Part 5

After three weeks of quarantine, Ira's warden still hadn't produced any evidence that her stalker was anything more than a figment of overactive imaginations and paranoia.

She'd had enough.

Enough waiting. Enough judgment. Enough being alone.

The problem was, she couldn't bust out of this prison. She'd promised everyone—crossed her heart and everything—that she would stay where her warden put her unless she got permission to leave.

No amount of begging, pleading, or bribing was getting through to Tawan Liang, Chief Pain in the Ass. She was a damn wall made of brick-shaped denial.

Ira had to get creative with her captivity, and she had to do it today. Because Tawan had taken the day off.

Not that Ira cared if she left. She cared that Tawan could, and Ira couldn't. Talk about a double standard. But that was okay because a Sunday without her playing a human roadblock to fun opened up a chance to see friendly faces. Ira was going to snatch that opportunity with both hands.

She might not be allowed out, but nobody had said anything about having people in. Tawan had given her the idea by having Lin and Wei stop by so often. If they could come over, why couldn't a few close personal friends?

A quick text to Sorawit was all it took to put plans in motion for company to be delivered. That happy thought drove her out of bed.

She took a quick shower, pulled on her favorite red bikini, then hunted through the remains of Kate's wardrobe for the oversized white gauze shirt with pretty pearl buttons to put on over her suit.

She was surprised her sister had left it behind when she moved in with Phong.

Maybe Kate didn't need to cover up now that she had man-candy around the house. That errant thought triggered a flurry of images featuring her sister and Phong running naked through the villa like they were starring in their own private rom-com. She giggled at the idea of her sister feeling free enough to do something like that. Ira herself was much more likely to do something like that than Kate.

An unwanted image of herself and Tawan doing the same thing flashed through her mind. She flushed and shoved it right back out. She didn't need true love to have a bit of fun, but she did need the woman to actually like her, and Tawan thought Ira was a Pomeranian masquerading as a person.

The tinkling buzz of an incoming call caught her attention.

She didn't really want to answer it. It could be one of her sisters—or worse, Tawan.

Or it could be Sorawit, verifying details for today's plans.

"Fine. I'm coming. I'm coming," she told the air and picked up the phone.

It was Kate.

Ira couldn't ignore it. If she didn't answer, Kate might show up in person, and that would spell the end of her perfectly planned pool party.

She activated the video call. "Hey, Kitty. What's up?"

"Good morning to you too," Kate said, her tone light and amused. Her gaze swept over Ira's outfit. "Isn't that a little...short on you?"

Ira glanced down at the gauzy white shirt that skimmed the tops of her thighs. It was perfectly decent for lounging in the backyard. "Did you call to audition for the role of fashion police?"

Kate arched an eyebrow. "Just wanted to check in and see how things are going." Her voice was casual—too casual. Kate always had a knack for sensing when Ira was up to something.

Ira quickly stuffed down the flicker of guilt, along with the creeping suspicion that Kate somehow already knew about the party.

She couldn't know.

Unless...

No. Sorawit wouldn't have spilled the beans to Phong. Ira had made him promise not to mention today's plans, and he wasn't the type to break a promise.

"Everything's fine," Ira said, widening her eyes as she tried to project pure innocence. "Just because my babysitter isn't here doesn't mean I'm going to do something reckless."

"Uh-huh," Kate said, her skepticism crystal clear.

"Did you actually want something?" Ira asked, pretending to busy herself by brushing her hair.

Kate studied her through the screen for a moment before giving a casual shrug. "Phong and I are heading to Singapore for a business trip later today. Just wanted to let you know it might be tough to reach me for the next couple of weeks."

"Wait—today?" Disappointment pricked at Ira. She'd completely lost track of time. "I thought that was next week."

"It was next week...last week. Now it's this week," Kate said with a smirk.

"All the days have blurred together," Ira muttered, carrying her phone down the hall. She needed to make sure Tawan was actually gone, considering her guests would be arriving soon. "Time does not fly when you're in prison."

"You're not in prison," Kate replied, tossing a pair of sandals into her suitcase. "I know this whole thing is frustrating, but it won't last forever."

"Spend three weeks with Tawan the Warden and see how you feel." Ira peeked into the guest room that Tawan had been using. The bed was neatly made, and the room was blissfully empty.

