Chapter 152: The Arrival of the Superstar
[Chapter 152: The Arrival of the Superstar]
"You know, after the subprime mortgage crisis, the real estate market..." Jared Kushner shrugged as he took a big swig of his drink.
"Of course I know. Home prices plummeted across the nation, especially in California, Nevada, Arizona, and Florida," Ryan nodded.
"When my dad was convicted, the company moved to New York and canceled some apartment construction plans. That ended up saving us," Jared looked up at Ryan.
The business model of real estate developers has always been to leverage and build. In other words, this family-owned real estate company turned a disaster into a blessing, avoiding a deep fall.
"So, you want to try something else?" Ryan asked.
"My brother has been diversifying our business. He's an investment genius. Back in college, he spent $8.5 million buying some apartment buildings in Massachusetts, then sold them four years later for $13 million. He used the profits to acquire the New York Observer, and he promoted our real estate projects through that publication..." Joshua interjected as he spoke about his brother's "great accomplishments."
"Shut up, Joshua. If you have nothing to do, you can head back to the hotel," Jared said, sounding a bit annoyed, then turned to Ryan. "If we team up, you can build your nightclub on Fifth Avenue, one of the most prime locations in New York, and even the world."
"I understand you might not care about that, especially since your place is in this out-of-the-way corner, but you need a flagship store to gain prominence. It will serve as an example for your future franchise plans. I doubt you want to stay cooped up here forever," Jared explained, looking at Ryan.
"Why do you want to collaborate with Bad Room?" Ryan asked.
"Because you think differently than other nightclub owners!" Jared spread his arms wide.
"You're running this place like an artist. Some of your approaches might seem hard to comprehend for outsiders, but I know you're trying to create an ideal world, a pure electronic music space. You excel at content, and I handle business; it's a match made in heaven."
"I'll think about it, but you know, if Bad Room wants to expand, New York is one of the most important cities, so I need to be careful," Ryan said with a smile.
Truth be told, he wasn't too optimistic about the collaboration. Jared, as a real estate developer, might struggle to survive the subprime crisis himself. Moreover, he had just moved to New York, so his foundations weren't that solid. Furthermore, the location didn't significantly impact Bad Room.
His terms weren't that attractive to Ryan.
"We're both young enough; in a sense, we'll be the best partners..." Jared continued to sell himself.
"Did you come here specially?" Ryan inquired.
"Not exactly. We both came to attend this year's Victoria's Secret Show, but we arrived a few days early," Jared replied.
The brothers knew people in the Victoria's Secret PR department. Starting this year, they planned to show up in person annually, simply put, to pick up girls. A few years later, Karlie Kloss would meet Joshua at one of the Victoria's Secret after-parties. They embarked on a long-term relationship, but Joshua's family never really accepted her as a model. Karlie then decided to withdraw from modeling and went back to college to learn programming to win them over. Once engaged, she quickly converted and could hardly wait to change her name.
Compared to Taylor and others, Karlie came from a very ordinary background but managed to climb the social ladder through marriage.
Ryan mentioned receiving an invitation to the Victoria's Secret Show.
"So, we'll see each other soon?" Jared asked.
"My people are negotiating with them right now," Ryan shrugged.
...
Once the brothers left, Ryan returned to his VIP lounge. Although they had just come to check things out, they had certainly spent lavishly -- the top VIP package cost a whopping $50,000, enough drinks for thirty people, with 90% of the alcohol unopened on the table.
"Boss, should we save these drinks for the brothers?" the waiter came over to clean up.
That would be underestimating the brothers.
"After work today, let's share these drinks with everyone," Ryan said as he walked out of the lounge.
...
Ryan didn't return to the record label but went up to the third-floor lounge. After all, the lounge was open for business that day, and Ryan had to check in.
There were only two lounges on the top floor, six on the third, and eighteen on the second.
As Ryan entered, cheers erupted in the lounge.
Female cheers.
Ryan took a quick look and realized Paris Hilton had gathered an all-girls squad today.
"Wait, wait, see who just arrived!" Paris Hilton said, walking over with a bottle in hand, clearly tipsy, and she wrapped her arms around Ryan's neck. "Hey, why didn't you call me about proposing to Taylor? Do you know how upset I was when I found out?"
