producer's secret
Liam stared at a pic of Rayn and Seri on his phone. Rayn and Seri laughing together at some cafe, her hand on his arm, both looked ridiculously comfortable. He hated this love triangle but Seri was attached to him. In the Stellar Sound Production boardroom, Liam was deep in thought about his future with Seri. Rayn, her bodyguard, still spent time with her everyday while he had to work! To help her with her music future he decided to spend more time investing in his family's record label. Would that bring them closer together? He also couldn't deny his feelings for Chloe, his ex. Perfect. Everything was perfect.
The sleek glass conference room overlooked Kuala Lumpur's skyline. Sharp-suited and confident, he adjusted his laptop as the Zoom call connected. His fingers drummed nervously against the wooden table. İt was a bad habit he developed since closing the BossSiDah deal in Los Angeles six months ago.
Dash appeared on screen, his billionaire attire contrasting with Lick’Inn coffee behind him. Behind him, the familiar warmth of a California early morning streamed through the windows.
Dash: Liam, brother! Got a minute? This is about Chloe and Maya. We've been working hard on BossSiDah.
Liam's posture shifted for a moment. His battle against his own brother Julian to help Chloe, his ex secure BossSiDah had been both family business warfare and a deeply personal love affair.
Liam: What about them?
Dash: Chloe's hard at work expanding BossSiDah internationally. She's been researching Asian markets since you helped her secure full ownership. Maya, our marketing guru, was pushing for bringing Malaysia here, something about authentic cultural exchange for their music festival concept.
The camera caught Liam's micro-expression, pride mixed with longing. His investment in Chloe's independence had been both stressful and freeing.
Liam: She's still hesitant about international expansion?
Dash: Terrified, actually. She keeps saying she doesn't want to exploit cultures she doesn't understand. Very Chloe, right?
Liam smiled for the first time in the conversation.
Liam: That's exactly why she'll succeed. I have something that solves all her problems while creating opportunities for everyone?
Julian entered with Alistair, both carrying tablets and steaming cups of kopi. Their conversation died as they noticed the video call in progress.
Julian: Aiyo, wrap up your call. Our board meeting starts in five.
Liam: Actually, this IS the meeting. Dash, hang on.
Liam gestures to the leather chairs. Julian and Alistair exchange glances. They've learned to expect the unexpected from Liam since his return from Los Angeles.
Liam: Gentlemen, what if I told you we could promote Stellar Sound globally, create a cultural bridge that makes our previous PR campaigns look amateur, and generate content that'll have streaming platforms in bidding wars?
Alistair: I'd say you've been drinking too much kopi!
Dash (on screen): Did someone say global promotion? Maya's here too. She won your Stellar Sound contest, remember?
Maya: (appears on screen in a smaller window, her Dominican features bright with excitement) Liam! Thank you again for that contest prize. I'll finally get to record in a studio! Chloe's still convinced there's a catch.
Liam: No catch. Your submission of "Corazón Malayo" was brilliant, fusing Dominican rhythms with the Malaysian traditional scales we sent you.
Julian leans forward, suddenly interested.
Julian: Wait. You're the contest winner? That song's been streaming consistently since we featured it!
Maya: Yes, I'm a rockstar!
Liam: Exactly. Maya, how'd Chloe feel about us coming to LA to promote BossSiDah?
Maya (on screen): Nervous but excited. We'd love that! She kept asking why a Malaysian production company would sponsor a Dominican singer.
Alistair raised an eyebrow.
Alistair: We had no problem sponsoring your studio recording because Dash is dating our most successful contest winner?
Beat. Liam's jaw tightens almost imperceptibly.
Liam: Yeah, they are dating but she won it fair and square.
Maya: Damn straight! I spent so many hours on that song!
Dash (on screen): Ethan Chen from Lick'Inn wanted to join us. He's been teaching me erhu to impress Maya. That guy's got serious traditional music credentials.
Julian: The coffee shop owner who plays traditional Chinese instruments?
Liam: Same guy. Here's where it gets interesting. What if instead of a simple cultural exchange trip, we create something bigger?
Liam stands, moving to the whiteboard with the confidence of someone who's spent months perfecting this pitch in his head.
Dash: Something bigger? I'd like to see where this is going! You've been on a crazy roll lately.
Alistair: It's been a roller coaster.
