That night she did not sleep. Her body was tired but her mind would not shut off. Every time she closed her eyes she saw the judges’ faces again. She heard the word Feature again. She saw that message from Nashville again. Do you have management yet. It repeated in her head like a slow drum.

She lay on her back in the dark and stared at the ceiling while the city hummed through the thin walls of her apartment. Somewhere down the block a car alarm chirped then died. Somewhere upstairs somebody laughed too loud. Somewhere far away a siren cut through the night. Los Angeles breathing like it always did. She felt small inside it and also huge at the same time. Like she was nothing and also new lightning.

By 5 a.m. she gave up on sleep. She made instant coffee in the small kitchen and sat at the cheap table with her phone in her hand. She opened the message from Carina again and read it slow this time. Lila this is Carina. I work with an independent label in Nashville. I just watched your round two pull. Your tone cuts through everything else on that stage. If you’re not tied to a team yet I’d like to talk. We develop. We don’t machine stamp. No pressure. Just a conversation.

No pressure felt like a lie. Everything about it felt like pressure. A good pressure. A fast pressure. A This could change your whole life pressure.

She typed a reply three times and erased it three times. She did not want to sound desperate. She did not want to sound ungrateful. She did not want to sound like a child. She finally sent Thank you for reaching out. I’m not with management yet. I’m new to this. I’m listening.

Her thumb hovered after she sent it. She almost threw her phone across the room on accident just from nerves.

Sophie woke up at seven and called her without even texting first. Lila did not even say hello before Sophie started screaming into the phone You are FEATURED. FEATURED. FEATURED. DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANS.

Lila laughed into her hand Stop yelling I am going to fall over

Sophie took a breath like she had to force her lungs to calm. Okay. Talk. Tell me every detail I was dying out there. Security would not let me in. I almost lied and said I do lighting.

They tried to say model girl Lila said. I told them My name is Lila.

Sophie made a sound like someone getting fed in a movie after days in the desert. Yes. Good girl. I am so proud. If they try you I will actually fight someone in heels.

Lila smiled. Her chest hurt in a good way. She whispered I think this is real now.

It’s always been real Sophie said. You are just finally in a room where people will admit it.

Around ten, the agency called. She almost ignored it. Almost. But not answering meant trouble. Trouble meant fines. Fines meant bills. So she picked up.

His voice came calm. Too calm. We saw footage. Congratulations on your little show moment.

Little show moment sat wrong in her throat. She swallowed it. Thank you.

He did not pause. We need to meet. Noon. Office. Bring your contract packet.

Her stomach went tight. Why

Because you are now circulating outside material while still in active runway cycle. We need clarity.

She almost said I already know what that means. You are scared. But she did not. She just said I’ll be there.

When she hung up she felt cold. She texted Miles. Call me when you wake up. Emergency level medium high.

He answered five minutes later with a sleepy voice and a cough. It’s not even noon. Should I be awake.

They want to talk contracts she said. What do I do.

His voice woke all the way. Oh. Okay. Right. Listen. I am not a lawyer. But I have seen this before. They are nervous that you are going to blow up without them and make them look dumb. The first move is control through fear. They are going to say you can’t do music. Or they are going to try to fold your music into them so they can take a cut when you blow.

So what do I say

You say you are committed to fulfilling all existing runway obligations. You say you are grateful for opportunity. You do not say you belong to them outside runway unless a lawyer tells you to. You do not sign new pages today. Got it

She repeated it back like she was studying for an exam. I will not sign anything new today.

Good Miles said. Also. Do not go alone.

I do not have a lawyer she said.

You do not need a lawyer. You have Sophie.

That idea almost made her laugh. Sophie as legal defense. Dangerous. Beautiful. Correct.

Sophie met her outside the agency building twenty minutes before noon wearing black jeans black boots and a stare like she was ready to throw hands in reception. When Lila told her You do not have to come Sophie said I already cleared my day. I am billing you in hugs and fries.

Inside the agency, the lobby felt colder than usual. Or maybe she just felt it more now. She noticed details she had ignored before. The quiet fake smile of the receptionist. The rows of photos on the wall. Girls in gowns. Girls in diamonds. Girls on beaches. Girls with perfect hair and empty eyes. None of those girls looked loud. None of them looked stubborn. None of them looked like they talked back.

She wondered how many of them used to sing in secret too.

They made her wait. Of course they made her wait. Ten minutes. Fifteen. Twenty. Classic control game. She felt the trick of it. She felt the message under it Sit. Obey. We decide when you matter.

She did not like that game anymore.

Sophie leaned in close and whispered in her ear so only she could hear. We can just walk out you know.

Lila almost smiled. We can’t.

We can Sophie said. They act like they are the only door But Lila. You just opened your own door.

