Charttoppers - 9. Triple Trouble

Coincidence or Bitter Rivalry: War between Ash and Samson!

If you haven’t watched Kyle’s Friday Show last week, let me just say you missed out on a lot! Our favorite main pop boy Ash Khong revealed that his upcoming album Too Close was being pushed back to June 24. Coincidentally (yeah, right!), this is the same day when our other fave boy Samson Flynn is set to release his second LP Night Calls.

Smell something fishy? Me too, so let’s spray some Storm™, fragrance by Samson Flynn, and see what this is all about.

When asked about the reason for this decision, Ash said he needed more time to rework some of the songs and make them even better, adding that Samson’s release had nothing to do with it. Now, I have to raise my trimmed eyebrow at this, because even if it were true, wouldn’t any other week have made more sense? Is this really a case of unfortunate schedules, or more likely an attempt to sabotage the competition? I know what my money is on.

Both guys have often mentioned the other over the years, saying they got along great and that there was nothing but friendly rivalry between them. They’ve obviously mastered the art of diplomacy, I’ll give them that.

Well, this ‘friendship’ is about to be put to the test, as their sophomore records will go head to head when they are released in less than two months. Here’s what we know about them so far…

~~

“Good to see they’re not buying his bullshit either,” Samson huffed and closed the page with a frown, pursing his lips.

It was early morning and the singer lay in bed with Cheops by his side, scrolling through the news feed on his phone. He could see dozens of similar articles with clickbait titles, all on the same topic. If what Ash wanted was some free publicity and drama, he was definitely successful.

Still, Samson had trouble believing Ash would actually stoop so low as to sabotage his album release. It was true that they did not know each other well, but every time they spoke, the Korean seemed genuinely friendly, which was a rare quality in show business.

The whole thing wasn’t necessarily bad, Samson realized. He was getting a lot more press then he usually would, just by virtue of being involved in this Ash drama. With every outlet reporting on his upcoming album, it would hopefully increase people’s interest and get them to check out his music.

Just as he opened up another article to read, his phone buzzed with an incoming call from his best friend.

“Gurl, tell me you checked out the new charts!” Anna screamed into the phone. Samson quickly moved it away from his ear and put her on speaker.

“Jeez, do you want me to go deaf? No, I just woke up, what happened?”

“Just go and see for yourself,” the girl insisted, and Samson quickly opened the Elite 100 page, the biggest music chart in the country. There was Tyler Edwards at number one, Ash at number three, and… As he scrolled down, his eyes suddenly went wide as saucers as he gasped out loud. There it was, his own song at number nine.

“Oh my God!! Is this real?!” He shouted, his lips breaking into a wide grin. Cheops lifted his head to look at him before returning to his nap. “Clouds is number nine! My first top ten ever!”

“I know! I almost peed myself when I saw it,” Anna giggled.

“I think I just did,” Samson squealed with happiness. “How did this happen?!”

“See, that’s what happens when you’re an amazing singer who makes amazing music,” his friend replied cheerfully.

“Aww, you! We have to celebrate this.”

“Definitely! Girly drinks and gossip at my place later?”

“You bet! I have to stop by the dance studio later, and then I’ll drive over to your apartment,” Samson said, feeling high as if he’d just won ten Stardust Awards. “I have some unfinished business first.”

When he arrived at the dance studio later that afternoon, the singer made a beeline for the small juice bar on the ground floor, getting himself a watermelon smoothie and taking a seat near the door. From that position, he had a great view of the entrance area and could see everyone coming and going.

If what his dancers told him was true, the person he was waiting for was to arrive any minute now.

“Come on,” he muttered under his breath, checking the time. “I could’ve been at Anna’s watching Drag Race instead of this.”

Just a few minutes later, he could see the person he was waiting for entering the studio. A group of six guys and girls came in, ready to start another dance practice. They were Ash’s dancers and Marcus was among them.

Samson got up and left the juice bar, hurrying to catch up with them.

“Hey, guys. How are you?” he called out, approaching them. As the dancers realized who was talking to them, they immediately stopped to say hello and shake hands, a few of them obviously starstruck. Some of them even knew him from before, having met him at festivals where both Ash and Samson performed on the same day.

“We were just about to have a dance session. Wanna join us? We always got room for one more?” one of the male dancers offered, shamelessly flirty. He was tall and handsome, with incredible blue eyes.

“Only if we’re wearing skimpy outfits,” Samson quipped, smiling at him. He had no real interest in him, but there was no harm in flirting back.

