Elena reached home just as her phone started ringing.
She glanced at the screen.
Emma.
Elena answered casually.
"Hello?"
Emma's voice came through immediately.
"Elena, are you free tomorrow?"
"Yes," Elena replied.
"Then come to the office," Emma said.
"We need to talk about something."
Elena didn't ask what.
"Okay," she said simply.
The call ended.
Elena slipped her phone back into her pocket, walked to her room, and dropped onto the bed like someone whose soul had finally clocked out for the day.
Shoes off.
Brain off.
Rest mode activated.
In another room of the same house—
Leo and Ivan sat on the bed, facing each other like they were in the middle of an emergency meeting.
Ivan was the first to break the silence.
"Did you see how sis beat them up?" he said, eyes shining.
"That was so cool."
Leo nodded aggressively.
"Seriously. I didn't even know she could fight like that."
He paused, then added honestly,
"Not gonna lie… I was scared before."
Ivan laughed.
"Same, man. But today?"
He leaned back, grinning.
"I'm not scared anymore."
Leo crossed his arms confidently.
"Exactly."
He stood up slightly and declared,
"From now on, we can do whatever we want."
Ivan blinked.
"…Because sis will fight for us?"
Leo nodded proudly.
"Obviously."
Ivan thought about it for a second, then nodded too.
"Yeah. No one's gonna bully us anymore."
A short pause.
Then Leo suddenly laughed.
"By the way," he said,
"did you see Rax's face?"
Ivan burst out laughing.
"BRO. That expression was legendary."
Leo wiped imaginary tears.
"I swear, if faces could apologize, his already did."
Ivan shook his head.
"Man… today was historic."
They both leaned back on the bed, completely satisfied.
In the next room—
Elena lay peacefully, eyes closed, resting like nothing extraordinary had happened.
Unaware that, in her absence,
she had officially been promoted—
To Full-Time Personal Bodyguard
and Lifetime Problem Solver.
The next morning, Elena arrived at Starlight Entertainment.
The building looked just as polished as ever—glass walls, quiet confidence, and an air that smelled faintly of money and ambition.
She walked in without hesitation, heels clicking softly against the floor, and headed straight for Emma's cabin.
Inside, Emma was already there.
Files were spread neatly across her desk, her attention focused as she flipped through documents, pen moving swiftly as she checked details.
The door opened.
Emma looked up.
When she saw Elena, her serious expression softened immediately.
"Come in," Emma said, gesturing toward the chair in front of her desk.
"Sit."
Elena nodded once and walked in, taking the seat beside Emma's desk instead of directly across—comfortable, familiar.
"So," Elena said calmly, crossing one leg over the other,
"you called. Is there something you wanted to discuss?"
Emma set the file aside and turned fully toward her.
"Yes," she said.
"There is."
She studied Elena for a moment, as if choosing her words carefully.
"I wanted to ask you something directly," Emma continued.
Elena didn't interrupt.
She simply listened.
Emma leaned back slightly.
"Recently, I've finalized a few good product launches and advertising deals for you," she said.
"They're solid brands, clean image, and most importantly—"
She tapped the file lightly.
"Very short shoots."
Elena raised an eyebrow slightly, interested but still silent.
Emma went on,
"Since you're not signing any films right now, I don't want you disappearing from the public eye completely."
She smiled faintly.
"These campaigns will keep you in the limelight until your new movie releases."
She added, matter-of-factly,
"Enough visibility to maintain your presence—without overexposure."
Emma folded her hands.
"So," she concluded,
"I wanted to hear your thoughts before locking everything."
Elena leaned back in her chair, expression calm, thoughtful.
She didn't look surprised.
Elena nodded after listening quietly.
"That's fine," she said simply.
Emma exhaled softly, then continued, her tone turning more serious.
"Wait—let me explain everything properly," she said.
"All of these launches and shoots are in the capital."
Elena looked up.
"And not just for a month," Emma added.
"You'll need to stay there longer."
She opened another file and pointed at the schedule.
"About two months just to complete these shoots," Emma explained.
"And after that, from what I know, your film's shooting should be completely wrapped up."
