"Rebecca, thanks for coming," Bill said warmly as he addressed her. Based on how the meeting had gone, he was glad he had invited her. She had even exceeded his expectations. The way Max and Trey had left, Bill was certain they'd taken every one of her words to heart.
Rebecca, hearing Bill, nodded and then said, "Yes, it's nothing, but I have one question." She looked directly at him.
Bill, curious, replied, "Oh yeah? What's up?" He glanced at his watch, thinking When will they show up? Their next meeting should be starting any minute now. For Bill, Max, and Trey, this was just an interlude — the next meeting was the real deal.
"Why Prime? Why this drink?" Rebecca's question caught Bill off guard, and Ethan, who was busy ordering meals to go so they could take them back to Sydney, also looked up, surprised.
Rebecca noticed their reactions and quickly added, "No, no, it's not that I have anything against the drink. If they can make those changes, it'll be nice, actually. Also, the two men seem competent — they know when to control their emotions and be rational. It's just… why Prime?"
She paused, then spoke more clearly: "Given Ethan's current status, it should be easy to land a much bigger brand endorsement."
This question had been bugging her ever since she heard about the deal. Even though the boys were reasonable, goal-oriented, and ambitious, Prime was still, at best, a no-name brand — no real customer base, no reputation. It was a new drink, and Rebecca couldn't see how this would pay off for Ethan. The boys didn't even have a marketing team, nor did they fully understand its importance — especially when compared to signing with an established brand. Rebecca thought about how those established brands already had their own identity, loyal customers, massive ad budgets, and broad reach. Signing with one meant far less risk and much greater exposure.
Ethan, overhearing this, was also curious. Honestly, when Bill had first told him about the deal, he pictured something big — like Pepsi, Coke, or something on that level. He remembered seeing stars lined up with mega billboards, their faces plastered everywhere. He'd expected that kind of backing. So when he found out it was Prime — a brand he'd never heard of — he felt a bit disappointed. Still, he had faith in Bill and didn't want to embarrass him in front of his guest, so he kept quiet. But now that Rebecca had brought it up, Ethan wanted to understand the reasoning.
"Yeah, man," Ethan said as he returned to his seat, already having ordered food and sent it to the tour bus. "When you told me about the deal, I was thinking something big — maybe Coca-Cola or something."
Bill smiled, hearing both their concerns. Truthfully, he had wanted to turn down the boys at first too. But he'd thought differently...
Bill leaned back in his chair, his expression a mixture of nostalgia and pride. He looked over at Rebecca and Ethan, who sat across the table, still buzzing from the earlier meeting with Max and Trey. The restaurant's energy had calmed, and the ambient jazz playing in the background provided a fitting soundtrack to what felt like a turning point.
"You know," Bill started, sipping from his glass, "Coca-Cola actually came to us with a deal."
Ethan's eyes widened instantly. "Wait. Coca-Cola? Like the Coca-Cola?"
Bill nodded. "Yeah. Ten million dollars for a three-year deal."
Ethan's jaw dropped. "That's insane! That's... that's legendary money! Billboard-level, Times Square-type stuff!" He laughed in disbelief. "So what happened? Why didn't that go through?"
Bill hesitated. He scratched the back of his head, looking almost sheepish. "Well... I turned them down."
Ethan froze. His smile faltered. Rebecca raised an eyebrow.
"You... what?"
"I turned them down," Bill repeated, quieter this time. The words hung in the air.
Ethan blinked rapidly, processing it. Then he slowly nodded, forcing a smile. "It's fine. It's fine, man. I trust you."
Bill quickly added, "Yeah, and with Prime, you're going to earn so much more."
That got Ethan's attention again. His brow lifted. "Oh really? How much?"
Bill coughed. "Pardon?"
Ethan smiled thinly. "You said I'll earn so much more. So... how much are they offering?"
Bill shifted in his seat, clearly uncomfortable now. "Well... they're not exactly paying in cash."
Ethan's smile faded entirely. Rebecca glanced at him with a knowing look.
Seeing the light dim in Ethan's eyes, Bill jumped in. "Just wait—what you're going to get with Prime is huge. Bigger than any cheque Coke could have cut."
