Mia had learned to measure her days differently since Nicole arrived.
Not by the hours.
By the weight in her chest.
That evening, she sat on the edge of her bed, phone pressed to her ear, knees drawn up, speaking in a low voice even though she was alone. The mansion was quiet in the way it always was at night, but lately, quiet felt less like peace and more like caution.
"I'm serious, Kim," Mia said. "She just showed up. No warning. No announcement. One minute the house was normal, the next minute it was… tense."
Kim Carter's voice crackled through the phone, sharp with interest. "Wait. Hold on. You mean the fiancée? The scary one?"
"Yes. That one."
Kim gasped dramatically. "No. Absolutely not. You didn't tell me she moved in."
"She didn't move in exactly," Mia corrected. "She said she's staying temporarily. Since my boss traveled abroad. She said she needs to keep things in order."
Kim snorted. "That's rich. Keep things in order. Translation, she wants to supervise breathing."
Mia smiled despite herself. "That's what it feels like."
She shifted on the bed, staring at the polished wooden floor. "She doesn't shout or anything. It's worse than that. She just… looks at you. Like she's waiting for you to fail."
Kim groaned. "I hate women like that."
Mia hesitated. "She picked on me. From the first moment she saw me. I don't even think I did anything wrong."
"Of course you didn't," Kim said immediately. "You existing is enough for people like her."
Mia sighed softly. "I keep telling myself she's just a woman. A human being like me. Flesh and blood."
"Yes," Kim agreed. "A dramatic one."
"But then I remember," Mia continued, "she's not just any woman. She's powerful. She controls money. Influence. She walks into a room and everyone listens."
There was a pause.
Kim's tone softened. "Mia… listen to me. Power doesn't make someone better than you. It just makes them louder."
Mia swallowed.
"I know," she said. "I keep repeating it in my head. I'm not supposed to cower. I'm just here to do my job. Cook. Mind my business. Leave when my contract ends."
"Exactly," Kim said. "And if she wants to glare, let her glare. Don't shrink yourself because someone else is insecure."
Mia laughed quietly. "You make it sound so easy."
"That's because I'm excellent at advice and terrible at following it."
That earned a genuine laugh from Mia.
Kim continued, "If you want, I can come over. I'll cheer you up. I'll even stare back at her."
Mia laughed harder. "Please don't. You'd get arrested."
"I would," Kim admitted proudly.
"I'll be fine," Mia said. "Really. Besides, I don't even think you'd be allowed past the gate."
Kim scoffed. "Challenge accepted."
"Don't you dare," Mia warned, smiling.
They talked a little longer, lighter things this time. By the time Mia hung up, the knot in her chest had loosened, if only slightly.
Downstairs, in a room that felt far too large for one person, Nicole Vance stared at her phone.
No reply.
She refreshed the screen. Nothing.
She typed another message.
Still nothing.
Her jaw tightened as she stood and began pacing, silk slippers whispering against the floor. She hated silence when it came from Alex. Hated the way it made her feel like she was the one chasing, the one waiting.
Her thoughts spiraled easily.
What if he was with someone else?
What if he felt relieved to be away from her?
What if she was the only one fighting for this relationship?
The idea burned.
She stopped pacing, gripping her phone tightly. Why was she always the one trying? Why was she the one reporting misunderstandings, smoothing things over, pushing conversations forward?
She exhaled sharply.
She would not be ignored.
The next morning arrived bright and deceptively calm.
Kim marched confidently toward the towering black gates of the Steele estate, clutching a neatly packaged container of food and humming to herself.
"Who wouldn't love me?" she said aloud. "I'm basically doing community service. Feeding the poor. Caring for the needy. Delivering life-saving snacks to my best friend."
She adjusted her sunglasses like she was about to enter a movie premiere.
The guards assigned to the main gate watched her approach, expressionless.
Kim flashed her brightest smile. "Good afternoon, gentleman! I'm here to see Mia Brooks."
One guard stepped forward. "Name?"
"Kim. Kim Carter."
The guards didn't blink.
"And your purpose here?"
Kim lifted her container. "I brought food. For Mia. Your resident chef. The one who lives inside with the big kitchen and the huge fridge and"
"No unauthorized visitors may enter without clearance," the guard cut in.
Kim blinked.
"Sorry… what?"
"No entry, Miss."
Kim laughed. "Oh! You're joking. Nice one. Anyway"
She tried to walk past them.
Three guards moved at once.
Kim froze like a deer in headlights.
"Ma'am," one guard said firmly, "No clearance, no entry."
"Wait...wait....hold up." Kim raised her hands. "I work at Steele Enterprise. I literally have a staff ID."
"That is not clearance for the estate."
Kim's jaw dropped. "I am Mia's only friend. If I don't check on her, who will?"
"No clearance, no entry," the guard repeated.
Kim squinted at him.
"You people enjoy wickedness, don't you?"
Silence.
She huffed dramatically. "Okay. New tactic."
She cleared her throat, stood taller, and dropped her voice a full octave.
"This is the health inspector," she announced. "I'm here to check the freshness of"
"No clearance, no entry."
