The grand ballroom fell silent as the MC stepped onto the stage, his voice booming through the speakers.
"Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed guests, and aspiring artists, the moment we've all been waiting for has arrived. The finals of our prestigious NOA Opening Gala competition are about to begin!"
A wave of excitement rippled through the crowd. Phones were raised, ready to capture every moment. The air crackled with anticipation.
"In this epic showdown, we have three new titans of the music industry facing off. Sinclair Records, Vanderbilt Records, and the rising star, Blackstone Music Group!"
The audience erupted in cheers and applause. Fans of each label shouted their support, creating a cacophony of noise that reverberated through the ornate hall.
"Let's welcome our finalists to the stage!"
As the spotlights swung to center stage, three figures emerged from the wings. The crowd's roar intensified.
Jong-kook, CEO of Sinclair Records, strode forward with a confident swagger. His eyes, however, told a different story. They were fixed on Brandon, narrowed in a sinister glare that promised trouble. His lips curled into a sneer as he took his place.
Beside him stood Catherine Vanderbilt, heir to the Vanderbilt Records empire. Unlike her competitor, she seemed distracted, her gaze unfocused. She fidgeted with the sleeve of her designer dress, appearing almost bored by the proceedings. The usual fire in her eyes was noticeably absent.
In stark contrast, Brandon Blackstone radiated confidence. He stepped into the light with a broad smile, waving to the audience. His eyes sparkled with enthusiasm as he soaked in the electric atmosphere.
The MCs voice cut through the din once more.
"These three labels have fought their way to the top, showcasing the best talent the industry has to offer. But only one can be crowned the champion of our Opening Gala Competition!"
The next half hour passed in a blur of manufactured pop.
Jong-kook's Sinclair Records trotted out a polished boy band, even more generic than the Wow! Girls who first performed.
Their performance was a whirlwind of synchronized dance moves and auto-tuned vocals, eliciting screams from the audience but leaving little lasting impression.
Catherine's Vanderbilt Records followed suit, presenting another act that seemed carbon copies of the acts before. The performances were slick and professional, but lacked any spark of originality.
Catherine herself appeared disinterested throughout, her eyes often drifting to the wings where Brandon had disappeared.
In BMG's green room, the space buzzed with nervous energy as Brandon stood before a full-length mirror, adjusting his diamond grills.
He wore a sleek black turtleneck that hugged his muscular frame, paired with a luxurious black leather jacket, its back boasting a large, eye-catching "BMG" logo.
Elise approached, holding the custom baguette diamond Cuban Link chain. Her eyes sparkled with admiration as she draped it around Brandon's neck.
"You look absolutely stunning,"
Elise breathed, her fingers lingering on the chain.
"This outfit is perfect. It's powerful, yet understated. And this chain... it's a work of art."
Brandon grinned, his new diamond grills catching the light.
"It's all thanks to you and your team. I couldn't have pulled off this look without your expertise."
Elise's lips curled into a mischievous smile.
"Speaking of which, we've decided to copyright and name this design. From now on, it'll be known as the B-Link Chain, in your honor."
Brandon's eyes widened.
"Really? That's... wow."
Brandon's lips curled into a smirk as he admired the fully iced out chain in the mirror.
'Well, well, well, looks like I've just invented the Cuban chain in this world. Sorry, Earth, but finders keepers.'
He ran his fingers along the invisible set baguette diamonds, suppressing a chuckle.
'I mean, it's not like I can give credit to the original creators. "Oh, by the way, this design? Yeah, it's from a parallel Earth where I used to be a mute producer." That'd go over well.'
He adjusted the chain, admiring how it caught the light.
'Besides, it's not stealing if it doesn't exist here, right? I'm practically doing this world a favor. You're welcome, alternate universe fashion.'
Brandon's grin widened as he imagined the chain becoming a trend.
He winked at his reflection, feeling utterly pleased with himself.
He turned back to the mirror, his mouth open in a wide grin as he admired his new baguette invisible set diamond grills.
The "13" pendant on his chest sparkled brilliantly, matching the fire in his eyes.
As Brandon gazed at his reflection, a surge of confidence washed over him.
Around him, his inner circle gathered, their eyes wide with a mix of admiration and curiosity.
Jessie paced back and forth, her heels clicking against the polished floor.
Her brow furrowed in concentration as she muttered rapid-fire instructions into her headset.
"Izzy, we need the BMG crew rounded up now. Are the props in place?"
A crackle of static, then BMG's Head of Marketing, Isabelle or Izzy's voice came through.
"Crew and props are set, Jessie. We're good to go."
Jessie nodded, though Izzy couldn't see her.
"Perfect. Andre, what's the status on our stereo system?"
"All things are a go," Andre's deep voice replied.
"The mic will be delivered shortly."
"Excellent," Jessie said, her shoulders relaxing slightly.
She turned to Pierre, who was circling Brandon like a shark, admiring the custom jewelry that adorned his full black outfit.
"Mr. duPont, are the vehicles in place?"
Pierre tore his eyes away from Brandon's dazzling grill long enough to shoot Jessie a thumbs up.
His grin was wide and excited, a stark contrast to Jessie's intense focus.
Bailey, Elise, and Joyce huddled together, their excitement palpable. The air around them buzzed with nervous energy as they gave each other a final once-over.
"God, I can't believe we're actually doing this," Bailey whispered, her voice a mix of anxiety and thrill.
Elise, resplendent midnight blue and silver gown adorned with twinkling diamond accents, reached out to fix a stray strand of Bailey's hair.
"You look amazing, Bailey."
Joyce, decked out in a daring, neon-pink mini dress that seemed to glow under the dim backstage lights, bounced on her toes.
"I still can't believe he asked us to be part of this. It's going to be epic!"
Elise turned to Joyce, adjusting the choker around her friend's neck.
"Hold still, you're making it crooked again."
Joyce giggled, the sound tinged with nervous energy.
"Sorry, I can't help it. I feel like I'm going to explode!"
Brandon felt a mix of nerves and excitement bubbling in his stomach.
The energy in the room was electric, everyone moving with purpose and anticipation.
Brandon took one final look in the mirror, adjusting his diamond-studded grill. He nodded to himself, a fierce determination settling in his eyes. With a deep breath, he turned and strode towards the green room door.
As he reached the door, he spotted Devon leaning against the wall, his face a mask of disappointment and frustration. Brandon paused, taking in the slumped shoulders and downcast eyes of his friend and potential artist.
Without hesitation, Brandon approached Devon. He placed a hand on the his shoulder, causing Devon to look up in surprise.
A smirk played across Brandon's lips as he locked eyes with Devon.
"Your dear brother says that hip hop's boring, huh?" Brandon's voice was low, but charged with energy.
His eyes sparkled with mischief and determination.
"Let's light this gala up!"
Devon's expression shifted from shock to a slow grin, a spark of excitement igniting in his eyes.
He straightened up, nodding at Brandon with enthusiasm.
"Go show em' how it's done!"