The Sony rep's office was set up backstage in a private tent, quieter than the chaos outside. The faint thump of Linkin Park still echoed through the walls, their performance roaring in the distance as David Lucius Harper stepped in with Markus Schulz at his side.
Two sharply dressed men and a woman were waiting at the table, badges gleaming with the Sony Music logo. The older of them—gray suit, calm eyes—stood first and extended his hand with a confident smile.
"David Lucius Harper, right? Or should I say, the man who just hijacked Coachella?"
David shook his hand, his smile modest but proud. "David's fine. And… hijacked is a strong word. Just lucky the crowd liked us."
The woman laughed lightly. "Liked you? Half the audience was chanting your name while Linkin Park came on. That doesn't happen, Mr. Harper. What you have is raw, and people can feel it."
Markus clapped David on the shoulder. "Told you he had something special."
The gray-suited man, who introduced himself as Richard Lane, A&R from Sony—sat down and opened a folder. "We'll keep it short. Sony wants to sign your band, Gravity Dreams, for a three album deal."
David blinked, sitting across from him. "Three albums?"
"Yes," Richard continued. "Normally, we test new acts with one, maybe two. But what you showed tonight… the songwriting, the connection, the crowd response—it's beyond typical. And I heard you wrote all your songs. You've got something that could define the next decade if handled right. And your genre has diversity in Alternate rock, maybe even pop in future."
He slid the papers forward. "The offer includes standard pay per album, plus royalty bonuses if your tracks hit Billboard's top lists. And if any album sells over a million copies, you get an additional performance and creative rights bonus."
David flipped through the contract, scanning it with focused eyes. He wasn't a lawyer, but he could tell—it was generous. Too generous for a newcomer.
He leaned back slightly. "I appreciate the offer, really. But I'll need to have my lawyer look through this before I give a final answer."
"Of course," Richard nodded immediately. "That's smart. We're not rushing you. Just… know that we see real potential in you and your band. We wanted to sign you before others tried. I've been doing this for twenty years, David. It's rare to see a first-timer light up a festival crowd like that."
David smiled. "Thank you. We just wanted to play something that felt real."
"Well," Richard said with a grin, standing and offering his hand again, "whatever you're doing, keep doing it. We'll be waiting for your call."
They shook hands, Markus beside him practically buzzing with excitement. As they walked out of the tent, Markus slapped him on the back. "Do you even realize what you just pulled off? Three albums with Sony, man. That's insane for a newbie! Even your brother didn't get a break like this."
David chuckled softly. "Yeah… it's a start. Let's see how it goes."
Backstage, the rest of Gravity Dreams were still catching their breath, surrounded by roadies and empty water bottles. Tommy sat on an amp, wide-eyed. "Dude, I'm still hearing the crowd chanting in my ears. Are we famous now? Like actual famous?"
Emily was half-laughing, half-crying. "I can't believe they knew the lyrics by the second chorus! How did that even happen?"
Avril was perched on a case, swinging her legs, her energy barely contained. "We just killed Coachella, that's what happened. We slayed."
David walked in, holding the contract. "Alright, team—gather up."
They turned to him instantly. He waved the folder. "Sony wants to sign us for three albums."
Tommy nearly fell off the amp. "Wait, three albums? "
"Yeah, that one," David replied, amused. "They're offering a solid deal, good royalties, and bonus incentives. But I told them I'd have my lawyer review everything first. So for now, no promises."
Emily was still staring, speechless. Avril whistled low. "Man, you're way too calm about this. If it were me, I'd be screaming and jumping."
Tommy grinned. "You kinda already are."
David smiled at them, lowering his voice a little. "Listen. This could change our lives—but only if we handle it right. I want all of you to stay grounded. Don't talk to reporters, don't give interviews without me or a guardian present. The press loves twisting words, and I'm not letting anyone burn you before you even start."
The younger ones nodded, the respect in their eyes clear. Despite his age not being that far from theirs, David carried a quiet authority that made them trust him.
Emily leaned her head on her bass case. "You're like our big brother or something."
David chuckled. "I'll take that."
They wrapped up their gear and headed out for dinner nearby—a small diner just off the festival grounds, still buzzing with the after-concert glow. The food was greasy and cheap, but the laughter was warm. For the first time, Gravity Dreams felt like a real family.
