The set-up

You drift through the center of the chaos, a silent spectator to the shifting dynamics. Lisa is currently standing in the center of the light Kenzie created, squinting through her viewfinder.

"Tyler, get the silver reflector. We need to bounce some of this gold onto the shadow side of the sofa," Lisa commands. "Mike, stop posing for a second and help him with the stand. Kenzie, don't touch that drape—it’s perfect. It’s... haunting."

Mike chuckles, his deep voice vibrating through the floorboards. He wipes a bead of sweat from his forehead, his biceps bulging as he hoists a light and locks it into place. He catches Cherie’s eye and flashes a grin that is purely, unapologetically physical.

Alexis, leaning against the doorframe with a fresh glass of juice, sees the look. She sidles up to Cherie, her shoulder bumping her sister’s as they watch the men work.

"You heard the 'Sentinel' this morning, Cherie," Alexis whispers, her voice a low, raspy velvet that you help carry directly into Cherie's ear. "Chad told you to 'do what you need to do.' And looking at Mike..." She pauses, her gaze tracing the ripple of Mike's back muscles as he reaches for a cable. "I think he is exactly what you need to do. A little 'structural adjustment' for the lady of the house."

Cherie’s face goes scarlet. She looks at Alexis, her eyes wide with a mix of scandal and a frantic, thrumming desire. She looks back at Mike, who is now laughing at something Tyler said, and the heat in her chest becomes unbearable.

"I... I have to start my practice," Cherie stammers, her voice thin. "The living room is too crowded. I’ll be... I’ll be in the backyard. By the pool."

She turns and flees, her yoga mat clutched to her chest like a shield. You watch her retreat through the sliding glass doors, her movements hurried and uncoordinated. She isn't looking for a "safe" space; she’s looking for a place where she can breathe without Mike’s scent filling her lungs. Alexis smiles widely as Cherie rushes out. She turns towards the space you're occupying and gives you a wink.

Lisa doesn't even notice Cherie's departure. She’s too busy with Chloe and Jessica. "Alright, girls. Change of plan. Since the backyard is occupied by 'Yoga,' let's start with some intimate editorial shots right here on the sofa. I want to see that 'Fan' energy Chloe was talking about. Jessica, get in close. I want you two to look like you share a secret that no one else in this room can hear."