Chapter 6: The New Black.

February 4, 2024, 1:00 PM, Dreamside.
The Tesla glides along the wide asphalt road toward Château des Rêves on autopilot. Alex scrolls through Instagram Reels. His profile is completely empty—zero posts, zero followers, no picture, no name. He only follows Kate, Lila, Madi, Amy, and a few other housemates from the mansion. Plus a ton of Kate fan accounts.
He pauses on one Reel. It's a clip from Kate's interview for a popular California magazine. She wears a dark blue velvet dress with a deep neckline, half-hidden by her long blonde hair. A big black bow sits at the back of her head. She sits in front of space-themed wallpaper—planets and cosmic stuff. Smiling and laughing, she answers the offscreen host in her usual explosive, charismatic voice.
"I love my social media. Seriously, I love posting hot pics. Thirst traps and all that. Come on, that's exactly what it's for. Don't get it twisted — I'm not showing my friends or my real life. I just want you to see me looking fire, and that's it."
Alex scrolls to the comments. Two stand out in one thread:
Virtual-Quote6309 (8mo ago): "Then how about some bikini pics."
MirrorsEdge42 (8mo ago): "Amen to this. She never has and it's tragic."
He smirks, closes the app, and mutters to himself.
"Man… if only you guys knew what's really going on. Good thing Dreamside is a closed community. Otherwise we'd just be another half-Hollywood LA neighborhood."
He texts Lila on WhatsApp.
"Suit ready for the meeting? I just left Sarah's. Video call? But only if no one's around. I really need it."
Lila replies almost instantly.
"Yeah, just got dressed. Come on, I'm alone in my room. FaceTime now."
She calls before he can even set the phone down.
Her face fills the screen, hair still damp from the shower. She wears a fitted black blazer with gold buttons and matching pants. Her makeup looks subtle but sharp. Alex raises his eyebrows.
"Damn, you look sharp. Like a professional dominatrix."
Lila smirks and adjusts the angle so he can see the full outfit.
"Good, right? I wanted to look like I belong in a high-end sex club."
Alex chuckles, then turns serious.
"Alright, serious note. Is my suit ready? Yours clearly is… Wait—are you planning to strap-on those gardener guys or what?" He laughs again. "Okay, okay… we're talking about me. Anyway…"
He sighs.
"Is my suit ready? I've got a one-on-one with Brian today. I wanna look fucking sharp. You didn't forget about my suit while picking your own outfit, right? And one more thing…"
He runs a hand through his short dark brown hair.
"I was shocked when you messaged me last night about Sarah. At first Kate and I were both upset… Well, okay—I was the only one upset. Kate took it pretty calmly. My whole grammar disaster was supposed to stay between the three of us, but you brought Sarah in—and I'm grateful. You did it to help me cope with this strange experiment Aria came up with. Fucking Lila…"
He rubs his right temple.
"She's an amazing tutor and I'm still studying with her, but here's the problem—I think she actually likes me. Like, likes me. Lila, instead of defusing it, you're making it worse. Why? So I bounce between Kate and Sarah? You know I'll start playing along with Sarah just to avoid breaking her heart—and I'm not leaving Kate. Let alone cheating on her. Fuck, Lila… I'm speechless."
Lila tilts her head, dark hair falling over one shoulder as she leans against the headboard. The gold buttons on her blazer catch the light when she stretches her arms behind her head.
"First of all," she says with a smirk, "of course your suit's ready. I picked the perfect charcoal grey with a subtle windowpane check. It's hanging in your closet, just waiting for you to put it on and look devastatingly handsome."
She licks her lips slightly.
"And secondly—relax, Alex. I know Sarah's got a thing for you, but so what? It's not like you're gonna fuck her. Just enjoy the attention."
Alex's eyes widen.
"No way! I… Ah, whatever. Just tell me—do Amy and Madi already know? Did they catch you this morning?"
He leans closer to the screen, squinting at her face.
"No blowups between you and Kate on one side, and Amy and Madi on the other? Don't bother mentioning Kae—our OnlyFans butler probably figured out Aria's whole idea the second she pitched it to Kate last week…"
He sighs.
"And what about the others… Five hundred or… damn, it's both funny and scary—I don't even know how many people live in this mansion with me and Kate! Anyway—what are the female staff saying? And the guys? What's the general mood? Everyone's known about the Brian–Kate thing for months now—except me. She's been partying with him at every event lately… What I want to know is—that whole mess yesterday, Kate suddenly leaving on a Saturday morning for the gallery, Aria showing up instead, and me losing it all day… And the fact that the three of us—you, me, and Kate—clearly avoided Amy and Madi… That didn't go unnoticed, did it?"
Lila giggles, fingers playing with the lapels of her blazer.
"Oh Alex, you're such a worrywart. Yes, everyone knows. Amy and Madi caught me this morning before I even made it to breakfast. They were pissed at first, but…"
She bites her lip.
"They're not stupid. They've seen how much Kate's been enjoying Brian's company. And they know how attached you are to her. So now they're just curious. Waiting to see how this plays out. As for the others…"
She shrugs.
"Most of them think it's hilarious. Some are rooting for Brian, some for you. There are betting pools in the kitchen."
Alex stays silent for a few seconds, then asks in stunned disbelief.