When the meal was over, they hugged each other goodnight and went their separate ways, their hearts full of adrenaline and dreams too big to sleep off.
Driving back to the hotel, the cool desert air rushed through the car window. Scarlett sat beside him, one hand lazily resting on his arm as the headlights rolled over the dark road.
David's phone buzzed. It was Charlie. He picked up with a grin.
"Yo, rockstar!" Charlie's voice boomed through the speaker. "You were insane out there, Davey. I got goosebumps listening to you sing. Jill was sobbing next to me. I thought she was gonna need a paper bag."
David laughed. "That's good to hear. Didn't think I'd get my big brother emotional over a few songs."
"Not me, man, Jill!" Charlie chuckled. "She's still wiping tears. Said that last song made her rethink her entire life."
In the background, Jill's voice came faintly through the phone. "Tell him I was crying my eyes out! And that he should stop writing songs that make people question their existence! I am all over the place emotionally."
David smiled, shaking his head. "I'll keep that in mind. Sorry for the emotional damage."
He winced in his mind , thinking if his song would be the catalyst for Jill to become a dude in this world later on. Charlie would probably punch him for the emotional trauma.
Charlie laughed. "Man, you did great. I'm proud of you, little brother. Seriously. You're doing something real out there."
"Thanks, Charlie," David said softly. "Couldn't have done it without you bro. I'll swing by later."
They hung up a few minutes later, and Scarlett leaned her head against his shoulder, smiling.
"He's right, you know. You were amazing."
David smirked. "You didn't sound that impressed during the show."
"I was busy watching half the girls in the audience fall in love with you," she teased. "Oh, and Avril giving you the same look I used to give when I fell for you."
David sighed. "Come on, it's not like that. She's just excited. Admiration, maybe."
Scarlett raised an eyebrow, smirking. "You're smart about everything except women. That girl's got a crush brewing, whether she realizes it or not."
He kept his eyes on the road, smiling faintly. "I'll worry about that later."
She laughed softly and kicked off her shoes as they reached the hotel. While David parked, she stretched and yawned. "So, this lawyer of yours… who is he? You said you'd have him look over the contract."
David grinned as they entered their suite. "A lawyer I met a couple years ago after I got arrested. he got me off scot free from a 3 year sentence."
She turned to him, curious. " You never told me about that. I heard you got arrested for drugs but didn't know the details."
He shrugged. "It was a bad time. Drugs, Bar fight, bad crowd, worse decisions. But the lawyer, he was something else. Helped me turn things around."
"What's his name?" she asked as she slipped into bed.
"Harvey Specter," David said, smirking faintly. "Guy hates losing more than anyone I've ever met."
Scarlett smiled as she rested her head on the pillow. "Sounds like the kind of man who'd keep you out of trouble."
David chuckled, sitting down beside her. "He tries."
The city lights flickered faintly through the window as the room grew quiet. For the first time that night, David allowed himself to breathe—to really feel it. The crowd, the applause, the offer, the future.
He'd come to Coachella hoping to start over. Instead, he'd ignited something much bigger.
And Gravity Dreams had just begun.
******
The offices of Pearson Hardman were as polished and sharp as the man who ruled them. Floor-to-ceiling windows framed Manhattan's skyline, sunlight gleaming off every surface like it knew who owned the view.
Harvey Specter stood near his desk, phone in one hand, tie slightly loosened, that trademark half-smile tugging at his lips. He'd just wrapped up a deal worth eight figures, and he looked like a man who had simply ordered lunch. That's when his assistant, Donna Paulsen, leaned in through the glass door, holding a folder.
"You're gonna want to see this," she said with a grin.
Harvey raised a brow. "If it's another article about me being the 'Best Closer in New York,' I already framed it."
"Cute," Donna replied, walking in and dropping the folder onto his desk. "But this isn't about you. It's about a musician. Some guy blew up at Coachella last week. 'Gravity Dreams'? Ring a bell?"
Harvey frowned faintly. "Donna, unless they're suing me for using their song in an ad campaign, why would I—"
She interrupted him with a knowing smirk. "Because the lead singer's name is David Lucius Harper. Does that ring a bell?"
That made him stop. Harvey blinked once, twice, then leaned back against his desk, that half-smile returning.
"You're kidding."
"Nope," Donna said, crossing her arms. "Apparently, he went from drug charges to Billboard talk in under two years. Word is, Sony Music offered him a three-album deal. And guess who he called to review the contract?"
