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Georgie's POV
I looked out in front of me, at the thousands of people standing and applauding, their eyes all turned toward us—me and my band.
The stage lights flowed over us, a shimmering blanket of gold. We simply bowed our heads in a silent "thank you"—to all of them, to everyone who had come here tonight with such infectious enthusiasm.
"I think we can call this a success, huh?" James said beside me. I turned and saw his face glimmering under the stage glow, sweaty but smiling a dazzling, proud smile.
"Yeah." I nodded quietly and raised my hand to wave at the crowd. Kayla and Edo seemed to be feeling it, too—just like James and everyone else who had supported me tonight.
My eyes fell on my family in the crowd, especially on Mary, who stood there with tears in her eyes but a huge, proud smile on her face.
Clack. Clack. Clack.
Suddenly we all heard the rhythmic clicking of hooves against the wooden ramp. I turned just in time to see Silver making her entrance once again.
"Your ride is here, Georgie." Edo nodded toward Silver, while Kayla sighed in exasperation. "Ugh, you get to ride a horse and we have to walk?! How about I come with you, Georgie?" Kayla said, tilting her head and putting on her best puppy-dog eyes.
"Hold up a sec!" Beckie, our fiddle player, raised her hand. "If Kayla is going, then I want to come, too!"
"That's not fair!" James and the rest fell into a chorus of complaints, arguing over something as simple as a ride.
I couldn't help but laugh at all of them until the MC rushed in and split everyone up, sending them back down from the stage.
"I'm not taking any of you!" I said, climbing into the saddle. "Silver doesn't want anyone else up here!"
Before they could protest, I pressed my heels and we darted away, with Silver snorting in triumph beneath me.
The cheers remained thunderous in the stadium, ignoring the brief, child-like dispute we'd had on stage. The crowd whistled, and a few cowgirls boldly opened their tops in a mischievous view.
Of course, I simply nodded and kept riding, saving that view—I mean ignoring it—in a gentleman-like fashion.
Silver walked quietly, gracefully, and I let myself enjoy the moment a little longer, until we disappeared from the crowd's view.
"That's our Young Prince!" George S. called, approaching me with a mischievous glimmer in his eyes. "Ugh! Stop with that nickname. Just call me Georgie." I hopped down from the saddle in a single movement.
George S. ignored me and let out a rich laugh. "You really stole my crowd, huh?!" He clapped me on the shoulder hard enough that it nearly staggered me.
If I hadn't seen the huge smile on his face, I might have thought we were about to come to blows.
My eyebrows twitched in disbelief. "I told you, didn't I?" I said, trying to keep a bit of dignity.
"Yes, you sure did." George S. nodded with a hearty laugh.
"Mr. George." A crew member rushed up, holding his guitar. "It's time. The crowd's waiting!"
"Seems I need to up my game a bit. All thanks to you, kid!" George S. said, patting me a little too hard on the shoulder once more.
"... Want to fight or something?! That really hurt, old man!" I said, stepping back and scowling in his direction.
"What are you, a woman?" George S. smirked.
I noticed Clint chuckling nearby, while Reba simply shook her head.
I turned away in a huff. "Shut up, old man. Besides, they're here to see you. I'm just adding a little spark."
This time George S. pressed his hand on my head, "You don't need to tell me, kid. This is my show." His confidence was pure, without a hint of negativity.
"That's good to know. I wouldn't want to make enemies just for doing a damn good job." I said casually.
George S. nodded and walked toward Silver. "Yes you do." He patted her side. "Get a rest, woman. I need to win back their attention."
"Who are you calling woman?!" I called after him, but he ignored me and hopped into the saddle. His silhouette soon fell into the glow of the spotlights as the crowd rose in a chorus of cheers.
"That's really his crowd." Clint sighed and turned back toward me. "Still… you're a remarkable performer, kid. You know how to handle a crowd."
Reba nodded in agreement, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder. "Yes, you certainly are. Go professional soon—we might collaborate in the future!"
I nodded, a small, appreciative smile creeping across my face, and then made my way back toward the lounge. Inside, my band was already resting, worn out from the rush of their performance.
"Wow… I can't feel my hands anymore." Edo sighed, letting his arms hang limply at his sides.
The adrenaline had worn off, and exhaustion was starting to take its toll. "I'm tired..." Kayla said quietly, resting her face against a seat.
