Daddy (GEMINIFOURTH)

Chapter 20: Softening Edges

The quiet of the condo felt strange to Fourth. He was rarely here, usually spending most of his time at Gemini's penthouse or out in the city, wrapped in the luxury and power that Gemini's presence afforded him. But tonight, he found himself alone in the space Gemini had gifted him, lying on the plush bed, staring up at the ceiling.

The silence wasn't comforting. It gave him too much time to think.

Fourth's eyes wandered around the condo, taking in the expensive decor, the sleek furniture, the designer clothes neatly folded in his closet. Everything in this place screamed wealth—wealth that wasn't his but was handed to him by Gemini. This life, this luxury, had once been all he ever wanted. He had used his charm, his body, and his time to ensure that he got everything he desired, and for a long time, that had been enough. He had been playing a game, and in that game, Gemini had been his most valuable player.

But now, as he lay there in the quiet, Fourth felt something unsettling creeping into his thoughts. He had everything he wanted—so why did it feel so hollow?

His mind wandered back to Gemini, to the way he commanded every room he entered, the way his cold, calculating gaze could soften, if only just a fraction, when he looked at Fourth. It was subtle, almost imperceptible, but Fourth had seen it enough times to know. Gemini wasn't the kind of man who let his guard down easily, and even in their most intimate moments, there was always a wall between them. A wall that Fourth had been content to ignore—until now.

As he stared up at the ceiling, his thoughts drifted to a future he had never allowed himself to fully consider. One day, Gemini would be married. Not to someone like Fourth—no, Gemini would marry someone on his level, someone from the same world of power and wealth, someone who could match his status. Fourth would become just a memory, a transaction that had served its purpose.

The thought sent a strange, unwelcome feeling through him, tightening his chest in a way that surprised him. Why did it bother him so much? He had always known what his role was—he was here to provide what Gemini wanted: his body, his company, his charm. And in return, he got all of this. The condo, the clothes, the money. It had always been a fair exchange.

But now, the thought of Gemini with someone else—someone who wasn't him—made his stomach twist. It shouldn't feel like this. He shouldn't care. Their relationship was transactional, nothing more. Gemini didn't love him, and he had never expected Gemini to. Yet, here he was, lying in bed, thinking about what it would be like to lose him.

Fourth let out a frustrated sigh, rubbing his hands over his face. He shouldn't be thinking like this. He had always been in control, always known exactly how to navigate his relationships. But something had changed. Somewhere along the way, his heart had started to soften, and that was dangerous.

Was it the way Gemini had protected him, removed Tin from his life so decisively? Was it the way Gemini provided for him, ensuring that no matter what happened, Fourth's life would remain comfortable and secure? Or was it something more subtle, something in the way Gemini would look at him sometimes, when he thought Fourth wasn't paying attention?

Fourth didn't know. All he knew was that he didn't want to lose this—didn't want to lose him.

The realization hit him hard. He had grown attached. More than attached—he had grown soft for Gemini in ways he never intended. This wasn't part of the plan. Fourth had always kept his heart out of his transactions, always ensured that he stayed one step ahead, always knew how to get what he wanted without getting hurt.

But now, lying in the condo that Gemini had gifted him, the thought of a life without him was starting to creep in. And it hurt more than he wanted to admit.

Fourth rolled onto his side, pulling the silk sheets closer to his body, as if that would somehow shield him from the growing fear inside him. His life had always been about the game, about control, about knowing how to get what he wanted. But with Gemini, the rules were changing.

He wasn't sure when it had happened—maybe it was gradual, maybe it had been there from the start—but Fourth's heart was no longer just playing along. It had gotten involved. And now, the thought of Gemini moving on, of finding someone more suitable, more permanent, left Fourth feeling vulnerable in a way he hadn't expected.

He closed his eyes, trying to shake the thoughts away. This wasn't what he signed up for. He wasn't supposed to fall for Gemini. But no matter how hard he tried to push it away, the truth was there, undeniable.

He had fallen. And now, there was no turning back.

With a heavy sigh, Fourth opened his phone, scrolling through their messages. He typed a quick text to Gemini, something light, something normal.

"Goodnight, Daddy ❤️," he sent, knowing Gemini would probably read it in the middle of his busy night.

As he hit send, Fourth lay back down, staring at the screen. For the first time in a long while, he felt uncertain about the game he had been playing.

How long would this luxury, this life, last? And more importantly, how long could he pretend that his feelings weren't changing everything?