Lys tilted his head slightly, the smirk fading into something darker to mock. "And yet, people still remember my face before yours."
The air tightened in tensed with the weight of the words.
Rei noticed Classic's fists curled at his sides, as his pride stung raw, so he snapped at the middle, before Classic could lash out.
"Enough," Rei voice struck with conviction though carried a tremor. "Everyday we fight about this and it leads nowhere. Lys is right, the company didn't cared about us from the beginning when we passed the audition to debut – he has been using us to overcome his expense using our talent."
Frey frustated racked his hair and pushing both of them and added, "Leave it. Tearing each other apart won't change anything. Let's just get out of here to clear our heads - we're no longer needed."
Classic turned his face away, his teeth clenched as Frey finished it. Lys didn't move, didn't flinch—only watched and Rei calmed him down. They made their way down the stairs getting mocking glare spitting insults from the popular idol Alpha and girls group Moon, but to them their tension seemed to thin as they just end their struggle.
Classic stayed at the gate, waiting, his arms folded but his evil grin showing at the corner of his lips. The others Rei and Frey laughed, as they already expected that. Lys shrugged with same grin, the weight of the earlier argument dissolving into something more familiar.
Lys reached him with smile, extending his hand. Classic took it, their grip firm—stronger than a greeting. "You alright mate," Classic said, his voice steady, a glint of challenge flashing in his eyes, "Did you enjoy my hot head?
Lys responded,'' I had told you. We would have been successful earlier if we had already done that act much earlier.''
''Completely true.'' Rei said from behind and gathered to hype themselves, closing the space.
"Finally," Rei exclaimed, brushing off his jacket. "Matrix together again. We're gonna be successful without this a******* company". He clapped his hands to move on, and then, a mischievous spark in his eyes comes up.
"Let's head to the youth district-clubs, to get some fans. We'd planned to gain some real fandom tonight, fast ."
Lys's, calm but commanding announced. "Then let's move together—time to show them all what Matrix can do."
The morning sun lit group bashed in laugh and ran toward the streets, energy spilling with every step. Classic jogged beside Lys, smirking, thinking something in his mind. " Lys. Do you think we can do something without companies help. Somehow we need company to make album as we don't have much money to spend on''.
Lys smirk deepened and said, ''We can start running over small companies. Trust me.' Everthing is gonna be fine.'
Classic acknowledging the confidence asked him a different question. ''Do you have any wish after we became successful?."
Lys's stumbles to his question with no answer to give. But his gaze caught a sleek black car with gold plated rose gliding past, sunlight glinting off its polished surface owned by top tier person.
All of them has bucketlist to own that car as they got aspire to get one for themselves.
But Lys has other things in his mind and and come up with crazy statement from his mouth leaving others, stunned in the middle of street.
"I'm going to marry this car owner."
-------------
For a heartbeat, all stood transfixed, paralyzed by shock. They hadn't thought a guy like him always wanting to be a perfect idol for his fans would talk about marriage and with whom he used to ignore when they talked about her.
"Does he even know whose car that is?" Rei muttered, bewildered to Frey. "Didn't he see the golden plate at front?"
Classic's laughed out loud, smacking Rei. "Wait… you're serious? Don't have a single idea whose car it belongs. You just-".
Lys just make a face of seriousness to make it convincing.
The others could only stare, and wait until Classic gets his back. The woman inside the car wasn't ordinary. She is the top tier complex owner reached success height at an early age. Impossible for ordinary people to get in touch with her, and yet Lys had spoken as if it were the simplest thing in the world to get.
Frey's brow furrowed, as if idea came upto him processing silently, while Lys proposal declaration shaked the group members. Classic still in a mix of disbelief and amusement, as the boldness of Lys's words lingered in the bright morning air although they are unemployed now.
The black car rolled smooth like butter through the morning sunlight. Within the confines of the car, the assistant glanced at Alexia, a sly smile playing at his lips.
"Some men really do, wants to know you," he murmured, voice rich with amused hint. "How fascinating."
Alexia's gaze remained fixed cold and unbothered. "They can try," she replied, emotionless, no hesitation leaving no room for argument.
The assistant's smirk widened, intrigued by her icy composure and openness. "Try all they want," he said softly, low voice.
The car moved forward as the, tension and unspoken challenges lingers in the air. And the car entered the building heavily guarded by security and workers waiting for her. Immediately the two staff from different working station tags along as she moved through each assigned floor. Their voices steady as they delivered updates and coming projects one after another at the same time, she examined and analysed the work. She listened it without slowing and missing any details, her stride purposeful, keeping the commanding presence. The general staffs only greeted her as she passed.
And tightened their chest as their eyes fall on the man walking behind her.
Eryx, her personal assistant.
Tall, composed, broad shouldered with dark brown swept back hair with a magnetic aura neither man in this world could bring. He finishes a load of work with no space for mistakes in a such a short time like a signing a autograph. No staff member dares to slack when he is around. A single glance is enough to keep us on edge. Despite this much strictness and severity, there's a strange charm about him that commands attention, invited or otherwise. Every worker desires him, fear him,and admire him except Alexia.
Alexia design team often slipped into rivalry- eager to outshine the other in order to impress her. In those moments, their eyes inevitably turned to him, to examine their work. His words were precise, and told them exactly, what adjustments she would dictate and where their efforts still fell short even though its out of his field which genuinely surprises them. His guidance saved them from countless mistakes and rejection, but even with his direction, something was always missing when Alexia checks. Cause Alexia was a different breed.
On the very top floor of this complex, stood the Golden Door-known to everyone else as the Pink Room. It was Alexia's sanctuary, the place where only some VIP clients received her personal touch and comes out with undenible beauty none could blink seeing and remains for entire year. Only the most valued staff were permitted inside; for the rest of us, it was a world we could only imagine from whispers and gossips with the upper staff at breaks.
None of her previous assistant had ever been allowed in there before. Not once. They all waited outside those wide golden doors. But Eryx.. he was different. He walked in without anyone's permission, privilege none before him had earned.
There was always something for her—refreshments, carefully chosen; medicine or supplements name kept hidden from everyone. Eryx calm, unreadable, gazes with the same quiet authority that kept their staff in awe. Clients noticed. Staff loved.
Some of the VIPs, bold enough to ask, asked her directly: "Why does he get this privilege? Why not the previous aides?"
"Just my wish,"she said simply, her tone clipped yet unwavering. No explanations. That was all anyone would get from her and him.
Before his arrival, she had been ruthless-her sharp edges still shivers through us, haunting every memory. She changed much more after he joined which we are thankful of. The staff says looking at each other feeling relieved.
And that only made Eryx's presence seem more enigmatic, indispensable and important to Ma'am and us.
Eryx far looked at them, with unreadable face like he knew what they were thinking.