Chapter 38 - STAY I NEED YOU

Song Recommendation: Lost without you By Freya Ridings (Live at Hackney Round Chapel) – Try to listen at the first part and going to the end part of the chapter ;)

Chloe is seating comfortably beside Saff now as they started to listen with the recorded demo while holding the copy of music sheet to familiarize the lyrics and tune, she sits too close beside the young man who seemed to be unbothered with the gapless distance between them.

Saff appeared to be on his best mood as he enthusiastically guides Chloe through every note of his music and lyrics, in which the young lady obviously enjoys a lot as she likes the overflowing attention that she is getting right now from the handsome Idol member.

'Look at this young man, the other day he was boldly confessing his affection towards me but now he seemed to easily had a change of heart, Tsk!' Emy mentally complains at Saff's behavior, her eyes narrowed and her lips pouted as she stares at them from the other side of the room but not too far to clearly see their reactions while munching on the chocolate bar she had received earlier.

Although at the back of his mind, the young female artist didn't really give any remarkable effect on Saff, he just thought to make use of this opportunity to do a little experiment, something mischievous that will test her manager's patience.

Truth to be told, he is not attracted to the young female artist at all, as if she was really unappetizing in his eyes, but when he had noticed Emy staring at them, Saff thought that he could use Chloe to elicit real emotions from Emy, unmasking her true feelings.

'Let us see if you can be a good stimulus to my pretty subject' Saff thought to himself.

"Look at them, they seem to be a perfect match for each other" one of the staff stated to the other staffs who are seating near Emy.

"Yeah I think so too, they looked like love birds singing their love song" the other staff said while giggling with fondness towards the two artists they are looking at.

"Awe…Aren't they too cute? They are handsome and beautiful like in fairy tales, right?" the other staff stated being thrilled in excitement for the two artists, and the other staffs nods in agreement as they watch from the side.

Hearing their discussion, Emy choked hard on the chocolate bar that she is currently munching on, causing distraction with everyone inside the room now, and so the staffs beside her quickly move to help her, some are tapping her back while the others gave her water and facial tissue.

The music suddenly stopped from playing when Saff suddenly stood from his seat and rush towards to where Emy is seating, knees bent down with one sitting on his heal while the other one squat to support his weight as he push away the hands of other staffs from tapping her back as if saying don't touch her, and he carefully taps on her back instead while he holds the bottled water for her.

Everyone seemed to notice the special attention that the Idol gave to her manager and they are somehow surprised and intrigued about his sweet action and the genuine worried look on his face, But not with Taylor and Manager Anne who already knew the growing affection between them, staring at the two that appeared to be the real love birds right now.

"Are you alright Manager Emy? Yes? Then can we precede now, Saff?" Chloe suddenly breaks the scene as she stated showing a little annoyance with her expression.

Noticing everyone's eyes are on her, Emy instantly blushed feeling a little embarrassed, she then says "Go on, and continue the music. Excuse me for awhile" and with that she hurriedly stand and went out of the room leaving Saff there.

Emy entered the restroom, breathing gently as she inhales and exhales trying to calm her heart on the sudden tension inside the studio that she felt suffocated and thought she needed some space to breathe.

Splashing some water on her face from the sink, Emy frowned as she looks at her reflection in the mirror when she remembers what she had heard awhile ago from the production staffs, and so she thought 'Am I being jealous?' Emy asked to herself as she felt her chest in slight pinching pain.

Going back to the recording studio after drying her face with some facial tissues, she pretended like nothing happened, and everything is just fine with her as Emy didn't want to make a scene out of it.

"Are you alright Manager Emy?" Emy heard Manager Anne asked as she didn't go back to where she sat awhile ago, she just stand from the side of the room instead.

"Hmm…I'm fine now" she offered a polite smile to the woman who is looking back at her.

"By the way, you said you wanted to talk to me, I'm free tomorrow after work"

"Ah yes! That would be great Manager Anne. I'll see you then, Thank you"

A couple of hours more had passed before they had finished reviewing the recorded demo and finalizing the whole song. The producers went ahead first leaving the production staffs on cleaning and arranging the room, while the other Idols went back to their private room, leaving only Taylor, Saff, Chloe, and the three managers on the corridor.

