Chapter 2

The bass from the main stage was a living thing, a throbbing pulse that vibrated through the soles of my feet and up through my calves, settling deep in my marrow. I had followed him away from the crushing weight of the crowd, slipping through the heavy velvet curtains that separated the chaotic VIP lounge from a private corridor leading to a suite. It was quieter here, the roar of ten thousand screaming fans muffled into a distant, rhythmic hum, like the ocean heard from a great distance. He led me into a small, dimly lit green room, a space meant for quick breaks between sets. It was sparse, smelling of stale coffee, hairspray, and expensive cologne. As soon as the heavy door clicked shut behind us, sealing us in this acoustic bubble, the air changed. It grew thick, charged with the static electricity of anticipation. He turned to face me, his silhouette framed by the amber light of a single wall sconce. He hadn’t said a word since we walked in, but his eyes were scanning me, stripping away the layers of the public persona I wore for the crowd. I was still dressed in the silk slip dress