Ethan woke up the next morning with a pounding headache—a reminder of the previous night's celebration. Groaning, he sat at the edge of his bed and reached for his phone. As the screen lit up, he instinctively opened Instagram, only to notice his follower count had surged to a staggering 58 million.
"Why did i say i wanted to do this again," he muttered, his lips curling into a small smile. Despite the protests from his team, particularly Rebecca, Ethan had insisted on managing his social media accounts himself. He preferred the authenticity of personal interaction, even if it meant wading through hundreds of messages.
Opening his inbox, he scrolled through an endless sea of messages. At the top of his pinned chats was one from his sister: "When is the car coming? I'm tired of taking the bus." Ethan chuckled as he replied, "Soon," only to realize he'd completely forgotten about buying a new car. Making a mental note to take care of it, he moved on.
Among the messages were the usual oddities
Message from @Fanatic_Flirt:"Hey Ethan, I've been your biggest fan for months! Here's my OnlyFans link if you ever want to check it out ;)"
Message from @PrizeHunter_123:
"Congratulations! You've won $1,000,000! Click this link to claim your prize."
Message from @RentSaver999:
"Ethan, please, I'm desperate. Can you send me $500 to pay my rent? I'll pay you back, I swear."
Message from @tabitha87:
"Do you remember me? We dated in kindergarten! I always knew you'd make it big."
. He laughed at the absurdity before a particular message caught his attention. It was from Billie Eilish.
Her message read: "Hey Ethan, loved the album! Let's meet up sometime—I'd love to work on something together."
Ethan's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Well, that's cool," he said, quickly typing a reply: "Thanks, Billie! Let's make it happen."
Afterward, he spent a few minutes replying to fans, keeping his responses genuine and supportive. Messages like "I'm your biggest fan!" and "Your music saved my life" were met with heartfelt replies: "Thank you so much" or "I love you too." This connection with his fans meant the world to him.
Feeling accomplished, he put his phone down and headed to the shower. As the warm water ran over him, Ethan found his thoughts drifting. He couldn't help but marvel at how far he'd come, yet he knew this was just the beginning. The memories of his struggles kept him grounded, serving as a reminder to never take this success for granted.
Fresh out of the shower, he dressed in the casual yet stylish outfit Rebecca had picked for him: a fitted black crew-neck t-shirt, slim jeans, and pristine white sneakers. His hair was neatly styled, and a simple silver chain completed the look. Feeling ready for the day, he grabbed a quick bowl of cereal before checking the time.
On cue, his phone rang. The caller ID read "Rebecca."
"Hey, Beks," he answered.
"Where are you?" Rebecca's voice was impatient. "Didn't you check the time? It's 10 already. Grant's almost at the label. You need to get here now."
Ethan groaned but replied, "Yeah, I'm on my way." Grabbing his essentials, he headed to the elevator. When he reached the lobby, the company's driver was already waiting for him.
"She doesn't waste time, does she?" Ethan thought, shaking his head with a smile.
"Good morning, Jeff," Ethan greeted the driver as he slid into the car.
"Morning, sir. Thanks for the autograph; my daughters loved it," Jeff replied, beaming.
"That's great to hear! Happy to help," Ethan said warmly. The two chatted casually during the drive, with Ethan occasionally scrolling through his phone.
When they arrived at the company, Ethan used the back entrance, a precautionary measure after a previous encounter where he was nearly mobbed by fans. As he walked through the halls, he greeted staff members, who smiled and greeted him in return.
Reaching the conference room, he heard voices inside. Taking a deep breath, he stepped in and cleared his throat to announce his arrival.
Inside, Jessica and Rebecca were deep in conversation with a young man who exuded creative energy. Grant Taylor Singer, the acclaimed music video director, had a laid-back yet sharp appearance. He wore a graphic band tee under a leather jacket, paired with ripped jeans and combat boots. His slightly tousled hair and a hint of stubble added to his edgy vibe.
"Ethan, it's such a pleasure to finally meet you in person," Grant said with an enthusiastic smile, rising from his seat and extending his hand. "I've been following your journey for a while now. 'Blinding Lights'—I mean, what a track. It's not just a song, it's an experience. Truly one of the best pieces of music I've heard in years."
Ethan's smile widened as they shook hands. He'd heard praise before, but coming from someone like Grant, whose work had defined music videos for a generation, it felt different. "I appreciate that, Grant. Honestly, hearing it from you means a lot."
Grant chuckled, clearly enjoying the moment. "It's rare to find someone who has such a unique way of blending sound and visuals the way you do. I've always believed that a great video can elevate a great song, and with your music, the possibilities are endless."
Ethan sat down across from him, feeling a spark of excitement. The weight of the opportunity ahead felt real now. "I'm definitely excited to see where we can take it," he said, his voice steady but tinged with anticipation.
Grant leaned forward, a glint of creative fire in his eyes. "So, tell me, any initial thoughts on the direction you want to go with for the video? I'm all ears, and trust me, I've got some ideas of my own, but I want to make sure it feels true to your vision."
The room seemed to pause, the air thick with creative tension. Ethan's mind buzzed with a million possibilities. This was more than just a conversation—it was the beginning of something extraordinary.
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