"Taylor Swift isn't here tonight. Ryan said he wouldn't go anywhere and would just stay here with us!" she shouted to the others.
About ten women cheered again!
Ryan finally had time to scan the friends Paris had brought. He recognized a few familiar faces, including Paris's sister, Nicky, who wore a black mini dress, sexy and mature, her long legs especially eye-catching.
He also spotted the Olsen sisters, both dressed up, and they nodded at Ryan as he glanced over.
The other women were unfamiliar to him, but judging by their attire and the expensive jewelry they wore, showcased in piles of designer handbags, Ryan guessed they were all high-society girls. Whether or not they were true socialites was another question.
"Let me introduce you; this is Olivia Palermo, a regular on MTV's The City, her dad is in real estate, and she's currently interning in the accessories department at Elle," Paris pointed to one of them.
"That's Georgina Bloomberg, an actual member of the equestrian national team..."
Bloomberg? Bloomberg News??? Ryan was taken aback.
"This one here is Petra Ecclestone, the daughter of F1 mogul Bernie Ecclestone; she doesn't visit the US often."
"And this beauty is Lydia Hearst. The character in Gossip Girl is modeled after her style."
Hearst? Hearst Corporation?!! Ryan was shocked again.
Vogue is under the Conde Nast group, and in this field, isn't Hearst Corporation just behind it, owning numerous magazines and newspapers?
"Tonight is indeed star-studded..." Ryan smiled broadly, realizing that Paris had brought over such notable friends.
He had to make sure to treat them right.
Ryan proactively sat among the group of women, raising a glass with everyone as he seamlessly joined their chatter.
"Ryan, when's the male model you promised gonna arrive?" Paris asked playfully, looking at him with a smile.
"He's already here," Ryan replied, glancing at the surrounding girls.
"Don't say; Ryan really is a former model," Ashley Olsen added.
"Just hope you can keep up!" Paris said, and the group erupted in peals of laughter.
"Tonight, we drink until we drop." Ryan raised his glass. Paris pulled out a camera to snap a group photo of everyone cheers-ing.
...
A few hours flew by, and everyone was having a great time, especially Paris Hilton, who had gotten completely wasted. Ryan arranged for the female staff to take the women back to the hotel. Today, he had thoroughly acquainted himself with a few heiresses, and they exchanged contact information.
"You've had so much to drink; how come you're fine?" Nicky remarked, noticing how Ryan seemed perfectly sober while the women around him were tipsy.
"Because I handle my liquor well," Ryan replied.
Nicky didn't believe him; she picked up Ryan's glass and realized at some point, he had switched his drink to soda.
"You're quite the sly one," Nicky said with a laugh, then tried to stand up but felt dizzy, struggling with her strappy heels.
Ryan quickly caught her, feeling her lightweight body against him as he supported her delicate waist.
"Let go of me," Nicky quickly said, looking a bit uncomfortable.
Ryan immediately let go, and Nicky nearly fell backward, but he managed to catch her just in time.
...
After some intense negotiations, Victoria's Secret offered Ryan a price he found acceptable, and he confirmed he would be closing the show this year.
Another heavyweight guest at this year's Victoria's Secret Show was Usher.
Three days before the show, Ryan received a call from Scooter.
"You and Usher are outside the club?"
...
"Hey! Ryan!" A tall Black man in sunglasses opened his arms.
Even with his height-enhancing shoes, he still stood a bit shorter than Ryan -- he was probably around 5'7".
Ryan hugged him enthusiastically and nodded to Scooter, greeting him. After half a year apart, Scooter had cut his hair a bit shorter, still maintaining that youthful face.
They stood at the back door of Bad Room, with a crew of over ten, including bodyguards and assistants.
"Do we need to?" Usher asked, following Ryan through the back door, where he spotted the staff waiting with testing swabs.
"Rules are rules," Ryan nodded.
"Alright then," Usher didn't mind, and he and Scooter completed the tests, both coming up negative.
"You all can wait in the car," Usher instructed his team.
Ryan led the two men into the elevator to the record label's area upstairs.
...