"Pools? Are you fucking serious right now?"
His eyes widen.
"And who's in the lead? Jesus, this is ridiculous—we're not in some goddamn reality show. This is my fucking personal life… mine and Kate's…"
He exhales sharply and runs a hand through his hair.
"Anyway, how's Kate? From your point of view?"
Lila's smile widens, her fingers brushing over the gold buttons.
"She's happy. Like, genuinely. You know how she gets when she's excited about something."
She shifts, leaning back against the headboard.
"She doesn't really hide it. I think she's trying to keep it casual, but there's this energy around her whenever she talks about Brian. It's cute, in a way."
Alex tries to whistle but only makes an awkward garbled noise.
"Brlblryu… Fuck—I mean… You're presenting it so classy and delicate! I'm impressed!" he snaps, sarcasm thick with irritation. "Like, 'Your girlfriend is really looking forward to when you talk to her friend in a couple of hours so she can finally spend some time with him'… Jesus, Lila! I already feel like the main character in some dumb French comedy… Shit, even my fucking house has a French name… And you're still cracking jokes!"
He rolls his neck, trying to steady himself.
"And I see you in that perfect fitted black blazer with the gold buttons and matching pants… And the charcoal grey suit with the subtle windowpane check you laid out for me doesn't feel half as perfect next to your outfit. Even though I usually only ever see you half-dressed around the house…"
His expression suddenly turns suspicious.
"Wait—don't tell me… You didn't tell Sarah about that trip to the Swiss ski resort? You know, the one with you and Kate, where I confused you with some other Asian girl? Or not exactly Asian, right? You're not just Chinese and Malaysian—there's Irish and Scottish in there too… Anyway, her husband almost beat the shit out of me. You were the only one laughing your ass off. But—what the fuck, Lila, I told her! I literally told her that just minutes ago during the English grammar lesson at her place—the one you arranged. She laughed, but like, politely."
He squints at the phone, brow furrowed, then exhales sharply—half disbelief, half panic.
"You're fucking kidding me. She actually didn't know? Oh fuck. No no no no no..."
Lila grins, mischief flashing in her eyes as she leans closer to the camera.
"Relax, genius. Sarah's clumsy, but she's not a snitch. That whole ski trip story was a mess, but I made sure it stayed between us." She taps her lips, voice dropping to a teasing whisper. "Besides, Sarah's got her own shit going on. She's more distracted by her crush on you than spilling secrets."
She straightens up, smirking. "And about the suit—don't stress. You're gonna look sharp as hell. Brian better watch out."
Lila's smile softens for a second. "Kate's riding that edge, you know? Excited but cautious. She's juggling fire and damn if she's not enjoying the burn."
She winks, voice low and playful. "And hey, if this turns into a full-on circus, at least you've got front-row seats."
Alex sighs.
"I'm almost there… What does 'Kate's riding that edge' even mean? Drop the metaphors. I was with her all night and half of today—we talked for hours, I told her a hundred times I'm fine with everything. So what's the issue?" He pauses. "We still haven't decided how it's gonna happen. But I'm not watching them fuck. That's just dumb. I already told Aria to fuck off with that idea yesterday. Did Kate say anything specific? How is she going to split time between Brian and me?"
Lila's grin widens as she hears his exasperation. She leans back slightly, tilting her head like she's savoring every bit of his frustration.
"Oh, sweetie, you're so cute when you're this worked up," she teases, stretching her arms behind her head lazily. "Kate didn't say anything specific, but I'm telling you—she's buzzing. Full-on hummingbird energy. You think you've got this figured out, but baby boy, that woman has plans." She lets out a low chuckle. "Plans that involve a big, strong, smooth-talking present Aria wrapped up just for her."
February 4, 2024, 1:40 PM. Château des Rêves, third floor, Alex and Kate's room.
"So, how do I look? Lila picked this out, as you probably already know," Alex says, standing in front of Kate in a charcoal grey suit with a subtle windowpane check. "And yeah, have you decided how you're gonna… um… split time between us? We both agreed to ditch Aria's idea of me being there live during your 'friendship' acts with Brian."
Kate stands before him, scanning him from head to toe. She's wearing a loose white dress shirt with a smooth black bra visible underneath and blue jeans. She steps forward, fingers brushing the lapels of his suit jacket as she adjusts it. Her blue eyes meet his, bright with amusement and something warmer, more secretive.
"Baby Boy, you look like you're about to close a deal with the devil," she murmurs, fingers trailing down the front of his shirt. "Lila's got you dressed like a goddamn movie star. I almost forgot how hot you clean up." She leans in, pressing a soft kiss to his cheek before pulling back just enough to hold his gaze. "And as for splitting time..."
She pauses, biting her lip—not seductively, but like she's wrestling with her thoughts. "I don't have a fucking spreadsheet, Alex. I'm not that organized. I just… I want it to feel right. For both of us."
Alex knows her deadpan-weird humor is about to kick in, but he asks anyway.
"Okay... I'm just asking so there won't be any conflicts or misunderstandings. Jumping straight from a monogamous relationship into a throuple… You know what I mean..."
He looks himself over.
"Yeah, it looks fine... Honestly, it feels kinda weird. Like I'm going over there to sell you to him..."
