Hmm, I'm afraid Vivian will have even more work… I'll need to raise her salary; otherwise, she might get offended. Eh, I really want Alison Blaire to head the recording studio. To be honest, there aren't particularly compelling reasons for this, except for one word—"want"! Just imagine, my company employs characters from the Marvel and DC universes.
That's so cool! And many of them will have an impressive set of supernatural abilities. Wow, I wouldn't envy the "smart guy" who decides to attack "Alritex Entertainment." In the future, I'll carefully select the most suitable candidates for leading positions. Heh-heh...
That said, I'm not giving up my super-assistant—Heather! Oh, she's simply golden. I won't let anyone take her away from me!
"You're tired of being alone, aren't you? Doing all the work yourself and constantly fearing someone might discover your true nature," I said softly.
"It's terrible," my interlocutor admitted, unable to contain her emotions. "At first, everything wasn't so bad. Actually, it was cool. I used my abilities to save on concert design. The music played, bright lights flashed—no extra spotlights, strobe lights, or huge bills for equipment rental." Blair giggled at the memory. "But then, I started getting tired—not physically but mentally. Fear of failure began haunting me everywhere. I think that's why I lost all inspiration and began doubting myself."
"You can doubt anyone but never yourself! You've had tough times, yes, but even then, you've had your happy moments."
"Yes, when I sang on stage and people applauded me, I was truly happy," the singer said, breaking into a radiant smile.
"So, what did you decide, my lady?" I teased. "Oh yes, we haven't discussed the salary yet. I'm afraid I can't offer much in the beginning since our studio is still quite small. How does $50,000 a month sound?"
"What? $600,000 a year?" Alison's eyes widened in disbelief. "And you call that a small salary? Some tech company directors earn less! Are you serious?"
"Of course! And as soon as our company grows, your salary will grow too."
The singer hesitated, torn between doubt and temptation. My words clearly sounded too good to ignore. Time to push a little more.
"Alison, listen. In the future, the government or some dark community could take an interest in you. Do you think you can handle all that alone?" My words seemed to unsettle her. "S.H.I.E.L.D., A.R.G.U.S., or even the Hellfire Club—have you heard of them?"
Alison shook her head.
"They're a dark organization of mutants seeking domination. Total jerks, to be honest. What I'm saying is… they're incredibly powerful and don't take 'no' for an answer. I don't want you to fall into trouble. That's why I'm offering my help." I extended my hand to her. "Believe me, I have no selfish goals. I'd be devastated if someone as gifted and beautiful as you suffered misfortune."
"But how could you possibly help me against such 'Goliaths'?" Blair asked, clearly at a loss.
"In the future, my company will grow into a gigantic colossus! We'll practically control the media, and we'll have friends and allies no one will want to mess with. We'll protect each other," I promised.
"I'm not joking. I'll secure high-ranking connections myself! Besides, I know things—information that could destroy or at least cripple these so-called 'impregnable Goliaths.' Let them think twice before causing trouble for me or my friends."
"I know you can't change your life overnight, but you can change your thoughts overnight. Those thoughts will transform your life forever," I added.
"Well, I suppose I have no choice, do I?" Alison said with a faint smile, the tension in her voice dissipating.
"So, you agree to become the director of 'Alritex Records'?" I asked, watching her place her palm on mine.
"Yes. I'll do it."
"You won't regret it!"
"In that case… when will you write a song for me?" she asked with excitement.
"Tomorrow," I replied confidently. "I already have a tune in mind that's perfect for you. But first, we need to solve a major problem," I said seriously. "We need to change your stage name. 'Disco Flash'… I can't even say it without cringing! How did you come up with that?"
"Shut up! It's a perfectly normal stage name. What's wrong with it? And anyway, I don't think it's a good idea to change it, especially since I already have fans who know me as 'Disco Flash.'"
"Don't worry. With my songs, you'll quickly win over new fans."
"How over-confident," Alison quipped sarcastically.
"It's not over-confidence. It's self-confidence," I countered. "Starting fresh will be good for you. You'll no longer have to fear or worry all the time. This new chapter will bring back your inspiration.
And of course, I'll compose musical masterpieces for you. No more struggling to find hits. I've already thought about it."
I couldn't possibly write all the songs for every artist signed to my label—it's too much work. But for Alison, I'd ensure her debut as "Dazzler" included amazing tracks. After all, she was a phenomenal songwriter herself. Her early works were masterpieces, and I knew she still had the talent to shine.
"Okay, I'll start fresh," she agreed. "What pseudonym do you suggest?"
"Dazzler."
"Dazzler… hmm. I like it."
Her real nickname was finally coming to life. It was perfect.
"You said you're performing in Gotham next week?" I asked.
"Yes. Tickets are sold out, and the crowd should be around 10,000," she said proudly.
"That's not a huge number…"
"Shut up! I know I'm not as popular as I used to be, but I still have fans who support me."
"In that case, let's surprise them. Let those who missed your concert regret it."
"What are you talking about?" she asked, intrigued.
"I want this to be 'Disco Flash's' final performance. At the end of your show, announce you're retiring the name and becoming a contract artist with 'Alritex Records' as 'Dazzler.' And, for the grand finale, perform a new song—your debut as Dazzler."
"And I assume you'll write the new song?" Blaire said, more a statement than a question. "Fair warning: if it's bad, I'm not singing it."
"Trust me. You won't be disappointed."
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