Brandon nodded, his expression thoughtful. He wasn't ready to embrace a family he knew nothing about.
"I'm not sure I truly understand what that means yet," he said carefully. "But there's no rush."
Annabelle sighed, her shoulders sagging slightly.
"Perhaps the less you know, the better," she replied, her voice tinged with a mix of relief and resignation.
She straightened, her professional demeanor sliding back into place.
"Let's change the subject, shall we? About the prize you won in the gala opening ceremony…"
Brandon leaned forward, his interest piqued.
"Which show would you like to attend?"
Annabelle asked, her tone businesslike.
"In fact—"
Before she could finish her sentence, Brandon interrupted, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
"BMG is planning to shoot our own show," he said, the words tumbling out quickly.
"Could I perhaps get help with that instead?"
Annabelle's eyebrows raised slightly, intrigued by Brandon's proposal.
"Go on," she said, leaning back in her chair.
Brandon's eyes lit up as he launched into his explanation.
"Picture this: a nationwide talent search, but with a twist. We hold auditions across the country, but the judges are blindfolded. No preconceptions, no biases—just pure, raw talent."
He paused, gauging Annabelle's reaction before continuing.
Brandon's enthusiasm grew as he delved deeper into his idea. Annabelle listened intently, her eyes narrowing slightly as she processed the concept.
"The top 18 voices from the auditions, who by this point should have fanbases of their own, will then compete in a unique program," Brandon explained, leaning forward in his seat.
"Picture this: each contestant performs while wearing an elaborate costume that completely conceals their identity. The audience and judges will have no idea who's behind the mask."
Annabelle's eyebrow quirked up, intrigued by the novel concept.
"The costumes will be extravagant, larger-than-life creations," Brandon continued, his hands gesturing animatedly.
"We're talking full-body suits, ornate headpieces, the works. Each week, the contestants perform, and the audience votes for their favorite voices."
He paused, gauging Annabelle's reaction before pressing on.
"Here's the kicker: at the end of each episode, the contestants with the least votes is eliminated. But before they leave, they have to reveal their identity by taking off their mask. It adds an element of suspense and keeps the audience guessing."
Annabelle nodded slowly, her mind clearly working through the logistics.
"The show continues until we're left with a set of winners," Brandon concluded.
"It's a perfect blend of talent, mystery, and entertainment. Plus, it gives these unknown artists a chance to be judged solely on their vocal abilities, without any preconceptions about their appearance or background."
He sat back, a satisfied smile playing on his lips.
"What do you think?"
Annabelle tapped her fingers on the desk, considering the proposal.
"It's certainly... unique," she admitted.
"I've never heard of anything quite like it. The concept of hiding the performers' identities could indeed level the playing field."
Annabelle nodded slowly, her interest visibly growing.
"Not to mention the sharing of fan bases…"
"The idea is to shift the focus from packaging to actual talent," Brandon explained, his voice gaining momentum.
"No more relying on looks or gimmicks. We're talking about finding the best voices in the nation, period."
He leaned forward, his passion evident in every word.
"We're telling the audience, 'Close your eyes. Really listen.' It's about rediscovering the power of voice, of raw musical ability."
Annabelle's lips curved into a small smile.
"And how do you plan to make this appealing to viewers?" she asked, her tone both curious and challenging.
Brandon grinned, ready for the question.
"That's the beauty of it. The mystery, the anticipation—it's all built into the format. Viewers will be on the edge of their seats, trying to guess who these incredible voices belong to. The audience will find themselves becoming fans before even seeing the face of their favorite artists. And when we finally reveal the singers? It'll be a moment of pure magic."
Brandon smirked, his confidence radiating from every pore.
"Of course, the top 18 will all be signed by BMG," he said, his tone casual yet triumphant.
"And the winners of each vocal duel will win a song written by me."
Annabelle nodded, her expression a mix of intrigue and amusement.
"So, what help do you need from NOA?" she asked, leaning back in her chair.
Brandon's brow furrowed slightly as he considered his response.
"We need celebrity judges," he replied, his voice tinged with a hint of uncertainty.
"Ones who actually know music..."
He paused, then added with a touch of hesitation, "Though… I'm not sure if that's possible but..."
To his surprise, Annabelle burst into laughter.
Her usually stern demeanor melted away as she chuckled, shaking her head.
"I know you despise the current music industry," she said, her eyes twinkling with mirth, "but it isn't as if no one in this world can sing, you know. The industry trends were artificially manufactured, it stopped raw talent from becoming famous, but it didn't mutate our species to become tone deaf!"
Brandon nodded thoughtfully, his fingers drumming on the armrest of his chair.
"But as much as we need technical judges, we need judges who are famous enough to attract viewership," he added, his brow furrowing slightly.
Annabelle's lips curved into a knowing smile.
"Don't worry, I have just the person."
Brandon's eyebrows rose in surprise, but he quickly moved on to his next concern.
"Will we have problems broadcasting?"
Annabelle's expression turned serious as she considered his question.
"You are starting a war with the Sinclairs after all," she mused, her voice tinged with caution.
"Even if they weren't what they used to be... they do still have a grasp on traditional media."
Brandon tapped the table rhythmically, his mind racing through possibilities. After a moment, he looked up at Annabelle, his eyes glinting with an idea.
"Can you put me in contact with the owner of WeTube?"
Annabelle frowned, her surprise evident.
"You want to go exclusively online?" she asked, her tone skeptical.
"We can try working a deal with the Sinclairs, you know..."
Brandon shook his head firmly, his decision already made.
"I can't be bothered having to watch my back every step of the way..."
Annabelle nodded, her expression thoughtful.
"I'll have the judges and the WeTube owner reach out to you in a couple of days," she promised.
Just then, Brandon's phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out, glancing at the screen.
[ Jessie Calling... ] flashed across the display.
He looked up at Annabelle, who smiled knowingly.
"I shan't hold you much longer," she said, her tone understanding.
"These are busy times, after all."
Brandon nodded, grateful for her perception.
"Thank you," he said, rising from his chair.
As he turned to leave, Annabelle's voice stopped him.
"When will you start classes at NOA?" she asked, curiosity evident in her tone.
Brandon turned back, a smirk playing on his lips.
"When NOA fulfills their end of the deal."
Without waiting for a response, he strode out of the office…