Kate lets out a soft, musical laugh that vibrates through her body, still pressed lightly against him. Her fingers splay over his chest, feeling the firmness beneath the crisp fabric.
"Baby Boy," she murmurs, tilting her head up to meet his eyes, "you're not selling me to anyone. I'm not some fucking auction prize." She moves closer, her breath warm against his neck. "I'm choosing this. Choosing him because he's got this wild energy that's screaming to be painted." She lifts one hand to cup his cheek, thumb brushing over the faint stubble along his jaw.
"And choosing you. Always you. You're my damn muse, Alex. Don't forget it." She kisses him lightly, then pulls back with a wicked smile. Her fingers trail down to the buttons of his shirt, popping one open with a quiet snick. "But baby," she murmurs, voice dropping an octave as she leans in, "you can't blame me for wanting to see if Brian's got that spark I could paint into a masterpiece." She flashes a mischievous grin, teeth catching her lower lip for a second.
"Besides, you're the one who said I could chase a little inspiration, right? Don't worry. You're still my favorite canvas." Her hand presses lightly against his chest, feeling his heartbeat quicken. She steps back, giving him a slow once-over before meeting his eyes again.
Alex feels a mix of excitement, arousal, and a little stomach drop. He doesn't try to hide it.
He crosses his arms and mimics a childish voice, thick with sarcasm and playful fear.
"Yeah... Baby Boy's scared his Goddess Mommy will forget him if she starts playing with Brian!"
Then he drops back to his normal voice.
"Listen, have you talked to him at all? Yeah, I know we were together all evening yesterday... It's just..." Alex lowers his arms and puts them behind his back. "Well... I've never really talked to him before... Is he... I don't know... kind of tough?"
Kate's grin widens at his imitation. She moves closer, pressing her body against his as she cradles his face in both hands. Her thumbs stroke his cheeks with almost worshipful tenderness that doesn't match the teasing glint in her eyes.
"Oh, Baby Boy," she murmurs, words thick with affection and something more primal. "You're so adorable when you're nervous." She kisses him, slow and deep. When she pulls back, her breathing is slightly uneven. "Brian's not tough—he's... direct."
Alex chuckles.
"Okay… well, I'll get to meet him soon enough." He glances at the time on his phone. "Alright, it's 1:44 PM. So... I showered, got dressed, had my coffee... Guess I'm heading out? Should get to Beverly by 3 PM, at the address he gave me."
He shakes his head, half-laughing.
"Fucking insane day. And then there's that tutoring thing with Sarah... She's actually kinda cool. Maybe we should take her to Vegas too—with Ariel. We can't take Lila. Let her be mad. We could've invited Becky, but she keeps making dick jokes about my dick and it's starting to piss me off."
He throws Kate a mock-offended look.
"I have a perfectly fine one! Okay? Maybe not like his, but still…"
Kate's hands slide from his face down to his shoulders, squeezing lightly as she gives him a knowing smirk. "Oh, Baby Boy, of course you do," she purrs, tilting her head. "Oh, Baby Boy, of course you do. Perfectly good for me." She presses her body flush against his, feeling the heat of his skin through the suit. "But don't pretend you don't love hearing me talk about other guys. You get all worked up over it."
Her fingers trail down his chest, tracing the buttons before resting at his waist. "And yes—let's take Sarah to Vegas. And Ariel. It'll be fun." She rises onto her toes to nip at his lower lip.
February 4, 2024, 1:44 PM. Beverly Hills. Sunset Ridge Estates. Brian's crib.
Brian is expecting Alex at 3 PM. He sits in the massive living room on the fifth floor, lounging on a big white couch and sipping a mojito through a straw. He wears a formal white suit—white pants, an unbuttoned blazer, and a white shirt with no tie. In front of him stands a large glass coffee table with nothing on it but an open laptop. He's on a video call with Aria.
On the screen, Aria wears a full-body white bunny pajama suit. She sits on a big pink bed.
"So? Ready for Alex to show up at 3 PM?" she asks playfully, whacking a pillow. "Go easy on him, okay? If you push too hard, he'll freak out and Kate will cancel everything. She's really attached to him. I was texting with her this morning—she still doesn't know how she's gonna split her time between you two."
Brian lets out a deep chuckle and takes a slow sip of his mojito.
"Attached to him? Yeah, I know. But she's also attached to the idea of being with me. I'm giving her the space to figure it out." He leans back, stretching his arms across the backrest. "She'll come around. Once she sees what I can do with her, there won't be much thinking left."
Aria laughs, and leans forward with her elbows on her knees.
"You're so cocky," she teases, shaking her head. "I love it. But Alex… he's fragile in his own way. And I know how much you want to claim Kate as yours."
Brian smirks and twirls the straw in his drink while he watches her. "I know exactly how much I want her. And I know how to handle Alex, too." He sips again, savoring the minty sweetness. "I'm not some thug just out to fuck. I respect the situation. I'll give her time to process it all. But I can already tell—I'm what she's been craving for a while now."
He gestures toward the camera with his glass. "You know how it is. A woman like Kate? She wants someone who can match her energy and take charge. And I know I can do that. Alex…" He pauses, shaking his head with a knowing smirk. "He's good for her, in his own way. But he's not the kind of man who can take control. And she needs that. She needs to be pushed to her limits, not just handled gently."
