Tycoon Actor C522 (Patreon)

New York, February 2020

The city was locked in one of those brutal February cold snaps that made even born-and-bred New Yorkers question their life choices. Wind cut down the streets like knives. Everyone hunched into their coats, breath fogging in front of them as they hurried past storefronts.

Near Electric Lady Studios, a black SUV idled at the curb. Tinted windows. No fanfare. Just another expensive car in Manhattan.

Nobody noticed it was Lucas Knight's.

Inside, Lucas adjusted the beanie pulled low over freshly dyed hair—dark brown now instead of his usual color. Thick winter jacket, hood up, sunglasses despite the overcast sky.

The whole getup looked completely normal for the weather. Just another New Yorker trying not to freeze their ass off.

"Ready?" Neil asked from the passenger seat.

Lucas nodded. "Let's go."

They slipped out of the SUV and into the studio entrance without incident. His security team followed at a distance, dressed just as casually.

Kobe was handled. That weight had lifted off Lucas's chest two weeks ago. The basketball legend was alive, safe, spending time with Maggie Kang working on their animation project.

Now Lucas could focus on his own shit—like finally recording new material for the world tour.

---

Inside, the studio manager Lee was already waiting in the designated recording room.

Someone else was there too.

Lucas recognized her immediately even bundled in an oversized cream-colored sweater and dark jeans tucked into knee-high boots. Blonde hair loose around her shoulders, minimal makeup. Taylor Swift turned when the door opened, her eyebrows lifting slightly at the hooded figure walking in.

Lucas couldn't help but smile. She was here to record the duet he'd been working on.

He pulled off his sunglasses.

Taylor's face lit up. "Lucas!" She practically bounced over, pulling him into a hug. "It's been way too long!"

"Yeah, it really has," Lucas said, returning the embrace.

When they broke apart, Lucas spotted Lee standing near the console. His chest tightened slightly—it had been years since they'd last seen each other. "Mr. Foster. How've you been?"

Lee's face broke into a warm smile. "Been good, man. Busy as hell with all the projects coming through, but can't complain."

"Good to hear." Lucas crossed the room and gave him a quick hug too.

Lee stepped back, shaking his head with a grin. "Last time you were in here, you weren't even close to Taylor's level. Now look at you—you've blown right past her."

Taylor put a hand on her hip, fighting a smile. "Wow. Thanks, Lee. Really feeling the love right now."

"Just keeping it real," Lee said with a laugh.

Lucas chuckled. "Man, it's really good to see you again." If it hadn't been for Lee giving him a shot all those years ago, he wouldn't have gotten such a smooth start recording professionally.

Lee turned toward Neil, who'd been hanging back near the door. "Neil. Been a minute."

"Too long," Neil said, stepping forward to shake his hand. They'd first met when Lucas recorded the Knight album here—felt like a lifetime ago now.

After a few more minutes of catching up, they got down to business.

Taylor dropped into one of the studio chairs, practically vibrating with energy. "Okay, I have to say—I'm so excited for this world tour of yours."

Lucas raised an eyebrow. "Yeah?"

"I haven't felt this way since right before my first world tour," Taylor said. "There's just something about it, you know? The whole experience. And I'm so glad you're finally doing this."

"Thanks. That means a lot coming from you."

"Honestly, if I wasn't performing with you, I'd probably just buy a ticket and go as a fan," Taylor admitted. "I love your music."

Everyone in the room laughed. It wasn't news—Taylor had mentioned Lucas's songs in multiple interviews over the years.

Lee shook his head from his spot by the console. "You're Taylor Swift. Why are you fangirling right now?"

"Because his songs are good?" Taylor shot back with a grin. "I'm allowed to be a fan of good music, Lee."

Lucas just smiled, shaking his head.

After a bit more conversation, Lucas grabbed the sheet music he'd prepared and handed it to Taylor. "Here's what we're doing together."

Taylor took it like a kid being handed candy. Her eyes scanned the title. "Little Talks."

She started reading through the composition, humming quietly under her breath to test the melody. After a moment, her eyes widened slightly.

"How is it?" Lucas asked. Her opinion mattered—if she didn't connect with the song, they'd figure something else out.

It was one of his favorites from his previous life.