“You know it,” the dancer flashed a brilliant smile.

“I like you, I’ma have to tell Ash to give you a raise,” the singer winked, pointing at the guy. “But I actually gotta talk to Marcus real quick. Do you have a minute?” he turned to the tall, dark-skinned dancer who had a sour look on his face the whole time.

“Yeah, sure. You go ahead, guys, I’ll catch up soon,” Marcus nodded and the rest of the group went upstairs. “To what do I owe the pleasure?” he asked sarcastically once he and Samson were left alone.

“I think you know,” the singer replied, looking him right in the eyes. “The anonymous message I got the other day - you sent it, didn’t you?”

“No idea what you’re talking about,” the dancer shrugged, his face barely moving.

“Oh, honey, spare me the acting,” Samson rolled his eyeliner-framed chocolate eyes. “At first I had no idea who it was, but once I realized the message was about Ash, it was easy to put two and two together. It wasn’t about helping me avoid the competition, it was about helping Ash. And who is the only person who would have no trouble getting my phone number and who cares about Ash so much to actually pull something like this?” he pursed his lips before pointing to Marcus with a flourish of his hand.

“You have officially lost it, man. Where would I even get your number and why would I do that?” Marcus shook his head.

“From your boyfriend. And that pretty much answers the second question too,” Samson grinned.

“Nice fanfiction, send me a link and I’ll read it later.”

“Oh, come on, are you going to deny that Ash and you are boyf-” the singer raised his voice before Marcus suddenly grabbed him by the arm and forcefully pulled him into a side corridor, out of sight of anyone who might have entered the studio. Nervously, he glanced around to see if anyone was nearby.

“Shut up!” he growled angrily, squeezing the singer’s arm. “You can’t say stuff like that!”

“So you admit it’s true?” Samson raised his eyebrows, smiling triumphantly.

“How do you know about it anyway?” Marcus whispered, still on the lookout for unwanted witnesses.

“Honey, I have eyes. You’re a cute couple, by the way,” the singer smirked. “It’s clear Ash cares about you.”

“Wait,” the dancer frowned, at a loss for words. If Samson was aware they were a couple, why was he practically throwing himself at Ash at that party? “And you have no problem flirting with a guy who’s in a relationship?”

“What?! When did I do that?”

“At Ash’s party last month. And I was there, so don’t even try to deny it.”

“Honey, I wasn’t flirting with anyone, let alone with Ash. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a catch, but as you said, he’s taken. And besides, I’m not looking for anyone at the moment, thank you very much! I don’t need a man to make it happeeen, I get off being free,” he burst into song, shimmying his shoulders. “I’m just touchy-feely, that’s how I am with all my friends.”

“Could’ve fooled me,” Marcus was unimpressed, still very much unsure whether to believe him or not.

“Ugh, as if I care if you believe me,” Samson shrugged him off.

“You better not tell anyone about this,” the dancer whispered, his tone serious.

“Of course I’m not gonna tell. Jeez, what do you take me for?!”

“So, what do you want then?” Marcus asked, eyeing Samson with suspicion.

“Just for you to admit you sent me the message.”

“Are you worried? Wait, of course you are. We all know you love charts more than air.”

“You mean I want my music to be commercially successful? You’re right, and I don’t see why I should be ashamed of it. I work hard for it. And I’m not concerned about my chances even a little bit. I think if anyone here’s afraid, it’s you. Otherwise you wouldn’t have tried to get me out of the way. Does that sound about right? I honestly don’t know why Ash thought this was a good idea anyway.”

“It wasn’t Ash’s idea,” Marcus finally admitted. “His label forced him to move the release date. The idiots want to milk the whole rivalry thing between the two of you. Anything for publicity, I guess. Ash was against it, but he couldn’t go against the label, so I thought maybe it wouldn’t be too late for you to push your album back.”

“Well, that was a fucking dumb idea if I ever heard one. His label is clueless. The only thing they achieved was handing me a top ten hit on a platter. And I’m sorry, but my date is set in stone, too. Now instead of both of us debuting at number one, only I will,” Samson shrugged, a small smile playing on his lips. He was not at all confident about his odds against Ash, but he wanted to get under Marcus’ skin. It was clear the guy had it out for him and Samson enjoyed getting him all riled up.

“Oh yeah? Just like you did with your first album? Oh wait, it was number seven,” the dancer scoffed at him.

“Nice to see you follow my career so closely. I knew you were a closeted fan. Pun intended,” the singer shot back.

“Whatever,” Marcus muttered before turning and walking away.

