Information to Mastery: Points Store System-Chapter 218: Carol’s Worries

When Michael got back to the villa, Adrian informed him that the issue regarding the purchase of Vanguard Corporation shares was proceeding well, and it would be completed by the end of the day.

This implied that tonight, he would be able to use SP to completely take over Vanguard Corporation. As for the issue regarding those unwilling to sell the shares, that was something that the system would handle.

Even though Michael was curious about the methods that the system usually used in order to be able to acquire the shares from other people, there was no way that he could know.

Maybe, he should ask those that had sold their shares, on what had convinced them to sell them? But thinking about that, usually, when the system bought the shares, they were for him.

That implied, for some reason, those people might believe that he was the one who had contacted them, and reached an agreement with them, before they agreed to sell the shares.

So, it would raise some questions if he went to ask them about why they decided to sell their shares, especially if he was ’supposedly’ the one who had convinced them to sell them.

In the end, Michael simply shook his head, deciding not to think much about it.

While he was relaxing, his phone began ringing. Without a doubt, the person who was calling was Alex. Michael received the call without much emotional fluctuations, "Yeah, is everything alright on your side?"

"Michael, thank you so much for saving my sister. If not for you, I don’t know what would have happened. From today onwards, if there is anything that you ever need me to do, I will not object, even if it costs my life." Alex’s grateful voice came through the phone’s earpiece, making Michael raise his brows slightly.

It seemed that he had underestimated the relationship between Alex and his sister, Melvin.

"Is it really that exaggerated? There is no need for that really, just consider it a small favor from me. If there is something that I need in the future, I will ask you for help, but it will definitely not be something that will need you to risk your life." Michael shook his head as he said.

"It doesn’t matter, but I hope that you understand, that even if it needs me to risk my life, I’m willing to do it." Alex insisted.

To this, Michael could only shake his head, as there was nothing that he could do to convince Alex. Anyway, he was not planning on making Alex risk his life for him.

With the system, he had a lot of counter measures. If there was really something that he could not handle, then there was a great possibility that Alex could not either.

After that, Michael ended the call, only for another call to come through. This time, the call came from Carol, the singer that he had met at the KTV when he was out with Alex and the others last time.

With this artist, Michael felt kind of helpless. During the time that he had not been going out, she had been frequently contacting him, asking if he could give her lessons.

He had already made some arrangements, with Adrian occasionally giving her lessons during the time that he was free. But, she seemed so intent on having him teach her personally.

Michael possessed singing skills at the expert level, but so did Adrian. So, what made the difference between the two of them? It was not as though Adrian could not teach her.

"Mr. Santos, are you perhaps available during this week? I would like to invite you to my concert that will be happening on Friday 5th, this week." Unexpectedly, this time, Carol did not call because she wanted to ask if he could give her lessons.

Instead, it was an invitation to her concert? That was kind of a surprise. Still, Michael had no any intention of going to the concert. After all, he was not much of a fan of music, despite possessing expert level singing skills.

"Unfortunately, I have quite a busy schedule, and I will not be able to go to the concert." Michael decisively responded.

"Ah? But you have not even asked where the concert will be held, and what time it would be held. How do you even know that at that time, you would not be free?

Don’t tell me, are you usually busy during the day, and even during the night? There has to be a time when you are free, right?" Carol seemed to have received an unexpected response, as she quickly asked.

Michael was left momentarily speechless, as he responded, "Miss Carol, you have to understand that if I am busy during the day, I still need the rest at night, right?"

There was quite an extended duration of silence, before Carol responded, "Please, could you do me this favor? I’m in a tight spot right now, and I need some support. I will pay for the plane tickets, and the accommodation as well."

"What is the situation there?" Michael was slightly curious about what was making Carol seem kind of desperate.

Michael could audibly hear Carol taking a deep breath, before she said, "Actually, I need your help this time. I’m afraid that this concert, that I have worked so hard for, I might end up being replaced.

I know nothing has gone wrong yet. On paper, everything is still fine. My name is on the lineup, the contract hasn’t been changed, and no one has told me I’m being replaced. But that’s exactly why it makes me uneasy.

Over the past two days, I’ve noticed how carefully people answer my questions. When I ask about rehearsal times or sound check, I’m told they’re "still being finalized." I’m not receiving any confirmation. It’s the same answer every time, from different people, as if they were all repeating the same line.

Yesterday, I asked whether the band setup I submitted had been locked in. The coordinator said yes, but a few hours later, I heard that another artist had asked for the same arrangement. Same number of musicians, same transitions. No one explained why.

What really made me uncomfortable was when my manager mentioned, almost casually, that the organizers were ’keeping options open in case of unexpected issues.’ He said it like it was normal. Maybe it is. But no one could tell me what those issues were supposed to be.

I’ve seen this happen before, to other people. You don’t get replaced openly. They don’t argue with you, and they don’t cancel you. They just prepare someone else quietly, so that if anything goes wrong, if I arrive late, if I get sick, if there’s a dispute about payment, they already have a solution. And once that solution exists, I become optional.

That’s why I’m worried now, not later. Four days is enough time to set up a substitute, but not enough time for me to fight it if something shifts against me. If a problem comes up on the day of the performance, I won’t have leverage. I’ll only have explanations, and explanations don’t stop decisions.

I don’t really know much about your background, but the skills that you demonstrated, they are definitely not something that an ordinary person can have.

Additionally, the person that you assigned to train me, is he not the current ’boss’ of Sky Technologies? For you to be able to instruct such a person, your background is not that simple.

I’m not hoping for you to fight against my company, or the organizers, I would just like you to help me guarantee my spot in the concert.

I have really put in a lot of effort, even before we met, in preparation for this concert. As long as this concert succeeds, I will be able to take a step forward in my career.

If nothing happens, then nothing happens. That would be ideal. But if something does, I’d rather not be the only one standing there with no authority to question it."

Listening to the lengthy explanation from Carol, Michael simply remained quiet for quite a while. This was something quite simple, he could easily handle it.

He had already done some investigation about Carol, and he knew that she was not from a very big entertainment company.

Just the influence of being a shareholder of Vanguard Corporation was enough to be able to handle something like this. After all, it was not as though he wanted Carol to receive the best resources from the company, as that would be somewhat difficult.

But for something like a concert like this, it was quite easy to be able to handle. Additionally, with 4 days still to go until the concert, it was enough for many things to happen.

For example, he was planning to completely take over Vanguard Corporation tonight. And by then, his influence would be able to grow, allowing him to be able to maneuver freely.

"Okay, let me see how I will handle this. But, I cannot guarantee my presence during the concert, though I will try to help out so that what you are afraid of happening, will not happen." Michael responded after a moment of thought.

Even though Carol was disappointed that Michael would not be there, he still gratefully said, "Thank you, Mr. Santos. But still, I would like you to be there, so that you can see how much I have improved these days."