Taylor was quiet for a beat, still staring at the sheet. Then she looked up. "Can we do a rough pass right now? Like, with the track? I really want to hear how this is gonna sound."

The eagerness in her voice said everything. She loved it.

Lucas smiled. "Yeah, let's do it."

He turned to Lee and the studio engineers. He'd sent them the composition earlier so they could put together the instrumental. Lee gave him a thumbs up—they were ready.

Lucas and Taylor headed into the recording booth together.

The track started playing through their headphones—bright, upbeat folk-pop with prominent brass cutting through the mix.

The instrumental had an infectious, foot-stomping quality that masked the weight of the lyrics beneath.

Taylor leaned into the mic, her voice carrying a fragile edge. "I don't like walking around this old and empty house."

Lucas followed, his voice lower and grounded. "So hold my hand, I'll walk with you, my dear."

Taylor's tone shifted, vulnerability creeping in. "The stairs creak as you sleep, it's keeping me awake."

Lucas came back in, steady and reassuring. "It's the house telling you to close your eyes."

The two of them traded lines, their voices weaving together in a call-and-response that felt like a conversation—one voice pleading, the other comforting.

The upbeat instrumentation contrasted beautifully with the deeper themes lurking beneath the surface. Loss. Memory. Grief. A conversation between someone living and someone who wasn't anymore.

Outside the booth, Neil watched them work, arms crossed, a small smile tugging at his lips.

'Good choice coming today,' he thought. As a manager juggling multiple clients, it was rare he could just stand back and watch Lucas do his thing. But moments like this reminded him exactly why Lucas was special.

And he'd been right to clear his schedule for it.

The song was heartbreaking if you really listened to the lyrics. Almost unsettling. But the upbeat instrumentation wrapped it in so much energy that you'd never catch it on first listen.

Lee watched the two artists through the glass, his arms crossed. 'Lucas is still the same Lucas,' he thought. 'Still a damn monster when it comes to writing.'

He closed his eyes and let the music take over.

The staff around him nodded along to the beat, completely absorbed.

A few minutes later, Lucas and Taylor stepped out of the booth. Taylor immediately headed for the playback, pulling on a pair of headphones.

The moment the track started, her expression shifted. Nostalgia. Comfort. Melancholy. All at once.

It was bittersweet in a way that felt almost haunting—like being wrapped in the warmth of sadness. The upbeat vibe clashed with the lyrics in a way that created this "happy-sad" feeling, and that duality hit harder than she expected.

When it ended, she pulled off the headphones and turned to Lucas. "This song is doing something to me. Like, seriously- how do you even write something like this? You always blow me away."

Lucas shifted awkwardly, staying quiet. He couldn't exactly tell her the truth—that the song wasn't his, that it came from his past life, from a band called Of Monsters and Men.

After reviewing the first take, they went back in for another round.

Taylor wanted to adjust her delivery on a few lines—she felt like she could hit the emotion harder in the second verse. Lucas agreed and suggested tightening the harmonies in the chorus. Lee chimed in from the console, pointing out a slight timing issue in the bridge that needed cleaning up.

They recorded it again. Then again. Taylor was meticulous, listening back each time and asking for tweaks—more breath in one line, less vibrato in another. She wanted it perfect.

Watching her work, Lucas understood why Taylor had the reputation she did. She was relentless in the studio, never settling for "good enough." He'd worked with her before, but this version of Taylor—more experienced, more precise—was even more of a perfectionist than he remembered.

By the time they wrapped, it was already 3 PM. Lucas and Taylor grabbed lunch together in one of the studio's lounge areas—sandwiches and coffee from a place down the block.

Taylor took a sip of her iced coffee and leaned back. "You know, if 'Little Talks' blows up, my team's definitely gonna want you at one of my concerts to perform it with me."

Lucas wasn't surprised. "I'm down."

"It's your song, so if that happens, I'll make sure you're getting paid properly. Not doing you dirty."

Lucas smiled. "Appreciate that."

Taylor sighed, looking genuinely bummed. "I really don't want to leave. I want to stay and hear all the new stuff you're working on."

"You'll hear it at the tour."

"I know, but still-" She paused, then tilted her head. "Actually, I've been wondering something for a while now... Have you ever worked with an outside composer? Like, someone who writes specifically for you?"

Lucas stiffened. He didn't answer right away.

