“Miss Morton, Lillian.”


    Candace couldn’t hide the anxiety written all over her face. In stark contrast, Fitch lounged nearby, radiating indifference, one leg bouncing restlessly as if he couldn’t be bothered to stand up straight.


    “If you keep shaking that leg, I don’t mind snapping it for you–and <i>don’t </i>worry, I’ll have it put back in ce after we finish talking.”


    Alessia’s words, delivered with a breezy smile that hovered between amusement and warning, made Fitch swallow hard. He awkwardly rubbed his nose and, without thinking, stopped jiggling his leg.


    “Sit down.” Alessia tilted her chin, the gesture casual but somehow brooking no argument. Fitch looked like he wanted to protest, but Candace tugged on his sleeve.


    He clicked his tongue in annoyance but sat anyway.


    “You said you only want Moon’spositions, nothing else, right?”


    “Of course! No one but Moon is worthy of coborating with me!” Fitch threw his hands behind his head, tipping his chair back with an air of cocky nonchnce, as if no one else in the room mattered.


    Across from him, Tristan stretched out his long legs–almost absentmindedly–until his foot bumped into Fitch’s.


    Fitch immediately lost his bnce.


    With a startled yelp, he lurched for the edge of the table. The table screeched as he yanked it, drawing frowns from everyone else–except Fitch, who clung to it like a lifeline, breathing a sigh of relief.


    “Sorry, my legs are too long.” Tristan offered the apology with an innocent expression, though there wasn’t a hint of remorse in his tone. Fitch shot him a re, gritting his teeth, just about to retort–when Alessia cut in. Meanwhile, Candace had already gotten up to straighten the table.


    “So, when was his debut originally scheduled for?”


    “The end of the month.” Candace’s head dropped even lower.


    “How long has he been signed?”


    <b>14:47 </b>


    “Not quite a month,” Candace replied, her voice growing almost inaudible.


    “Lillian, isn’t itpany policy that new trainees mustplete at least three months of training and pass their evaluations before debuting? Or is he an experienced artist with notable achievements I’m unaware of?”


    “Candace, care to exin?” Lillian’s heart skipped a beat. She hadn’t expected Candace to be so bold as to abuse her authority and push Fitch’s debut ahead of schedule.


    “He’s trained for about a month, and he already has some buzz online, so I thought-”


    “Candace, how long have you been at thepany? Joined right after college, didn’t you?” Alessia’s fingers tapped the tabletop, each knocknding like a blow to Candace’s conscience.


    Candace stood up, casting a desperate nce at Lillian for help.


    Disappointment clouded Lillian’s eyes. She’d personally mentored Candace, who had always been diligent, reliable, and meticulous. Lillian had even nned to groom her into the next star manager. She never imagined Candace would take advantage of her trust and so tantly overstep her authority.


    “Lillian, this is your professional oversight.” Alessia’s words were clinical, devoid of personal feeling.


    “Yes, I’ll report to HR immediately.” Lillian epted the penalty–her bonus for the month forfeit, and she knew she deserved it.


    “We’ll deal with Candace’s situationter. Fitch, right?” Alessia flipped through the folder with Fitch’s information.


    “You have three options. First, go back andplete your training. You’ll debut only after passing the evaluation, and you’ll ept thepany’s arrangements.”


    She hadn’t finished the first option before Fitch was already squirming in his seat. He shot to his feet, but Alessia remainedposed, fixing him with a cold stare.


    “Do you need me to drive you to the hospital for your hyperactivity?”


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