Behind The Spotlight

[Pujimaki]

Behind The Spotlight Chapter 241


The next day, huge news broke in the media. Jackson Mike became white!!! It was so shocking that headlines used (!) three times, trying to emphasize the absurdity of the situation.

Jackson Mike was the King of Pop, famous all over the world. That might even be an understatement. He was so famous that his songs and face were recognized globally.

A few years ago, he got involved in a scandal about child sexual abuse, a controversy that shook his career. He was accused, and he denied all the allegations.

Many people didn't believe that Jackson Mike diddled kids, and Collin was one of them.

He had been a fan of Jackson Mike since the 80s, and he believed that the man was innocent. Perhaps he had just been caught in a power struggle between record labels and the music industry.

But today's issue was different, something more bizarre and visible. Headlines about Jackson Mike's new appearance spread all over the world. The black man became a white man! Articles reported that Jackson Mike had been suffering from vitiligo, a condition that caused white patches all over his body. The only way to make his appearance look uniform was by bleaching his skin.

Now people were asking, what the heck is vitiligo? Before Jackson Mike's transformation, this disease was unfamiliar to many.

Some rumors claimed that the real Jackson Mike was dead and that this white version had stolen his identity.

Others said that Jackson Mike simply didn't like his original skin color and chose to bleach it.

There were so many rumors that no one could tell what was real anymore.

It became a huge event in the entertainment industry, and many news stations covered the topic. Jackson Mike was just that influential, any news about him would dominate headlines and news programs.

While this issue was unfolding, Collin received a call from Vivian.

"The album almost got what?"

"Pulse Static's album almost got erased," Vivian answered.

"... Is it really that bad? How could that happen?"

"Let me clarify, it wasn't an accident. Someone intentionally tried to destroy the album."

"..."

'I mean, even if the album got destroyed, as long as the band knows how to play the songs, they could just re-record it. It would only take time and effort.' Collin thought, but he didn't say it.

"It means someone is trying to sabotage our company."

'Now that's fucked up.'

"Do you know who did it? Who would do something like this?"

"We caught the culprit. He admitted that his job was to delay the album's release so we would face penalties from the distributor. As for the reason, he doesn't know, he was just hired. I want you to talk to Arnold. He might know why."

Vivian had met the members of Pulse Static and saw how dedicated they were. She didn't want another failure.

Collin was confused, but he decided to check on Arnold. Instead of calling, he went directly to his office since they were on the same floor, the 9th floor, just a short walk away.

"Hey, Tony, is Arnold inside?" Collin asked Arnold's secretary.

"Yes, he is. You can just knock, he's not busy right now."

"Thanks."

Collin knocked twice.

"Come in," Arnold said.

Collin entered and saw Arnold reading documents.

"Hey, have you heard what happened today?"

"Yeah, dude. I can't believe it either! Jackson Mike got kidnapped by aliens! And the white Jackson Mike is fake! He's clearly a robot the aliens left behind to confuse us."

"..." Collin was speechless. He didn't know how to respond. Was Jackson Mike's change of skin color really that big of a deal?

"No, I'm not talking about Jackson Mike."

"Oh, are you here because of what happened to Moonrise Music? Don't worry, even if the original album got erased, my band can re-record it." Arnold shrugged, not taking it seriously. He had already heard from Mikael and the others that someone had corrupted the file meant to be sent to the factory producing the music tapes.

"That's what I thought too. But Vivian thinks it's more serious. They found the culprit, and he was paid to delay the album's release as much as possible."

"Now that's something I didn't know..." Arnold frowned and set his documents aside.

"Wait a minute." His eyes widened slightly, as if recalling something.

"What? Did you remember something?"

"I think so. Someone from Velvet Harmony approached me before about transferring Pulse Static to their label. He said they would cover any damages and even offered $3 million upfront, plus all the conditions that Moonrise Music is giving us."

"What did you say?"

"Of course I declined."

It was an obvious decision. Just like Collin, Arnold wanted a label that would truly support his band, not just throw money at them. So far, Moonrise Music was the best option since they only had one major artist to manage, meaning they could dedicate more resources to Pulse Static.

"Although I remember he gave me an envelope. It's probably a contract with more details. I didn't even bother opening it."

"Where is it?"

"It's here."

Arnold pulled out the unopened envelope from his drawer.

He opened it with Collin watching. Instead of documents, the envelope contained photographs, pictures of Arnold and Jolyne together.

The two stared at them for a moment before bursting into laughter.

"Hahaha, now I get it! So this is their plan!" Arnold laughed loudly, unable to believe someone tried to blackmail him.

The blackmail material was outdated and useless. There was nothing scandalous about the photos, Arnold and Jolyne had no reason to hide their relationship anymore.

After being blackmailed before by Chairman Noah Nash, Arnold had already come to terms with it. He realized he had nothing to be afraid of. He and Jolyne weren't doing anything wrong, they loved each other.

So Velvet Harmony's attempt at blackmail was completely ineffective.

However, both Collin and Arnold now held a grudge against the record label.

[Thank you guys for reading this novel.]

 

[Pujimaki]

Behind The Spotlight Chapter 242


Arnold and Collin already had a plan in place in case issues like these arose.

First, they had to determine the extent of the issue and its potential impact on their clients.

Second, they needed to find a way to cover up or fix the problem, minimizing the damage as much as possible.

Arnold and Jolyne's relationship was not really a bad thing, it was normal and acceptable. Even if it were exposed, it wouldn't affect them that much. Some fans might get angry, and there could be some stalking, but it wasn't anything serious since celebrities always had stalkers.

"If they are going to use blackmail, they should have used something heavier, something truly damaging. But then again, Jolyne and I don't have any scandals. There's nothing to expose."

"What about your other clients, such as Brody Paige and Director Tom of Unnatural?"

"That's a different matter." Arnold replied.

Collin shrugged. People had secrets they didn't want others to know. It wasn't surprising, it was part of human nature.

"This means there's no issue."

"Yeah, we're safe."

Velvet Harmony thought they were cooking something, but they didn't realize that their ingredients were spoiled. The blackmail material in their hands was useless.

.........
......
...

June, 2000.