Before Lila could answer, the assistant waved them in.

The meeting room was not the big office from last time. Smaller. No windows. A fake conference table. One printed copy of her contract on the table like a weapon. The director sat at the head of the table with two brand managers and someone from finance. Finance had a laptop open and was not smiling.

Sit he said.

She sat. Sophie sat too. No one told Sophie to leave. It felt like a small win.

The director folded his hands. I am going to get to the point. We have seen your recent activity. We have watched the show clip. We have received calls. And we have also reviewed your paperwork.

He tapped the contract like it was a Bible. You are under exclusive image management. This means any public facing activity that uses your face, name, voice, likeness or persona must be cleared by us.

My voice she said slowly. Voice too

Yes.

Her stomach dropped. You are saying you can control whether I sing.

We are saying we have the right to control brand damage.

Brand damage

Those two words hit like ice on her skin.

She felt heat rising and made herself breathe slow. She heard Miles in her head Do not sign anything. She heard Eli Do not let them write your story. She heard the judge You are going to be a nightmare for some people. She almost smiled at that one.

The director slid a paper toward her. This is an addendum. It clarifies expectations. You will continue modeling work through the current season. You will refrain from making independent appearances for music without agency approval. If you secure an offer in music you will route that offer through us for review so we can negotiate terms and protect you.

Protect. The word felt dirty in his mouth.

She did not pick up the paper. I am still in active runway cycle she said. I am showing up. I am doing the work. I am doing what you ask.

He nodded. Good.

But I am not signing new pages today.

Silence

The air turned sharp in the room. Finance looked up from the laptop. The brand managers shifted. The director smiled without warmth. I am not sure you understand what is at stake.

I do she said. My rent. My career. My future. I understand it. I also understand that I am not property. I am not signing something new today without someone to explain every word to me who does not work for you and does not get paid by you.

Sophie leaned back in her chair slow and proud and whispered That is my girl

The director’s smile thinned. Lila. Be reasonable. You are very young and this is bigger than you. You need guidance

She nodded. I agree. I do need guidance. I just do not think I need only yours.

For a second no one spoke. It felt like the air itself had paused to stare.

Then his tone changed. It lost the fake kindness. He went flat. I would hate for you to develop a reputation as difficult. Difficult talent does not get booked. Difficult talent becomes expensive to carry. Expensive talent is talent we do not carry.

He was telling her You can vanish. We can make you vanish.

Fear moved through her body fast like cold water. But under that fear something angry rose and took root. She had heard a different message two days ago. You are going to be a nightmare for some people. You are going to be interesting. Interesting gets hunted.

So she looked him in the eye and said I am not being difficult. I am being careful. That is smart. That is professional. That is the same thing you tell us to be.

The finance guy looked away first. The brand managers stayed quiet.

Finally the director leaned back. Fine. You want time. Take a few days. But you will not embarrass this agency. You will not talk about us in interviews. You will not frame us as the villain. You will not suggest we mistreated you. That kind of language destroys trust.

She held his stare. I have not said anything about you at all. All I said on camera was My name is Lila.

Sophie made a soft sound that might have been a laugh.

They ended the meeting with fake politeness. We value you. We are excited for you. We believe in partnership. We only want what is best for your long term success. The lines sounded like perfume. Pretty. Heavy. Used to cover something else.

When she and Sophie walked out of the building into warm daylight Sophie let out a low whistle. That was war talk she said.

Lila nodded. Yes

You scared Sophie asked

Yes Lila said. Then she surprised herself and added But I am also done being scared.

Sophie bumped her shoulder. Good. Because I was about to print shirts that say Free Lila and stand outside with a sign

Lila laughed so hard she almost had to sit down on the sidewalk. People walking by stared. She did not care.

Her phone buzzed again. A new message from Carina in Nashville. Got your note. I respect that you’re still under contract. I don’t want to drag you into something messy. I’m offering a call only. We build voices. We don’t cage them. When you’re ready we talk. No rush.

Her throat felt tight. Build voices. Don’t cage them.

She read the line twice, three times, like prayer.

Then she sent back four words. I’m ready to talk.

In that moment she understood something clear. The agency could scare her. They could slow her. They could shout property and brand and control. They could wave paper. They could threaten silence.

But they could not sing for her.

They could not walk into that room and pull sound out of her chest and turn it into something that shook people. Only she could do that.

Only she could open her mouth and make that feeling happen.

And that meant this fight was not equal anymore. It meant for the first time in her life she had leverage that did not come from looks or from pleasing someone else. It came from something inside her that no one had given her and no one could take.

On the ride back to her apartment she leaned her head against the car window and watched palm trees slide by. She whispered so low only she could hear it I am not scared of being seen anymore

Then she added I want to be seen

And for the first time she did not feel guilty for wanting that