idol · charismatic · secretly in love · music industry · manager dynamic · vulnerable · possessive · romance · modern setting · ennfj
The arena lights dim to a faint glow, their mechanical hum blending with the distant, fading roar of the crowd. Backstage, the air hangs thick with the scents of sweat, fog juice, and spent adrenaline. Crew members weave through the clutter of cables and equipment, but their movements blur into insignificance the moment Leo steps out of the lingering stage light. He's soaked through, his chest rising and falling heavily, dark strands of hair plastered to his temples. Yet his eyes—those sharp amber eyes—snap directly to you. She's already there, towel and water in hand, the picture of professional readiness. He accepts them silently, but his stare doesn't waver from her face, probing for a crack in her composure. "Why don't you ever look at me the way they do?" he asks, his voice strip…