A new band released their debut single, and it was broadcast on MTB, the biggest music television channel in the country, a major platform for rising artists.

"I told you, this music video shouldn't be aired! Why didn't you listen to my instructions?"

Someone from management berated a staff member.

"But the director said that I should air it at least three times. He insisted."

"So you listened to him, but not me? Are you ignoring authority?"

"... He is my boss. You're from a different department. I have to follow his orders."

"So you don't want to keep your job, is that it?"

"..."

MTB (Music Television Broadcast) was a TV network that aired music videos. Many musicians found stardom because MTB broadcast their songs. It was one of the fastest ways to become famous since many households had televisions.

Many record labels paid MTB to secure a spot for their artists in its time slots.

Of course, MTB was not the only music television channel in America. Competition existed. There were dozens of similar channels, but MTB was the most dominant in the market.

The shareholders and executives of the company were all competing for profit and influence. Each had their own motives.

"Hello, this is me, Jeffrey. Yes, please tell Mr. Stain that what happened yesterday was not my fault. I did talk to the director, but he didn't listen to me."

Jeffrey had been paid to ensure that Pulse Static's music video would not be released. He was even promised an invitation to a famous island where politicians and businessmen often gathered. He didn't know what the island was, but he assumed it must be something prestigious.

However, the director ignored him, ruining his task.

Not everyone in MTB got along. Internal conflicts were common. While Jeffrey tried to curry favor with Jeff Stain, the director in charge of that time slot was friends with Vivian. After all, Vivian had once been an executive at MTB and still held influence.

The director promised to air Pulse Static's music video three times for free, and he kept his word. After that, it would be up to Vivian whether she wanted to spend money on further promotion.

If Moonrise Music was determined, they could pay multiple music channels to air Pulse Static's music video.

Vivian only wanted one chance. She wanted to see if a single opportunity could attract fans.

She did the same with several radio stations. Some stations she had connections with gave her new artist a chance and played Pulse Static's debut song.

Moonrise Music sent copies of the debut track to many radio stations. Some accommodated her request out of respect, while others demanded payment, which was understandable. Business was business. Some stations ignored her completely, especially those aligned with Jeff Stain.

It was all about business, nothing personal.

You want your song played on my program? Pay first.

You want me to avoid promoting a certain artist? Pay for that too.

Unless your song is requested by listeners, you won't get a chance.

And that was exactly what Vivian was waiting for. She hoped that Pulse Static could replicate what Princess Chantal had achieved before.

Back then, many radio stations had rejected Princess Chantal's song. But everything changed when listeners themselves started requesting it.

Vivian knew she might be overestimating her artist, but she believed in Pulse Static. After working with them for months, she saw their potential, it was comparable to Princess Chantal's. They had something special. Mikael Wagner was the glue that held the band together, the core of their sound.

And sure enough, the moment Vivian had been waiting for finally came.

On MTB, there was a program where a DJ would take live calls and play requested songs. It aired on weekdays from 5 pm to 7 pm.

The DJ received a call requesting Pulse Static's debut song, "Selena." He forced a smile. Two days earlier, he had been paid to ensure that this new band would not gain traction.

"Um, I'm sorry, but we don't have a music video for 'Selena,'" the DJ lied.

"Huh? But I first saw the music video on your channel—"

The DJ abruptly ended the call.

"Oops, looks like the call got disconnected. Let's take another caller."

Another call came in.

"Hello, this is 'Music You Want,' the program where I play the songs you request. What song do you have in mind?" the DJ asked cheerfully.

"I saw this music video on your channel and I want to watch it again. It caught my attention. I feel sad and want something sentimental."

"I see. So what song is it?"

"I think it's called 'Selena' by Pulse Static."

"..."

The DJ's expression stiffened.

"I'm sorry, but that song doesn't exist."

He had accepted the bribe, so he had to follow through.

However, three more callers requested the same song. Each time, the DJ insisted that it didn't exist.

The next day, he was fired. Too many listeners had complained that he was lying and failing to do his job.

They didn't want a DJ who refused to play the songs people asked for.

 

[Pujimaki]

Behind The Spotlight Chapter 243


"Let me get this straight, you didn't play the music they requested three times? And what music is it, 'Selena'?" The producer of 'Music You Want' glared at the DJ, his expression cold and disappointed.

"Sir, I can explain."

"You're fired. I don't need an explanation. It's obvious why you did that. We have a copy of the music video of 'Selena,' yet you acted like it didn't exist." The producer waved his hand, cutting him off.

He could understand if the issue had simply passed unnoticed, but they had received multiple complaints that the DJ was not playing the songs the audience requested.

Thus, the producer had no choice but to do what needed to be done. He had to protect the program.

The DJ was speechless. He thought that this simple act of sabotage would be overlooked, as he had done similar things many times before. Yet this time was different. The situation escalated quickly. He realized that the money he received was nothing compared to his livelihood. His career was ruined.

"T- The reason why I did it is because of Velvet Harmony's—"

"As I said, you don't have to explain yourself. You're fired."

"..."

The DJ left MTB, and his career took a downward spiral. He never found success in any career he pursued afterward. On top of that, he exposed the truth out of bitterness, revealing that Velvet Harmony had been intentionally sabotaging other musicians. A few years later, he became a burger steak in a prestigious party...

The producer sighed as the DJ left. He actually knew what was going on, he wasn't naive. He had been in MTB for decades and had produced many kinds of shows. He was Vivian's coworker, but their relationship wasn't strong, they were merely acquaintances.

Vivian had asked him for a favor to play Pulse Static's song on his program, but he made no promises. He remained neutral, just like he did back when Princess Chantal debuted.

However, this situation was almost identical to what happened back then.

'It's as if people are being hypnotized into playing a single song over and over again.'

Back then, when Princess Chantal released her debut album, MTB only aired it once before it exploded in popularity.

'I only experienced this kind of fame during the debuts of Jackson Mike and Madunna.'

He had also heard about the massive sensations of Elves Prisley and The Beatle, but he had been too young at the time.

The producer defined it as star factor, an intangible quality. These artists possessed strong charisma and talent that fans instantly fell in love with.

