The city never slept. Its skyline glittered like a crown of diamonds under the midnight sky, each light a reminder of how alive the world could be when everyone else was winding down. But for Adrian Cole, life was only just beginning.
The stage beneath his feet still vibrated from the thunderous applause of thousands of fans. Sweat clung to his brow, his chest heaving from the final note he had belted only moments before. As he ripped out his earpiece and tossed it carelessly to the side, the roar of the crowd followed him backstage, echoing in his veins like a drug.
"Another record-breaking night, Adrian," his manager beamed, thrusting a towel into his hands. "Sold-out arena, trending all over social media. You're unstoppable."
Adrian smirked, dabbing his forehead. "Did you expect anything less?"
He walked past the line of staff waiting to congratulate him, his strides long and confident, almost arrogant. He didn't even glance their way. They bowed, they smiled, but he had no time for them. Fame demanded focus, and Adrian was obsessed with staying on top. He wasn't here to make friends he was here to be unforgettable.
Outside, his fans screamed his name. Camera flashes lit up the night. Adrian paused by the exit, slipping on his sunglasses despite the hour. To them, he was perfection flawless, untouchable, larger than life. And he liked it that way.
Across town, in a dimly lit office building, Clara James closed her laptop with a sigh of relief. It was nearly midnight, and she was still at her desk, the last to leave as usual. The soft glow of her desk lamp highlighted her neat stack of files, her well-organized notes, and the empty coffee cup that had kept her going through another long evening.
At twenty-six, Clara's life was defined by routine. She was the dependable assistant the one who remembered everyone's deadlines, stayed late without complaint, and never asked for recognition. Her coworkers admired her dedication but rarely noticed her beyond the tasks she completed.
Clara rubbed her tired eyes and leaned back in her chair. She loved the city, loved its hum of possibility, but sometimes it felt like the world was rushing forward and leaving her behind. She wanted more than schedules and paperwork. She wanted someone to see her not her efficiency, not her reliability, but her.
"Someday," she whispered to the empty office, "I'll find someone who sees me."
She smiled faintly at her own words, shaking her head. It sounded like wishful thinking. Love, in her experience, had always been fleeting or shallow. But deep down, her heart clung to the hope that something real was waiting for her.
Clara gathered her bag, turned off the lamp, and walked toward the elevator. As the doors slid shut, she glanced at her phone. A new email notification popped up from her boss. She opened it with a groan, expecting another task to add to tomorrow's already packed list.
But instead, her eyes widened.
> Clara, tomorrow morning you're to report to StarVision Entertainment headquarters. They need temporary support for one of their top clients. His schedule is intense, and they requested someone reliable. You're assigned for the next two weeks. Details will follow in the morning.
StarVision Entertainment. Clara's heart skipped. Wasn't that one of the biggest entertainment agencies in the city? And their "top client"? She didn't need to guess who that might be. The tabloids, the billboards, the music videos Adrian Cole was everywhere.
Clara laughed nervously to herself as the elevator descended. "Oh, great. Babysitting a celebrity. Just what I need."
Still, there was a flutter of curiosity in her chest. She had never met someone famous, never set foot in the glamorous world she only glimpsed through magazine covers and news feeds. What would it be like?
She shook the thought away as the elevator dinged at the ground floor. Whatever awaited her tomorrow, she would handle it the same way she handled everything else with calm efficiency and a cool head. That was who Clara James was.
At the same time, in the back of a sleek black limousine, Adrian Cole leaned his head against the leather seat, scrolling through his phone. His latest performance clips had already gone viral. Millions of likes, comments flooding in, his name trending worldwide.
And yet, a hollow sigh escaped his lips.
Fame was intoxicating, but it was never enough. No matter how loud the applause, he always wanted more. More attention, more headlines, more proof that he was the best. Love? That was a luxury he didn't have time for. Love couldn't fill arenas. Love couldn't sell records.