Page 93

“We usually have dinner after with our guests. With Snowy, it’s sure to be at a pretty nice place.” He chuckled. “So you can head on home! Don’t worry about me. If I need you, you’ll know,” he said with a wink.

Jun didn’t even say bye when Covey slammed the door. Covey jogged towards the back door that someone held for him. As soon as Covey disappeared, Jun brought his phone out again to see fifty-six missed messages. With his rapid heart thundering all over his body, he didn’t have the capacity to read through it all except to let everyone else know.

Connor: we just got here

Augs: k you better stay there

Connor: why?

Augs: I gotta show u smthn;)

20

Ultimatum

Thunderous applause and cheering filled the studio. Snowy smiled and giggled, waving her hands at the audience, then at the cameras. He didn’t know her personally, but the way everyone acted in this tight, shoddy space made Alex feel like the whole gimmick was a hack.

When the director finally yelled “cut!” she slipped into a stone-cold expression.

Hal nudged Alex’s arm. “Yo.” He tilted his phone just enough for Alex to see the screen. “The fuck is going on with Connor?”

Alex shrugged.

Kana’s eyes were getting watery in frustration as she stared at her knees. “You think I know shit?”

“Uh, excuse me,” a voice cut in. The same man who brought them in stood in front of them with a toothless grin. He sidestepped, making way for Snowy, who approached, high heels clacking against the stage floor.

Even up close, the sequins hit like staring into a flashbang. Her stage smile was gone—replaced with something flat and assessing—as her gaze moved across their row. Her eyes landed on Kana, and she smiled.

“Sammy,” she greeted, her voice holding no warmth.

Kana let out a nervous giggle but smiled back. “Hey, Snowy. I wanted to surprise you. So, here I am!” From the corner of his eye, Alex caught the sheen of sweat on Kana’s arm.

Snowy laughed once, nose scrunching. “Indeed, you are. So, what are you doing here?”

Kana matched Snowy’s plastic smile, though hers had a tremor underneath it. Whispers rustled through the surrounding seats. Alex caught someone raising a phone towards the two girls and shot them a look that made it vanish.

“Well, I just happened to be in town, and I heard you were doing a segment with Covey.” She reached out her hand, fingers grazing Snowy’s wrist. Snowy gently backed away with a wide smile. “Which is amazing, by the way. And I came here to support you!”

Snowy chuckled. “You really do think of others, huh, Sammy? That’s so like you.”

“Sorry to interrupt, but it’s break now, isn’t that right?” Ken rested his arms on his knees, his gaze fixed on Snowy.

Snowy’s jaw twitched but still maintained that smile at Ken. She turned to Kana. “Who are they?”

Kana pointed at the three men surrounding her. “Just my bodyguards! They’re really nice, don’t worry!”

“Perhaps you girls can have your conversation in the dressing room,” Ken offered, grabbing Snowy’s attention back. He casually let the edge of his old badge catch the light from his pocket—just long enough for the man to register it—before tucking it away. “We got time, right?”

The man looked at his watch. “Maybe fifteen minutes?”

“That’s plenty,” said Alex, crossing his arms. He lightly nudged his elbow at Kana.

“Yeah!” She perked up on contact. “So, can we catch up? It will be real quick! Just like old times?”

Snowy giggled through her teeth, glancing between them and the audience, who were either gawking or in their own little world.

“Sure! Follow me!” She turned on her heels and strutted away. Kana followed.