Summer break. I used it as an excuse to move in with my naive roommate, Noah. That’s how I ended up overhearing a conversation between him and his two older brothers. The second brother, Finn, scoffed. “I’m telling you, he’s a little schemer who’d rather crash here than go home. A conniving little bottom.” He said it with such a straight face, you’d never guess he was the one who’d “accidentally” barged into my bathroom last night. Noah jumped to my defense. “Finn, his family doesn’t live in the city. He has nowhere else to go for the summer.” Then the eldest, Sebastian, cut in, his voice like ice. “Pathetic. Is this what you want to be, someone’s lapdog?” I just smiled to myself. Don’t worry. All three of you will be on your knees soon enough. A family should stick together, after all. 1 The voices from the study were sharp and clear. “Sebastian, what are you talking about? Caleb got that injury because of me!” Noah was practically shouting. A second voice, lazy and mocking, followed. It was Finn. “Trust me, my gaydar is never wrong. Caleb is one hundred percent bent. Little bro, don’t tell me… you’ve fallen for him?” He drew out the last word, dripping with insinuation. “What are you talking about? I’m a guy, why would I be into another guy?” Noah sputtered, his voice a mix of anger and embarrassment. “Tsk, what’s the rush? I was just kidding.” “No, you weren’t! You meant every word!” The sharp rap of knuckles on a desk silenced the room. Then came a voice that radiated authority. “Noah. He can stay here. But… he is not interning at the company.” “But Sebastian, why not? I already promised him.” “Because,” Sebastian’s voice was as hard as steel, “I have my doubts about his abilities.” “But he wins the national scholarship every year…” “Enough.” Outside the door, a slow smile spread across my face. The three Sterling brothers. Just as the rumors said, each one a different beast entirely. Sebastian, the eldest, was the iron-fisted CEO of the family empire. I hadn’t even met him yet. Finn, the middle child, had just returned from grad school abroad. A classic playboy with a wild streak. We’d crossed paths twice. And then there was Noah… a delicate flower raised in a greenhouse. Pure, trusting, and so easy to tease he’d blush at the drop of a hat. Interesting. Three very different breeds of puppy. A Doberman, a Beagle, and a Samoyed. I’d heard enough. I turned and headed downstairs to the dining room. 2 During my junior year, I developed a sudden obsession with basketball. It was just my luck that one afternoon, a stray ball came flying out of control and knocked me out cold. The one who carried me to the nurse’s office was Noah. After examining me, the campus doctor delivered the verdict. “A minor concussion. He just needs some rest. However, his right arm hit a tree on the way down. It’s a greenstick fracture. That’ll need a few months to heal…” I looked down at my arm, now mummified in bandages. Tsk. I’d been aiming for a minor scrape, but I might have overplayed my hand. At my bedside, Noah’s face was a mask of guilt. “I’m so sorry! It was my fault!” “It’s nothing,” I said, my voice deliberately weak. “Just a small injury.” “I’m Noah Sterling. I’m a freshman in the investment program. You are?” “Caleb Shaw. Finance, junior year.” “I’m so sorry, Caleb. I’ll take full responsibility for this!” “The arm will be fine. It’s just… my coursework…” “I’ll handle it,” he declared, his voice firm. A secret smile played on my lips. Hook, line, and sinker. The innocent little puppy had just volunteered to do my homework for the entire semester. My dedication to watching every single one of his games under the blazing sun had finally paid off. “Caleb, can I get your number?” As soon as he scanned the QR code, he looked surprised. “Hey, we’re already friends on here.” The chat history was completely blank. “Really?” I blinked, feigning innocence. “I must have added you from the freshman orientation group.” He nodded, completely buying it. For the next few weeks, he became my personal caretaker. He fed me every meal, spoonful by spoonful. He fed me fruit, piece by piece. Noah’s fingers were long and pale. He held