Dominate Showbiz: Media Tycoon Discovered My Talent-Chapter 42: What’s This?

According to Esko, there were far fewer producers than artists at KE. Since not all artists wrote their own songs, but producers did, the workload for each of them was insane. As a result, the waiting time just dragged on forever, even though the Production building was open 24/7.

Kaija’s appointment was at 12 AM. She showed up at the reception more ready to sleep than to sing. Her eyelids were heavy, and her brain could barely recall her own lyrics.

Still, Esko had made it clear beforehand: the first meeting with the producer was crucial. If they didn’t like her or her song, the producer could turn her down and pass her on to the next available one, which meant going back to the waiting queue.

Kaija had no time left to wait. The competition was only a month away.

Fifteen minutes later, a young guy with blond hair and dark brown eyes stepped out of the elevator and walked toward her. His face didn’t look any better than her, eyes red from sleeplessness, skin pale like he hadn’t seen the sun in weeks.

"You’re... Kaija Sepala?" he asked, his voice thick with exhaustion.

Kaija’s eyes snapped open. She shot up from the couch. "Yes. You’re Raimo?"

"Yeah," he replied indifferently, nodding toward the elevator. "Come to my office. We’ll talk."

She gave him a polite smile and followed quietly.

Before coming here, she’d been told she’d be paired with this Raimo guy, just as he’d been informed about her name.

Esko had briefed her thoroughly about Raimo. He was twenty-five and had been making music for KE since he was eighteen.

Among all the producers here at KE, he was considered god-tier. The guy had the magical touch that could turn singers into superstars. Every album he’d worked on became a hit, so every artist at KE prayed to work with a producer like him.

Kaija had somehow been lucky enough to get assigned to this guy. She’d better not screw it up.

Once they reached his office, Raimo gestured toward the only table in the room. It was a war zone of scattered papers, pens, and half-finished cups of coffee.

He dropped into his chair, rubbing his face to wake himself up, his tone weary. "So you said in the request form this is a song for the festival?"

She sat in the chair opposite him and placed the printed lyrics she’d brought on the only clear spot left on the table. "Yes," she nodded. "I only need one song. I’ve already written it. I just need your help with the production."

Raimo didn’t even glance at it, just picked up one of his coffee and took a slow sip. "Still a trainee, aren’t you?"

She nodded again, more hesitantly this time at his judging tone. "Uh, yes... Would that be a problem?"

His brow furrowed. "Do you have any idea how busy everyone in this department has been lately? Album after album. The year’s ending, and everybody out there needs music to party."

She swallowed hard. Uh-oh. She was already starting to feel like this wasn’t gonna go her way. Her voice dropped low. "I’m really sorry for troubling you, but I only need one song. I’ll make sure to repay you well for your hard work."

Raimo raised a brow, his tone tightening with annoyance. "Look, you’ll definitely have to pay me upfront and share your prize money for side projects like these. That’s the rule. But let me tell you this: producers don’t earn royalties from songs for the festival. Me, I honestly never fancy festival requests, even from artists, let alone a trainee like you. It’s a one-time payment. Not worth my time. We’re only sitting here because procedure requires it."

She leaned forward and pushed the paper toward him, refusing to give up. "Would you please just look at the lyrics and let me sing it for you once? Then you can decide whether it’s worth your time or not." 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

He set his cup down with a heavy thud. His gaze dropped to the paper, then back to her. Then he picked it up, wrinkling it between his fingers as his eyes lazily skimmed the lyrics.

A few seconds later, he yawned and tossed the paper back onto the table, his tone flat with disinterest. "I don’t need to listen. This is amateur songwriting. I wouldn’t even put something like this on anyone’s album. No producer here would. You would never make it in the festival."

The words hit her like a sucker punch. Her shoulders slumped, and her gaze fell. It was over. There was nothing else she could say to convince the guy.

"Let’s not waste each other’s time and effort." He stood abruptly and opened the door. "See yourself out. Oh, and take that paper with you. This place is messy enough already."

Kaija had no choice but take back her lyrics paper. "Thank you for your time," she said with a polite bow before leaving the room.

All the way back to the elevator, her eyes stayed fixed on the crumpled lyrics paper in her hands. The sleepiness she’d felt earlier was completely gone, burned away by the stress of sitting across from that Raimo guy.

Knowing she’d definitely miss the festival hurt, but what hurt even more was the blunt rejection from a seasoned producer like him. The lines she’d poured her heart into were now wrinkled like discarded trash.

Maybe she’d overestimated herself after getting some recognition from Charles and Karl, and with Dani and Esko’s support. She let out a long sigh as she pressed the elevator button.

Ding.

The elevator doors slid open. Some tall guy was already inside.

She didn’t pay him any mind as she stepped in, her gaze glued to the floor in defeat. Probably just another overworked producer who needed more coffee and sleep.

Suddenly, just as the elevator doors closed, the guy yanked the lyrics paper from her hand in one swift motion, making her jump.

She raised her voice immediately. "What do you think you’re—"

Her mouth clamped shut before she could finish. Her eyes widened at the familiar face, that chestnut hair, those golden eyes. Those bright eyes narrowed slightly as they skimmed over the lines on the paper with focus, then flicked toward her with that same cold look she knew too well by now.

"What’s this?" Antony muttered.