Landon woke up to the sound of his phone buzzing on his nightstand. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes and answered the call from Rachel, who was calling from Canada.
"Hey, Rach, what's up?" Landon asked, his voice still husky from sleep.
"Hey, Landon. I've got some bad news," Rachel said, her voice laced with frustration. "Diddy's 'Bad Boy' record label has swooped in and signed all the females we were scouting for Echowaves."
Landon's expression turned serious, but he kept his composure. "That's interesting. How did Diddy know we were interested in signing them to Echowaves?"
There was a pause on the other end of the line before Rachel responded, "To be honest, Landon, I'm worried that maybe someone on our team might have taken a bribe from Diddy's people and leaked the news. I don't know who it could be, but it's the only explanation that makes sense."
Landon's eyes narrowed slightly as he processed the information, his's expression remained calm and collected, unfazed by the news. "Just because I wanted them specifically doesn't mean I can't take those plans and give them to someone else," he said, his voice smooth and confident. "I'll look for new girls and form a group out of them. Don't worry, Rachel. This isn't a setback, it's just a minor detour."
Rachel's voice on the other end of the line still carried a hint of concern. "Are you sure, Landon? We had our hearts set on those girls. It would've been perfect."
Landon chuckled softly. "Perfection is overrated, Rach. Sometimes the best things come from improvising. Trust me, I've got this. Get back to work on the other projects we discussed. I'll handle the talent search."
With that, Landon ended the call, his mind already racing with new possibilities and strategies. He swung his legs over the side of the bed, ready to tackle the day. "Something good will happen, right? It always does." He thought as he got up.
Later
Landon walked into the office, a sense of satisfaction washing over him as he saw the signed contracts from three of the five boys. He smiled, anticipating the success that was to come.
"Alright, guys," he said, addressing the trio. "You've made an excellent decision. Now, let's talk about the next step. On Saturday, we're leaving for Canada. You should take this time to say your goodbyes to your families and friends, but also make it clear to them that when you return, you'll be stars."
The trio looked at him with excitement
Landon leaned back in his chair, a confident glint in his eye. "You are about to embark on a journey that will change your lives forever. Get ready for the spotlight, because when you return from Canada, you'll be household names."
As the trio left, he walked to the window and thoughtto himself. "Harry and Zayn, I'm not surprised they're taking their time. I guess their two big egos in every timeline."
Friday, 16:55. Landon was lost in thought, his eyes closed as he leaned back in his chair. The office was quiet, the only sound the soft hum of the air conditioning. Suddenly, the door opened, and Harry and Zayn walked in, both holding their respective contracts.
Landon's eyes snapped open, and one of his eyebrows raised as he gazed at the two. His voice was cold and detached. "What? Were you expecting me to call you and ask you why you haven't signed yet?"
Harry and Zayn exchanged a glance before Harry spoke up, "No, we just...wanted to think it over properly. "
Landon's gaze narrowed slightly as he looked at the signed contracts. "And?" he asked, his voice still neutral.
Zayn spoke up, ".Here'sthe contracts."
Landon's expression shifted, and he smiled, a hint of satisfaction in his voice. "Well, I'm glad you decided to join the others. You won't regret it, I promise."
He leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Tomorrow's the big day. We're leaving for Canada at 20:00. Make sure you're all at the airport by 19:45. And don't worry about the trip; it's on me. You'll be traveling in style."
Landon's smile broadened as he took the contracts from them. "I'm looking forward to seeing what you'll achieve. Let's make this journey unforgettable."
As Harry and Zayn left the room, Emma walked in, a curious expression on her face. "Hey, Landon, what's going on?" she asked, nodding towards the door. "You know I've been meaning to ask, but whats the big deal about those guys signing? Their just five indie guys."
Landon's smile still lingered as he leaned back in his chair. "You'll see in the next five months why," he said, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.
Emma raised an eyebrow, intrigued." But tell me, do you really think they'llfunction properly togethern? Especially those Zayn and Harry guys had the same idea of brining in their contracts on the last day to try and show off to you that they should be the main focus of the band."
Landon chuckled softly. "it's going to be a very interesting few months. Trust me, Emma. This is going to be huge."
Emma shook her head, laughing. "You're impossible sometimes, Landon. But I trust your instincts. I'll just have to wait and see."
On Saturday, Landon, Emma and Stephan made their way to the airport. The Trio was escorted to the lounge to wait for the members of the group. One by one each group member was brought with their parents as they wanted to see the man who was raking their kids to a foreign land. However, they are shocked when they see that Landon is actually around the same age as them and he's "That" Landon Asher they see in billboards and play on their radio.
"You're...Landson Asher?" Louis Tomlinson's mother asked, her voice laced with surprise.
"It's Landon, ma'am," he corrected with a smile. "And you must be Louis's mom. Nice to meet you."
The parents exchanged skeptical glances, clearly taken aback by Landon's age. They had expected a seasoned industry veteran, not a young man who looked like he could be their sons' peer.
"How old are you?" Harry Styles's father asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.
"Old enough to know what I'm doing," Landon replied with a chuckle. "Let's focus on getting you all set up for your time in Canada. We'll be working hard to make sure you're prepared for the spotlight."
As the parents continued to chat with Landon, their initial skepticism began to fade, replaced by a growing sense of confidence in his abilities. Meanwhile, the group members were sizing Landon up, intrigued by his youthful energy and charisma.
"So, what's the plan?" Niall Horan asked, his Irish accent distinct as he settled into the plush couch.
"We'll be heading to Canada, where we'll start working on your album," Landon explained. "Emma here will be handling the logistics, and Slade will ensure your safety and security."
Stephan looked at Kandon with a tired expression on his face before correcting him, again. "Greetings, my names Stephan. Please don't be like him and get it wrong."
The group nodded, seeming to buy into Landon's vision. As they prepared to depart, the parents turned to Landon with a mixture of curiosity and concern.
"Take care of our boys," Louis's mother said, her voice firm but polite.
"I will," Landon assured her. "They're in good hands."