a single grape to my lips. “Caleb, my family had these Muscadine grapes flown in. Try one.” I leaned in, my lips “accidentally” brushing against his fingertips as I gently took the grape between my teeth. “Caleb! You… you bit my hand…” A blush instantly spread from his neck to the tips of his ears. “Oh?” My teeth grazed the soft pad of his finger for a teasing moment before I pulled back. “Sorry about that.” “No… it’s fine! We’re both guys…” He was so flustered he couldn’t even look at me, his eyes darting all over the room. To make it “easier” to take care of me, he even requested a transfer to my dorm. He spent two months doting on me before summer break finally arrived. When he overheard me worrying about finding a summer internship, his eyes lit up. “Caleb, why don’t you stay at my place? You can intern at my brother’s company!” Seeing my feigned hesitation, he puffed out his chest. “Don’t worry, my brothers are really easy to get along with.” Worried? You sweet, dumb puppy. It’s exactly what I was hoping for. 3 The dining table was already laden with food. I had just washed my hands and taken a seat when Noah’s dejected voice drifted down from the stairs. “Caleb.” I looked up. Noah was there in his basketball shorts, looking like a burst of energy, but he had two others with him. The one in the trendy grey sweatshirt with a playful smirk had to be Finn. And the man next to him, impeccably dressed in a suit and radiating an aura as cold as a glacier, could only be Sebastian. I stood up and greeted them with a bright, clear voice. “Sebastian. Finn.” Finn ignored me, letting out a low whistle as he sat down across from me. Noah pulled out the chair to my right. “Caleb,” he whispered, “don’t mind my brother. He’s like that with everyone, even me.” I gave Noah a reassuring smile. I doubt that. He’s the one who called me a schemer. If you ask me, he’s the one with the most tricks up his sleeve in this entire house. My gaze drifted across the table and met Sebastian’s scrutinizing eyes. Our eyes locked. His voice was devoid of any warmth. “You’re Caleb Shaw?” “I am,” I replied. “Have we met before?” It was posed as a question, but it sounded like a statement. Before I could answer, Noah expertly placed a piece of shrimp in my bowl. “Sebastian, how would you have met Caleb? I thought you were only face-blind with women. Since when did that extend to men…?” Sebastian’s gaze remained fixed on my face, as if waiting for my answer. I smiled. “I don’t believe we’ve had the pleasure, Sebastian.” “Is that so?” “Yes. It’s rare for a student like me to cross paths with someone of your… stature.” Finn, who had been focused on his food, let out a snort. “Suck-up.” I just kept smiling. Great. You just had to open your mouth. You’ll be the first one I deal with. Noah glared at him. “Finn, can’t you just eat and shut up for once?” Finn just shrugged and went back to his food. Finally, Sebastian looked away. I focused on my meal, but I could still feel his probing gaze on me, a persistent, lingering touch. 4 After dinner, Sebastian was the first to leave, heading back to his study. The prickling sensation on my back vanished, and I let out a quiet sigh of relief. But a second later, Finn aimed his next jab at me. “So, Caleb. Didn’t manage to find a girlfriend in college?” I tilted my head, pretending to think. “No time,” I said, drawing out the words. “I was too busy studying.” “Oh?” Finn’s eyebrow arched. “Too busy studying, but you still had time to go watch basketball games?” “It’s all about a healthy work-life balance, Finn.” Finn pouted. Noah jumped in. “Caleb, just ignore him. My brother was out drinking until he blacked out last night. He’s still not all there.” My eyes curved into crescents, my smile perfectly harmless. “It’s fine. As long as… he doesn’t ‘accidentally’ walk into my bathroom again.” The playful smirk on Finn’s face froze. A dark flush crept up from his neck, visible even in the dim light. Well, well. I thought his skin was as thick as a brick wall. Who knew he could actually blush? Noah leaned in, shocked. “Finn, you drank that much last night? You couldn’t even find your own room?” Finn slammed