"Louis, finally! I thought you'd never make it here," Matt laughed, pulling Louis into a quick, friendly hug. The loft was already alive with music and laughter, the kind of chaotic energy that only came from a room full of musicians, managers, and creatives letting loose. A haze of cigarette smoke lingered near the ceiling, giving the industrial space a raw, rebellious edge.

Louis returned the hug with a grin. "It's Nick's birthday—I wouldn't miss it. Where is the man of the hour, anyway?"

Matt smirked, jerking his head toward the bar. "Where else? Probably still trying to convince everyone he's a bad boy instead of a softie."

Louis chuckled as his eyes scanned the room, spotting the bar where the Bad Omens crew had gathered alongside ERRA, a band he was working as a manager for. Noah leaned casually against the wall, his dark, confident gaze resting on whoever was speaking to him. His arm was draped possessively over Moriah, known to everyone as Poppy, who perched beside him, her soft laugh audible even over the music. She looked like the perfect complement to his rough edges, her burgundy dress hugging her figure as her blonde hair spilled over her shoulders.

Not far away, Nick and Nicolas were mid-argument, gesturing wildly over a stack of shot glasses while Jolly stood between them, trying to defuse the situation. Joseph and Conor from ERRA were engaged in an animated conversation with Noah, who occasionally broke away to whisper something to Moriah, making her smile.

As Matt and Louis approached, Nick spotted them first. "Louis!" he called, lifting his glass high and grinning. "About time! Where've you been, man?"

"Don't start," Louis replied, raising his hands in mock surrender. "I had to make sure I didn't look like I'd just crawled off a tour bus."

"Unlike us," Conor joked, gesturing to his ripped jeans and oversized hoodie.

"Exactly," Louis said, laughing. "So, how's the birthday boy holding up?"

"Already three shots deep," Nicolas piped in, slinging an arm over Nick's shoulders. "And it's still early."

Nick swatted him away. "I'm fine! I can handle my liquor better than any of you clowns."

Jolly rolled his eyes. "We'll see about that."

As the laughter subsided, Matt turned to Louis with a curious expression. "So, any sign of this mysterious girlfriend you've been keeping under wraps?"

At this, all eyes turned to Louis. Even Noah, who had been leaning down to murmur something to Moriah, raised an eyebrow. Joseph and Conor gave each other a smirk, definitely being proud of solving Louis's girlfriend enigma. They had a bet with the rest of the ERRA about his girlfriend, and they won it when they realised their manager dated the producer they worked with on their last album.

"You've been holding out on us," Nick teased. "We've been waiting to meet her for months. Or is she still a figment of your imagination?"

Louis sighed, the corner of his mouth twitching upward. "You've all got way too much time on your hands."

"It's not our fault you've been keeping her a secret," Nicolas added, leaning against the bar. "What are we supposed to think?"

Louis rubbed the back of his neck, a small, sheepish smile playing on his lips. "She's on her way. Should be here any minute."

"Oh, the suspense," Nicolas quipped, earning a laugh from the group.

"That's gonna be so good," Jesse chuckled, knowing exactly chaos is yet to come.

"Well, don't keep us waiting," Noah said with a smirk, his dark eyes gleaming. "If she's putting up with you, she's gotta be something special."

"Keep your pants on, Sebastian," Louis shot back, his tone light but pointed. "You'll meet her soon enough."

As the group continued to banter, Louis's phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, his face lighting up when he saw the message. "Speak of the devil," he said, already stepping away. "I'll be right back."

The group watched him weave through the crowd toward the entrance.

"Now I'm curious," Nick said, drumming his fingers on the bar.

Outside, a sleek black car pulled up to the curb, its glossy surface catching the faint glow of the streetlights. Jovienne stepped out, her heels clicking against the pavement as she adjusted the lapels of her tailored black jumpsuit. Her striking green eyes scanned the scene with a mixture of curiosity and disinterest, her red lips curving into a faint smirk.

"Jovi," Louis greeted, his voice warm. He stepped forward to kiss her cheek, his hand resting on her lower back.

"Louis," she replied, her tone teasing as she let him guide her deeper into the loft. "You sure know how to throw me to the wolves."

"They're not so bad," he assured her,giving her a soft smile.

"Mm, we'll see."

They walked in together, hands clasped, and the effect was immediate. Heads turned, whispers rippled through the crowd, and by the time they reached the bar, the others were already staring.

"Everyone," Louis said, his voice carrying over the music, "this is Jovienne, my girlfriend."

