Jerry couldn't fathom the shog secret: a young minor involved with a married woman. The press would have a field day when they found out. The btant disregard for values and the smirk on Billy's face the day almost made Jerry want to smash Billy's head against the bus window.

  He articurly serious about keeping this to himself as he walked towards the photoshoot with People magazi was better to keep everything under s. The cert was in two days, and Billy o rest his voiehow. Jerry might bring this up ter, but these young ones, only care about living in the moment without fag the sequences.

  -I'll stay back. I'm hoping to make some visits ahead of time, - Jerry remarked, bidding farewell to the band.

  Crossing over the pyramid, he headed to a hotel oh floor—a massive room used for meetings by rge corporations. There, he met an old friend, Peter Lynch, who happeo be the best ior he knew and a rothusiast. Peter only tacted Jerry when he waanize a private cert, which was a big deal to him.

  -Good m, Mr. Lynch. Sorry for the dey; the streets had me stuck. I know you're a busy man, - Jerry ented.

  -I know, I know. You left yuy for a photo shoot at 9:32, and you spent nearly an hour and a half in traffially, you'd ditch the car and sprint here, but age catches up to us both, my young Jerry. You live just like I do, - Peter ented.

  -Yes, sir, that's true, - Jerry replied, knowier had a particur iy ong Wall Street iors that not everyone could handle.

  -Anyway, ge of subject. I need a private cert. My niece, a lovely young dy, is having her 17th birthday party, and she's particurly obsessed with the kid. So, a cert on her birthday would be the best gift her godfather could give her. But you know how it goes; the kid has to follow all the party rules, - Peter said.

  -Yes, sir, I'll make the arras. Billy will be thrilled. He's a very eager young ma es to perf for people; it's just that... he's a bit rebellious, - Jerry ented.

  -You 't trol him, - Peter asked, taking a sip of whiskey.

  -I manage him. It's quite the opposite, sir. This young man tends to stir up euphoria in women. I wouldn't doubt there'll be some women throwing themselves at him. It's his charisma. I live this every day—women sneaking into his room, throwing themselves at him. It's simply mind-blowing. Our security is strict, and I'm w to improve it to prevent any obsession cases. Billy is very receptive, uher artists; he capitalizes on that fame, -Jerry expined.

  -Oh, I knew someone who had a simir life, but he was rather shy until his ter years, - Peter remarked.

  -Doesn't matter. There will be few people attending, - Peter ented, handing over a check for 7 million dolrs per tract. It was ridiculously high but not unon.

  -We'll stick to the usual rules. Ahe kid he sing one person for her birthday, - Peter tinued.

  The rules were straightforward: five hours of singing divided into two ses. Billy had to be the birthday singer and make space for the band and other backup singers. Five hours of singing for 7 million dolrs, tax-free, and no other expenses.

  -I think it's better to ihem in your Billy-head fund, - Jerry ented.

  -Ah, you surprise me, - Peter responded, p himself a drink.

  ***

  Billy posed shirtless, wearing boxing gloves, embodying the two most important things to him: musid boxing. Previously, he had sported a bck suit with a deck of cards, a deliberate move to leverage his appearan People as a ticket to gartention. Just mentioning poker would boost his earnings, a swift tactic to appeal to the newer geions of event-goers.

  -We're done for now! - Mauricio, the photographer in charge of the shoot, excimed.

  Billy nodded, stretg his body nontly as he gathered himself. Walking over, band members took their positions, joining in on the pames.

  -I think Mr. Perfect is free, - Jack Sauce remarked, dressed in a outfit with a burgundy hat, and hands adorned with tattoos, exuding a rebellious aura that attracted many followers.

  -Good, I o lie down for a bit, - Spencer replied, setting down his cards oable. As the father figure of the group, his style remained sistent, even though he was more fident now, still living with his grandmother, bald but now dressed in finely pressed wool vests that were soft against the neck.

  -Hey, hey, let's hit the o. I heard I've got a line open with a 50,000 allowao py in the o, - Billy happily suggested, eager to indulge in roulette in Vegas or throw dice, able to bet here and there with 100 s.

  -Fet it, kid. I've got a wife who'd kill me if she saw my name o the wambling,' - Sugar Egg replied. At 31 years old and having gained some weight since marrying a Domini woman who had him ed around her finger and cooked the best meals.

  -Well, I think I'll have fun at the o while you guys do something, - Billy said, walking towards the bus that would take them back to their rooms. The o wasn't far, located oel's first floor. Billy hummed the song that came to him in Los Angeles, a lyrically allegorical piece that could best be described as extravagant, evoking a feeling akin to hedonism.

  Without wasting any time, he headed to the o, people following closely with their chips in hand. It didn't take long for beautiful women to start approag him; two women with stunning figures in red dresses moved towards his side, while or watched Billy from a distawirling some toothpicks with skill.

  -I guess you two are what we call a lucky charm, - Billy ented, winning his sed round of roulette by betting on the first dozen and odd numbers, nding on seven, and doubling his winnings. He tinued making random bets—first rows, colors, and even hitting on zero.

  -You're amazing, - the woman in the red dress purred, pressing her chest against Billy's ba a suggestive manner.

  -Sure thing, birthday girl, - Billy replied.

  -December 12th, - she answered.

  -Alright, let's bet on 12, 24, and 36, - Billy said, pg his chips on the numbers and another irrational bet, pying with ease despite the crowded table.

  The ball nded on 34, and Billy chuckled under his breath. Without losing anything, he tinued pying until the table was full, many pg their bets. He kept winning, surprising the o owners who didn't expect such a streak. A hotel staff member approached him and whispered something; both exged nods, the newer appearing older.

  -I think that's enough for tonight, - Billy said, handing two 100 s to the previous dealer, giving the girls 300 each. He then moved to the slot maes, ging currency, and in his hands, he had amassed 734,000 in winnings.

  -or, we've hit the jackpot, - Billy said.

  -I'm heading to my room, - or replied, yawning.

  Billy noticed a brue girl walking fidently with another slender model.

  In a whimsical spree, he ordered numerous bottles of champagne, and all kinds of food, and invited a few models to keep him pany throughout the night. Both women stayed with him, and when Jerry arrived ter, drunk, they were both naked, and the room was strewn with 100 bills.

  ...