With a spring in his step, he strode off towards a nearby Gucci boutique.
As he entered, the scent of leather and luxury enveloped him. An impeccably dressed saleswoman approached, her smile warm and professional.
"Welcome to Gucci, sir. How may I assist you today?"
"Just browsing, thanks," Brandon replied, his eyes roaming over the displays.
The saleswoman nodded. "Of course. Please let me know if you need any help."
As Brandon perused the racks, a random thought struck him.
He chuckled to himself, thinking,
'Heh. If I were a character in a novel, this would be the perfect time for a salesperson to look down on me and give me horrible service, huh?'
Still amused by the thought, he picked out a few jackets to try on.
The saleswoman approached again, her manner still courteous and attentive.
"Would you like to try those on, sir?"
Brandon smiled. "I'd like to pick out a few more pieces first, if that's alright."
'Here it comes… Tell me I look too poor to afford any of these…'
"Of course sir," she replied smoothly.
"Would you like me to hold those for you while you continue looking?"
Brandon handed her the jackets, his inner dialogue continuing.
'Guess there's no cliché face-slapping moment in real life, huh...'
Brandon emerged from the Gucci store, arms laden with bags. Gordon quickly relieved him of his burden, a hint of amusement in his eyes.
"Shall we continue, Young Master?" Gordon asked, already knowing the answer.
Brandon nodded, his eyes gleaming with newfound excitement.
"Absolutely."
Over the next few hours, Brandon swept through the high-end shopping district like a whirlwind. He breezed through Prada, snagging a sleek leather jacket and a pair of loafers. At Burberry, he couldn't resist a classic trench coat and a few crisp button-downs.
Brand after brand, from Dior to Berluti, from Bape to Brunello Cucinelli, Brandon splurged without even glancing at a price tag.
As the bags multiplied, Gordon discreetly made a call. By the time they exited Louis Vuitton, Max had arrived with the Rolls Royce, ready to assist.
"Perfect timing, Max," Brandon grinned, handing over a stack of bags.
Max's eyes widened slightly at the sheer volume of purchases but he maintained his professional demeanor as he filled up the trunk with the High-end loot.
"Happy to help, sir."
Brandon then stepped into the Versace boutique, his eyes roaming over the opulent displays.
As he browsed through the racks, an effeminate voice caught his attention, scolding a staff member in the distance. He shrugged it off, focusing on a sleek bomber jacket that caught his eye.
Slipping it on, Brandon admired his reflection in the mirror. The jacket fit perfectly, accentuating his broad shoulders. He turned, checking the fit from different angles.
"Ah, what a delightful surprise!~"
Brandon looked around, confused. An impeccably dressed man with a flamboyant air stood nearby, beaming at him.
Brandon looked around then pointed to himself.
"You talking to me?"
The man's smile widened.
"Indeed I am! Allow me to introduce myself. Jong-kook, CEO of Sinclair Music."
Brandon's eyes widened slightly at the mention of Sinclair Music.
'Devon's family... well, foster family, were the Sinclairs right?'
He thought, his mind racing.
He scanned Jong-kook, taking in the man's features.
'Korean? That's unexpected for a Sinclair…'
Jong-kook's flamboyant demeanor and impeccable style screamed of someone desperate to prove their worth, to carve out their place in a world that might not fully accept them.
He extended a manicured hand.
"I must say, your performance at the duPont Megayacht was quite... impressive."
Brandon shook his hand, surprise evident on his face.
"Oh, uh, thanks. I didn't realize anyone from the industry was there."
Jong-kook chuckled, his eyes twinkling.
"Honey~ everyone who's anyone was there. And let me tell you, your little impromptu show caused quite a stir."
He took a step closer.
"I've been dyingggg to chat with you ever since."
Brandon's eyebrows shot up, taken aback by Jong-kook's overly familiar tone.
'Did he just call me honey? This fruitcake better not get any ideas,' he thought, fighting to keep his face neutral.
He cleared his throat, taking a subtle step back.
"Well, I'm glad you enjoyed it. It was just a spur of the moment thing, really."
Jong-kook's eyes sparkled with interest as he licked his lips, seemingly oblivious to Brandon's discomfort.
