Jimmy chimed in at the right moment, emphasizing how PepsiCo's global platform and marketing resources would amplify Landon's personal brand.
Dinner proceeded in a relaxed and professional atmosphere.
Landon primarily played the role of a listener, while Tracy led more of the conversation regarding industry trends and brand philosophy.
Over an hour later, the meeting concluded in a friendly atmosphere.
Jimmy personally escorted Landon and Tracy to the door of the suite. "Dave is very interested,"
He lowered his voice and patted Landon on the shoulder, "That's a good sign. As for the specifics, let Tracy and their people hash it out. Stay in top form, Landon; a bigger stage is waiting for you."
"Thank you, Jimmy," Landon thanked him sincerely.
"See you next time then." Jimmy winked and turned back into the suite.
On the car ride back, Tracy had already entered work mode, recording key points on her phone.
"Pepsi... this is indeed a blockbuster start. Their global ad campaigns and Super Bowl-level resources will provide a phenomenal boost to your public image.
There's a lot to discuss next. I need to contact our lawyers and business team as soon as possible."
When they returned to the villa, the night was deep, but the house was brightly lit.
Through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, the swimming pool could be seen shimmering under the lights.
Rachel McAdams was swimming in the pool like a mermaid, her figure graceful.
Tracy checked her watch: "I have to handle some things first and confirm a few times with the New York side. You guys rest first." As she spoke, she walked straight toward the study.
Landon changed his clothes and came to the poolside. Seeing him, Rachel McAdams immediately swam to the edge, tilted up her wet face, and reached out with a bright smile: "Come down!"
Landon lept into the water, sending splashes everywhere.
The coolness instantly enveloped his body, washing away the day's fatigue and the slight tension brought on by social obligations.
Rachel McAdams clung to him like a nimble little fish, frolicking with him in the water, her laughter crisp.
Soon, the frolicking turned into a more intimate entanglement, the water becoming the best cover and catalyst.
The pool water rippled in increasingly obvious circles, lapping against the walls.
After finishing her phone call in the study, Tracy rubbed her brow and walked to the window facing the pool.
Seeing the two figures intertwined amidst the hazy mist and lights by the pool, and the expanding ripples, she first shook her head helplessly, then a knowing smile appeared on her lips.
She could understand Rachel McAdams's almost overflowing passion and reluctance to part.
In two more days, Rachel McAdams would fly to New York to join a new film crew and begin several months of filming.
This time, Tracy did not wait.
She put down the things in her hand, took off her silk nightgown, walked barefoot and silently to the edge of the pool, and then stepped down the stairs into the warm water one step at a time.
The water rose over her calves, waist, and chest... the poolside lights cast overlapping, swaying shadows on the pool walls, echoing the faint neon lights of Los Angeles in the distance.
The sounds of water, panting, and whispers were isolated within the walls of the villa, becoming an undisturbed secret night.
With the massive momentum brought by the record-breaking sales of his debut EP and the relatively concentrated promotion gap over the next two weeks, Universal Music Group placed unprecedented importance on the music video for Landon's next lead single, "In Da Club."
Jimmy Iovine personally oversaw the preparations for the music video. One of the core strategies was to continue and strengthen the EP's "sense of surprise"—the female lead for every music video had to be different.
This was not only to maintain freshness and stimulate the audience's desire to watch, but also to individualize the visual memory points of each single, creating a cumulative buzz effect.
In the study, Tracy pushed an elegantly packaged folder toward Landon. Inside were the profiles of actresses Universal Music had preliminary screened and contacted for the "In Da Club" MV.
"Jimmy specifically instructed," Tracy said, "that for all the candidates on this list, the company has already conducted preliminary communications and confirmed their interest and approximate schedule windows.
There won't be another 'accident' like with Eva Mendes last time. As long as you nod, the invitations will be sent out immediately, and contracts will be finalized quickly. Universal Music Group has mobilized more resources this time to ensure everything goes smoothly."
Landon opened the folder, feeling a weight and sincerity quite different from the casting of "Burn" last time.
The information was more detailed; besides standard photos and resumes, it also included brief personality analyses and assessments of their fit with the song's style.
Universal Music had clearly tasted the sweetness of the first week's sales and recognized more clearly the speed at which Landon was appreciating as an "asset," thus showing more initiative and reliability in the details of their cooperation.
The first name and photo on the list made Landon's gaze linger for a moment: Jennifer Love Hewitt.
This young star, who had gained immense popularity among American teenagers through works like "Party of Five" and "I Still Know What You Did Last Summer" and was known for her sweet smile and healthy, sexy image, was prominently on the list.
Her image had both the relatability of a girl next door and no lack of star power. It should create interesting sparks with the "Club Queen" feel in "In Da Club," which was both mainstream and dreamy.
Landon hardly hesitated before lightly drawing a circle next to Hewitt's name. "This one will do."
"Good eye. Her popularity and image are very positive, which will help broaden the MV's audience base." Tracy noted it down and signaled for him to continue.
However, according to the preliminary MV script Landon provided, besides this more prominent actress who might correspond to the one "having a brief conversation and clinking glasses with him at the bar," at least one other actress was needed to "pull his arm from behind while he's singing" and for other interactive plots.
The next few on the list—including a rising television actress, a newcomer model-turned-dancer, and a brunette with experience in supporting film roles—though each had their own characteristics, none gave Landon that clear "she's the one" feeling like Hewitt did.
They were all good, but they seemed to lack that quality that could instantly ignite inspiration or perfectly fit a specific moment in the song.
Landon put down the pen, leaned back in his chair, and lightly tapped his fingers on the table.