Antony glanced down at the girl nestled between his legs, a stormy look in his eyes. She was playing a video game on her phone, her head resting against his chest.
Across from Antony’s seat, Esko didn’t seem to mind seeing him with Kaija like this. Esko’s attention was entirely focused on answering countless emails on his phone.
Antony sighed. Perhaps now wasn’t a good time to ask Kaija about the ambiguous exchange she’d shared with Charles the other day when they’d sat together on the couch in her living room.
They were on their way to the S Top Hundred music show, and Antony didn’t want to disturb Kaija’s mind before her performance.
"You’ve been staring at me for a while now," Kaija’s voice suddenly came, so low only Antony could hear. "Is there something you want to tell me?"
Startled, Antony stammered, "Not... exactly. We should talk about it later."
The screen locked even though Kaija had been in the middle of a game. "Tell me now," she said, circling a finger over his chest. "You’re the one who told me to share whatever bothers me with you. It should go both ways."
Caught by his own words, Antony gave in with a sigh. "You and Charles seem to share a special connection that I’m not quite part of."
Kaija blinked, unsure what he meant. "Are you upset that he’s been staying at my place permanently now?" But Antony had been staying there permanently too.
"I am upset about that," Antony admitted. There was no other reason he felt compelled to intrude on Kaija’s living space over the past few days. "But what bothers me more is that sometimes you and Charles seem to understand each other without needing to say anything."
Kaija blinked again, pondering. Come to think of it, since the fight she’d had with Charles in the waiting room, he had opened up to her far more than ever before.
Lately, Kaija could tell what Charles was thinking just by the look on his face, the same way he could understand her after only a few words.
"I see..." Kaija replied. "And yet I thought you were upset about how we only get private time together when we’re in your office."
Her words instantly sent vivid images through Antony’s mind. "You... you shouldn’t mention that here. Esko might catch what you’re saying."
"Oh?" Kaija mused, her hand slipping beneath Antony’s coat. "You already let me sit on your lap like this in front of Esko, and you’re still shy about him hearing us?"
Antony’s body stiffened and melted at the same time under her teasing touch. "Kaikai, you’re distracting me from the topic."
A soft laugh spilled from Kaija’s lips as her hand wandered lower. "I’m just proving that you can read me and my intentions very well too, Antony. Besides, can’t you tell Esko already knows about us?"
The limousine came to a stop, and Kaija’s wandering hand finally had its fill of fun.
Antony’s lower lip was now swollen red, not from being smooched. He’d sunk his teeth down hard to hold back any groan from spilling out of his mouth the entire ride.
"Here we are, Kaikai!" Esko exclaimed, hopping out of his seat. "You’re ready for your second performance and your first time ever on the S Top Hundred chart?"
"More than ready, Esko," Kaija replied. "Can you help me prepare the waiting room with the backstage crew first? I need a word with Instructor Antony."
Esko was very certain what these two needed wasn’t a word. They needed some private time, and he nodded immediately.
"Of course, Kaikai. Don’t take too much time, alright? I’ll see you two inside!"
With Esko gone, Antony was no longer safe. His swollen lips were immediately claimed as Kaija climbed on top of him.
She sucked and teased, sliding her tongue into his mouth like she’d been holding back for far too long. Barely restraining his moan, Antony slid his fingers into her hair, pulling her down closer.
"You’re supposed to let me calm down so I can walk out of here without drawing unnecessary attention to my pants, Kaikai. Not provoke me further."
Even as Antony complained, his lips proved far more relentless, chasing her hungry mouth in an answering rhythm.
"What can I do?" Kaija chuckled softly. "Seeing you sulk makes me want to provoke you until you’re reminded that I’m yours."
The provoking didn’t stop until twenty minutes later. By the time they were done claiming each other’s lips, Kaija’s hair was a tangled mess.
With little time left to waste, the two of them made their way toward the waiting room. Staff rushed up and down the corridor, their gazes turning Kaija’s way.
One of the staff members suddenly slowed, then stopped outright in front of them.
He was a man in his late twenties, lean and slightly hunched, wearing a backstage lanyard that bounced against his chest as he moved. A pair of thick-rimmed glasses sat low on his nose, and his eyes kept flicking between Kaija and Antony.
"Um, excuse me," the guy said, pushing his glasses up. "Miss Sepala? Kaija Sepala?"
Kaija’s attention shifted from Antony to the man, and she offered him a polite smile. "I’m Kaija. Can I help you?"
The man’s face lit up instantly. "I-I’m a huge fan. I’ve been following you since your debut. Your last performance was incredible!"
His gaze shifted, lingering on Antony. "And... wow. I can’t believe it’s really you."
Antony stiffened almost imperceptibly, unease creeping in. Was this someone he’d known around here back when he was still active? He couldn’t remember.
"You’re AK, right?" the man blurted. "The AK. AK, the legendary producer!"
Just as expected, the staff member recognized him, and Antony’s expression cooled. He gave a short nod, unwilling to engage in unnecessary conversation when he couldn’t even recall the man’s face.
Fortunately, the man’s attention returned to Kaija. He fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a folded notebook and a pen. "Could I... could I please get your signature, Kaija?"
"Of course," Kaija said easily, taking the pen. She signed her name, adding a small heart at the end, just like Esko had instructed her. "There you go."
The man accepted it as if it were something sacred. He hesitated before turning toward Antony again. "C-could I also get yours?"
Antony shook his head at once. "Sorry, mate. I’m not active anymore."
Kaija looked up at him. "That’s not true, Antony," she said lightly. "You’re my producer now."
Antony sighed. He knew Kaija was flirting with him, but did she really have to do it in front of a staff member? She still hadn’t quite grasped what being famous meant.
"Just this once," Antony said over a shy but composed voice, reaching for the pen.
Antony bent to scribble his name, and Kaija watched him with an amused smile. She was curious to see what Antony’s signature looked like.
The man stood there watching too, a bright smile on his face. His hands slipped back into his pockets, the movement too subtle for either Kaija or Antony to notice.
The blade came out fast, glinting under the corridor lights as the man lunged forward.
His arm swung upward, aimed straight for Kaija’s face.