capybarnia!

Stewy’s whistle was low, appreciative, and just a little smug. “Marla Carranza.” His eyes flicked down the length of her dress before he leaned in for a hug, the scent of expensive cologne clinging to him. “Kendall told me you were coming, but I didn’t believe him at all.”

Marla was wearing a dark grayish blue dress with a V-neckline that showed off just the right amount of cleavage. She’d gotten real pretty for this. Her first time seeing the family after such a long time, she had to leave a great impression. 

Marla let out a soft laugh, taking a slow sip of her champagne. “Yeah, honestly, I’m still surprised I accepted his… uh, invite.” 

“Ah, see, that’s what I love about you, Marla. Always full of bad decisions.” His grin was sharp, teasing, but there was an undercurrent of something else, something closer to curiosity.

Marla and Stewy had met during her internship at Waystar, when she became friends with Kendall, which entailed her partying every weekend at different high-end bars and clubs. 

Stewy and Marla hit it off immediately. Stewy was a flirty guy, and there was nothing Marla found more fun than being able to flirt back without consequences. Of course, they did date for a while but it was nothing really serious. They both knew that.

She raised a brow. “Is that supposed to be a compliment?”

“Absolutely.”

The two of them stood at the edge of the gala, away from the cameras, the polished floor glinting beneath the chandeliers. The room was buzzing with business talk. On the opposite corner of the room, Marla recognised Connor, who appeared to be yelling at a server, clearly stressed out. She’d never really connected with him like she’d done with the rest of the Roys, mainly due to him being sort of an outsider inside both the family and the company. And what benefit would Marla obtain from buddying up with the interloper? Marla was always thinking about the benefit. 

Stewy followed her gaze, scoffing softly. “Poor guy. Always trying so hard to be relevant.”

Marla huffed a quiet laugh, though she couldn’t entirely disagree. Before she could say anything, she felt his eyes shift back to her, assessing. “You’re not like him,” he said, voice lower now, more deliberate. Like he’d been waiting for an opening. Like she was the most interesting thing in the room.

“I’m not so sure.” Marla turned her eyes back over to Stewy. “One might say I’m just as desperate for relevancy as Connor Roy is.”

Stewy shrugged. “At least you aren’t so obvious with it.” he swirled his drink. “So… you working for Logan now?”

Marla’s lips quirked into a knowing smile. “What makes you say that?”

“Because only people who work for Logan voluntarily walk into these fucking shark-infested waters.” His gaze sharpened. “And you don’t strike me as someone who came here just for the champagne.”

Marla held his stare, unblinking. “Maybe I just missed the family.”

That earned a quiet chuckle. “Right. And I’m here for the charity.” He tilted his head, assessing her like she was a stock on the rise. “So what’s your angle?”

She smirked. “I think I might just be trying too hard to be relevant.”

Stewy chuckled softly before leaning in just slightly. “I’ll say this, Marla—whatever you’re up to, you better be damn sure it’s worth it.”

There was no warning in his voice, just amusement, the kind that came from watching someone step into the lion’s den on purpose.

Marla just smiled, lifting her glass in an unbothered toast. “Cheers to bad decisions, then.”

Their glasses clinked, but before either could say another word, Stewy’s gaze flicked over her shoulder. His smirk widened, just a little.

“Well, well. Looks like you’ve got company.”

Marla turned just in time to see Shiv Roy approaching, alone. Behind her, Marla could grasp the image of her husband, whom she had only met in pictures, staring at Shiv’s back. 

Stewy exhaled, already taking a step back. “And that’s my cue to leave.”

“Coward,” Marla muttered.

“Strategist,” he corrected with a wink before slipping away, leaving her alone with Shiv.

And just like that, the air shifted.

Effortlessly poised, champagne flute in hand, she moved with the kind of confidence that came from knowing she was the smartest person in the room, or at least believing she was. The moment Marla locked eyes with her, it became clear: this wasn’t just a casual hello.

Marla straightened her posture, letting a slow smile curve her lips. “Why, hello Shiv.”

Shiv’s red lips parted into something that resembled a smile, but there was a sharpness to it. “Marla. Didn’t expect to see you here.”

“Didn’t expect to be here,” Marla replied easily, taking a sip of her drink. “But you know how it is, free booze, good lighting, rich men being miserable. Hard to say no.”

