Chapter 316: The Beauty's Scheme

After seeing off Scooter, Link stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, arms crossed, gazing at the bustling William Street below. Occasionally, he'd spot tourists pointing at the Link Music logo, seemingly remarking about the famous record label where Link, Lana Del Rey, Mars, and Wiz Khalifa worked.

While taking in the view, Link pondered Scooter's parting advice. Scooter had warned him that while his current popularity was high, it would gradually fade as album promotions and gossip died down. To maintain a strong presence in the music industry, hype and publicity were essential. Scooter suggested continuing the strategy of aligning with East Coast rap, even fostering a sense of rivalry to generate more buzz and mutual benefit.

Link didn't object, nor was he particularly concerned. He understood that at a certain level of fame, further breakthroughs required more than just hype. It demanded years of consistent effort, a gradual accumulation leading to a qualitative leap, much like his boxing prowess. Engaging in publicity stunts with East Coast rappers held limited value for him at this stage.

Scooter had also brought up the idea of developing a personal brand. Given Link's fame as an athlete and musician, with a massive global following, he could follow in the footsteps of Jordan, Kobe, and Kanye by partnering with brands like Adidas or Nike to create his own athletic or casual clothing line. This could be a lucrative venture.

Link considered it a sound suggestion. Kanye, who initially had a net worth of just over a hundred million dollars, had seen his wealth grow to over a billion through collaborations with Adidas and Nike, creating Air Yeezy. Jordan and others had followed similar paths.

To become a multi-billionaire, Link realized that stock investments alone wouldn't suffice. He needed to explore tangible investments as well.

A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. "Link, are you busy?"

Graeme, the head of Link Music's production department, entered, sporting a baseball jacket. He had gained a bit of weight since 2008 but still paid little attention to his appearance, with messy hair and a wrinkled shirt.

"Not busy, what's up?" Link invited Graeme to sit and asked his secretary to bring coffee.

"No coffee for me today," Graeme declined. "I've already had five cups and reek of it. I heard you have good tea here, so I'll take a cup of that instead."

Link smiled and instructed his secretary to prepare black tea.

"Been busy lately?"

"The busiest time has passed. We released three albums at the end of last year and the beginning of this year, that was hectic. It's calmer now, but I can't relax."

Graeme shrugged and began discussing the production of the fourth album.

"Isn't it a bit too soon?" Link questioned.

"Not at all. You're hot right now, your albums are popular. The more successful you are, the more effort you need to put into the new album. If the quality drops, it'll affect your reputation. The company plans to release your fourth album early next year, so we need to start preparing now. Determine the theme, write and collect songs, the more the better. Strive for excellence to ensure the album's quality."

Link nodded, agreeing with Graeme's assessment.

Before achieving fame, he had resorted to various outlandish stunts to gain recognition, such as publicly challenging heavyweight boxers and claiming to defeat all opponents within 100 seconds. He had even criticized Washington at the Grammys, nearly being labeled a racist. Back then, with less fame, he had acted without restraint.

Now, with greater influence, he was more cautious in his words and actions, often feeling like he was walking on thin ice.

The same applied to releasing albums. His debut album, created and released in just two months, had been a carefree endeavor. With the second and third albums, he had grown more serious. As sales increased and his fanbase grew, he felt a responsibility to meet their expectations and avoid any missteps.

If the fourth album was to be released early next year, preparations indeed needed to start early.

Link and Graeme began discussing the theme for the fourth album. Given the positive reception of "Sorry" and "Love Is Gone," they decided on the theme of 'heartbreak,' focusing on melancholic love songs.

"Graeme, I've written six songs in this style so far. You start collecting relevant songs as well, the more the better," Link instructed.

When the first two albums were released, the quality of the songs collected was average, with none reaching the singles chart, leading him to look down on the company's song selections. For the third album, the company invested heavily in inviting renowned songwriters, resulting in high-quality songs that all made it onto the singles chart. This made him look forward to the company's future song selections, hoping to stumble upon some hit singles from his past life.

At the same time, Link planned to request songs from Lady Gaga, Adele, and Kesha. These talented singer-songwriters were sure to produce excellent work.

