From A Producer To A Global Superstar-Chapter 360: Unexpected guess

The meeting had just ended when Sharon stepped in quietly.

She didn’t interrupt immediately.

She waited until Wayne and Valarie were halfway out the door.

Then she cleared her throat.

"Sir."

Dayo looked up.

Her expression already told him enough.

"Your phone," she said carefully, "has been exploding."

Wayne paused mid-step. "That sounds expensive."

Sharon ignored him. "Not just calls. Labels. Production houses. Two major distribution groups. Three independent studios. They’ve all requested in-person meetings."

Alice turned back slightly. "All at once?"

"Yes," Sharon replied. "And they’re pushing hard. Some of them are asking for availability before you leave for Nigeria."

Wayne whistled softly. "Ah. There it is."

Dayo leaned back in his chair.

Of course.

Explosion in Asia. Stabilization in the U.S. The narrative shift. The donation leak. The numbers.

Everyone wanted proximity.

Not friendship. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Access.

"They’re not subtle," Sharon continued. "A few have implied... urgency."

Urich folded his arms. "Translation: they’re afraid of missing something."

Valarie nodded. "They want the formula."

Wayne smirked. "Or they want to lock him down before he evolves again."

"And yet they all fail realize it’s all Dayo’s work and luck."

Dayo didn’t smile.

He understood exactly why the timing mattered.

Four years ago, one week had changed everything.

One week.

That surge had rewritten his trajectory.

Recently, one month had bent entire markets.

And now?

He was leaving.

Of course the industry was nervous they wanted to grab a copy of whatever Dayo was doing before he goes to Nigeria.

"They think I’m about to trigger something again," Dayo said calmly.

Sharon didn’t deny it.

"They’ve noticed the pattern," she admitted. "The one-week spike years ago. The recent month cycle. They don’t believe that’s coincidence."

Wayne raised an eyebrow. "It wasn’t."

Dayo ignored him knowing he was either teasing or probing after all they themselves can’t explain it.

"How many confirmed requests?" he asked.

"Officially?" Sharon replied. "Nine."

"And unofficially?"

"Too many, some even went as far as bribing to chip in a word or two for them."

Alice exhaled slowly. "They’re trying to corner the window."

Urich added, "Pre-departure leverage."

Dayo stood.

"Decline all of them."

Sharon blinked once. "All?"

"All."

Wayne frowned. "Even the big ones?"

"Yes."

Valarie studied him carefully. "You’re sure?"

Dayo nodded once. "The industry can wait."

Sharon hesitated. "Some of them are implying that refusal might... strain relationships."

Dayo’s voice didn’t change.

"They won’t force me."

"No they can’t force."

He knew something Sharon didn’t fully understand.

The majority wanted proximity.

But none of them wanted confrontation.

Not now.

Not after what he achieved in Asia.

Not after the numbers he pulled.

"Keep ignoring," he said calmly. "No explanation. No counteroffers. Just silence."

Sharon nodded. "Understood."

The room began to disperse.

Until—

The door opened without announcement.

Everyone turned.

Michael stepped in.

No assistant.

No entourage.

Just him.

Wayne muttered under his breath, "Speak of the devil."

Michael walked in like he owned the air.

Which, in most rooms, he did.

Publicly, he was the gatekeeper. The man you had to pass through. The industry’s final checkpoint before legitimacy.

A man of power.

He stopped across from Dayo.

"You’ve been avoiding me," Michael said evenly.

Dayo tilted his head slightly.

"Have I?"

Michael didn’t smile.

"For a week."

Wayne glanced at Valarie.

This wasn’t scheduled.

Dayo’s expression didn’t change.

"I’ve been busy."

"Don’t play wise with me," Michael replied. "You know I don’t chase."

Silence stretched.

Alice and the others read the room instantly.

This wasn’t stakeholder talk anymore.

This was power testing.

Dayo gestured lightly toward the chairs.

"Let’s not do this here."

Michael held his gaze for a moment.