Usher started the conversation with Ryan, discussing this year's Victoria's Secret Show, finally reaching a friendly chit-chat.
When Ryan asked about Usher's recent album sales, Usher's smile turned a bit sour.
Usher had debuted at age fifteen, similar to Justin, but his start wasn't as smooth. After struggling for six years, he rose to fame, winning the Grammy for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for two consecutive years in 2002 and 2003, and in 2004, he released a groundbreaking album -- Confessions -- which had four singles topping the charts, selling over 20 million copies globally.
Throughout the 2000s, the only artist who could rival his sales was Eminem.
Last year, Usher had branched out on his own.
This past May, he released his fifth studio album. While it had exceeded 2 million copies in sales so far, compared to his last album's staggering sales of 15 million within a year, it was considered a commercial failure. Critically, the album faced a wave of negative reviews.
"Lacking perseverance, lacking courage, lacking depth. No matter how he denies it, he comes off as insipid."
"Now he's achieved the American Dream. He sounds like he has stopped trying."
"Always just a notch above mediocrity, and only just a notch."
Music critics excelled at "thoughtful criticism," and now Usher was facing his career's setbacks.
...
"Enough of that. Let's talk about you. Honestly, I'm quite curious about your nightclub," Usher shared the purpose of his visit.
Experiencing setbacks in his career had prompted him to look broader, like investing in a nightclub. It wasn't uncommon for entertainment stars to own stakes in nightclubs or even to directly run one.
"Did Diddy send you here?" Ryan asked suddenly.
"I..." Usher hesitated, exchanging a glance with Scooter.
"To be precise, the entire Southern rap scene is very interested in your nightclub, but many can't make it," Scooter chuckled.
Even if they came, they couldn't get past the threshold here.
The Southern rap scene referred specifically to Atlanta, the domain of Diddy.
As for Usher, he had been a protege of Diddy, having followed him since he was a teenager. Initially signed under LaFace Records, L.A. Reid's record label.
"Scooter, could we talk privately for a moment?" Ryan said, looking towards Scooter.
Scooter exchanged glances with Usher. "As you wish," he shrugged, seeming a bit displeased.
...
"Now it's just the two of us. I'll get straight to the point. If I want to expand Bad Room into Atlanta, I'd prefer you as the sole partner; I don't know about anyone else," Ryan stated directly.
"Ryan, kicking Diddy out is obviously impossible. I know what you're worried about; he could take a stake, but he wouldn't interfere with operations normally," Usher shook his head.
"Then there's nothing to discuss," Ryan responded firmly.
Atlanta was the largest city in the southeastern U.S., with headquarters for Coca-Cola, UPS, Delta Airlines, and more, boasting one of the busiest airports globally.
But for Ryan and Bad Room, it wasn't make-or-break.
"To be honest, Diddy actually doesn't care about your business much; he thinks you're a hypocrite. L.A. Reid is also not thrilled that your nightclub may have taken some of his business. You're making me a traitor!" Usher's expression became animated.
L.A. Reid owned a nightclub in Orlando; Ryan had been there before.
Most Black musicians rose from the streets, valuing "brotherhood," and betrayal was scorned by all.
"It's not as exaggerated as you say; I just think you're different from everyone else. Think about your purpose for being here. Did you come on your own, or are certain people steering you as a negotiating representative?" Ryan spoke slowly.
Usher had been about to stand up, but froze at this, yet it was only for a moment before turning to leave.
As a matter of courtesy, Ryan accompanied the two to the door.
Scooter was surprised when he heard Usher was leaving, not expecting negotiations to collapse so quickly.
Passing through the hallway, Ryan noticed Tyran peeking out, then quickly retreating when she saw him.
...
"Is that really Usher?" Tyran exclaimed, genuinely startled, turning to Teresa who was in the office.
Teresa had recently experienced the nightclub's popularity firsthand and agreed to stay on for an internship.
Before making her decision, she had asked both Ryan and Tyran about the job. They gave her identical answers: straightforward, basic work like answering phones, organizing documents, and handling daily affairs.
However, after a few days of interning, Teresa began to notice some irregularities. For instance, Tyran would frequently go into Ryan's office. It could last from half an hour to almost an hour, and every time she left Ryan's office, Tyran would go to the bathroom and take a long time to tidy up.