Aria's grin widens. Her fingers play with the hem of her bunny pajama top. "You really do think of yourself as the top, huh?" She moves closer to the camera, her voice turning huskier. "Like you're the only one who can really satisfy her."
Brian leans forward, elbows on his knees, mirroring her. "I don't just think it—I know it. And so does she."
Aria giggles. She slides to the edge of the bed and adjusts her laptop on the dresser. Brian sees her face up close on the screen, that sly squint in her eyes.
"Listen, she really doesn't want to choose. Not yet. And Alex refused to watch live while you 'get close' with Kate in front of him." She giggles and jumps back onto her pink bed. "You know, like in those videos where the guy just watches. He said it's stupid. Kate agrees. So do I, and you… and basically everyone normal. But what surprises me is that Alex said no. He's got some wild stuff saved in his browser. He thinks no one but Lila knows about it—oh, how wrong he is! Well, Brian, you don't really know much about him yet. But you'll find out when you meet him in a couple of hours."
Brian chuckles deeply, his broad shoulders shaking. He leans forward, forearms on his thighs, fingers laced together, and looks at Aria with lazy confidence.
"You say I don't know much about him? You're right—I don't." He smirks, tilting his head. "But I know how men like Alex work. I've seen it before. Guys with money always think they own a woman just because they got her first." He pauses, swirling the ice in his drink. "Thing is, though… Kate? She's not some girl who's gonna settle for half-measures. Not forever, anyway." His smirk widens as he sips. "She needs a man who can handle her. And Alex…?" He lets out a soft chuckle and shakes his head.
Aria giggles and plays with the bunny ears on her pajamas. "Yeah, right? You're just in love with her, but she already has a boyfriend. And they're monogamous, unlike you and me, Brian. That just makes things more complicated."
She smoothly rolls over on the bed.
"Hmm… Look, Brian—they're a really unusual couple. Alex is a successful erotic writer using pen names. Kate's a successful artist, model, golfer, and a bit of an actress. Their place is the mansion Château des Rêves, with a bunch of staff, mostly girls. But there are guys too." Aria pauses, pondering. "I've always wondered why she picked Alex… I've known her since college. Before she started dating him, I was the main social queen and party girl of Dreamside… Not anymore. But I'm still a badass photographer and model. I'm not jealous, it's just funny: her boyfriend hates parties and spends all his time upstairs in his office while she throws them downstairs in their mansion. She's not really into constant parties either, but she loves the attention and…"
She continues, brushing the plush bunny ears. "…Anyway, she says she throws parties almost every week exclusively for her friends from the staff. Alex jokes they have 'nepo-HR': like Kate invited her friends to live and work at the mansion, those friends invited theirs, and so on down the line… And the Château des Rêves was actually a gift to Alex from the owner of the Sogni Nudi publishing house, Dana Lovell. Yeah—the same publisher Alex has been grinding for four years now, pumping out erotic masterpiece after masterpiece. And yeah—an actual gift, can you believe that?"
Brian exhales sharply through his nose, amused. He sips his drink slowly, watching Aria. "That explains a lot," he says, voice deep and measured. "Guy like that—kept up in some ivory tower, writing his little fantasies while his woman runs the show downstairs… No wonder she's looking for something different." He grins, resting the glass on his thigh. "You think he even knows how to keep a woman like Kate truly happy? Or does he just sit in his office dreaming about it while she's out living?"
Aria giggles, rolling onto her back. "Honestly, his imagination is wild. I've read a couple of his books… Not gonna lie, it's fucking hot with solid, realistic storylines and a really smooth writing style."
She smacks a pillow again. "It's crazy because English isn't even his native language, and he was a virgin before Kate. In all four years of their relationship, he's never once cheated on her. They haven't even had a single fight. Can you believe that? He's a total 'Mister Yes.' If Kate wants something, he gives it to her. No, she's not dominant or anything. She's like the girl next door from a romantic comedy. You've seen it yourself—you can't take your eyes off her at parties. The whole Château des Rêves is already shipping you two behind Alex's back. I think she's just gotten used to his constant yeses, like it's the most natural thing in the world. Like the sun rising every morning."
Aria bursts out laughing. "Can you imagine? He literally just found out yesterday morning that you've been charming his girl for months. And on top of that, he found out that a week ago I suggested to Kate that she start seeing you… and she didn't say no. Imagine his poor little world collapsing in just a few minutes."
Brian chuckles, shaking his head. "God, I can only imagine," he murmurs. He takes another sip of his drink and leans forward. "But you're right—she's got that thing. That natural beauty. The kind that doesn't even try."
Aria sighs and sits cross-legged on the bed, twirling a strand of hair around her finger.
"Ugh… I hate our video calls," she says, pouting. "Once you're done meeting with Alex, can I come over to Beverly? I don't wanna settle for just talking today."
She closes her eyes for a second, then continues more seriously. "But still, Kate's gonna have to figure out how to split her time between the two of you."
She drifts into thought. "Château des Rêves is a massive mansion. If you move in, it'll bring more people, more money, more opportunities. It'll definitely shake things up in all of Dreamside. You could even shoot a few music videos for your new album. What's it called again? 'Honey'?"