his chopsticks down and coughed twice. “It was an accident.” “Caleb, you should lock your door from now on,” Noah advised earnestly. “Who knows, one of these days he might try to steal your bed!” I just hummed in agreement, not saying another word. As I finished the last bite of food on my plate, Noah looked at me, his voice full of guilt. “Caleb, about the internship… I’ll try talking to Sebastian again.” Finn, wiping his mouth with a napkin, cut in coolly. “Save your breath. Once Sebastian makes a decision, he never changes his mind.” “Never?” I looked at Finn, a knowing smile playing on my lips. “I wouldn’t be so sure about that.” 5 That evening, I went for a jog with Noah around the neighborhood track. Afterward, he went to find Sebastian in his study, determined to plead my case one more time. I went back to my room for a shower. The warm water cascaded over my body. I closed my eyes, letting the droplets run down my face. I lathered up the body wash, my hands moving slowly over my skin. Click. The bathroom door swung open without a sound. “Want to join me?” I asked, my voice lazy and laced with steam, without even turning my head. “Finn.” The person behind me was silent for two beats. “...How did you know it was me?” I calmly turned the shower back on. The bathroom filled with hot, thick steam. Through the mist, I looked at the man leaning against the doorframe. “Because,” I chuckled, “you’re the only one here who deserves to be called a ‘schemer.’” A flicker of surprise crossed Finn’s eyes. Then he relaxed, leaning back against the door, his expression turning indolent. “So, you were eavesdropping on us?” I mimicked his tone from the dinner table. “It was an accident.” “Are you into Noah?” he asked, getting straight to the point. My voice was as light as a feather. “More than just him.” Finn’s pupils contracted. He scanned my face, searching for an answer. “Sebastian?” My smile widened, a hint of playful mischief in my eyes. “Silly boy,” I purred. “You forgot about yourself.” The casual laziness on Finn’s face vanished, his jaw tightening. Before he could react, I reached out and gave his shirt a sharp tug. “Hiss—” Finn stumbled forward, right under the spray of the shower. His grey shirt was instantly soaked, clinging to his body. “Tsk. You got wet so fast.” “Caleb, what the fuck are you…” “You’re the one who walked in here!” I didn’t give him time to think. I cupped the back of his neck with one hand and bit down on his lips, my kiss a pure act of aggression. Our breaths mingled, and the temperature in the small space shot up. Finn’s body went rigid. He started to struggle, twisting in my grasp, but his lips were pinned, unable to escape. And just then— Footsteps echoed from the hallway. I broke the kiss instantly, taking a step back. “Caleb, Sebastian said you could…” CRASH! The sharp sound of shattering glass sliced through the charged atmosphere. Noah was frozen in the doorway, a puddle of milky white liquid spreading across the floor from the glass he’d dropped. He stared, wide-eyed and in utter disbelief, at the steam-filled bathroom, at Finn’s drenched form, and at my naked body. His voice trembled. “F-Finn… what are you two… doing?” 6 I blinked, feigning confusion. “I asked him to help me scrub my back. Right, Finn?” Finn swallowed hard. “Right. Is there a problem?” Comprehension dawned on Noah’s face, and he let out a long sigh of relief. He scratched his head. “Oh. Well, for little things like that, you can just ask me next time.” I stepped out of the bathroom, drying my hair with a towel. As I passed Finn, I shot him a quick, meaningful glance. “Your room is too far away,” I said to Noah. “Finn’s is closer. It’s more convenient.” On the second floor of their house, the bedrooms were split. Mine and Finn’s were to the right of the stairs, while Sebastian’s and Noah’s were to the left. “Finn, can we switch rooms?” Noah pleaded, tugging on his brother’s arm. Finn coughed. “No. I’m used to my room.” “Please, please, please?” “Are you even thinking straight? Why would we switch?” “I just want to be closer to Caleb, so I can help if he needs anything.” “If you want to switch so badly, why don’t you ask Sebastian to switch with Caleb?” At the mention of their older brother, Noah went silent. “Hmph.” Then, as if remembering something, Noah snapped his fingers. “Oh, Caleb, Sebastian wants to see you in his room. It’s probably about the internship.” 