Perfect
Little Starlight Entertainment was the record label I had laid my eyes on. I thought it was the perfect fit to all my requirements.
Small in size so they could dedicate all its resources to Lumi. Big in connections so Lumi would not have trouble developing further into the industry. No negative news of exploitation, predatory contracts, and all that. I thought it was too good to be true.
The founder of the label was Clara Starlight, also known as The Fallen Queen. Not exactly a flattering nickname, but a fitting one.
She had dominated the charts in the country and performed in sold-out stadiums once. In other words, at the height of her career, until all came crashing down due to a car accident. She lost function of both legs and would remain in a wheelchair forever.
How was I so clear on her details of her information?
It was quite embarrassing to admit but I was a fan. Some female classmates had introduced me to her music, and I was hooked by the instant. I'd even attended one of her concerts once. The most important reason was that my parents had a car accident around the same time as hers.
Her singing and messages during those times kept me going, until the realities of life struck me. A teenager living alone, studying, working four part-time jobs, paying off mortgages and loans. It was too much for the past me. I made the simple decision to give up fighting and mix with the wrong crowd. My appreciation for Clara's music faded in the process.
It had been years (and I mean years) since I had heard her name, not to mention her singing. That was the reason why this email came as such a shocker to me. Daniella had to call me to keep me out of my daze.
"Hey. What's up? What's got you stunned locked?"
"Little Starlight Entertianment," I mumbled, the remnants of the daze still lingering.
Daniella raised an eyebrow. "That's the label you were so gung-ho about, your top choice. Aren't you glad? Why the shocked face?"
I turned and faced her, my voice lowering. "The contents contains details about you. Personal details."
I saw somberness settle in Daniella's eyes. It flickered past me, too. Daniella and Little Starlight must have history together. Yet she did not reject me or talk me down on the decision when we had our discussion about the results of my research, so I remained confused. Our eyes locked and I began to read the email, word for word.
[Subject: Invitation from Little Starlight Entertainment]
[Dear miss.ellasings,]
[I know we have our differences regarding Miss Anisa, but please, please hear me out. Please let me meet with that little singer. I want to sign her. She is the perfect candidate for our label.]
[We can talk about Anisa then, too. I would like to apologize for what happened to her.]
[Clara Starlight, Little Starlight Entertainment]
"The most informal email yet," I noted. "Because it seems you two know each other, not only as an acquaintance."
Daniella bit her lip. "Anisa is the name of my senior sister. Her relationship to Clara Starlight is similar to my relationship with her."
"Needing to put aside differences... needing to apologize. You two had some history," I guessed. "The reason behind your senior sister Anisa's departure from the industry... she did not do anything about, even with her status?"
Daniella shook her head. A look of frustration crawled onto her face. "It's a little more complicated than that," she grumbled. "It's mostly because Anisa's last contact was with her before she moved out of the country. However, Clara won't tell me anything about what's she been doing and how she's been."
I put the phone and lowered my head. "Then it seems that this label isn't a right fit, either."
Daniella inhaled a deep breath. She stood up, clenched her fists, and stretched her neck before she spoke. "No, I agree too that Little Starlight is the best label for Lumi as of now. Plus, judging by the tone of desperation in that email, we will have the upper hand in negotiation."
I raised my head and eyes in surprise. "Y-you—"
"It's about time I truly confront her about Anisa, too."