SuperStar!

Universal Studios LA, June 13th, 2021

Ethan sat in the sleek recording studio surrounded by his team: Jessica, Rebecca, his agent Bill, and the experienced producer Max. They were deep in discussion about his debut album and the massive wave of success that had swept over him in just two days.

For Ethan, the past 48 hours had been a whirlwind. Once an anonymous face in the crowd, he now couldn't walk two steps without someone recognizing him. And to his own surprise, he loved it. The fame, the attention, the recognition—it was intoxicating. He'd gone from obscurity to being the name on everyone's lips, and he was reveling in every moment.

Rebecca, the team's strategist and numbers guru, began her report. Her voice carried a mix of professionalism and excitement. "The tracks are performing even better than we predicted," she said. "'Shape of You' has reached 51 million streams as of yesterday. 'Sing' is at 30 million, and 'What Do I Know' hit 9 million on its first day."

As she spoke, the room grew quiet, each person soaking in the magnitude of the numbers.

"On YouTube, 'Shape of You' has crossed 500 million views with 18 million likes," Rebecca continued. "'Sing' has 302 million views and 7 million likes, and 'What Do I Know' has racked up 216 million views with 3.1 million likes."

Ethan blinked in disbelief. Rebecca wasn't done yet. "Your social media is on fire. Instagram followers have skyrocketed to 30 million. Twitter is now at 13 million, and your YouTube channel has 9 million subscribers. Oh, and all three songs debuted on the Billboard Hot 100. 'Shape of You' hit number one but dropped to second after Polo G's 'Rapstar'. 'Sing' debuted at number eight, and 'What Do I Know' came in at twenty-one."

The room was silent for a beat before Ethan let out an uncontrollable scream. "Fuck! I'm huge!"

Jessica chuckled, unable to hold back her amusement. "Yes, you are, kid. Yes, you are."

Max grinned, shaking his head. Bill let out a hearty laugh while Rebecca and Jessica exchanged knowing smiles. Embarrassed, Ethan quickly apologized. "Sorry about that," he mumbled.

Max waved him off with a smile. "No need to apologize. It's a big moment, and you've earned it. I remember my first hit; you're handling this way better than I did."

Jessica spoke up next, her voice carrying more good news. "The label is thrilled. They've approved a $3 million budget for promoting the album."

Max whistled, clearly impressed. "Three million? That's big league. This project is officially top-tier."

Jessica nodded. "And they've also greenlit collaborations. Whether it's with someone signed to the label or not, they're willing to make introductions and secure features for the album."

Bill's eyes lit up. He leaned forward with a wide grin. "Then let's get Megan Thee Stallion!" he said, almost bouncing in his seat.

The room froze for a moment before Max burst into laughter. "Calm down, Bill. Megan's great, but I was thinking more along the lines of Ariana Grande or Taylor Swift—someone who could complement Ethan's sound. And aren't you married?"

Lisa, who had been quietly observing from the corner, jumped in. "Yes, he is married. And trust me, Bill, I'm telling your wife about this."

The room erupted in laughter as Bill waved his hands defensively. "Hey, hey! I'm just a fan, okay?" he said, his tone pleading.

Amid the playful banter, Ethan cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention. "About the album," he began, his voice steady and confident, "I know exactly what I want to do."

All eyes turned to him, the energy in the room shifting. This was his moment to take control, and he knew it. With a smile tugging at the corners of his lips, Ethan leaned forward. "Let's make something unforgettable."

As they pulled up to the studio, Ethan was greeted by a swarm of people. Rebecca took charge, leading the way. "Hello, we're Ethan Jones' team," she said confidently. "Yes, right this way, ma'am," the young girl guiding them said, giving Ethan a quick glance before leading them to the backstage area.

"Hey, Ethan! We love your song. It's been on repeat in the office. Can you sign something for us later?" one of them asked eagerly.

Ethan smiled and nodded, his nerves calming a bit. But before he could say anything further, another producer spoke up, urgency in their tone. "Sorry, but we're really tight on time. Can we save the autographs for after? You've got to head straight to makeup."

Ethan gave a chuckle and nodded, realizing the whirlwind he was in. The producer gave him a quick wave as he made his way backstage,

In the makeup room, after a few quick touch-ups, the makeup artist finished. "We're ready for Ethan Jones in three minutes," the producer said with a smile. Bill gave Ethan a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "You got this."

Ethan stood at the edge of the curtain, feeling the buzz of anticipation from the live audience behind it. Crew members swarmed around him, attaching microphones and making final adjustments. He could hear the unmistakable voice of Jimmy Fallon in the distance.

"Ladies and gentlemen, hide your teenage daughters—heck, hide your sons too—and help me welcome the newest sensation, Ethan Jones!"

As the crowd erupted in cheers, Ethan took a deep breath and stepped out from behind the curtain, ready for the spotlight.

Authors Note:

Sorry for the short chapters! Writing on my phone has been tough, but I've opened a Ko-fi account where you can donate to help me get a proper system. Any donation is appreciated! You can also vote on the direction you'd like my book to go, without affecting the main storyline. Thanks so much for reading my story—I'm really grateful for all the support.

Also, check out my new book, The Next Big Thing. I believe you'll really enjoy it! My Ko-fi account is https://ko-fi.com/adavid. Once again, anything is welcomed and appreciated!