“Tell your boyfriend I said hiiii!” Samson called out, smirking at him. He knew beating Ash would be no walk in the park, but it was certainly not impossible. And if he managed to annoy Marcus in the process, then his victory would be that much sweeter.

~~

“This way. Just stick with us and don’t stop moving. The limo’s waiting right outside,” one of the security guards instructed Tyler as they left the plane after touching down at the JFK Airport in New York. It was the first stop on the singer’s brief promotional tour of the States - his first ever trip to the other continent.

The British singer was accompanied by his manager Florence Carter and his father Eric. His mother and siblings decided to stay at home this time and support him from afar. Aside from the one security guard that would follow him when he was in the UK, Florence convinced him to hire three more to follow him on this trip. At first, Tyler thought it was excessive, but now that he got off the plane, he realized the woman was right.

He was slowly getting used to his newfound celebrity status at home and getting recognized around London. Fans were often stopping him on the street to ask for selfies, while paparazzi would take pictures of him at least a few times a week. His song was number one for three weeks already and it seemed like every TV and radio station wanted to book him for their shows. He was truly Britain’s biggest breakout star of the moment.

The situation at the airport, however, was like nothing he had experienced so far. Looking through the glass wall, he could see that dozens of people had gathered outside, their phones ready to snap photos and record videos as soon as he showed himself. He observed as they chatted among each other, singing his song loudly and trying to get as close as possible to get a better view.

“I bet you didn’t expect this kind of welcome, hey?” Tyler’s dad commented as he walked by his son, never leaving his side.

“No, I did not. I can’t believe they all came to see me,” the singer said, amazed. Sometimes, he would still have trouble realizing the extent of his sudden fame. On one hand, he felt a little uncomfortable with such a big mob waiting for him to show up, but on the other, he was flattered that he already had so many fans even though he’d never even visited the country before.

“Your son is going to be a big star, so you better start getting used to it,” Florence said as her heels clicked against the tiled floor. “His song just went number one in America last week and got the most streams in a single day out of any song this year. Everyone’s been dying to meet him. We have a few appearances lined up, but the real show’s gonna start when we get close to the album release.”

Once they passed through the airport and stepped outside, the crowd exploded into screams, chanting Tyler’s name and snapping photos on their phones.

“Tyler, I love you!!”

“Oh my God, Tyler, can we get a picture?!”

The voices all blended together as people shouted at the top of their lungs, fighting for a moment of his attention. The singer could not fight the huge smile on his face, grateful for all the love they were showing him.

However, he could not stay as the security was rushing him to the long, black limo that was waiting for them. Before he entered it, he took a moment to turn to the fans and waved, grinning from ear to ear.

“I love you, guys! Thanks so much for coming! I’m sorry I can’t stay, but I have to go! I can’t wait for you to see my shows!”

With one final wave to everyone, he ducked into the limo, sitting in the backseat next to his father.

“Tyler, don’t go!”

“Did you hear his accent? So hot!”

The fans shouted as loudly as they could and Tyler was able to make out some of the comments before closing the door, tinted windows preventing anyone from seeing inside.

“How are you feeling, champ?” his dad asked, squeezing his son’s shoulder in support. “Nervous about your first time in the States?”

“It’s your first time here, too,” Tyler responded, sending his dad a grateful smile. Even though at first he thought it would be embarrassing to have his father accompany him as if he was a little child, he was finding Eric’s presence quite reassuring and comforting.

“Yeah, but I’m just here for the ride. You’re the star of the show,” the man chuckled.

“Ugh, don’t remind me. I don’t want to mess anything up,” the singer looked concerned.

“Have you seen the crowd outside?” Florence asked, cocking her head to the side. “People already love you, darling. Short of burning the country flag or kicking a puppy on live TV, I don’t see how you could mess things up. Now, tonight’s the Late Night Hour, which should be a breeze. Nicholas Stone is a harmless host. He likes to have a casual, fun atmosphere on his show, so you don’t have to worry about a thing, ok?”

“Ok, if you say so,” Tyler nodded, not really convinced. In his mind, there were a million scenarios of him ruining his career before it even began or embarrassing himself to the point of never wanting to return to the US again.

The fact that Stacy did not want to come with him was another thing that troubled him. He understood that she had her doubts and wanted to take some time to figure out what to do, but that did not mean he was taking it easily. Having her support in moments like this, even just behind closed doors, would have meant a lot to him. Still, he was grateful for at least having his father by his side on this journey.

