Dominate Showbiz: Media Tycoon Discovered My Talent-Chapter 34: I Wasn’t Asleep

In the middle of the dance studio, Kaija sat on the floor, thinking about all the chaos she’d gone through these past few weeks.

She didn’t see any point in rushing to Charles’s office to announce her return. It wasn’t like she was mad at him for "abandoning" her, as in Juho words. She didn’t even know if Charles was on campus yet or when he’d come, given how packed his schedule usually was, how many other companies under Kosonen Group he had to take care of. She’d rather just stick to training until Esko got her a new key card.

Juho did say he’d keep playing the photographer role, though. She’d better find him the next time he showed up at KE and ask for her bag back. Since neither he nor Charles seemed to give an actual damn about her, she figured she should just play dumb, keep her mouth shut, and stay out of whatever feud those two dangerous men were having.

The door suddenly slid open. Kaija snapped out of her thoughts. Antony had arrived, his golden eyes widening the moment they landed on her.

"Antony!" she jumped to her feet, hiding the boba tea behind her back. "Long time no see."

Antony didn’t answer. He just stood there, staring at her in disbelief, one hand still on the door handle, completely frozen.

Kaija stepped closer and waved a hand in front of his face. "Hey. Yo. Instructor. I’m back. You good?"

"You did your hair?" Antony finally said, raising a brow.

"Oh, yeah." She brushed a hand through it. "You like it?"

"No," he said flatly. Then his tone dropped. "Go outside and finish that boba before I throw it away, and get your ass back here quick. We’ve got to make up for all the classes you missed."

Crack.

Her composure shattered into pieces. She stomped outside to finish the rest of her precious boba, shooting Antony a glare on the way out.

But... he wasn’t wrong. She’d lost too much time from the training already, and she still had a mountain of debt to pay off. Time to put that serious mode on again.

What surprised her more was that Antony clearly didn’t seem to know anything about the kidnapping, despite being Charles’s half-brother. She could only imagine what sort of sibling relationship they had.

"Alright, I’m done," she said as she walked back in, still scowling. "What are we practicing today?"

"While you were gone, I came up with an idea, considering how hopeless you are," he said coolly, stretching in front of the mirror.

Kaija’s scowl deepened. "And what would that brilliant idea be, my genius instructor?"

He shot a glare back at her tone. "Backup dancers," he said curtly. "I’ll have them come tomorrow."

Her brow shot up. "Huh? So I don’t have to dance anymore and they’ll handle everything?"

"No, you lazy worm," he muttered. "It just means you’ll dance a little less. But the performance won’t hit market standard, that’s for sure."

"Well, that sounds like a good start," she said. "I mean, I’ll get better over time."

He let out a sharp exhale. "I wouldn’t be so optimistic."

She glared at him through the mirror. "Can we just start and get this over with? I need sleep."

"Fine."

The music started. After weeks without practice, Kaija had forgotten nearly everything. Antony, of course, was flawless as always. She also noticed he was standing farther from her than usual. Was he mad at her about the missed classes? She had no clue.

When all the classes ended, Kaija had officially turned into a zombie. Thank God Esko had gotten her a new key card. She asked him to tell Camille to inform Charles that she was back, then went straight to her room and crashed into a deep slumber.

When she woke up, it was the middle of the night. The sky outside was pitch-black. She realized her sleep schedule was completely wrecked. She rubbed her eyes and rolled to the side. It was then that her body suddenly hit something. Something huge, solid, warm, and alive.

Her eyes shot open, and her mind snapped awake instantly. She stared at the handsome face sleeping soundly, peacefully, right in front of her.

"What the fuck was Charles doing here?!" screamed her brain.

She waved a hand in front of his face.

No reaction.

So he was really asleep.

She lay staring at his face.

Seeing him like this, after everything that had happened, felt strange. Awkward, even. Especially now that she knew he was the only one who’d known she’d been kidnapped and still chose not to save her. Especially after he’d promised over the phone that he would. But now, sound asleep like this, he looked... less intimidating.

He seemed quieter, calmer. Those sharp silver eyes were now closed, not piercing through her like lightning striking. His features were relaxed, though she could see the dark circles under his eyes and the dullness of his skin. Maybe he’d been overworking.

She shook the thought off, reminding herself to stop staring at his sleeping face. There were four beds in this flat. She should just move to another one. But as she started to turn, a hand suddenly wrapped around her waist and pulled her back, pressing her tight against a firm, broad chest — so tight she could feel his heat radiating through her.

"Where are you going?" he murmured, his breath warm against the back of her neck.

Goosebumps crawled up her skin. She tried to wiggle free, but his grip was too strong. "I could find another bed," she muttered.

"Why would you?" he said lowly. "I’m aware there are other beds."

"Did I wake you?"

"I wasn’t asleep."

"Oh."

Then she fell silent. She had no clue what else to say, or what to do with this weird situation.

"How did you escape?" he asked finally.

She knew that question would come sooner or later, so she decided to just stick with what Juho had told her to say. "I got lucky," she said. "Someone took pity on me and helped me get out."

"Who?"

"I can’t tell you. I promised to keep their identity a secret."

"Where did they keep you?"

"I couldn’t tell. That person had me blindfolded when he drove me back."

In a way, she was actually telling Charles the truth, but Charles didn’t seem to buy any of it. "It’s good that you’re back," he said flatly. Then he pulled her closer, his arms tightening around her arms, his tone softening. "I’m sorry, Kaija."

Her chest sank at his words. She just let herself sink deeper into his embrace. "It’s fine," she murmured. "But who were those people?"

He hesitated for a moment. "Remember the politician I told you about that day?"