"She can't be that bad."

"Don't underestimate her," Ira whispered, just in case. "She's got that no-nonsense, rules-are-rules military vibe that screams 'Fun annihilator.'"

"It screams 'competent and reliable'—and maybe a little 'hot.' Some people would swoon over that."

"Well, I'm not swooning," Ira shot back. "She's too serious. Always hovering. Always watching. It's like living with a judgmental statue."

"She's supposed to watch you. That's literally her job." Kate's smile grew sly. "What are you doing right now, anyway?"

"Making sure she's actually gone," Ira muttered, peering into the attached bathroom. Empty. "She says she'll be back on Monday, but I don't believe her. She's probably lurking, waiting to catch me in the act of...breathing wrong or something."

Kate let out a soft laugh. "You're really making it easy for me to poke fun at you, you know."

"You should be nice to me," Ira said, shooting her sister a mock pout. "Don't forget—I have a stalker."

Kate raised an eyebrow. "And you still have time to plan some sort of mischief, don't you?"

Ira ignored the comment and continued toward the second guest room, checking every corner.

"Come on, it can't be that bad," Kate said. "Has Tawan even been rude to you?"

"No," she was forced to admit. "She doesn't talk much at all, actually. When she does, it's all polite stuff. 'Good morning, did you sleep well? No, you can't go for a drive.' You know they have my keys locked up in the guardhouse? As if I couldn't just call a Grab."

"No, you really can't. Ira..." Kate's tone turned sharp, almost panicked.

Ira held up her hand in surrender. "I'm not going to do it, all right? I should, but I won't. I promised you I'd stay, so here I am. Staying. Do you have any idea how hard this is for me? I'm going to lose my mind if this goes on much longer. I miss going out. I miss having things to do. I misspeople."

Kate's expression softened into something almost sympathetic. "You could work on a new song if you're that bored. All my equipment is still there."

"Been there, done that." Ira peered into the second bedroom. It looked untouched and empty. "It's a great song. It'll be a huge hit at the VIP concert."

Her phone buzzed with a notification. Ira tilted her head to read the text.

Sorawit: Eats and drinks should be there to you in 20.

"That's only two weeks away. Has Tawan cleared that?" Kate asked, narrowing her eyes. "And what was that text?"

"Nothing." Ira sent a quick thumbs-up emoji and continued down the hall. She had to get off the phone without sounding like she wanted to, or Kate would drop everything and show up unannounced. "I don't care if Tawan's cleared it or not. I promised I'd be there."

"It's not about keeping a promise this time, Ira."

"Yes, it is," Ira said, stopping mid-hallway. "The fans are expecting me. It's the last one this year, and you've been hyping it up for a month on yourMorning Coffee Chats. I can't let them down."

Kate hesitated. "They'd understand. We could tell them you're sick or something."

"I promised," Ira repeated. "The fans are just as important to me as they are to you, and there's no way a stalker—or Tawan—or anyone else is going to stop me from keeping my word to them."

"Nobody expects you to put your life at risk for a concert. Especially not me," Kate snapped, her no-nonsense tone cutting through the conversation like a knife. "If the fans knew what was going on, they'd agree with me."

"Well, they don't know, do they? So I'd just look like a selfish jerk." Ira reined in her temper, smoothing her tone. She didn't want to argue, just end the call. "You still have packing to do, right?"

Kate glanced offscreen and muttered a curse. "We leave in an hour."

"You better get going, then." Ira hoped she didn't sound too relieved.

"We're not done talking about this." Kate tossed another shirt into her suitcase without folding it. "I'll have Maenisa check with Tawan about the concert. Maybe they can work something out for security."

"Fine."

"I love you." Kate's expression softened, though her eyes still held suspicion. "Please don't do anything stupid. Please?"

"Love you too. Have fun. Send pictures," Ira replied with a cheerful air kiss before ending the call.

She sighed in relief. "Define stupid," she muttered to herself as she headed for the kitchen.

She found Nene there with a breakfast smoothie in hand. Clad in a sleek black polo and matching trousers, Nene looked as calm and composed as ever, her quiet confidence radiating as she stood by the counter, sipping from her glass.