Shiv hummed, tilting her head slightly. “Right. And what exactly are you doing here?”

Straight to the point. Marla almost laughed. “Oh well, you know…” Marla played with the bracelet laying on her wrist. The situation made her nervous. She had always been intimidated by Shiv, even when they’d been best friends. “Wanted to see the um… new steps of the company. I am a board member after all.”

Shiv’s gaze flickered over her, quick and assessing. Sizing her up. Then, as if remembering something, she let out a soft chuckle. “God. Kendall must be feeling sentimental.”

Marla’s brows furrowed. “Is that what you think this is?”

“Isn’t it?” Shiv countered smoothly. “You show up after, what? Years? And suddenly, you’re sitting at his table, looking…” Her eyes swept over Marla’s dress, a flicker of something unreadable in her expression. “…expensive.”

Marla smiled, unbothered. “Oh but I always look like this. Don’t you remember Shivvy?”

Shiv’s lips pressed together, amusement barely masking the tension beneath. For a second, she looked like she might push further, ask more, dig deeper. And for a moment, Marla thought she might actually say something real.

After all, this was Shiv. Her Shiv. The girl she used to share cigarettes with outside of shitty college parties, both of them cackling about which idiot was going to fail the next exam. The one she stayed up with in their dorm, ranting about boys and family and futures that were supposed to be theirs for the taking.

But that was a long time ago.

And now, here they were, talking like strangers with knives behind their backs.

“I should go find Tom.” Shiv finally let her gaze move from Marla’s eyes, hesitating before doing so, something unspoken in her expression. “But it was… uh, nice seeing you Marla.”

“Nice seeing you too.” Marla had turned back to the table, taking out her phone before she suddenly overheard Kendall’s voice from behind her.

“Hey Shiv.”

“Nice work, bro.”

Marla barely turned her head as Kendall slid into view, noticing how Shiv’s lips were already curling into a smirk.

Kendall blinked, caught off guard. “What do you mean?”

Shiv took a slow sip of her drink, nudging towards the blonde girl sitting at the same table as Marla. “Fucking the talent.”

Kendall’s face barely shifted, but something in his posture stiffened. “Hey, come on.”

“No, it’s okay,” Shiv continued, voice light but razor-sharp. “You’re fucking ATN. ATN is fucking me. It’s a little clusterfuck.”

Marla watched Kendall’s jaw tighten. 

“But hey! Marla is here too! Maybe you can turn it into a threesome.” Shiv winked at him, but before he could respond, she was already turning away, leaving him standing there like a misplaced chess piece.

He exhaled sharply, running a hand down his face before his eyes finally landed on Marla.

“Marla,” he said, slow and careful, like he was testing the weight of her name after all these years.

Marla tilted her head, her smirk softening just a fraction. “Kendall.”

A beat of silence. He blinked, almost like he didn’t believe she was real.

“You…” He exhaled, shaking his head. “Holy shit. You’re actually here.”

Marla let out a soft chuckle, swirling the champagne in her glass. “Yeah well, you practically begged me to make an appearance tonight.”

“Yeah.” Kendall laughed. “I did… uh, have you met my date?” He pointed towards the blonde girl that Shiv had referred to just a moment ago. 

“Anna Newman.” Her voice was sweet, but she seemed bored. She extended her hand and Marla took it, a sympathetic smile on her face. 

“Marla Carranza.”

“Have you… uh, been having a good time?” Kendall directed the question towards Anna, sitting down as he did so. 

“Yeah. Uh… It’s been lovely.” She displayed what was clearly a fake smile on her face. “Thanks.”

“I’m glad.” Kendall turned around to look at Marla now. “So… how are you, uh, feeling about Tuesday?”

“I already told you. I’m fully team Kenny.”

“Yeah, no, I know. It’s just I’ve… I’m a little bit nervous about this whole thing.”

“Rightfully so. You’re kinda going to murder your dad.”

Kendall’s smile grew. “Hey, don’t say that.” Marla simply hummed as an answer. 

Before Marla could answer, Connor suddenly appeared, his energy frayed at the edges, lowering himself to Kendall’s height. "Hey, uh, Ken? Need to talk."

Kendall barely looked at him. "Yeah, what’s up?"

