"If you're curious… you can ask me instead."
The words sank into Trinidad's skin like heat.
She stared up at Colt, clutching the pillow so tightly her fingers hurt.
He was too close.
Close enough for her to feel the warmth of his body.
Close enough to smell the expensive scent that always followed him.
Close enough to ruin her peace of mind.
"I'm not curious," she lied.
His eyes darkened.
"Bad liar."
He leaned one hand on the back of the sofa, trapping her between his arm and the cushions.
Her breath hitched.
The television continued playing some dramatic kissing scene in the background, but neither of them looked at it anymore.
Only each other.
Trinidad tried to stand.
Colt's free hand landed on the sofa beside her hip.
Not touching.
Blocking.
"Move," she whispered.
"Ask nicely."
She glared.
"You're impossible."
"And yet you're staring."
That only made her more flustered.
She turned her face away.
His fingers gently caught her chin and turned it back.
The touch was light.
But it sent sparks through her.
"Why do you always do that?" she asked softly.
"Do what?"
"Look at me like you know something I don't."
A faint smile touched his lips.
"Because I do."
He lowered his head.
Slowly.
Giving her time to stop him.
To push him away.
To run.
She did none of those things.
Her eyes fluttered shut.
His breath brushed her mouth first.
Then—
A loud cough exploded behind them.
Both of them jerked apart.
Reid stood in the doorway holding a bowl of cereal.
Dylan leaned against the wall beside him, recording with his phone.
Bethany stood behind them with a face full of fury.
And Franco—
Franco looked mildly annoyed they had blocked his path.
"Well," Reid said brightly. "This is educational."
Trinidad wanted the floor to open and swallow her.
Colt straightened slowly, calm as ever.
"Get out."
Dylan grinned.
"Not before I ask if we interrupted chapter one or chapter ten."
Bethany turned sharply and walked away.
Her heels clicked like gunshots.
Reid winced.
"Oof. That one's dangerous."
Franco walked into the room without a word, passed everyone, and picked up the TV remote.
He changed the romantic movie to a wildlife documentary.
Then sat down.
The room went silent.
Reid blinked.
"You just hijacked a near-kiss for penguins?"
Franco nodded once.
"Yes."
Dylan burst into laughter.
Even Trinidad couldn't help it.
Colt looked at Franco for a long second.
Then exhaled through his nose.
For Colt Clifford, that counted as patience.
Later that afternoon, the mansion poolside turned into chaos.
Reid had challenged Dylan to a race.
Dylan said singers were athletes too.
Reid said singers got tired tying shoelaces.
Now both men stood dramatically at the edge of the pool.
Trinidad sat under an umbrella with a cold drink, laughing.
Stacy stood beside her holding towels.
Franco lounged nearby with headphones on.
"Ready?" Dylan shouted.
"No," Reid replied. "I need a crowd."
"You have one."
"Not enough."
He pointed at Franco.
"Cheer for me."
Franco didn't move.
"No."
Reid sighed. "Heartless."
They dove in.
The race lasted ten seconds.
Reid won.
Dylan accused him of "aggressive splashing."
Meanwhile, Trinidad noticed Stacy staring shyly toward the snack table across the patio.
"You hungry?" Trinidad asked.
Stacy immediately shook her head.
Too fast.
Trinidad followed her eyes.
Chocolate-covered strawberries.
She smiled.
"Go take some."
"I can't. Staff eat later."
Before Trinidad could argue, something shocking happened.
Franco stood up.
Walked to the snack table.
Picked up the entire tray of chocolate strawberries.
Then silently placed it in Stacy's hands.
Everyone froze.
Even the birds seemed stunned.
Stacy stared at him like he had handed her the moon.
Franco sat back down and put his headphones on.
As if nothing had happened.
Reid pointed wildly.
"Did you all see that?!"
Dylan clutched his chest.
"He has emotions!"
Trinidad laughed so hard tears filled her eyes.
Stacy blushed bright red.
Bethany, seated nearby, looked ready to combust.
Even Colt, standing by the far pillar on a business call, glanced over with faint amusement.
Franco never looked up.
But the corner of his mouth moved slightly.
As evening settled, lights glowed around the garden stage near the pool.
Dylan had insisted on performing "for culture."
He stood with a microphone in a cream shirt open at the neck, black fitted pants, and enough confidence to power a city.
Reid acted as fake security.
Trinidad and Stacy sat together in front.
Franco remained in the shadows.
Colt arrived last, hands in pockets, expression unreadable.
Dylan winked.
"This one is for lovers, fake lovers, confused lovers, and emotionally constipated billionaires."
Reid nearly collapsed laughing.
Colt's stare could have killed trees.
Music started.
Soft beat.
Smooth keys.
Dylan began to sing.
Verse 1
You walk in like midnight rain,
Cold outside but you call my name,
Tryna hide all that hurt inside,
But your eyes got nowhere to lie.
Pre-Chorus
You say don't come close, don't cross that line,
But your body telling me another side,
Every little breath when you near me now,
Got me wanting what you won't allow.
Chorus
You got that slow fire, burn me all night,
One touch from you got me losing my mind,
No need to speak, I read the signs,
Baby your silence feels so loud tonight.
You got that slow fire, deep in your soul,
Acting so cold but I'm losing control,
Come a little closer, don't let me go,
You're the kind of danger I'd die to know.
Verse 2
Lips say no but your eyes say stay,
Heartbeat dancing when I move your way,
You can run but the truth won't fade,
Somebody like me can't be replaced.
Bridge
So tell me why you shaking now,
When I ain't even touched you yet,
Tell me why you breathing hard,
Like I'm the one thing you can't forget.
Final Chorus
You got that slow fire, burn me all night,
One touch from you got me losing my mind,
No need to speak, I read the signs,
Baby your silence feels so loud tonight.
The final note faded into the warm night air.
Trinidad clapped instantly.
"That was beautiful!"
Dylan bowed.
"I know."
Reid booed dramatically.
"Too much confidence."
Stacy whispered to Trinidad, "I liked the bridge."
Franco, without looking up, said, "Second verse was better."
Everyone turned.
Dylan pointed at him.
"You listened?"
Franco shrugged.
"It was loud."
The group laughed.
Dinner followed outside beneath string lights.
For once, the mood felt light.
Even Bethany forced smiles.
Trinidad found herself laughing more than she had in months.
She almost forgot her life before this place.
Almost.
At some point, she noticed Colt had slipped away.
No one else seemed concerned.
Curiosity tugged at her.
She stood quietly.
"I'll be back."
Reid wiggled his brows.
"Tell him we said hi."
She ignored him and entered the mansion.
The halls were dim and quiet.
She followed the sound of faint footsteps upstairs.
A door stood slightly open at the end of a private corridor.
Light spilled through the crack.
She moved closer.
Then stopped.
Inside the room, Colt stood with his back to her.
In front of him hung dozens of framed newspaper articles.
Old headlines.
Large bold letters.
She could only read pieces.
CLIFFORD HEIR FOUND…
TRAGIC INCIDENT LEAVES…
YOUNG COLT SURVIVES…
Her pulse quickened.
What was this place?
Then she heard it.
Not from the room.
From another voice behind the door.
A doctor's voice playing from an old recorder.
"…the trauma response remains severe. He still wakes screaming whenever he hears water. We recommend continued sedation. The child refuses to speak about what happened in the lake that night…"
Trinidad's breath caught.
Lake?
Screaming?
Child?
She stepped back accidentally.
The floorboard creaked.
Inside the room, Colt went still.
Then slowly turned toward the door.