"You know," Ira said, grabbing her own smoothie from the counter, "you could let loose a little. Maybe take a dip in the pool? There's a whole security team here to back you up."

"I'm working," Nene replied with a faint smile, her voice steady and professional as always. "What's stupid?"

"Being stuck in this house for weeks on end." Ira took a long sip of her smoothie and hummed in appreciation. "Mmm, you made it good today. Is she gone?"

"She left at dawn. Said she'd be back in twenty-four hours," Nene said, rinsing her glass and setting it neatly in the dishwasher.

"Good." Ira glanced at the clock on her phone. "The caterer should be here any minute. Can you make sure they get past the gate?"

Nene gave her a measured look, her tone laced with mild disapproval. "I already cleared it, but are you sure about this? You know the rules."

"Oh no," Ira said, putting down her half-empty smoothie. "The warden didn't get to you too, did she?"

"No," Nene replied, shaking her head for emphasis. But the doubtful look on her face wasn't convincing.

"Come on, Nene," Ira pressed. "You agree with me, right? We've been stuck here for three weeks and nothing's happened. They have no idea who left the letter, and there's been nothing else. No notes, no emails, nothing. She probably got arrested or moved on. It's not a big deal."

"It's a little bit of a deal," Nene countered, pointing at the smoothie. "Finish that. I added fiber and extra protein."

Ira glanced around the lavish but suffocating house. "I'm staying in the house or the pool area like I keep being told, but nobody said I couldn't have people over. We know everyone coming, except the caterer, and you vetted them, right?"

"Yeah," Nene replied, arching a Spock-like eyebrow. "Drink."

Ira drained the rest of the smoothie like she was downing a shot. "I'm going to scrounge up some pool toys. You make sure the security team is on board."

Nene gave her a skeptical look, but Ira could tell she'd do it. She always did.

Patting Nene's arm, Ira said, "Get the fun police out of your head. It'll be fine because you're here. Nobody wants to tangle with you."

Nene snorted. "Right."

Not long after, Sorawit arrived at the front door, a petite woman on his arm and a line of cars behind him. He greeted Ira with his signature conspiratorial grin.

"Who's ready to party?"

"You brought people!" Ira exclaimed, throwing her arms around him with glee. She squeezed him tightly, clinging to the lifeline he represented. "I knew I could count on you."

Sorawit hugged her back, his grip firm. "Always."

She released him and peered past him at the procession of cars stretching beyond the trees. Each vehicle held multiple people. "Wow. That's more than a handful. Did you bring the entire cast?"

"What can I say?" Sorawit grinned with the charming confidence that made him a rom-com darling. "I'm a fun magnet. When I heard you were laying low, I wondered how long it would last. My bet was three days."

"I made it longer than you would've. I've been here three weeks."

"Epic," Sorawit admitted, giving her a nod of approval. "I'd have caved the first night."

"You'd have caved the first hour," Ira teased.

The woman on Sorawit's arm leaned into him possessively. "What do you mean 'lay low'?"

"Oh, nothing," Sorawit replied casually, planting a kiss on her cheek. "Ira, meet Pranaya. She's playing the lead in Shout at the Moon, and she's fantastic."

Ira gave Pranaya a warm, reassuring smile. "Make sure you keep him away from the vodka. It makes him crazy."

"Hey," Sorawit protested, "it's way too sunny for vodka. Pool parties demand frosty cold ones. The catering crew brought all the essentials, right? I told them to go overboard."

"There's plenty of frosty-cold everything," Ira assured him, waving them toward the back. "Head to the pool and have fun, you two."

Ira liked Sorawit. Their short-lived fling had been all laughs and passion, with no lingering complications. They were too alike to make it as a couple.

She turned her attention to the rest of the arrivals, greeting them with the energy of someone who'd been cooped up for far too long.

After about fifteen minutes of welcoming guests, Nene appeared at her side, murmuring, "Do you know all these people?"

Ira glanced at her. "Some. You should recognize that group by the hedge. They're some of my roadies."

"That's five people. What about the rest?" Nene's gaze scanned the crowd, her tone sharp with concern.

Ira gave a nonchalant shrug. "They came with Sorawit. That guy over there—the short one with the spiked hair—he was in Kate's last movie. I think his name is Raph. Raph...something."