7 In the study. “Sebastian.” He didn’t look up, his eyes glued to his computer screen. I took the hint and stood quietly to the side, taking the opportunity to survey the room. A massive, ornate desk made of rare wood dominated the center. Across from it, a towering bookshelf faced a classical oil painting that looked imposing under the lamplight. The whole room screamed power. After what felt like an eternity, Sebastian finally took off his glasses. “You’re here?” I just stared. Yeah, I’ve only been standing here long enough for my dinner to digest. Don’t pretend you just noticed me. “Noah told you I approved your internship, correct?” I nodded. “However,” Sebastian paused. “I only have one open position near me. I’m not sure if you’d be interested.” I met his gaze. “I am.” “My assistant left for our Canadian branch a few days ago. You can fill in for him temporarily.” Before he could finish, Finn pushed the door open and strode in. “Sebastian, I want to intern at the company too.” Noah trailed in behind him. “Me too! I want to help!” he added, raising his hand like a schoolboy. Sebastian’s voice was firm. “Finn, you’ll start at the bottom. Noah, don’t join the circus.” “Why?” “Why?” For once, the two brothers were in perfect sync. “Finn, you’re too impulsive. You need to learn the ropes from the ground up. And while you’re at the company, you will not reveal your identity.” Sebastian rubbed his temples. “Noah, you have years of university left.” Finn let out a groan. Noah walked behind Sebastian’s chair and started giving him a massage. “Come on, Sebastian. I just want to get some experience.” Sebastian shot him a look over his shoulder. Noah immediately fell silent. Seeing my chance, I cautiously spoke up. “Um… if you don’t mind me asking, what’s the salary…?” Sebastian’s eyes locked onto mine. “That depends on your performance.” 8 After we left the study, Noah wouldn’t stop chattering as we walked down the hall. “Caleb, I’ll come find you at the office!” “Caleb, next time you need your back scrubbed, just call me! I’ve got all this strength and nowhere to use it!” “Caleb, I’ll talk to Sebastian about getting you a bigger salary…” Finn, who had been walking ahead with his hands in his pockets, glanced back and rolled his eyes. “Whipped.” Noah bristled. “Finn, take that back! How could you say that about me?” Then he leaned in and whispered to me, “Caleb, my brother’s been extra prickly these past few days. Don’t mind him.” I rubbed my nose. “Maybe he’s on his man period.” I walked right into Finn, who had stopped dead in his tracks. His face was a thundercloud. “Are you two going to gossip about me right to my face?” Noah stepped in front of me protectively. “Finn, if you’ve got a problem, take it up with me. Don’t you dare bully Caleb.” I had to hold back a laugh at his dramatic, self-sacrificing pose. Finn tilted his head, a wicked glint in his eye. “Oh, look at you, taking his side already.” His voice rose. “And what makes you think I’m the one bullying him?” Noah scoffed. “Don’t think I didn’t see it.” Finn looked confused. “?” “At dinner. The way you were staring at him, you practically burned a hole through him.” I peeked around Noah to look at Finn. A hint of color rose in his cheeks. “I… I can’t be bothered to argue with you,” he stammered, turning on his heel. “I’m going to my room.” Two seconds later, he was gone. “Weird. What’s up with him today?” Noah wondered aloud, scratching his head. “He has a guilty conscience,” I said with a smile. 