Episode 3

The Caliente Sisters

Nina and Dina were striking in a way that defied the typical beauty standards people might expect. They weren't the polished, cookie-cutter kind of pretty you'd see in a magazine—no, they were more unique. Dina, with her icy blonde hair, was an enigma. Katrina often wondered where that blonde shade had come from, as neither she nor her ex shared that trait. But somehow, it worked. Dina's pale blonde hair complemented her olive skin and slender frame.

Nina bore a closer resemblance to her mother. She was the fiery redhead, with a body that was full and curvaceous, a true reflection of her mother's own striking beauty. They shared their mother's light brown eyes and slightly hooked noses which gave them an exotic allure. They weren't the type of women that everyone would find attractive—no, they were something more polarizing, both admired and misunderstood in equal measure.

Katrina, for all her warmth and love, had been a permissive mother. Guilt-ridden from the decisions of her past, she had indulged her daughters, letting them have whatever they wanted, whenever they wanted it. The years of spoiling and forgiveness had shaped them into the women they were today—strong-willed, yet deeply flawed. But it wasn't just the indulgence that had made them who they were. Their past, the shadows that hung over their family, had played a part as well, lingering in the corners of their personalities like an unspoken truth.

Contrast

One might assume that shared trauma would bring people closer—that hardship would forge an unbreakable bond. And often, it did. But for Dina and Nina, it did not. At least not yet.

Even before their home life fell apart completely, they had been at each other's throats. Their differences ran deep, almost as if woven into the very fabric of who they were. They shared little in common, their tastes clashing at every turn.

Nina thrived on attention, gravitating toward bold, scandalous clothing that demanded to be noticed. Dina, by contrast, preferred something more refined—subtle yet undeniably alluring. Their approach to men was just as divided.

Nina sought out thrill-seekers, men who exuded danger and excitement—the kind who could set her world on fire, even if it meant burning with it. Though she never admitted it, she craved the chaos and the unpredictability. A childhood shaped by disorder had made her uneasy with peace. When things were calm, it felt unnatural, like something was about to go wrong. Stability wasn't comforting—it was terrifying. So she chased what she knew best: drama.

Dina, however, had no use for reckless passion. She sought security, older men with wealth and power—the kind who could offer her the stability she had lacked all her life. Attraction was secondary; what mattered was the transaction. Love, to her, was conditional. Why shouldn't it be? She deserved comfort, luxury, the finer things in life. And in her mind, she was simply playing her part. Beauty and youth were a currency, and she knew her worth. She was smarter, more calculating than most women around her. She knew how to get what she wanted.

Their personalities clashed just as much as their desires. Nina was volatile, temperamental, a whirlwind of emotions but always defaulting to anger. She lashed out easily, never one to hold back. Dina, on the other hand, was composed, measured. She felt just as much rage—perhaps even more—but she knew better than to let it control her. Outbursts were for people who didn't understand power. She did.

Yet for all their differences, there was one thing they agreed on: their mother was the only person that had ever loved them unconditionally. No matter how fiercely they fought, no matter how different their paths, she had always been on their side. And that, if nothing else, was the one thing that kept them tied together.

Intrigue

One evening over dinner, Katrina casually mentioned the new gym trainer at Builders and Shakers. She spoke of him with amusement, calling him handsome and suggesting that her daughters should come along next time to see for themselves.

Nina, always eager for something—or someone—new, immediately agreed. The prospect of fresh eye candy was enough to pique her interest. Dina, on the other hand, barely reacted. What did it matter if he was handsome? He was a gym trainer, for God's sake. What kind of boyfriend could he possibly be? Trainers weren't exactly known for their wealth or status.

Still, she had little choice. Maintaining her figure required effort, and skipping the gym wasn't an option. So the next day, the three of them went together, a picture of familial unity masking their ever-present differences.

Before Katrina could even make introductions, Nina had already made her move. Ever the thrill-seeker, she wasted no time, darting off to introduce herself. Dina, uninterested and unwilling to play into whatever game her sister was concocting, simply got on the treadmill and started her usual running routine.

It didn't take long for Nina to decide—Don was exactly her type. Tall, built, and charming, he checked every physical box she cared about. But at first, something about him gave her pause. He seemed too nice, and she wasn't into nice guys. Then she took a closer look—watched the way women hovered around him, how he smiled at them all, how effortlessly he charmed them. And just like that, her hesitation vanished. She knew his kind. A player. The type who acted smooth but thrived on chaos. She had dated enough wild men to spot one from a mile away. And that only made her want him more.

Dina had no intention of acknowledging him, let alone introducing herself. She was there to work out, nothing more. But she didn't get the luxury of avoidance—Don came to her instead.

"I figured I should introduce myself since I've already met your mother and sister," he said, his tone light, easy.

The moment Dina looked at him, she felt her heart stop.

She had never been so instantly, viscerally attracted to anyone in her life. It caught her off guard, an unwelcome and inconvenient reaction. But she shoved the feeling down as quickly as it had come. No, Dina. He's not what you need.

With practiced control, she greeted him politely but distantly. Composed and uninterested. The best way to keep temptation at bay was to ensure it never got close in the first place.

Don, perhaps sensing her disinterest, gave her a smile. "Well, if you need anything I'm here to help, nice to meet you", he said in his charismatic warm tone. Dina gave him a quick nod and turned back to her treadmill.

That evening, back at home, Nina couldn't stop talking about Don. Don this, Don that. It was endless. Dina found it pathetic—how women practically drooled over him, how they looked at him like dogs waiting for a bone just out of reach. As if he were all that to begin with.