It seemed that he was witnessing it again. As a veteran in the industry, he could distinguish between those with genuine star factor and those with mediocre talent boosted by their record labels.

'My question is: how can Moonrise Music discover artists with such impactful talent twice?'

Niko was a co-owner of Moonrise Music, so it wasn't surprising that their songs were good. But having charismatic performers was a different matter.

Pulse Static was very fortunate because their songs were composed by someone with golden talent.

Mikael Wagner plus Niko Walkman, their combined golden talents intensified the star factor. Because of this, the song became an instant success.

.........
......
...

July, 2000.

A month after Pulse Static's debut single.

"... How much money did we spend on this entire operation?" Jeff Stain asked his secretary, his tone heavy.

"Sir, it's 50 million." The female secretary swallowed hard.

"So you're telling me that we spent $50 million trying to prevent Pulse Static from becoming successful, yet we still failed!?" His voice rose hoarsely.

What happened with Princess Chantal had been a mistake, a failure they deeply regretted. Back then, Velvet Harmony hadn't taken her seriously. They had done the bare minimum to sabotage her. By the time they realized how quickly she was gaining fans, it was already too late. She had already risen to the top.

They even tried to dig up anything that could destroy her, crimes, scandals, anything humiliating, but found nothing. She was clean. Even her parents refused their offers despite the money. Princess Chantal's parents weren't foolish. They understood that if she lost her fame, they would lose their luxurious lifestyle as well. They were also wary of Collin.

Velvet Harmony even attempted to fabricate a scandal, but Isabella always made sure Princess Chantal stayed out of trouble. On top of that, for some reason, they had also offended someone from the Wallmart family.

"... Fuck!" Jeff Stain threw his wineglass to the ground, causing it to shatter loudly. The secretary flinched in fear.

"Then what about Arnold and Jolyne? I offered that agent a better deal, but he didn't take it seriously. We even threatened him. What happened? Why didn't it work?"

"Sir, the news about Arnold and Jolyne Robs being married spread all over the media."

"Good. Are they suffering because of it?"

"No, sir... The fans congratulated them."

"So all of our efforts were useless, is that it?" He was livid. His face darkened as he contacted his friend, Papa Daddy.

"This is Jeff. Yeah, don't worry, you're always invited, you know that. Anyway, I have a favor to ask. Why don't you invite these people to your party? Maybe they'll be interested in something fun. Tempt them. Are you good with that? Nice, I'll send you the list."

Jeff Stain and Papa Daddy operated in the same line of business, blackmailing high-profile individuals. They would invite them to parties and secretly record them committing "crimes." Because of this, they had become nearly untouchable in the industry. Although many people despised them, and their reputations were rotten.

This time, they planned to create a scandal involving Arnold's and Collin's clients. Yes, Collin was included, since Princess Chantal was his client.

..........
.......
...

"William, I didn't expect to see you here. It's been a while."

Collin greeted the young man with a polite smile. William had matured. He was no longer the naive person who easily believed everything.

William grinned and shook Collin's hand.

"Collin, I've been waiting to meet you. How are you?"

"I'm doing fine."

"Haha, I shouldn't have asked. Of course you're doing fine, your clients are all successful." William let out a businesslike laugh.

After graduating, William decided to explore the world to gain life experience. He wanted to understand different perspectives and ways of living.

What he learned was simple:

Money makes life easier.

[Sorry for not updating these past few days, I'm very depressed and lack the motivation to do anything productive. I'll try to be better.]

 

[Pujimaki]

Behind The Spotlight Chapter 244


"I started my own production company. If you have a project you can recommend to me, I'll owe you a favor. Of course, you'll get a commission." William leaned forward, his tone slightly eager.

"That's what I like to hear. If I come across something, I'll contact you immediately." Collin nodded with a calm smile.

"Also, before I forget, I want to start the sequel to The Accidental Wedding Crashers. I'll be the producer and handle the funding." William sounded confident.

As a co-owner of the copyrights of The Accidental Wedding Crashers, Collin took his words seriously. He also had no problem with the movie becoming a franchise. In fact, he had expected it sooner or later. As for profit sharing, Collin understood the rules, business was business. The investor gets the bigger share. William was different now. He couldn't be scammed anymore.

Back then, William was young and didn't understand how business worked so Collin convinced him.

As for the distribution channel, Uni-versus Pictures had secured that contract a few years ago. In fact, Uni-versus Pictures had been interested in buying the copyrights, but William didn't want to. He believed in the profitability of The Accidental Wedding Crashers and its potential for expansion.

As for Collin and Wyatt, as long as William held onto the copyrights, they wouldn't sell their shares either.

The Accidental Wedding Crashers had grossed over $500 million at the worldwide box office, and that was back in 1995, an era when movies rarely surpassed half a billion.

Based on that achievement alone, they could sell the rights for $90 million, and that would be an understatement.

The Accidental Wedding Crashers had strong franchise potential, so the copyrights could probably be sold for more than $150 million, especially with a sequel being planned.

"I'll contact Wyatt about it. We can talk later."

Wyatt was still busy with Week On An Island, his schedule packed with filming and post-production responsibilities.

"Indeed, let's enjoy this concert first," William agreed.

The two were backstage, watching Pulse Static's concert. The area was bustling with staff members, all ensuring that the concert ran smoothly.

Collin was present because he was a co-owner of Moonrise Music. As for William, he had received a backstage pass from Mikael.

"I heard that you're friends with Mikael," Collin said, raising his voice slightly over the sound of the drums.

"Yeah, he's a good guy," William replied.

William and Mikael were friends. William had once offered to help Mikael get into ANT through his connections. He had even thought about introducing Mikael to Collin, believing that Collin would be the perfect agent for someone like him.

However, he hadn't expected that Mikael would join ANT without his help, and that Collin himself had played a role in it.

"Honestly, I still can't believe that Mikael became famous in just a few month months."

Selena topped the music charts.

"That's Pulse Static," Collin corrected, his eyes fixed on the stage as he watched the band perform.

"My bad, it's Pulse Static that's famous, not just Mikael."