Harvey grinned. "Well, look at that. I should charge extra for turning a mobstar into a rockstar."
Donna snorted. "You really should. Maybe throw in a 'personal transformation' clause."
An hour later, David stepped off the elevator wearing jeans, boots, and a fitted black shirt under a leather jacket — looking more like a frontman than a client. His hair was longer now, a little wild, but his eyes were sharp and steady.
"Harvey," David greeted with a grin. "Still the same office view, huh?"
Harvey stood to shake his hand. "And you, still finding ways to surprise me. From mugshots to album covers. I gotta say, I didn't see that coming."
David laughed. "I Guess people change."
Harvey motioned toward the chair. "Sit. Let's see what you've gotten yourself into this time. Please tell me it's not another cartel venture."
David dropped the Sony contract on his desk. "Music label, actually. Three albums. Big numbers, too. They even added performance bonuses if we go platinum."
Harvey flipped through the document, eyes scanning quickly, his brain dissecting every clause with surgical precision. "Hmm. Royalty split's clean. Creative control clause, surprisingly fair. They're giving you seventy percent publishing rights, which is rare for a debut artist. You must've impressed them."
David shrugged with a small grin. "Coachella crowd went crazy. Guess they saw the potential."
Harvey nodded approvingly. "You always had the charisma. You just needed to use it somewhere legal."
David laughed. "I'll take that as a compliment."
"Don't," Harvey replied dryly, signing a note on the page. "It wasn't one."
The two men shared a knowing grin.
Donna entered a few minutes later with two coffees in hand, her trademark smirk never missing.
"David Harper," she said dramatically. "The man who made half of Coachella cry and the other half scream."
David chuckled. "You watched the show?"
"Of course I did," Donna said, setting a cup beside Harvey and walking over to David. "I had to see what all the fuss was about. I was impressed. Not enough to buy your album yet, but close."
"Maybe I can convince you with an autograph?" David offered playfully, reaching for a pen.
She grinned. "Sure. Then I'll sell it when you're famous and buy myself a new bag."
David signed her notebook anyway, looking up with a mischievous grin. "Or maybe you can convince Harvey to lower his fees. You know, since you're a fan."
Harvey shot him a look over his coffee. "Nice try, Rockstar. My rates go up for troublemakers who get famous."
Donna laughed, handing David his coffee. "He's not kidding."
David leaned back in the chair, smiling. "That's fine. I actually wanted to keep you on retainer anyway, not just for the music stuff. I have some legal business stuff to deal with."
Harvey raised a brow. "Oh?"
David nodded. "Yeah. I'm planning a few business moves on the side. I've been buying stakes quietly—Marvel, Amazon, maybe even Netflix if the deal looks good."
Harvey raised an eyebrow. This was quite bigger than he imagined. "You are talking about a 100 million dollar deal, Don't joke about that."
David handed him the intitial propositions. "See for yourself man."
Harvey blinked looking over the proposals, then laughed softly, shaking his head. " Already testeing the waters. You really don't do things halfway, do you?"
David's tone was calm but confident. "I don't like staying small. Music's one dream. Building something that lasts, that's the other."
"And I assume the money is clean? " Harvey asked seriously. "I don't do drug money , David."
David raised his arm in surrender. "Come on man, I have left those things. This is fully legit. You can talk with my bank."
Harvey's smirk softened into genuine respect. "Then I must cngratulate you. You know, most people come to me because they need to save their careers. You come because you're about to own the industry. I like that."
"Good," David said with a smile. "Because I'm gonna need someone who hates losing as much as I do."
Harvey leaned back, steepling his fingers. "Then you came to the right guy."
The next hour went by in quiet efficiency. Harvey meticulously reviewed every section of the Sony contract, occasionally jotting notes or flagging small adjustments—distribution clauses, image rights, tour revenue splits.
David watched him work. There was something oddly reassuring about Harvey—his sharpness, his confidence. Every move he made was deliberate, precise, unshakable.
After a while, Harvey closed the folder and looked up. "It's clean. No traps, no creative blackmail. They actually want you to succeed."
"So, you're saying I should sign?"
"I'm saying you should have me negotiate a few of the bonuses up first," Harvey replied with a sly grin. "But yes, I'd call it a green light."
David smiled, relief washing over him. "Thanks, Harvey."
