Chapter 61: Mapping the Realities

Finally, Eric stepped backward and, "waaah," pushed Priya, Heidi, and Monica to the front, before placing Laura and Chloe ahead of him as well. This time, Layla stood up and grabbed Priya by the ear, Vicky grabbed Heidi, Anna grabbed Monica, and Eric did absolutely nothing to save them. Right after that, Emma got chewed out by Miranda too.

"What were you thinking? I’ve told you before that you can play music and be in a band as a hobby, but not as a career! You have to take over your father’s and my company one day," Layla shouted at Priya.

"You too... you’re the oldest, you need to be responsible! Now you’re practically turning into a celebrity. Do you even know what that world is like? Most of your father’s and my clients are celebrities... is that really the kind of life you want, huh?" Anna yelled at Monica.

"Your father and I want you to follow in our footsteps and take over our business one day. Instead of studying properly, you’re trying to get famous some other way! I know you love music, which is why we put you in the same high school as the others, but please remember your actual goals," Vicky shouted at Heidi.

"Yes, Mom... I’m sorry," Priya, Monica, and Heidi whimpered in unison, wincing from the painful grip on their ears.

Hearing the three girls getting ripped apart, Eric quietly pulled Chloe and Laura further back, especially since Miranda was now lecturing Emma about her school grades.

"Hey... Laura, why did you actually run away? Be honest," Eric whispered.

"Um... I hated being forced to take etiquette classes, dance lessons, swimming courses, and a million other things... I couldn’t even breathe at home," Laura whispered back.

"Oh... so it wasn’t because of an arranged marriage. Seriously, how could you just make that up?" Eric said, annoyed.

"I’m sorry... if I didn’t make it dramatic, you wouldn’t have helped me," Laura said.

"I don’t have any of that fake drama... but there is a part of my life that actually feels like a novel. My uncles are on the board of my dad’s company, and they keep pressuring me... sometimes they even try to set me up with their sons. Their goal is to take over the company my parents left me. If it weren’t for Bryan, my family would have thrown me out a long time ago, right after my parents died in that accident," Chloe whispered.

"Hmm... I see. I’ll help you face your uncles tomorrow. But hearing Priya, Monica, and Heidi get chewed out, it sounds like they’re also expected to inherit their parents’ businesses... which basically means they aren’t allowed to play music. That’s the vibe I’m getting," Eric whispered.

"Exactly. My dad is going to lose his mind if he finds out I’m in a band. That’s why my uncle is throwing a fit, because he’s usually the one covering for me," Laura said, looking down.

"Hmm... alright. I’ll go meet your uncle too later," Eric replied, defeated.

"Really? Thanks, babe," Laura said excitedly.

"Hey... who are you calling babe?" Chloe snapped, shoving Laura.

"Hey... cut it out, don’t fight," Eric said, grabbing Laura and Chloe’s shoulders before Laura could even think about clapping back.

"Monica still has two younger sisters, so she’s not the only child and doesn’t absolutely have to inherit the family business. It’s different for me, Priya, Heidi, and Laura since we’re only children. Oh, right... Emma doesn’t need to worry either because her mom’s fashion boutique management office will go to her older brother, Kevin, one day," Chloe said.

"Hmm... I see how it is. Alright, I get it now. Once they’re done getting chewed out, I’ll talk to the mothers. Let them get it all out of their system first," Eric said, deep in thought.

"What exactly are you planning to do?" Chloe asked, completely puzzled.

"Revive my grandfather’s production house," Eric replied casually.

"Huh... and what does that have to do with anything?" Laura asked.

"If we launch our own record label... it shouldn’t be a problem, right? Besides, I’m already planning to start my own finance firm to manage my investments anyway," Eric answered.

Hearing Eric’s plan, a massive smile broke across Chloe’s face because she understood exactly what he was getting at.

"So you mean we’d be working for you?" Laura asked.

"Hmm... not exactly. We’d be partners," Eric replied.

"Part... partners? For life?" Laura asked, her face beginning to flush.

