Chapter 4
Kai showed up at the studio at six in the morning looking like he hadn't slept.
"Coffee," he said, handing me a cup.
"You remembered."
"Black, no sugar. You told me once." He set his guitar down. "What's the plan?"
I pulled up three browser windows on my laptop. Music gossip blogs. The kind that lived for drama and didn't fact-check too carefully.
"We're going to feed them a story anonymously" I said. “Just enough to plant seeds of doubt about Damien's upcoming album."
"What kind of story?"
"That a major artist is about to release stolen material. We won't name names. We'll just suggest and let people's imaginations do the rest."
Kai's mouth curved into something that wasn't quite a smile. "You're devious."
"I prefer strategic." I handed him a burner phone and a script. "You're calling from a blocked number. You're a concerned industry insider. You've heard troubling rumors."
"And if they ask for specifics?"
"You don't have specifics. You hang up before they can press."
Kai read through the script. "This could work."
"It will work. Make the calls."
He did and I listened to him talk to the first blogger, his voice perfectly calibrated between worried and reluctant.
By the time he finished the third call, I was impressed.
The first post went up twenty minutes later.
BLIND ITEM: Which chart-topping artist might have some explaining to do about their upcoming album? Sources say not all the credits are accurate...
Kai refreshed Damien's Instagram. "His comments are already going crazy."
People were speculating, pointing fingers, demanding answers.
"Now what?" Kai asked.
"Now we make you impossible to ignore."
---
I took him shopping with what was left of Grandma's money.
Kai resisted every step and said he didn't need new clothes or didn't deserve my investment.
"Stop," I finally said. "This isn't charity. This is strategy. You need to look like someone worth paying attention to."
"I look fine."
"You look like you're one missed meal away from collapsing." I shoved a jacket at him. "Try this on."
When he came out of the dressing room, I had to admit he cleaned up better than expected.
"See? Now you look like an artist, not a victim."
Something in his expression shifted. "Is that what you think I am? A victim?"
"I think you're someone who got screwed over and is finally doing something about it." I met his eyes. "Just like me."
The tension between us felt electric.
Kai looked away first. "What's next?"
"Recording. We need content, and we need it now."
---
Back at the studio, I watched through the glass as Kai set up.
"What are you recording?" I asked through the intercom.
"Something I wrote after Damien stole my song. It's called 'Rise Again.'"
When he started singing, I understood why this was going to work.
His voice was raw where Damien was polished. Honest where Damien was manufactured.
The lyrics were about falling and getting back up. About being knocked down and choosing to fight.
When he finished, I realized I'd been holding my breath.
"Well?" Kai asked. "Was it okay?"
"It was perfect. We're releasing it tomorrow morning."
"Tomorrow? That's not enough time—"
"Yes it is. I'll handle the mixing tonight. You need to rest."
"Adeline, you can't do everything yourself."
"Watch me."
---
My phone buzzed around midnight.
Mom: Your sister's engagement party is next week at the Rosewood Hotel. Don't embarrass the family by showing up.
I stared at the message, then started laughing.
Kai looked up from the couch. "What's funny?"
"My mother thinks I'm going to embarrass them." I showed him the message. "She has no idea what embarrassment actually looks like yet."
"Are you going?"
"Absolutely and so are you."
"Why would we torture ourselves like that?"
"Because showing up successful and unbothered will drive them insane." I turned to face him. "I need you there with me. As my plus-one."
Kai's expression darkened with something protective and angry. "If that's what you want."
"It is."
---
The food arrived around one AM, it was a Chinese takeout that Kai had ordered without asking.
"Eat," he commanded.
"I'm working."
"You haven't eaten all day so please eat."
I picked up the chopsticks, surprised by his authority.
"Bossy," I muttered.
"Someone has to be, since you don't take care of yourself."
We ate in silence.
"Can I ask you something?" Kai said eventually.
"Depends."
"Why are you really doing this? There's something else besides revenge."
I set down my chopsticks. "Maybe I'm trying to prove I'm more than what they made me feel like. More than the sick girl. The burden. The mistake."
Kai nodded slowly. "I get that."
"Do you?"
"My family thinks I'm a failure because I didn't want to take over the business. They think making music is a waste of time." He met my eyes. "So yeah. I understand wanting to prove you're more than what people assume."
For a moment, we just looked at each other then my laptop chimed.
I turned back to the mixing board. "Get some sleep because tomorrow we go to war."
I worked until dawn, then hit publish on his single.
By the time Kai woke up two hours later, we had a thousand streams.
"It's working," I said, showing him the numbers.
Kai stared at the screen. "This is really happening."
"Did you doubt me?"
"I'm just not used to people actually believing in me."
"Get used to it because we're just getting started."
My phone rang and it was an unknown number.
Sophie's voice came through, sickly sweet. "I heard you survived. Shame about the baby though. Did you hear? Damien and Caroline are getting married next month and you're not invited."Then the line went dead.
My hands clenched into fists.
Kai was beside me immediately, his hand on my shoulder, grounding me until I stopped shaking.
"Thank you," I said quietly.
"For what?"
"For not asking questions."
"Everyone has things they're not ready to talk about." He squeezed my shoulder, then let go. "What's next?"
I pulled up Damien's Instagram and there was a new post. Him and Caroline looking perfect, it had three million likes.
"Next," I said, "we make them regret everything."