Rewind With A Superstar System-Chapter 99: Meeting Aura

<🎧 Song Recommendation: WHO I WAS by NF, mgk>

...

The following afternoon, the Miami sun beat down on the sleek, matte-black hood of the Cadillac Escalade as it cruised down Collins Avenue.

Zack tapped his fingers against the leather steering wheel, glancing at Von through the rearview mirror.

Von was dressed sharply but casually in a lightweight, dark linen button-down and tailored trousers. He looked less like an nineteen-year-old kid.

"The Setai Hotel," Zack muttered, reading the GPS. "Cloudary Holdings doesn't mess around. That's a five-star, ultra-luxury resort. Just be careful, Von. You might think you know Rex Sterling, but he's still a shark. If Aura is signed directly to his holding company, there's going to be a lot of corporate red tape around her."

"I'm not worried," Von replied smoothly, adjusting his dark sunglasses. "I'm not walking in there to fight Rex Sterling. I'm just going to talk to a friend."

Zack pulled the massive SUV up to the valet stand of The Setai. The hotel was an architectural masterpiece, an oasis of Zen-like calm amidst the chaotic energy of South Beach.

Towering bronze doors, antique grey bricks, and the soothing sound of flowing water from serene pools greeted him.

Von stepped out, giving Zack a quick nod, and walked through the grand lobby.

Emily had texted him the exact table number. He bypassed the bustling main restaurant and walked out into the lush, open-air courtyard. Tall palm trees provided deep, cooling shade over private tables separated by pristine water features.

Sitting at a secluded corner table, sipping an iced matcha latte, was Aura Nova.

Von stopped for a brief second, genuinely taking in the sight. The glow-up was undeniable.

She wore a chic, tailored white blazer over a silk camisole. Her iconic blue hair, which used to be tied up in messy buns, was now professionally styled into sleek, sharp waves that caught the sunlight. She radiated health, wealth, and confidence.

As Von approached, Aura looked up. Her eyes widened, and a massive grin broke across her face. She immediately stood up and pulled Von into a tight, fierce hug. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"Look at you," Aura laughed, stepping back and holding him by the shoulders. "The Independent King in the flesh. I didn't think you could pull off the linen look, but you're making it work."

"And look at you," Von smiled warmly, taking the seat across from her. "You look incredible, Aura."

"Thank you," Aura sighed happily and took her seat.

A waiter soon appeared, and Von ordered an iced Americano. Once they were alone again, the air between them settled into a comfortable, nostalgic rhythm. They were two war veterans who had survived the trenches of reality television and come out on the other side.

"I have to say it in person," Aura said in a hushed tone. "What you did at the Masquerade launch... exposing Julian on the live stream, dropping the song independently... It was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen."

"It was a gamble. But it paid off. Julian got what was coming to him." Von chuckled, stirring his coffee. "Though, it took some time for me to get a hold of you. What actually happened after the finale? You just vanished."

"It wasn't anything much, honestly," Aura explained. "My plan was to originally use the prize money to release some songs independently, but it just wasn't enough. Coupled with my personal needs and all... I wasn't expecting much."

"But then Cloudary Holdings contacted me. They had missed out on Julian because of his father's label, and for some reason, they didn't want you, so I was given a really good offer and didn't hesitate to accept. And really, I don't regret that decision. You couldn't contact me because I had to start afresh with new details and accounts; it was one of the things they required of me to cut ties with the past."

"Aura, that's incredible," Von said genuinely. "You deserve every bit of that. You have one of the best voices in the current generation."

Von wasn't lying. She was truly talented, and using [Inspect] on her Von could tell she had gotten better yet again.

[Name: Aura Nova]

[Vocals: A]

[Skill: Tidal Hymn]

● Description: The user's music mimics the restorative flow of the ocean, projecting raw emotion that heals the soul.

It was clear she had undergone professional training across the past few months and that was all it took for her to leap all the way from B+ to A. That was really impressive.

Judge Aria, who was one of the greatest pop singers of the generation was an A+ after all, and Aura was one step from there.

Aura smiled, but it was tinged with some sadness. She looked down at the table.

"Which brings me to why I asked to meet you here, instead of just flying to the studio," Aura said softly. She looked back up, her eyes pleading with him to understand.

"Von... I want to be on your album. I really, truly do. The idea of us getting in a booth together and making a track sounds like a dream. But I can't."

"It's the exclusivity clause in my new contract," Aura explained. "Cloudary Holdings just invested millions into my re-brand. They are currently prepping my debut solo album for a massive fourth-quarter release. Because of that, their legal team placed a strict embargo on me. I am legally barred from doing any features, collaborations, or guest appearances for the next four months."

She reached across the table, briefly resting her hand over Von's.

"They want my first official release to be one hundred percent mine," she said. "Plus... Rex explicitly told me he wants me completely distanced from the Project: Star drama. Since you are currently in a public war with World West Records, Cloudary doesn't want me caught in the crossfire before my album even drops. I'm so sorry, Von. I feel like I'm abandoning you."

Von looked at her hand, then looked up into her anxious eyes. Instead of looking disappointed, a slow, proud smile spread across his face.

"Aura, take a breath. You aren't abandoning me."

She was surprised by how calm he was. "You aren't mad?"

"Mad? Why would I be mad?" Von chuckled softly. "You played the game perfectly. You secured a massive bag, you got creative control, and you protected your brand. That exclusivity clause is standard industry practice for a major label debut. It's exactly what I would advise you to do if I were your manager."

Aura let out a massive breath, the tension completely draining from her shoulders. "God, I was so terrified you'd think I was selling out."

"You're a CEO of your own brand now, Aura," Von said, raising his iced coffee in a mock toast. "We both have empires to build. My album is going to be fine. I've already secured Alex and Conor for features."

Aura's jaw dropped. "Woah, you really brought back your old buddies. That's really nice of you, and the media is going to lose their minds when they see that tracklist."

"That's the plan," Von smirked.

"Well," Aura said with her usual competitive spark returning to her eyes. "Since I can't be on this album, I guess I'll just have to beat you on the Billboard charts when my solo project drops."

"You can certainly try," Von laughed, the familiar, friendly rivalry from their dorm days flaring back to life.

"Let's make a promise," Aura suddenly said. "About five months from now, my embargo lifts. By then, our debuts will be finalized. Once the red tape is gone, you and I lock in a studio and write a massive, global single together."

Von's confidence didn't dim, he believed it was truly possible.

"It's a promise," he agreed with a smirk. "We'll break the internet."

Aura beamed, the heavy business talk finally out of the way. She quickly finished the last of her matcha latte and leaned forward, her eyes gleaming mischievously.

"Soo... Are we just going to sit here and chat? There's a private VIP lounge upstairs with a massive screen and a fully loaded PS4 Pro... if you still wanna try beating me."

Von's eyes flared like a child hearing a challenge. He hadn't forgotten how badly she used to beat him in the Star mansion, and he had never gotten his revenge.

"Bet," he said instantly, standing up to join her.

For almost an hour, they continued playing games in the suite, and unfortunately for Von, he kept losing every single time. It pained his pride, but he quickly blamed it on abandoning his gaming side for so long because of all the music work.

They could have played for much longer, but Aura soon had to go for a meeting with her managers.

By the time they saw each other off at the stand, Von was still happy. He had a genuinely great time catching up, even if he couldn't get her on board for the album.

But as he stepped back into the Escalade and the doors shut, his smile faded into a look of absolute focus. Now, it was time to lock the fuck in. The next three months were going to be merciless.