“Are you sure it’s ok for you to be taking time off work for this?”

“Of course, it’s only three days. In fact, my boss ordered me to go. Seems like I haven’t taken any days off since this time last year and she wouldn’t hear about me missing out on a chance to support my boy,” Eric stated, tousling Tyler’s hair. “Next time, all four of us are coming with you. Kit and Lucy will love it!”

The rest of the ride went by in pleasant chatter, as Florence gave him further instructions and detailed plan for their three-day stay in America.

After they all checked into a hotel and took a brief lunch break, preparations began for Tyler’s appearance on that evening’s Late Night Hour. The show aired live every Saturday at seven, and this episode promised to be one of the most exciting ones in ages. Aside from the hottest new artist from Britain, the famous young actress Regina Bell was to appear, as well as a special surprise guest that Nicholas Stone refused to reveal.

Before he knew it, Tyler was whisked away to the studio, accompanied by his father, manager, stylist and security.

All glammed up in his navy suit and a red floral print shirt, he stood in the hall behind the stage, nervously shuffling his feet as he waited for the host to announce him. Even though TV interviews were nothing new to him, he still felt a certain degree of stage fright. Thinking of how many times he had watched his favorite celebrities on the Late Night Hour at home, the singer barely even noticed when one of the producers came up to him, telling him to get ready. He was on in five, four, three, two… one!

“Ladies and gentlemen, all the way from London, England, please welcome Tyler Edwards!” Nicholas Stone announced, extending his hand in the direction of the velvet curtain to his left. As it opened and Tyler came on the stage, smiling and waving, the audience erupted into cheers. Walking across the stage to the set of oversized armchairs in the middle, the singer spotted Eric and Florence sitting in the front row and immediately felt a boost of confidence. He could totally do this, he realized.

“Welcome! Thank you for coming,” the host greeted him, giving him a brief hug before they both returned to their seats. “I think the audience is pretty excited to have you here too, huh?”

Once again, a thunderous applause broke out. Tyler could do nothing but spread his lips into a genuine smile as he glanced from the audience to the cameras and then the host.

“Thank you for having me! I’m so glad to be here!”

“Oh, is this your first time in America?”

“Yes,” Tyler nodded.

“Well, that explains the enthusiasm. Just wait a few days and you’ll be booking a flight back home,” Nicholas retorted. Once the audience’s laughter died out, he continued. “I’m just kidding, don’t leave us! We’re so glad to finally have you here. Your song, The Day I Found You, has been breaking all kinds of records and everyone is loving it. I know I am. Did you ever expect this kind of success?”

“Thank you! And no, I can’t say that I have. It was such a pleasant surprise to see how the song managed to connect with so many people.” Tyler smiled, blood rushing to his cheeks. Feeling welcomed by the host and his viewers in the studio, the British singer quickly relaxed. The feelings of anxiety and worry vanished as he chatted with the host about his favorite music, food and plans for his visit to the States.

A few minutes later, actress Regina Bell joined them on stage as the next guest. The young woman was all smiles as she greeted Nicholas and Tyler, readily admitting that she was a big fan of his song and voice.

“I’m not even joking,” she was adamant. “I literally listen to it every day, it’s so beautiful. It makes me want to cry and profess my love to the boyfriend I don’t have.”

After Tyler quickly assured her that he was also a fan of her movies, it was time for Nicholas Stone to announce the third and final guest for the evening. He cleared his throat as the audience went silent, waiting to see who would be joining Tyler and Regina on stage.

“Our next guest is the man behind many of our favorite singers and bands. He started his career in the music business years ago, but has managed to leave his mark in a very short period, becoming the CEO of one of the biggest record labels in the world, Pinnacle Records. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Cliff Sanders!”

Just like the previous two guests, Sanders was welcomed with cheers and claps from the audience, though they were incomparable to the enthusiastic reception Tyler received just minutes ago.

The tall, middle-aged man, dressed in a conservative grey suit and black shirt, crossed the stage in large strides and joined the other guests on stage. After exchanging handshakes with everyone, he sat in the remaining empty chair next to Regina.

“Cliff, thank you for joining us. How are you?” the host asked.

“I’m good! And thank you for inviting me, it’s my pleasure,” Sanders replied like a perfect gentleman.

“Now, even though you’ve been in the public eye a lot since you’ve become the CEO of Pinnacle, you don’t do these types of shows often, do you? Is your schedule that busy, or do you just prefer letting your artists do the talking for you?”