Taylor caught it immediately. Her eyes widened. "Wait. You've never worked with a composer?"

"I mean, I've worked with other artists. Bruno, you, a few others."

"Yeah, but those were collabs. I'm talking about someone writing a song for you." She leaned forward. "Lucas, you really built your entire music career without ever having a composer write for you. That's... that's actually insane."

Lucas shifted uncomfortably. He couldn't argue with that. He sure as hell couldn't tell her the real answer—that his "composers" existed in another life, that he was pulling songs from a world she'd never know about.

He just gave a small shrug. "Guess I'm just picky about what I put out."

Taylor shook her head, looking genuinely stunned. "Even the biggest artists work with composers. Bruno does. Michael Jackson did. Hell, I do. But you?" She laughed, but there was awe in it. "You're out here doing everything yourself and still putting out hits. That's not normal, Lucas."

"Want me to introduce you to my ghostwriters?" Lucas joked, seeing how thrown off she was by the fact that he wrote all his own material.

Taylor laughed. "Stop messing around. If you had ghostwriters, someone would've leaked it by now." She paused. "And what ghostwriter could keep cranking out hits like you do? Even the best ones have limits."

Lucas shook his head. She had a point. The songs he brought from his previous life were already proven hits there, so it made sense they'd work here too. Still, he tried deflecting. "Maybe it's just because my brand's so strong. Everything I put out gets attention."

"Then that logic would apply to me too," Taylor said, rolling her eyes. "And trust me, not every song I release is a hit. That's why I keep writing—so more of them land."

Lucas nodded. As they kept talking, he had to admit—being an artist was genuinely exhausting.

He was lucky. Mind Workshop let him recreate the songs he loved from his previous life with perfect accuracy. Without that? He'd probably be struggling just like everyone else.

He sighed.

After a while longer, they headed back to watch the staff edit their track. Taylor grabbed her coat and bag, checking her phone.

"Alright, I gotta run," she said. "But seriously, this was fun. Let's do it again sometime."

"Definitely."

She gave him a quick hug and left.

Lucas didn't walk her out. Instead, he turned and found Lee near the console.

Lee looked up. "Yeah?"

"I've been meaning to ask..." Lucas hesitated. "How's Mrs. Rhodes doing?"

Elena Rhodes. The woman who ran the Alphabet Lounge. The one who'd introduced him to Lee all those years ago.

It had been forever since he'd seen her.

He'd invited her to his wedding, but Liza and Samantha told him she was overseas and couldn't make it. He'd been wondering about her ever since.

Lee looked surprised. "You haven't seen her?"

"Not in years. Just curious how she's been."

Lee's expression shifted, turning a little complicated. "She's doing alright, I guess. Just got back from Europe recently. She's managing the Alphabet Lounge again." He paused. "But the bar's been struggling. She left it in someone else's hands while she was gone, and it didn't do well. Plus, there's more competition in that area now."

Lucas felt his chest tighten. "Struggling how bad?"

Lee must've caught the concern in his voice. "Don't stress too much. Elena's got money. Even if the bar closes, she'll be fine. I promise."

"Still..." Lucas trailed off.

After wrapping up at the studio, Lucas pulled out his phone and called Neil.

"We're heading somewhere."

Neil frowned. "Where? You don't have anything on the schedule right now."

"This isn't on the schedule."

Neil caught the seriousness in Lucas's tone and didn't push further. "Alright. Let's go."

---

They pulled up outside a familiar building. The sign read Alphabet Lounge.

Lucas stepped out of the car, Neil right behind him.

Neil glanced around. The area was typical for a bar district—nothing fancy, but not run-down either. He looked at the lounge, confused. 'This is the important place?'

Lucas walked toward the entrance. The bar still had that cozy vibe he remembered, but something felt off.

It wasn't bustling like before. Now, the whole place felt empty. Maybe ten people scattered around, a few nursing drinks, a couple watching the performer on stage.

It was freezing outside—February in New York didn't mess around—so maybe that explained the lack of crowd. But based on what Lee had said, this was probably normal now.

"What are we doing here, Lucas?" Neil asked quietly. This wasn't exactly a private spot for someone as famous as Lucas.

"Meeting a friend."

Neil didn't press.

Lucas wanted to see Elena, but he couldn't just walk up and announce himself. Then an idea hit him.

