Chapter 6: The Genius Composer

“Why?” Mr. Park asked, incredulously.

Sebastian raked his hair then shrugged, “I cannot handle two names. That will be weird seeing Sebastian Lee and Phoenix collaborated when they are both me,” he explained trying to pin point his main problem.

Mr. Park laughed, looking very amused as ever that made him frowned deeper. He didn't like how his boss sees it as a funny reason.

“I have not thought of that,” Mr. Park chortled. “I'm going to talk to Sandra about that then. But don't expect that your secret will be safe with me when she asked for your reason”

He mentally cursed.

That's what he's fucking afraid of. He didn't want anyone, especially that Sandra Mendez to know he's Phoenix, for a simple reason that he didn't trust her. She's very influential and her words were well trusted by general public, as though when she says 'It's not true', they will easily believe it even there's an evidences of it being true.

He wanted to live peacefully without something to think about, except for the possible outcome of his new compositions, deadlines, bills and Simon. If ever his identity will be unveiled, he's damn sure his simple, serene and private life will be invaded by medias and curious people. It will be his freaking nightmare.

Shutting his eyes, he groaned inwardly. “This is your fault, boss. Just come up with a better excuses, but never ever tell her I'm Phoenix,” he chided then quickly stood up, leaving his boss laughing once again.

He went back to his studio, then stopped for a brief moment when he saw someone sitting prettily on his swivel chair.

“Seb!” she exclaimed as she stood up and threw herself to him for a tight hug.

“Carmina?” he asked in pure surprised.

A soft chuckled reverberated inside the studio as Carmina pulled away from him. “I missed you too,” she said, sheepishly when she saw his confused stare.

Sebastian blinked a couple of times until a slow smile crept on his lips, and he come over to Carmina and gave her a bear hug. “When did you come back?” he asked as he pulled away and placed his hands over her shoulder.

“Two weeks ago. I went straight here to review my contract, but I wasn't able to visit you here because I saw you with Sandra Mendez,” she stated while narrowing her eyes. “What was she doing here?” her voice didn't sound pleased upon mentioning the woman.

Immediately, he averted his gaze from Carmina, as if he was caught cheating. Though he did nothing but rejected Sandra, which unfortunately guilt was hunting him until this day, he couldn't help feeling guilty. Sighing defeatedly, he grimaced upon seeing Carmina's scrutinizing gaze.

“We're working together,” he retorted sounding defensive.

He didn't want to talk about ‘that woman’ with Carmina for it felt uncomfortable. Therefore, he changed the topic smoothly by nagging her.

“You're already here two weeks ago? Why didn't you tell me? I was worried you didn't even call me for these past weeks”

Carmina, however knew what he was doing and narrowed her eyes on him. Eventually, she shrugged it off and stepped forward to snake her arms around his waist, “Sorry, I was busy fixing things and deciding if I should sign the contract or not. I didn't expect everything will be a total mess when I left and I was flabbergasted that I have nothing to come back for anymore,” she mumbled.

Sebastian pulled Carmina closer against his chest and wrapped her in his arms tightly. He heaved a sigh. He felt useless hearing those words from her. He was there when everything crumbled down with her career in South Korea, while she was busy chasing her dreams in America. It's like her fame and everything that she worked hard for years fell apart in just a snap because of one wrong decision. A lot of breaching of contracts and lawsuit cases were filed against her happened, for she didn't accomplish any of the agreement she had signed after choosing to fly over the other side of the world for her biggest dream. Her former company, the Crown Entertainment almost sued her, but decided to just kicked her out and terminated her contract for all the burden she'd left the agency.

Articles were saying that all of her commitments were being payed off, double the price that were indicated in the contracts just to stop the issues and here and there lawsuits.

However, Crown Entertainment wasn't subtle about it though. They even posted an official statement that whatever issues Carmina were in, they had nothing to do about it anymore for she's no longer part of their company. And because the latter weren't there to give her opinion, the issues slowly died down along with her career, both in her own country and in America.

Sebastian could only shook his head and feel bad about it.

“It's depressing,” Carmina murmured while shaking her head. “But I didn't regret chasing my dreams even if it didn't become successful. At least, I was brave enough to try”.

She pushed herself away and smiled contently at Sebastian. The latter stared at her, then finally flashed a smile as he pinched her nose lightly.

“That's my girl,” he grinned proudly, making her chuckle.

Carmina then sat on the swivel chair and played the music that was in pause without asking his permission. She always does it before, and Sebastian never complained about her touching his stuffs before, so, she thought there will be no problem if she'll do it again like old times.

“Is this Simon?” she asked when she recognized the voice. “Wow. That idiot improved a lot,” she commented as she listened to the unfamiliar song.