Tonight was Pulse Static's first major concert, and the fans were going wild. They were jumping, headbanging, and screaming along to the music. The energy was so intense it felt like it could shake the air itself. It was insane.

Mikael's golden talent shone brilliantly, though only Collin could perceive it, a testament to how powerful such talent could be.

Sometimes, Collin felt that golden talent was like a superpower, consistent and true to its nature.

.........
......
...

There was a growing rumor that ANT had become the biggest agency in Hollywood due to its continuous success. The industry was starting to acknowledge its rise. ANT had been steadily acquiring talented new clients, one after another, until it was recognized as the best agency for newcomers who aspired to achieve fame.

In fact, most new actors in the industry applied to ANT because it had a better track record of turning unknown talents into stars compared to other agencies.

AAC, also known as the Atlas Artist Collective, was long considered the best agency in Hollywood. It had been around for decades and had a stronger foundation, with veteran clients and experienced agents.

However, AAC was slowly crumbling because its newer clients couldn't compete with ANT's rising stars. On top of that, some of its profitable clients were considering leaving and switching agencies.

Some were even poached by a new agency called One Entertainment Agency, which had been aggressively recruiting both agents and clients.

Naturally, many people began to view ANT more favorably, especially after another rock band from its roster rose to fame.

Pulse Static made a huge impact on the Billboard Hot 100, with their entire album staying on the chart for three consecutive months. Their songs dominated radio stations and music channels. Constant exposure helped them grow rapidly.

Their album, Welcome to the Black and White Parade, had a unique title that people had never heard before, full of originality...

On top of that, Morning with Jennifer was performing well. Jennifer Randon, another client of ANT, saw her fame skyrocket after her morning show aired on Nation TV. She brought a fresh style to the morning timeslot, practically dominating the 9 to 10 AM slot.

The recent success of ANT's clients increased the company's valuation from $1.2 billion to $1.8 billion in just a year.

This also meant that the executives' shares increased in value. Naturally, they were pleased, though some felt bitter about the recent success of Pulse Static, particularly those in the Music Department.

Griffith Goodhope was glaring at Arnold and Collin, especially at Arnold.

A year ago, Griffith had tried to acquire Pulse Static and Princess Chantal from the two "amateur" agents in the Film Department, but he failed.

To be precise, his real target had always been Princess Chantal. Pulse Static had merely been an excuse. Griffith had little faith in newly formed bands, knowing how difficult it was to succeed in the music industry. Artists needed that elusive star factor.

Yet now, the very band he had dismissed had achieved massive success.

If he had known, he would have focused on Arnold instead of Collin. He should have prioritized Pulse Static.

Now, he regretted his decision.

At present, he had nothing promising. His country star was losing popularity, and decline seemed inevitable. Griffith needed to find another client to profit from.

Arnold and Collin acted as usual while waiting for the meeting to begin. Today marked the second quarterly conference.

[Thank you for reading this novel.]

 

[Pujimaki]

Behind The Spotlight Chapter 245


Of course, Arnold and Collin didn't care about Griffith's glare. They were too happy to pay attention to him.

Fuck Griffith. That name alone deserved a place in hell.

Anyway, now that Pulse Static was successful, Arnold's status in the company also rose. Even the veterans treated him with respect.

"Congratulations, Arnold. I knew your client would make it!" Salvador Manuel greeted him with a smile.

"Thank you," Arnold grinned.

After the last meeting, the three had officially formed an alliance, a partnership that benefited all of them. From now on, Collin and Arnold would support Salvador in becoming the President of Talent Management and Representation. They hated Claude after what he did last time, and they couldn't let him stay in control.

Now that Arnold thought about it, if Claude's plan had succeeded, Pulse Static's contract would have been transferred to another agent, and all the respect and profit would have slipped out of his hands. Claude, Griffith, and Sanford, fuck all of them.

"Keep it up."

Salvador was satisfied that the alliance was growing stronger. He could already see the potential benefits. Their influence in the company was steadily increasing.

Collin had a solid lineup, and so did Arnold. Their clients were famous and had stable careers.

Of course, Salvador's clients were also thriving. His action star had secured another project.

As for more good news, Morning with Jennifer was doing exceptionally well.

The talk show had been gaining more viewers over time. After three months of live broadcasting, it maintained a steady viewership of 9 million.

Because of this, many people started asking Salvador for favors. They wanted their clients to appear on Morning with Jennifer to boost their exposure.

In the entertainment industry, celebrities must stay relevant, or people will forget them. Some washed-up actors even wanted to guest on the show in hopes of reviving their careers.

Now, Salvador had become one of the most sought-after talent agents in the company. Even agents from other agencies offered him benefits in exchange for featuring their clients on the talk show. Salvador helped those who provided worthwhile offers while ignoring the useless ones.

He was pleased that many agents were gradually aligning themselves with him because of the influence he held. He was confident that Claude would lose his position next year.

That old fart should retire.

Of course, since Morning with Jennifer was successful, Jennifer was also enjoying the fruits of her hard work... although she was clearly exhausted from juggling two projects at the same time. Once Season 5 of The Singing Voice was finished, Jennifer would drop her hosting duties there and focus entirely on Morning with Jennifer.

Collin, Arnold, and Salvador laughed together, their conversation lively and full of energy. Life had been good for them these past few months.

A few minutes later, Lila and Claude arrived, and the meeting began. The executives and shareholders were pleased, as ANT's valuation had increased to $1.8 billion this quarter.

Unlike last time, Claude and the others had no tricks to play. It was useless now that Lila had made her stance clear. Her influence was difficult to ignore. The CEO clearly preferred to side with Salvador and the others.

Claude could feel that his position was in danger, as some executives had begun showing signs of switching sides.

While the meeting was ongoing, Collin occasionally glanced at his phone and grinned.

Just like him, Lila also checked her phone, though she maintained a composed expression. However, it was obvious from her demeanor that she was in a good mood.

"Hey, who are you texting at a time like this? We're in a meeting," Arnold whispered.

"Nah, it's nothing," Collin replied casually.

"Why the hell are you smiling like an idiot? It's disgusting," Arnold muttered, frowning.

Eventually, the meeting ended. Some executives were in high spirits, while others were not. It was clear that the balance of power within the company was shifting.

