Dominate Showbiz: Media Tycoon Discovered My Talent-Chapter 48: Know Your Place

The recording studio was on the 20th floor.

It was Kaija’s first time in a recording booth. The room was lined with thick soundproofing, equipped with a professional condenser mic with a pop filter, plus a whole lineup of instruments. A large, thick glass window separated the booth from the control room.

From where Kaija stood, she could see Antony sitting at the table outside, surrounded by all sorts of fancy gear and control panels. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

"Listen up," Antony said into the mic. "When you’re ready, give me an OK sign. Once I press the button, you can start. We’ll do many takes and I’ll pick the best ones for the final track. Got it?"

She gave him an OK sign through the glass and spoke into the mic. "Got it, instructor."

"Good. Let’s start."

They recorded for a couple of hours before wrapping up, since Antony had to leave for his other dance classes.

Though it was her first attempt, Antony couldn’t help but felt pleased at how quickly Kaija had kept up with his work rhythm, which was no joke for even the most seasoned artists at KE.

Putting his headset down, Antony went into the recording booth.

Just when Kaija thought he’d finally retire his newfound hobby of carrying her everywhere, she was proven very, very wrong.

He scooped her up again and carried her all the way back to her dorm, of course, in front of everyone one more time. She had to cover her face with both hands just like she had done earlier, so no one would recognize her or snap any cursed photos to blast across their group chats.

"Listen, instructor," Kaija muttered, her voice low enough to keep him from dropping her down. "You do realize I need to stop by the restaurant for lunch and then go to classes, right? You know it’s freaking far from the dorms to the training blocks, right? If you dump me in my room, I’ll just have to walk all the way back later. You’re wasting your time and mine."

He glared down at her, golden eyes glinting like a pissed-off tiger. "And you do realize the restaurant delivers, right? Call their hotline, they’ll bring food to your door. As for classes, I already texted your instructors. You’re off until you’re not wearing those patches anymore."

Her mouth dropped open. "How did you even know what classes I’m having today?!"

"I asked your manager," he replied coolly.

"Then how did you know who’s in charge of my classes?!"

"Tsk," he scoffed. "I’ve been here way longer than you, dummy."

With no word left for this man, she deliberately decided to keep her mouth shut for the rest of that humiliating journey. Only when they got into the elevator did she finally take her hands off her face.

"You know what, instructor," she said as the elevator went up, "you’re actually sweeter than you seem."

Antony’s muscles suddenly tightened around her. When she glanced up at him, his gaze darted away.

She couldn’t tell if it was the elevator lighting, or his face actually turned faintly pink. Or could it be that he really was shy because of her little comment? She lowered her face, fighting down a laugh.

The laugh didn’t last long. Antony’s voice came again, lower and softer than she’d ever heard from him. "What do I seem like?"

Kaija glanced up, thinking seriously about his question. "Well... you seem like you don’t want anyone near you, instructor," she said honestly.

"Hmm." He hummed, then went all quiet again.

"But there’s one thing I’ve always wondered..." she added, her tone earnest. "Do you actually not want people being close to you?"

Antony’s hands tightened around her arm and thigh where he held her. He searched her gaze, his voice no more than a breath. "I do want the right people close to me."

Heat shot up her neck and into her face, burning her ears. Was she starting to become a little delusional, or did Antony actually mean that person was... her?

Given everything she’d learned about him and his discomfort with physical contact with women, never had Kaija thought she’d ever be this close to someone like him. And now his fingers were pressing into her skin, his arms holding her even closer to his chest, their faces practically a breath apart.

The elevator doors slid open. Antony’s gaze shifted away from hers toward the wide opened doors, and his whole face stiffened.

Her gaze followed his line of sight. Standing right outside the elevator was Charles. His silver eyes, icy as ever, locked straight onto the two of them.

Kaija jolted slightly in Antony’s arms, every hair on her body shooting straight up at that razor-sharp stare. "Cha... Charles," she blurted.

Why was she even stuttering like she’d been caught doing something illegal? It wasn’t like there was anything between her and Antony, or she was in a serious relationship with Charles even?!

The last time she’d seen him was a month ago, on their last night together. After that, it was as if Charles had vanished into thin air.

Not a single message. Not even a hint he was still in Room 2, after the time she saw Camille walking out of his room. And now here he was, showing up at the absolute worst moment, when Antony was carrying her in the most easily misunderstood way possible.

Antony stepped forward without a word, as if Charles wasn’t even standing there. Charles moved instantly, blocking his path.

"What do you think you’re doing?" he muttered, his eyes a murderous glare. "Who do you think you’re holding?"

"My trainee," Antony said curtly. "She got herself injured, as you can see. Now if you don’t mind, fuck off."

Goosebumps shot up across Kaija’s skin. If she didn’t know Antony was Charles’s half-brother, she might’ve straight-up died hearing her instructor talk to her big boss like that.

Charles’s face tightened, but when his eyes slid to the patches on her knees and then back to her, the murderous intent in his gaze faded into stillness.

"Got these from dancing?" Charles asked, his features relaxed now, unreadable.

"I went out and tripped," she replied quietly.

Charles paused for a moment, then stepped aside without a word.

Antony had only been waiting for that. He moved forward instantly.

But just as he walked past, Charles’s voice came, low and heavy with warning. "Don’t linger longer than you should. Know your place."

Antony didn’t even bother to throw his half-brother a single glance. He kept walking, his voice carrying back, calm as ever. "I always do."