After just two days of rest with his family in the new house, Dayo was back at work. He went to the studio to check on Lois's album progress. Things were moving well, but everyone knew Dayo was a perfectionist. He wasn't just there to finish the project; he was determined to carve out her sound and make the album a hit that could stand out. This would allow him to have people come to record from him, giving him another source of income. As of now, not many knew he produced, but that wouldn't remain the same for long.

He called Lois into the booth, and together they spent hours experimenting with harmonies, layering instrumentals, and adjusting tempos. But somewhere between the studio takes and coffee breaks, the energy shifted.

Lois's glances lingered too long. She started leaning in too close, her compliments slipping from professional to personal. Dayo noticed it but ignored it at first, focusing on the music. Until it became impossible. She grew touchier, brushing his arm, trying to blur the line between work and something else.

It turned him off instantly. He didn't blame her entirely; he understood the industry's darker side. With his rising popularity, he knew some people would try to get close for reasons other than music. Still, he had dropped hints, gentle but firm, reminding her there was no need for this—that he'd take care of her career professionally. But she didn't take the hint.

Part of it, he realized, was his own fault. When he'd first pushed her name into the spotlight, fans had "shipped" them together online. He never responded or corrected the narrative, so maybe she thought she had a chance. But it couldn't work.

One evening, after another subtle attempt, he finally shut it down.

"Lois," he said firmly, "keep it professional. I know what you want, and you'll get everything you deserve in due time—but for now, leave all that aside. Let's work."

The room's vibe shifted like a switch had been flipped. Lois grew distant, cold, and sometimes sarcastic. Everyone noticed. Some even waited to see if Dayo would react. But he didn't. He had made a vow long ago never to mix business with desire—especially now, when everything was beginning to align. It would only lead to trouble.

Still, he took note. Quietly, he told Valery to warn others not to cross the same line. If he hadn't already been deep into Lois's album, he might have pulled the plug on her contract. But he was too far in to stop. So, he focused. On the work. On the sound. On the vision growing inside him.

***

Two weeks later, the album was finally done. Every detail checked, all 12 songs were intact. Now all that remained was promotion and, most importantly, picking the release date.

That was when Dayo surprised everyone by dropping a bomb.

"I'll choose the date myself," he said casually in a meeting.

The room went silent. Wayne and Valery exchanged looks. Normally, release dates weren't chosen offhand. It took weeks of research—market studies, budget analysis, promotional schedules. Hearing their boss announce it so easily made them uneasy, even suspicious.

Later, Valery and Wayne went to his office.

"Dayo," Valery began carefully, "not that I want to undermine you, but how exactly do you plan on picking a date without research?"

Wayne nodded. "This isn't like deciding what to wear. The timing could make or break the album."

Dayo smiled faintly. Their concern didn't annoy him—it warmed him. It showed they cared.

"I have a way," he said calmly. "So don't worry."

"But—"

"Have I ever disappointed you since you started working with me?" Dayo cut in.

They both shook their heads.

"Then trust me. I wouldn't play with this. The funds from this project are what I'll use to push myself during the Global Competition. Do you really think I'd risk that without knowing what I'm doing?"

The conviction in his voice silenced them. They knew him well enough—if he sounded this confident, then he had a plan.

After they left, Dayo locked his door and leaned back in his chair. He whispered the command.

"Trend Insight — analyze release timing for Lois's album."

The system panel flickered to life, glowing with shifting charts and live data streams.

---

[TREND INSIGHT — ANALYZING]

Analyzing global & regional music data…

— Streaming Platforms: Spotify / Apple / Audiomack / YouTube

— Social Media: TikTok / Reels / Hashtag Velocity

— Festival & Booking Lineups

— Listener Sentiment Analysis

---

Projection Timeline:

0–2 Weeks (Current):

Trap / Drill → Oversaturated, decline (–15%)

EDM / House → Stable, small growth (+6%)

Afrobeats Fusion → Plateau (0%)

3–4 Weeks:

Pop-Rap Crossovers → Rising (+12%)

Latin Pop / Reggaeton → Spike (+18%)

Acoustic Ballads → Early climb (+10%)

5–6 Weeks:

R&B / Soul Fusion → Rapid growth (+27%)

Acoustic Duets (male + female) → Surge (+31%)

7–9 Weeks (Peak Window):

R&B / Soul Fusion → Major breakout (+42%)

Acoustic Duets → Viral crossover (+38%)

Projected stability: 3 months

---

Lois Album Fit:

Style: R&B / Soul + Acoustic Fusion

Alignment: ~90% with peak cycle (7–9 weeks)

Viral Probability: High (+47%)

Recommended Launch: Week 7–8 (≈ 2 months)

---

Dayo's eyes widened. This was his first time using Trend Insight in full, and the precision stunned him. His hands trembled from a cocktail of fear and excitement.

Fear, because if anyone discovered this system, they'd never let him go free.

Excitement, because this was more than an advantage—it was a weapon, and he knew exactly how to use it.

He had only wanted to check Lois's album in the archive vault, his new skill, to test how it would look. He hadn't expected the system to break down the entire industry cycle, then give him a clear recommendation.

He let out a shaky laugh. "This thing is insane…"

For half an hour, he sat there planning. With his intelligence, the strategy came together quickly:

Drop a lead single in Week 5–6 to seed the trend.

Hold the full album until Week 7–8, during the R&B/Soul peak.

Use the single—a duet with Lois—to boost her visibility and his own, right before the Global Competition raffle draw.

It wasn't that he doubted the system, but Dayo was cautious. Testing the waters with a single would give him cover while still keeping him aligned with the peak cycle.

By the time he shut down the panel, he was grinning. For the first time, the future didn't feel uncertain—it felt calculated, predictable, almost like destiny itself was being bent in his favor.

And with that, he turned to the next thing on his calendar: the FIFA World Cup opening.

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