The meeting room at JD Records was silent — so silent that the faint hum of the air conditioner sounded like thunder. Everyone sat around the long oval table: Valery, Alice, Urich , Luna, Rex, and the other department heads. Their eyes were fixed on Dayo, who sat at the head of the table, hands clasped, face unreadable.

He looked tired but calm — the kind of calm that came before a storm.

"I'm sure Alice and Valery have already brought you all up to speed," Dayo began, his voice steady but firm. "You know what's happening. You know who's behind it — Michael."

The room tensed immediately at that name. Even the newer staff members understood what it meant. Michael wasn't just another rival. He was a shadow in the music industry — an underboss whose influence stretched far beyond the charts.

Some avoided eye contact; others clenched their fists under the table.

"I'm not going to sugarcoat anything," Dayo continued. "Going up against Michael isn't easy. You all know the kind of person he is. He doesn't play fair — and he doesn't lose."

A heavy silence followed. Then Dayo leaned forward, his tone softening slightly.

"I'll be honest with you. I won't force anyone to stay. If you feel like this is too much — the pressure, the risk, the uncertainty — you can walk out right now. I won't hold it against you. I won't blame you. You have families, lives, dreams — I understand."

For a long moment, nobody moved. The room was frozen. Then, finally, one man at the far end stood up slowly, his head bowed.

"I'm sorry, sir," he said quietly. "This label changed my life. Working here has been the best experience I've had. But… Michael's reach is too wide. I can't afford to risk my family. I'm sorry."

Dayo nodded once. "No hard feelings. Thank you for being honest — and thank you for what you've contributed."

The man bowed slightly and left the room and two other followed. The door closed softly behind the last person, and the silence that followed was heavier than before.

Dayo looked around the room, meeting each pair of eyes one by one. "For those of you still here… thank you. I mean that. From now on, everything we do — we do together."

He paused, then exhaled deeply. "Now, let's get to why I called this meeting."

He picked up a remote and turned on the screen behind him. Numbers, charts, and market graphs appeared — global sales reports, streaming analytics, digital trends.

"You all know the album we released not more than three weeks ago," Dayo said. "The official reports say it sold eleven million copies on the first week or release."

A few heads nodded. Luna crossed her arms, curious.

"But what if I told you," Dayo said slowly, "that the album actually sold fifteen million?"

The room stirred. Murmurs spread instantly. Urich blinked hard. "Wait — what? Fifteen million?"

Valery frowned. "That's impossible. The reports—"

"—were tampered with," Dayo finished calmly.

Everyone froze.

He turned back to the screen and tapped a button. A new set of data appeared — one that looked sharper, cleaner, untouched by manipulation.

He turned back to the screen and tapped a button. A new set of data appeared — one that looked sharper, cleaner, untouched by manipulation.

"This is the real figure," he said. "The official reports were altered — the album didn't sell eleven million. It sold fifteen."

Murmurs rose around the table. Someone demanded, "How do you know? Where did you get this?"

Dayo's smile was small and closed. "I have my ways," he said. "I can't disclose my sources — not yet."

Alice leaned forward. "But how do you know Michael's behind it?"

Dayo smiled faintly, but there was no humor in it. "Because I followed the trail. Whoever tampered with the data didn't cover their tracks well enough. The system traced internal interference — directly from people inside Michael's label. And the transfer logs connect right back to him."

The room went silent again, every face filled with disbelief and a growing mix of anger and fear.

"You're saying you can prove it?" Luna asked slowly.

"I can," Dayo replied. "I have the evidence. Hard proof. The moment I release this, the entire industry will know who's been rigging numbers and silencing artists. And Michael knows what that means."

He stood up, placing both hands on the table. "Michael doesn't want to be known. He thrives in the shadows. If his name ever reaches the headlines — if the media even whispers about him — his entire operation collapses."

The team exchanged glances. They all knew it was true. Michael's power depended on secrecy. Exposure was his greatest weakness.

"So what's your plan?" Valery asked quietly.

Dayo's gaze softened. "Simple. I'm going to cut him a deal."

They all looked confused.

He continued, "I can't stop him. Not completely. His influence is too deep. But I can make him look elsewhere. If I offer him a deal — me for the label — I might be able to protect all of you."

Alice shook her head in disbelief. "You mean… you're leaving?"

"For a while," Dayo said. "I might have to step out of the spotlight. Out of the music scene. But that's fine. It's better me than the entire label."

The room fell quiet again, but this time the silence felt heavy — emotional.

Rex clenched his jaw and said in his hot blooddheaded manner. "You've done too much for this label to walk away like that."

Dayo smiled faintly. "And that's exactly why I have to. Because if I stay, Michael will burn everything to the ground just to get to me."

Valery looked down, fighting back tears. "You can't face him alone, Dayo. That's suicide."

"I'm not trying to fight him," Dayo replied softly. "I'm trying to buy time. Once the storm passes, we'll rebuild stronger. But for that to happen, JD Records has to survive."

Urich who has been silent for a while "Dayo I know this is hard for you we would always be here if need be."

Dayo smiled. "I know."

Dayo glanced around the table — at every face that had followed him through chaos, growth, and triumph.

"This isn't goodbye," he said finally. "It's just a shift in the game. You all keep things running — I'll handle Michael."

The team sat quietly, some nodding, others too stunned to speak.

After a long pause, Alice whispered, "Then we'll make sure JD stays alive. For you."

Dayo gave a faint smile. "Good. That's all I need."

He picked up the remote again, shutting down the screen. The bright light faded, leaving the room in soft, muted tones.

"Prepare everything," he said as he stood. "If anything happens — stay united. No leaks, no fear, no backing down."

Everyone stood with him, a quiet determination replacing their initial fear.

As he turned to leave, Urich called out, "Dayo… what happens if Michael doesn't take the deal?"

Dayo paused by the door. "Then," he said quietly, "I make sure he wishes he had."

And with that, he walked out, the weight of the industry on his shoulders — but a plan burning quietly in his mind.

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