The judging room was colder than the stage. Amina stode before the long table of judges, her hands gripping the microphone stand as the last note of her song faded into silence.
The middle-aged woman in red glasses was the first to speak.
"Your voice is... interesting," she said with a polite smile that didn't reach her eyes. "But this industry isn't about interesting. It's about perfection. You need training, polish. Next."
Another judge sighed, tapping his pen against his notebook. "She's nervous. Stage presence: weak. Appearance: below standard. Honestly, I don't see the potential."
The words cut deep, each one sharper than the last. Amina lowered her eyes, shame clawing at her chest. For a moment, she thought it was over.
Then, a chair scraped back at the end of the table.
The man sitting there had been silent all along —tall, broad shouldered, his sharp features carved like stone. His dark suit looked more expensive than everything Amina owned combined. Cold eyes studied her like she was a puzzle piece that didn't fit.
The room grew still. Even the other judges seemed cautious.
He was Adrian Cole, the youngest producer to ever win an international music award, a star who had built his empire on ruthless decisions and flawless performances.
And he was staring at her.
"What's your name?" His voice was low, clipped.
Amina swallowed hard. "Amina... Yusuf."
He leaned back, fingers steepled.
"Your technique is unrefined. Your nerves are obvious. Your presence... fragile."
Her heart sank. So it really is over...
"But," he continued, eyes narrowing slightly, "your voice is real. Not fabricated. Not trained into emptiness." He flicked the corner of his file. "There's a rawness in it. It cuts."
The other judges exchanged uncertain looks.
Adrian's lips curved, not in a smile, but in something colder. "She passes."
Amina's breath caught. She looked up, disbelieving, only to meet his icy stare. There was no kindness in it—only challenge.
As if to say: If you want this chance, prove you deserve it.
The gaval of fate had stuck. She had been given a silver of light in a world of shadows.
And it had come from the coldest star of them all..