James and the rest remained silent; their energy was gone, their muscles begging for rest.
The door opened, and Miss Rosie walked in with a proud smile. Fenley followed close behind. "Good job, everyone!"
"It feels like you poured all your emotions and energy into that show. Now you need to recharge." Miss Rosie nodded warmly.
Fenley walked up beside me, smiling. "You were all amazing up there." She turned to the rest. "I spoke with a few journalists, and you got a 9 out of 10 for tonight's performance!"
"Yey..." James weakly raised his hand, and the rest followed, their movements heavy with fatigue.
"All right! You all deserve a rest. If you want to go home immediately, the bus is ready to take you." Miss Rosie glanced at her watch.
"I think I'm going to find my family." I turned back toward Miss Rosie with a mischievous smirk. "Where's my 'manager'?"
Fenley and Miss Rosie exchanged awkward glances. I let out a short laugh at their expense and walked away.
As soon as I stepped outside, I saw my family already waiting. Mary rushed forward and enveloped me in a tight hug, kissing me repeatedly on the forehead and cheeks.
"I'm so proud of you!" she whispered in my ear, kissing me again and again.
"Come on, Mary, you're embarrassing him." George Cooper Sr. crossed his arms, trying to keep a straight face, but I could see a huge smile threatening to break through.
"Oh, shut it!." Mary glared at him, then reluctantly let me go.
"You're killin' it, kiddo!" Connie said with a laugh, then sighed. "Huff… I wish I'd come here with a date." Her words made George and Mary exchange a strange look.
I laughed, thinking back to all them kisses in the second and third songs. The view from the stage hadn't been bad at all.
Suddenly two small tornado-like figures rushed toward me.
"Brother!!!" Missy cried, jumping into my arms. "You were amazing! How do you ride a horse like that?! I want a horse, too!" She sighed dreamily, staring up at the ceiling. "I'll be a princess on a white pony..."
I chuckled. "What about my performance? Was it that bad?" I said, teasing her.
"Who said it was bad?" Missy challenged. "I'm sure you're going to conquer every stage you set foot on!"
"Yes, I believe so, too." Sheldon nodded, adding matter-of-factly, "From the moment you came on, you captured their hearts. And choosing to ride in on a horse? Pure showmanship. Considering 90% of the crowd were cowboys and cowgirls, it was a perfect entrance."
I nodded, although a small thread of nervousness crossed my mind.
My dad walked up and nodded quietly. "Good job, son."
For him, that meant a lot. But Connie frowned and punched him in the arm. "Stop being such an old-school dad! Just go and hug your son!"
So that's what he did. Without another word, George Sr. walked forward and enveloped me in a firm, brief embrace, murmuring, "I'm not crying."
But we all heard him sniffle and wipe his eyes afterwards.
"Thanks, Dad… and everyone." I said, smiling warmly.
Veronica stood nearby, quietly smiling back at me, her eyes glimmering.
"All right, I came here to watch George S.'s show, and I'm not missing it." Connie turned and walked away, understanding what was about to happen and not wishing to intrude.
Mary and George nodded, then addressed Veronica. "We'll leave you two for a few minutes, but you'd better come back soon or we'll send a church squad to find you!"
"Come on, kids." George nodded, not adding a word of protest.
Missy and Sheldon fell in step with their parents, and the moment the corridor cleared, Veronica grabbed me and pressed her lips against mine.
"Hmm..." She drew me close and deepened the kiss. I pressed her against the wall, slipping my thigh between her legs.
"Hah… hmm..." I tried to block everything else from my mind, focusing only on her, until Veronica reluctantly broke away.
We pressed our foreheads together, panting. "I love you." Veronica whispered.
"I love you, too." I said quietly, ignoring the crew who walked past us, glancing in our direction.
"Hmm..." Veronica sighed, resting against me. "…Georgie..." Her eyes glimmered with a different kind of want.
I pressed a finger against her lips and shook my head, breaking free from her pull. "…We should get going… before my mother sends a church squad to find us like she said."
Veronica nodded reluctantly, and we walked side by side toward the VIP seats where my family was sitting. "I was already wet when you first entered..." she whispered mischievously in my ear.
"... Really?"
I asked myself: If she was wet from that… then what about all the other women in the crowd?....
Veronica giggled quietly beside me, oblivious to the wild thoughts running through my mind.
