Tyler sat in the back of the Uber, watching the Brooklyn streets fly past him. The deal was almost done. He was about to sign with Black Gold Records, but the conversation with Marcus still lingered in his head. Rico, Carlos, and the gang—his past was creeping up fast, and it felt like a time bomb was ticking inside him.
But this was his shot, and he wasn't about to back down now.
The Uber came to a stop outside the Black Gold office building, a sleek glass structure that screamed success. Tyler stepped out, feeling the cool morning breeze on his face. The weight of the upcoming decision pressed on him, but he knew he had to focus.
Inside, Marcus greeted him with a firm handshake, and Harris was already there, waiting with his briefcase and calm demeanor. The vibe felt serious, but Tyler had learned to keep his cool. His heart, though, was racing under the surface.
"Tyler," Marcus began, leading them into the conference room. "We've finalized the adjustments, and I think you'll be pleased with the terms."
Tyler sat down, his eyes flicking to the contract in front of him. Harris gave him a reassuring nod.
"You're good, man. Everything we talked about is in here. You'll have more creative control and a clear path to owning your masters," Harris said.
Tyler leaned forward, his eyes scanning the words. The whole thing felt surreal. Just a few months ago, he was laying low, dodging old enemies and keeping a low profile in the streets. Now, he was on the verge of signing a deal with a major label. But he still couldn't shake that nagging feeling that something might go wrong.
As he reached for the pen, Marcus spoke up. "Tyler, before you sign, I just want to remind you that Black Gold is behind you all the way. We know you've got talent, and we're excited to see where this partnership goes."
Tyler nodded, his throat dry. He pressed the pen to the paper, his hand steady but his mind racing. This is it, he thought. No turning back now.
The pen moved smoothly across the paper, each signature feeling heavier than the last. When he finished, he leaned back, exhaling a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding.
"Congratulations," Marcus said with a smile, extending his hand. "Welcome to Black Gold Records."
Tyler shook his hand, feeling a mix of excitement and unease. Harris clapped him on the back. "You did it, kid. You're officially in the game."
But even as they exchanged pleasantries, Tyler's mind was elsewhere. He had signed the deal, but now he had to live up to the hype. The system hadn't said anything since the last notification, but Tyler knew it was lurking, waiting for him to make his next move.
Later that day, Tyler headed back to his new apartment. It still didn't feel like home—boxes were scattered around, and the place was practically empty except for a mattress on the floor. He needed to buy furniture, but the royalties from "Resurrection" would only stretch so far, and he had to be careful with his spending.
As he stared at the ceiling, his phone buzzed. A new message. He picked it up, half expecting a new mission from the system, but it wasn't that. It was from Jax.
"Yo T, you made it big-time now. Just saw the news, congrats on signing with Black Gold. Lemme know when you're down to celebrate."
Tyler smiled. Jax had been a real one from the start. But celebrating was the last thing on his mind right now. He was thinking about his next step.
And then the phone buzzed again. This time, it was the system.
[New Quest Update]
[Title: Debut Single]
[Objective: Release your first solo single within the next 30 days.]
[Rewards: 1000 XP, New Rapper Skill: Flow Mastery Level 1, Song Promotion Boost.]
Tyler sat up, eyes wide. "Shit, here we go again," he muttered to himself. The system was pushing him to make moves, and the clock was ticking. He couldn't afford to slow down now. But luckily it only remained a few finishing touches on his new single 'Heart on a Sleeve'.
His phone buzzed yet again, but this time, it was a DM from a random account. He opened it, seeing a message from someone at Black Gold.
"Tyler, congrats on the signing. Just wanted to introduce myself—I'm Amber, head of PR. We're excited to work with you. Let me know if you need anything. Also, we should start planning your next public appearance. Your fans are curious about who you are!"
Tyler's heart skipped. Fans? Already? It was all happening so fast. The system mission, the label deal, and now the world was about to find out who he was. Or at least try to.
He put his phone down and stared at the blank walls around him. This was his moment, but it felt like the pressure was about to explode. The next steps weren't just about making music—they were about protecting his identity, dodging old enemies, and making sure his past didn't catch up to him.
As he lay back down, one thought kept running through his mind:
How the hell am I gonna pull this off?