Lydia

"Thank you for inviting me to lunch," Phillipa folded the napkin over her lap, and took a sip of water.

"Oh, it's nothing, dear," Lydia waved her away.

The cafe was but a small one in Pleasantview; seated at the best table, Lydia smiled at the passersby and to her well-heeled diners. The maitre'd was eager to impress, she could see.

More than that, Lydia was pleased to have scored an invitation with Phillipa. It was clear the thin thing had no friends if any, and her strained smile belied a need to open up. While most diners would have assumed Phillipa dressed like a school teacher, Lydia's smile curled that she had finagled Mrs Spencer to lunch, who only the insiders knew was the real power behind Pleasantview.

Of course all this did not humble Lydia. It had come as a shock that after Garrett becoming mayor and she First Lady, that she still had to kowtow to a family more powerful than hers. It grated on her; especially that all anybody else saw was Lydia taking charity.

But Lydia had been used to it, during her and Garrett's power climb to the top; and it only enhanced her image, that to other people's eyes, she was taking pity on some middling doctor's wife to be sure.

"And how is having Leo back home, hmm?" Lydia raised an eyebrow.

"He's a good boy," Phillipa smiled.

"And do you know what career he wants to enter into?" Lydia asked, curious.

"He's just at home for now," Phillipa conceded. "There's no rush."

"Yes, yes," Lydia idled. "You know, my Katrina went to the Kinneas' home - if a skyscraper can be called a home - it turns out they have each apartment for guests!"

"Yes," Phillipa nodded, wiping her lips. Lydia was poised, and her curiosity left unsated.

"It must be so much upkeep," Lydia shook her head. "Katrina said that Hikari's mother poo-pooed the idea of having the girls sleep together in the penthouse! For no space!"

"Oh, Clara's just protective," Phillipa's salad was largely untouched. "She likes things a certain way, like my husband."

"Yes," Lydia lingered, and received nothing further for her troubles. "Oh, I see Mr. Alto! Hello, Nick!"

Nick waved; the wife of her friend Vito, he was sitting at a table with some business associates.

"I must speak to Nick about my Alistair; he's just starting as a junior executive," Lydia tut-tutted. "Business is so hot these days! I did want Alistair to be a politician, but he's such a whiz with numbers, that boy."

"I'll talk to my husband," Phillipa nodded. "He hasn't mentioned anything about Alistair."

Lydia fumed. She suspected Phillipa's husband was at the top of the heap - with Alistair's skill, he could surely bump him off the top spot.

"If you'll excuse me," Phillipa rose, to visit the ladies.

"Oh, Nick," Lydia waved goodbye, as he and his business partners left their table. "Do say hello to Vita for me."

Lydia basked in the attention: not for vanity's sake, of course. But as First Lady, she received her share, and there were many interlopers who wanted to be invited to her home, to her dinners, to her parties; even if Lydia knew that she was not truly the queen of society; Phillipa Spencer might be discreet, but Clara Kinneas in her skyscraper was truly a fixation of wonder, and from all talk, refused all friendly invitations.

Phillipa came back to her seat; yet her hands shook, her face red, and strong cologne permeated.

"Phillipa?" Lydia frowned. "What on earth's the matter?"

"I must go," Phillipa's hands shook. "Could I please ask you to pay; I must go at once… "

"Of course," Lydia steadied, so intrigued. "We must catch up soon!"

Lydia signaled for the waiter, irritated that she had not been able to ask Phillipa's husband to check on Alistair for her.

LEO

Leo's bedroom was adrift in paper; sometimes he wrote, sometimes he drew. Pencil canvasses and an easel stood behind a window overlooking the lawn. Books lay partly read on his bed, an embroidery set with the thread looped from behind with a half-finished dog, and sculpting tools upon a little table, and a basin of cool water.

His parents left him to his own devices, more out of supporting his creative vices than ignoring him, he knew; it was to his surprise he had not been so precocious, for they had babied him in some ways yet told him the world was his.