"We'll see you tomorrow for the official recording" Emy said to Manager Lyn as she smiles looking at the manager and the young female artist standing beside her.

"Alright then, we will be going now" Manager Lyn answered waving her hand as she also smiles to both the managers and the Idols in front of her.

Manager Lyn who was about to walk, suddenly paused to look at Chloe, noticing the girl is not even moving from her spot, her eyebrows knitted in confusion, she then asks "Chloe, Let's go?"

"Wait, Manager Lyn, I just remembered that my driver called saying our car broke down, right?" Chloe said looking at her manager with a mischievous smile on her lips as she winked at her.

"Ah…Ye-yes, right" the manager got a little surprised but then she easily understood what the girl wanted so she decided to just go with her little lie.

"Maybe you can give us a ride, Saff?" Chloe asked flirtatiously

Taylor's eyebrows rose at the girl's overconfidence, he didn't expected that from a young popular beauty like her, but not with Saff as his face didn't hold any reaction of being surprised. Somehow, he already reads her behavior, and had expected it from a girl like her.

"If you want Ms. Chloe, we can arrange a service car for the both of you" Manager Anne entered the conversation, forcing a polite smile towards the young female artist and her manager.

"Thank you, but I don't want that" a brazen response came from Chloe.

"As much as we like to grant your request, we also need to consider protecting both of you from the media, you know they could be aggressive at times" Emy said with carefully chosen words as to avoid offending them.

"What about you, Saff? What do you say about it?" As if ignoring Emy's words as she directly asked Saff to get the answer straight from him.

Saff knew that she intends to provoke him on going with her plan, but before he could answer her, Taylor utter his opinion "I see you are very persuasive with what you want" he smirked.

"I will not be on top without my perseverance" Chloe said with a grin.

"Alright then, I'll just ask someone to bring here my private car, you can wait for my manager's call at the lounge" Saff finally respond with his face expressionless.

"Thank you so much, Saff" Chloe said with a coquettish grin before they start to walk along with Manager Anne who accompany them on going to the waiting lounge.

Taylor and Saff start to walk on the opposite way going to their private suite to pack their things before leaving, thinking her presence is not needed there anymore, Emy start to walk her way back to the Manager's Office when she hear Saff called for her.

"Where are you going Manager Emy?"

She quickly turns her head to see the two already looking at her, Saff's eyes holds a serious look at her, Emy then says "I-I should also be going home, right?" quite stuttering as she was startled hearing his voice.

"Stay…I need you" his voice low but gentle, completely opposite with how he spoke with the female artist a while ago.

"What?"

"Wait for me at your office, I'll pick you there"

"Why?"

"Because I still need my Manager to inform the guests when it's time to leave"

"Oh right!" and she quickly cut the stare, turn and head back to the office. At some point she thought she had heard it wrong and so she gave it another meaning.

At the Manager's Office, Emy immediately arrange her desk and pack her things as she prepares to leave and go home as well, besides she doesn't want Saff to complain on waiting for her.

'What am I thinking? Did I expect him to coax on me now with his sweet words? No, definitely not after I pissed him off and…' and for the other reason, Emy thought to herself.

After their argument that night, Emy had noticed that Saff has been giving her cold treatment, remembering what he had said earlier 'You never rely on me', Emy knew that she made Saff really upset with her this time.

Hearing someone knocking on the door, Emy is quickly cut from her deep thoughts to open the door, seeing it was Saff with bag on his shoulder who stands there without looking at her as he seems to be busy browsing his Smartphone, she then quickly take her bag, step out and close the door after her.

"Should I call Manager Lyn now to meet you at the lobby?" She asked facing his back as he is walking ahead of her.

"Hmmm" She just received a Hum answer from Saff, before she took out her phone and call the manager.

When they entered the elevator, Emy felt more awkward air in a confined space as the silence is deafening, looking at the reflection from the mirrored wall of the elevator, Saff seemed to be still focused on his phone standing behind her while leaning on the wall.

Once they got to the ground floor of the building, Emy was the first to step out moving at the side to wait for Saff so they can walk together, but when Saff step out, he just walk past her without even glancing.

Once again, they are back with him walking ahead of her while they head to the lobby. Emy stares at him with his back facing her, and she thought 'It seems that this time she has been seeing more of him with his back turned at her' she frowned feeling a pinch of pain again.