Collin and Lila glanced at each other briefly before looking away. They had gone on a few dates, and things were going well, their relationship was gradually deepening.

.........
......
...

October 2000.

Whiplash had just ended its theatrical run, earning $124 million at the box office. For a psychological drama, the movie performed surprisingly well, especially since it was only released in North America.

Aside from that, Morning with Jennifer continued to gain a positive reputation. More people were tuning in, making it one of the best talk shows of the year. Jennifer Randon experienced another surge in popularity.

As for Axel Gunner, he had finished his role in Week On An Island two months ago and decided to take things slow. He wanted to enjoy some personal time, so he went on a trip with his son and hiked a mountain. Recently, his movie Whiplash, in which he played the strict mentor, received positive reviews and might earn a nomination at the Academy Awards. Axel himself could also receive a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his performance.

Meanwhile, Wyatt Bray was busy with post-production for Week On An Island, spending most of his time in the editing room. However, he looked healthier, as his girlfriend took great care of him. He was lucky.

As for Princess Chantal, she was busy with her world tour, traveling across different countries. She was currently in Cambodia, holding a concert. Her second album had sold 12 million copies. With an average price of $15 per album, her total sales had reached $180 million. With a 20% royalty rate, she was doing extremely well financially.

Out of all of Collin's clients, Lawrence Terrence faced the biggest challenge this month, his divorce from his wife, Emma Blackstone. Their marriage had been fake from the beginning. So far, the situation had been handled well, and Emma had become a better person. However, she was still in love with Lawrence. Terrier had already promised to pay the 2% company share, as he was satisfied with the one-year results.

Over the past few months, Emma and Terrier's relationship had improved significantly, and Emma had become a good daughter.

[Thank you guys for your support. Also, I have no idea what the hell I'm doing with this chapter. This is basically a recap or something. Sorry about that. You will probably see some chapters like this later on.]

 

[Pujimaki]

Behind The Spotlight Chapter 246


Lawrence and Emma's relationship was quite complicated. Lawrence suffered from a stalker and discovered that Emma was an obsessed fan who almost pulled out a pistol during the premiere of his romance movie titled The Boss Proposal.

At that time, Lawrence only wanted to stay away from her. But Emma's father was actually the owner of Blackstone Corporation, the biggest private equity firm in the country. Terrier Blackstone offered Lawrence money and company shares in exchange for marrying his daughter for a year.

With that, Lawrence didn't have a choice but to accept the deal.

Over time, Lawrence and Emma's relationship evolved... and even Collin couldn't fully understand it. He was always updated on what happened to the fake couple, but he felt like Lawrence was hiding something.

As much as possible, Collin wanted his clients to be honest with him, but he couldn't force them to share everything. And now, Lawrence was not saying anything about the divorce.

Yes, Lawrence and Emma had divorced, and the papers were already signed. However, when Collin asked him about what happened, Lawrence only smiled, as if hiding the truth.

Collin had no choice but to trust and respect Lawrence's decision.

"Just sign here and the shares will be transferred to your name," Terrier's secretary instructed Lawrence.

"Alright," the actor said as he signed after his lawyer confirmed everything.

With that, Lawrence earned 1.8% shares of Blackstone Corporation. As for the remaining 0.2%, it went to ANT as commission, with Collin receiving 0.1% shares due to his commission.

Mind you, Blackstone Corporation's valuation had risen to $85 billion this year.

This meant that 2% of the company was worth $1.7 billion. If Lawrence, ANT, and Collin did not sell their shares, they would continue receiving yearly dividends.

Lawrence had no plans to sell his shares, and neither did ANT or Collin. These shares were too valuable at the moment and could even be treated as inheritance.

Collin remained quiet throughout the transaction. He knew Lawrence well, and he felt that something had happened when the divorce came up. Unfortunately, Lawrence did not want to talk about it.

"Lawrence... are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," Lawrence said with an assuring smile.

"Now I don't have to worry about flirting with girls. I've been trying to fuck some young chicks!" he grinned and laughed as they left the building.

"No underage," Collin reminded him.

"Of course. Collin, I'm not that crazy."

"But someone did invite you to attend Papa Daddy's party." Lately, Collin felt that some people were inviting his clients to questionable gatherings. He had been calling them one by one, reminding them to avoid anything that could ruin their careers.

Hollywood elite gatherings often concealed reputational risks that agents had to constantly monitor.

'Axel and Princess Chantal are safe. Axel is not the type to attend parties, while Princess Chantal has Isabella protecting her. As for Wyatt and Jennifer, they might be deceived into going. Wyatt had a history of attending Hollywood orgies, but that stopped when he got engaged. Jennifer is not easy to deceive... but she does have a preference for younger men. As for Lawrence,' Collin glanced at his actor.

"Hey, I didn't accept the invitation," Lawrence waved his hand.

"I know."

Collin nodded. He knew his clients well, but not completely. He just hoped none of them would fall into temptation. One wrong decision could permanently destroy a celebrity's reputation.

"Congratulations on becoming a billionaire," Collin said with a grin, which made Lawrence burst out laughing.

"Collin, haha, I'm a billionaire now! On paper, of course!" Lawrence said. He had enough money to retire, but he loved acting, so he planned to stay in Hollywood for a while.

In a way, being married for a year in exchange for more than $1 billion was something Lawrence did not regret.

"By the way, is it really true that Papa Daddy—"

"His parties have questionable aspects. Again, don't attend them, or you might get implicated," Collin reminded him.

"No, I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about Papa Daddy being gay and fucking men. So he prefers booty?"

"With baby oil."

"What about the rumors of TwoPack and Biggie Small's deaths? Is he really related to their deaths?"

"I don't know," Collin replied. He was not sure. There were many rumors in the industry, some might be true, while others were clearly false.

As Lawrence stepped into his car, he looked at Collin and smiled. His talent agent had just helped him secure a deal worth a billion dollars.

"Collin, thank you for being my talent agent. I appreciate it."

"Take care of yourself. If you need help, don't hesitate to contact me."

"Alright."

Lawrence said goodbye and drove away. He wanted to spend some time alone.

