"I had an inkling you wouldn't be so easy to talk to," Casper responded.
Much to my surprise, he did not return a tight and heavy grip. Instead, he loosened our handshake as a whole and gestured towards Daniella, who stood by my side.
"It's nice to see you again," he told her.
Clara's excitement had faded at this point. She turned her focus to Daniella as well, her loud and booming voice weakening under Daniella's gaze. "It's very nice to see you again, Daniella. I'm surprised you're still singing. I'm surprised you're even here."
Daniella half hummed; half snorted. "You said to put aside our differences. I'm here for Lumi, anyways. I'm not that petty of a person."
I could her the sharp daggers laced in her voice. She implied someone here was that petty and I had an inkling who it was. Daniella was quite nonchalant yesterday when she declared she would put aside her differences, but it was a tough pill for her to swallow.
Clara was not without self-awareness. She heaved a sigh and nudged Casper. "Let's all sit and have a nice talk, shall we?" She turned to Lumi's direction, meeting her eyes. "If anything, this atmosphere is a thousand times scarier than my enthusiasm. I certainly wouldn't want to frighten little Lumi away this time."
I nodded in agreement. Daniella folded her arms but complied. Casper pushed Clara's wheelchair as we all took a seat on the couch.
***
An awkward silence had befallen us. It made me uncomfortable, not to mention Lumi. I had gently placed her on my lap, but she still squirmed. Her heart thumped and raced, as if threatening to jump out of her chest. Not even my repeated pats on her soothed her.
D-dad, I don't like this. It's suf-fo-ca-ting.
I could not stand her weak mumbles.
Don't worry, dumpling. It's not about you. Take a deep breath and relax, okay? You don't have to be intimidated. Remember that Clara is just another singer like yourself, okay?
But I feel that you're pressured, Dad. Why do we have to sign this contract again?
It's for our dream, dumpling. For you to be a superstar. We can't do it without them.
Oh. Then I won't be afraid so you don't have to worry about me, Dad.
I felt Lumi sit a little firmer and straighter in my lap and my heart ached.
Don't force yourself for me, dumpling. If you're truly uncomfortable or don't like Clara at all, let me know. We can make alternative arrangements.
I'm okay so far, Dad. But please help sister Ella. I don't like to see her like this.
It was Lumi's request, so of course I had to obey her little majesty's orders.
"Why don't you the three of you talk first," I said, nudging my elbow to Daniella.
She gave me a glare that was not very good at hiding the death threat hidden behind it. She then turned her head towards Clara, her glare remaining unchanged.
"You can't treat Lumi like you did with Anisa," Daniella said, her voice cold, unfeeling, blunt. At the mention of Anisa's name, I noticed her folded arms trembling. It was obvious they were close, and her departure had hurt Daniella deeply.
I continued to wonder in silence on what Clara had done and question my choice. My research did not account for the details of their relationship together. Little Starlight Entertainment did not have a history of abandoning their artists...
I turned my head in their direction.
... but with Clara's status within the industry, she could address things behind the scenes.
Which was it?
Clara and Casper turned at each other with a begrudging expression on their faces. It surprised me, but I calmed myself down as fast as I could. We were about to find out. Their answer would make or break our decision to proceed further with the contract, signing, and negotiations.
"Should we tell her," Casper asked, his voice hesitant.
Clara heaved another sigh before she raised her chin in Daniella's direction. "It's about time. This misunderstanding has gone for too long. Besides, we might lose little Lumi if we don't explain ourselves further."
Casper paused one more time before he nodded in agreement. "I was going to say you-do-you, but we absolutely cannot lose Lumi."
Clara held eyes with Daniella.
"Ella, dear. Anisa departed this country for different reasons regarding her family."
"Her mother was receiving death threats—" Daniella's spat, her voice rising.
Lumi flinched and reached out to her, but I held her back.
"Oh, that Anisa. Though she was an excellent singer, she was never good with words," Clara continued, half-amused. Her voice turned serious. "Ella, dear. She never told you directly, did she? Doctors found tumors in her mother's breast that was spreading to her lungs. Stage 1 cancer."
Daniella froze. Her arms unfolded to dangle weak and numb by her side. Her voice hollowed. "... w-what?"
"Anisa knew how close you were to her mom. They left the country for urgent treatment. She didn't want you to worry and lose track of your studies, passions, and career. It had nothing to do with our part."
Casper hurried to chime in. "Believe us. There are no other labels and entertainment companies that care for our workers and artists as good as us. UBI? They're big, but they don't have a shred of care for worker's welfare and rights."
Clara pushed her husband away and raised her chin. "It may sound arrogant, but there are no agencies and labels as honorable and ethical as Little Starlight. I've prided myself to help little budding starlets to become grand, bright stars. There is no way we would abandon artists like Anisa in the face of dirty bad-handed deals, muddy waters, or intimidation from the big companies."
"I'll grab Anisa's letter," Casper said. "Letters, plural. She has sent quite a few over the years."
Clara's eyes then swept over Lumi, before finally, they landed on me.
"Has this answered your question? We will do anything and everything to help make your little Lumi become a superstar."