And yet, she found herself thinking about him before bed that night.

Even though both sisters felt attracted to Don, they yet again had found something to disagree on.

Their opinion of Don Lothario.

Schadenfreude

Nina had begged Dina to go to the gym with her every day. She needed a wingman—someone to make it seem like she wasn't just there for Don. If Dina tagged along, she could play it off as a "sisterly bonding" thing, an innocent excuse that would save her some dignity.

Dina refused outright. She had a strict routine, one she wasn't about to alter—especially not to help her sister chase after that man.

"You're such a bitch, Dina!" Nina snapped, storming toward the door. But just before leaving, she hesitated, turning back with narrowed eyes. "You're not thinking of going after him on your own, are you?"

Dina sighed, barely glancing up from her phone. "I couldn't care less about that man."

Nina scoffed. "Liar. I've seen the way you look at him sometimes. You just tell yourself he's not good enough for you. Like I said—bitch."

Dina finally lifted her head, meeting her sister's gaze with an unimpressed stare. "Get out of my room already."

Nina gasped dramatically before spinning on her heel. A few seconds later, Dina heard her running to their mother. She sighed and went back to scrolling, unfazed.

Plan B.

It wasn't ideal, dragging Katrina along while trying to seduce a man. No one wanted their mother in the middle of them trying to get it on, but Nina wasn't about to let pride stop her now. Awkward or not, it was better than going alone. Much less desperate looking anyway.

At first, Katrina hesitated, but, as always, she gave in. She had spoiled Nina beyond repair, and at this point, it was easier to go along with her whims than deal with another tantrum. Besides, the last thing she wanted was for Nina to embarrass her, at least with her present she would have the chance to smooth things over if she went too far.

And so, Katrina purchased a premium training package, one that guaranteed Don as their personal trainer for the next month. Nina was ecstatic—an hour with him every day, all to herself for a month(for the most part, aside from her mother). She despised working out, hated anything that required too much effort, but if it meant being close to him, it was worth it.

She threw everything at him—blatant flirting, lingering touches, sultry smiles. Don, ever polite, responded kindly but professionally. This upset her.

Weeks passed, and every day played out the same way. She flirted, batted her eyes, positioned herself strategically during stretches to accentuate every curve—yet his reaction never changed. Always polite. Never more. It started to infuriate her.

Dina had told her time and time again that Don wasn't interested, but Nina refused to believe it, convinced Dina was just jealous.

"He probably just doesn't want to get in trouble. He is at work, after all," she huffed.

Dina gave her an unimpressed look. "Alright then. Don't come crying when he rejects you—I will say 'I told you so.'"

Nina scowled. The next day, she was on a mission. If Don had resisted her before, today would be different. She had her mother buy her a new set of gym clothes—tighter, bolder, designed to catch his eye.

The moment she arrived, she greeted Don with a quick kiss on the cheek, a bold move meant to set the tone. He simply smiled and greeted her back, as if unfazed. That threw her off for a second, but she swallowed the hesitation and pressed forward.

"Hey, so…I was thinking," she began, trying to sound casual, "maybe we could go out sometime. You know, after you're off?"

Don's eyes widened slightly. She couldn't tell if it was a good or bad reaction. A few seconds passed before he spoke.

"Oh… you flatter me, but I can't," he said gently. He must have seen the shift in her expression because he quickly added, "It's nothing personal. You're a beautiful girl, any man would be lucky to—"

"UGH, don't give me that shit!" she snapped, flipping her hair as she turned away, cutting him off before he could finish.

Onto Plan C—make a scene. It had always worked before. Men would rush after her, apologizing, backtracking, eventually giving in. Even if it started out of guilt or embarrassment, they always ended up wanting her in the end.

She stomped toward the exit, but not without sneaking a glance at the mirror wall, expecting to see him chasing after her, apologizing.

Instead, she saw him walking toward her mother. Likely telling her what had happened out of professionalism. The only people looking at her were some of the other gym patrons. This enraged her, she stormed out of the gym without looking back again. Her pride shattered.

Katrina nodded at whatever Don had said and immediately rushed after her. Knowing that their homelife would be difficult for the next few days while Nina cooled down from her initial dismay.

At home, Nina rushed upstairs in a fury, running straight into Dina.

"Don't you dare say it" she warned.

"I told you so", Dina said, smirking. Nina yelled and shoved past her, slamming the door of her room behind her.

Dina strolled downstairs with a small pep in her step. Katrina was waiting to explain what had happened.

"I told her he wasn't interested, it's her fault she got humiliated like that" Dina said matter-of-factly as she sat in the kitchen island, next to her mother.

"I know, sweetie, but try to be supportive, okay? She got her heart broken," Katrina replied gently, stroking Dina's long blonde hair. "She is your sister, family has to stick together".

Dina rolled her eyes but agreed "Fine, I won't make fun of her…not too much at least". Katrina gave her a small laugh, said goodnight and left upstairs for bed. When her mother left, she sat back and finally allowed herself to laugh.

For a brief moment, she had worried that Don might actually accept Nina's offer. Dina had wanted him—even if she refused to entertain the idea and had no plans to do anything about it.

But,If she couldn't have him, her ridiculous sister certainly couldn't his rejection of Nina? It was a relief.

She smiled to herself, pleased with the outcome—completely unaware that the one who would end up dating Don Lothario wouldn't be Nina. Worse.

It would be her own mother.