A few days after the meeting, things at JD Records moved fast.

Dayo watched as Alice and Urich settled into their roles, and every day, he learned something new from them.

Alice taught him how to time posts and pick the right headlines that pulled attention without sounding forced.

Urich showed him how to deal with people — how to say no without making enemies, and in the process, Dayo found out how Urich is connected in the industry even after the Michaele incident.

It didn't take long for Dayo to see that hiring both of them had been one of his best decisions yet.

The label's online reach was growing fast. Their buzz wasn't just from luck — it was from careful planning and smart execution.

Dayo would sit sometimes in the corner of the studio, quietly watching everyone move, and he'd think to himself, yeah… this is the kind of energy I wanted from the start.

"I really hit the Jackpot this time," he muttered to himself.

---

Across town, Michael sat in his office, staring at numbers on a dark screen.

The room was quiet except for the ticking of a clock and the faint hum of the AC.

Clara, his assistant, walked in holding a tablet.

"Sir," she said softly, "you need to see this."

Michael looked up as she handed him the tablet. Clips, teasers, and fan edits filled the screen — all about Dayo's new album. The short ten-second video of him and Miguel was trending everywhere.

Michael let out a scoff, more amused than worried. "Don't worry about it. It's just a stunt."

Clara frowned. "I don't think so, sir. He's been off-stage for only three weeks. How could he record an entire album and get this much traction already?"

Michael leaned back in his chair, his voice calm and steady. "People love hype. It doesn't mean anything. He's making noise to stay relevant."

"But, sir—"

He cut her off quietly. "No. Let it run. Don't interfere. If it's real, we'll know soon enough. And if he really made an album in three weeks…" He paused, staring at the tablet. "Then it's probably a mess, and it would be i made a mistake investing so much time trying to sign him. Keep following the news. Give me updates daily."

Clara nodded, though she still looked uneasy. "Yes, sir.

When she left, Michael stared at the window for a long moment. The city lights flickered faintly against the glass. He didn't like surprises — especially from someone who had already slipped out of his control. But he'd wait. That was his strength. Waiting and striking when it mattered that was his game. He knew how to strike, and when it's just about the timing.

***

At JD Label, the atmosphere was completely different. The small studio buzzed with energy and quiet excitement.

Everyone was seated — Wayne, Valery, Alice, Urich, Dayo, and other heads of department — gathered around a long wooden table cluttered with laptops, empty coffee cups, and notebooks filled with messy scribbles.

Valery tapped her screen and smiled. "The Miguel clip just passed two million views in three hours. People are losing it. Edits, remixes, reaction videos — it's everywhere."

"Good," Dayo said simply, scrolling through his phone. He looked calm, but the tiny curve at the corner of his lips showed how proud he really felt.

Alice leaned forward. "So, about the album release — how are we going about it?"

The moment she said that, the whole room went silent. Everyone except Alice and Urich slowly turned their eyes toward Dayo.

Alice blinked. "Uh… what's with the staring? Did I say something wrong?"

Wayne chuckled under his breath. "No, you're fine. We're just waiting for him."

"Waiting for who?" Urich asked, looking confused.

Valery grinned. "Dayo. He's the one who decides the release dates here."

Alice raised an eyebrow. "Wait — he does? Like, every time?"

Wayne nodded. "Every single time. And he's never been wrong."

Urich leaned back in disbelief. "You're serious?"

"Dead serious," Valery said. "We don't know how he does it. He just picks a date, and somehow, the timing always works. Streams, engagement, the whole rollout — it all lines up perfectly."

Alice frowned. "You mean he just knows?"

Wayne shrugged. "Yeah. He says it's instinct. We stopped questioning it a long time ago."

Both Alice and Urich exchanged a look. They knew what it took to predict that kind of success — weeks of data analysis, surveys, marketing plans, and trend tracking. The idea that Dayo could do it almost naturally was unbelievable.

Dayo noticed their faces and laughed softly. "Let's just say I have a good sense of timing."

Alice tilted her head. "Come on. Nobody's that lucky."

He smirked. "Then call it a skill."

---

[System Interface: Active]

Skill: Trend Insight

Analyzing market patterns…

→ Genre: R&B / Soul / Pop Fusion

→ Trend Growth: +78%

→ Optimal Exposure Window: Friday, next week (00:00 UTC)

→ Predicted Global Impact: High – 82%

[Analysis Complete]

---

Dayo looked up. "Next week," he said. "We drop the album next week."

The room fell quiet again. Alice blinked. "That soon?"

"Yeah," he said calmly. "Next week, Friday. Midnight, UTC. That's the perfect window."

Urich nodded slowly, impressed. "You really don't waste time, huh?"

Dayo smiled faintly. "Time's not waiting for us either."

Alice crossed her arms, shaking her head with a smile. "You're full of surprises, you know that?"

Dayo grinned. "You have no idea."

Everyone laughed lightly, and the tension broke.

Alice began typing notes for the press release. Urich started calling his distribution contacts. Wayne and Valery talked about mastering deadlines. The whole place felt alive, driven by the same goal.

Outside, the internet buzzed louder every hour — speculations, rumors, fan theories, all guessing what Dayo's album would sound like. Inside the small JD studio, they were working in sync, ready to meet that moment head-on.

Dayo stood and looked around the room. For the first time, it didn't feel like a small label anymore. It felt like a team that believed in something big.

He took a quiet breath and said, "Alright then. Let's make this count. 'The Other Side' drops next week."

Everyone nodded, their eyes sharp and ready.

For the release.

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