Chapter 191: One Man Band

The next day, borrowing a dedicated room on the hotel’s first floor that was typically used as a stage and equipped with a full set of musical gear, Eric and the six girls began rehearsing the songs they planned to release as their opening act once the office was up and running. Emma rehearsed alongside Ruby, Tania, and Jade, who had been called over since they were also set to debut when the record label officially launched.

While the girls practiced, Eric barricaded himself inside a room he had set up as a makeshift recording studio, armed with a laptop and a guitar that Caleb had brought over from his building to assist him.

"You ready? I’m about to hit record," Caleb said.

"Hold on, let me catch my breath first," Eric replied.

Eric took a deep breath in, exhaled slowly, and flashed a thumbs-up to Caleb, who nodded back. Caleb pressed the key on the laptop and turned on the camera to capture the session. Decked out in a black jacket, a black t-shirt, sunglasses, and messy hair, Eric clutched his electric guitar and began singing his melody.

His stunning guitar riffs echoed in front of the mic, illuminated by an overhead spotlight. Caleb listened intently, a smile spreading across his face as he took in Eric’s new song, a ballad-like track that seamlessly blended soft melodic rhythms with heavy rock edges, telling the story of his life’s journey and his resolve to keep pushing forward.

Eric’s fingers danced effortlessly across the fretboard, switching chords with striking agility. Listening to the piece, Caleb found himself completely swept up in the melody. His expression softened, and his eyes stayed locked on Eric. After running through the arrangement from start to finish, ending on a powerful chorus that brought the track to exactly 2:58, Eric wrapped up the song. He bowed gracefully in front of the camera, and the lights cut off.

Caleb captured the whole performance and hit stop before flipping the lights back on. Eric walked over to Caleb.

"What title am I putting down for this?" Caleb asked.

"One Man Band," Eric answered.

"Huh... even though you’re just using a guitar?" Caleb asked.

"It has a deeper meaning... from the time I was a kid up until now, I’ve always been on my own, right? No one in my family ever cared about me, and even my girlfriend cheated on me. I was truly all by myself, that’s the ’One Man’ part. And now I’m not alone anymore because I’ve got six girls stuck to my hip, that’s the ’Band’ part. So that title is basically a summary of my entire life," Eric answered.

Caleb stared at his cousin, studying Eric’s face as he wiped off his sweat with a towel.

"You’re quite the poet, aren’t you? But will people actually get what you mean?" Caleb asked.

"Do you get it?" Eric asked.

"I mean, yeah, once I hear the lyrics," Caleb answered.

"Well, there you go. Question answered," Eric replied with a wide grin.

"Hahaha... point taken. Alright, saved it. So when do you want to drop it? Alongside the others when the office opens?" Caleb asked.

"Nah... upload it right now. Add a caption saying this is my final solo track, because after this, our company is officially opening," Eric answered.

Caleb looked at Eric again, pulled up a chair, sat down, and leaned back casually.

"So you’re not gonna sing solo like this anymore?" Caleb asked.

"Nope. I’m gonna stick to songwriting—for The Empress and Nobelia," Eric answered.

"Oh... I see. So you just want to focus purely on being a songwriter," Caleb said.

"Yeah... because I realized if I perform too, there won’t be enough hours in the day. I have to manage the whole company, back you up as the shadow CEO, and write songs. There’s no way I can pull all of that off on my own. I know my limits," Eric replied.

"Hmm... put that way, it actually makes a lot of sense. Fair enough, I get it. I’ll save the caption and upload it right now, while also teasing that a new record label is entering the industry," Caleb replied.

"Now you’re speaking my language," Eric replied.

Caleb typed out the caption, added the details, and uploaded the track to their streaming service under their company’s name. Eric smiled watching the process unfold. Suddenly, "bwoooosh," a holographic screen popped open right next to his face. He glanced over to read it.

[Quest: Compose three songs for The Empress (2/3), Compose a solo song (1/1).]

Eric smiled at the floating screen. He turned back toward the laptop screen to watch the view count climb, even though the track had just been uploaded. Within just one minute of going live, the song had already hit 30 views, and the number was steadily rising.

"Wanna keep watching it?" Caleb asked.

"Close it, no need. We’ll check it again tomorrow or the day after," Eric replied.

"Alright... anyway, only people subscribed to your channel have seen it so far, even if it’s only been a minute," Caleb said.