"Don't thank me yet," Harvey said, standing and buttoning his jacket. "You haven't paid my invoice. I'm charging extra."
David laughed as they walked toward the elevator. "You really never change."
"Why would I? It's working." Harvey gave his trademark smirk.
They chatted for a while, going over the details. After it was done, It was time to leave.
They stopped near the door, the hum of the city faint outside. Harvey glanced at him with a small smirk. "You seem different, David. Not just cleaned up, more mature. Like you finally know what the hell you're doing."
David grinned. "Maybe I do. Or maybe the old me's just taking a nap."
Harvey chuckled. "Let's hope he stays asleep."
David gave a playful shrug. "I could wake him if you really want."
"Don't," Harvey warned with mock seriousness. "That guy owed me too many favors."
They both laughed, and after one final handshake, David walked out toward the elevator.
Harvey watched him go, a glimmer of pride flickering beneath his usual cool composure. "From junkie to rockstar," he muttered. "Damn, that's one for the books."
Donna leaned against the doorway, smirking. "Told you that guy looked different from the other cases."
Harvey smirked back. "You tell me a lot of things. Doesn't mean you're always right."
"Oh, please," she said, rolling her eyes. "You'll be bragging about signing with him by tomorrow."
He didn't reply, just sipped his coffee and looked out the window, the faintest smile tugging at his lips.
A week later, Gravity Dreams stood in the lobby of Sony Music's Los Angeles headquarters. The air buzzed with excitement and nervous laughter.
Tommy looked around at the platinum records on the wall. "Dude… Nirvana, Michael Jackson, Aerosmith… and now us?"
Emily was grinning ear to ear. "Feels unreal."
Avril bounced slightly on her heels, her cap turned backward. "It's happening, people. This is our moment."
David smiled at them. "Alright, deep breaths. We're here because we earned it. Let's make it count."
Inside the boardroom, they sat across from Richard Lane and a few executives. Cameras were set up for the small press announcement.
Richard smiled warmly. "We're proud to officially welcome Gravity Dreams to the Sony Music family."
Flashbulbs clicked as David and the band signed the documents one by one. Tommy whooped. Emily's hands trembled slightly as she signed her name. Avril flashed a peace sign to the cameras.
When it was done, David stood and shook Richard's hand firmly. "Here's to making some noise," he said with a grin.
Richard chuckled. "Oh, I think you'll make plenty."
Outside, the band gathered on the steps. Reporters shouted questions—"How does it feel?" "What's next for Gravity Dreams?"
David chuckled. "We are still new at this, so baby steps. We will start working on the first album and release before next year ends."
"How did you come up with 4 different songs with different concepts?"
David smiled. " Well, All of them are actually related to different stages and events in life. 'Boulevard of Broken Dreams' relates to myself after I ran away from home, and I was all alone on my own. 'Thanks for the memories' talks about my first relationship actually, it didn't really go well.." He chuckled, making the reporters ask more questions about it, but he silenced them with a hand.
" Now as for 'Mr. Brightside' it's actually about a friend of mine whose girlfriend cheated on him, yet he stayed hopeful. Sadly, he took his life later on, and I wanted something to remember him by." He smiled sadly.
"Lastly, 'Leave out all the rest', this is a personal reflection of my life. I often asked myself, was I doing enough with my life? Could I have done something different, and would anybody even remember me if I died. It was a dark time for , but thankfully I found light among the darkness."
The reporters wanted to keep asking more question, but David raised a hand and smiled.
"No more statements. We'll talk when the music's ready. You guys can look forward to the Album."
His voice was calm but commanding, the kind that made people listen.
As they walked toward the parking lot, Tommy turned to him, wide-eyed. "Dude… Sony Music. This is real. We're in."
David chuckled, looking up at the California sky. "Yeah. Feels like it's just beginning."
Avril grinned as she hugged his arm. "So what now?"
David smiled as he walked . "Now? We get to work. The world's waiting."
He could see the budding crush that was forming, and cursed in his mind. 'Why do I keep attracting jailbaits! It's like someone is intentionally messing with me.'
And as they climbed into his black Impala, the sun dipping low over the horizon, Gravity Dreams drove off—four dreamers who had just stepped onto the world stage, and one man who had already learned the hard way how to rise from the ashes.
This time, David wasn't running from his past. He was building a future.