Ethan raised an eyebrow skeptically. Rebecca stayed silent but leaned forward.
"You're getting equity," Bill explained. "Thirty percent of the company's entire equity. That's unheard of."
Ethan's mouth opened slightly. "Equity?"
"Yes. You're not just endorsing the brand, Ethan. You're becoming a part-owner. That means if we play this right, you're going to be making money not just from what you sell, but from the entire growth of the company. The better Prime does, the richer you get."
He paused to let that sink in.
"Listen, this isn't just a business deal. This is a foundation. I want you set for life. This industry—it's bright, but it burns fast. All that glitters? It doesn't last forever. One day the cameras go quiet, the streaming numbers dip... and I don't want you out here hustling just to keep the lights on."
Ethan was listening now. Really listening.
"We build now. We work now. We set the pace while the spotlight is still warm. With Prime, we have a chance to make something from the ground up. You'll be one of the faces, sure, but you'll also be part of what shapes it. This drink becomes a hit? You're not just a brand ambassador—you're the boss."
Ethan nodded slowly. His mind was racing. "So if... if one day I want to stop making music, or take a break—"
"You'll still be set," Bill confirmed. "You'll have your own lane. One you helped build."
"Damn," Ethan said, looking both dazed and impressed.
Rebecca, who had been sitting back with her arms folded, now spoke up. "Now that I know your long-term vision for the brand, I'll need to do follow-up talks with them."
Bill turned to her. Ethan looked curious.
"Why?" Ethan asked.
Rebecca gave them both a look. "If Ethan is going to be a full-time partner and not just the face of Prime, we need to make sure that the brand doesn't just cooperate with his image—it needs to represent it."
Ethan furrowed his brows. "What does that mean exactly?"
Rebecca leaned forward, setting her elbows on the table. "Okay. It's like this: In today's world, especially for artists, your brand is sometimes more valuable than your actual music. Think about it. What do you think of when I say 'Taylor Swift'?"
Ethan shrugged. "Fame, reinvention... empire."
"Exactly. She's built a persona that people buy into. She doesn't just drop albums—she drops eras. Now take Drake—he's positioned himself as the emotional alpha male. He sells vulnerability and dominance. Billie Eilish? Anti-establishment, edgy, individualistic. Eminem? Chaos, rebellion, survival."
Bill nodded quietly, clearly impressed.
Rebecca continued. "These are not just artists. They're symbols. When fans buy their albums or merch, they're buying into a version of themselves they admire or aspire to. That's why branding is so important. And Ethan—your brand? Right now, it's still forming."
Ethan tilted his head. "So what am I then? What's my brand?"
Rebecca smiled tightly. "Right now? Incomplete."
That threw him off. "Incomplete?"
"Don't take it personally. You're rising. You're talented. But right now, people are still figuring out what you stand for. And Prime? It could be a defining move. But we have to be careful. We have to shape it properly. Every detail counts plus we have a blueprint for you already."
Ethan nodded, visibly absorbing everything.
"Wow," he said. "I didn't know that much went into this."
Rebecca smirked. "Please. This is just surface-level. Do you think my job is just damage control? I'm responsible for how the world sees you, Ethan. Every press release, every tweet, every collaboration. It all builds the version of you people accept."
"Damn," Ethan whispered. "That's crazy."
"It's war out there," Rebecca said. "We're not just building a singer. We're building a legacy."
At that moment, Bill's phone buzzed. He glanced at it and then smiled.
"They're here," he said with a twinkle in his eye.
Ethan and Rebecca looked at him curiously.
Bill stood up and straightened his jacket. "If Prime is the deal to secure your future financial freedom—this one right here? This is your cash-out."
Rebecca raised a brow. "Cash-out?"
"Yeah," Bill said, grinning. "This one is red carpet money. Jet money. 'Buy-an-island' money."
As he walked to the door to greet the incoming guests, Ethan turned to Rebecca.
"I don't know what's happening, but I'm starting to feel like I'm in a movie."
Rebecca smirked. "Welcome to the business, superstar. The credits haven't even started rolling."
Ethan laughed nervously, sitting back as the door opened and unfamiliar but powerful footsteps echoed in. He had a feeling things were about to change. Again.
A/N
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