Sebastian slumped on the couch and shook his head. Instantly, his worries about the revelation of his identity washed over as he catched up with Carmina.

They were too engrossed with Carmina's stories when suddenly, the door sprung opened vomiting Levi who was wearing a mischievous smile while entering the studio. But then, his steps abruptly halted as his eyes widened like a saucer and mouth slightly agape upon seeing Carmina instead in Sebastian's swivel chair as though he saw a ghost.

“Carmi?” Levi scowled, then looked around before staring back at her again, “You're here?” he asked, disbelievingly.

The woman laughed at Levi's reaction. They were not friends, but they were acquainted before when she's still in Crown Entertainment. Levi was always with Sandra when she has shooting for her music video and the latter had to introduce him to her out of courtesy.

“Is that how y'all welcome your new family member?” Carmina rolled her eyes making Sebastian scowled at her with her statement.

“You already signed?” he asked, surprised.

“That's the reason why I'm here. I have just finished signing when I decided to visit you in your dungeon,” she shrugged.

Sebastian could only shook his head, but didn't hide the smile immediately plastered on his face. He's happy about her decision. It was the best for her, because he knows Mr. Park knew how to handle his artists very well.

“Did Sandra knew about this?” Levi intervened, making Sebastian frowned as he looked at his friend.

Carmina made a face then tucked her hair behind her ear. “I'm no longer part of Crown for like three years ago,” she stated matter-of-factly.

Levi studied her face, then looked at Sebastian who suddenly became serious upon hearing Sandra's name, like it was a taboo, but he shrugged it off knowing that he's always serious anyway. Grinning, he extended his hand to her, “Welcome to the gang”

Carmina could only gawked at his extended hand, then laughed at his ridiculousness. “You never changed. Still formal as ever,” she commented as she accepted his hand for a shake.

“If you meet a lot of formal people, you will adopt their gestures, really”

“You mean.. That's what you adopt from Sandra Mendez? Because you two were inseparable back then,” Carmina snickered.

Sebastian's brows pulled together after hearing those things for the first time. He thought his friend Levi just had a fling with Sandra based on what he told him at Han River.

Inseparable. That's way different from 'vague and short' that he told him.

“I actually insisted it”

He looked at his friend who shrugged and grinning knowingly at his bestfriend.

'Insisted?' He thought as he didn't believe it.

Carmina guffawed, “Sandra doesn't easily agreed to have anyone stick with her like a glue apart from her bestfriend. You can't fool me”

“I won't force you to believe,” Levi retaliated lazily as he sat on the couch next to Sebastian.

However, Sebastian's brows deeply furrowed as he watched Levi looking unbothered at all. If it was him, he'd insisted that he's saying the truth until he sounds very defensive. Maybe that's the reason why he was able to get Sandra Mendez, he's not stubborn.

Indeed, Levi Cruz was a total opposite of him.

_________________________________

“I have a good news and a bad news,” Mr. Park announced as Sebastian sat on the couch in his office acrossed him.

His brows furrowed and stared at his boss' smirking face as he studied his reaction.

“What is it?” he queried rather impatiently.

Mr. Park's fingers massaged his chin without wavering those annoying smirk. “Sandra Mendez already reviewed the two songs you've composed, but she didn't like it,” he said casually as if that fucking news was just nothing, like saying a fact that there's a brand new luxury car parked outside their building which was already normal since their artists earns a lot.

Shutting his eyes, he mentally cursed.

Those songs were actually his top two songs he composed. How the hell did she not like it? He asked himself. He was freaking confident about it! What's wrong with that woman? Was she deaf?

“Any reason?” he asked calmly, trying not to burst in front of his boss, though deep inside he was already fuming in anger.

Mr. Park tossed the folder on the center table with his annoying grin plastered on his face. “Read them and you will know why,” he stated whilst laughing. “A perfectionist. Typical Mendez”

Sebastian let out a sigh, then opened the folder to read what was had written inside it. Her penmanship was the first thing he noticed though. It was pretty as her face, however, the contents of it was nowhere flowery nor sugarcoated. He was even surprised to see how she objectively criticized his work by pointing out every technical errors and all that makes it seem like it was reviewed by a music critic professionals.

“Want to know the good news?” Mr. Park queried after few seconds.

He looked up at him. Then, raised his brows when he saw him still not wearing off that goofy grin. It honestly annoyed the hell out of him and he didn't bother hiding what he feels towards his boss.

“Is there any good news?” he hissed then clicked his tongue.

After the bad news he had received for the first time in his entire career, why the heck would he want to know the good news afterwards? Unless, it's good enough to overshadow the bad he got for the day.