He grabbed one of the song request slips from the bar and scribbled something down, handing it to Neil. "Give this to the performer."

Neil raised an eyebrow but did as asked.

Lucas felt a wave of nostalgia. He'd done this exact thing the first time he came here—requested a song that didn't exist in this world and ended up performing it himself.

History was about to repeat itself.

The performer—a young woman with dark hair pulled into a ponytail—read the request aloud. "The Shade by Rex Orange County..." She frowned. "I've never heard this song before."

Everyone in the bar turned their attention to the stage.

"Who requested this?" she asked, scanning the room.

Lucas raised his hand, a faint smile on his face.

She pulled out her phone, typing quickly. After a moment, she shook her head. "I'm sorry, but I just searched—I don't think that song or that artist exists."

Lucas's mind flashed back to 2009. The first time he'd been here. When Samantha—his friend, the performer back then—had told him she didn't know "Wonderwall."

This wasn't Samantha. This was someone new. But the situation was exactly the same.

"The song exists," Lucas said calmly. "I'll perform it myself if you want."

Neil's head snapped toward him. 'Is he serious?'

The people in the bar all turned to look at Lucas now, curious.

The woman on stage shrugged. "Alright. Go ahead."

Lucas stood and walked toward the stage before Neil could stop him. He picked up the guitar leaning against the stool and adjusted the strap.

The sound of him tuning it caught everyone's attention.

Neil stared. 'He's actually performing a new song here. In a random bar.'

Lucas started playing. The opening notes were soft, warm, almost dreamlike—a gentle fingerpicked melody that immediately pulled people in.

Then he started singing.

"I was closing all the blinds just so you could sleep the night through..."

The woman on stage froze.

The bar went silent.

His voice—smooth, intimate, vulnerable—filled the space like it belonged there.

The people scattered around the room all stopped what they were doing. Drinks paused mid-sip. Conversations died.

No one recognized Lucas with the beanie, sunglasses, and dyed hair. But they sure as hell recognized talent.

The melody built, and Lucas kept going, his voice carrying effortlessly:

I would love just to be stuck to your side

Not with anybody else, anybody else

It's enough just to keep us occupied

Please don't go...

That last line—*Please don't go*—hit like a punch to the chest.

The bar stayed frozen, completely absorbed.

And during the performance, a woman in her 40s who'd been hearing the incredible song from her office walked out to see who was performing. As she approached the main floor, she couldn't help but remember something from eleven years ago.

Back then, she'd been "interrupted" by an incredibly good song performed by a young man. And now, it seemed to be happening again. She looked toward the stage and saw a man singing something she knew she'd never forget.

A genuine smile spread across her face. She remembered that young man from 2009, performing "Wonderwall."

But as the song neared its end, her eyes widened. She adjusted her glasses, squinting. 'Wait... Is that...?'

She wasn't the only one. The people in the bar were starting to piece it together too.

"Is—is that Lucas Knight!?" someone blurted out, voice cracking with excitement.

Lucas stood up from the stool, a faint smile on his face.

The bar erupted. But with only ten people, it was manageable.

They rushed toward him as he stepped off the stage, crowding around to confirm what they were seeing.

Lucas figured there was no point in hiding anymore. He pulled off his sunglasses, revealing his blue eyes.

That sealed it.

Even the young performer looked starstruck, covering her mouth with her hand.

"Oh my god, Lucas, can I get a picture?"

"I'm such a huge fan!"

"Can you sign something? Anything?"

Requests came flying at him from all directions.

"Yeah, sure. No problem," Lucas said calmly. It was only ten people—he could handle this.

As he dealt with the small crowd, he noticed the woman in her 40s approaching. His eyes lit up.

"Elena..."

She really had aged. Eleven years ago, she'd been vibrant and sharp in her thirties. Now she was in her forties, a few more lines around her eyes, but still youthful in her own way.

He stepped away from the crowd, holding up a hand. "Give me a sec, guys."

Elena broke into a warm smile. "Lucas... I didn't expect to see you here today. This is a surprise. I didn't even prepare anything."

"You don't need to," Lucas said, waving it off. "I came to check on you. See how you're doing." There was genuine concern in his voice.

Elena chuckled. "Worrying about me? I'm a millionaire and you're concerned?"

