Chapter 303
Ruby left after finishing the haircut, as did the other teachers. I slipped each of them a twenty-thousand dollar as bonus. It didn't matter how close we were; it was important to show appreciation. They all left with smiles on their faces.
The rush continued until noon, by which time most of the pre-registered students had gone through orientation. Lucy, though visibly tired, was still buzzing with energy.
She found me in my office, registration forms clutched in her hand. "John, as of twelve-thirty, we've registered eight hundred and sixty new students. Combined with our existing students, that brings us to a total of one thousand one hundred forty-five. Half are university students, and the rest were drawn in by our growing reputation. Total revenue… eight million nine hundred and thirty thousand dollars!"
One month. We had built a multi-million dollar business in a single month. The initial investment had been substantial, but the returns were exceeding even my wildest expectations. And this was just the beginning. We had tapped into a steady, reliable revenue stream.
Taxes were a bit of a pain, but thankfully, Sevan City was eager to support new businesses. Our transition into the WY Media Group had been surprisingly smooth, and with the various deductions, our effective tax rate was only fifteen percent.
We had not only recouped our initial investment, we were turning a significant profit.
"Lucy," I said, pulling out my checkbook, "take a hundred thousand. Consider it a bonus."
She waved her hands dismissively. "John, I don't need it. Really."
"I know you don't need the money," I insisted, "but you've earned it. You've been working tirelessly this past month." She had lost weight, her usually vibrant features tinged with fatigue.
"I know," she said, her voice softer now. "It's just… all of this… it feels surreal. To achieve so much in such a short time…"
I pulled her close, kissing her forehead. "This is just the beginning, Lucy. Cyber Academy, Genesis College, Fusion Institute… those are my next targets. I want Dance Fusion Hall to be the number one dance studio in Sevan City. No, scratch that. I want it to be the best in the country."
She leaned into me, her eyes sparkling with renewed determination. "We'll need to secure additional locations. I don't want to turn away students because we don't have the capacity."
"I'm already on it," I assured her. "Second, third, and fourth locations are all in the works."
Dance Fusion Hall was more than just a dance studio; it was the foundation of our media empire. We had plans to expand into modeling, creating a full-fledged talent development pipeline.
Why represent other brands when we could create our own?
We had already hired a talented designer, fresh off a stint in Paris, to head up our new clothing line. The plan was to have our Everlasting New Media anchors model the first collection.
Our analytics showed that a surprising number of viewers were clicking on the anchors' outfit links. We had quietly launched our own online stores on various platforms, capitalizing on the organic interest. It was still early days, but the potential was enormous.
Everything we did, every decision we made, was geared towards building a profitable, sustainable business. New media was a fickle beast, easy to break into but even easier to fall out of. We were playing the long game.
The next few days were a blur of meetings, negotiations, and site visits. I was working around the clock, but the thrill of building something from the ground up kept me going.
By the end of the week, our student count had surpassed fifteen hundred. It was time to expand.
I headed back to Liberty Square, this time setting my sights on an eight-hundred-square-meter space that had previously housed a gym. The business had gone under, but the bones of the space were still sound. Best of all, it was located in the heart of the student district.
I called Lauren, our contractor. She estimated a ten-day turnaround time for the renovations. The cost was higher than our initial build-out – almost 1.6 million dollars – but the location was prime. We were catering to a young, affluent demographic, and they expected a certain level of polish.
Factor in a year's rent, and the total cost came to five million dollars.
It was a steep price, but I knew it was a worthwhile investment. This wasn't just another dance studio; this was our flagship location, a statement to the world that Dance Fusion Hall was here to stay.
With the Liberty Square location secured, I had Mia drive me to the East End. I had a meeting with the Allens.
I found the family gathered in the living room, chatting and watching television. It was strange to think that this unassuming group controlled a significant portion of Sevan City's manufacturing industry. There was a warmth, a lack of pretension, that I found incredibly refreshing.
"John, my boy!" Gary boomed, rising to greet me. "Come in, come in! Lillian, get John a drink. Busy day?"