9 Noah followed me into my room and meticulously smoothed out my bedsheets. Before he left, he gave me one last, worried instruction. “Caleb, call me if you need anything.” “I will.” I pulled off my tank top and hung it on the back of a chair. Noah’s face instantly turned beet red. “C-Caleb… don’t you wear pajamas?” “I prefer to sleep naked,” I said, a slow smile spreading across my face. “What about you?” Noah’s eyes were still glued to my chest. “Naked…” he mumbled. “Hmm?” I kept smiling. “Ah,” he snapped out of it, swallowing hard. “Caleb, didn’t you always wear pajamas in the dorm?” Instead of answering, I asked a question of my own. “I always kept my bed curtain closed. How would you know what I was wearing?” “I…” Noah’s eyes darted away. I helped him out. “You must have seen me when I got up to use the bathroom in the middle of the night, right?” “Right! That’s it.” I watched his reaction, amused. If I weren’t such a light sleeper, it would be hard to connect this innocent little puppy with the person who I knew had been peeking through my curtains at night. But it was perfect. Too much innocence is boring, anyway. “There were a lot of people in the dorm, and the AC was always blasting. I wore pajamas because I get cold easily.” “Oh, okay.” A faint thump-thump sound came from Finn’s room next door. “What is my brother doing now?” Noah grumbled. “It’s nothing.” “I swear, my mom must have forgotten to give him a brain when he was born.” Noah puffed out his cheeks like an angry little pufferfish. I laughed. “Your brother just needs to be properly trained.” He blinked, confused. “Trained?” “He needs a good beating.” Noah straightened my pillow. “Caleb, don’t worry about him at the office. Sebastian made him keep his identity a secret, so he won’t be able to give you any trouble.” 10 The moment Noah left, Finn appeared. “What is it?” I asked, half-yawning. He stood by my bed. “I… I need to borrow your shower.” Tsk. Such a terrible actor. It’s a good thing he never tried to make it in Hollywood. I raised an eyebrow. “Fine.” He let out a huff, clearly annoyed. “Aren’t you going to ask me what’s wrong with mine?” “I’m not curious. Why would I ask?” “You—!” He let out an exasperated laugh and stalked into the bathroom. A few moments later, I heard the sound of running water. I let the gentle rhythm lull me to sleep. In the hazy space between waking and sleeping, I felt a pair of eyes on me. I rubbed my eyes open to see Finn standing over my bed like the Grim Reaper. “Finn, what are you doing?” His hair was still damp. “Oh? Not calling me ‘brother’ anymore?” I rolled over, turning my back to him. “Caleb.” I ignored him. “Caleb, stop pretending.” I’d lost my patience. I sat up. “Pretending what? Why don’t you tell me what you’re pretending?” “My shower is really broken,” he blurted out, even though I hadn’t asked. “Oh, really? Broken?” He held up his hand as if taking an oath. “I swear.” “Let me guess,” I said, a smirk playing on my lips. “The showerhead is broken, right?” “How did you know?” Ha. So that’s what the thumping was about. “Well, since you’re all clean now, you can go back to your own room,” I said, dismissing him. “Caleb, this is my house. I’ll stay wherever I want.” “It may be your house, but you wouldn’t want Noah to walk in again, would you? What’s the excuse this time? Scrubbing my back again?” He finally snapped. “Caleb—don’t you dare try anything with Noah! I’m his brother! And don’t even think about Sebastian, he’s the heir to the family! If you want to mess with someone, mess with me!” A soft laugh escaped my lips. “So, you’re saying I can mess with you?” “Me?” His voice shot up. “Absolutely not! I’m a pure, untouched flower!” I just watched his one-man show, unimpressed. “Fine. You can go now.” “But on the other hand,” he said, looking away awkwardly. “You don’t have to finish that sentence.” His voice was laced with anger. “What do you mean? You kissed me. You have to take responsibility.” I burst out laughing. “Finn, you go to bars just to drink? You’ve never even kissed anyone before?” His face went rigid, as if I’d struck a nerve. “None of your business.” “Just a joke. Don’t get so sensitive.” No wonder the kiss had been so clumsy. Tsk, tsk. He hides it well. “Hmph.” Seeing that I was ignoring him again, he started sneaking glances at me. I pretended not to notice. Finally, he couldn’t take it anymore. “You’re supposed to comfort me.” “I don’t know how.” “Are you serious?” “I’m not in the habit of coddling people.”
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