Dominate Showbiz: Media Tycoon Discovered My Talent-Chapter 132: Vermilion

When Kaija turned toward the voice, she met a pair of light green eyes, the color soft and fresh like new leaves, unlike Juho’s sharp and deep shade of forest green.

The woman who had just spoken seemed to be in her early thirties, perhaps only around Antony’s age.

She was wearing a red dress as well, but instead of the deep pink hue of scarlet Kaija was wearing, this red leaned more toward orange, bright and striking, just like the color of her hair.

"Juliana?" Antony’s eyes widened slightly the moment his gaze landed on the woman, though his voice showed no hint of joy in recognizing an acquaintance. His hand unconsciously tightened around Kaija’s, pulling her to stand slightly behind him.

"AK, I thought..." the woman called Juliana stuttered, her voice and face alike still caught in surprise.

The surprise on her face died down the moment her gaze landed on the hand Antony was holding, her voice shifting into a sweeter, smoother register.

"I thought I would never see you again in this place," she said, a faint smile adorning the elegant features of her face. "How long has it been, hm? Must have been three years now, since I left KE, and since I last heard a new album from you."

"Um, yeah, long time," Antony replied curtly, his distant facade fully returning to his face. "I need to take my artist to the stage now. Excuse us."

The woman’s smile deepened at my artist. "Oh, yes, I see," she replied, her gaze shifting to Kaija, who had been quiet all this time. "Kaija, isn’t it? I’ve seen your performance for The Artist Behind the Star. Phenomenal, I must say. You are perhaps one of the most captivating performers I’ve seen since my very first days at KE."

"Thank you," Kaija replied shortly, as she had little else to say to the woman. As much as she admired Juliana’s beauty and charm, she had no idea who she was.

Still, judging by her makeup and aura, she could tell this woman was also a singer. A famous one, even, not just any random backup dancer.

"I’ve heard from some of our friends in KE," Juliana went on with a sweet smile. "Is it true that you produced that song for this talented girl here, AK?"

"I did," Antony replied, his tone still lukewarm.

"Oh, no wonder," the woman replied, her face lit with delight. "Just thinking of that already reminds me of our old days together."

Her smile then turned to Kaija, charming as ever. "You must have had a blast working with someone as talented and strictly professional as AK. Good luck on your debut performance, sweet girl. I’ll see you around."

The woman stepped forward, walking past them as she headed for the main stage as well.

"Who was that?" Kaija asked, watching the woman leave.

"Juliana used to sign with KE," Antony said, his gaze turning in the same direction. "I used to work with her on a few albums. But she signed with a different label after her contract with KE ended."

"So you two are old friends," Kaija commented. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

"Not exactly," Antony replied flatly. "Just coworkers at most."

Only then did he realize he had been holding her hand this entire time without thinking, his fingers reluctantly letting hers go.

"I’m sorry," he said. "I promised you I’d keep this just between us. I shouldn’t be starting any unnecessary dating rumors for you, especially now that we’re in public."

"Oh, yeah, right," she said, withdrawing her hand shyly. "That would be troublesome for you too."

The two of them made their way toward the stage.

The stage setup for Kaija’s performance this time was different, with the mirrors removed, and scarlet theme stage props forming an inferno-like setting instead.

"Are you nervous?" he asked, though judging by the calm on her face, she didn’t seem nervous in the slightest.

"Not at all," Kaija confirmed his suspicion. "I made up my mind the moment I accepted this chance. Besides..." She turned to him, lips spreading into a bright smile. "I’m more nervous about the date with you tonight, Instructor."

Antony swallowed hard, blinking slowly.

As much as he wanted to grab her and press his lips to hers right now for a good-luck kiss like in those romantic movies, every ounce of his willpower fought against it, knowing this was not the right place.

"Alright, here we go," Kaija said, giving her arms and neck a few stretches.

"Cheer for me, alright?" she added over her shoulder, before stepping up the stairs leading to the stage.

"Good luck," he murmured softly, eyes lingering on the fiery, flowing drapes that followed her every movement, their burning color as intense as the way her image seared itself deep into his mind and soul.

His hands came together on their own, joining the crowd outside, whose shouts and cheers were now thundering through the vast filming studio.

All attention in the room turned toward her, hundreds of pairs of eyes fixing on the singer striking a pose on the red chair at the center of the stage.

All, including the woman in vermilion hair and dress standing at the other end.

From where she stood, she could clearly see the deep admiration on Antony’s face, the unfathomable longing in his eyes as he watched the girl take the stage.

What she had seen even more clearly earlier was the way their hands had intertwined, how that young girl had blinked up at her, speaking a few measured, polite words, as if she had no idea who Juliana was, or how many awards she had won.

A faint smirk lifted on Juliana’s face.

"So time really can change anyone," she mused, arms folded tightly against her chest. "Even the strictest, most disciplined of them all."

The music had started, but she was barely listening, her gaze fixed instead on the golden-eyed man across the stage, a strange mix of amusement and bitterness written across her face.

"And yet you rejected me back then," she murmured to herself, "saying you could never imagine yourself with any girl for the rest of your life."

When Kaija’s performance ended and the crowd erupted into even wilder cheers, Juliana’s hands came together in applause, but the faint smile had vanished completely from her face.