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.]