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Mikey came off as a clown, but he was a pretty smart cookie, always the voice of reason in the band.

“You’re right.” Emmie nodded. “We need to get ourselves a manager.”

And like a light-bulb moment, the most brilliant idea popped into my mind.

A purpose.

A goal.

A way to make myself useful and still be in Lan’s presence without it seeming like I was hanging onto him like a clingy girlfriend.

“I’ll do it,” I blurted, to which both Lan and Matty frowned. Maybe they knew me pretty well to know I had zero managerial skills.

But how hard could it be?

“I’ll be the manager, at least for now. I’m good at planning and organizing. I mean, I learned a bit from the event committee. I don’t know everything, but I can learn. I’m free anyway.” I mustered the steady confident tone that I had perfected by now.

“You sure, K?” Lan asked before anyone could say anything. “You don’t need to tire yourself with all that heavy work,” he said in a gentle tone.

“Yes, Lan. I want to do this,” I said enthusiastically.

“Okay.” He softly patted my hair. “Whatever you wish, angel.”

My twin took his turn to question me before they all agreed, suggesting I take a cut, which I denied, but they insisted, and I couldn’t help but say yes. Maybe this way, I could earn some money to show Lan that I could stand on my own two feet. I could never get near his billionaire status, but at least it was something, right?

It wasn’t like I was going to do this job forever, just till the band settles down. I didn’t want to work when I had my babies. I wanted to give them my hundred percent. And I knew it was considered backward these days to be a stay-at-home mom while Lan provided for me, but it was what I wanted.

Maybe this would be like me retiring to a home life after being their manager. That way, no one would suspect me wanting a traditional happily ever after.

“Okay, guys.” I stood. “I, Katy Evans, will be the Four Foxes manager,” I announced, smiling, and everyone cheered.

That was the day I started the job that I would soon start to hate, then slowly despise, and ultimately loathe every second of it.

Because that job was the reason for taking something precious from me.

Something I wanted more than anything in the world.

My baby.

CHAPTER 8

KATY

Age 19

“Yes, I’ll get it done and send you everything over in a few.” I rushed out of the taxi. “Thank you so much for the opportunity again, Adam. I can’t wait to see the guys on the cover.”

“My pleasure, sweetie. Looking forward to the piece.”

I heaved out a heavy sigh as I fast walked into the building and confirmed the meeting with the receptionist, who pointed me toward the elevators.

Our album had been out for three months and was doing exceptionally well.

We were charting numbers, selling copies in thousands, and we even had a tour lined up in a few months.

And as the band manager of the hot new popular name in town, I was running around the city like I had a hundred-meter dash to win.

It was tiring and exhausting, but it was a distraction, and it kept me busy.