Nene scanned the remaining line, and the corners of her mouth flexed in a grimace.

"Okay, so I don't know all their names," Ira admitted. "But a lot of them have been on set when we've visited Kate or Sorawit. I think."

She actually wasn't sure about that. Many of them seemed familiar, but she wasn't sure if it was because she'd seen them in a movie, if she'd actually met them, or if they just looked like someone she knew.

She knew a lot of people. Tawan hadn't been wrong about that. Not many of them were what she'd call intimate friends, though.

She put a comforting hand on Nene's arm. "Stop worrying. Sorawit knows what's going on, and he wouldn't bring anybody he thought was an issue."

"Uh-huh," Nene replied, casting a doubtful gaze at the line of cars.

A group of three men caught Ira's attention as they wound their way around the cars now blocking the drive. They were already dressed for the pool in swim trunks and T-shirts.

All three could have been cover models, but one dark-haired fantasy stood several inches above the others. He had a body that shouted "Touch me" and an infectious laugh that called to her from across the drive.

Ira eyed him with interest. "There's someone I'd like to know better."

Nene pointedly didn't comment.

"Hi," Ira said as soon as tall, dark, and insanely seductive was close enough. "Have we met?"

"We have now." His smile was an open invitation that she wanted to accept. "Thirakorn Saengthong."

She gripped his hand, appreciating that he didn't give the dead-fish shake so many men used when greeting a woman. "Ira Suwannathat."

"I've seen you on set with Kate and Sorawit." He put his other hand over hers. "It's a pleasure to officially meet."

Ira's smile widened so far it started to hurt. "Pleasure's all mine. Go on in, make yourself at home." She liked the way his gaze lingered on her mouth before he went inside with his friends. "Oh yeah, I definitely want to know him better."

"Is he one of those Saengthongs?" Nene asked.

"Does it matter?"

Nene huffed out a snort.

Saying hello to a sea of friendly faces filled all the empty spaces inside her that three weeks alone had caused. That made everyone here instant friends as far as she was concerned.

Music started up behind her with a dance beat she couldn't ignore. "I'm going to head on back and get the party started. You stay and make sure the rest look like they belong here, okay? At least with everybody nearly naked, you know they're not carrying weapons, right?"

Nene grunted her acknowledgment, but she had frown lines around her eyes. "Tawan's not going to like this."

"That's why we're not going to tell her about it," Ira said, giving her one more reassuring pat on the arm. "It'll be fine."

She hurried through the house to the backyard, where her prison had been transformed into a paradise filled with partygoers having a good time.

The mouth-watering scent of roasted pork wafted out of the kitchen, and The Suwannathat Sisters' latest hit came on loud enough to shake the neighborhood.

It seemed like whoever had taken control of the playlist wasn't above flattery, and she was not above liking it. She laughed and waved at the crowd.

"Let's get this party started!" Her shout was filled with all the exuberance she'd kept locked up since their last concert.

The crowd answered her with shouts and cheers and splashes from the pool.

She soaked it all in. There was life all around her again. Finally. It was heaven. Heaven filled with music and laughter and sun and people. Lots and lots of people.

Someone nearby called her name. A muscled man in long dark red trunks and a mesh shirt held up a beer in tribute. "Thanks for the invite!"

Several others joined in the chorus of thanks.

She gave a respectful wai, hands pressed together, and dipped her head slightly. "Thanks for coming, everyone. It's been lonely around here."

"Not anymore!" a male voice called out from somewhere in the crowd.

She couldn't see who'd said it, but she laughed and gestured in the general direction of the voice. "No. Not anymore." She waved at everyone gathered around the patio. "Enjoy yourselves!"

Ira's eyes scanned the crowd and spotted a group by the deep end of the pool. Among them were Sorawit, Pranaya, Thirakorn Saengthong, and a few others clustered near the water. Smiling, she made her way over.

"Ira!" Thirakorn greeted her warmly. "Do you know Malee? She starred in Whispered Shadows 3."

The curvy woman in a bright green one-piece swimsuit that complemented her glowing tan and dark hair stepped forward and extended a hand. "Thanks for having us over."

"Of course. Happy to have you." Ira shook her hand before turning to a tall blonde in a turquoise swimsuit standing next to another guest. "And you are?"

