The headline caught his eye first.
"Ruan of One4All Apologizes for Recent Scandal," followed by a censored word: Orgy Party.
Jax's eyes widened in shock as he stared at the screen.
Ruan?
The Ruan he knew?
"What the hell?"
He stood up, gasping in shock.
"You want me to manage someone as problematic as Ruan?"
Regina nodded.
"It was Ruan who picked you himself. Jax, he specifically requested you."
Jax's eyes narrowed in confusion.
"How does he even know me?"
Regina shrugged her shoulders and stared at him curiously.
"The question should be how you know him. Have you met before?"
He shook his head in response.
"I don't know him personally. I only know him as a member of One4All. He is also known for his notorious lifestyle and for always getting his members into trouble with scandals."
Jax's mind wandered back to when he had been a fan of One4All. He remembered listening to their debut album on repeat, knowing most of the songs by heart, but as Ruan's scandals started making headlines, he lost interest, just like many other fans. He drifted away, and his busy job left him with little time to keep up with them.
Now, as he stood in his living room staring at Regina, he couldn't believe that, of all people, he had been chosen as Ruan's manager. The question still lingered in his mind as to why he had been picked. He didn't recall meeting Ruan one-on-one unless he had been chosen randomly. Nothing about him made Jax think he was the right person for the job.
"Jax!"
Regina shouted his name, breaking into his thoughts and pulling him out of them.
"Are you with me?"
He nodded.
"Yes, I am with you. I don't get it. Why me?"
"I have no idea, Jax. His company didn't give us any specific reasons why he chose you, and..."
Her phone started ringing just before she could finish.
"Excuse me," she said to him before picking up the call.
She listened intently as she paced around the room.
"Alright, sir."
She removed the phone from her ear and turned toward Jax.
"That was the higher-ups, Jax. They need your answer now."
"And what's the hurry?"
Regina's eyes locked onto him.
"They are willing to do anything to have you, Jax, and the company will also give you anything you want once the six months are over. A hefty bonus, a promotion, you name it. But you can't reject this offer."
Jax eyed her but didn't say anything. Hearing her beg him like that made him feel triumphant. Who would have thought that he, who had been rejected for a promotion, was now being scouted by a big celebrity?
"Jax, they are scheduling the meeting in two hours, according to the higher-ups, and they want you there. I will be waiting for you inside my car while you dress up, but please..."
She moved closer to him and collected the folder from his hand.
"Remember that this is another chance for you. Losing a big celebrity like Ruan would have severe consequences for the company. We can't afford for that to happen. Please get ready in thirty minutes."
"And what if I don't want this?" Jax asked, wanting to hear if they would beg him more.
Regina lowered her head and sighed.
"The company wouldn't force you, but I want you to consider that this kind of offer only happens once in a lifetime," she told him and gently squeezed his shoulder. "I will be in my car waiting for you."
She said it again before walking out of the house.
"Oh, goodness!"
Jax sighed, feeling the weight of the decision on his shoulders. He fell onto the couch, only to stand up again as his mind raced anxiously.
He thought about the offers he had seen, the money, the benefits, and the chance to pay off his debts. He thought about how he would have to spend six months with Ruan, monitoring and caring for him during his rehab. It would be daunting, especially considering Ruan's notorious reputation, but Jax knew that this was his only chance to make money.
It was only for six months. After that, he would be free and have all the benefits he deserved.
"I can do this," he assured himself.
He then turned toward the bottles scattered across the floor. He began to clean his room, and once he was done, he headed to his bathroom, bathed, and changed into a brown shirt and black trousers.
"I can do this," he assured himself again as he stood in front of the mirror, brushing his messy curls away from his forehead.
He sighed and touched his chest, hoping he had made the right decision. Taking a deep breath, he headed out of the door.
Once he came out of his apartment, he spotted Regina's sleek Ferrari parked on the opposite side of the street. He walked to the passenger's side and knocked on the window.
She smiled at him as she opened the door.
"Thank you for giving it a chance, Jax," she said, her eyes shining with gratitude. "You won't regret it."
Jax entered the passenger seat and buckled his seat belt.
"I better not regret it."
Regina chuckled and started the engine, driving through the streets in silence. Neither of them exchanged any words until they arrived at the company.
They both stepped out of the car and headed straight into the company.
"Remember to remain calm," Regina reminded him as they walked past the security desk.
Jax looked around, searching for a sign of security, but he was nowhere to be found. He thought he could be busy and looked away as they entered the elevator.
"Don't worry, Regina. I am calm," he assured her, but he wasn't.
Instead, his heart was racing so fast that it felt like it was about to burst from anticipation.
He sighed as he watched the elevator doors start to close, but then suddenly, a hand shot through the opening, and someone slipped inside.
The man was dressed entirely in black, from his hoodie to his sleek glass shoes. Even his cologne was unmistakable, a subtle, expensive scent that commanded attention.
Two burly men dressed in suits followed him into the elevator, with another middle-aged man joining them.
Jax's curiosity was piqued as he eyed the man who had just walked in. He couldn't help but wonder who the man was.
As if the man could feel Jax's burning gaze, he slowly turned to face him, his eyes hidden behind his glasses.
Then, in a smooth, deliberate motion, the man removed his glasses, and their eyes met.
He smiled brightly at Jax.
Jax's eyes widened in shock as he took in the familiar face.
Ruan.
The rockstar had picked him as his manager, but that was not what made Jax stare at him.
He was also shocked by the beautiful obsidian eyes that he had imprinted on his mind.
How could he forget those eyes?
They were the same eyes he had seen that morning when he was on his way to the promotion that had made him curious about the man hiding beneath the mask. Even though there were similar eyes to his, he couldn't forget how unique they had looked to him.
Then his gaze fell lower.
The wristwatch.
Ruan was still wearing the same wristwatch he had been wearing that morning when Jax had picked him up.
Jax's breath caught in his throat.
Ruan was the man he had saved that morning on the day of his promotion.
And suddenly, everything made sense.
He finally understood why Ruan had specifically chosen him.