Isabel rose from the judges' couch and crossed to Liam. She rested a hand on his shoulder, thumb tracing a slow circle.
"Now wait for ten minutes, playing something unsexy," she said softly. "We believe this will be enough for a full reset, for the fairness of the competition."
Liam nodded, still catching his breath. Seraphina had already slipped away to clean up, a quiet smile on her face.
Isabel handed him a chilled bottle and a small handheld console. Mina sat at his side, as she wanted to talk with him about the shots she had taken of some beautiful landscapes in Norway.
When the ten minutes were up, Isabel returned. "The next stage will be the bathroom; there is a hottie waiting for you there."
Liam stood and followed the short corridor to the private bath suite. The door stood half-open. Steam drifted out in soft clouds.
