“I’ve already said everything that needed saying. If things go wrong, you’re on your own-I’m not in the habit of cleaning up other people’s messes.”


    Fortune stood up, tucked her phone away, and strode out of the office. Sienna didn’t care in the slightest; if anything, she thought Fortune was far too timid,cking the decisiveness it takes to aplish anything big.


    She scrolled through thements, her face illuminated by the blue glow of her phone in the darkened office, giving her an eerie look.


    @ooo: Oh my god, isn’t this that “life winner” from before? Digging up ancient, blurry photos—how embarrassing. Wasn’t she underage back then? Some people’s minds are just filthy.


    @luckyseven: Can I be Alessia in my next life? I want to know what it’s like to be a rich woman for once! Geniusposer Moon-by the way, howe she never writes music for her own brother, only for Tristan?


    @kkk: If this is real, shouldn’t Tristan be in jail? She was underage, wasn’t


    she?


    @worldpeace: What if it was just two people who both wanted it? What’s it like being a sugar baby?


    @cardcase: Give me a break. Both thepany and Tristan have already denied the rumors. Some people just see what they want to see.


    @ProtectTristan: I believe in Tristan-let’s focus on the music!


    @TristanOutOfShowbizYet: Tristan’s fans are always bragging about how great her brother is. How does it feel now? Their debut song was actually a love song for her and the “rich woman.” You guys were just part of their game. Don’t bother covering your mouths now!


    @AntiRumorSquad: You trash people all day-how much is the rivalpany paying you?


    12:19


    @NoDramaPlease: Am I the only one impressed by this girl? So young and already winning at life. I’m jealous!


    @uu: This is hrious. @The Whitley Group, your boss’s wife is cheating-does that make you all look bad?


    @The Whitley Group: Back off, haters! We support our boss’s wife. To celebrate, we’re giving away $150 to the first 100,000 people whopliment @Alessia! Check the attached post for rules-good luck, everyone!


    @Happycker: Thanks for the cash, boss! I hereby dere myself a diehard fan of the CEO and Alessia. This epic romance-and all this money-ugh, I’m in love!


    @TristanLegHair: Tristan, I love you, but that’s $150!


    @CPshipper: This crazy love triangle-I’m obsessed! (P.S. $150, here Ie!)


    The Whitley Group’s statement only made the inte buzz louder, though the real victims were the poor website engineers, dragged out of bed in the middle of the night to fix the crashed servers.


    The online frenzy raged on, both good and bad, but no one in the team paid it much attention. Their focus was entirely on preparing for the afternoon’s exhibition.


    By dawn, they’d only managed to rest for a couple of hours in the studio.


    “All the samples are finished, and the main pieces have been shipped over. Keep an eye out for the delivery. I’m heading over to A&C Entertainment for a bit, but I’ll be back before the exhibition starts.”


    Alessia emerged from the restroom, sshing cold water on her face to


    clear her head.


    Queenie


    “Alright, we’ll get in touch if anythinges up.” Queenie didn’t even need to ask-she could guess Sienna was behind all this. That made today’s exhibition a must-win. There was no room for failure.


    “I’ll go with you,” Cole said, tidying himself up and grabbing Alessia’s bag


    12.19


    on the way.


    “Let’s go-everything’s set up at the exhibit hall. You should walk through the schedule once,” Ste said, slipping an arm around Queenie’s shoulders.


    “We’ve got this, team!” Ste extended her hand.


    They exchanged nces, grinned, and piled their hands together.


    “Let’s crush them-show her what we’re made of!”


    “Yeah!” Stifling theirughter, everyone echoed Ste’s words.