A week had passed and Landon had just finished his performance Ottawa. Has he made his way backstage he notices Rachel wasn't her lovely self. This had been going on since the award show. Although he wasn't one to show his emotions he couldn't help since it was Rachel. "Are you okay?" He said sitting next to her.
"Yeah, I'm okay." She instantly replied forcing a smile. Landon takes a deep sigh. "Is it what Diddy said? About you know....you treating me as your personal Golden goose and all that?"
Rachel's forced smile faltered for a moment, and she looked away, her eyes welling up with tears. "No, it's not just that," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's just...I've been feeling really overwhelmed lately. The pressure to constantly come up with new ideas, the stress of managing your career...it's all taking a toll on me."
Landon's expression softened, and he reached out to put a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Hey, I'm here for you," he said. "You don't have to carry all this weight on your own. What's going on, Rach? You can tell me."
Rachel took a deep breath and let it out slowly, her eyes still shining with unshed tears. "It's just...I feel like I'm losing myself in all of this," she said. "I'm your manager, but I also veiw you as a son, and sometimes it's hard to separate the two. And Diddy's comments...they stung. I mean, maybe he is right. You've been signed to Echo for seven months now and we still haven't even tried signing other talents..."
Landon's grip on her shoulder tightened, and he pulled her into a gentle hug. "You're not just a tool to me, Rach," he said. "You're my rock, my confidante. I don't know what I'd do without you." Rachel teared up hearing those words from Landon. "Look, if it's talent you need then I'll get you some new talent....I think you should look into....what was her name again?...Talia Manaois, or something like that. She's a talented Singer, and with the right Record label she could go far." He added
Rachel pulled back from the hug, her eyes still shining with tears. "Talia Manaois?Dont you mean Tatiana Manaois?" She asked with a hint of surprise in her voice. "I've actually heard of her. She's been making waves in the indie scene, and I've been considering reaching out to her. But, Landon, that's not the point. The point is that I feel like I'm stuck in a rut, and I don't know how to get out of it."
Landon's expression softened further, and he leaned in, his voice taking on a more serious tone. "Rach, you're an amazing manager, and you've been with me every step of the way. If you're feeling stuck, then we need to figure out a way to get you unstuck. Maybe we can take a break, recharge, and come back to this with fresh eyes."
Rachel's gaze locked onto Landon's, and for a moment, they just looked at each other, the tension between them palpable. "I don't know, Landon," she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. "I feel like I'm losing my passion for this industry. Maybe it's time for me to move on."
"Look, Rach. Maybe it's because all you do is spend time with me. I know I'm.not the funnest guy to be around. Hack, I think even Stanley hates me and his supposed to be my bodyguard." Rachel let out a light giggle. "You know his name is Stephan, right?"
Landon had a shocked look on his face. "Really? Why didn't he tell me that all along I've been saying his name wrong?(he just got tired of always correcting Landon).....anyway, what I'm trying to say is that you need someone 'normal' to be around you more and we both know Me and Emma don't count as normal, do we?"
Rachel's giggle turned into a full-blown laugh, and she playfully rolled her eyes. "No, you and Emma definitely don't count as normal," she said, still chuckling. "But, Landon, that's what I love about you guys. You're both unique and talented in your own ways."
Landon's expression turned thoughtful, and he nodded slowly. "I see what you're saying. And dont worry, im not gonna ditch Echo and join a big named label just because they offer more money....so yeah, you'restuck with me for life."
Rachel's laughter died down, and she looked at Landon with a mix of surprise and appreciation. "You really mean that, don'tyou?" she asked, her voice softening.
Landon nodded, a small smile on his face. "Of course, Rach. You're important to me, and I want to see you happy."
Rachel's heart skipped a beat as she looked at Landon, her feelings momentarily getting the better of her. But she quickly pushed aside the flutter in her chest, reminding herself of the professional relationship they had. She knew that Landon saw her as a trusted friend and manager, not as a romantic partner. Besides, there was the age gap to consider - Landon was younger than her, and she didn't want to complicate their working relationship with unrequited feelings.
"Ah, Tatiana Manaois," Rachel said, clearing her throat and deliberately changing the subject. "I think signing her to EchoWave is a great move. She's got a unique sound and style that could really resonate with our audience."
Landon's eyes lit up with interest, and he leaned forward, happy to discuss business. "I think so too," he said. "Her indie roots are really showing in her music, and I think we can help her take it to the next level."
Rachel nodded, her professional demeanor firmly back in place. "Absolutely. We can work on developing a strategy to showcase her talents and build her fanbase. I'll get in touch with her team and start discussing the details."
As they discussed the potential of Tatiana Manaois and the plans for her career, Rachel couldn't help but steal glances at Landon, her heart still fluttering with feelings she knew she had to keep hidden.