Free Web NovelChapter 37: Living Together
The penthouse was unusually lively.
For the first time in years, it no longer felt like a place occupied only by idols and exhausted staff members.
Now it felt like a home. But a very chaotic one.
Everyone had immediately disappeared after arriving. Not because they were tired.
Because they were exploring and claiming rooms.
The girls occupied the second residential floor.
Each room was larger than an entire house back in Sterling Village.
Nicole walked into hers and nearly screamed.
There was a walk-in closet, a private bathroom, a study corner, a balcony overlooking the city skyline and a bed large enough for four people.
"This is bigger than my future."
Emily nodded seriously. "Same."
The boys weren’t any better.
Nathan spent ten minutes testing how soft the mattress was.
Nicolo stood in front of the mirror. "They were right."
Nathan sighed. "What now?"
"I do look like a model."
Nathan grabbed a pillow and threw it directly at his face.
Meanwhile, several company staff members helped organize everyone’s belongings.
Boxes were labeled. Schedules were prepared. Wardrobes were arranged.
Everything was handled with impressive efficiency.
Liliana felt slightly overwhelmed. She had never experienced anything like this before. Her entire life had been simple. Quiet. Predictable.
Now she was standing inside a luxury penthouse owned by one of the largest entertainment companies in the country.
The transition felt unreal.
At exactly six in the evening, everyone’s phones received the same message.
Meeting.
Living Room.
6:00 PM.
Mandatory.
Robin had added the last word twice.
By six fifteen, everyone finally gathered.
Robin immediately looked disappointed.."I said six."
"We’re here." Emily reasoned.
"You’re still late."
"We’re here now, stop ranting." Robin rolled his eyes.
The living room had been transformed into a temporary conference room.
Several members of the legal team were present. The Human Resources Manager sat nearby. A few department heads occupied the remaining seats.
And at the center sat Matthew St. Claire, Chairman of St. Claire Entertainment.
The man responsible for everyone’s current life crisis.
"Good evening."
Everyone greeted him respectfully. Except Emily who waved enthusiastically.
Matthew waved back. The other executives were surprised.
Then the chairman looked at everyone and smiled.
"I know this has all happened very quickly."
That was the understatement of the century. One week ago they had been living normal lives.
Now they were sitting inside the penthouse of a major entertainment company.
Matthew continued. "Tonight, we’ll discuss your contracts and future responsibilities."
Immediately everyone became serious. Even Emily.
The legal team spent nearly thirty minutes explaining confidentiality agreements, media policies, schedules, company regulations, and security protocols.
The cousins listened carefully.
Eventually, the HR Manager stood. "Let’s discuss individual assignments."
Everyone immediately paid attention. This part was very important.
The first names called were Nicole and Rose.
The two girls exchanged nervous looks.
The HR Manager smiled. "Both of you will begin idol training immediately."
Silence. Nicole and Rose couldn’t believe what the HR said..
Then Nicole pointed at herself. "Me?"
The manager nodded. "You and Rose have been selected as trainee members for a new girl group."
Rose looked stunned. "A girl group?"
The HR Manager smiled. "The working name is Rhythm."
The room exploded. Nicole nearly fell off her chair. Rose looked equally shocked.
Emily screamed. Mary looked proud of her sister, Rose.
River looked suspiciously happy and was just staring at Nicole.
The next name was Nicolo.
He sat straighter. Ready. Prepared. Very certain that greatness awaited him.
The HR Manager looked at him. "You will begin training as a model."
Nicolo immediately nodded. "Obviously."
Everyone groaned.
The manager continued. "You’ll be training together with Liliana."
This time both Liliana and Nicolo looked surprised.
"Me?" Liliana asked.
Matthew nodded. "You already have public attention. The modeling division believes you have potential."
Emily immediately agreed.."She does."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Liliana looked really surprised.
Then came Nathan.
The room became quiet again.
The HR Manager checked his notes. "Nathan."
Nathan sat up. "Yes?"
"You’ll begin vocal, dance, and performance training immediately."
Nathan frowned. "Why?"
The manager smiled. "Because you’re being evaluated as a potential additional member of Pulse."
Silence.
Complete silence.
The entire room froze.
Then, "What?!"
The shout echoed throughout the penthouse.
Nathan nearly stood up. "You’re joking."
"No."
"You’re definitely joking."
The manager smiled. "We’re not."
Nathan looked toward Pulse.
Then toward Matthew. Then toward Robin. Then the ceiling. Searching for answers.
Unfortunately, nobody looked amused.
This was very, very real.
Pulse members had different reactions.
River immediately started laughing.
Aaron nearly choked.
Leo looked interested.
Chris was speechless and looked amused.
Seeing the members, Nathan looked like he wanted to run away.
Matthew eventually raised a hand for silence.
"Nothing is final."
Everyone listened and nodded. Nathan immediately relaxed.
Then Matthew continued. "Yet."
The chairman looked toward Mary.
"Mary."
She immediately straightened.
"You’ll serve as manager and handler for the new talents."
Mary looked surprised. "Me?"
Matthew nodded. "You are responsible, organized, and capable."
Emily immediately whispered, "Translation: you’re the only normal one."
Mary kicked her under the table.
Finally, Matthew looked toward Emily.
The room immediately became nervous because Emily becoming an employee sounded dangerous.
Matthew smiled. "You will become the personal stylist for the new talents."
Emily looked excited.
Then Matthew continued. "And Pulse."
Silence.
This time the members of Pulse looked horrified. Especially Chris and Robin.
Emily slowly smiled. The smile villains make before causing problems.
Robin immediately raised his hand. "I object."
"Denied."
"Please."
"Denied."
Robin buried his face in his hands.
The meeting ended nearly two hours later.
Everyone received schedules, training plans, employee IDs, access cards, and enough paperwork to destroy entire forests.
As they began leaving the living room, the cousins exchanged looks. Their lives had changed completely.
Nicole and Rose were becoming an idol. Liliana and Nicolo were becoming models. Nathan was somehow being recruited into Pulse. Mary was becoming a manager. And Emily was becoming everyone’s stylist.
Nothing about any of it felt real. Then Emily suddenly raised her employee ID.
"We’re officially employed!"
The cousins cheered. The members of Pulse looked less enthusiastic. Especially Robin.
Because unlike everyone else, he had already realized something. The real challenge wasn’t the contracts. Or the training or the press conference.
The real challenge was living together under one roof without accidentally exposing Chris and Liliana’s marriage.
And judging by how Chris kept glancing toward the girls’ floor, that challenge was going to be much harder than anyone expected.