"That’s why you should just close it. I don’t even feel like looking at it," Eric replied.

"I hear you loud and clear. So, are you all set to sign next week?" Caleb asked.

"Yep, I already told Katie I’m available next week. Man, I can hardly believe we actually own a company now, hahaha," Eric answered.

"I should be the one saying that. Besides, technically I work for you—I’m not the founder," Caleb replied.

"Same difference. What matters is that we’re pushing forward together. So, how’s Avery doing?" Eric asked.

Right as Eric popped the question, Caleb’s smartphone rang, displaying an incoming call from Avery.

"Hey babe," Caleb greeted.

"Babe... it’s... an emergency... my water broke... can you hurry back home?" Avery asked, out of breath yet surprisingly calm.

Caleb bolted straight up, the color completely draining from his face. Hearing Avery’s voice over the line, Eric instantly grabbed Caleb’s arm.

"Get back home and straight to the hospital now. The rest of us will follow right behind you, go!" Eric said.

"Yeah... hang in there babe, I’m heading out right now," Caleb said.

"Okay... babe, hurry... but please drive safe," Avery replied.

Caleb hung up, immediately called for an ambulance, and sprinted at full speed out of the hotel. He jumped into his car and tore off down the road. Eric raced back out onto the stage to meet Emma, Ruby, Jade, and Tania, who were right in the middle of dance practice, before calling over Chloe, Monica, Priya, Heidi, and Laura, who were taking turns practicing and watching. Once everyone gathered on stage,

"We need to get to the hospital immediately. Avery’s going into labor," Eric said.

"Wh... no wonder Caleb just ran out of here like a bat out of hell," Jade replied.

"Come on... what are we waiting for? I’ll just take my own car—Jade, you’re with me," Ruby said.

"Yeah... let’s go, Ruby, Tania!" Jade urged, tugging Tania along.

"Huh... me too?" Tania asked in confusion, though she helplessly let herself be pulled along.

Ruby, Jade, and Tania bolted down the stage and dashed out of the auditorium they had rented for practice. Eric turned to look at Emma, Chloe, Monica, Priya, Heidi, and Laura, but before he could even open his mouth,

"Let’s move!" all six girls yanked both of Eric’s hands, their faces pale with anxiety.

"Oh... okay... let’s go," Eric replied.

Without wasting a single second, they all sprinted out of the auditorium toward Eric’s car parked down in the basement. Roughly an hour later, Eric and the six girls were rushing down the hospital hallway, spotting Caleb standing right outside the operating room doors.

"How’s Avery?" Eric asked.

"She needs a C-section... the baby’s in a breech position just like they predicted during her checkups way back... ugh... but the problem is they won’t let me inside, I’m out of my mind with worry," Caleb said, looking utterly lost and aging several years in an instant.

"Take it easy, bro. Take a seat and try to stay calm," Eric replied.

"Yeah... I’m sure Avery is going to be just fine," Emma added.

"That’s right, just pray for the best. Come sit down, you’re about to be a dad," Chloe added.

"Come on... over here," Priya pulled Caleb by the hand and guided him to a chair.

Even after sitting down, Caleb still looked extremely restless, his foot tapping non-stop against the floor as his eyes kept darting toward the operating room light glowing red above the door. Heidi walked over to a room across the hall and spoke with a nurse inside. Moments later, the nurse rushed out and sprinted toward the front administration desk. After that, Heidi walked back over, took a seat, and looked at Caleb.

"They’ll let you inside in just a moment. Avery works here as a nurse and you’re her husband, so I don’t think there will be any issue," Heidi said.

"Oh right, this hospital belongs to your dad, doesn’t it?" Laura said.

"Yep... that’s why it’s not a problem," Heidi said.

Heidi’s words proved true. A moment later, two nurses approached Caleb and escorted him inside the operating room. Monica nudged Heidi with a smile.

"Family members aren’t actually allowed inside, are they?" Monica asked.

"Well... hospital policy usually strictly forbids it, which is why I told that nurse to call my mom upstairs. There’s no way my mom knew Avery was going into labor yet, and she’d obviously bend the rules just a little bit for Avery’s sake, hehe," Heidi said.

"Look at you... but thank goodness you’re here," Priya replied.

Shortly after, Jade arrived alongside Mike, followed by Ruby and Tania, who had brought Martin along with them. Together, they all waited anxiously for the surgery to finish.