The man in the midnight blue suit with a faint green shimmer approached with quiet confidence. His smirk cut through the dim light. "I'm Alexander Miller," he said smoothly, extending his hand.
Jess hesitated, then shook his hand firmly, her curiosity clear. "I'm Jess Lynn. What can I do for you, Mr. Miller?"
Alexander's smile grew, his eyes sharp with intensity. "Jess Lynn, do you want to be famous?"
Jess stared at him, her breath visible in the cold night air. The wind howled, making her shiver. Something was unsettling about his question, as if it meant more than it seemed.
Standing at the door, Jess's heart raced as she faced Alexander Miller's intense presence. Me, becoming famous? She almost laughed. The evening had left her feeling disoriented, and his piercing gaze made everything seem unreal as she tried to understand what was happening.
"I... I don't understand," she said.
Alexander moved closer, his presence both commanding and reassuring. Jess stayed where she was, her eyes locked on him, trying to figure out why he was there.
He casually slipped his hands into his pockets. "I saw your performance tonight," he said smoothly. "It wasn't what I expected, but it was truly captivating. I came into your diner just to eat, but your performance caught my attention. Your talent hit me like a powerful force—something I haven't felt in a long time. I think fate brought us together. I want to give you a chance to develop your talent further."
Jess's mouth went dry, and she pressed her hands to her eyes, trying to calm her racing heart.
"I didn't mean to overwhelm you," he said gently. "I'm just excited. It's rare to see someone react to an opportunity with such genuine surprise. Maybe I underestimated the impact."
Jess shook her head. "It's not that. It's just... I've never had anyone appreciate my singing like this before. I didn't think it was something special. I'm honored, but I'm not sure if I deserve this."
Alexander's gaze softened. "Of course you do. I wouldn't be here if I didn't think you had what it takes. I understand this might be a lot to take in, so take your time. I'm offering you a chance. If you decide it's not for you, that's okay. But if you're interested, here's my contact information." He handed her a sleek card with his phone number and the address of the MS Institute of Recording Arts. "Come by the studio next Monday if you want to explore this further."
Without waiting for an answer, he turned and walked away, leaving Jess alone with her thoughts. She stared at the card in her hand, the studio's name shining under the streetlights.
The night had taken a surprising turn. Jess gripped the card tightly, her mind racing as she walked back to the diner. She needed time to think. The possibilities were both exciting and frightening.
On Monday, Jess stood outside the studio, feeling the cold air on her cheeks. She took a deep breath and pushed open the door. Inside, the warm air hit her, a big change from the chill outside. The studio was buzzing with activity—musicians tuning their instruments, engineers adjusting equipment, and everyone focused on their tasks. Jess's heart raced with nervousness.
A friendly receptionist welcomed her. "Good morning! You must be Jess Lynn. Mr. Miller is expecting you."
"Yes, that's me," Jess said, trying to calm herself.
The receptionist showed Jess to a waiting area, where she sat down, trying to calm her nerves. She thought about how she had once decided the music industry wasn't for her, based on her past experiences. But now, something unexpected had made her rethink everything, leading her to change her mind completely.
It all started over the weekend. Jess had planned a surprise gift for Fred's birthday to show her thanks for his kindness. After her shift, she went to the mall, hoping to find the perfect present. At first, the mall's bright and grand feel cheered her up, but her mood changed fast when she saw Shaun Hays doing some promotional ads. Seeing his fake smile made her feel a surge of anger. Their encounter brought up a lot of feelings she was still trying to make sense of.
The encounter was upsetting. Jess wanted to walk away, but Shaun's rude attitude and condescending comments hurt her deeply and made her feel more embarrassed. "Do you want my autograph? I see you went through a lot just to see me," he mocked. The crowd's reactions made her feel even worse.
"I'm not here for you, Shaun," she shot back.
"Oh really? Because this is starting to look like stalking," he said.
Lost in her painful memories, Jess barely noticed the receptionist approaching. "Mr. Miller is ready to meet you now," the receptionist said, breaking through Jess's fog of regret.
She took a deep breath and followed the receptionist down the hallway. When they reached the conference room, she was surprised to see four people sitting around a large table. The serious mood made her even more anxious.
Alexander stood up and greeted her warmly. "Jess, welcome! I'm glad you came. Let me introduce you to our team." He pointed to the man at the head of the table. "This is Mr. Bennie Hacks, the president of the studio. He's the reason we're all here today."
Mr. Hacks stood and shook her hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Jess. Alexander has spoken very highly of you."
"Thank you, Mr. Hacks," Jess replied, shaking his hand.
Alexander then gestured to the two seated beside Mr. Hacks. "And these are our creative team members, Marlin and Sussie. They handle musical arrangements and production."
Marlin nodded with a friendly smile. "Nice to meet you, Jess. We've heard a lot about you."
Sussie added with a chuckle, "The diner girl, right? It's great to finally meet you."
Jess offered a nervous smile, feeling slightly more at ease with their warm reception. Alexander then turned to the group. "Now, my Lady and Gentlemen," he said, winking at Sussie. "This is Jess Lynn, the talented singer I told you about."
The team gave Jess encouraging nods and smiles. "You're all set," Marlin said. "Whenever you're ready."
Jess took a deep breath and closed her eyes, trying to steady her nerves. Here we go.