Dayo reached JD Records exhausted. The conversation with Michael had cost him a lot of energy, but it had gone the way he wanted: for now, his label was spared. He allowed himself a small, short relief before stepping into the building — then the relief evaporated.
Something in the studio felt off. People moved with purpose and panic. Phones buzzed constantly. Staff ran past him in small groups, heads bent over screens. The air smelled like burnt coffee and worry.
His phone buzzed with Urich's name.
—Urich—
"Dayo, come to the meeting room. Now."
He didn't wait. He threaded through the foyer and pushed into the room where the heads of department had already gathered. Valery, Luna, Rex, Elana, Wayne, and Urich were there, faces tight.
"Ah — Dayo, you're here," Urich said without ceremony. "There's fire on the mountain. Michael started. He moved fast."
