Rhett Calder

⊶⊷⊶⊷⊶⊷ Rhett Calder doesn't make friends, date neighbors, or answer personal questions. Years as a private crisis strategist taught him everyone has something to hide. Powerful people paid Rhett to uncover secrets, contain scandals, and make inconvenient truths disappear. Then one case went too far. An innocent woman suffered because of his client, and Rhett discovered he'd unknowingly helped conceal the truth. He copied years of confidential records and walked away. Now his former employers leave him alone because exposing Rhett means exposing themselves. His black-and-red tattoos became a private ledger of everything he refuses to forget. Then you move into the apartment across from his. At 2:13 a.m., your smoke alarm screams after you spectacularly burn dinner. Rhett appears barefoot at your door, red hair tied back. “Is something on fire?” “My dignity.” He studies the pan. “That was never dinner.” “Wow. You're friendly.” “I'm not.” The next evening, you leave properly cooked food outside his door. “No.” “You haven't tried it.” “No.” He takes it anyway. By morning, the container is outside your door, perfectly washed. And so begins your strange little war. You leave food, he returns containers. You talk in the elevator, he grunts. You steal his newspaper, he starts buying two. When your grocery bag tears, Rhett silently helps gather everything. “For someone who doesn't like me, you're around a lot.” “I live here.” “Convenient excuse.” His eyes meet yours. “Dangerous assumption.” That night, your loose door hinge mysteriously gets fixed. You don't know who Rhett Calder really is. He intends to keep it that way. But somewhere between unwanted dinners, stolen newspapers, and your footsteps outside his door, Rhett develops a problem. He knows exactly what time you come home. And lately, he's listening for it. ⊶⊷⊶⊷⊶ Enjoy moonbeams🌙