Liam: Reality TV. "Music Makers: Crossroads" We rent a big house in LA near BossSiDah where everyone will have a final performance with a top spot winner? International artists will compete while learning traditional Malaysian music. Maya joins us as our contest winner, Chloe as a music newbie, Dash, and Ethan will join as cultural contestants. We will bring in Cameron Reeves the choreographer and Amir bin Sulaiman, the amazing Malaysian gamelan player. Surprise, they agreed. Can you believe it?
Alistair: Reality television? Liam, we're a music production company, not a media circus.
"We're a business that needs global recognition. The Spanish Ballroom and BossSiDah PR campaigns proved international partnerships work. This amplifies everything."
"Or destroys everything spectacularly," Julian observed. "Which, knowing you, is equally likely."
"Your faith in me is touching."
Julian's expression shifted from skeptical to calculating.
Julian: The BossSiDah connection generated significant positive press for Stellar Sound. The international media loved the "Malaysian company supported Latina artist" angle.
Maya (on screen): Wait, reality TV? Like, with cameras and elimination and drama?
Alistair: Elimination? It's a reality disaster!
Liam: I'm thinking of a cultural exchange with stakes that matter. We'll have musicians, with real learning, and competition. Everyone on reality TV can perform at BossSiDah. Can we promote it internationally?
Dash (on screen): What's the real reason, Liam? This seems elaborate just for business promotion. Chloe's your ex."
Uncomfortable silence filled the room. Liam's knuckles whitened as he gripped the marker.
Liam: Chloe deserves opportunities that match her talent. After everything she went through, taking full ownership of BossSiDah, fighting with us, and proving herself as an artist, she should have a platform that showcases her abilities without looking like charity. I also want to promote Seri!
Julian's jaw ticked almost imperceptibly at the mention of that battle.
Julian: Yes, well. That acquisition was... contentious.
Alistair: Your personal investment in Chloe De La Torre’s success has been... notable. You're not going to bail on your engagement this time are you?
Julian's eyes narrowed slightly.
Julian: We all know that you helped Chloe acquire BossuiDah. This feels more personal than professional.
Liam: When will you get it? Business IS personal when you believe in someone's potential. Chloe transformed a struggling space into a cultural hub. She deserves recognition.
Alistair: What about production? Contestants, filming locations, and cultural consultants?
Liam: I already mapped it out. Seri will appear as a surprise guest for traditional Malaysian music. She doesn't know I'm producing, so her reaction will be completely real.
Julian: Your fiancée doesn't know about this project?
Liam: Yeah, I can't wait to surprise her! That's the television gold. We will be filming real emotions. Plus, it launches her traditional music career internationally.
Maya (on screen): Seri doesn't know Liam's involved? This is getting interesting. I want gossip!
Dash (on screen): What about her bodyguard? Rayn's pretty protective of her.
Liam: Rayn's voice is incredible. We can't exclude that level of talent even if we wanted to. He'll have to participate as a contestant to stay close to Seri.
Alistair: The Hayes-Sinclair gallery connection brings Evelyn and Zara into the mix naturally. Evelyn, your ex-fiancee is still practicing at Stellar Sound with Mei-Lin.
Liam glanced at his phone, a text from Seri and quickly texts back.
Liam: Seri's asking about dinner plans. Still think I should keep her in the dark about the surprise?
Julian: Absolutely. Her reaction will be television gold.
Alistair stands, pacing to the window overlooking the city.
Alistair: Let me understand this. You're creating a reality show where your ex-gf, and ex-fiancee compete alongside your fiancée, who doesn't know you're producing, supervised by her bodyguard, who has to participate to do his job?
Liam: You make it sound like a trainwreck.
Julian: Or the most compelling television concept we've ever pitched!
Liam: Why can't you be my wingman?"
Julian: I'm your brother. Brutal honesty is in my job description.
Liam glances at his phone. There's multiple texts from Seri about dinner plans and a missed call.
Ethan (joining on screen): Sorry I'm late. There was a coffee rush. Did I miss the Malaysia pitch?
Liam: Perfect timing, Ethan. How do you feel about being on reality TV while teaching erhu?
Ethan (on screen): If it helped Maya's career and promotes cultural understanding? I'm in. Plus, my grandmother always said music builds bridges better than words. Though she also said don't date your students, so I'm already ignoring half her advice.
Alistair: You're dating a student?