Chloe immediately elbowed Laura in the ribs, even though her own face had turned just as bright red as Laura’s.

"Of course, we’ll put it all down in a black-and-white contract. I’ll figure out the clauses later," Eric said.

"Oh... so that’s what you meant," Chloe and Laura said, looking a little disappointed.

"Wait, why did your faces just sour like that?" Eric asked.

"It’s nothing," Laura and Chloe replied together.

Right after that, Priya, Heidi, and Monica—who were currently kneeling and crying—were finally finished getting chewed out. Chloe and Laura immediately rushed over to help them up, and Emma joined in too after Miranda gave her a nod of approval. Miranda then locked her eyes on Eric, who was standing frozen near the girls.

"So, now that it’s gone viral, what exactly do you plan to do, Eric?" Miranda asked.

"Release a lot more songs. That way, by the time I successfully revive my grandfather’s production house, we’ll already have a major name for ourselves," Eric answered loudly with a confident smile.

Eric’s words instantly grabbed the attention of Miranda, Layla, Anna, and Vicky. They gestured for Eric to come sit in the middle of them, completely ignoring the girls off in the corner. Eric took a seat right next to Miranda.

"So you already have a vision for what you want to achieve over the next five years?" Layla asked.

"I do, ma’am. I want to revive my grandfather’s production house and merge it with my own finance firm. I’m actually in the middle of sorting out the paperwork right now. And since I don’t fully know the ropes of the recording business yet, I plan to start college next year to learn. Hopefully, I can manage everything simultaneously as it grows," Eric answered smoothly, firm and without a shred of doubt.

Hearing Eric’s response, Layla, Anna, Miranda, and Vicky fell silent, but their eyes all lit up at the exact same time as they looked at his face. They clearly respected Eric despite his young age and were deeply impressed by his mindset. The look on their faces made it glaringly obvious that they wanted to set Eric up with their daughters.

"I see. Tell you what, I’ll give you a chance. If The Empress can achieve global fame within three years, I’ll give Monica my permission to be a member of your band for life," Anna said.

"Same here... I completely agree with Anna. I know the education and classes we force on Heidi are pretty intense, but it’s always been for her future. Still, looking at Heidi’s face in the music video you released, she looked genuinely happy. So, I’ll let her stay under the exact same condition as Anna," Vicky added.

"I have no objections either. I’m leaving Priya in your hands, Eric. Also, if possible, don’t just teach her music, help her with her schoolwork too. Her grades aren’t quite as good as the other girls," Layla said, sliding her glasses back on.

"And there you have it... I already trusted you with Emma from the very beginning, didn’t I? Don’t let Emma down," Miranda said, patting Eric on the shoulder.

Eric nodded and smiled, but a very mixed feeling washed over his heart. It felt like these four middle-aged women were handing their daughters over to him, almost like a covert way of setting him up with them.

After that, they called their daughters over to join them and offered some final advice, but this time Eric sat right in the center of the group. Chloe and Laura, who had nothing to do with the lecture, simply sat in silence, pressing tightly against Eric from both sides.

Listening to the direction of the conversation and the advice the four middle-aged women were giving their daughters, Eric got the distinct impression that after this, Emma, Priya, Monica, and Heidi would be allowed to move in with him at his grandfather’s building.

It truly looked like they were letting their children go, and they were all even texting their husbands, except for Miranda.

"No way... ah... I bet it’s just my imagination running wild because I brought up that arranged marriage stuff earlier... damn it, now my mind is playing tricks on me," Eric thought to himself, completely unaware that his suspicion was actually entirely correct and dead-on.

"Hmm... awesome, that means I get to live with Eric too, hehe," Chloe said, leaning in close.

"Yeah... please talk to my uncle tomorrow, okay, hehe," Laura added, pressing in tight against him as well.

Hearing the two of them speak, Eric’s mind began to spin rapidly. He could no longer ignore the theory forming in his head. He wanted to open his mouth and ask, but he had absolutely no idea where to even begin his question.