Then nodded once.

****

The restaurant was quiet.

Private.

Shielded.

Michael didn’t waste time.

"You know why I’m here."

Dayo poured water into his glass.

"Enlighten me."

Michael leaned forward.

"I’m tired of the silence."

"Silence is peaceful."

"Not in this industry."

Dayo sipped slowly.

Michael’s jaw tightened.

"You’ve done it before," Michael continued. "Four years ago. One week."

He let the words settle.

"You detonated the board."

Dayo didn’t interrupt.

"And now?" Michael continued. "One month."

His voice dropped slightly.

"You don’t expect me to believe that kind of acceleration is random."

Dayo placed the glass down.

"So?"

Michael leaned in further.

"Give it to me."

The air shifted.

"Give me the mechanism," Michael said bluntly. "Whatever you’re using."

Dayo didn’t smile.

"Even if I had something," he said calmly, "I wouldn’t give it to you."

Michael’s eyes sharpened.

"Don’t be arrogant."

"I’m not i am just stating with the bad blood between us don’t you think you’re arrogant."

Michael’s tone hardened he ignore the last part of Dayo’s words.

"You think you don’t need the industry?"

Dayo met his gaze evenly.

"I think I don’t need permission."

That hit.

Michael exhaled slowly.

"You’re playing a dangerous game."

"No," Dayo replied. "You are."

Silence.

Michael shifted tactics.

"You know I can open doors."

"I know ."

"I can close them too."

Dayo didn’t blink.

"Can you?"

The subtle challenge in his voice made Michael pause.

Dayo leaned forward slightly.

"Tell your bosses," he said quietly.

Michael froze cause of he didn’t have bosses know by the outside word.

"The four behind you."

The air cracked.

For the first time since entering, Michael’s composure flickered.

Very few people knew.

Very few people even suspected.

The MC label appeared singular.

Unified.

Owned.

Michael was its face.

Its authority.

Its wall.

But behind it—

Four.

Silent.

Older.

Deeper.

Dayo’s voice remained steady.

"Tell them if they push too hard, I won’t negotiate."

Michael’s pulse visibly shifted.

"How—"

He stopped himself.

Dayo watched him.

"You’re not the sole head," Dayo continued softly. "You’re the bridge."

Michael’s eyes narrowed.

"And bridges burn don’t ask how i know."

The restaurant suddenly felt smaller.

Michael forced composure back into place.

"You think knowing that changes anything?"

Dayo leaned back.

"It changes everything."

Silence stretched again.

"You’re overstepping," Michael warned.

Dayo shook his head once.

"No. I’m warning you."

Michael stared at him.

Dayo’s voice remained calm.

"There are shadows that prefer to stay shadows."

He let that breathe.

"If they’re dragged into light, they won’t like the exposure."

Michael swallowed once.

He hadn’t expected direct confrontation.

He had expected negotiation.

Evasion.

Strategic denial.

Not this.

"You’re confident," Michael said quietly.

"Yes."

"You’re sure you can withstand it?"

Dayo’s answer came without hesitation.

"Yes."

Michael studied him.

Searching for bluff.

There was none.

"You’ve changed," Michael said finally.

"No," Dayo replied. "I’ve grown."

Another long pause.

Michael stood slowly.

"This isn’t over."

Dayo nodded once.

"It rarely is."

Michael hesitated at the exit.

Then turned slightly.

"You’re walking into Nigeria thinking the industry can’t touch you."

Dayo’s voice was calm.

"I’m walking into Nigeria knowing I don’t need to be touched."

Michael left.

And for the first time in years—

He wasn’t certain he was the highest authority in the room.

—

Back at the office later, Wayne looked at Dayo carefully.

"What did he want?"

"Access," Dayo replied.

"And?"

"I declined."

Wayne grinned slowly.

"You enjoy this, don’t you?"

Dayo didn’t answer.

But his silence said enough.

Because this time—

He wasn’t reacting to the industry.

He was forcing it to react to him.