Chapter 90

Over the weekend, Leia made her way to the headquarters of Phoenix Entertainment. From a distance, she could already see a large group of young women gathered outside the main entrance. Many of them were holding banners and merchandise, all featuring the same person, Charlie.

Leia mused to herself, “Charlie really is a sensation. Anywhere he might appear, his fans are bound to show up in droves.”

She walked past the eager crowd without drawing attention to herself, watching as they stared longingly at the entrance. A wave of smug satisfaction surged within her. "These women can only dream of seeing him in person, while if I wanted, I could see him every single day," she wondered.

Sure, Charlie wasn’t as warm or protective toward her as Damon was, but after all, they had grown up together for over a decade. Their bond was real. If she ever needed anything, Charlie rarely refused her. That was the privilege of being his sister.

With a lighthearted step, Leia entered the building, only to be stopped by security in the lobby. “Excuse me, ma’am, do you have an appointment?” one of the guards asked.

Leia flashed a confident smile. “I’m here to see my brother.”

“Your brother?” The guard eyed her skeptically. “And who might that be?”

Leia lifted her chin slightly, her voice laced with pride. “Charlie.”

The guard’s eyes widened in surprise as he gave her a once-over. ‘Charlie’s sister? She’s certainly pretty, but she doesn’t bear much resemblance to him,’ he wondered.

Leia relished the astonishment on his face. “That’s right. If you don’t believe me, feel free to check.”

“Please wait a moment,” the guard said quickly before turning to the receptionist to confirm her claim. The receptionist wasted no time making a call.

Moments later, the elevator doors in the lobby slid open. A man in his mid-to-late twenties stepped out, his sharp eyes scanning the room. The moment he spotted Leia, he hurried over with a friendly grin. “Hi, Leia.”

“Hello, Zick,” Leia greeted him just as brightly.

This was Charlie’s assistant, Zick.

Zick reached her side and spoke with enthusiasm. “Hope you didn’t wait too long. Come on; let’s head upstairs. Charlie’s already in the recording studio.”

Leia raised a curious brow. “What’s he doing there so early?”

A gleam of excitement flashed in Zick’s eyes. “Oh, you don’t know yet? Phoenix Entertainment is planning a collaboration with Lighting Media’s top star, Reyna, the queen of pop herself. You know how much Charlie admires her. Now that she’s here, of course, he wouldn’t miss the chance to meet her.”

Leia froze for a second, suddenly feeling uneasy. “Wait… will it be okay if I go in now?”

“Why wouldn’t it be?” Zick chuckled. “In fact, this is a golden opportunity. Haven’t you heard the rumors? Reyna’s been looking for an apprentice. If she takes a liking to you, you could rise to the top overnight.”

Leia’s heart skipped a beat. Her eyes lit up. “You really think I have a shot?”

“I’ve heard your recordings, and honestly? I think you do,” said Zick.

Hearing that, Leia felt an undeniable surge of excitement. ‘If the legendary Reyna were to take me under her wing, that would be far more valuable than just relying on my brother’s connections,’ she wondered. ‘And when that happened… When I make it to the top, what will Noelle have left to compete with me?’

Leia followed Zick into the recording studio, where a sizable group of people had gathered. But among them, two figures stood out the most.

One was Charlie, his cool, refined features exuded an air of reserved elegance. His striking appearance, combined with his distant, almost untouchable aura, only added to his mystique.

The other was Reyna. With a breathtakingly sultry figure, she commanded attention with effortless confidence. She could have built her career on looks alone, yet her talent was undeniable. Her song "The Shadows" cemented her status as a pop legend, and even now, the royalties from that one track continued to pour in. She was, without a doubt, an icon.

“Charlie, I brought Leia,” Zick announced.

Charlie’s cool gaze landed on her. His voice was even, almost indifferent. “Leia, come here.”

“Sure, Charlie.” Leia obediently stepped up beside him.

Turning to Reyna, Charlie made the introduction. “Ms. Goodwin, this is my sister, Leia, the one I mentioned earlier.”

Leia smiled politely. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Goodwin.”

Leia flashed a bright, sweet smile at Reyna. “I’m a huge fan of yours! I always buy every album you release and keep them in my collection.”

Reyna’s lips curved into a polite smile. “Oh? That’s very kind of you. Charlie mentioned that you’re interested in pursuing a music career. Are you here today to record a song?”

“Yes.” Leia nodded and playfully winked. “I just didn’t expect to run into you today. Looks like my luck is finally running out.”

Reyna raised an eyebrow. “And what do you mean by that?”

Leia grinned mischievously. “Because I must’ve used up all my good luck just to meet you today.”

Reyna couldn’t help but laugh. She turned to Charlie with amusement. “Mr. Anderson, your sister is quite charming.”

Charlie, as always, remained composed and indifferent. “She’s just a kid who doesn’t know any better, Ms. Goodwin. Don’t mind her.”

“Oh, I don’t mind at all. In fact, I rather like her.” Reyna studied Leia with a glint of something unreadable in her eyes as if she were calculating something. With the same warm and friendly smile, she continued, “Leia, would it be alright if I just call you by your first name?”

Leia beamed. “Of course!”

“Well then, Leia, I’ve been considering taking on an apprentice for some time now. I listened to your recording earlier, and I think you have tremendous potential. Would you be interested in becoming my last and only disciple?” said Reyna.

The moment those words left Reyna’s lips, Leia could hardly believe her ears. Leia had spent so much time thinking about how to win Reyna’s favor, how to prove herself worthy of being taken under her wing. And yet, without her even making an effort, Reyna was the one extending an invitation. ‘Is this what they call a miracle?’ she wondered.

Charlie’s brows furrowed slightly at Reyna’s proposal. He was just about to speak when Leia blurted out without hesitation, “I’d love to!”

Reyna watched Leia’s excited expression and smiled. “Is that so? In that case, I’ll send you an address later. Come find me there, and I’ll have my agent draw up the contract.”

“Contract?” Leia blinked in surprise.

Reyna explained matter-of-factly, “Since you’ll be my apprentice, it’s only natural that you sign with Lighting Media. That shouldn’t be a problem, right?”

As she spoke, she turned to Charlie and gave him a playful wink. “I hope you won’t mind parting with such a talent, Mr. Anderson?”

'Leia has already agreed. What else could I say?' Charlie wondered.

He looked at her again, his tone neutral but firm. “Leia, are you sure about this?”

Leia could sense that Charlie wasn’t entirely pleased with her decision. But this was her chance. To be personally recognized by Reyna was her achievement. It wasn’t because of her brother, or because of the Anderson family’s influence. For once, she could stand tall and say that she had earned something on her own.

Even though she knew Charlie wasn’t happy, Leia still nodded decisively. “Yes, I’ve made up my mind. I want to join her company.”

Charlie studied her for a moment, his gaze unreadable. He knew exactly why Leia was so determined. She believed Reyna had chosen her for her talent, that this was purely about music. But that wasn’t the case at all.

One song, especially one with subpar production quality, would never be enough for someone like Reyna to take notice. What Reyna truly valued was Charlie and the power behind Phoenix Entertainment. If Leia became the bridge between the two companies, any future collaborations would inevitably be influenced by her. That meant Charlie would have to make concessions for her sake.

He saw through it all. But he chose not to expose the truth. Charlie had never been particularly close with Leia, but when necessary, he still looked out for her. He understood that Noelle’s return had left Leia feeling insecure and vulnerable. If she believed this was her moment to shine and if it gave her confidence and kept her from drowning in self-doubt, then why not let her have this illusion?

With that in mind, Charlie finally relented. “Do as you wish.”