The living room was full now.
Erwina sat cross-legged on one of the velvet sofas, snuggling with Rolando who was smoking an electric-powered cigarette from between his teeth. She was absently twirling a silver lighter in a hand.
They instantly raised their eyes.
Maverick was leaned against the arm of the couch, eyes quietly scanning Bree like she was a lab experiment as she stiffly walked into the room.
Rolando turned down the TV, but kept it on, like a flicker of false normalcy in the room.
Ashley stood stiff beside the couch—lips tight, hands on her waist—and glanced from Bree to Maverick.
Alejandro walked out and Bree hurried out of his way. He went to sit.
And they were the only two people who knew what had just happened in the kitchen.
Bree stood there, dazed, motionless, trying hard not to fold in on herself.
Alejandro?
He was seething again. Worse.
This time, his steps were tighter. Stiffer. Like he was walking on hated ground.
Ashley's eyes flicked between them. Her gut twisted.
They'd run into each other. Before she could intervene. Something had happened.
Something she could feel on Bree's skin. And in the way Alejandro wouldn't even look at anyone straight.
She was horrified.
She couldn't read Bree's energy.
Couldn't sense her usual magic hum. It was like the girl had gone temporarily mute inside her own soul.
Ashley tried to hide her panic.
She caught Maverick's eyes. Then Rolando's. Then Erwina's.
They seemed to notice but didn't want to show it.
Or maybe they were guessing something crazy had happened — knowing the history concerning the two in particular.
All of them were looking at her, waiting.
She gave a small shake of her head—Not now. Don't ask.
The tension was too thick already. One wrong breath, and the house might explode.
Alejandro finally made a move.
He inhaled.
Exhaled.
And when he spoke, his voice was tight—choking on words he really, really wanted to say.
"We need to talk."
Everyone turned.
"About.... her."
Bree blinked, slowly. Still standing. Still zoned out.
Her fingers tightened against her fist, but she didn't respond.
Alejandro's eyes darted to her and back.
"You think I'm obsessed, paranoid.... or whatever." His jaw locked. "I don't care about you. Something about that your damned friend isn't right. And your nonsense this week can never be tolerated ever again. You being acting like a stupid...."
He bit the inside of his cheek.
Swallowed the word bitch.
"—Bree's been around her nonstop. She's changing. I've seen it. Felt it. And she tried to antagonize me. I really hate it and I'm trying my best to be nice here."
Rolando sent Ashley a quick glance.
Still no reaction from Bree.
Erwina raised a brow and leaned forward a little, but didn't interrupt.
Ashley finally stepped in.
"Let's keep this civil, Jan." Her voice was sharp, but low.
"Let's not make her the enemy when we still don't know what we're dealing with. We can't deny Bree of socializing."
Alejandro looked like he wanted to scream into a wall.
But he didn't. He pinched the bridge of his nose and gave a single tight nod.
"Don't give me that crap."
His eyes flicked to Bree again.
She was still zoned out.
Still staring at some corner of the room like it had the answers her brain was too fried to find.
Alejandro's insides twisted again.
Not just guilt.
Something worse.
Fear.
Because what he'd done in that kitchen wasn't just a mistake.
It had felt like fate. She was affected.
But in what way, he didn't know how.
And he hated that.
"Okay, you know what, guys?" Maverick put in, voice fatigued by the tension. "We need to analyze this. If there's any questions to ask, ask it. Nicely."
"Yes!" Erwina quipped, excited Alejandro's 'angry man dictator' regime was about to get paused for the moment.
"We need to look into both parties' reasoning." Maverick added.
Ashley sighed and passed him a grateful smile.
"Yeah. So, Alejandro.... Why do you want Bree to unfollow Tiffany?"
Alejandro didn't hesitate.
"They're all dangerous."
"Noted. Bree, why do you want to be friends with Tiffany?"
Bree blinked out of her reverie and looked at the floor, aimlessly.
"Uhm.... Uh. Sorry, I didn't get you."
"We were saying...." Rolando was trying to explain, gently but Alejandro swept in like a sharp-edged tsunami.
"Just shut up, Rolando. Nobody's talking to you."
The room went tight.
Ashley's eyes blazed with anger.
"Alejandro, stop it! Control yourself." Ashley iterated, getting out of control herself. "Don't stress anyone here."
Alejandro challenged her with his stubborn eyes. He glared, voice and face calm but giving off the venomous aura he carried.
"I called this meeting, Ashley, didn't I?"
Silence.
"He's not allowed to talk."
Rolando caught everyone's attention when he got to his feet.
"You don't have no say 'round here, worthless, feckless idiot from the pit of hell." He growled lowly and Alejandro's eyes flared fire spilled into gasoline, wide in shock.
Ashley was already running over to hold Rolando back because he looked like he was about to lunge.
"The fuck...." Alejandro muttered, his spine straightening impulsively like a gun getting cocked against an approaching tiger.
"You've been nothing but a rabid dog ever since Bree got here...."
Bree cupped her elbows, her heart beating in the uproar.
Alejandro had gotten to his feet, eyes sharp and slitted and holding Rolando's gaze.
"You both gotta stop this, okay....?" Ashley was babbling out, her voice rising.
Bree stared into thin air, her brain not willing to work now. She was slipping off and seeing Tiffany's face and Alejandro's face as they intertwined in her mind.
"Let me talk, Ashley!" Rolando suddenly blasted hot and Ashley paused, startled. "All this shitty meeting, not needed. It's settled. You check the bitch up and let us move on from this drama."
"You want to test me now?" Alejandro asked, dangerously.
Rolando game a soft laugh.
"No, you're empty at this point. I been seeing through you ever since."
"Everyone, I wanna go home...." Bree suddenly broke in. Her voice was shaking.