One Man Band System

While the girls were gathered together, ring, Eric’s smartphone buzzed. He pulled out his phone, saw Caleb’s name on the screen, and answered right away.

"Hello?" Eric greeted.

"Eric, what on earth happened to your granddad’s building? I’m sending you a picture," Caleb said.

Eric switched the call to speaker, and ding, a notification popped up on his phone. When he opened it, it showed a photo of his grandfather’s entire building completely draped in blue tarps and surrounded by a corrugated metal fence, with the shadowy outlines of numerous workers moving around inside, hard to make out.

"Oh," Eric said, looking at the picture.

Ruby, who was standing right next to him, also glanced at the photo on Eric’s phone as he rested it in his palm.

"Are you doing a massive overhaul or something?" Caleb asked.

"Something like that," Eric replied with a bitter smile.

He had never expected that the renovation plans he’d originally drawn up using the scale model—the one he had accidentally triggered by pressing auto-arrange—were actually being carried out right now.

"So are you staying in the penthouse while the building is being renovated?" Caleb asked.

"Yeah... by the way... where are you? Sounds pretty crowded over there," Eric asked, catching the background noise on Caleb’s end.

"I’m at the hospital with Avery for a checkup. I just happened to drive past your building earlier, and Avery snapped the photo," Caleb answered.

"Oh, got it... no wonder it’s noisy. Aren’t you working today?" Eric replied.

"I took the day off. Avery’s been complaining about stomach pain since this morning, so that’s why I’m at the hospital right now," Caleb answered.

"Hmm? Nothing serious, I hope?" Eric asked.

"Fingers crossed. Avery’s still inside being examined right now, and they told me to wait outside, so I called you to keep my mind off things," Caleb answered.

"Oh, right, since you’re on the line,"

Eric brought Caleb up to speed on his new project, which also involved Jade. After Eric finished explaining, Caleb went silent for quite a while. Eric could only hear him breathing and settling into his seat, the chair creaking under his weight.

"So you and Ruby are completely good now?" Caleb asked.

"Yup... in fact, Ruby’s standing right next to me," Eric answered, holding his phone over toward Ruby, who had been listening in as well.

"Um... hi, Caleb," Ruby said into the phone.

"Oh... Ruby’s there too... okay then, that’s great," Caleb replied cheerfully.

"So that’s why I can form a new group now, and this time I’m putting proper contracts together for them and for The Empress too. I’m doing things officially this time around," Eric said.

"Oh... I see. So the reason you’re renovating your granddad’s building is that you’re ready to jump into business?" Caleb asked.

"Yep... oh, right. I need an IT guy, you want to be my IT Director?" Eric asked casually.

Caleb went completely dead silent. Even Ruby turned her head to stare at Eric, examining his face as if he’d just grown two heads.

"Man, you can’t just go dropping bombs like that... are you actually serious?" Caleb asked.

"Oh... actually, yeah, I am. I’m distributing songs and music videos online, so I definitely need an above-average IT department to build the systems, monitor the database, and handle server maintenance," Eric answered.

"Hmm... true, but aren’t you an IT guy yourself?" Caleb countered.

"I won’t have the time, and developing new systems takes time. I need someone with experience and a proper team behind them," Eric said.

"Hmm... tell you what. Send me a proposal, and I’ll think it over," Caleb replied.

"Alright, as soon as I get a clear picture and the green light from Trinity Entertainment, I’ll send that proposal right over," Eric said.

"Wait, you already reached out to Trinity Entertainment?" Caleb asked, sounding a bit surprised.

"Just this morning, actually, hahaha," Eric replied.

"Man, you really don’t waste time... alright, I get it, but watch your back. You’re gonna need a legal expert. Don’t go signing anything blindly, even if you hold their shares—and start keeping receipts, you hear me?" Caleb warned.

"Sounds like you’re speaking from experience?" Eric asked.

"I’ve been screwed over by contracts more times than I can count. I know how this game works inside out, even if I am just an IT guy," Caleb answered.

"Got it, I’ll be careful," Eric replied.

"Alright, gotta run. We’ll catch up later—they’re calling me inside," Caleb said.

"Got it, keep me posted," Eric replied.

"Will do... talk later," Caleb said, ending the call.