And yet, for some parents Leo would have disappointed in that he did not want to storm through the Business world, talk on a Pulpit as a politician, or learn the ways of the world as a Scientist. Yet Leo knew his family did not lack for funds, and so his parents gave him time and space to unearth what he wanted to do. He dipped the paintbrush and cast another stroke, and heard what had been in the back of his mind a slow murmuring growing louder.

He washed his hands in the ensuite and toiled downstairs, where maids were silent and the butler always at attention. He looked out to the backyard, where in a tall tree a treehouse he had always known and loved was still out there, and a garden kept meticulous by his mother even though the gardeners toiled to keep it perfect when she was having a lie down or fussing in the kitchen.

The staff had always loved his mother's soft handed, kind approach; and they were paid very well by his father to keep the household as silently efficient as a machine. They could not called afraid of their employer; but he was humourless and sober, and they would not opt to have a few beers after their shift with such a man.

Leo walked into the foyer, and heard the chatter through the archway to the right; past his father's study, he heard only the end of the conversation.

" - I'll handle it," came his father's voice, abrupt and bold, who strode out from the living room, and alighted with some surprise on his son.

"Dad?" Leo came out on a squeak "Are you and mum fighting?"

"No," his father replied, with a concerned look in his eyes. "Everything is fine. It will be."

Leo entered the living room, where his mother glanced up, wiping her tears.

"Mom," Leo said with some shock. "Is - it is dad?"

"No, no," Phillipa shook her head, not mollified. "Come sit down and have some tea."

"I can't," Leo reached out. "Please, tell me what's wrong."

"Your father's sorting it," Phillipa sniffed. "But I do have some good news. You and I will be taking a trip to Champs Les Sims, for a little while."

"But what about dad?" Leo alerted. "Are you - "

"No, he just has to work," Phillipa put her hand on Leo's. "Please, don't worry."

"But Dad doesn't work," Leo frowned. "He talks into a phone for an hour every day and potters around the house."

"Well, he has to work shortly," Phillipa nodded herself solemn, resolved. "Come on. We'll take walks by the river, and have some croissants. It'll be a post-graduation present."

Katrina

"Thank you for having me at your house," Hikari raised her eyebrows, and smiled as Katrina led her out of the sedan which had chauffeured her home.

"It's no problem," Katrina said breezily, who had no choice but to return the offer; while she would much prefer to go to Hikari's skyscraper home; this was her turf, and some semblance of nostalgia propelled her to take the lead, which she enjoyed.

Katrina had loved staying at Hikari's place; after dinner, she had stayed on the twentieth floor, halfway between soaring heights and shuddering normalcy on the ground floor, and each apartment was designed differently, with this one in shades of lilac with a softer style of furnishings and lavender candles around the bath.

And so Katrina led Hikari into her home, where the maids were vacuuming and the butler greeted them, and they had sundaes sitting opposite each other on the glass dining table, while the grandfather clock ticked sedately.

"Where is everyone?" Hikari hushed.

Katrina glanced up to the butler, who stepped forward. "Mr Cartwright is at work and Mrs Cartwright is out at a charity function. Mr Alistair is staying late at work, and the twins are still out, I'm afraid."

"They always are," Katrina rolled her eyes.

"How do they get away with it?" Hikari asked. "Staying out and partying?"

"Well, my mom only has two eyes," Katrina shrugged. "It used to be a problem at the start of their campaign. But while it's not stylish or cool, they're not breaking any laws; and it keeps the peace for them to have fun with friends."

"That's cool," Hikari dug her spoon into her sundae. "I wish I could be them."

Katrina chuckled. "You can't be serious. Hikari, your life is perfect!"

If Katrina was Hikari, she dreamed: she would stay in a different apartment each night; she would chill out in the hot tub; she would wrap Irvine around her finger; although the stick in the mud was Mrs Kinneas, who seemed fit to be the sun around which other stars circled.

"Not really," Hikari slumped. "You've seen my mom."

It was hard to work Hikari's mother out, Katrina figured. She was almost regal, with her daughter inheriting her looks, and took it for granted that her every whim would be granted, as though it had been born to her, rather than a diva demanding her skittles sorted by color.