“Crown, let you go..”

The words rang in his head and caught him off guard. Suddenly, his chest pumped frantically and he didn't know why.

Trying to look calm and unaffected, he squinted his eyes to his boss, who was obviously suppressing his laughter as he stared back at him.

“What do you mean?” Sebastian finally asked.

He couldn't understand, but that news didn't sound right. He watched as the amusement in Mr. Park's eyes showed as though he finds his face entertaining when he was trying so hard to make a neutral expression.

“Boss..” he called, getting impatient.

Mr. Park's lips tugged upward as he leaned on his seat. “You backed out as Sebastian Lee, right? Well.. Sandra said that as much as its not Phoenix, anyone can back out,” he shrugged.

His brows furrowed as his lips pursed into a thin line. That words didn't seem to fit well for him as he felt disappointed for no apparent reason.

“You didn't take it as a good news?”

He shook his head then smirked fakingly, “That's a good news. I guess you didn't have a hard time making an excuse about it. Thanks boss,” he said then stood up with the folder in his hand, “I'll study and revise these,” he announced before leaving the office.

Sighing, he stared at the envelope in front of him. Until now, he couldn't believe that one of his masterpiece got easily rejected. He's certain would not move on with that for a long time. He kept on staring at the flash drive as if its the one who killed his mood. That song inside that thing was his masterpiece and that woman think it wasn't enough and quick to reject it.

After a week, there he was again, glaring at the flashdrive that he's been cursing for a week. He spent the whole damn week just to revise and polished the songs according to the notes written by the perfect Sandra Mendez when he could've make a lot of songs within those days for other artist. Standing up, he went straight to the CEO's office and submitted his revised songs, “Let me know your opinion first before submitting it to Sandra Mendez,” he instructed as he sat on the couch.

Mr. Park silently complied and played the songs on his computer whilst Sebastian intently watched his boss' reaction in every transitions and breakdown of his revised composition. His brows then furrowed as the last song was finished. Waiting expectantly for Mr. Park's opinion, he inquired, “So?”

“That was a lot better than the first you've submitted,” he commented in satisfaction.

Heaving a sigh of relief, he exited the office after thanking him. He felt so freaking tired as he thought all his braincells were fucking squeezed out from his head after working on those two songs to be approve again. For the first time, he exerted a lot of effort for it, so, Sandra Mendez better not dare reject it again.

Slamming the door of his studio, he slumped his body on the swivel chair and massaged his temple. He's not supposed to think of his compositions. Heck, he'd never doubted any of his works before, but now he's kinda freaking worried as the days goes by and there's no news about it nor did they hear from Crown Entertainment after they've submitted the samples. Unconsciously, he tapped his index finger on the table while listening to Simon in the practice room. He tried to focus to his brother when his boss suddenly showed up. Immediately, his forehead creased upon seeing the amused expression of Mr. Park.

“You're really hands on with your brother,” he commented as he sat next to him.

Simon stopped singing and greeted their Chairman. But the latter told him to just go on. Sebastian, however, pursed his lips as he tried not to ask about their big project with Crown Entertainment for he didn't want to look excited or something, because he was hell not. He's rather agitated to know if his songs have passed whatever standard Sandra Mendez has put on for a freaking song.

“We'll release his song next week,” Mr. Park suddenly announced making everyone in the studio looked at him in surprised.

“Really?” Simon chirped with sparkling eyes that almost blinded Sebastian.

“Hhmm. I guess you're ready and well molded now. Just continue what you're doing and I'm certain, you'll slay even the live performance.”

“That's what I'm aiming for! I want to be entitled as ‘Live performance King’!” Simon shrieked.

Everyone in the room laughed except for his Sebastian, he shook his head as he stared lazily at his brother, “What a crap?” he scowled.

“Bro. Doesn't it sound cool to you?” Simon asked then shook his head, “Nevermind. Your opinion about it wouldn't matter once I got it, anyway,” he said making their Chairman laughed harder.

Heaving a sigh, Sebastian stood up. He's not in the mood to handle his annoying brother now. It's much better to leave and breath a fresh air outside to atleast lessen his stress.

He was about to open the door to leave when Mr. Park stopped him making his movements halted as his forehead creased while looking at his boss.

“Why?” he frowned.

His boss grinned at him, “Sandra already reviewed the songs,” he stated as he stared at him as if studying his reaction before he continued.

The crease on Sebastian's forehead defined when the silence occurred for about five seconds, “And?” he asked when he could no longer contain the anticipation.

As if Mr. Park has a good news, he smiled at him widely with eyes dancing in amusement, “She said, she didn't like it again,” he stated.