“Wait, Marla? How have things been going?” Marla wished Connor hadn’t realised she was there. This many reencounters in a night were giving her a headache.

“It’s been good.”

“So sorry about the butter.” Connor turned his attention back over to Kendall, leaving Marla confused and with no space to ask what was wrong with the butter. “Yeah so, apparently dad’s going to be doing the speech now, so late change of plans, I hope that’s cool.”

Kendall stood up in surprise, blinking. 

“What?”

“Well, yeah, he just said. I guess that put a spoke in quite a few wheels, huh?”

“Con. Con.” Kendall’s voice was laced with worry as he stopped Connor from leaving. “He’s in no fit state.” “Gotta go backstage.” Connor touched his shoulder before leaving, Kendall following after him.

Marla barely had a second to process Kendall’s abrupt exit before a voice cut in from her right, dry and unmistakably amused.

“Holy shit. It’s alive.”

She didn’t need to turn to know who it was.

He dropped into the chair beside her like he owned it, all loose limbs and careless confidence, eyeing her over the rim of his drink.

“Did they roll out a red carpet for you, or did you just claw your way back in? Either way, congrats. You’re like a very sexy cockroach.”

Marla let out a slow breath, turning toward him at last. Roman looked the same, somehow both sharp and disheveled, suit slightly wrinkled like he’d just rolled out of someone else’s bed.

Her lips quirked. “That was almost a compliment.”

“Oh, yeah, I forgot to add the part where I’m deeply, profoundly unsettled by your presence.” He gestured vaguely at her dress. “But you do look… hot, so at least there’s that.”

Marla rolled her eyes, lifting her glass in mock gratitude. “Gee, thanks, Rome.”

He smirked. “Mm. That’s what I do. Boost female confidence. I’m basically the Gloria Steinem of billionaire failsons.”

She chuckled, shaking her head. “Where’s your date? Assuming you have one.”

Roman clicked his tongue, glancing briefly at the crowd. “Oh, she was here. You just missed her.”

His tone was deliberately vague, leaving room for interpretation. 

Marla raised a brow. “Uh-huh. Did she happen to be… a real person?”

“Define real.” He grinned. “Like, did she have a pulse? Was she tax-paying? Did she have a deep and meaningful relationship with her father? Some of those answers are yes.”

Marla smirked, leaning in slightly. “So, translation: you scared her off.”

“I did not.” Roman’s hand fluttered to his chest in mock offense. 

“Let me guess, she just had an urgent appointment? With a car? Going far away from you?” He shrugged. “Classic.”

“Are you projecting right now?” Roman cocked his head, eyes glinting. “What’s your deal here? You back for good? Or just here to haunt us like some terribly-fuckable poltergeist?”

Marla took a slow sip of her drink. “Why? You worried?”

Roman grinned. “Worried? No. Turned on? Only in a deeply concerning, self-loathing kind of way.”

Marla exhaled a short laugh, her gaze steady. Roman was always like this, always pushing, always performing. But there was something in his eyes, beneath the smirk, that was watching her just as closely.

She set her glass down with a soft clink. “So, is this the part where you pretend you didn’t miss me?”

Roman made a face, feigning horror. “Oh God, was I supposed to? Shit. No one gave me the memo.” He leaned in, dropping his voice to a low stage whisper. “Wait, do you want me to say I did? Will that make you feel all warm and gooey inside?”

Marla hummed, tilting her head as if considering it. “I think I’d rather watch you squirm.”

Roman barked out a laugh. “Mar, please. If I could be rattled by you, I’d be dead already.”

She arched a brow. “Mmm. Keep telling yourself that.”

His grin twitched, just barely, like she’d brushed against something real. But then he was back on the offense, tilting his head, studying her with faux curiosity.

“So, then. Who lured you out of exile? Kenny?” His smirk widened. “Wait, no. You’re too smart for that. Shiv, then? Or…” his eyes flickered with amusement, “dear old dad?”

There it was. The real test.

Marla didn’t flinch. Instead, she smiled, slow and sharp. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

Roman clicked his tongue, mock-disappointed. “Oof. That’s such a Shiv answer.” He gave her a once-over. “You two been trading notes? I saw you talking to her just minutes before.”

