"I won't disturb you two any longer," Landon said, slowing his pace appropriately at a fork in the road to address Kobe and Vanessa. "I need to speed up a bit; I have some other things to take care of today. It was a pleasure meeting you, Mr. Bryant, Ms. Laine. Have a great day."
"You too, Landon. Keep in touch," Kobe responded readily, and Vanessa also waved goodbye with a smile.
Landon nodded, then signaled to Henry and Paulo, suddenly quickening his pace and turning onto another street, leaving Kobe and the others behind.
He intentionally showed off his speed; his long-trained body erupted with impressive sprinting power, making Henry and Paulo, who were following beside him, struggle slightly to keep up.
Behind them, Kobe watched Landon's rapidly receding figure and his two bodyguards working hard to keep up, raising an eyebrow and whispering to Vanessa with a laugh, "This guy runs pretty fast. If I didn't know better, I'd think he was a track and field athlete."
On the way back, Landon adjusted his breathing while thinking about the chance encounter. This was already the third well-known figure he had met on this track since moving into this neighborhood.
Sherman Oaks certainly lived up to its reputation, with surprises hidden everywhere.
Back at the villa, Rachel McAdams and Tracy had already woken up and were in the kitchen preparing breakfast.
Landon took a shower, changed his clothes, and as he sat down at the dining table, he mentioned the morning's events to Tracy, along with an idea he had been considering for a long time.
"Tracy, I want to buy this villa and the one next door together." He took a sip of orange juice, his tone calm but serious.
Tracy's hand cutting the fruit paused for a moment, and Rachel McAdams also looked up at him.
"This place has a different meaning for us," Landon said, looking around the living room as sunlight streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
"It's the starting point of my arrival in Los Angeles, and the first home for the three of us. Now that the team has expanded and you've rented the one next door, we might as well turn this into a stable base. Besides, I don't like the feeling of always renting."
Tracy put down the knife, wiped her hands, and a thoughtful expression appeared on her face, which quickly turned into a supportive smile.
"Good. The contract currently being negotiated with Universal Music includes a very generous signing bonus. Plus, your cash flow is more than sufficient, and the location and privacy here meet your future needs. Buying it is a good investment, and it's safer and more controllable. I'll start handling it immediately."
Rachel McAdams came over, hugged Landon's neck from behind, kissed him on the cheek, and her eyes sparkled: "That's great! There are so many memories here... I love this decision."
Landon held her hand. Yes, this villa had witnessed his rapid rise from A Cool Fish to igniting the music scene, and it also carried the complex and solid bond between him, Tracy, and Rachel McAdams.
At three in the afternoon, the Entertainment Weekly cover shoot took place in a studio in Santa Monica.
The process was exceptionally smooth. Landon's presence in front of the camera was far beyond what it used to be; whether it was high-cold still shots requiring a superstar aura or relaxed interactive scenes matching the "New Pop Power" theme of the current issue, he handled it with ease.
The photographer constantly praised his versatility and camera presence. The originally scheduled three-hour shoot was completed efficiently in less than two hours.
In the evening, Landon and Tracy took a car together to the Beverly Hills Hotel.
In the car, Tracy re-confirmed the brief meeting information sent by Jimmy Iovine's assistant, her brow furrowing slightly.
"Jimmy is being very tight-lipped, only saying it's an important friend and that their company wants to expand its influence. He thinks you're the perfect candidate."
She looked at Landon, "He didn't mention a specific brand, which isn't like his style. It seems this isn't just a business introduction."
Landon adjusted his suit cuffs, looking thoughtful: "He wants to deepen the bond. By using his connections to help me land a heavyweight endorsement, this favor will be his bargaining chip in the future. Of course, that's assuming he truly believes in me."
"Exactly," Tracy nodded, "So tonight, we just need to show our best self."
The penthouse suite of the Beverly Hills Hotel occupied a prime view.
Jimmy's assistant was already waiting outside the door and respectfully led the two inside.
The suite's living room was spacious and luxurious. Jimmy Iovine was sitting on a sofa, talking in low tones with a middle-aged man dressed in a dark suit with a capable air.
Seeing them enter, Jimmy immediately stood up, a warm smile appearing on his face.
"Landon, Tracy, you're here. Please, have a seat." He greeted them, then turned to the middle-aged man.
"Dave, let me officially introduce you. This is Landon Williams and his agent, Tracy Miller."
He then said to Landon and Tracy: "This is Dave Berwick, Marketing Vice President of PepsiCo North America."
PepsiCo. Landon's heart stirred, and he instantly understood the weight of this meeting.
A flash of light also crossed Tracy's eyes, but it was quickly masked by a smile.
"Mr. Burwick, I've heard a lot about you." Landon stepped forward to shake hands with Dave Berwick, his attitude neither humble nor arrogant.
"Mr. Williams, Ms. Miller, it's a pleasure to meet you." Dave Berwick had a strong handshake, his gaze quickly sizing up Landon. "Jimmy has been praising you to the skies; I had to see for myself."
Jimmy laughed loudly: "Dave, when have I ever lied to you? The data doesn't lie—2.51 million copies in the first week, consecutive Billboard number ones. Look at the radio airplay and MTV play counts. Landon is the hottest thing right now."
The following meeting was like an informal mutual observation and preliminary exchange of intentions.
Dave Berwick had clearly done his homework. He mentioned the explosive influence of 'Yeah!' among young groups and also spoke about the different emotional aspects shown in 'Burn'.
He specifically pointed out that as a white singer, Landon could naturally and powerfully master the sense of 'cool,''street,' and 'party' originating from black culture, which was very unique in the current market.
This could effectively attract the young male, urban core groups, and hip-hop/R&B music listeners that traditional carbonated beverage brands hoped to reach but found difficult to penetrate.
"We currently have Britney Spears and Destiny's Child's Beyoncé; they are outstanding and cover a huge female market and pop fans."
Dave Berwick took a sip of red wine, his tone sincere.
"But Landon, your musical style is broader. From 'Yeah!' to 'Burn,' and then to the other styles in the EP, what you show is a more comprehensive 'pop influence.'"
"Signing you can help us fill and strengthen our brand image in the young male market and some specific cultural circles, forming a more complete spokesperson matrix."
He did not reveal a specific offer, only stating that the company would soon prepare a detailed cooperation plan to send to Tracy for evaluation.
But during the conversation, his satisfaction with Landon's image and recognition of his market value were clearly evident.