Brian chuckles and leans back. "Yeah, 'Honey' is coming out this summer. I've got a couple other tracks I'm sitting on too."
Aria giggles. "The mansion's huge. One more person, one less," she says slowly, rolling between the pillows. "Their place really is massive. But yeah—your permanent presence there would definitely stir things up."
She sighs. "I really am a shitty friend. What I'm doing is called homewrecking…"
She bites her lip and looks at the laptop screen, at Brian still sitting on the big white couch. "They're such a good couple, her and Alex. But you and her look so damn good together too. Ugh… But it's too late to back out now, right?"
Aria sits cross-legged again on her pink bed. "Honestly, you don't even need to pressure him. He's not the jealous type. Even before you showed up, she was always chatting with other guys at parties while he hid in his office on the third floor. It's just that this is the first time she's getting close to someone else like this. If you want to win Kate over, it's not him you should worry about—it's some of the other people living in that house."
Brian leans back against the couch cushions, his smirk widening as he watches Aria's little performance. "Oh, I'm not worried about Alex at all," he says easily, stretching his arms behind his head. "The guy's got a good thing going, but he's not built for this. He'd rather write about it than live it. I don't even need to do anything to him. He'll just fade out of the picture by himself." He shrugs. "Kate's the one who matters. And she's already halfway there with me."
Aria rolls onto her stomach, propping her chin on her hands as she grins up at the screen. "Mmm, true."
She pauses, glancing at the ceiling for a couple of seconds, then looks back at Brian.
"But do you remember Lila? Lila Chen? Yeah, that sexy little half-Asian kitten who treats bras like a government conspiracy—she never wears one under anything. She's at every one of Kate's parties and even came over to your place a couple of times." Aria giggles. "But she's not just one of their staff. She's Alex's personal assistant. Basically his shadow—always with him. Except for two situations."
She holds up two fingers and folds them down one by one. "First—when there's a party at the mansion. Then Lila's out there partying with everyone while Alex hides in his office. Second—when Alex is spending time with Kate. Every other time..." Aria bursts out laughing. "It's kinda ridiculous. I don't know if she literally follows him everywhere, but honestly? Wouldn't be surprised."
Aria flips onto her back and starts lazily kicking one of the pillows with her foot. "Anyway—don't fall for her cute, playful act. Lila's a sneaky little bitch. Some people say she's the daughter of some Asian mob boss. Total bullshit, of course—she's just a successful up-and-coming model. But hell, I wouldn't even be surprised. The point is, you need to watch out for her. Threaten Alex and she goes to war. Kate sent me a quick message this morning saying Lila chewed her out last night when she got back from the gallery. Kate barely stepped out of the car and Lila was already like, 'Kate, are you out of your fucking mind? Alex loves you!'—you know, the whole guilt-trip routine. And yeah, it was her who kicked me out of Alex's office yesterday morning, right after I dropped the big news about you and Kate. If I'd stayed in that room even a minute longer, she probably would've ripped my ponytail out."
Brian lets out a low chuckle, shaking his head. "Sounds like she's got the hots for Alex," he muses, leaning forward, fingers idly tracing the edge of the laptop screen. "I mean, who wouldn't? The guy's got money, talent, and that whole brooding writer thing going for him."
Aria snorts. "Oh yeah, totally. She's in love with him. But not in the way you think. Lila's smart—she knows Alex is untouchable. The way he dotes on Kate? It's disgustingly sweet. And she's probably figured out that fucking with him through Kate is way more effective than trying to seduce him herself. Besides…"
Aria pauses, then continues. "...there's Becky. You've seen her—a hot 27-year-old Mexican-American, same age as me and Kate. She gets along just fine with little 21-year-old Lila. Becky's always teasing Alex and calling him 'Short Tail'—but don't let that fool you. She's Kate's personal assistant. Everything Becky does, she does with Kate's permission or on Kate's orders."
Aria props herself up slightly on the bed and glances at her laptop screen again. Brian is still sitting on the white couch, listening intently. She goes on. "Then there's Madi and Amy. Madi's a sexy blonde with hazel eyes and a thing for the word 'Sweetheart.' She works as a general practitioner at Health&Cozy, lives at Château des Rêves, and she's the personal doctor for both Alex and Kate. If care and tenderness were sugar, Madi would be a whole damn sugar factory. She's not exactly regular house staff—more like family, but..."
Aria drops back onto the bed, staring at the ceiling. "...then there's Amy. Sweet and cute, 29, same age as Alex. She's the house manager. She's got a pretty wild collection of toys she hides from everyone—but everyone knows about it. Amy's kind of like Alex's 'mommy,' along with Madi. There are even rumors they're a couple, but that's just gossip."
Aria pulls a pillow under her head. "Amy and Madi are super protective of Alex. But unlike Lila, they don't care about his love life. They care about both Alex and Kate—but whether those two stay together doesn't really matter to them."
Brian exhales slowly, nodding as he processes her words. "So... what you're saying is, Alex is basically surrounded by women who could be with him if they wanted to, but he's either too oblivious or too devoted to Kate to see it." He leans back, stretching his arms behind his head. "Damn. That's... something else."
