Sofia stared at Liam, her heart pounding in her chest. The dim light of the shop seemed to flicker as if the weight of his request had caused the entire world to shift. He needed her to help him disappear? It was madness. Every instinct screamed at her to say no, to get as far away from this as possible. But there was something in his eyes—something raw, desperate.
The silence between them was suffocating. Sofia swallowed hard, her throat dry.
"Disappear?" she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. "What do you mean? I'm just... I own a record shop, Liam. I don't know anything about making people vanish."
Liam ran a hand through his hair, his frustration evident. "I didn't plan for any of this, alright? I came here to get away. To escape the noise, the pressure, everything. But they've found me, and it's only a matter of time before they're crawling all over this place." His voice lowered, turning almost pleading. "I can't do it alone, Sofia."
She shook her head, stepping back from the counter. "You're asking for too much. I don't even know you! You're Liam Hawthorne, sure, but that's not enough reason for me to risk everything."
Liam's face tightened. "I'm not just asking for me. Look, if the press figures out I've been here, this place will be swarmed. You think business is slow now? Wait until there are camera crews camped outside, digging through your life, trying to find out who you are to me."
Sofia's stomach dropped. The image of her little record shop, her sanctuary, being invaded by photographers, reporters, and gawking fans made her skin crawl. She could already see them, flashing their cameras through the windows, blocking the door, asking questions about her connection to Liam. Could she handle that?
But helping him disappear? That was a different kind of trouble.
"I don't know what you expect me to do," Sofia finally said, her voice trembling with frustration. "I don't have connections. I'm not some kind of spy."
Liam leaned closer, lowering his voice. "You don't have to be. I just need a place to lay low for a few days—until I can figure out my next move. After that, I'll be gone, and you won't have to deal with me anymore."
Sofia bit her lip, staring at him, torn between fear and the undeniable pull of the situation. She wanted to say no, to tell him to get out and never come back. But there was a part of her that couldn't deny the temptation. Helping Liam Hawthorne, Britain's most infamous rock star, disappear? It was insane. But something about it also felt... intoxicating.
And then there was the thought that maybe, just maybe, this could be her chance to save the shop. If she played her cards right, if she kept this secret and somehow got through it, the story alone could bring attention to Martínez Records in a way nothing else had. Fame, fortune, and recognition—all by accident.
She crossed her arms, trying to steady her voice. "If I agree... and I'm not saying I will... where do you expect to hide? You can't stay here. It's too obvious."
Liam hesitated for a moment, then pulled out a piece of crumpled paper from his jacket. He handed it to her without a word. Sofia unfolded it and saw a Barcelona address scrawled in messy handwriting.
"That's a flat I rented under a fake name a few blocks from here," Liam said. "No one knows about it. Not yet, anyway."
Sofia looked at the address, then back at Liam. "You've been planning this?"
"Not exactly," Liam replied, rubbing the back of his neck. "I've had to stay a step ahead for a while now. I thought I could lay low, but things are spiraling faster than I expected. That's where you come in."
Sofia's mind raced. This was happening too fast. She had barely had time to process the fact that Liam Hawthorne was in her shop, let alone the idea of helping him hide from the world.
"If anyone catches wind of this..." Sofia trailed off, shaking her head.
"I know the risks," Liam said, his voice steady. "But so do you. If I get caught, you're tied to me now, whether you like it or not. They'll drag your name through every tabloid they can find. And your shop? It'll never be the same."
Sofia felt the weight of his words pressing down on her. He was right—whether she helped him or not, she was already part of this now. Just having him in her store for those few minutes was enough to put her on the radar. Her mind spun with the consequences.
The future of Martínez Records was already fragile, and this could be the final nail in the coffin. Or... it could be her salvation.
She finally met Liam's eyes, her decision hanging on the edge. "You can stay at that flat. But I'm not your babysitter, Liam. If things go south, I won't hesitate to walk away from all of this. You understand?"
Relief flashed across Liam's face, though he quickly masked it with a nod. "I understand. And thank you. I owe you one."
Sofia gave a small, bitter laugh. "I think you owe me more than that."
Liam's lips twitched into a wry smile. "Fair enough."
There was a tense moment of silence between them before Sofia sighed and turned toward the back room of the shop. "I have a spare key for you. Wait here."
As she disappeared into the back, Liam exhaled deeply, letting his shoulders slump. The pressure of the last few days had been suffocating. Ever since he had left London, he'd been running on fumes, dodging paparazzi, and staying one step ahead of the chaos that always followed him.
Barcelona had been his last hope for some peace, but that hope was quickly slipping away. Now, everything rested on Sofia's willingness to help him stay hidden. He hadn't meant to drag her into this, but the moment he'd walked into that shop and seen her, something told him she was his best shot at surviving the storm.
Sofia returned moments later, holding a small key in her hand. She placed it on the counter and slid it toward him. "The flat's yours for now. Just don't bring any of your mess near my shop."
Liam took the key and nodded. "You've got my word."
Sofia leaned against the counter, crossing her arms. "I hope you know what you're doing, Liam. Because if you don't, this whole thing could blow up in our faces."
Liam met her gaze, his expression serious. "I do. I just need a little more time."