“Didn’t expect you to care about your brother so much.”


    Alessia ignored the teasing and pressed on, “Besides, if he wants to go down the singer route, he’s the perfect person to fill the spot you’ve vacated since your career change. You heard his demo–what did you think?”


    “He’s good. Definitely has his own style. Completely different from mine.”


    “That’s exactly what we need.” Tristan’s voice had a cool edge, while Liam’s carried a warm, smoky timbre–no one would mistake one for the other. Liam could never be just a stand–in; he was his own person.


    “You’re pretty confident in him. Sure he’ll be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with me?”


    “Maybe he’ll even surpass you,” Alessia shot back without hesitation.


    “Oh?”


    “These are his songs.” Alessia pulled a small stack of papers from a folder, maybe


    ten or so.


    Tristan raised an eyebrow, but took them anyway and started flipping through.


    Just then, the door burst open and Liam rushed in, startling them both.


    “Lessie, are you okay?” Liam hurried over, tilting Alessia’s chin up to examine her face, worry written all over him. Tristan nced up from the pages and, spotting Jason out of breath at the door, quickly pieced together what had happened.


    “I’m fine,” Alessia mumbled, her words muffled by Liam’s hand, but she didn’t push him away.


    “I saw Fitch’s face–looked like he got hit by a truck. What happened?”


    “Nothing much. I just punched him, that’s all.”


    “You punched him?” Liam’s voice jumped an octave. Alessia braced herself for a lecture, expecting him to scold her for being reckless. But instead, he grabbed her hand, checking it over anxiously.


    “Your hand–does it hurt?“.


    “No… no, it doesn’t.” Alessia stared at him, taken aback.


    Tristan, amused by the rare sight of Alessia looking flustered, let out a quietugh.


    <b>1/2 </b>


    <b>14.47 </b>


    Chapter TuO


    “Don’t worry, she’s tougher than she looks. If anyone’s hurting, it’s the other guy.”


    “Pain goes both ways, you know. Besides, girls‘ skin is more delicate,” Liam muttered, for the first time sounding vaguely irritated with his idol.


    “I’m fine, really, Liam. Are you done with your tour of the ce?”


    “Yeah, about finished.”


    “Okay, I’ve got some things to take care of here. You should get going–we’ve got that final set at the pub tonight, remember?”


    “And you…?”


    “Go on, go. Lillian will reach out about the next steps.”


    “Alright, I’ll get out of your hair. Call me if you need anything.” Liam still looked worried, but with Alessia insisting, he couldn’t argue.


    “I hear you.” Alessia gave him a quick wave.


    Once Liam was finally out the door, Alessia let out a visible sigh of relief.


    “Never seen you look like that before,” Tristan remarked, clearly entertained.


    Alessia rolled her eyes at him,pletely unbothered by appearances. “Are you done reading?”


    “I skimmed it.”


    “And?”


    “We’ll see.” Tristan arched a brow, sliding the papers back across the desk.


    “Stubborn as ever,” Alessia muttered under her breath, but Tristan pretended not to


    hear.


    “Where are you off to?” Tristan asked automatically as he saw her gathering her things.


    “None of your business. I’m leaving. Give those files to Lillian for me, would you?”


    Tristan could only shake his head in reluctant eptance as Alessia, never one for long goodbyes, handed off the folder and slipped out without a backward nce, leaving him alone with a stack of papers.


    “This girl… always has to have thest word.”


    Despite his words, he was already on his feet, heading toward Lillian’s office.


    <b>14:47 </b>