Kim groaned loudly. "Are you robots?!"
The guards remained stoic.
So naturally… she snapped.
"LISTEN!" she yelled, hands flying in the air. "I didn't leave my house to be bullied by bouncers in black uniforms! I only came to give my best friend food because she's new, she's stressed, she's probably exhausted, and SHE WILL STARVE TO DEATH if I don't"
that's when she thought for a while, mia is actually a chef here. Of anything, feeding won't be a problem for her. Well,she thought,this was made with so much love so, it's different.
A deep voice cut through her rant.
"What on earth is going on here?"
The guards straightened instantly.
Kim spun around and nearly shrieked.
Ethan Cole stood a few feet away, in tailored suit and sunglasses pushed up into his hair, looking like a magazine cover and a headache at the same time.
His gaze traveled from Kim,to her container,to the guards and back to Kim.
Kim opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Finally, she squeaked, "Um… hi?"
Ethan exhaled slowly, amusement tugging at his lips.
"Miss Carter," he said, stepping closer. "Why are you harassing my security team?"
Kim gasped. "ME?! They're the ones harassing me! I'm being oppressed! Persecuted! Ambushed! They said I couldn't enter!"
"That's because you can't," Ethan said calmly.
Kim's face fell. "Why not?! I have visitors-rights. Friendship-rights. Human-rights"
"This is not a public playground," Ethan cut in. "It's a high-security estate for the Steele family."
Kim pointed dramatically at her container. "I brought food!"
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "You think food grants you entry into the most secure private residence in the state?"
Kim hesitated. "…Yes?"
He actually laughed.
Kim blinked.
Ethan Cole rarely laughed.
"Let me guess," he said. "You came to see Mia?"
"Yes!" Kim exclaimed. "Finally someone understands me!"
Ethan studied her for a moment a long moment.
Then he spoke gently, "You could have simply sent her a text. Or called. Or waited until her day off. Instead, you stormed the gate, nearly fought my guards, and claimed to be a health inspector."
Kim put her hands on her hips. "I was improvising."
"Obviously," Ethan murmured.
One guard coughed, trying not to laugh.
Ethan sighed and waved a hand at the guards. "Stand down."
They nodded and stepped back.
Kim brightened. "So I can enter?"
"No," Ethan said.
Kim died inside. "But..."
"I'll send Mia a message to come pick up whatever you brought. She'll meet you right outside the gate."
Kim paused. "That… actually makes sense."
"Yes," Ethan said dryly. "Surprisingly, it does."
She narrowed her eyes playfully. "Are you mocking me?"
"I would never," Ethan smirked.
"Wait…" Kim said slowly. "You know Mia?"
"Yes."
"You know her well?"
"Well enough."
"And she works for your boss or rather best friend."
Ethan nodded.
Kim gasped dramatically. "So that means you… and I… we're practically coworkers-in-law!"
Ethan blinked. "…No."
"Yes! Yes, we are," Kim insisted proudly. "This makes us connected. Spiritually. Socially. Professionally. Interdimensionally"
"Miss Carter."
"Call me Kim."
"Fine… Kim." Ethan rubbed his temple. "Please refrain from attacking my security staff in the future."
"I wasn't attacking! It was self-expression."
The guards snorted.
Ethan looked moments from laughing again.
Kim stepped closer, lowering her voice. "Can I ask you one question?"
Ethan tilted his head. "Go ahead."
She whispered dramatically:
"Is your boss… as fine as the rumors say?"
Ethan closed his eyes briefly.
"I'm going back inside."
"wait I didn't mean to offend you "
But Ethan was already driving away, shaking his head and smiling.
Kim sighed, holding her container to her chest.
"Why is everyone here so attractive?" she muttered. "It's stressful."
Minutes later, Mia appeared, eyes widening in surprise when she spotted Kim under the shade of a tree near the gate.
"What are you doing here?" Mia asked as she hurried over.
Kim grinned. "You said I couldn't."
"I didn't think you actually would."
Kim shrugged. "Never underestimate my commitment to drama."
Mia laughed softly. "You shouldn't have come. If Nicole notices..."
"I know," Kim said quickly. "I won't stay long."
She handed Mia the tote bag. "Just some little things. Snacks. Stuff from the house. Thought you might miss home."
Mia's throat tightened. "Thank you."
They stood close, talking in hushed tones.
"I'll see you this weekend," Kim said. "Promise me."
"I promise," Mia replied.
Kim's eyes sparkled. "By the way. That guy you met. Grayson."
Mia blinked. "What about him?"
"You haven't seen him again?"
Mia shook her head. "No. He's just a stranger."
Kim smirked. "A handsome stranger."
"I don't even have his number."
"Why not?"
"I don't give my number to strangers."
Kim laughed. "Fair. But if fate wants drama, it'll find a way."
Mia smiled. "If I see him again, I see him again. If not, life goes on."
Kim squeezed her hand. "That's my girl."
They hugged quickly before parting.
Mia watched Kim walk away, then turned back toward the mansion, squaring her shoulders.