Madison stared at her phone for another solid minute.
Then shoved it in her bag.
'Nope. Not dealing with that right now.'
She had bigger problems.
Like getting back to her hotel room before her brain completely melted.
The walk back felt longer than it should've been.
Vegas sun beating down on her.
Sweat gathering at her temples.
Her throat still scratchy from the audition.
And her mind?
A complete mess.
Marriage proposal.
Record deal.
CEO she'd accidentally paid for sex.
'What is my life right now?'
She rounded the corner to her hotel.
The Oasis Inn.
Cheap. Clean enough. Her aunt owned it so rent was free.
Perfect for a struggling singer.
Not so perfect for hiding evidence of your one night stand with a billionaire.
She reached her door.
Fumbled for her keys.
And froze.
Because standing right there, leaning against her door frame like she had all the time in the world, was her aunt.
Vivian Cole.
Early forties but looked thirty.
Curves that could stop traffic.
Long dark hair that fell in waves past her shoulders.
Sharp cheekbones. Full lips painted red.
Wearing a black pencil skirt and white blouse that somehow looked both professional and devastating.
She was scrolling through her phone.
Hadn't noticed Madison yet.
'Oh no. Oh no no no.'
Madison's brain kicked into overdrive.
Her room.
Her messy room.
The sheets probably still smelled like him.
And the condom wrapper.
The TORN CONDOM WRAPPER.
Somewhere near the bed.
Maybe under it.
Maybe on the nightstand.
'I'M GOING TO DIE.'
Vivian looked up.
Her face lit up.
"Maddie! There you are!"
She pushed off the door frame.
Walked over with that confident stride.
Pulled Madison into a hug that smelled like expensive perfume and jasmine.
"How'd it go? The audition?"
Madison's mouth opened.
Closed.
Opened again.
Where did she even start?
'Well Auntie, funny story. I slept with the CEO last night thinking he was an escort. Then he offered me a record deal. Oh and also a secret marriage. How was your day?'
Yeah. No.
"It was... good. Really good actually."
Vivian's eyes narrowed slightly.
That look.
The one that said she knew Madison was hiding something.
"Just good?"
"Great. It was great."
"Mm hmm."
Vivian studied her face.
Madison tried not to squirm.
"Well come on then. Let's go inside. You can tell me everything."
She reached for the door handle.
Madison's hand shot out.
Grabbed her wrist.
"Wait!"
Vivian raised an eyebrow.
"We can't... I mean... the room's a mess."
"So? I've seen your mess before."
"No like really messy. Like disaster zone messy."
"Maddie."
"How about we go eat instead? My treat!"
Vivian's other eyebrow joined the first.
"Your treat? You're broke."
"Okay fine. Your treat. But I'm suggesting it so that counts for something."
A smile tugged at Vivian's lips.
"You're just like Kai. Always billing me on the things he suggest we do together."
Madison relaxed slightly.
Her cousin Kai was two years older.
Currently backpacking through Europe on his mom's dime.
Living his best life.
"So?" Madison tried her best puppy eyes. "Food?"
Vivian laughed.
That rich, warm sound that always made Madison feel safe.
"Fine. But you're telling me everything."
"Deal."
✧ω✧ω✧ω✧
They headed down the street.
Found a small diner two blocks over.
Vinyl booths. Checkered floors. Smell of coffee and bacon grease.
Perfect.
They slid into a booth near the window.
Ordered coffee.
Vivian got a salad because she was trying to be healthy.
Madison got a burger because she'd already had the worst morning ever and deserved carbs.
"So," Vivian leaned forward. "Spill."
Madison took a breath.
Okay. She could do this.
Just leave out the parts about sleeping with the CEO.
And the marriage proposal.
And the money.
Easy.
"The audition was incredible. My voice was on point. Hit every note."
"That's my girl."
"And the judges seemed impressed. Really impressed."
"Of course they were."
Madison smiled.
Then dropped the bomb.
"Oh and Ethan Hayes showed up."
Vivian's coffee cup paused halfway to her lips.
"Ethan Hayes. The CEO."
"Yep."
"He was there. In person."
"Sitting right in the middle of the judging panel."
Vivian set her cup down slowly.
"That's... unusual."
"Right? Like he never does in person stuff. His team handles auditions."
"So why was he there?"
'Because the universe hates me.'
Madison shrugged.
Tried to look casual.
"No idea. Maybe he wanted to be hands on with the American expansion."
"American expansion?"
'Shit.'
Madison's brain screeched to a halt.
That wasn't public information yet.
Ethan had told her in private.
"I... yeah. They're expanding. To the American market."
Vivian's eyes sharpened.
"That's not in the news."
"It's not?"
"No. AUREYA's a K-pop label. Based in Seoul. Why would they expand to Vegas?"
"I don't know. Diversification?"
"Maddie."
"What?"
"How do you know this?"
Madison grabbed her burger.
Took a huge bite.
Bought herself time to think.
Chewed slowly.
Swallowed.
"The CEO mentioned it. During the audition."
"He told everyone there?"
"Just... the people he was considering."
Vivian leaned back.
A slow smile spread across her face.
"Oh my God."
"What?"
"You got in."
"I didn't say that."
"You basically just did!"
"Auntie..."
"My niece is going to be a K-pop star!"
"It's not K-pop. It's American."
"Still counts!"
Madison groaned.
Put her burger down.
"Please don't make a big deal out of this."
"Too late. I'm already planning your debut party."
"There's no debut. I haven't even decided if I'm taking the offer."
That was true.
Technically.
She hadn't called Ethan back yet.
Hadn't said yes to the insane marriage proposal.
Vivian sobered slightly.
"Why wouldn't you take it?"
"It's complicated."
"How complicated?"
'You have no idea.'
"Just... there are conditions."
"What kind of conditions?"
"The kind I can't talk about."
Vivian studied her.
That look again.
The one that said she knew Madison was holding something back.
But she didn't push.
Just picked up her fork.
Stabbed a piece of lettuce.
"Well whatever it is, I trust you'll make the right choice."
Madison's chest tightened.
God she loved her aunt.
"Thanks."
They ate in comfortable silence for a moment.
Then Vivian spoke again.
"So wait. AUREYA's a K-pop label. Are they putting you in a girl group?"
Madison nearly choked on her burger.
"What? No!"
"You sure? Because I don't know if you're cutesy enough for that."
"Gee thanks."
"I'm serious. You're too... chaotic. Especially when you're drunk."
Madison flinched.
The word drunk hit different now.
Brought back memories.
The bar. Brandon. Jessica.
Him.
She tried to keep her face neutral.
But Vivian caught it.
"Speaking of which."
'Oh no.'
"Did you drink last night?"