There was a beat of silence before Matt let out a low whistle. "Well, damn. You really weren't kidding, Louis."

Nick was the first to recover, stepping forward with a grin. "So this is the infamous girlfriend. Welcome to the chaos."

"Infamous already?" Jovienne asked, arching a brow as she shook his hand.

"Louis likes to keep his secrets," Nicolas said with a wink.

"Only the important ones," Louis added, his arm still around her waist.

Noah studied her from where he leaned against the wall, his gaze sharp and assessing. He observed how she effortlessly held a conversation with his bandmates, her confidence exuding in every word and gesture. Her red lips curved into a knowing smirk as if she was always in on a joke no one else could quite grasp, and her piercing gaze seemed to take in everything, stopping on everyone in the room—except him.

"Jovienne Fitzroy," he said finally, his voice cutting through the chatter. The corner of his mouth twitched upward, equal parts intrigue and challenge. "The producer everyone's been talking about."

Her conversation halted as if on cue, her attention shifting to him like a spotlight had swung in his direction. Her eyes landed on his, sharp and unflinching, and for a moment, the room felt smaller, quieter, as if the air itself had drawn taut.

His smirk widened slightly, almost imperceptibly, a wordless challenge. Hers mirrored his, but with an edge of amusement, like she was already one step ahead of him in a game he didn't know they were playing.

Moriah, who had been leaning against Noah, felt the tension ripple between them and glanced up, her brows furrowing slightly. She shifted closer, her hand sliding into his and giving it a deliberate, gentle squeeze.

The touch broke Noah's focus. He glanced down at Moriah, his smirk softening into something more genuine as he wrapped his arm around her waist. "What is it?" he asked casually, his voice dropping into a warmer register.

"Nothing," she replied sweetly, though there was a note of quiet intention in her tone. "Just making sure you're not getting lost in conversation."

Noah chuckled, his lips brushing her temple in a brief kiss. "I'm right here."

Jovienne tilted her head slightly, her smirk deepening as she watched the exchange. "The one and only," she replied smoothly, her tone almost mocking as her gaze flicked over Noah with deliberate slowness, her eyes lingering just long enough to register her point. "And you must be Noah Sebastian," she said, her tone polite but cool. "The frontman who loves stirring the pot."

A smirk tugged at his lips. "Guilty as charged."

"Well," Nicholas interrupted with a laugh, sensing the need to break the tension, "this is definitely going to be fun to watch."

Jovienne's smirk turned into a laugh, light but cutting, as she shifted her attention back to the group. "Oh, trust me. I'm full of surprises."

Noah let out a quiet exhale, his smirk lingering even as his attention returned to Moriah, who extended a hand, her smile genuine. "It's really nice to meet you, Jovienne. I've heard a lot about your work."

Jovienne's expression softened fractionally as she shook Moriah's hand. "Likewise. Your name comes up a lot in certain circles."

"Hopefully for good reasons," Moriah said with a laugh.

"Mostly," Jovienne replied with a cryptic smile.

Louis chuckled, squeezing Jovienne's hand. "Let's get a drink, shall we?"

As the group fell into easier conversation, Matt sidled up to Jovienne, his curiosity getting the better of him. "So, Jovienne," he began, "what brings you to our neck of the woods?"

Before she could answer, Jolly's voice cut through. "Matt's just buttering you up. He's been trying to find a producer for our next album."

Jovienne's lips curved into a sharp smile. "Is that so?"

Matt glared at Jolly before turning back to her. "I was going to reach out officially, but since you're here..."

"Don't bother," she interrupted, her tone dismissive. "I'm not interested."

The group fell silent, the weight of her words hanging in the air. Noah, who has been listening to this conversation attentively, raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued.

"Well," he said, his smirk widening, "that was fast."

She met his gaze evenly. "I don't waste time."

"Neither do I," he shot back, his voice low and challenging.

Moriah shifted uncomfortably, her hand tightening on Noah's arm. "Noah..."

He turned to her, his expression softening instantly. "What? I'm just saying."

She rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a small smile. She reached up to tug him closer, her lips brushing his as she whispered something that made him chuckle. He kissed her back, his hand cupping her cheek.

Jovienne turned back to Louis, who squeezed her hand gently, leaning in to murmur, "You okay?"

"Fine," she said, her voice cool and even. "This should be fun."

The rest of the group quickly fell back into their usual rhythm, the laughter and conversations a welcome distraction from the tension that had briefly crackled between Noah and Jovienne. Matt, however, was far from finished. He leaned against the bar, swirling the amber liquid in his glass as he studied Jovienne.