Aria smirks. "Yeah. And Kate? She's not oblivious at all. She knows exactly what's happening. She knows Lila wants Alex. She knows Becky teases him because she enjoys it. She knows Madi and Amy are like his caretakers." She rolls onto her side, resting her head on one hand. "But yeah—it all comes down to Alex's dog-like loyalty. Kate didn't tell me the details of their conversation last evening… But I'm sure he threw his arms around her and shouted his approval the second she got back from Swag&Pop."
Aria does a goofy imitation of Alex's voice. "'Yes, Goddess! That's wonderful that you'll be with some Brian guy I've never even met! May I please cover your dates with him at the finest restaurants in Dreamside and LA?'"
She bursts out laughing. "He's gonna suffer, blame himself—but he'll never blame Kate or tell her no. I think deep down he's just grateful she got into a relationship with him four years ago when he was dealing with brutal panic attacks and didn't have much money."
Aria sighs. "That's why I kinda feel like a piece of shit in all this. On one hand, they're like a perfect couple out of some romantic movie. But on the other..." She clicks her tongue. "You love her too, and you're literally in her league... unlike Alex."
Aria flops back onto the bed again. "And I've been feeding her all this bullshit about how this whole thing is supposedly for her personal growth and to strengthen her relationship with Alex..."
Brian lets out a low whistle, shaking his head. "Damn, Ari. That's fucked up. You really set this whole thing in motion just to... what? Get her to fuck me?" He chuckles, but there's an edge to it. "I mean, I appreciate the assist, but damn. That's some scheming shit."
Aria waves a hand dismissively. "Oh please, you were just as into it as I was. Don't act like you're some innocent bystander." She rolls onto her side again, propping her head up on her elbow. "Look, I just know Kate well enough to know she likes being adored. And Alex..." She exhales sharply. "He's a good guy, don't get me wrong, but he's got this weird 'servant' thing going on with her. Like, he worships the ground she walks on, and Kate? She loves it. But she's not some fragile little princess who needs him to be her only source of happiness. She's got needs. And I know she's into you. So yeah, I may have... nudged things along a bit."
Brian scratches his jaw, considering her words. "Alright, fine. I won't pretend I wasn't stoked when you first brought it up. But man, this whole thing..." He gestures vaguely. "It's fucking intense."
Aria lets out a breathy laugh, rolling onto her back again. "Oh, it's intense alright. But that's what makes it so good, right? I mean, come on—you've got a shot with Kate Norwin. You're basically living in a fantasy right now." She stretches luxuriously, arms above her head. "And if you think it's complicated now, just wait until you actually get with her." She grins up at the ceiling. "That's when shit really gets messy."
Brian snorts, shaking his head. "Yeah, I figured. But I guess I should be grateful, huh? You did me a solid by putting this whole thing in motion."
Brian leans forward on his big white couch, speaking with quiet intensity as he looks at his laptop screen—at Aria lying on her pink bed in her white bunny pajama suit. "But you do understand that I want Kate Norwin completely, right? I want to be her boyfriend. I want her—and I want you too."
"Oh, I understand completely," Aria says with a smirk, stretching her arms above her head. The motion makes her pajama top ride up, revealing a sliver of toned stomach. "And I think that's the whole point. You want her. I want her. And Alex?" She giggles. "Well, he might not know it yet, but he's going to have to share."
Brian exhales sharply, rubbing his jaw. "That's the thing though—Ari. I don't know if I can just have her and leave it at that. Not with someone like her."
Aria giggles.
"Oh, Brian… like I don't know what's going through that dirty little head of yours."
She scoots to the edge of her pink bed, eyes fixed on the laptop on her dresser. On the screen, Brian leans back on his big white couch.
"You're thinking about finally having two girls at the same time… Don't pretend otherwise."
She drags her tongue slowly along her top teeth and smiles.
"And I don't mind sharing that cock with my bestie from college." Her eyes narrow with mischief. "What? You scared of a little competition from that writer boy? Relax. He'll find some chunky nerd girl from his league and live happily ever after. While his ex-girlfriend? She'll be plenty happy with you."
Brian's jaw tightens as he watches her. His brown eyes burn with something between amusement and heat. He leans forward, elbows on his knees, fingers tapping the couch cushions.
"You really don't give a fuck about Alex, huh?" he asks, voice rough with restrained energy.
Aria rolls onto her back with a dramatic sigh and spreads her legs just enough to tease. She looks up at the camera.
"Oh please," she purrs, sliding a hand down her stomach. "Don't act like you do either. You're here for Kate, not to protect Alex's feelings." She arches her back, making the pajama top gape open even more. "And honestly?" She bites her lower lip, gaze intense.
"Alex has never been the kind of man who could keep a woman like her satisfied. He's sweet. He's smart. But he's…" She waves a hand in the air.
"Cute. Adorable. Not the kind of man who dominates a woman like Kate in bed."
Brian exhales sharply through his nose. His eyes flicker with something darker. He licks his lips without thinking.
"And you think I am?" he asks, voice quieter now, deep and rough with arousal.
Aria smiles slowly, rolls onto her side, and props herself up on one elbow.
"Definitely."
February 4, 2024, 3:00 PM. Beverly Hills. Sunset Ridge Estates. Brian's crib.
