𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐋𝐎𝐆𝐔𝐄. immediate action.

CAROLINE GENTRY WAS STARING OUT THE WINDOW OF HER FAMILY'S HOME. She watched silently as raindrops rolled down the window's pane. Weather like this tended to make her brain itch for excitement. She could tell that a storm was brewing—both inside her and outside in the world. She was restless, her unspent energy trying desperately to break free. A sigh escaped her lips as she drummed her fingers on the window seal.

"Romeo!" she called, her voice sharp enough to cut through the rhythmic pattern of the rain.

Footsteps, lighter than the rest of the household's, to the point that she could barely hear them, were discernible outside in the hallway. Out of all of her brothers, Caroline depended on and trusted Romeo the most. However, his slow, unhurried pace irked her this evening. He appeared around the corner, leaning against the doorframe. His expression was caught somewhere between amused and bored. He was clearly used to being called upon.

"You rang, dear sister of mine," he drawled lazily.

She didn't waste time on pleasantries. Her future hung on the ability to keep Gentry Hall's namesake house prestigious and popular. "This year's recruitment strategy," she began, striding across the room to a small table where numerous stacks of files were awaiting her attention sat. "It needs to be bold. We need new blood—talented, ambitious. Last year's candidates were lackluster, at best. If we want our House to thrive, we can't afford mediocrity."

Romeo raised his eyebrows, his lips curving into a small smile. "And what exactly does that mean?"

"I've gone through all of the children of royalty's files, and they're incredibly dull. I've looked at the children of CEOs and millionaires. And none of them make the cut. They all have the same skill set; there's nothing remotely unique about any of them. On top of that, I don't care about wealth and status. That only gets you so far. What I want is a collection of good-hearted people, who strive to better themselves and this society. Apparently, that's incredibly difficult to come by." Caroline's frustration was palpable as she continued, "We need to rethink our approach, refine it, even. The trials must be rigorous, designed to uncover crucial things about each person's character."

Romeo gazed at her, his green eyes blazing with interest. He approached her casually as he asked, "How exactly do you propose we implement these trials?"

She smiled and began to outline her plan. She detailed how each of the five Gentry brothers would play a crucial role in the selection process. First, was Edmund, the eldest of the Gentry children. He was trained as the heir to the throne, and could easily find loopholes in people's plans. He challenged people, often discouraging them from remaining in his presence. Second was Weston, the charmer and flirt of their family. If candidates succumbed to his advances, they would fail dramatically. Dexter, being the highly intelligent brother, would act as their FBI figure. He would have extensive knowledge on each person in order to see how many of them willing tell lies. Samuel, the rebel, would be tasked with leading candidates astray. He would tempt them to defy the rules.

And then there was Romeo Gentry, her second in command, and favorite brother of all. He, out of all of the Gentrys, was the only one who could win over people's trust. He was kind and approachable, making everyone want to trust him. He would hopefully encourage the candidates to open up, letting him in on some well kept secrets. Through casual conversation and deliberate interactions, he would glean insights into their motivations, fears, and above all, desires. That kind of information could prove invaluable in determining their suitability for the House of Gentry.

"Your task," Caroline said, fixing Romeo with a determined gaze, "is to get in their heads. Make them trust you, make them talk. We need to know who they really are, beyond their skills and prestige."

Romeo nodded slowly, a thoughtful expression on his face. "And what about you, Caroline, sister of mine? What's your role in this?"

A steely resolve settled over her beautiful features. "I'll be the final gambit. Once all of the information is gathered, I'll judge who's worthy of joining our House. The future of us Gentrys and our Hall depends on the choices we make now. We can't afford to be complacent."

"I'm sure the trials will tell us everything we need to know," Romeo replied.

"I'm sure they will."

"Then let the games begin," he said, an eager lilt to his tone.

As he turned to leave, a soft, rhythmic beeping emanated from his continuous glucose monitor, alerting him to check his blood sugar. Caroline watched as he paused, glancing at the device integrated into his smartwatch, which displayed his current glucose reading. By the relief in his eyes, she could tell that it was within target range. He swiftly acknowledged the alert by silencing the notification. Caroline's eyes couldn't help but widen as a flash of fear shot across her face. Memories of a past incident where Romeo had suffered a severe hypoglycemic episode—resulting in loss of consciousness and requiring emergency intervention—flooded her mind. The experience had left her scared to death for her brother.

"You're sure everything's alright?" she asked, her voice strained with worry.

Romeo offered her a reassuring smile, fully aware of her lingering fears. "I'm fine, Caroline, sister of mine. The CGM just needed to be calibrated. No needles, absolutely no blood. You know I can't stand those." He tapped his watch lightly. "The device keeps everything in check. It's highly rated and trusted. It works on its own. It won't be like last time if it fails."

Caroline bit her lip as she nodded. "Just. . .be careful. And don't over or under dose," she murmured.

"Always," Romeo replied softly. With that, he exited the room, leaving Caroline completely and utterly alone with her wild thoughts.