"You're quick to shut down an offer before even hearing the details," Matt said, his tone casual, but his intent clear.

Jovienne met his gaze with a practiced calm, raising her own glass to her lips. "I don't need to hear the details to know what you're asking, Matt. And my answer is still no."

"C'mon, Jovienne," Matt pressed, his voice dipping into familiarity. "You've worked with the best—Green Day, Bring Me the Horizon, ERRA. Bad Omens fits right in that lineup. You're practically made for this project."

"Am I?" she asked, arching a brow. "Because from where I'm standing, it looks like you want a babysitter, not a producer."

Jolly, who had been standing within earshot, chuckled into his drink. "She's not wrong, Matt."

Matt shot him a warning look before returning his attention to Jovienne. "You're not exactly being fair, are you?"

The tension between them hung in the air like the aftermath of a thunderclap, and Jovienne's calm, cutting tone only added fuel to the fire.

"Fairness has nothing to do with it," she replied, her voice crisp, her expression serene. "I've got projects lined up for months. I don't have the luxury of taking a gamble on a band that—let's be honest—is still carving out its place."

Behind her, Nicholas let out a soft laugh of disbelief, his brows shooting up. "Carving out its place? Ouch."

Jovienne turned just enough to look at him over her shoulder, her crimson lips curling into a saccharine smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Don't take it personally. You're doing well for yourselves, but there's a difference between being good and being great."

The room collectively tensed at the jab, but Nicholas shook his head with a low whistle, leaning back against the wall with a smirk. "Brutal," he muttered, clearly more amused than offended.

Before anyone could respond, Noah reappeared, his presence commanding as always. His hand rested lightly on Moriah's lower back as he guided her toward the group. Even from across the room, it was clear he'd caught the tail end of the conversation; his signature smirk was already firmly in place.

"What's this?" he asked, his dark eyes narrowing slightly as he zeroed in on Jovienne. "We're not great now?"

Jovienne didn't flinch. Instead, she turned her full attention to him, her expression neutral save for the slight curve of her lips. "Not by my standards."

Noah's brows arched slightly, his smirk sharpening as he stepped closer, his height and presence suddenly dominating the space. "I'm curious," he said, his tone deceptively casual. "What exactly makes you think you're qualified to judge us?"

The group fell silent again, the air thick with anticipation. Jovienne, unbothered by the sudden scrutiny, raised her glass and took a leisurely sip of her drink, her movements almost taunting.

"Because I've worked with bands who don't need convincing," she replied smoothly, setting her glass down with a deliberate motion. "Bands who know what they want and how to get it. If you have to ask me to join, it means you're not there yet."

A low murmur rippled through the group, a mix of stifled laughter and incredulous reactions. Jovienne's words landed like a perfectly aimed arrow, and Noah's smirk faltered just enough to reveal he hadn't expected her to meet him head-on.

Noah tilted his head, his dark eyes narrowing as if she were a particularly challenging puzzle he was determined to solve. "Or maybe we're just selective about who we work with," he countered, his voice dropping to a lower register. "Not everyone can handle us."

Jovienne leaned forward slightly, the movement subtle but enough to close the gap between them just a fraction. Her smile turned razor-sharp, matching his intensity. "I assure you, handling you would be the least of my concerns."

The tension was palpable now, the kind that drew everyone's attention like a car crash you couldn't look away from.

Louis, sensing the sparks flying between them, stepped slightly in front of Jovienne, his hand lightly touching her arm as if to ground her. "Alright, let's cool it down," he said, his voice steady but firm. "This isn't the time or place for—"

"No, let them," Nick interjected, grinning widely as he leaned against the wall, thoroughly enjoying the show. "This is better than the shot competition."

"Nick," Jolly said in a low warning tone, though even he looked faintly entertained.

Moriah glanced between Noah and Jovienne, her lips pressing into a thin line. She shifted closer to Noah, her hand brushing his arm as if to remind him she was still there.

Matt, ever the voice of reason, stepped in with a diplomatic smile, his tone even. "Look, Jovienne, no one's trying to convince you against your will. I'm just saying, the offer's on the table. If you change your mind—"

"I won't," she interrupted, her voice cutting through his like a blade. Her tone was final, her posture leaving no room for argument.

Matt nodded slowly, though the slight twitch of his lips suggested he wasn't entirely convinced. "Fair enough."

