Chapter 31: Supergroup

"A massive supergroup, Derrick?" Jude said. "What an interesting coincidence. I also happened to acquire a collective recently."

Derrick blinked, then threw his head back and let out a laugh.

"You?" Derrick mocked, looking around at his executives, who joined in the laughter. "What did you buy, Lawson? A struggling indie choir from a community college? A washed-up boy band from the nineties?"

Derrick stepped closer to the VIP table, leaning on the back of an empty chair. "You clearly don’t understand the capital required to play at this level. I spent two billion dollars to acquire the exclusive management rights to the Velvet 32! It is an asset class that Wall Street suits can’t even comprehend. An entertainment collective of that magnitude is a billion-dollar star-making engine!"

To him, the Velvet 32 was an unstoppable juggernaut that placed Vanguard Records at the pinnacle of the industry.

Director Vance leaned closer to Jude.

"Mr. Lawson, you didn’t mention another acquisition during the board meeting," Director Vance whispered. "What team did you buy? A forty-million-fan collective is incredibly difficult to combat in the current media cycle."

Orion stepped closer to the table.

"There’s only one group in the world that can completely eclipse the Velvet 32," Orion muttered. "The Sirens. They are an eighty-eight-member global collective. They have three A-list megastars anchoring the team, and their combined fanbase is pushing eighty million across all platforms."

Elena gasped. "Eighty million? That’s double the Velvet 32. But they are untouchable."

Derrick Vanguard’s ears caught Orion’s conversation. He barked out another cruel laugh.

"The Sirens?" Derrick scoffed, shaking his head. "Don’t even dream about it! Vanguard Records offered their parent company three billion dollars last quarter for a fifty-percent stake. You know what they did? They laughed and hung up on me! Nobody in this industry has the capital to acquire The Sirens. They are a sovereign entity in the music world!"

The Apex Records artists sighed.

If a titan like Derrick Vanguard couldn’t buy his way into The Sirens with three billion dollars, it was an impossible dream...

The Velvet 32 would remain the undisputed kings of the industry.

Jude swirled the amber liquid in his glass, amused by Derrick’s grandstanding.

"They hung up on you, Derrick?" Jude asked, a smirk playing on his lips. "That doesn’t surprise me."

"And why is that, Lawson?" Derrick challenged, crossing his arms.

"Because they were waiting for a real offer," Jude stated. "When I dropped a billion dollars into my development fund this afternoon, I also had my acquisitions team execute a hostile buyout of their parent company. I didn’t offer for a fifty-percent stake. I bought them outright."

The Diamond Ballroom fell into silence.

The clinking of champagne glasses ceased. The acoustic guitarist in the corner dropped his pick onto the floor, the tiny *click* sounding like a gunshot in the room.

Derrick Vanguard’s smug expression shattered.

The blood drained from his face as his brain tried to process Jude’s claim.

"You... you bought The Sirens?" Director Vance choked out.

"You’re lying!" Derrick screamed, his voice cracking. "That is a lie! You did not buy The Sirens! You’re just trying to save face in front of your artists because I humiliated you!"

Derrick pointed a shaking finger at Jude’s chest. "I see through you, Lawson! You think you can just drop a name and everyone will bow down to you? If you actually own The Sirens, prove it!"

"I don’t need to prove anything to you, Derrick," Jude replied.

"Call them!" Derrick challenged, his face turning red. "If you are the sole owner of the eighty-eight-member supergroup, then you have their management on speed dial! Call them right now! Have them walk into this hotel!"

Derrick was breathing heavily. "If you can summon The Sirens to this ballroom tonight, I will drop to my knees in front of your entire roster and beg for your forgiveness! But when they don’t show up, I am going to expose you as the fraud you are!"

Jude raised an eyebrow. "You want to drop to your knees? By all means, Derrick. Let me facilitate that for you."

Without breaking eye contact with the furious CEO, Jude reached into the inner pocket of his jacket and pulled out his smartphone. He scrolled to an encrypted contact list.

He tapped the screen, placing the call on speakerphone and setting the device down on the polished mahogany table.

The phone rang twice before it was picked up.

"Mr. Lawson!" a crisp female voice answered. "This is the Executive Director for The Sirens. It is an honor to speak with you. We received the finalized buyout paperwork this afternoon. The entire collective is at your disposal."

The Apex Records artists gasped. Derrick Vanguard’s eyes went wide.

"Director," Jude said calmly. "I am currently hosting a welcome banquet at the Diamond Ballroom in the Obsidian Grand Hotel. Gather the entire eighty-eight-member team. I want them here immediately."

"Right away, Mr. Lawson!" the Director replied without hesitation. "The team is currently at their downtown recording compound. We will load the transport fleet and be at the Obsidian Grand in twenty minutes."

Jude tapped the screen, ending the call. He looked up at Derrick, whose face was a mask of horror.

"Twenty minutes," Jude said, taking a sip of his bourbon. "I suggest you stretch your knees, Derrick. The floor looks quite hard."

Derrick stumbled backward. He looked at his rival executives, who were paralyzed with fear.

If Jude Lawson truly owned The Sirens, Vanguard Records was obsolete...

The Velvet 32 was a massive asset, but compared to the global juggernaut of The Sirens, they were practically a garage band.

Derrick turned toward Elena.

"Elena, listen to me," Derrick pleaded, his voice stripped of arrogance. "This guy is a maniac! He’s going to bankrupt this entire conglomerate! My offer still stands. Walk out of this hotel with me, and I will double your base salary at Vanguard!"

Elena didn’t look at him. She crossed her arms, her eyes locked on Jude with admiration.

"I already told you, Mr. Vanguard," Elena said. "I am perfectly happy with my boss."

The rest of the Apex Records roster remained silent, watching Derrick panic.

In twenty minutes, the biggest supergroup on the planet was going to walk through the doors...