Page 126 of The Encore’s Crown

“You’re all fucking insane.”

A production assistant leans through the doorway.

“Five minutes.”

Rafe lifts one finger in acknowledgment, still looking at his phone. Then his expression changes. He looks up, smiling now.

Rithy looks over. “What?”

“Kasia and Natalia can make the wrap party.”

My blood drains so fast I feel it leave my face. Radhika and Natalia in the same room?

Ronan tosses the bottle back to me. “You gonna pass out?”

My mind produces every possible disaster at once. Natalia walking in and seeing Radhika beside me. Radhika learning exactly how recently I repeated every mistake I made with her. My whole life flashes before my eyes, but instead of childhood memories and meaningful moments, it’s two devastatingly beautiful women realizing they should probably compare notes. Rafe’s smile fades.

“You alright?”

Every face in the room turns toward me. I force my grip to loosen around the bottle.

“Yeah, no. I'm fine. Great,” I add. “That’s great.”

The production assistant appears again.

“We need you.”

Saved by promotional obligations. I get to my feet and adjust the front of my jacket. Ronan is still looking between me and Rithy, sensing something but not understanding enough to grasp it. Rafe slips his phone into his pocket.

“This wrap party might actually be fun.”

Yeah, as fun as a public execution.

Chapter 44

A Request

Natalia

Isee Kiri the second I enter the party.

The ballroom is packed, but my eyes still find him without permission. He stands near the far end of the room in black, one hand wrapped around a glass, his hair falling over his eyes as he listens to Radhika say something beside him. A deep green silk looks poured over her body, elegant without trying, obviously. She rests one hand against Kiri’s forearm as she speaks. He looks down at her with an expression I can’t read from this distance. I turn toward Kasia as though nothing across the room has just driven a blade straight through my heart.

“This place is insane.”

The label has transformed the hotel ballroom into a shrine to The Riven Altar’s success. Giant photographs from the tour rise between black columns. Footage from sold-out arenas rolls silently across screens suspended above the bar. The centerpieces are built from black flowers, melted candles, and twisted gold branches designed to resemble pieces of a ruined altar.

It’s beautiful and dramatic. It looks exactly like something Rafe would insist on.

Kasia studies my face. “You okay?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

I smile and smooth one hand over the front of my dress. Black, fitted, short but high at the throat, with the entire back open almost to my waist. The kind of dress that says I’m not trying too hard while requiring tape, engineering, and a personal agreement with God to stay on.

“I’m here. I’m employed by no one. There’s free champagne. Everything's perfect.”

“You’re still upset about Lustre.”