Noah let out a short, humorless laugh, shaking his head as he finally stepped back. His hand slid to Moriah's waist as he turned his attention fully to her, though the smirk on his face lingered. "Guess we're not worth her time," he said with a shrug, his voice dripping with mock indifference.

"Guess not," Jovienne replied without missing a beat, her gaze cool and unwavering as she took another sip of her drink.

The room buzzed with muffled laughter and hushed comments, but Jovienne had already turned her attention elsewhere, as if the exchange had been nothing more than an afterthought. Noah's smirk faded slightly as he looked down at Moriah, his fingers tightening around her waist as he kissed her cheeck in a show of affection that felt a touch too deliberate.

The rest of the evening passed in a blur of conversations, music, and the kind of raucous energy only a birthday party could muster. Jovienne navigated the room like a seasoned performer, exchanging pleasantries with ERRA's members and deflecting the occasional question about her work.

She noticed Noah throughout the night, always at the edge of her periphery. He was good at working a room, slipping seamlessly between groups with an ease that hinted at years of practice. Yet, every now and then, she'd catch him glancing her way, his expression unreadable.

Louis stayed by her side, his hand often resting on her arm or at her back, making sure she's okay.

The balcony was a quiet refuge from the party's chaos, a place where Jovienne could collect her thoughts. The cool night air caressed her skin, offering a welcome contrast to the warmth of the crowded room she had left behind. She leaned lightly against the railing, the city lights stretching out before her like a glittering sea of stars. Her cherry-brown hair, loose and slightly tousled, framed her sharp features. The soft glow of the lights accentuated the fairness of her skin and made her green eyes gleam like polished emeralds.

The sound of footsteps behind her didn't immediately pull her from her thoughts, but the voice that followed did.

"You don't scare easily, do you?"

It was low, familiar, and edged with amusement. She didn't need to turn to know who it was. Noah stepped into view, his tall frame casting a shadow across her. His black hair was tousled in a way that looked careless yet deliberate, and his dark brown eyes carried the same sharpness that his voice often held. Tattoos snaked up his neck and across his arms, disappearing beneath the rolled-up sleeves of his black shirt. The ink seemed to accentuate his imposing presence, as if it were an extension of his personality.

"Should I?" Jovienne replied, her voice light yet carrying an undercurrent of steel. She didn't glance at him, instead keeping her gaze on the glittering skyline.

Noah's lips curled into a smirk, the faint stubble on his jaw catching the light as he raised his glass to his lips. He took a measured sip before speaking. "Most people do. Or at least, they try harder to impress."

This time, Jovienne turned her head, her piercing green eyes locking onto his. There was no hesitation, no flicker of uncertainty in her gaze. "I'm not most people."

"No," he said after a pause, his smirk deepening as his dark eyes roamed her face, searching for something he couldn't quite place. "You're not."

The silence between them was heavy, charged with a tension that neither seemed inclined to break. Noah leaned against the railing beside her, his drink cradled in one hand. His towering frame was relaxed, but there was something about his posture—about the sharpness of his gaze—that made him feel like a storm about to break.

Jovienne didn't flinch under the weight of his scrutiny. Instead, she tilted her head slightly, her expression unreadable. The faintest hint of a smirk touched her lips as if she found his attempts at intimidation amusing.

"You're staring," she said finally, her voice calm, almost teasing.

Noah's smirk shifted into something softer but no less challenging. "Maybe I'm just trying to figure you out."

"Good luck with that," she replied, her green eyes narrowing slightly. "I'm not exactly an open book."

"Really? I think you are," he countered, his voice dropping lower. "You just don't want anyone to read the fine print."

The crackling tension between them felt almost tangible, like static electricity waiting to ignite. Jovienne held his gaze, her lips parting slightly as if to retort, but before she could, the moment shattered.

"There you are."

Moriah's voice was soft, her presence breaking the spell. She slipped her arm through Noah's, her warm smile lighting up her delicate features. Dressed in an elegant but understated dress, she looked every bit the opposite of Jovienne—soft where Jovienne was sharp, open where Jovienne was guarded.

The edge in his expression melted away as soon as his gaze met hers. He looked down at Moriah as if the rest of the world had ceased to exist.

"Here I am," he murmured, the corners of his mouth curving into a genuine smile. He pulled her in a tight hug, small smile appearing on his face.

Jovienne looked at them with a smirk on her face, sipping drink from her glass. As soon as the glass was empty, she headed back into the room, finding Louis.

"Ready to go?" he asked quietly.

"Absolutely," she replied, her lips broke into a smile.