… Alex. And Brian is… Brian.” She leans back a little more, getting comfortable on the massive couch-bed. “Alex is the one you love. But Brian is… fun. Exciting. Something new.”
Kate nods slowly, her fingers still tracing invisible shapes in the air. “Exactly. Alex understands that. I think that’s what makes this work. He knows I need… more. Different things.”
Daria hums in agreement, though something flickers across her face. “Different things,” she echoes, nodding slightly. She swipes her thumb across the screen of her tablet, scrolling through the messages again without really looking at them. “And you think… you can have both? That it won’t… I don’t know… change things too much?”
Kate’s fingers stop mid-air, hovering. She considers Daria’s question carefully. “I don’t know,” she admits after a moment. “I hope not. I mean, I want Alex to be happy. That’s always been the most important thing.” She speaks softly, almost wistfully. “He’s been so… understanding about all of this. More than I ever expected.”
Daria shifts a little on the couch-bed. “I mean, Brian might… Well, you know.” She makes a vague gesture in the air with her hand, then adjusts her loose blue t-shirt with One Piece anime characters. “Want you all to himself. Not share you with Alex.”
Kate rolls onto her side, propping her head up with one hand. She studies Daria for a moment, her fingers playing with the hem of her own loose white shirt. “I know,” she says softly. “I think that’s part of the appeal for him. The idea of… of taking me from Alex.” She pauses, then adds with a small smile, “Not that Alex would ever give me up. But Brian likes the idea of me being… claimed. Possessed, even.”
Daria raises an eyebrow, tilting her head slightly. “And you? Do you like that idea?” She’s still scrolling through messages on the tablet, but her attention is fully on Kate now.
Kate bites her lower lip for a second, considering. Then she lets out a soft laugh. “Yeah… I think I do.” She shifts onto her back again, staring up at the ceiling. “There’s something about knowing he wants me that badly. That he’s willing to… to fight for me.” She exhales slowly. “I don’t know if I’d call it being ‘claimed’ exactly. But I like the attention.” She smiles faintly.
Daria nods, understanding flickering across her face. “It’s… different from Alex.” Not a question, just an observation. She sets the tablet aside, giving Kate her full attention now. “Alex loves you. Like… properly. The whole person.”
Kate hums in agreement, closing her eyes for a moment. “Yeah… He does.” Her voice is soft, almost dreamy. “And that’s why I can do this. Because I know he really loves me. That I don’t have to… to prove anything to him. I don’t have to be anyone else.” She opens her eyes, looking at Daria again. “Brian… he wants me because I’m his type. Because I look good, because I act the way I do. He likes that I’m fun, that I’m playful.” She pauses, then adds with a small smile, “That I don’t mind playing his game.”
Daria nods slowly, understanding deepening on her face. “Yeah. Alex… he’s different.” She speaks more quietly, her Russian accent thickening slightly. “With Brian, it’s all about… about the chase, the excitement. With Alex, it’s… deeper.”
Kate watches her, noticing the careful way she chooses her words. She props herself up on one elbow, studying Daria’s face. “You sound like you know what you’re talking about.” It’s not quite a question, but there’s curiosity in her tone.
Daria shrugs lightly, looking down at her fingers as she toys with the hem of her loose blue t-shirt. “I’ve… had experiences,” she admits quietly. “Not like you and Alex.” She looks back up at Kate, her gaze steady but guarded. “But I know what it’s like to have someone who… who really sees you. Who loves you just for who you are.” There’s a small, wistful smile on her face.
Kate watches her for a long moment before speaking. “You should have that too,” she says softly.
Daria’s smile widens slightly, but there’s something almost sad in it. “Maybe one day,” she says. Then, changing the subject, she gestures to the tablet. “You should read this one. This fan says you’re ‘like liquid gold running through his fingers.’”
Kate laughs, the sound bright and warm despite the sudden melancholy in the room.