“Are you stalking me Rome?” If he would tease, you could tease back. “Are you jealous that I didn’t run immediately towards you?” Her words were biting, mocking him in a fake sadness. 

Roman clutched his chest. “Christ, Marla, do you want me to cry? Because I will. Right here. Full meltdown.”

She pretended to consider. “Would be entertaining.”

Roman pointed at her. “See, now that? That’s the kind of passive-aggressive ex-girlfriend energy I live for.”

Marla just took a sip of her drink, unbothered. “We never dated.”

“Oh, we so did.”

“No, we didn’t.”

“Okay, yeah, maybe not in the ‘we are boyfriend and girlfriend and we fuck’ sense, but, like…” He made a vague, circular motion with his drink. “We did things. We were things.”

Marla’s smile turned sharp. “Yeah, the things were...”

“Hey.” Kendall slipped back into his seat beside her, his expression tight, his energy off. He barely acknowledged them, eyes fixed ahead. Whatever conversation he’d just had, it hadn’t gone his way.

“Well, what happened to you, my dear brother?” Roman’s tone was, as most of the time, mocking.

“Business mogul. Philanthropist.” A guy had stood up in the center of the stage, excusing Kendall out of answering. “And the man whose name is at the top of my checks.”

“Seems like it’s time for your daddy’s speech” 

“Ew don’t call him my daddy.” Roman pretended to gag. 

“Ladies and gentlemen, it is my profound pleasure to introduce to you on this most auspicious occasion…”

Roman let out a loud mocking yawn as the guy kept talking. 

“... the man, the legend: Logan Roy.”

“Wait, was it not supposed to be Kenny?” Roman finally sat down correctly, seemingly interested now.

“Do you care?” 

Roman tilted his head, considering her question. “I mean… not really. But I do love a good family betrayal. It’s like porn for me.”

Marla’s gaze drifted back to the stage, ignoring Roman’s comment as Logan took his place.

The applause was immediate, obedient.

Logan stood tall, his presence swallowing the room whole. Even the clinking of glasses quieted.

“Alright,” he said, tone clipped. “Let’s get on with it.”

A small chuckle rippled through the crowd, the kind that came from people desperate to be in on the joke. 

“Some personal news,” Logan went on, voice steady, measured. “Seems someone took advantage of me being in the hospital… to propose…”

At this point Logan was staring directly at Kendall, clearly taking a jab at him.

“To my daughter.”

A slight pause. A murmur in the crowd.

“So I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome her fiancé, Tom Wambsgans, to the family.” Logan’s eyes found Tom in the crowd, holding him there for a beat too long. “Welcome to the family, Tom.”

Polite applause. The sound of it made Marla’s teeth clench. 

Logan continued, shifting gears without missing a beat and Marla disassociated, moving in her chair to look at Shiv and her husband, who seemed even more uncomfortable than Kendall. “It’s so, so important that children are supported and encouraged.” His voice took on an almost thoughtful lilt. “Everything I’ve done, I’ve done for my children.”

Marla turned her head back at him, just slightly. And that’s when she caught it.

Logan’s eyes, cutting through the crowd, landing directly on her.

It was brief. A flicker. A fraction of a second too long to be accidental.

Then he moved on, as if she were nothing.

Marla’s fingers tightened around her glass.

Roman, watching her, let out a low chuckle. “Wow. That was something.”

Marla’s expression didn’t waver. “Was it?”

“Oh, definitely.” Roman tilted his head, eyes gleaming. “What do you think it meant?”

Marla did not know what Logan’s stare meant. Was it even important? Was it a hello? A ‘fuck you’? Or just some good old-fashioned ‘I see you, and I own you’ Roy-family mind games? 

It didn’t really matter, what was important was how she felt about it. 

And Marla liked it.

She didn’t care if it meant that Logan hated her. All she cared about was the fact that he had noticed. That she was important. 

Marla set down her drink with careful precision. “If you have to ask, you’ll never know.”

Roman let out a soft whistle, amused. “You really haven’t lost your touch.”

She turned, fully toward him now, resting her elbow on the table. “And you? Same old Roman? Still playing fool while the kingdom burns?”

He grinned, unfazed. “What can I say? I know my strengths.”

She studied him for a beat. “And your weaknesses?”

Roman’s smirk faltered—just for a second.

But Marla caught it.

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