Some time has passed since Brian and Aria's video call. Now it's 3 PM. Alex sits in Brian's living room on the fifth floor, on the same big white couch where Brian had been talking to Aria over video an hour and a half earlier.
Brian sits opposite him in a large office chair. Between them is the same large glass coffee table where Brian's laptop had sat during the call. Brian is still in his formal white suit: white pants, an unbuttoned blazer, and a white shirt with no tie. Alex wears a charcoal grey suit with a subtle windowpane check, pants, an unbuttoned blazer, and a white shirt.
On the coffee table there's a spread of food and drinks—no wine. Both men act friendly, but a slight tension hangs in the air.
"Nothing much has changed here," Alex says, picking a few grapes from a big glass plate of ripe green ones. "Honestly, I haven't been around this part of town for about a year. Looks like the new mayor actually fixed the real estate problem." He pops one in his mouth. "Though I won't lie—I hardly ever come to LA at all. Too noisy. Dreamside's somehow calmer. Feels like a closed high-tech village with about ten thousand people."
Brian nods. His brown eyes flick to Alex's hand as he eats another grape. He leans back in his chair and stretches his legs out.
"Yeah, they cleaned the place up. Got rid of most of the homeless camps. Fucked up, but LA's always been a shithole for that." He gestures at the platters of sweets. "Help yourself to whatever. My chef's got a fuckin' sweet tooth."
Alex chuckles.
"My chef decided she had to lean into the stereotype and cook a ton of rice dishes." He pauses. "You know, I feel a bit awkward. You've been to my place a few times for parties, but we've never actually talked. Even though I hate parties and almost never show up, I still feel like a shitty host."
Brian lets out a short, quiet laugh and shakes his head.
"Nah, you're fine. You don't gotta pretend to be a party guy just 'cause you live in a mansion." He leans forward, forearms on his knees, fingers interlaced. "Besides, I get it. You and Kate run in different worlds. She's got that whole social thing down—fuckin' loves it. You..." He smirks, meeting Alex's eyes. "...you'd rather be home with a book."
Alex leans away from the food, pride clear in his voice.
"Oh, I don't just sit around reading books. I write them. And not too badly, judging by the reader reviews and my bank account." He leans back and exhales. "But yeah… socializing's been an issue. It's health-related. I'm doing great now, but the past leaves marks you can't just wipe away. Unlike real footprints in the sand."
He grabs a small candy from another plate and pops it into his mouth.
"And you're a rapper, right? I'll admit straight up—I haven't heard any of your stuff. Rap's probably not my genre." Alex pauses. "I don't really listen by genre anyway. My playlists have indie, country, pop… even a bit of hip-hop. The only thing I completely avoid is heavy metal and hard rock. That stuff's just ear-bleeding." He chuckles. "Mostly indie and country. Hip-hop at a minimum."
Brian barks out a laugh and shakes his head as he stretches his legs further.
"That's fuckin' funny," he says, reaching for a chocolate-coated pretzel. "Most people either act like they know my shit or pretend they never heard of me. Either way, it's bullshit."
He bites into the pretzel and chews slowly.
"But at least you're honest. I respect that." He studies Alex with an amused, appraising gaze. "You've got a good head on your shoulders, man. For real. Not just 'cause you write books, but 'cause you don't act like you're better than anyone."
Alex chuckles, leans forward, and pours some apple juice into his glass.
"Come on, what's the point of lying? I can check out your discography if that's where we're headed."
He takes a sip.
"I'd honestly love to keep up with new stuff, but I just don't have time. Sogni Nudi is the main publishing house that releases my books. The owner and editor-in-chief is Dana Lovell—a pretty well-known name in publishing. She's constantly demanding new masterpieces from me. So I write them…"
He chuckles again.
"…Of course, I'm not sure they're masterpieces, but they sell well."
He leans back, still holding the glass.
"Just so you get the idea: erotic literature is mostly a female genre. Most guys who write it use female pen names. I do the same. Otherwise you get a ton of popularity in the form of girls chasing you, and a lot of them are underage. Not something I need."
He takes another sip.
"So yeah, I'm not super famous, as you can guess. But in Dreamside a lot of people know me. It's a closed, artsy little town with ten thousand people—someone farts on one end and the whole other side's already talking about it."
Brian barks out another laugh and shakes his head as he reaches for a handful of mixed nuts.
"Yeah, man, I feel that. Dreamside's a fuckin' circus sometimes. Every party, every drama—shit spreads like wildfire." He cracks a pistachio between his teeth, the shell crunching loudly as he tosses the pieces onto the plate. "But I like it. Keeps things interesting."
His eyes flick up to meet Alex's, holding contact a moment too long.
"So you got a bunch of fake names, huh? That's smart. Probably better than me—every girl I meet already knows my dick size and how I fuck."
Alex replies calmly, unfazed. His green eyes stay still, unreadable.
"Yeah, Dreamside can be a bit of a circus sometimes… Do you come by often, by the way? Or are you mostly based here in Beverly?"
He tilts his head slightly, watching Brian munch on pistachios. Alex takes a small sip and leans back on the couch.
"I feel like if you were showing up in Cocoavilla a lot, I'd know. I've got… informants in Aria's lair. Had to get a few after that girl started showing up at my place a little too often…"
He lets that hang for a second.