"Sirin Ananda," the blonde replied with a small wave. "I was at your last concert in Bangkok—third row. It was incredible."

Ira's face lit up with delight. "That's so sweet of you to say. I'm glad you were there. That night was special for me too."

Thirakorn lightly touched her arm. "We're setting up for pool volleyball. You in?"

"You should totally join us!" Malee chimed in enthusiastically. "We're doing girls on guys' shoulders in the deep end. It's only five feet—nothing too intense."

Ira imagined herself perched on Thirakorn's shoulders, her pulse quickening at the thought. "Hell yeah, I'm in."

It took a while to get the game going. The biggest challenge was staying balanced on Thirakorn's broad shoulders. Both of them were wet, and his skin was slick. She slipped more than once, laughing every time, though some slips were a little less accidental than she let on.

Finally, Ira managed to steady herself, wrapping her legs securely around his neck. She tucked her feet against his chest for support, feeling the water lapping at her ankles. His firm grip on her thighs sent little shivers of excitement coursing through her.

"There you go!" Sorawit cheered from nearby, tossing a volleyball in her direction. "You're up!"

The ball sailed slightly to her left, and Thirakorn quickly swerved, nearly toppling Ira off his shoulders. His hands instinctively tightened on her legs, keeping her from falling.

She stretched forward to grab the ball, losing balance but catching it just in time. She giggled, wiggling to regain her position while gripping his neck for support. The intimate contact sent warmth spreading through her belly, and she bit her lip as fleeting thoughts of how much fun they could be having in a more private setting danced through her mind.

"Careful up there," Thirakorn chuckled, adjusting his stance to steady her.

"Got it!" Ira held the ball aloft, grinning. "Ready?"

Sorawit swayed dramatically beneath Pranaya, who gripped his head with both hands. "Set!"

Malee and her partner, a wiry man barely keeping his head above the deep water, shouted their readiness, while Sirin and her partner—a bronzed, tattooed man who exuded drummer energy—called out, "Let's go!"

Ira took a deep breath and launched the ball with all her might. It arced gracefully over the pool and just cleared the net.

"Got it!" Sorawit lunged forward, trying to grab the ball himself, but his sudden movement unseated Pranaya, who tumbled into the water with a splash.

Laughter rippled through the group, mingled with splashes and giggles.

Pranaya sputtered to the surface, wiping water from her face, and splashed playfully at Sorawit. "Jerk!"

"Sorry!" Sorawit pulled her in close and planted a long, dramatic kiss on her lips. Their overly theatrical display of affection earned wolf whistles and catcalls from the crowd.

When Sorawit finally released her, Pranaya giggled and pushed her hair out of her eyes. "You're forgiven. This time."

"What's the score?" Thirakorn asked, shifting his stance to keep Ira steady on his shoulders.

The group's self-designated referee, a girl Ira vaguely recognized but couldn't place, pointed at Thirakorn with an air of authority. "Point to Team Ira! That's one-nothing."

Before anyone could celebrate, a loud pffzztt pop pierced the air.

The music stopped mid-beat. One second, a Starborn song about summer was pulsing through the yard, and the next, silence hung heavy over the pool.

Thirakorn turned toward the sound. "Did we blow a fuse?"

Ira's stomach churned with guilt. "I hope not. If we broke anything, Kate will murder me when she finds out."

Her guilt curdled into dread when she saw Tawan standing on the DJ's platform, holding a power cord like she was ready to strangle someone with it.

Tawan scanned the crowd methodically, her sunglasses off and her sharp gaze cutting through the bright afternoon light. People shifted nervously, trying to avoid her line of sight.

But Ira knew who Tawan was looking for.

Her.

"Who's that?" Pranaya asked, following Ira's gaze.

"I think it's the party police," Sorawit muttered.

Tawan's eyes locked onto Ira. Her gaze flicked briefly to Thirakorn, lingering just a fraction too long on the spot where Ira's legs had been draped over his shoulders, before snapping back to her face.

The weight of Tawan's glare was suffocating, like a parent catching their child red-handed. Heat rushed to Ira's cheeks, a mix of embarrassment and defiance bubbling up inside her.

She wasn't a kid. She hadn't done anything wrong.

"You. With me. Now."

