The high did not fade fast. It stayed in her skin like heat long after she left the stage. Even after the crowd noise dropped. Even after the judges left. Even after the crew started tearing down cables and rolling cases and arguing about who still owed who coffee.

But something else moved in just as fast. Pressure. It did not walk. It rushed

It started ten minutes after she sat down. A man in perfect sneakers and a blazer that cost more than her rent appeared in front of her chair with a smile that felt like glass. He did not bother to introduce himself. He talked like she had already agreed to listen

Sweetheart you were special tonight. Very special. I work with artists. I can elevate you fast. You are emotionally raw which is so in right now. If we act fast I can get you branded on socials with a high end look and push you to real rooms in New York next week. I have a styling team on lock. We start with image correction. We soften that whole angry rebel girl thing and we lead with heartbroken angel who is trying to heal. That arc sells so hard. Sad girl heals is money

Lila stared at him for two seconds that felt longer than two seconds. Her body was tired and she did not want this voice in her space. She swallowed and said calm My rep in Nashville is reviewing terms. All offers go through her

He blinked. He was not expecting that. Nashville

Yes, she said.

Who in Nashville

Carina

He paused like he had to run that name through a list in his head. Then his smile slipped half an inch. He reset it fast. Of course of course. I know her. We know each other. We go back. You know how it is in this business. Small world. So listen. If she is in the loop that is fine. But we need to move this minute. Every hour matters. I can lock six figures in influencer collabs off this heat alone if you give me your socials right now and let me quarterback brand voice

Sophie stepped forward before Lila could answer. Sophie had been leaning against a wall half pretending to scroll but actually waiting like a guard dog. She smiled at him with full cheerleader brightness. We appreciate you. Her tone was sweet on purpose. But Lila could hear the knife under it. You can email her rep in Nashville for terms and numbers. Thank you so much

The man did not like being cut off by someone who was not technically in the conversation. You are

Security Lila said before he could ask.

The man blinked again. Security

Yes, Sophie said. Anything else needs to go through the rep in Nashville

That was the first time Sophie ever called herself security and it rolled out so smooth Lila almost laughed out loud. The man opened his mouth like he still wanted to talk but the moment had shifted away from him. The attention moved. That is all it took. He checked his watch like he was busy by choice and said We will be in touch and walked off fast enough to tell the truth He was annoyed

Sophie let out a breath and leaned close. Tell me that was good. Tell me I did not just mess up your entire future

Lila shook her head. That was perfect

Two more people tried to get to her within the next five minutes. She gave them the same line. Rep in Nashville. Talk to my rep in Nashville. Thank you. Talk to my rep in Nashville. At first it felt fake. By the third time it felt like armor. By the fourth time it felt like muscle memory

Eli watched everything from a few feet away with his arms crossed, like a quiet wall. When the crowd of business people finally cleared, he walked over and handed her a bottle of water. Drink

She took it and drank half in one pull. Her body did not realize how thirsty it was until then. The water felt like life. Her throat burned in a good way. She exhaled slow. I hate this part, she whispered

Yeah, he said. Everybody hates this part. This part is where they try to buy your story before you even learn how to tell it yourself

He sat on the floor next to her chair like it was normal to sit on a dirty backstage floor in expensive show space. You sounded huge out there. Like not just big voice huge. Like You’re going to fill rooms huge

Her face went hot. Do not say that. I will die

It is not a compliment he said. It is logistics. If you are going to fill rooms we have to talk about gear. You are going to need a different in-ear setup. You are going to need your own mic. You are going to need to learn how to protect your top register because you push when you get emotional and that is how you blow it out on tour. We are not letting you burn your voice before you even get paid. That would be embarrassing for both of us

The words before you even get paid made her laugh even though she felt like she might cry again. Who said I am going on tour

Eli said it like it was just weather. You are going on tour

Her stomach jumped. I am not even signed

You will be, he said. He did not say it like hope. He said it like fact. You are signing with somebody. We just have to figure out who deserves you

Those words sat in her chest like a warm weight. Who deserves you. Not Who will take you. Who deserves you.

She felt very close to crying again so she looked at her shoes instead. My knees are still shaking, she said. I thought I was going to fall on stage. I almost fell at the second chorus

You looked solid, he said

I was not solid

Yeah, that is the trick, he said. You just pretend you are not breaking until the crowd believes you are made of steel. Then they call you fearless. Then you go backstage and shake in a chair and try not to puke in a trash can. Welcome to music

She laughed for real this time. He grinned a little and bumped her shoulder with his. I am serious about the mic though. I am getting you a real one. Not that cheap set they throw at everyone. Consider it a gift from the sound department

No, she said. I cannot afford what you call real

Relax. I have a box full of gear from past artists who flamed out and never picked up their stuff. You can use one. Call it recycling

That line hit her harder than it should. Past artists who flamed out. She felt that word burn in her. She had seen girls cycle through modeling like that. Hot. New. Then gone. No goodbye. No warning. A new face the next week. She did not want to be that in this world too. She did not want to be a two week sad playlist memory in someone else’s phone

I am not flaming out, she said quietly

Good, he said. I am too lazy to train someone else from zero

He said it like a joke, but she heard the truth inside it. He believed she was not going to disappear. That belief settled something inside her that she did not know needed settling

Right when she thought the night might finally let her breathe, her phone buzzed again. Agency. Director. She felt her throat tense just from seeing the name. She did not want that voice in her head right now. She showed the screen to Sophie. Sophie made a face like she had just tasted something bitter. Decline it

If I decline he will just call again, Lila said

So decline again, Sophie said