"With all sorts of interesting ideas. She's no Cheryl Bloomfield—Dreamside's 'Gilgamesh in heels'—but still…"
Alex chuckles.
"Yeah, kinda ridiculous. I know more about what's going on in the mansion next door than in my own damn house."
Brian smirks. Time to cut the small talk and get to the real point—the whole idea Aria tossed out about Kate spending time fucking him. They both know exactly why they're here. No need to dance around it.
He leans back in his chair, stretching his arms behind his head. His biceps flex under the sleeves of his white shirt, visible beneath the open blazer—deliberate, but casual.
"Yeah, man, I'm mostly based in Beverly. I pop over to Dreamside for parties and shit, but you know how it is. Kate's got those big fancy affairs, and Aria's always running some fucked-up game." He smirks and pops another nut into his mouth. "Speaking of which..."
He exhales through his nose, watching Alex's reaction. "So I heard you and Kate been together a while. Four years or something?"
Alex finishes his juice and sets the empty glass on the coffee table. "Yeah, four years. Happy, having fun, not married. Didn't she say that?" He smirks. "Guess we're getting to the reason for this meeting."
He leans back, grabs a couch pillow, and tucks it under his head. "Alright, man. Spill it. What exactly are you and Aria trying to set up between the four of us? It's all been pretty vague so far." He crosses his arms. "I'm listening."
Brian chuckles and crosses his legs. He tosses another pistachio into his mouth, cracking it open with ease. "Alright, you want me to lay it out? Fine." He wipes his fingers on a napkin and drops it on the plate. "Aria's got this whole thing mapped out in her head. Some kind of open thing or whatever. She thinks it'd be fun to watch Kate spend time with me." He grins, studying Alex's face. "Kate's down. Says she's curious. And I'm always game to see where it goes."
Alex stays quiet for a second, then bursts out laughing. He adjusts the pillow behind his head and settles deeper into the couch, eyes bright with amusement as he looks at Brian across from him.
"Fuck, what a hilarious scene that'd be!" he says. "Brian, imagine you telling me, 'Yo, I'm gonna be with your girl and you're gonna watch!' And then Kate walks in and you two just start going at it right in front of me... like some bad porn scene, goddammit..."
He keeps laughing but slowly calms down. "Yeah… hehe… She told me last night she's curious. This morning too."
Brian lets out a soft chuckle and shakes his head, watching Alex. He stretches his arms along the back of the couch and leans forward, elbows on his knees. "Damn, you got a fucked-up imagination, man," he says, voice deep with amusement and something heavier. "But nah, it ain't like that. Aria ain't some thot trying to embarrass people. She just likes seeing shit happen. Likes watching people figure out what they really want."
Brian snaps his fingers. "And Kate? She's genuinely curious, man. Nobody's forcing her." He studies Alex, gauging every microexpression. "She's asking herself if she wants it. I'm just part of the thought experiment."
Alex stops laughing, though he's still grinning. He raises a hand. "Oh no, man. Don't start telling me what Kate's like. I've known her four years. You've known her a few months, mostly at parties."
He adjusts the pillow again and keeps talking. "So how's this gonna work? You're just gonna start coming over and being with her?"
"This morning Kate said she still hasn't decided how she's gonna split her time between us. And that suggestion from Aria about watching you two live..." Alex snickers. "Dude, don't tell me she tried shoving that on you too. That's dumb. She's got a weird sense of humor, sure, but still…"
"Though I wouldn't say no to a couple of photos… if she's comfortable with it."
"So? How's it gonna be? Tell me what you're offering."
Brian leans forward, elbows on his knees, brown eyes locked on Alex's. He exhales slowly. "Kate comes first. That's the deal. I don't step in unless she wants me there." His gaze stays steady. "Yeah, it's weird. But she ain't just some girl fucking around. She's serious about exploring. About being with you." He gestures at Alex. "And with me."
Alex smirks. "Well… that's what I wanted to hear. So she's not just some thing to you. Good."
He slides the pillow out and leans forward on the couch, eyes fixed on Brian. Sunlight streams through the windows, warming the living room. Brian's dark chocolate skin looks even deeper, almost glowing.
"That's it?" Alex asks, calm but focused.
"Yeah, man. That's it," Brian says. He rocks back in the chair, one arm draped over the backrest. "You really don't get it, do you?"
His lips twitch. "Kate ain't some groupie I'm trying to fuck out of spite. She's special. She knows what she wants, and I respect that." He exhales, fingers tapping the armrest. "You know what it's like—wanting to try something new but not knowing how to say it?"
Alex rolls his eyes and sighs. "Shit… I spent more time driving here than actually talking to you."
He glances at Brian with a hint of amusement. "Well… at least we made sure we're both sane human beings." He crosses his arms. "You're nothing like Aria, by the way. If she were in your seat, she'd already be trying to intimidate me. Kinda weird you two ended up together."
Brian chuckles and shakes his head. "Aria's a fuckin' trip, man. I don't even know if I can keep up half the time." He stretches his long legs out. "But yeah—she's different. A lot different."
His face turns serious for a second, brown eyes thoughtful. "But that's why it works. We both let each other be ourselves." He tilts his head. "And she's got a hell of a way of looking out for people she cares about."