Katrina could quite easily dream being Clara, too: wealthy beyond count, with a roguishly handsome husband picked off the streets (if one could overlook his humble beginnings), and a daughter who she could shape in her image.

"Well… " Katrina admitted. "I sort of envy her. I mean, she gets to call the shots in her life."

"Yes," Hikari said bitterly. "And everyone has to fall in line. Even my uncle Adam, he'll jump to help my mom."

For all that Katrina had heard from her mother about the older Mr Spencer, who had the mayor's ear and more, the idea that even he was beholden to her was something.

"Why?" Katrina begged, fascinated with the idea.

"Well, mom's the oldest," Hikari considered. "But only my uncle Adam is the one who works, if any of them do."

"So he controls it?" Katrina could not help her growing glee; her insider knowledge. "All the money?"

"I dunno," Hikari almost tensed at this intrusion, and Katrina knew to pull back.

"Sorry," Katrina apologised.

"It's OK, I guess," Hikari sniffed. "I mean, I can't expect you not to be as curious as anyone else. The truth is I don't know."

Katrina lolled and nodded and said nothing. Hikari dangled her spoon into the empty glass.

"Come on," Katrina leapt, an idea. "I'll show you how construction's coming along. Of course, it's probably boring compared to your skyscraper… "

Katrina led Hikari outside, where the three-storied rec room was about complete.

"The first floor's going to be an audio room, to help Alexandra record a single or Conrad play the drums. The second floor's going to have sofas and a pool table and a bartender with a bar making drinks. The third floor's going to have a hot tub overlooking Pleasantview, with some changing rooms. I know what you're thinking: why would my mom, the height of prim and proper allow all of this? She knows it's safer to keep her twins close, rather than out there."

Hikari tensed, and Katrina wondered if the mention brought her back to how controlling Mrs Kinneas could apparently be. She blithely continued the tour as though she noticed nothing.

"And the helipad is built, of course. But what my mom didn't figure is City Hall doesn't have a helipad, so there's no point buying a helicopter, though we can afford one by now, I'm sure."

"Helicopter sounds cool," Hikari nodded. "My uncle Max took me on his when I was younger."

"And this," Katrina continued, envy leaping in her chest. "Is the pool, almost finished where a little sauna and changing room will be built. There'll be a second storey where a ballet rail will be added. My mum wouldn't dare go to a public gym."

"My uncle Max's wife used to be a jazzercise instructor," Hikari giggled. "That's how they met."

"Really?" Katrina said vaguely, hoping to pry more.

"After they married, she would rent out the whole gym for her workouts," Hikari continued. "Of course the locals didn't like that, so she had uncle Max buy her the building and all the members had to find somewhere else to grunt."

Agog, Katrina could not help but want to hear more, but Hikari was walking along the shrubbery of white roses and red tulips, and there was no avenue to prod her further.

"Oh, the good thing is, though," Hikari's cheeks coloured. "My aunt Grace is moving to Pleasantview."

"Really?" Katrina stirred. "She's the one married to a movie star, right?"

"Yes," Hikari nodded. "My aunt's finally convinced him to retire and settle down. He'll be home more so they can raise their little girl more."

"Will they be moving into the skyscraper?" Katrina gave a little laugh.

"Oh no," Hikari shook her head. "My mom likes her privacy, you know. I don't know where, actually… but it'll be cool to see Kylie. She's only six or seven, but she's the sweetest kid. You want to hear a story?"

"Of course," Katrina joined Hikari sitting on the grass out front, her clothes slightly damp, just to hear more about this crazy rich family.

"Well, of course uncle Johnny lives in a gated community in Bridgeport, so he says to my aunt why doesn't she have a word with her brother; he'll get Kylie into private school with a snap. But of course my aunt wants Kylie to grow up normal, even though she was born in the limelight."

"Uh huh," Katrina wished she was married to an actor, or daughter of one. What a bright life! "Go on."

