Her final note still vibrated in his chest. Damien gripped the railing, with his heart pounding. Tonight he would find a way backstage no matter who he had to bribe.
He slipped out of the VIP balcony before the house lights came up. The crowd was still screaming her name, but he moved fast, cap low and mask on. His phone buzzed again. It was Manager Victor. He killed the call and kept walking.
A side door led to the staff area. Two big security guys stood there, arms crossed, checking badges. Damien's stomach tightened. He had no badge but just cash and nerves.
"Excuse me," he said in a low voice. "I'm with the production team and I forgot my pass upstairs."
The taller guard narrowed his eyes. "Show me your ID."
Damien pulled out a folded crisp of a hundred dollar bill note instead. He pressed it into the guard's hand like it was nothing. "My boss is waiting. Raven's manager will kill me if I'm late with her water."
The guard looked at the money, then at Damien's masked face. For a second everything froze. Then the guy pocketed the money and stepped aside.
"Go quick. There are cameras everywhere tonight."
Damien nodded once and pushed through the door. His heart hammered so hard he could hear it in his ears. One wrong move and tomorrow's headlines would read "Heartthrob Caught Stalking Singer." He kept his head down, and walked like he belonged there.
The hallway smelled like sweat and perfume. Staff rushed past carrying cables and water bottles. No one looked at him twice. He followed the noise until he saw a door with a black star taped on it. Green room.
He stepped outside, and breathed short. This was crazy. He should turn around right now and run back to the set but instead, he knocked twice.
The door opened fast and Raven's manager, Lena, stood there, phone to her ear, looking stressed. "No, we're leaving at five. Tell the driver to pull up at the back exit." She glanced at Damien. "Who are you? Delivery?"
He froze for half a second. "Water," he said, lifting an empty hand like he had bottles. "Special order for Miss Raven."
Lena rolled her eyes. "Fine, put it on the table and go. She's already late for the car."
Inside the room, Raven sat on a couch, legs crossed, and still in her stage boots. She wiped sweat from her neck with a black towel. Her raven black hair with deep purple steaks stuck to her shoulders and she looked tired but electric, like the stage still hummed inside her.
Damien stepped in and the door clicked shut behind him. Raven looked up and their eyes locked.
The air changed, like someone turned up the heat in the room. She tilted her head, studying him. The mask, the cap and the way he stood there like he wasn't supposed to be there.
Lena kept talking on the phone, back turned to them. "Yes, yes, we're coming. Hurry up."
Raven stood slowly and she shook one step closer. "You're not staff."
Damien pulled the mask down just enough and not all the way. Just so she could see his mouth and his real smile.
Her eyes widened a little and not scared but curious and a little spark lit up in them.
"You snuck in here," she said, voice soft but teasing. "Brave or stupid. Which one?"
He then smiled for real this time. "Both, probably."
Lena turned around. "Raven, car's here. Let's go now."
Raven didn't move. She just kept looking at him. "Give us one minute, Lena."
Lena frowned. "One minute? We have press waiting outside and you know how this works."
"Please," Raven said, eyes still on Damien. "The water guy can wait outside."
Lena signed, muttered something, and stepped out, leaving the door cracked.
The room felt smaller suddenly and it was just the two of them. Black couch, black towel, and black encrusted crystal microphone microphone resting on the table.
Raven picked it up, and twirled it once in her fingers. "So. Nation's heartthrob hiding in the shadows. What's your name, water guy?"
Damien took the cap off and let her see his full face.
Raven's black microphone slipped from her fingers. "You're... Damien?"
His famous smile turned dangerously private. "And you're about to become my dirty little secret."