“It’s a little bit of both, to be honest. I work sixty hours a week, so if you want a minute of my time, you better be very persuasive or schedule months in advance. But still, even I have some free time on a Saturday night,” Sanders said, twisting his lips into a smile. “And you know, even though I’m somewhat of a public figure, most of my job is behind the scenes. When you have the likes of Kelly Marvel on your label, or Ash Khong - who is arguably the biggest male pop star in the world right now,” he added smugly, “you don’t need to say much, do you? You let their success speak for itself.”

Even though he was new to show business, Tyler was smart enough to realize the man was taking a dig at him. Still, he kept smiling, glancing at his father and manager in the audience every once in a while. Knowing he had support nearby meant the world to him.

“Less than a month ago, we had the CEO of Argent Media, Melanie Roy here on the show. She announced her company would be organising a new music festival this fall, the Argent Fest. She called it ‘the future go-to event’ for artists and fans alike. What is your opinion on that?” the host asked.

“Yes, we’ve been informed of the efforts to put together a festival and were asked to participate. Even though it was on such a short notice, once we made sure the event would meet the high standards of Pinnace Records, we decided to be a part of it. Of course, none other than Ash will be headlining the first day,” Sanders replied.

While Regina was a delight, Tyler quickly realized he did not like Cliff Sanders one bit. Most of the man’s responses were sugarcoated and decorated with the most delicious-looking frosting, but on the inside, they were filled with toxic jabs and sense of superiority.

As an experienced host, Nicholas kept things fun. He alternated between his three guests and asking them a few questions at a time. After discussing Regina’s latest blockbuster, it was Tyler’s turn again. Of course, the topic was his upcoming album.

“Now, Tyler, I believe I speak in the name of everyone here when I ask - when are we going to be getting an album from you? Anything on the horizon?”

“Actually, yes! My album is already finished; it’s called A Story To Tell, and it’s coming out June 24,” Tyler smiled as he recited the words he had been dying to reveal. Even though he was nervous to see if the album would repeat the success of his first single, he could hardly wait for people to hear it. “Aaaand, it will be available for preorder as of midnight!”

The crowd in the studio instantly broke into applause, cheering when they heard the news they had been anticipating. Tyler grinned, soaking up the positive reaction from the audience.

However, the one person who was less than thrilled was sitting just two seats away. Sanders’ look of utter shock and indignation became obvious as cameras panned to him for a close-up shot.

“Ha-ha!” Sanders let out a forced laugh, staring daggers at the host. “Very funny! Is this some sort of candid camera?”

“Um, no, why would you think that?” the host asked, genuinely confused.

The audience went silent, all eyes suddenly on Cliff. Seeing that he was the center of attention seemed to make him even angrier. He stood up abruptly, glaring at Tyler. Confused and uncomfortable, the young singer looked away, his eyes once again looking for his father and manager in the front row.

“You mean you’re being serious?” he asked, pointing at Tyler. “I see. So that’s why you invited me here! A pathetic display, to be honest,” Cliff spoke with a tone of disgust as he turned to stare at the host. “Ash has been working hard on his music and is about to release the album of the decade! And let me be clear, no amount of sabotage can change that, especially not from some random newcomer!”

“Cliff, what are you-” Nicholas started to ask, but before he managed to get the words out, Cliff Sanders was already halfway across the stage.

“I am done here!” the businessman snarled before disappearing behind the curtain, leaving everyone in utter bemusement. Whispers and murmurs filled the studio as the crowd tried to process what just happened.

After the show, Nicholas Stone and the producers all gathered backstage, apologizing to Regina, Tyler and their teams for the fiasco.

“We honestly had no idea he would react like that. Especially on live TV,” the host tried to explain.

“You couldn’t have known, the man is clearly unhinged. What you could have done is tell us he would be appearing! This is the first and the last time this happens!” Florence snapped, standing next to her client.

“Of course, we want to have Tyler back,” Nicholas said.

“Then make sure he is not subjected to any more outbursts from crazy people. That shouldn’t be too much to ask for!”

Of course, Tyler needed no explanation. From the moment his label told him they would release his album to coincide with Samson’s and Ash’s, he knew it was a bad idea. Even if he was the hottest thing at the moment, he did not want to start off his career with petty rivalries and controversy. But now, after his very first appearance in the US, it seemed he had already made an enemy.

The ride back to the hotel seemed way too long. He had barely spoken a word, choosing instead to blast music on his earphones and play games on his phone. Even though he had another busy day tomorrow, he just wanted to go to bed and forget all about today’s interview.