The line went dead. Eric looked back toward his grandfather’s building, which was currently under renovation. Caleb made a solid point, he needed to start getting his legal affairs in order while the building was being worked on. Right away, he dialed Katie’s number. Ruby, standing beside him, listened quietly, while the other girls were still busily chatting away with Tania.

"Hello," Katie answered the phone.

The moment Katie’s voice came through, even though she had only said hello over speakerphone, Chloe, who recognized Katie’s voice, immediately turned to look at Eric, followed by Emma, Priya, Monica, Heidi, and Laura. While Tania stood there dazed, wondering what was going on, the girls swarmed Eric on the spot. Seeing this, Eric turned off the speaker, pressed the phone to his ear, and stepped away from the group.

Ruby, observing the expressions on the faces of Emma, Chloe, Priya, Monica, Heidi, and Laura, felt a bit confused. They looked as if they held a deep grudge against whoever Eric was talking to on the phone.

"Um... what’s wrong with you guys?" Ruby asked, bewildered.

"He’s on the phone with that vixen," Chloe answered.

"Grr... what a nerve," Priya added.

"Who did he call earlier anyway?" Monica asked Ruby.

"First he called Caleb, who’s also my cousin and now he’s calling someone in legal. I don’t really get the details," Ruby answered.

Hearing Ruby’s explanation, the faces of the six girls flushed even redder. Tania shifted over next to Ruby and observed all six of them.

"This is bad... if it’s about legal stuff, we really can’t object. That sucks," Heidi said, annoyed.

"Yeah... like it or not, we just have to accept it. But what’s the issue anyway?" Laura asked.

"Um... I think Eric is renovating his grandfather’s building... and if I’m not mistaken, he just came back from Trinity Entertainment," Ruby answered.

Everyone turned to look at Ruby at once, including Tania standing beside her. Tania thought for a second before speaking up,

"I was at Eric’s building earlier... it didn’t seem like it was being renovated... maybe they just started?" Tania asked, confused, since before coming to the girls’ school, she had indeed gone to Eric’s grandfather’s building and left together with Eric.

"That’s not the main point. What was he doing at Trinity Entertainment? My mom said we have to be careful dealing with them. Does it have something to do with that movie soundtrack?" Emma asked, confused and lost in thought.

"Oh... he holds shares in Trinity Entertainment," Chloe blurted out.

Everyone turned their heads to stare at Chloe in unison, then looked over at Eric, who was talking on the phone behind his car. They went silent, gears practically turning in their heads as they put the pieces together.

"Hey, Chloe," Laura called out, checking Chloe since they had promised not to tell the others.

Seeing Laura’s face, Chloe realized her slip-up. She immediately clapped her hand over her mouth, but it was too late, Emma, Monica, Priya, and Heidi were already staring at her, clearly demanding an explanation. Meanwhile, Ruby and Tania, who knew nothing about it, just stood by quietly listening. But before Chloe could explain anything, Eric suddenly walked back over to them.

"Let me drop you off on the way, Tania. You too, Ruby, let’s head out now. I’ve got an appointment at the Stone & Friends law firm after I drop you guys off," Eric said casually.

"We’re coming along!" Emma, Chloe, Monica, Laura, Heidi, and Priya shouted in unison, stepping right in front of Eric.

"Huh... coming along? I actually have business to take care of over there," Eric said, puzzled.

"We’re coming... end of story," all six of them insisted, crowding him until Eric was backed right up against his car.

"Um... what about you two then?" Eric asked, turning to look at Ruby and Tania.

"Oh... I brought my car today. Since tomorrow’s the weekend, I want to look for a new apartment to rent... I can’t keep living with Jade forever. I’ve already contacted a few places and want to check them out today," Ruby answered.

"Um... can I just come with you?" Tania asked Ruby.

"Sure... no problem. Do you want to help me look for apartments?" Ruby asked.

"Hmm... sounds good. I’ll help you out," Tania replied.

"I see... alright then... so you six are really coming with me?" Eric asked Emma, Chloe, Priya, Monica, Heidi, and Laura standing in front of him.

"Yes," all six shot back immediately.

"Alright, alright... let sympathizers roll. We’ll stay in touch, Ruby, Tania," Eric said.

"Okay," Ruby and Tania replied with a smile.

With that, they split up and got into their respective cars. Eric drove his car out of the gate while the six girls kept their sharp glares locked right on him.