That moment in the hallway marked the start of Melissa and Rhianon’s friendship. From then on, they were practically glued together. Once Rhianon decided Melissa was hers to protect, no one in the school dared so much as glare in Melissa’s direction. Her reputation alone was enough to silence even the bravest troublemakers.Despite her constant rule-breaking, Rhianon couldn’t be expelled outright; her parents were among the school’s biggest donors, and removing their daughter would have been a political nightmare. She didn’t come from a struggling home, not even close. Her family was wealthy enough to influence decisions, pay for overseas programs, and shape the school’s development.Ironically, that privilege was also the source of her parents’ frustration. Rhianon was their rebellious child, the one who loved rock music her conservative parents considered demonic, the one who constantly slipped out of the mold they tried so desperately to force her into. That was why they sent her t

By the time Harry made his way back, Monalisa was already gone. No note, no message, just gone. Maybe that was for the best. He didn’t have the energy to deal with her moods or whatever thoughts were running through her head these days. Still, the empty room made the atmosphere feel oddly hollow.Not that he planned on staying long. He had other matters to handle, namely Rhianon and the new direction she needed. He’d asked her for something earlier, and she’d delivered: a small audio file she kept saved on her phone. A personal demo, something she recorded for herself without expecting anyone important to ever hear it. It was smart of her to have it ready, especially in this city where you never knew who you might bump into.Harry hadn’t played it yet. He wanted Susan to listen too. If Rhianon had talent, he needed a second, unbiased ear to solidify the assessment. Someone who could explain why a song worked, or why it didn’t. Harry had an ear for business, not music. For this, he nee

Harry felt cornered the moment he realized Alicia was in the building. Of all times for her to show up, it had to be now, while he was sitting in Susan’s office. He wasn’t sure whether to confront her, hide somewhere, or pretend nothing unusual was happening. But disappearing would only draw more suspicion, so he subtly shook his head at Susan, signaling that Alicia couldn’t come in.“I’m in the middle of a meeting. Please let her know I’ll attend to her shortly,” Susan instructed calmly.“My apologies, Mister Farrow,” she added, turning back to him. “I had no idea she’d be dropping by today.”Harry forced a smile, trying not to look as tense as he felt. Susan didn’t think much of his discomfort, she assumed he was simply busy.“I should probably get going,” Harry said, eager to avoid crossing paths with Alicia. But Susan wasn’t finished.“Before you leave, sir, there’s something important. The CEO of Redbloom has requested a meeting with you,” she announced.“Requested… to meet me?”

Harry was as ready as he could be. Even after staring at his reflection for ten whole minutes, he still couldn’t wrap his head around the transformation Brandon had pulled off. Whatever talent that man had buried under his “average dad” appearance, it clearly ran deep. If Harry had attempted this on his own, he would’ve shown up to the meeting looking like he got dressed in the dark. With Brandon’s intervention, he looked like someone people were supposed to pay attention to.Still, Harry couldn’t shake the nervous coil lodged in his stomach. He understood exactly what this look meant, how it would shape first impressions, and how the smallest detail could tip the scales before a single word was spoken. Just before Brandon headed home, he left Harry with one last piece of advice:“The people you’re about to meet aren’t setting this up to talk, they’re trying to size you up. Entertainment isn’t just music or movies. It’s appearance. Confidence. Presence. Don’t walk in there acting like

It was the day to take the tests and Harry was more than ready for it.He stepped through the double doors of the hall, shoulders loose, chin up, confidence radiating off him in quiet waves. The testing venue looked more like a courtroom than a place of learning. One long desk sat in the center with a lone laptop resting on it, waiting for him like a challenge.But what truly set the scene were the invigilators. Eight of them. Not sitting. Not relaxed. Standing in a semicircle, spaced out with military precision, eyes on him as if he were a criminal about to confess.Harry almost laughed.They want to catch me cheating so badly, he thought. Too bad for them… I’m the last person who needs to.He walked to the desk without being told, pulled the chair back, and sat down as casually as if he were about to browse the internet for fun.The screens lit up.Three tests.Three different subjects.All timed.The keyboard waited.Harry cracked his knuckles.The first test loaded.Harry barely r