As for the work itself? Just as the two had said, it was quite easy. And compared to the simple tasks, the pay was very high. They even provided her with accommodations, renting a small studio apartment.
So Teresa reassured herself, why get involved in things that didn't concern her?
Upon hearing Tyran's remarks, Teresa pondered, "Maybe he's talking business with Ryan; it can't be that he's performing at Bad Room tonight."
"But either way, the boss's business is just getting bigger," Tyran sighed.
For the rest of the time, the two secretaries exchanged no more words. Tyran rested on her desk while Teresa browsed high-end clothing and cosmetics on eBay, adding items to her cart without hesitation, planning a shopping spree once she received her paycheck.
Accidentally, she knocked over a pen on her desk, and as she bent down to retrieve it, she instinctively turned her head, catching a glimpse of Tyran in a rather revealing outfit. Today, she was not only wearing patterned garter stockings, but she was also wearing nothing under her skirt.
Startled, Teresa quickly turned away as though she hadn't seen anything.
A phone call jolted Tyran awake, and she picked up the intercom.
"I got it," she said, hanging up, immediately going to tidy herself in front of the mirror, applying lip gloss for a quick touch-up before leaving the office.
Teresa watched the entire process, and when Tyran exited, her attention returned to the screen.
...
Some time later, Sean walked into the office.
"Here's last month's inventory invoice that needs the boss's signature for payment. You'll remember to pass it on to him, right?"
"Is Ryan not in the office?" Teresa asked instinctively.
"He's busy," Sean shrugged.
"Alright then, I'll leave it here," Teresa nodded.
Just like that, she waited for nearly an hour.
"Why hasn't he come out yet?" Teresa checked the time, realizing she should have left a few minutes ago.
She thought it over and placed the invoice on Tyran's desk, gathering her things to head out.
"Forget it, I'll just deliver it myself." Once Teresa realized she hadn't done anything that entire day, she decided to hand the invoice directly to Ryan.
She stood at Ryan's office door, slowly raising her hand to knock.
But there was no response. When she knocked again, a bit harder this time, the door swung open unexpectedly, revealing an empty office.
Had Ryan gone for an interview? Teresa remembered there was a special interview room not far from Ryan's office, equipped with sound systems and a wide sofa, where Ryan often interviewed female dancers.
...
Arriving at the interview room, she pressed her ear to the door and faintly heard electronic music, solidifying her suspicion.
She knocked on the door.
"Who's there?" came Tyran's voice from inside.
She's in there? Teresa explained her purpose.
"Come on in," Ryan's voice echoed back.
Followed by the sound of the door unlocking.
Teresa pushed the door open to see Tyran wearing a somewhat sheer black top.
"What are you waiting for? The boss asked you to come in," Tyran turned to face her.
That's when Teresa noticed Ryan lying on the sofa with his head held high and his chest puffed out!
Teresa quickly lowered her head.
"Bringing the invoice, right? Just hand it over," Ryan nonchalantly stated.
After hesitating a moment, Teresa stepped in. As soon as she entered, she felt the noticeable increase in temperature inside. Warm air was continuously blowing, and in front of the sofa, there were actually three mirrors placed at different angles. There was even a puddle on the floor.
Teresa then saw Tyran "sitting down," just as the three mirrors reflected the scene from different perspectives.
"Thanks for your hard work." Ryan glanced for a moment, signed, and handed the invoice back to Teresa.
She quickly turned and exited the room, shutting the door with a bang.
"Boss, you scared her..." Tyran said, flicking her hair, and the mirrors directly reflected her face, revealing a rather peculiar expression that didn't seem to be put on.
...
Time passed before it was finally the day of the Victoria's Secret Show.
"I need to stay back and watch the place. You should go to Miami with the boss," Tyran mentioned the upcoming plan as they wrapped up work for the day.
"I... I want to quit," Teresa said, summoning her courage.
"Then go talk to the boss about it; I'm just passing along the message," Tyran scoffed.
Teresa stood up and left the office.
"Come and go as you please? You really think he's running a charity? It doesn't work like that!" Tyran cursed under her breath.
*****
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