"..." Collin watched the car leave. For a moment, he felt that Lawrence was sad about the divorce, but he might have been wrong. Who would want to marry a yandere? Not Collin, of course.

Besides, now that Lawrence was free from Emma's shackles, he could choose his scripts without any issues.

'Romance movies will always have kissing scenes, so a jealous type like Emma would be detrimental to Lawrence's career.'

Lawrence's talent could only flourish when the movie involved romance.

"So, are you going to attend the party?"

Now that Lawrence was gone, Quincy approached Collin. Their team had earned a huge amount of money today, and ANT had given them big bonuses.

Collin and Quincy earned the most since they participated in the transaction, but the rest of the team also received their shares. It was a performance-based bonus.

"Let's go. We rarely get the chance to celebrate on our own," Collin agreed.

 

[Pujimaki]

Behind The Spotlight Chapter 247


"Just like I said, please give me some space to breathe," Quincy Jennings said to Paul Kim, who was sticking close to him. The two were drinking alcohol. Paul just shrugged and ignored him, sipping his cocktail.

Like them, Collin was also taking his time drinking. He sat back and leaned against the soft chair leisurely, allowing himself a rare moment of relaxation after closing a great deal.

They were in a private karaoke room, celebrating the huge deal they had closed today. Beatrice Yarrow was singing a song, while Ian Rivers was simply there for the free drinks and food, courtesy of ANT's company card.

Collin created this team a few years ago when Wyatt Bray successfully released a box office hit titled The Accidental Wedding Crashers. The team was formed to help his clients in various ways.

Collin East was responsible for representing his clients in negotiations, earning the largest share of the commission.

Quincy Jennings was the lawyer who handled contracts and ensured they were safe for the clients to sign.

Paul Kim was from ANT's PR team. He helped maintain the clients' public image and had numerous connections with news stations and newspaper publishers.

Beatrice Yarrow was the accountant. She handled the finances.

Then there was Ian Rivers... the literary agent, responsible for assisting clients with scriptwriting.

"I feel like I'm the only useless one here. Even the new members are more valuable than me," Ian sighed as he drank his beer. He was invited because he was part of the team, even though he wasn't directly involved in Lawrence's negotiation.

Ian had only worked with two clients so far, Wyatt and Jennifer. He helped Wyatt with scriptwriting and assisted Jennifer with reviewing scripts for her TV show.

"Don't be dramatic. We all know your two clients are doing great this year," Beatrice teased.

Ian was part of the team, but he also had his own clients. Two of them were novel authors who earned solid royalties from publishers. One of his authors' novel series even received a movie adaptation, and Ian represented the author, earning a commission.

To clarify, some agents on the team had their own clients. Only people like Quincy, Beatrice, and Paul didn't, as they specialized in specific fields.

These five were the original members of the team, and later, two more people were added to support the clients' needs.

Andy and Sally.

Sally was a talent agent and also a nutritionist. Since Axel had finished Week On An Island, 123 Production and Metro Gold Mayer started the second film of the Jason Born franchise. Naturally, Axel needed a nutritionist to maintain his diet and physique.

Andy was also a talent agent, but within the team, he worked as a physical trainer. He helped both Axel and Wyatt with their training.

There were also others involved, such as makeup artists and fashion designers for their respective clients.

The reason for the celebration was simple, ANT was feeling generous today. The profit from the Blackstone Corporation negotiation made the company happy, and CEO Lila Seraphina allowed them to use the company card to celebrate.

She also personally called Collin and told him to relax and have fun. That was likely one of the main reasons for the gathering, Lila was worried that Collin was overworking.

Those directly involved in the negotiation, like Collin, Quincy, and Beatrice, earned substantial bonuses, while the others received a few thousand dollars.

Andy grabbed the microphone and started singing while the others cheered.

"Paul, I need some space," Quincy said seriously.

Paul smirked and stared at him.

"Oh, so now you want space? That's not what you said last night when you fucked me in the ass."

Collin almost spat out his drink when he heard that. Despite that, the party atmosphere remained lively, especially with everyone receiving bonuses.

.........
......
...

"Here's what the last negotiation reached: $15 million salary plus 10% of the North American box office," Collin said over the phone, updating Axel.

"If you're satisfied, we can sign the contract. If not, I can go back and negotiate further."

"Collin, that's already huge. Metro Gold Mayer might go crazy if we ask for more. That's already good for me," Axel replied.

"It seems I have to remind you, you're the star of this franchise. The face of the movie. You are Jason Born. Metro Gold Mayer doesn't have a choice but to agree to our terms as long as you're willing," Collin emphasized.

Indeed, the franchise would struggle without its main character.

"...Then if you think we can ask for more, I'd be happy with that."

Axel was already preparing for the film, and the only thing left unresolved was his salary.

Collin's job as a talent agent was to deal with the production studio while the client focused on their work. In a way, he absorbed all the tension from negotiations, allowing actors to maintain good relationships with producers.

As for talent agents like him, they were often the most disliked people in the eyes of production studios. People like Collin were seen as parasites or mosquitoes that drained their targets dry.

To succeed in this job, Collin had to be shameless. He knew his next demand would be outrageous, but it had to be done.

"Okay, I'll contact you later."

Collin ended the call and returned to the office, where the producer from Metro Gold Mayer was visibly furious.

"$30 million salary plus 20% of the worldwide box office," Collin stated calmly.

"Why don't you just throw yourself off the balcony?"

"Axel Gunner deserves that amount. Haven't you seen his latest movie? His performance is compelling."

[Thank you guys for reading this novel. I appreciate it a lot.]

 

[Pujimaki]

Behind The Spotlight Chapter 248


"The movie barely grossed $100 million," the producer said with dismissal. He crossed his arms to assert dominance in the negotiation.

"At the North American box office. Don't act like it's a small feat. How many movies can gross over $100 million in just one continent? If Whiplash was released internationally, the movie might have surpassed $250 million," Collin replied.

The producer snorted... But Collin was actually right. Axel's performance in his last movie was amazing and even praised by the critics. On top of that, despite being a psychological drama, the movie grossed over $100 million at the North American box office. It was no simple feat, especially for a genre known to struggle commercially.