"Oh, darling, I haven't managed to stop thinking of you since ."
Brandon's mind raced, trying to find a polite way to extract himself from the conversation.
'Okay, this guy's definitely after my butt. How do I shut this down without causing a scene?'
"You know~," Jong-kook continued, leaning in closer, "a handsome new artist like yourself probably can't afford much in stores like this, how bout I take you shopping and we can—"
Brandon resisted the urge to cringe, his inner dialogue growing more frantic.
'Oh god he's making his move... Wait what did he just say to me?'
Brandon's amusement quickly turned to disgust as Jong-kook leaned in, his manicured hand reaching for Brandon's face.
Without hesitation, Brandon shoved him away, his eyes flashing with disgust.
"The fuck did you just say to me?"
Brandon growled, his voice low and dangerous.
"Take me shopping? Bitch, I ought to—"
He cut himself off, aware of the scene they were causing.
A few staff members rushed over, their faces a mix of concern and confusion.
Jong-kook stumbled back, his eyes wide with shock before narrowing in fury. His demeanor shifted instantly, transforming from flirtatious to furious in a heartbeat.
"HOW DARE YOU!"
Jong-kook screeched, his voice rising to a shrill pitch.
"Do you have any idea who I am? I'll have you blackballed from every studio in this city, you ungrateful little nobody!"
Brandon watched, a mixture of amusement and disbelief playing across his features as Jong-kook launched into his tirade.
"You think talent is enough to make it in this industry?"
Jong-kook sneered, gesturing wildly.
"You're nothing without connections! I'll make sure you never set foot on a stage again!"
As Jong-kook continued his rant, Brandon's lips curled into a condescending smirk.
'He doesn't know I'm a Blackstone? Hah! He thinks I'm a struggling new artist!'
Brandon watched as Jong-kook's face contorted with rage. The man's mascaraed eyes bulged, and spittle flew from his mouth as he screamed.
"You insolent little brat! Do you have any idea who you're dealing with? I'm a Sinclair! We own the entertainment industry!"
Jong-kook's voice rose to a shrill pitch.
"One word from me, and your pathetic dreams of stardom will crumble to dust!"
Brandon's smirk only grew wider, his eyes cold and unimpressed. He shrugged off the Versace jacket he'd been trying on, draping it casually over a nearby chair.
"Not for long," Brandon replied, his voice low and icy.
He turned, ready to make his exit, dismissing Jong-kook with a wave of his hand.
Jong-kook's face turned an alarming shade of red, his body trembling with fury.
He launched into another tirade, his voice reaching a fever pitch.
"You think you can just walk away from me? I always get what I want!"
Jong-kook screeched, his hands balled into fists at his sides.
"When I'm done destroying your career, you'll be on your knees, butt-ass naked, begging to be one of my boy-toys!"
Brandon paused, his back still turned to Jong-kook.
Brandon clenched his fist, turning to look at Gordon.
The older man's face was a study in conflicting emotions. Shock at the unfolding situation warred with anger at Jong-kook's insolence. Yet, beneath it all, Brandon could see Gordon fighting back a chuckle at the sheer absurdity of Jong-kook's flamboyant breakdown.
Gordon nodded, thinking Brandon was asking him to handle the situation.
But to his surprise, Brandon spun around and launched himself at Jong-kook.
THUNK!
The two men crashed to the floor in a tangle of limbs. Brandon straddled Jong-kook, raining fists down on his face.
"Boy-toy huh?" Brandon growled, landing another punch.
PUNCH!
Jong-kook sputtered, "I'll ruin you! The Sinclairs—"
"Sinclair, huh?" Brandon interrupted, delivering another blow.
POW!
"You'll regret this! I'll make sure to—"
"Take me shopping, huh?" Brandon mocked, his fist connecting with Jong-kook's jaw.
WHAM!
Jong-kook's eyes widened in panic.
"Not the face! Please, not the face! Not the face!"
Brandon paused, a wicked grin spreading across his lips.
"Sure, okay" he said, then promptly punched Jong-kook square in the nose.
BOW!
"Ow! You said not the face!" Jong-kook wailed.
"I lied," Brandon shrugged, landing another hit.