Chapter 4

"You mean you want to leave me and join a bigger label? Hah! Where was that label when you were nothing? Where was it when you were jumping from one talent show to another?" A tall, beautiful, mature woman shouted angrily at a girl dressed in purple.

The girl in purple looked younger and was also beautiful, but her beauty paled in comparison to that of the mature woman.

She bowed her head in shame.

"I'm sorry, Anna, but as you can see, my career has grown immensely. You can no longer handle it. Be honest with yourself. I need a better label for better marketing and better deals," she explained.

"I can't handle you?" The mature woman slammed her hand against her chest. "Do you even know how much I've sacrificed, and how much more I'm still willing to sacrifice for you? Do you know how long I've been in this industry? Eight years. Eight good years.

"The connections and experience I've gathered during those years are more than enough to take you even further."

"Let's stop lying to ourselves, Anna," the younger beauty said. "No agent could take you that far. You've already outdone most of them by taking me this far, and I truly appreciate it. But growing my talent is far more important than the gratitude I feel toward you."

"Is that really what you want?" the mature woman asked, a smirk tugging at her lips.

"Yes, Anna. I'm sorry." The girl with purple hair looked as though she were making an incredibly difficult decision.

"No need to be sorry. This has been the pattern every time. You're not the first, and you won't be the last. As a private agent, all I do is scout talent, nurture it, and wait for top industry players, who didn't even know these talents existed, to offer them contracts. You can leave my house now, Percy." Her tone was icy, cold, and commanding.

The girl in purple knew there was no point in staying. Her presence would only make Anna angrier. She decided it would be better to return later, once Anna had calmed down.

"Alright, I'll go now. I'll come back later when you've calmed down," she said softly.

"No need to come back, Percy. I understand you, and I forgive you. It's not your fault. The deal they offered was simply too good for you to resist. But I should warn you in good faith. The moment you join them, you completely lose your freedom."

****

After a few minutes of walking, Alex arrived at Newar Square. It was not a particularly popular square, but it still held a decent crowd. Night had already fallen, yet a surprising number of people lingered.

Alex sat beside an old waterfall at the center of the square and took out his guitar. People noticed him, whispered among themselves, and some even laughed quietly.

Alex ignored the commotion and began strumming his guitar, searching for the right tune. His eyes closed as he immersed himself in the emotions of the song he was about to sing. Soon, his voice rose, steady and confident.

🎶🎶🎶

Verse 1

When the world fell apart

Darkness found its stride

But you remember what I promised

One day, I'll lean on you to hide

From moments that slip away

I hate to say goodnight

Yet I'll see you with the sunrise

Still know your heart, still know your eyes

🎶🎶🎶

His voice carried slowly but confidently through the square. Some passersby stopped and listened. His voice was not exceptional, but the lyrics were flawless.

🎶🎶🎶

Pre-Chorus

I could tell you of restless nights

How no one cheers for the birds that don't take flight

So let the heroes fade and hide

My wonder's weary, just a little tired

🎶🎶🎶

🎶🎶🎶

Chorus

If only you could see yourself the way I do

You'd see your glow, your glow

I know you'd never leave me behind

But right now, I'm lost, I know

Are we meant to burn, or will we make it through the night?

I'll hold you close until it feels right

If only you could see yourself the way I do

You'd see your glow, your glow

🎶🎶🎶

Alex became so absorbed in the performance that he poured his heart into the second verse. The crowd felt it. Even though his voice was not perfect, the emotion behind it was undeniable, and people genuinely connected with the lyrics.

He strummed the final note. A brief silence followed before it shattered, and the small audience burst into applause. Some even tossed money toward him. Alex felt embarrassed. He was not a beggar. Still, he bent down and picked up the few dollar bills.

Among the crowd stood a tall, beautiful, mature woman. She held her phone and frowned slightly. "Strange," she murmured. "I recorded the lyrics and searched online. They don't seem to belong to any known artist. It's highly likely he wrote them himself."

"Very talented composer," Anna thought, "but his voice isn't strong enough to become a musician. He'd be better off composing and selling his songs."

She had stepped out for some fresh air from one of her favorite restaurants in Newar Square when she happened upon Alex singing. Curiosity had kept her there.

Alex was packing up his guitar when a sharp scent of lavender reached him. It was lovely and refreshing. He looked up and saw the mature beauty standing before him.

"Excuse me, are you the one who composed these lyrics?" Her voice was soft, pleasant, and soothing. Alex froze, momentarily stunned.

He was struck by the beauty before him. She wore a blue blouse and black trousers, her eyes hazel and captivating, and she carried a seductive aura. At the same time, the confidence etched into her expression made it clear she was no ordinary person.