The next day, Byul-ho arrived at the company to find Ascend already hard at work in the practice room. As he approached, the sound of music and synchronized footsteps filled the air. He stood at the doorway for a moment, watching with pride as his...
2024-08-17 10:31:21 +0000 UTC View PostTime continued passing and the Lupo family kept growing. They had a few minor problems off and on, but nothing that warranted Lorenzo’s direct attention.
A fortnight after Lorenzo met with the CEOs of major studios, construction crews bro...
Three days passed in a blur of anticipation and last-minute preparations. On the morning of my flight, I stood in my hotel room, surveying my belongings one last time. The electric guitar, the innovative piano, the experimental camera prototypes -...
2024-08-17 02:30:23 +0000 UTC View PostLucas and Scott had been discussing his unpublished songs and potential album plans when Lucas decided to address the elephant in the room.
"My contract with Big Machine Records is almost about to end," Lucas said, his tone matter-of-fact. ...
A while later, after finally convincing my sister, I found myself walking out of the palace gates. As I stepped through, I could feel Apollonia's gaze on my back. I didn't need to turn around to know she was crying.
I shook my head and sigh...
Apollonia stopped in her tracks as she heard me trying to explain. Her eyes, filled with worry, locked onto mine as she caressed my cheek gently.
"I am really worried about you, sixth brother," she said, her voice soft but urgent. "You're a...
As I collected my things, my mind raced with possibilities for leaving the demon realm.
The most straightforward option was by airplane, but that was out of the question. I couldn't board a plane without using my demon prince ID, which woul...
I leaned in closer, my eyes narrowing as I scrutinized the floating panel before me. No, I wasn't hallucinating. It was really there, shimmering in the air like some sort of ethereal computer screen.
With a mixture of excitement and trepida...
#ThisIsDraft
(Original Novel. Maybe I'll make it a Patreon Exclusive.)
***
The streets were bustling with activity, a sea of humanoid figures with varying numbers of horns—some with one, some with multiple, and some with non...
Ga-eul took a deep breath, then clapped his hands twice. The noise cut through the office buzz, heads turning toward him.
“Can I have everyone’s attention?” Ga-eul’s voice shook a little but he kept going. “We’ve gotten multiple...
Byul-ho squinted at his laptop screen, its brightness stinging his eyes. In the darkness of his room, the soft glow made his face look even more tired than it felt. Beside him, the digital clock on his bedside table blinked 3:27 AM.
He sear...
All Star - Smash Mouth
***
The words of Thomas were there, heavy with possibility. Enoch and Dave shared a look, excitement mixed with disbelief passing between them.
Dave, drawing on years of experience in the industry, leane...
The Harvey Weinstein case had been a headline and talking point across the nation as the days went on. On the fourth day after the stunning verdict, there was still no sign of the hype dying down.
Late-night shows scrambled for content arou...
When the final notes of “Look Up” had faded out, the crowd erupted into genuine applause and cheers. The air was electric with enthusiasm; a far cry from the polite interest that had hovered over the venue at the beginning of the evening.
<...
Jae-sung moved to the front, clutching the microphone tightly as he peered across a sea of faces. “Thank you all for coming out tonight and supporting Ascend. We… we can’t put into words how much this means to us.”
The crowd erupted...
Over the past two years, Lorenzo had made significant moves to consolidate his personal life alongside his empire. In a quiet, upscale neighborhood of Los Angeles, a new family had settled in - Apollonia's relatives from Sicily.
Lorenzo wat...
After Harvey’s outburst, the courtroom was filled with static. At home and in the gallery, viewers held their breath while watching Bob present his evidence.
One damning email after another was read aloud, each one exposing Harvey’s pre...
The next day at school, in the canteen of all places, Byul-ho had found himself sitting opposite a very enthusiastic Seul-gi. Her eyes were sparkling with excitement as she spoke about Ascend’s upcoming concert.
“I can’t believe I man...
A week later, Byul-ho was in his office signing the final contracts for Mobs Club and Iniseu. He held the pen over the dotted line, then signed his name with a flourish. It felt good to accomplish something so tangible: Golden-Star Entertainment h...
2024-08-14 07:35:39 +0000 UTC View PostShinro started his recording studio, fixing up the lighting and camera angle. It had been a while since he uncovered his face to his YouTube viewers, and the effect was still reverberating through his fanbase.
He chuckled at the memory of t...
The following day, Ryan found Vito and Joe at a quiet booth in the back of a local diner. Sliding into the booth with them, Ryan’s face, normally stoic, carried a hint of a smile.
“Good job, boys,” he said softly, pushing two envelope...
A woman, who appeared to be serious and in her sixties, began the proceedings. “We have Knight v. Weinstein today. This is a court of law, not a Hollywood show. I expect everyone here to act accordingly.”
Harvey’s lawyer was a slick m...
As Byul-ho and the group entered the practice room, they were greeted by the sight of their coaches, who had arrived earlier and were waiting with a mix of concern and amusement on their faces.
"Well, well," the dance coach, Tae-hyun, said ...
Min-ji's voice came through the line, clear and professional. "Good morning, Byul-ho-ssi. I'm calling about the endorsement we discussed last night."
Byul-ho felt a surge of surprise and tried to keep his tone measured. "I have to admit, I'...
A year had passed, and Los Angeles was thriving like never before. The city hummed with energy, its streets bustling with tourists from across the states or around the world. The new airport buzzed with activity, bringing in a constant stream of v...
2024-08-13 01:13:21 +0000 UTC View PostIn his plush office at Warner Bros., Vince Knight leaned back in his chair, his face a mask of irritation. He'd just received word that Lucas's manager had declined his offer of help.
"Goddamn stubborn kid," Vince muttered, tossing the repo...
As Min-ji stepped into the house, she could feel the tension in the air. Making her way to the dining room, she found her parents and, to her surprise, her elder brother waiting for her.
Her father's stern voice broke the silence. "Where ha...
Min-ji's eyes flickered to the group behind him, then back to Byul-ho. "Business meeting?"
Byul-ho nodded, then curiosity got the better of him. "What brings you here, Min-ji-ssi?"
Min-ji's eyes darted around briefly before settling ...
Weeks had passed, and the indie game studios that received KiShin's game engine were finally ready to showcase their creations. The first wave of these games hit the Tokyo market, with Japanese gamers approaching them with cautious optimism.
After the dinner party at Lorenzo's mansion, Max took Noodles to one of the Lupo Family's clubs. The two sat at a quiet corner booth, nursing their drinks.
Max watched his old friend, noting the slump in his shoulders. "Listen, Noodles," he...