Lucas relaxed a little, glad to hear her say that. "Well, Lee mentioned the bar's been struggling."

"Ugh. That guy's got a big mouth," Elena said with a playful shake of her head.

"But seriously, don't worry. If the bar closes, it's not the end of the world for me."

Lucas knew Elena was wealthy, but he also knew this bar meant something to her. "Still, I think I can help. This place is special. I don't want to see it go under." He paused. "I'm sure Samantha would say the same."

Elena's expression softened. "Samantha? That kid's doing great. Last I heard, she's got tens of millions of streams on her music. I'm proud of her."

"I'm happy for her too," Lucas said.

Elena nodded, then shifted the conversation. "I heard you're doing a world tour?"

"That's right." Lucas reached into his jacket and pulled out a ticket. "VIP. I'd really love it if you came. It would mean a lot."

Elena looked genuinely touched. "Well, that's too good to turn down."

Just then, the young performer approached hesitantly. Elena noticed and gestured to her. "By the way, this is my daughter. Erica."

Erica blushed, suddenly shy in front of Lucas. "Hi."

"What happened to all that confidence?" Elena teased. "You were just on stage singing."

Erica shot her mom a look, then smiled.

Lucas was surprised. He hadn't known Elena had a daughter. He smiled warmly at Erica. "Nice to meet you, Erica."

"You too," she said quietly, shaking his hand like she was meeting royalty.

"This kid's been a huge fan," Elena said. "I kept telling her I knew you, but she didn't believe me."

"Mom!"

Lucas grinned, amused. He glanced at Neil and gestured subtly. Neil pulled out another ticket and handed it over.

Lucas gave it to Erica. "Hope you can make it to the concert too."

"I'll be there for sure!" Erica said, eyes wide with excitement.

Elena laughed softly, watching her daughter light up.

Lucas felt relieved. Seeing the woman who'd helped smooth out the start of his music career doing well—it mattered to him.

Without Elena, he never would've met Lee. Never would've recorded at Electric Lady Studios.

Lucas introduced Neil, and Elena greeted him professionally. Neil nodded back, sizing her up with quiet respect.

As they talked, Lucas barely noticed the people at the bar pulling out their phones—taking pictures, recording videos, texting friends. Word was already spreading that Lucas Knight was in an unpopular bar in the middle of Manhattan.

Ten minutes later, a crowd started forming outside.

Fortunately, Lucas was already gone. Elena had anticipated this and ushered him and Neil out the back before things got chaotic.

---

Days later, the Alphabet Lounge became the talk of New York City. All because Lucas had performed there. The normally struggling bar was now packed every night.

Twitter and Vine blew up with clips and photos.

"Lucas Knight casually showed up at Alphabet Lounge and performed an unreleased song. The bar's been mobbed ever since. Wild."

"That song is stuck in my head. When's he dropping it officially??"

Meanwhile, Lucas was back at Electric Lady Studios, trying to finish recording. But word had gotten out that he was there, and now crowds were camped outside the building every day.

Fans holding signs. Paparazzi with cameras. People just hoping to catch a glimpse.

It was slowing everything down.

And some people were taking advantage of the delay.

Like Warner Bros.

Since Lucas would be focusing on his world tour in a few months, the studio was pushing hard for Joker 2. They wanted a commitment before he disappeared into tour mode.

Lucas's response was simple: develop the project more first. He wasn't signing anything until the script was tighter.

But Joker 2 wasn't the only thing WB wanted him for. They were also pushing Dune, hoping Lucas would take the lead role.

And then they made another offer.

WB wanted to give Lucas a stake in Warner Bros. Discovery—specifically, equity tied to their streaming and content divisions.

Lucas was confused. Why would they offer him that?

What he didn't know was that Warner Bros. had been watching his involvement with Netflix closely. They knew he'd been deeply involved in the success of Stranger Things, Squid Game, and other original content that had blown up on the platform.

They wanted Lucas to have skin in the game at WB so he'd potentially help them develop original content for HBO Max and their other ventures.

If Lucas had known that, he would've laughed.

Netflix's success was inevitable. He'd just been smart enough to take the reins in this timeline. But even without his involvement, those shows would've been massive hits anyway.

------------------

Little Talks - Of Monsters and Men

The Shade - Rex Orange County