"So my aunt calls the headmaster of private school round for dinner, and Johnny's out filming so it's just my aunt and Kylie. And my aunt insisted on cooking turkey, but the oven burst into fire and the fire department had to come!"

"No way!" Katrina burst out into laughter. "But what happened?"

"Well, the headmaster, soot black and coughing had to quickly excuse himself. And of course, my aunt thought she had ruined her luck and told uncle Max all this and of course that's why all the family knows about it."

"Yes, yes," Katrina nodded. What a fool woman; so rich, and she wants to be normal?

"And anyway, when the post arrives, my aunt opens it and she's accepted! Uncle Johnny said it gave him an idea to do a stunt involving fire. And so Kylie got into private school, even though my aunt singed off his eyebrows."

Katrina remembered when her father was still a congressperson, and how her mother had toiled to make their old house perfectly stunning for the headmaster. She had got the knack of it with Alistair, and the twins had tried to torpedo her chances so she had to arrange a follow up dinner, and how Lydia had glowed when the headmaster, replete from the chef's lobster thermidor and impressed with her clean home, had given her the nod of approval for Katrina's education.

And yet here was this aunt Grace, living in a mansion in Bridgeport, almost burning her house down and she got in on name recognition alone!

"Hikari, it sounds like quite a family," Katrina sighed.

"Well yours is pretty cool," Hikari raised her eyebrows. "I mean, you and your mom have so much in common. You get to go shopping and manicures and I mean, you live in a normal house. I miss finding the hidden passageways and running around the hedge maze with my dad back home in Champs Les Sims."

Katrina frowned; what house had a maze? But she alighted on Hikari's first point.

"Yeah, my mom's cool, I guess," Katrina picked at the grass in tufts, and could hear one of the gardeners sigh, knowing they'd be rebuked by the butler or her mother. "She's a busybody, really. I love her, but - "

"You can't want my mom instead," Hikari shook her head. "I'd gladly switch."

Katrina felt the cool breeze give her goosebumps. For all she loved her mom, for all they had in common; she had viewed her as the means with which she might rise to a life of fame one day. She was loving to her mother, but always eyed the horizon than her perfumed embrace.

"Well," Katrina shuffled.

"I mean," Hikari continued. "My mom doesn't let me go anywhere. I stay in that skyscraper after school, and I have no friends other than you. My dad told her that some boys were eyeing me after school and she freaked… "

"Why?" Katrina took Hikari's hand. "I mean, I get guys looking at me too. But they're too scared of my dad to do anything."

"You don't know," Hikari said bitterly. "My mom tells me guys will just date you once and drop you. Although that's the biggest irony."

"Why?" Katrina could practically smell the sundae on Hikari's breath.

"My dad used to be a ladies man before he married my mom," Hikari shrugged, picking at tufts of grass. "I think my mom likes that she 'tamed' my dad, though he smirks and flirts in that casual way men do."

"Do you think - " Katrina paused.

"No," Hikari shook her head. "I mean, I have the best relationship with my dad. And while I wouldn't blame him if he did; he'd be stupid to cheat on my mom. He'd break up our family and besides, he doesn't have to work because of her."

Katrina softened. For all the privileges Hikari had - and there were many - it seemed Hikari's mother was the main stick in the mud which could not be lifted. And yet even if Hikari was just raised by her dad, she would surely have a freer life; yet only her mom's money made it possible to live such a privileged life, yet trapped in a glittering cage.

She's probably thought about it, Katrina watched Hikari glance out to the garage on the left side of the house, with a little room atop where Conrad or Alexandra invited friends. She would probably even risk being poor and a nobody just to be free.

Katrina felt revolted at how she had first approached her friendship with Hikari, and guilty that she had pursued her with malice and social ascendance in mind. She lay a hand atop Hikari's who glanced round in surprise.

"You know, if you ever need to talk, I'm here," Katrina smiled, as guileless as when she had made her first trusting approach in grade school, before she had known how two-faced some girls could be; before she had developed the thick skin; before she could name drop her dad's position in Pleasantview. "I don't know about crazy wealth… but it doesn't sound like all it's cracked up to be, to be honest."