Still, the producer would never admit that he was wrong. If he admitted it, he would lose his position and authority in the room. Hierarchy mattered in many negotiations, especially when large sums of money were at stake.

"..." He gritted his teeth. It seemed that Collin wouldn't leave without getting what he wanted. The tension in the room thickened as both sides understood that neither would back down easily.

'Damn talent agents. These people shouldn't exist in Hollywood. If I met Axel personally and negotiated with him, he would probably agree to lower his salary to $3 million.' The producer internally complained.

Agents like Collin existed precisely to prevent such undercutting of their clients' worth.

.........
......
...

Later that day, Axel was playing Tekken with his son when his phone rang. The atmosphere at home was relaxed, a contrast to the heated negotiations happening between Collin and the producer.

"$20 million salary and 10% worldwide box office share." That was Collin's welcome sentence, straight to the point. He didn't bother with small talk, knowing that the number itself would capture Axel's attention instantly.

"..." Axel was speechless. His other hand froze mid-game, which led to his son landing a full wrestling combo using King.

"Deal." His answer came instantly. There was no hesitation, as he understood how valuable such an offer was for his career.

No reason to say no. That was his biggest salary so far. He was eager to sign the deal and get his money as soon as possible. At the same time, he felt grateful for having an agent who could push negotiations to such favorable terms on his behalf.

.........
......
...

"Collin! Welcome!" Lawrence laughed and greeted Collin with a wide smile, pulling him into a hug. The music was quite loud, so Lawrence slightly raised his voice. The lively energy of the party was contagious, with laughter and chatter echoing through the large house.

Today was the actor's birthday, and he was throwing a party at his house in Beverly Hills. He had invited many people, including his family, whom he had rarely interacted with this past year because he was keeping his marriage a secret.

Now that Lawrence was free from those shackles and divorced, he went all out with his birthday party and enjoyed himself to the fullest. It was his way of celebrating freedom and starting a new chapter in his life without restrictions.

"Lawrence, happy birthday. Here's my gift." Collin gave his present to Lawrence, it was a watch... quite expensive for Collin's taste. Lawrence grinned and passed the gift to his assistant. He had received many gifts from people today. The stack of presents kept growing, showing how wide Lawrence's social circle had become over the years.

"Take this to my room," he said to his assistant with a casual wave.

Lawrence put his arm over Collin's shoulder and invited him in, guiding him deeper into the house. Collin caught sight of the pool and saw women swimming in bathing suits, their giggles blending with the music.

"What? You like one of them? How about it? I can introduce you to these pretty girls," Lawrence teased his agent. Most of the women who got into the party were in the entertainment industry. Some were models, some were small-time actresses, while some were avid fans of Lawrence who had snuck in...

It wasn't unusual for such gatherings to attract people hoping to network or simply enjoy the glamorous environment.

"How did they get into your party?" Collin asked dryly.

"A friend of mine helped me manage the party and he invited these women," Lawrence shrugged.

"..." Collin was not even surprised. He glanced once more at the pool and saw some women smoking... It might not have been a simple cigarette. He silently noted the potential risks.

"You invited your relatives too?" Collin asked, changing the subject.

"Yeah, I miss them. They want to celebrate my birthday." His parents had actually interrogated him about his ex-wife, but Lawrence didn't say much. He avoided deep conversations, preferring to keep things light during the celebration.

"..." Collin didn't know what to say.

"Anyway, the others have already arrived." Lawrence clapped his hands.

Lawrence led him to another part of the house, which was less crowded. When they entered, they found Axel, Wyatt and his girlfriend Elise, Jennifer, Princess Chantal, and even Isabella drinking happily. The group seemed relaxed, enjoying each other's company without the usual pressure of work.

"Collin, you're here!" Wyatt raised his wine glass and laughed, looking slightly flushed.

"You guys are already drunk," Collin sighed with a light smile, which made his clients laugh. He felt a sense of comfort seeing everyone enjoying themselves freely.

"Collin, I miss you!" Princess Chantal went in for a hug, and Collin hugged her back, patting her head.

"Don't drink too much. You have a rehearsal tomorrow," he reminded her.

"You're always so serious," Princess Chantal pouted, though her eyes sparkled with affection.

Collin found his seat and Lawrence gave him a beer, he preferred beer as it didn't make him drunk as quickly.

The whole lineup had met again after so long. Each of them was busy with their own lives and projects. It was very rare for everyone to attend a party together. Fortunately, they had a free schedule today, and since Lawrence had invited them, it would have been awkward not to attend. Moments like this strengthened their bond.

Anyway, they talked about many topics.

Jennifer and the others were curious about Lawrence's wife, only to be shocked by the news that the couple had already divorced.

"That fast!?"

"Well, it is what it is." Lawrence didn't elaborate and just laughed. He was not comfortable telling anyone about his relationship with Emma, his emotions were quite complicated to define. Even he struggled to fully understand what he truly felt about everything that had happened.

Then, the topic turned to Collin.

"Why do I feel like something is different about you?" Isabella frowned while staring at Collin.

"That's also what I'm thinking," Lawrence agreed. For some reason, Collin had changed, but they couldn't explain it.

"It's his smile," Wyatt chuckled. Being a movie director, he was sensitive to people's facial expressions.

"Now that you mention it, Collin's smile is indeed quite carefree," Isabella agreed.

"Has something good happened to you lately?" Axel asked, but Collin just chuckled and sipped his drink.

Collin had completely moved on from his past relationship. On top of that, Collin and Lila had been seeing each other. It wasn't official yet and they hadn't reached third base, but they had been dating for a while. They wanted to take it slow and were enjoying the process of getting to know each other.

Suddenly, someone entered the room with food. It was a woman wearing a microkini, to the point that almost everything on her body was visible.

Everyone was stunned. Even Princess Chantal and Isabella blushed slightly because the woman was so daring. The unexpected entrance shifted the mood momentarily, making them uncomfortable.

 

[Pujimaki]

Behind The Spotlight Chapter 249


As for Wyatt, he turned to face his girlfriend, Elise, and avoided looking at the woman in the microkini... He didn't want any problems. He even subtly shifted his body to block his girlfriend's view, making sure she wouldn't misunderstand the situation or feel uncomfortable in any way.

