Dominate Showbiz: Media Tycoon Discovered My Talent-Chapter 44: Just Touch Me Like This a Little Longer

"Congratulations," Antony muttered. "You’ve disturbed everyone’s work now. Happy?"

Raimo pointed a finger right at Antony’s face. "And you are the source of everyone’s problems, lazy old man!"

Antony shot back dryly, "I might be lazy by your standards, but I’m definitely not as dumb as someone who can’t even recognize a good song." 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Raimo’s face stiffened. His brown eyes darted to Kaija, still frozen between their fiery exchange. "You mean this girl’s song?" he scoffed. "Has your taste dropped that low, AK? A song like that would put everyone at the festival to sleep."

"Or maybe it’s just above your abilities," Antony shrugged, already turning on his heel. His voice carried ahead of him. "Come on, dummy. Let’s go, if you still want some sleep before the morning session."

Raimo was still fuming, his hands clenching tightly into fists. He looked ready to fight, but with his height disadvantage and skinny, muscleless body, she highly doubted the result would turn out in his favor. She quickly gave him a polite nod and hurried after Antony.

Behind them, Raimo’s voice still echoed down the hall angrily. "AK! I’m not done with you yet! AK!"

Antony just ignored him completely and kept walking.

After a few turns, they ended up in a room with a layout exactly like Raimo’s office. But unlike Raimo’s disaster zone, this place was spotless and decorated.

A fancy carpet sat perfectly centered in the room, a small desk to the side, a sleek glass coffee table, and a black leather couch that looked ridiculously comfortable. Every corner was dotted with plants, all healthy and clearly well cared for.

"Have a seat," Antony said, gesturing toward the couch as he took one end.

Kaija sat quietly at the other end, still trying to wrap her head around everything. "So..." she drew out the word, "people here call you AK? And you’re also... a producer?"

Antony merely shrugged. "I make music. Call me whatever you want."

So she was right. Apparently, Juho wasn’t the only one around here hoarding secrets. Her cranky dance instructor was also full of surprises. She could practically feel the weight of all the secrets she kept gathering more and more every day from these mysterious men and their questionable double lives hanging heavily on her shoulders.

But wait, if Antony really was a producer, and he’d dragged her all the way here to his office, along with what he’d said earlier, then did that mean...

She cleared her throat. "So... are you going to help me with my song?"

"Will you stop asking useless question?"

Her mouth snapped shut. That little note of irritation had crept into his tone. "What do you want me to do now?" she asked, her voice small.

A sharp exhale escaped him, like he was trying not to burst out at her again. "Just sing," he said, calmer now.

She held the lyrics paper between her trembling hands. Antony was her only hope for this song now. She’d better not screw it up.

She bit her lip and drew a steady breath. Once the melody came back to her, she let it flow.

Your lovely touch, your sweet lullabies

They left me hollow, and so I cry

Should time somehow bring those days back

Would we still have each other again?

...

The clock on the wall was close to hitting 1 AM. The quiet of the night made every word of her song feel heavier, sinking deeper than when she first wrote it.

Kaija didn’t know what was scarier, Antony roaring at her whenever she missed a beat in dance class, or him sitting completely silent, eyes locked on her as she sang. When she finally finished, she turned her gaze toward Antony at the far end of the couch.

He just sat there, silent, his golden eyes locked on hers with unnerving intensity. At that point, she was pretty convinced he and Charles were actually blood-related. They had the exact same terrifyingly quiet reaction after hearing her sing, that same unreadable, piercing stare behind those cold, mesmerizing eyes.

Suddenly, from the corner of those golden eyes, sparkling drops formed, then fell, one after another, rolling down his high cheekbones.

Her breath stalled. Were those... tears?

The stunned look on Antony’s face told her enough. He was just as shocked as she was by his own state right now.

Without thinking, she slid closer to his side, her hands lifting toward his face. Seeing Antony like this made it hard for her to even breathe, as if someone had pressed a hand to her throat and squeezed it tight. His gaze had fallen blankly to his lap, his face twisted in shock, and pain. A pain so achingly familiar to what she’d buried deep inside her bones in her younger years.

Cupping his face with both hands, she gently wiped away the stream of tears. His pale skin was cold under her fingers, yet his tears were a warm contrast. "Please don’t cry, I’m here," she whispered under her breath, repeating those same words over and over.

Those were the very words she’d always wished someone would say to her every time she woke up in the middle of the night, feeling like she was all alone in the world — even though her mom was sleeping soundly in the next room.

Could it be that her song had somehow reminded him of the mother who’d left him?

Antony remained completely still under her touch. A moment later, his tears stopped, and his breathing evened out.

Awareness hit her all at once. "I’m sorry!" she blurted, pulling her hands back immediately.

His hands suddenly shot up, catching hers midair. She froze, staring at him, unsure of what just happened.

"What... what are you doing?" she stammered. Wasn’t Antony supposed to get angry just now? He didn’t just let her touch him earlier, but he’d also just... grabbed her hands deliberately?

Slowly, he guided her hands back to his face. Her skin met his again, now faintly warm, tinged with a soft flush.

"Please," he murmured, his voice low, "just touch me like this a little longer."