It had been a few days since Dayo finished recording his album, and the buzz online was starting to grow fast.

Clips, snippets, and short teasers began appearing everywhere — short videos of him in the studio, small parts of songs, even behind-the-scenes clips of him with his new signings, Rex and Elara.

He didn't show any clips with Luna — he wanted to keep that as a surprise.

Small parts of the songs were shown with a simple caption:

> Album done and dusted.

People were losing their minds.

Because it was unexpected, most thought it would take a long time before he dropped anything. There had been no warning, no promotion — nothing.

> "Wait, is Dayo dropping an album?"

"This man just won't rest!"

"Did y'all hear that Miguel feature? No way those two actually worked together!"

The internet exploded with questions and excitement.

Dayo's name was trending again, and his followers kept refreshing his page, waiting for the official announcement.

The teaser that got the most attention was the one with Miguel — a short ten-second clip showing both of them in the studio, singing Memories. The comments went wild, with fans digging up the old video from the Global Competition, when both had faced each other on stage.

People wrote things like:

> "From rivals to partners. This is what growth looks like."

"Their chemistry is insane. This album is gonna break charts."

Dayo smiled whenever he saw those reactions. He had worked hard for this moment, but even with all the excitement, something was still on his mind.

And of course, there were those who had otherwise to say:

> "I don't think it'll hit. How long has he even been recording the album?"

"This feels more like a stunt than an actual campaign."

"This album's gonna flop. You can't rush something good."

"I like JD, but it feels rushed. Might not hit."

Still, some fans quickly jumped in to defend him:

> "You all said the same thing before the Global Competition and he shut everyone up."

"This guy records faster than anyone because he's always prepared."

"Dayo's work ethic is on another level. Let the music speak first."

"Rushed? He's been quiet for months. You just don't know how focused he is."

The back-and-forth continued online — debates, fan edits, even countdown threads.

But Dayo didn't waste time reading too much.

He shook his head and moved his focus elsewhere.

***

He had already received a reply from Urich, but he hadn't responded yet. The message wasn't long, but it said enough — Urich had accepted.

Dayo wasn't surprised. He kind of knew Urich would say yes. It was a calculated move, and he understood the kind of man Urich was.

The fact that Dayo hadn't even asked for the NDA payment or pushed for any legal settlement showed Urich that he could be trusted. That was why Dayo was sure he'd come over.

What he didn't expect, though, was the reply from Alice.

Unlike Urich's serious tone, Alice's reply was short — just two words:

> Try harder.

Dayo had stared at his phone for a while, half amused, half surprised. So she really wanted to play games, huh?

He smiled to himself. He didn't expect that Alice, who he thought was always serious, had this playful side.

He smirked. Game on, then. Let's see face to face.

---

The next afternoon, Dayo arrived at a quiet café in the city. Alice was already there, sitting near the window. Even from a distance, she looked graceful — confident posture, a calm smile, the kind of person who carried an air of quiet strength.

She looked up when he approached. "So, the famous Dayo finally decided to meet me," she said with a small grin.

Dayo chuckled. "I couldn't just thank you over text. I wanted to say it to your face."

She raised a brow playfully. "Thank me? For what exactly?"

"For what you did back then," he said softly, taking a seat across from her. "Sending me that performance video — even when you knew it could cost you your job. That meant a lot."

Alice blinked, pretending to think. "Performance video? What video are you talking about?"

Dayo laughed quietly. "Come on, Alice. Don't play dumb."

She gave an innocent look. "I seriously don't know what you mean."

He leaned forward a little. "The one you sent me during the Global Competition — the unedited footage. Don't tell me you forgot."

She tried to hide her smile. "Oh, that video?"

"Yeah, that video," Dayo said, shaking his head, still smiling. "Anyway, whoever sent it, thank you very much."

Alice burst into a light laugh. "Wow, I thought you'd try harder than that."

He grinned. "Oh, I'm just warming up."

Their teasing faded into soft laughter before the tone shifted.

Alice's smile softened. "Honestly, I just felt like you had something special. The kind of talent that deserves to be seen. You reminded me why I loved my job in the first place."

Dayo smiled again, grateful. "Then I'm really glad you did."

She leaned back, giving him a sly look. "So, this is where you start convincing me to join your label, right?"

He laughed quietly. "You caught me."

Alice smirked. "I knew it. You're good, Dayo, but you should know something about me — I'm not that easy to get."

Dayo smiled, meeting her gaze. "I already know that. And honestly, your reputation says enough. You're one of the best media strategists out there. But… nobody's hiring you now."

Her smile faded slightly. "Oh? So you think nobody wants me?"

He shook his head. "Not like that. You know how this industry works. Michael still has influence. Most people are scared to take the risk."

She stayed quiet for a second, then gave a small laugh. "And you're not scared?"

"Of Michael?" Dayo said calmly. "No. We're already not on good terms, so I've got nothing to lose."

Alice looked at him for a moment — the seriousness in his tone surprised her. Then she smiled faintly. "You really are something."

He leaned forward slightly. "If you join JD Records, I'll give you five percent of the company's shares. It might sound small now, but I promise you — in time, that five percent will be worth more than most labels out there."

Alice raised an eyebrow. "Five percent, huh? That's a bold offer."

"It's a fair one," Dayo replied. "You know what I can build. And you know I'll make it happen."

She chuckled. "You sound too confident for your age."

He grinned. "Confidence and faith are free. I use both every day."

Alice laughed quietly. "Alright, I'll admit — you have a way with words."

Then, after a pause, she said, "You know what? Fine. I'll take the deal. But don't think I'll go easy on you."

"I wouldn't want it any other way," Dayo said with a smile.

They shook hands lightly, and Alice added with a smirk, "You better not regret this, kid."

"Trust me," Dayo replied, "I don't plan to."

***

Later that evening, Dayo brought Alice to the JD studio. Urich was already there, sitting with Wayne and Valery. The atmosphere was lively — everyone had been talking about the teasers and the upcoming album.

When Dayo and Alice entered, Wayne was the first to notice. "Hey, boss! You're back! Oh, and… wait— is that Alice from the Global Competition?"

Alice smiled politely. "The one and only."

Urich stood up, looking surprised but pleased. "You've really got her, huh? I thought she'd never join a small label."

Alice smirked. "Small or not, I'm here now. Let's see if this place can keep up."

Everyone laughed, and Dayo motioned for them to sit.

"Alright," he said, resting his hands on the table, "this is the new start. With both of you here — Urich and Alice — JD Records is no longer small. We're growing, and this album is just the beginning. I need your help — all hands on deck."

"I need your support, so now let's talk about how we'd go about the distribution and the hype."

This small gathering would later become one of the most important turning points for JD Records.

And more to the industry as a whole.

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