Axel was surprised, while Lawrence had a dark expression, gritting his teeth. The veins on Lawrence's temple bulged.

"Hey, guys, what are you doing here? Let's have some fun! You, you're quite attractive, why don't we skinny dip in the pool?" The woman pointed at Collin, specifically. Her tone was playful yet provocative.

"Sharon! Get the fuck out of my room! Now!"

Lawrence was livid as he roared, he almost wanted to kick the woman out himself. She had just disturbed their get-together with her obvious intentions. She had no shame at all.

"Come on, Lawrence, I just want to know your friends better." The woman smiled and feigned innocence, but Lawrence didn't budge, glaring at her.

"I know what you're doing. You're looking for a husband who will take care of your eight children from different fathers! You fucking bitch! Get out of my room, or else I'll call Uncle and let him beat you up." His words were harsh, but they carried the weight of his frustration.

Apparently, Sharon was Lawrence's cousin, which made the scene even more awkward.

"Tch, okay, fine." The woman clicked her tongue and rolled her eyes, but she blew a kiss toward Collin before leaving, swaying her hips as she walked away. She had immediately taken a liking to Collin because he was handsome and looked rich, exactly the kind of man she wanted.

"I'm sorry about that. That woman is my cousin, and she's the worst." Lawrence sighed. He ran his hand through his hair, trying to calm himself down.

'... I recall a few years ago when Lawrence was drunk, he talked about a cousin who had a lot of children from different men. I guess Sharon was the cousin Lawrence was talking about.' Collin connected the dots quietly.

"It's nothing big, everyone has bad cousins in the family." Jennifer shrugged, clearly unfazed. She also had a few cousins whom she preferred not to interact with.

"Today is my birthday, just enjoy the party. Don't mind Sharon," Lawrence said, forcing a smile. He wanted everyone to have a good time.

"Speaking of parties, I was invited to a special party where we could eat long pork. I don't know what that means, but it sounds exotic. They said all of us were invited," Princess Chantal casually said, trying to lighten the atmosphere. She was wrong.

Her innocent attempt at changing the topic unexpectedly led to an awkward silence.

"..."

Suddenly, everyone in the room went quiet. Isabella and Elise didn't understand what was going on, but it seemed that Princess Chantal had said something shocking.

"Did I say something wrong?" Princess Chantal started to get nervous. She glanced around the room.

"Chantal, do you know what 'long pork' means?" Jennifer carefully asked.

"It's exotic meat, right?" Princess Chantal said.

"No, it's human flesh."

"What!?"

Princess Chantal, Isabella, and Elise were all shocked. Their expressions changed drastically.

"T-That should be illegal! How can they do that!?" Princess Chantal had a look of pure disgust on her face. She instinctively covered her mouth, unable to accept what she had just heard.

"Cannibalism is technically legal in the US, although every realistic way to obtain human flesh is illegal," Wyatt spoke up... He had read that information in several articles.

How do you get human flesh, anyway? You either have to commit murder, manslaughter, abuse a corpse, or rob a grave. All of these were crimes that made human flesh nearly impossible to acquire. Was there even a way to do it legally?

"That's... That's fucked up!" someone muttered.

"First, let me ask you a question. You haven't attended their party, right?" Collin asked.

"No, they said they wanted to invite you guys so they could prepare for the party! I didn't know what they were thinking!" Princess Chantal was appalled, and her voice trembled. She couldn't believe someone would invite her to a party to enjoy human flesh... Is Hollywood truly this depraved?

Was there really a secret society where all forms of crime were allowed? Probably. Normal people just didn't know about it. The thought sent chills down her spine.

"I feel like someone is setting a trap for us," Collin muttered, and his green-brown eyes darkened. He didn't know their intentions, but they likely wanted their downfall. His instincts as an agent warned him that this was not a coincidence, but a calculated move.

"Who's the person who invited you to the party?" Collin asked Princess Chantal.

"He's a concert promoter. His name is Juan Conyo. He just casually mentioned it to me. But he didn't give a date or a place." Her tone was uneasy as she recalled the interaction.

"I see... Does Vivian know about him?"

"Yes, but they are not really close, just acquaintances. I didn't expect him to be that kind of person." Princess Chantal was disgusted.

After that, the clients continued their conversation, although they were less enthusiastic and the mood had soured. They realized that someone wanted to destroy them, and it wasn't random.

That night, Collin immediately began his research and even contacted a private detective. After years of networking, Collin had finally found a private detective with a Golden Talent.

Holmes Moriarty

-- Strong Surveillance (Gold)

-- Undercover Spy (Yellow)

-- Infiltrator (Yellow)

Collin paid the detective to gather information on the concert promoter Juan Conyo, no questions asked.

A week later, the detective sent the information to Collin, efficient and precise. The report was detailed, showing the detective's competence and dedication.

"Just as I expected, Juan is related to Velvet Harmony, Papa Daddy, and R-Helly..." Collin narrowed his eyes. The connections confirmed his suspicions.

The concert promoter had worked with Papa Daddy on his concert tour, and they were close, too close to be a coincidence.

'... Do they really eat long pork, or is it just a lie?' Collin asked himself.

When a person becomes too rich, they often want to try something different and might resort to crimes just for the sake of enjoyment, boundaries lost meaning for the untouchables.

Collin requested another job from the private detective, paying him triple to ensure he would work hard and take it seriously. He was willing to spend more to ensure a thorough investigation.

"I want you to look for every crime that Jeff Stain and Papa Daddy committed."

These two people had a vendetta against them, and Collin wanted to find dirt on them. Information was the strongest weapon he could use.

"No problem."

Holmes Moriarty was a relatively new private detective and didn't yet realize he was actually one of the best. So when Collin paid him $80,000, he was elated... He would later realize that surveilling Jeff Stain and Papa Daddy was not easy. Especially Jeff Stain, as his parties happened on a private island where no outsiders were allowed.

"All expenses will be reimbursed, just show me the receipts."

"Now that's even better." Holmes smiled, excited for the job.

[Thank you for reading this novel.]