Chapter 2
“Ms. Storm! You’ve finally given it a thought. Let’s add each other on WhatsApp. We can meet tomorrow,” came the delighted voice on the other end of the line.
Camryn nodded and added the contact on WhatsApp.
Shortly after the call ended, footsteps echoed outside her door.
A few seconds later, the door opened, and Xavion walked in with an umbrella in hand.
He frowned when he saw her sitting on the floor in such a disheveled state. “Why are you soaked?”
“I forgot to bring an umbrella.”
With her damp hair covering her face and the motion-sensor light flickering, it was impossible for Xavion to see her expression.
He reached out and ruffled her hair. “You’re still such a kid. Remember to check the weather forecast next time.”
Camryn didn’t respond.
When Xavion turned and headed toward the bathroom, Camryn braced her half-numb body and dragged herself to the other bathroom.
After showering, she slipped into bed, staring blankly at the white wall.
Not long after, Xavion pulled back the blanket and lay down beside her.
The familiar scent of cedarwood filled her nose, triggering an avalanche of memories from earlier that day.
Unable to hold back, she wrapped her arms around him, her fingers trembling as they slid under his shirt. She slowly lifted it.
One inch above his heart, two stark letters stood out in black ink—Z.J.
This wasn’t the first time she had seen the tattoo.
In moments of passion, she had caught glimpses of it countless times. She had always been curious but never asked.
But now that she saw it again, her chest tightened, her eyes burned, and her voice trembled as she whispered, “What do these letters mean?”
Xavion froze for a couple of seconds, his gaze following hers. His tone was calm, yet it carried a depth of emotion she had never felt from him in their three years together.
“They mean something very important.” He paused, perhaps misinterpreting her action of lifting his shirt. “Alright now, you were out in the rain today. Let’s not push it tonight. Get some rest.”
With that, he gently removed her hand, pulled his shirt back down, and switched off the lights.
The bedroom fell into an abyss of silence.
Only the soundless tears streaming down her face remained, blending into the infinite darkness of the night.
Xavion woke up early the next morning. Skipping breakfast, he changed his shoes and prepared to leave when Camryn called out to him after seeing the relentless rain outside.
She remembered how much he hated going out on rainy days.
“You don’t have any flights to do recently, do you? Why are you going out?” she asked.
Xavion seemed to be in a good mood. His usually cold and distant expression softened with a hint of a smile. Picking up an umbrella and turning the doorknob, he replied, “There is something important I have to take care of. Be good and stay home.”
His words were punctuated by the sound of the door closing.
Watching his disappearing figure, Camryn turned back to the bedroom in silence. As soon as she entered, she noticed his phone, left behind on the nightstand, ringing incessantly.
She picked it up and unlocked the screen, only to see a WhatsApp chat interface.
The name of the contact was prominently displayed at the top—Zara.
A new message popped up.
“What time is your flight? It’s raining heavily outside. Don’t leave the terminal; I’ll drive over to pick you up.”
The caring tone and attentive words starkly contrasted with his cold reminder about Camryn’s checking the weather forecast from the night before.
It turned out that Xavion would go out of his way to give someone a lift when it rained heavily if they were someone he truly cared about.
Camryn only caught a glimpse of the screen before she heard footsteps approaching the door.
Quickly, she put the phone back on the nightstand and slipped into the walk-in closet before Xavion entered.
By the time she finished doing her makeup and came out, the phone was gone, and so was Xavion.
Camryn grabbed her bag before she headed downstairs and hailed a cab.
When Camryn arrived at the café where the meeting was supposed to take place, she immediately spotted Zayne Carter, the talent scout, waiting for her at the entrance.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the two headed into a private booth.
Zayne went into detail about the training program and her future career development, then took out a contract.
Seeing the bold red seal of Stellar Sound Group on the document, Camryn froze for a moment.
Stellar was the world’s most prestigious entertainment company. It was a place where countless people would do anything to join.
And she had almost given up on it.
She let out a self-deprecating smile as she unhesitatingly signed the document.
When Zayne received the signed contract, his face lit up as if he had discovered a hidden gem. He grinned so broadly that even wrinkles appeared.
“Ms. Storm, I thought it was a shame when you turned me down before. I’m glad you’ve reconsidered. A true treasure like you shouldn’t be overlooked. Don’t worry—Stellar is unmatched in the industry. We’ll make sure you shine on the biggest stage. This training will be a closed program, so go home and get ready. We’ll depart in 15 days.”