"You have no idea, Mr. Allen," I said, accepting a glass of iced tea from Lillian. "It's all thanks to Ruby, though. We had a line of students out the door today, all thanks to her connections."
Emily smiled. "You're too modest, John. That advertising campaign of yours was brilliant. And that Sevan City Beer jingle? Pure genius!"
"It's all thanks to my team," I said, feeling a blush creep up my neck.
"Don't sell yourself short, son," Gary said, his eyes twinkling. "You've built a remarkable company in a very short time. And you've diversified, which is smart. You've got a knack for this business thing, John. I'll give you that."
Coming from Gary, a titan of industry, his praise meant the world to me. "I'm just trying to learn from the best, Mr. Allen," I said, raising my glass in a silent toast.
"He's right, you know," Patrick chimed in, clapping a hand on my shoulder. "The kid's a natural. Give him a few more years, and he'll be giving us all a run for our money."
"Enough with the compliments, you two," Emily interjected, her voice laced with amusement. "Dinner's ready. Let's eat."
After a delicious meal, Patrick pulled me aside. "Let's talk in the study," he said, his tone serious.
He closed the door behind us, offering me a cigar. "I've got some information about TY Media," he said, leaning back in his leather chair.
"Did they invest in the project?"
"Not only did they invest," Patrick said, his voice barely a whisper, "they're the single largest investor."
"How much?"
"Forty billion."
I nearly choked on my cigar smoke. "Forty billion? Are you sure?"
"That's what my sources tell me," Patrick said, his face grim. "And that figure might even be conservative. The thing is, John, most of the other investors are small fry. A few hundred million here, a few million there. The Garcia family is betting the farm on this project, and they're relying on Vincent to make it happen. If Skyliart Group pulls their support…"
"They're finished," I finished, my mind racing.
"Exactly," Patrick said, nodding grimly. "I've heard whispers that TY Media has already leveraged themselves to the hilt. They took out a fifteen-billion-dollar loan using their shares as collateral, and they've been diverting funds from other channels. People are starting to talk."
"Why hasn't anyone gone public with this information?"
"Because TY Media still has some cash reserves," Patrick explained. "They're not broke… yet. But if word gets out that Skyliart Group is wavering…"
"It'll be a bloodbath," I said, a shiver running down my spine.
"Precisely," Patrick said, a sly smile spreading across his face. "Which is why we need to make sure the right people hear those whispers."
"What are you suggesting?"
Patrick leaned in close, his voice barely audible. "Skyliart Group has enemies, John. TX Media, Stellar Media Network, and even Skyliho Group. Imagine if certain… rumors… were to find their way to these competitors."
I understood immediately. Patrick was playing a dangerous game, but it was a game I could get behind. We wouldn't be spreading the rumors ourselves; we'd simply be making sure they reached the right ears.
George Jefferson had taught me to exploit opportunities. Patrick was teaching me to wield influence. Together, we could make a formidable team.
And the best part? I would be operating entirely in the shadows. No one would suspect a thing.
"Patrick," I said, a slow grin spreading across my face, "you're a genius."
I ended up staying at the Allen estate that night. As I made my way to the guest room, I passed by Ruby's door. It was slightly ajar, and I could hear the faint sounds of music playing inside.
I knocked softly. "Ruby?"
"Come in, John," she called out.
I pushed the door open to find her sprawled out on the bed, still damp from a recent shower. She was wearing a surprisingly conservative bikini, but it did little to hide her incredible figure.
"Those legs of yours must be tired," I said, my voice a low murmur. "Let me give you a foot massage."
She smiled, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "You're not planning anything bad, are you?"
I knelt down in front of her, taking her foot in my hands. The air crackled with unspoken tension. My gaze lingered on her long, tanned legs, my heart pounding in my chest.
"John," she said, her voice barely a whisper, "the vice principal of Cyber Academy… she's a good friend of mine. I put in a good word for you. You should pay her a visit soon."
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