Chapter 47: Ruby First Small Breakthrough

Ruby took a deep, grounding breath, rolling her shoulders back as she reset herself in front of the microphone.

When she launched into the melody a second time, the difference was immediate. The nervous tremor in her voice had vanished, replaced by a steadier, more focused delivery. While her vocal control still needed polish and stamina building, the raw emotional core of her performance was undeniable. Annie immediately jumped in, guiding her through breath support and pitch-stabilizing exercises, locking her into a rigorous daily training routine.

Knowing they were in good hands, I stepped out of the studio, letting the heavy soundproof door click shut behind me.

The cool coastal breeze hit me as I walked out onto the expansive rear patio of the cliffside estate, looking out over the endless stretch of the Atlantic. The transition was complete: Ruby was out of Travis’s clutches, her fabricated debt was erased, and her journey from a exploited corporate ghost-writer to a system-verified 9.1 music prodigy was officially underway.

I pulled out my phone to check the schedule for the upcoming branding and wardrobe team overhaul when a familiar set of footsteps crunched softly on the stone patio tiles behind me.

May walked up, leaning against the glass railing beside me with a casual, knowing grin.

"So, how’s the new protege holding up?" May asked, raising an eyebrow. "Did she survive her first vocal session, or is she still planning on becoming your second wife?"

I let out a dry chuckle, shaking my head. "She’s locked in. Annie says the raw talent is terrifyingly good—she just needs to shake off the years of rust."

"Good," May said, her expression softening into a genuine smile as she looked out toward the horizon. "She needed this. We both know what it’s like to be trapped under someone else’s thumb. Just make sure you keep an eye on her; people like Travis don’t stay down forever."

"Let him try," I replied flatly, the cold certainty in my voice leaving no room for argument. "He’s got until tomorrow to finish transferring every stolen cent back to her account. If he steps out of line again, he’ll find out what a real audit looks like."

May nodded approvingly, pushing off the railing. "Alright. Well, I’m heading out for my afternoon run. Don’t let your new star work herself into exhaustion on day one."

As May headed back inside, I lingered on the patio for a moment longer, watching the waves crash against the rocks below. The foundation was set, the talent was secured, and the empire was growing.

My phone buzzed in my hand with a FaceTime notification. I looked down at the screen and saw Chloe’s face smiling back at me from across the globe. She was currently studying law abroad, buried under heavy stacks of case files in her dorm room.

I swiped to answer, and her tired face lit up immediately.

"Hey, boss," Chloe sighed, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear as she leaned closer to her laptop screen. "Just taking a quick study break. Honestly, tort law is about to melt my brain. I miss you like crazy, babe."

Before I could answer, May walked past the patio door, caught a glimpse of the screen, and leaned over my shoulder with a sharp grin.

"Look at you collecting girls from all over the world," May teased loudly, waving at the screen. "Careful, babe, he’s basically building a harem over here."

Chloe rolled her eyes with an affectionate chuckle, her academic tone coming right back. "Please, May. I’m just hoping he hasn’t gone off and done anything reckless. I know how he gets when he sees a problem that needs fixing. Hope I’m not coming back to find out he’s acting like Mr. Impulse again."

"I’m completely behaved," I laughed, shaking my head. "How are the books treating you?"

"Exhausting," Chloe admitted, her voice softening as she looked right into the camera, letting her guard down. "Studying abroad sounds glamorous until you’re staring at civil procedure at three in the morning. I just wish I was there with you right now. I love you, babe."

"Love you too, Chloe," I smiled, watching the tension of her long study hours melt away just from hearing my voice. "Finish up your reading and get some rest. We’ll talk later."

After we hung up, I pocketed my phone, feeling the quiet weight of everything falling into place. Ruby was inside mastering her voice, May was keeping the estate sharp, and Chloe was holding it down miles away.

The next morning, before I even had the chance to pick up my phone and call Travis to check on his deadline, a notification buzzed on my screen.

It was an alert from Ruby’s bank account. Travis had caved. A direct wire of $900,000 had just landed.

Ruby burst out of her suite a few minutes later, her phone in her hand and her eyes wide with shock, staring at the screen like she couldn’t believe her own eyes.

"Mister! Look!" she gasped, running over to show me the notification. "He actually sent it. Nine hundred thousand dollars! Oh my god... at this rate, I’m going to have to spoil you rotten."

I chuckled, looking at the deposit, but I knew better than to trust Travis just because he wired a chunk of cash. Nine hundred thousand was a lot, but it wasn’t the full amount of every stolen commission and royalty he owed her over the years.

"It’s a start," I said calmly, patting her shoulder. "But it’s not the full amount. Don’t worry, we’re not letting him off the hook that easily."

Right after that, a subtle, translucent system interface flickered into my field of vision, completely invisible to Ruby as she stood right beside me.

[ FINANCIAL LEDGER & SYSTEM STATUS ]

Total Liquid Capital: $40,500,000 (+ Zenith Global Campaign pending)

Active 40x Cashback Multiplier: LOCKED (Pending Ruby’s 100% full glow-up and debut release)

Recent Expenditures:

Vocal Coach (Annie - Initial Retainer): -$15,000

Studio Hardware & Acoustic Gear (Certified Pro Audio Store): -$85,000

Independent Forensic Auditors (Retained to dig into Travis’s firm): -$50,000

Remaining Liquid Balance: $40,350,000

While Ruby was still marveling at the bank notification, I tapped my phone to authorize the independent auditors to dig deeper into Travis’s accounts. He thought throwing a fraction of the stolen money at us would make us walk away, but the audit was moving forward regardless.

I looked back up at Ruby, who was still smiling like all her Christmases had come at once.

"Put the phone away," I told her with a grin. "Your coach is arriving in twenty minutes. You have a studio to break in."