Clara knocked lightly on the door before pushing it open. Michael was standing by the window, his back to her, looking out over the city.

"Sir," she said softly, "Dayo is here."

Michael didn't turn around. "Let him in."

Clara stepped aside, and Dayo walked in slowly, his face calm but unreadable. Their eyes met briefly — two men who understood that what would be said here could change everything.

When Clara left and the door clicked shut behind her, silence filled the office.

Dayo stood for a moment, then spoke first. "You wanted to see me?"

Michael finally turned around, his face tight but controlled. "I think it's the other way around, isn't it? You're the one who barged into my office with your accusations."

Dayo took a slow breath. "I didn't barge in. I came to talk."

Michael's eyes narrowed. "Talk? You think coming here with threats counts as talking?"

Dayo's tone remained even. "I'm not threatening you, Michael. I'm showing you evidence. Evidence that links you and your label to tampering with my album — and not just minor changes. You rewrote the entire formula behind the numbers: a whole four million sales manipulated and never came to light."

Michael tilted his head slightly, pretending not to understand. "You should be careful with your words. These accusations are baseless."

Dayo smiled faintly. "Baseless, you say? If documents in your hands prove otherwise, we can go further, you know."

For a brief moment, neither of them said anything. The air felt heavy, thick with unspoken tension.

Michael finally moved closer, his hands behind his back. "You've got a lot of confidence walking in here like this. Do you know who you're talking to?"

"I know exactly who I'm talking to," Dayo said calmly. "That's why I came here myself. I'm not hiding behind lawyers or statements. I just want one thing — stay away from my label."

Michael's jaw twitched. "You think it's that easy? You think you can walk into my office and tell me what to do?"

Dayo met his gaze without blinking. "I'm not telling you what to do. I'm giving you an option. Leave JD Records alone. Focus on your empire, your deals, your secrets. But don't touch what's mine."

Michael gave a quiet laugh — more irritation than amusement. "You're bold, I'll give you that. But you're also naive. You have no idea how deep this game goes. People like me don't lose, Dayo. We decide who wins."

"Maybe," Dayo said evenly. "But you made one mistake. You left traces where you shouldn't have. I've got proof of what you did. And you know better than anyone what happens if that becomes public."

Michael's face darkened. "Are you trying to blackmail me?"

"No," Dayo replied quietly. "I'm trying to make peace. I'm offering you a way out. You leave my people alone, and I don't pull that trigger. I know you will take action against me, but I repeat: leave my label and people alone."

Michael turned away, pacing slowly behind his desk. "You're trying to make it easy for me not to take action. You think this conversation changes anything?"

"It changes everything," Dayo said. "Because now you know that I know. And you also know that if you push me, I'll burn it all down — including you. I know you might survive, but your cover would be blown, and I'm sure you don't want that."

Michael stopped walking. He turned around, expression cold but curious. "You've given me more stress than anyone in this industry combined. Do you even understand what kind of fire you're playing with?"

Dayo's voice was calm, steady. "That's your problem, not mine."

The two men stared at each other for a long moment. The silence between them said more than their words ever could.

Finally, Michael said quietly, "This deal you're talking about — it won't work. You can't negotiate with people like me."

Dayo shrugged lightly. "Then I guess we're done talking."

He turned toward the door.

"Stop," Michael said sharply.

Dayo paused, half-turning his head.

Michael's expression softened, almost tired. "You should have accepted what I offered at the beginning, Dayo. You would have had everything going for you. Fame. Support. Fans at the highest level. But you chose to go against me."

Dayo gave a faint smile. "I don't like being controlled, and that's what your label does. Moreover, you've cost me a lot, Michael. But believe me when I say this — I'll be back. One way or another."

Michael leaned against his desk, arms folded. "In this industry, there's nothing left for you. You won't come back. Not here."

Dayo's eyes didn't waver. "We'll see."

He turned, opened the door, and walked out. The hallway outside was quiet, almost peaceful compared to the tension inside that room.

Michael watched him go, his expression unreadable. He didn't say another word.

As the elevator doors closed, Dayo let out a slow breath. His hands were steady, but his heart wasn't. He knew he had settled that Michael wouldn't touch his label — but not him — and he felt at peace that nobody around him would be affected.

---

"CLARA — GET IN HERE." Michael shouted.

He didn't want to lose composure in front of Dayo; that was why he acted calm, but he was far from calm.

The evidence Dayo brought was more than enough to put his label in harm's way, and he knew that all of this didn't belong to him alone — he had people to answer to. The moment they sensed weakness, being taken advantage of them, or stood in their way to get something theu want, they would cut that person off totally, and that included him.

From his conversation with Dayo, it seemed that Dayo knew he had people above him, which was why he proposed such a deal. He knew that if the news reached his high-ups they would definitely ruin him. Dayo knew this was his weakness.

"How the fu*k did he know this?" Michael's brain was spinning when he heard Clara's voice.

"Yes, sir." She sounded calm so as not to annoy Michael more than he already was.

"Who handled Dayo's tampering?"

"Eh… that would be Pete, sir."

"Tell him not to return to the office again," Michael said in a cold, deadly voice.

Clara flinched a bit but nodded and walked out.

Michael leaned back in his chair and muttered, "Fine. Dayo — I'll leave your people out of this for now. As for you, I will crush you till you turn to dust and no longer exist in the eyes of the public."

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