"You were really amazing tonight."
I nodded. "Well… you say that in the bedroom, too."
"Ouch!" I said with a mischievous wince when she punched me in the arm.
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3rd POV — Future
Drip… drip… drip…
The rhythmic drops from the faucet seemed to reverberate farther, deeper, piercing Georgie's soul. His breaths were heavy and uneven, his chest rose and fell, and his knuckles tightened around the edge of the sink.
This was it — his moment of decision. To step back up on that forsaken stage.
Like a cowboy who'd been stripped of his gun and lasso, left with nothing but empty holsters and a pair of worn-out boots.
Drip… drip… drip…
The drops fell in a steady chorus, nearly drowning out the riotous cheers of the crowd just outside the door.
Huff… huff… huff…
The mirror in front of him seemed to reflect a stranger — a face gone pale, a gaze that had lost its light, a jaw tightened in a silent battle with himself.
"Fuck..." Georgie whispered under his breath, dropping his head. His knuckles trembled, battling the rush of fear surging through him. "Act like a king… but termbling to death..." he said quietly, more to himself than anyone else.
He was afraid. The confidence on stage was a disguise — a mask — perhaps supported by something to ease the pressure, a sip of alcohol, or something darker… whatever it took to fill the hole in his soul.
"I thought… I could handle it… this time…" Georgie shook his head, thinking pathetically to himself. He gripped his hands to stop them from shaking and closed his eyes to calm his heart.
Georgie drew in a deep breath and put on his mask — the face of a kingpin, a boss, a legend. Under the shimmering stage lights, no one would know that beneath his charming confidence, he was battling his own trauma and memories, wrestling with a past that still gnawed at him.
"Boss..." a voice called softly from the other side of the door, followed by a gentle knock. "Are you all right?"
Georgie exhaled and forced a small smile. "Yeah… what's up?"
"Your… Mother is here..." the person said quietly.
"Oh no..." Georgie whispered, shaking his head, then stepped away from the sink.
He walked forward and opened the door. Missy and Mary were already waiting. Missy sighed upon seeing him; in contrast, his mother's eyes were filled with pure concern.
"Ohh, my baby..." Mary whispered, wrapping Georgie in a warm, comforting embrace and rubbing his back in slow circles.
"…I just threw up a bit earlier..." Georgie said casually, trying to lighten the mood. But Mary tightened her embrace instead of letting go.
Georgie glanced at Missy, who stood with her arms crossed and sighed, "Honestly, brother, why do you do this kind of thing?"
"I just… like it." Georgie said casually — a weak deflection — but Missy and Mary weren't buying it.
Mary drew back and looked him in the eyes. "…you really want to help that little girl, huh?"
"That little girl isn't Big Brother's lover, Mom." Missy said mischievously, sneaking a side-eye at her.
Mary furrowed her brows. "I don't think like that, you little rascal!" she said, scowling.
Missy sighed and crossed her arms again. "I don't know what Brother's thinking, but… he really supports her, Mom."
Mary was never a woman who interfered in Georgie's businesses. But when it came to her children and her family, she stood by them no matter what. Disaster, crisis, trouble — for her, family came first.
In Global Crisis too, Georgie and Missy took turns explaining what had happened, assuring their Mama it wasn't Georgie's fault — it was something inevitable.
Mary listened quietly, letting out a deep sigh once in a while. "…I trust you, Georgie. Whatever it is… Mom's here for you."
Georgie fell silent for a moment. Those words meant more to him than anything in the world. Amid the chaos, his family remained a warm light in the dark.
A genuine, unfettered smile crossed his face. A few tears fell without him even realizing it.
"Come on… let's go home. Your Memaw misses you two." Mary said softly, patting Georgie's back.
Missy sighed and looked at the two of them as they walked away. "See that, Frank?" she said quietly. "Your boss is really weak when it comes to Mom."
Frank, Georgie's loyal bodyguard and someone who understood Missy's true sentiment, allowed himself a small, affectionate smile. "Not just his Mama… for you, for your twin brother… and even for his other 'little sister.'"
Missy clicked her tongue in disbelief. "Yeah, right. 'Little sister' who can sleep with him." she said sarcastically, then turned and followed Georgie and Mary toward the exit of the stadium.
Frank let out a quiet laugh and fell into step with them, surrounded by a team of protective men who kept the family safe.