After seeing Graeme off, Link glanced at his watch. It was already 5:10 PM, and Ivanka hadn't come to get him for dinner yet.

Knowing she was a workaholic, he shut down his computer, informed his secretary, and headed to the CEO's office on the east side. Ivanka's assistants and secretaries were still there, indicating she was too.

Link knocked, and a cold, indifferent voice responded, "Come in." It gave the impression of someone not to be messed with.

He opened the door to find Ivanka behind her large desk, dressed in a white Prada office suit, her blonde hair tied back. She held a pen in her hand, a pile of documents on the desk, engrossed in her work.

Seeing her like this, Link was about to ask about the "trap" she had set for him, but he held back the words. After all, he hadn't suffered any losses, and being temporary contract partners wasn't bad.

"Link, what's up?" Ivanka stopped working and looked up at him with a serious expression.

"Nothing, just came to check on you." Link shrugged, sat down opposite her, and picked up a folder to browse through. It contained financial documents, legal approvals, dealer submissions, and various other tasks.

"Want to help me with work? I can hand these over to you for approval."

"No, I'm a tech guy, I don't understand company management. The only thing I can do is applaud you." Link clapped his hands and laughed.

Ivanka gave him a charming glare, doodled on a document, then suddenly furrowed her brows and looked at him, "Didn't I say I'd treat you to seafood? Oh no, I forgot."

She checked her watch, saw it was past five, and quickly put down her pen and documents, calling her assistant to prepare the car.

"Don't rush, it's late. Another day is fine."

"No, I promised to cook for you. I must keep my word."

Ivanka shut down her computer, put on her heels, grabbed her bag, and urged him to get up quickly, lest they end up having a late-night snack.

Link shook his head, seeing her like this, he didn't hold high hopes for her seafood feast.

"What kind of seafood feast have you prepared?"

"I heard you love seafood, but I wasn't sure what kind you prefer, so I ordered all the top-notch seafood online: king crab, blue lobster, Belon oysters, Australian prawns. You'll be satisfied."

Ivanka spoke as they walked.

"Sounds great." Link looked at the woman beside him and chuckled, "Ivanka, we're just contract partners. You're so nice to me, could it be... you've fallen for me?"

Ivanka stopped and looked at him, laughing, "Don't be so narcissistic. This is just a work meal, and I want to discuss work with you over dinner, nothing more. If I truly fell for you, I wouldn't just treat you to seafood, I'd give you the best things in the world."

"Really? So, if I can make you fall for me, I can have the best things in the world?"

"Exactly, but I will never fall for you."

"Why not?"

"Don't you have any self-awareness, you player!" Ivanka shot him a sidelong glance, leaving behind an indifferent figure.

Seeing her expression, Link doubted his previous judgment. Did this woman really like him?

At Baker's, she had suggested he find a steady girlfriend, and they ended up becoming contract partners. Was it really to help him save his reputation, or was there something else?

Had he misunderstood?

Link wasn't sure. He had always been slow when it came to matters of the heart, and after his experience with Taylor, he couldn't determine whether a woman had feelings for him, or how deep those feelings were.

"What are you standing there for?" Ivanka stopped in the work area and looked back at him. "According to clause six of the agreement, in public, we need to act like a couple. Only by letting everyone know we're together can we avoid my father's suspicion. We should walk together now."

Link shook his head, walked over, and put his arm around her waist, giving her a squeeze. This woman was too annoying; even with three brains, he couldn't figure out her thoughts. He couldn't be too gentle with her.

Ivanka pinched him, then took his arm and walked out of the Link Music office together.

The company staff saw the two bosses leaving hand in hand, and all eyes were on them. One in a casual suit, handsome and strong, the other in a skirt suit, sexy and elegant, they looked very well-matched.

"Link and Ivanka are so perfect for each other."

"So envious. They not only have the world's top looks and wealth, but also the most perfect relationship. This world is so unfair."

"I used to think Link and Taylor were a good match, and I was disappointed when they broke up. Now I think Link and CEO Ivanka are even better. I'm rooting for them, hoping they'll last."

The staff buzzed with discussion, and one employee even took out their phone to inform their employer, "Today, CEO Ivanka and Mr. Baker left work hand in hand. They looked very intimate."