I hear a group of people making their way down the main staircase, and look up expecting to see Leah and her SayGO groupmates. They had an early-morning recording session, and I promised Leah I’d be waiting with red bean doughnuts as soon as they let out. But instead, I see a crowd of angry-looking adults.

“—better take it seriously. Do you know how much money I’ve given that man over the years? I practically paid for his second vacation home!” a man in a blue suit says.

“Yah! Not to mention the eyelid surgery I did for his wife at half price,” a woman with a bob and severe bangs adds. Something about her seems familiar, but I can’t quite place what.

“Unni!” At the sound of Leah’s voice, I turn to see her and her groupmates arriving in the lobby from another staircase. “Please tell me you have the goods.”

I smile and wave the box of doughnuts. “Gotcha covered.”

We’re about to leave the lobby when my cell starts buzzing. I shove the doughnut box into Leah’s hands, frantic to finally catch Alex on the phone. But the call is coming from an unknown international number. Normally I’d just let it go to voicemail, but part of me hopes it might be Alex calling from another number for some reason. I duck out of the DB building and sit on a nearby bench to take the call.

“Hello?”

“Hi, is this Rachel Kim?” a woman with a British accent says.

“Speaking,” I say.

“So glad to have reached you. My name is Cynthia Barnes,” she says. “I’m an executive at Discipline.”

I sit upright on the bench. Discipline Sportswear. That’s Ollie Mattsson’s—Carly’s husband’s—activewear brand. “Yes, hi. How can I help you?”

“We’re putting together a shoot in the Swiss Alps to promote the new skiwear line, and we’d absolutely love to have you model for us.”

A photo shoot in the Swiss Alps? For Ollie Mattsson’s brand? I hardly think twice. “Yes! I’m absolutely interested.”

“Wonderful,” Cynthia says. “We’re also hoping that if things go well, we could plan an event with you and Ollie to meet some fans, and we’d have you sing, of course!”

A photo shoot and a solo fan meeting? Is she about to offer me a lifetime supply of Choco Pies next? Because I’m pretty sure that’s the only way this could get better.

“I’m sorry to be reaching out to you directly like this,” Cynthia continues, pulling me back from my chocolate dreams. “I tried to connect with your management team earlier today, but they told us everyone was in a meeting, and well, I didn’t want to wait. You see, things for the photo shoot are coming together quite quickly—we’d need you in Switzerland by September fifteenth. I know it’s a bit last-minute.”