Tawan's voice was low and gravelly, but it carried across the yard with the force of a command.

"Ooooh, somebody's in trouble," someone singsonged from behind Ira.

"It's gonna be you if you don't shut up," Raph muttered under his breath. "She looks pissed."

"And hot," another voice chimed in, loud enough for Tawan to hear. "We should ask her to join us."

The muscles in Tawan's jaw flexed, and the crowd shifted uncomfortably under her unrelenting glare.

Ira patted Thirakorn's hand. "Let me down."

Thirakorn tilted his head, his hands still firmly gripping her thighs. "You sure? Is she your ex or something?"

"Worse," Ira muttered, already dreading what was to come. "She's my babysitter."

She glanced behind her to make sure the pool was clear, then added, "Getting off."

Thirakorn released her legs, and she let herself fall backward into the water with a loud splash. The cold shock of it against her sun-warmed skin sent a jolt through her, stinging like a reprimand.

When she surfaced, Thirakorn looked down at her with a mix of amusement and curiosity. "Babysitter?"

"Forget it. I better go deal with this." Ira sighed, swimming to the side of the pool. She dipped her head under the water one last time to clear her face, then stepped out with a resigned sigh.

Tawan's sharp gaze, softened slightly by her warm brown eyes, locked onto her. Despite the few feet of space between them, Tawan's presence loomed large, as though she could take in every single detail of the backyard with one calculated sweep.

Ira grabbed a towel and began drying her hair, more to avoid saying anything defensive than anything else.

She didn't owe Tawan an apology—not for this.

Tawan's intense expression settled on Ira like a weight, as though silently branding her as the most exasperating woman on the planet.

Ira met her gaze with a glare of her own, channeling her frustration into a look that screamed most annoying? You've met your match, Warden.

The air between them buzzed with tension, the kind of thick, heavy silence that made everyone else instinctively turn away.

Ira finally broke the stalemate by wrapping the towel firmly around her waist and lifting her chin in defiance.

Tawan's jaw tightened, her nostrils flaring like she was barely holding back the urge to shout or march out of the backyard. For a split second, Ira thought she might actually quit.

Instead, Tawan flicked her attention to Nene, standing nearby with a cautious expression. "Get these people out of here."

A pang of guilt stabbed through Ira. Nene had only done what she'd asked—none of this was her fault.

Nene hesitated, as though she wanted to argue, but then gave a curt nod. She raised her hand and called out, "Party's over, everyone!"

Ira wanted to protest. This was her life, her party, her sister's house—technically. But it was clear the decision had been made.

One by one, people began drying off and gathering their things. There were awkward smiles, apologetic shrugs, and more than a few curious glances cast in her direction.

Heat flushed Ira's cheeks and neck. The gossip this spectacle would generate was bound to explode on social media, especially if even one person leaked it to the press. Her sisters would never let her live it down.

Tawan dropped the power cord onto the DJ booth and barked, "Pack it up." Without sparing Ira another glance, she turned on her heel and disappeared into the house.

"You sure you're okay?" Thirakorn's voice pulled Ira from her spiraling thoughts. He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, his concern written all over his face.

Ira forced a smile, patting his arm lightly. "I'm fine. I just need to yell at her in private." She sighed and added, "It was really nice meeting you, Thirakorn."

Thirakorn hesitated, his brows furrowing with worry as he tugged his shirt back on. Nothing said party's over like a handsome man covering up.

"Let me give you my number," he offered. "If she tries anything, call me first. Just in case."

Ira couldn't help but laugh softly. "You're so sweet. Don't worry, though. She might look intimidating, but she's all bark. And Nene's here to keep me safe."

Still, she wasn't about to let Tawan ruin what could be the start of something good. Holding out her hand, she grinned. "Give me your phone."

Thirakorn handed it over, and she quickly typed in her number before returning it with a light brush of her fingers against his. "I had fun today. Text me, and I'll call you as soon as I'm done being grounded."

"Hope that's soon." Thirakorn cast one last glance at the house, his expression cautious, before reluctantly leaving.

Ira watched him—and the rest of the crowd—disappear. The music was gone, the laughter silenced, and the backyard suddenly felt empty.

She'd been having such a good time.

Tawan Liang really was the ultimate buzzkill.