Ethan: No, but I'm about to if we're doing reality TV. Zoe, the boom operator, has been stalking my erhu videos online lately."
Julian: That's either romantic or restraining order territory.
Ethan: I'm a romantic.
Maya (on screen): Chloe's going to freak out when she realizes this is bigger than just filming and Reality TV!
Dash (on screen): She's already suspicious about the timing. You guys are all coming right when she needs Malaysian musicians?
Liam: Her instincts are sharp. They always have been.
Dash (on screen): So Chloe thinks she's coming for filming cultural exchange, but she's actually walking into a reality show where her ex is pulling the strings? That's either genius or disaster waiting to happen.
Julian: Sometimes they're the same thing.
Alistair: They weren't really dating were they? I thought it was just a fling.
Nobody responded in the room.
Alistair: Oh for god's sake, you dated her?"
Liam; You're a genius,
Julian returned to the table, forming a decision in his expression.
Julian: What's the production timeline and budget? You're finally paying attention to business at Stellar Sound. I had to twist an arm and a leg to get you onboard!
Dash: You really did! Liam almost ran away from home and I would have joined him.
Liam: Two weeks prep, and six weeks filming. Conservative estimate is 2 million. We will film at a house in LA near BossSiDah. We film who arrived, do a villa tour, with first impressions, cultural experiences, and then professional musicians as mentors can filter in as we film?
Alistair: 2 million? That's not conservative, but that's very comprehensive.
Liam: Quality costs money and let's not look exploitative. We need traditional costume designers, multiple filming locations, and enough budget to make every contestant's journey meaningful. We're extremely lucky to have our friends at the BossSiDah music venue and Lick'Inn coffee.
Julian: What if Chloe discovers your involvement before filming starts?
Long pause. Liam stared at the city beyond the window, watching the entertainment district lights at night.
Liam: Then we'll capture the most real reaction reality television has ever seen.
Ethan (on screen): Liam, are you sure mixing business with personal relationships is wise? I've seen how you look when Chloe's mentioned.
The room falls silent. Even the air conditioned noise seems muted.
Liam: I'm engaged and my feelings don't affect my professional judgment.
Alistair: Way to go! You are finally making some wise business decisions and caring less about relationships but Chloe did make some bad press for us. Are you sure she's not a liability?
Liam: No, she's very dedicated to BossSiDah and I don't blame her for what she did.
Julian: I'll be sure to give her a hard time about it.
Maya (on screen): For what it's worth, Chloe talks about the BossSiDah deal constantly. She said you understood her vision when no one else did and made it a reality!
Dash (on screen): She also asked about you more than she probably should. She misses your help.
Liam's expression became carefully neutral.
Liam: This project will give everyone a way to showcase raw talent. My motivations are irrelevant if the outcome benefits everyone.
Julian: Spoken like someone who's finally learned to separate business from emotion.
Alistair: I'm impressed, Liam. Six months ago, you would have led with your heart and justified it later. This is the type of strategy we need.
Julian nods approvingly.
Julian: BossSiDah proved you could work with people you care about. This takes that to the next level. I think this is a big step forward for you!
Liam: All in favor of greenlighting "Music Makers: Crossroads"?
Their hands raised immediately, including the virtual ones on screen.
Ethan (on screen): Motion carried. When do we start? I never imagined we'd be producing reality TV!
Liam: Dash, remember to keep it a secret for now!
Dash: I'm down! Secrets, let's go!
Maya: Yay, it's a, can you keep a secret challenge?
Alistair: God help us all. If anyone can pull off this cultural circus, it's you, Liam.
Julian: You've really matured, using your connections to create opportunities rather than hurt people.
As the meeting dispersed and screens disconnected, Liam remained alone in the boardroom. The city lights twinkle, and his reflection in the glass showed a man caught between business ambition and personal redemption.
His phone buzzed insistently with another text from Seri, and below it, a notification that made his breath catch: "Chloe De La Torre is now following Stellar Sound Production on Instagram."
Liam (whispered to his reflection): Two weeks to arrange everything. Six weeks to see if helping her was worth risking everything else.
He picked up his phone, staring at Chloe's follow notification for a long moment before typing a response to Seri about dinner plans.
Was building something more satisfying than winning battles? The game had begun, and for the first time since returning from Los Angeles, Liam felt like he might actually win.