Elena remained silent, listening.
"So from the following month," Emma went on,
"the movie promotions will begin."
She leaned back slightly.
"That means you'll need to stay in the capital continuously—from promotions all the way until the movie's release."
Emma paused, letting the weight of it sink in.
"And during that time," she added,
"more offers will come. Interviews, endorsements, collaborations—especially as your popularity increases."
She looked directly at Elena now.
"So this decision isn't just about these shoots," Emma said carefully.
"It's about your growth… and about spending a significant amount of time in the capital."
She folded her hands.
"That's why I want you to decide," she said.
"We'll move forward according to what feels right for you."
Elena leaned back slightly in her chair.
She thought for a moment.
Not long.
Then she looked at Emma and said calmly,
"Alright."
Emma blinked once.
Then she smiled.
"I'm glad," Emma said warmly.
"This is a very good decision for your career."
She picked up her phone almost immediately.
"Then I'll arrange an apartment for you there."
Elena raised an eyebrow slightly.
"You'll be staying there as long as you're in the capital," Emma continued.
"Hotels aren't suitable for long-term living."
She nodded to herself.
"I'll talk to the company today and finalize everything."
Elena hesitated for a second.
"And the expenses…?"
Emma smiled reassuringly.
"Don't worry. The company will cover everything."
She added lightly,
"You just focus on preparing to move."
Elena nodded.
After that, they talked a little more—small details, schedules, nothing urgent.
Soon after, Elena stood up and left the cabin.
As she walked down the hallway, her expression remained calm.
But inside—
All my shoots are in the capital…
What a coincidence.
The thought lingered for just a moment.
Then Elena dismissed it.
Coincidences happened all the time.
And right now—
She had bigger things to focus on.
At the same time, over at Star Entertainment—
Aaron was sitting in his cabin.
Correction.
He was pretending to sit.
In reality, he had been checking his phone every ten seconds like it owed him money.
Screen on.
Screen off.
Screen on again.
He leaned back in his chair, then leaned forward.
Crossed his arms.
Uncrossed them.
Why isn't it ringing yet?
Did something go wrong?
What if she said no?
What if Emma messed it up?
What if—
Buzz.
Aaron froze.
His phone vibrated on the desk.
For half a second, he just stared at it like it was a bomb.
Then he grabbed it instantly.
"Yes?" he answered, trying—and failing—to sound calm.
There was a pause.
Then—
"Sir, Elena has agreed. She'll be shooting in the capital."
Aaron blinked.
"…She did?"
"Yes. She's coming to the capital for multiple shoots."
The call ended.
Aaron stared at his phone.
Silence.
Then—
"YES."
He stood up so fast his chair rolled backward.
"FINALLY."
He clenched his fist dramatically like a hero who had just won a war.
"It worked," he muttered to himself, pacing the cabin.
"My plan actually worked."
If anyone could see inside his head right now, they'd see chaos.
Do you know how hard this was?!
So many calls.
So many 'coincidental' offers.
So many shoots magically appearing in the capital.
He stopped pacing and pointed at the air.
"All of that," he said seriously,
"just to get ONE woman to move cities."
Aaron sighed, placing a hand on his chest like a tired mastermind.
"But worth it," he added immediately.
"Completely worth it."
He dropped back into his chair, spinning once dramatically.
"Once Elena is in the capital," he said aloud,
"she and Second Brother will definitely run into each other."
He leaned forward, eyes shining.
"And once that happens," he continued,
"I'll get proof."
Solid proof.
Proof that Elena has a relationship.
Proof that he wasn't joking.
Proof that this isn't just some random dream or misunderstanding.
He laughed softly.
"Mom is going to be shocked."
He imagined it vividly.
Mom: "You're lying."
Me: "No, Mom. I came with evidence."
He nodded firmly to himself.
" I was telling the truth," Aaron said.
"This isn't imagination."
He looked at his phone again, smiling like a villain whose long-term plan had finally reached Phase Two.
"Elena is coming to the capital," he whispered.
"And now…"
He leaned back comfortably.
"The real show begins."
Somewhere far away—
Elena was calmly planning her schedule.