Despite her sadness, Siti Sara also felt a sense of pride and accomplishment for everything they had achieved on tour. They had worked tirelessly to get to this point, and she was determined to make the most of every moment in Tokyo.
"We can't let our last day be a downer," Bethany said, trying to lift their spirits. "Let's get some rest, and we'll make it a day to remember tomorrow!"
Siti Sara nodded and followed the rest of the girls towards their shared bedrooms. As she lay in bed, her mind wandered back to Vanessa. She wondered when they would be able to reveal their love to the world, and a small voice in the back of her mind whispered, "Maybe it's time to stop waiting and start living."
The following day was packed with fan meet-and-greets, interviews, and preparations for the group's return to Los Angeles.
As Scott's phone buzzed with messages from Bobby, he felt his stomach knotting. "Have you already informed our dear divas?" he asked, knowing it was an inopportune moment. Scott pondered over breaking the news during their private flight to Los Angeles. After all, they had just dazzled their fans with an epic performance, and the girls needed to be at their zenith meeting fans.
While the Syndicate band and crew boarded the plane, Siti Sara's mind drifted back to Vanessa, whom she missed dearly. It had been three months since they had last met in person, and finding time to catch up with their busy schedules had been a challenge. However, Vanessa's reply to her message sparked a glimmer of hope in Siti Sara's heart. Vanessa had written, "I can't wait to embrace you and luxuriate in your musky aroma once more," which brought a smile to Siti Sara's face. Despite the distance that separated them, the two lovers eagerly anticipated their reunion on Thanksgiving.
On the plane, on the way to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Scott couldn't help but feel anxious. He knew that he had to address the issue head-on, but he didn't want to come across as harsh or unsympathetic. He paused for a moment, taking a deep breath and reminding himself that he was the girls' manager and it was his responsibility to ensure their well-being. Scott had intended to give them a stern talking-to on the private plane, but he decided to wait until they landed. He knew that he needed to approach this delicately if he wanted to get through to them. With renewed determination, he made his way towards the terminal, ready to face whatever lay ahead.
The day after arriving in Los Angeles, Scott gathered the Syndicate band members - Siti Sara, Bethany, Cassandra, and Kadia - for a meeting at the King Queen Musical Company's label management office.
"Girls, we need to talk," he said firmly
"What's going on?" Cassandra asked, a hint of concern in her voice.
As the girls settled into the meeting room, Siti Sara noticed Scott's grave expression and felt a sense of unease. "Siti Sara," he began, looking directly at her, "can you shed some light on the situation with Vanessa?"
Siti Sara's heart skipped a beat.
The other girls looked just as confused. "What are you talking about?" Bethany asked.
Scott let out a heavy sigh before explaining, "As per the contracts you all signed, you agreed not to engage in any romantic relationships and to maintain your public personas to preserve both your fame and our business dealings."
Kadia was taken aback. "What exactly are you trying to say?" she asked. "We're all good friends with Vanessa. Has she done something wrong?"
Scott shook his head. "No, this has nothing to do with Vanessa. It's about our business. Have any of you reviewed the details of the eight-year contract with King Queen Music recently?" He raised an eyebrow and let out a wry chuckle. "The irony of success: we sacrifice our freedom for it, and then we have to pay to keep it."
Siti Sara's heart sank. She had a feeling she knew where the conversation was headed. "What's the issue, Scott?" she asked anxiously.
Scott took a deep breath before continuing. "The contract prohibits any of you from being in relationships and requires you to maintain a certain public persona to preserve both fame and business dealings."
Kadia looked confused. "I'm not sure I understand. What's the problem?"
"Well," Scott said, "Bobby is threatening legal action for breach of contract. Are any of you prepared to negotiate a settlement? Are you willing to pay a settlement to Bobby for breaking this contract?"
Siti Sara's heart sank further. She knew what Scott was referring to. "I have to be honest with you all," she said, her voice shaking. "My religion prohibits homosexuality, and I'm in a relationship with another woman."
There was a stunned silence around the table.
"I understand that this could potentially lead to Muslim countries and Muslim fans boycotting our albums and deals, causing significant financial loss for the company," Scott said gravely. "We need to figure out a way to handle this situation without damaging our reputation or our bottom line."
Scott presented the group with a list of countries where being openly gay is punishable by imprisonment or even death. "In these places, LGBT+ rights are severely limited, and coming out as gay can have severe consequences," he said, trying to keep the tone as neutral as possible.
He went on to list some examples, including Iran, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Somalia, Sudan, Nigeria, Brunei, and Jamaica. "This is just a small sample of the many countries where LGBT+ rights are restricted, and individuals can face severe consequences for their sexual orientation or gender identity."
As the Syndicate girls huddled together, the tension in the air was palpable. Siti Sara, a Muslim Arab-Malay woman, couldn't help but feel anxious as she read through the list of countries where homosexuality was punishable by imprisonment or death. The realization of the danger that her sexual orientation posed to her life and freedom weighed heavily on her mind.
Growing up in a culture and religion that placed strict expectations on women, Siti Sara knew that her family and relatives would never approve of her love for another woman. Her family's disapproval and the fear of the consequences of being open about her sexuality had become a heavy burden for her, making her wonder if she would ever be able to live freely as herself.
Despite the pressure to pursue a more traditional Islamic career, Siti Sara chose to follow her passion for singing, a decision that brought her much joy but also many conflicts as she struggled to reconcile her love for music with her culture and religion. Her aunt, Fatimah, was the only one who truly understood and supported her, but even with her by her side, Siti Sara felt a sense of isolation and fear. She hadn't told her aunt about her relationship with Vanessa, unsure of how she would react and fearful of the potential consequences.
Kadia broke the silence with a humorous remark: "I suppose we can cross 'performing for the Sultan of Brunei' off our bucket list." The tension in the room dissipated, and the girls shared a much-needed laugh. However, they all knew that the situation was serious, and they had to continue the conversation.
Scott's voice interrupted, "We must be aware of the risks and realities of the world we live in. In some places, being openly gay can be a matter of life and death."
Bethany's anger flared, "It's absurd that some people still live in the Stone Age. This is why I despise religion. Religion justifies killing people, same as war."
Cassandra was contemplative. "We have a platform to raise awareness and advocate for change. Let's use our voices to fight for equality." Bethany agreed, "We can't stay silent in the face of such injustice."
Siti Sara mustered the courage to speak up. "You know, my aunt is the only one in my family who truly supports me pursuing music. And I haven't told her I'm in love with Vanessa."
Scott's eyes narrowed as he assessed the situation. The weight of responsibility sat heavily on his shoulders. The Syndicate was more than just a band; it was a business, and he had to make sure that it continued to thrive. He took a deep breath and spoke in a low, steady voice.
"Siti Sara, I understand this is difficult for you. Love is a powerful force, and it can feel like the world is against you. But we must consider the bigger picture here. We've signed a contract with Bobby, and we can't afford to breach it. If we do, the consequences could be dire."
Siti Sara's eyes were puffy from tears, and she appeared to have lost a part of herself. "I understand we need to think about the band and our fans, Scott. But what about my own happiness and Vanessa's? Love is not something that you can just turn off like a switch."
Scott exhaled heavily. "I wish it were easy, Siti Sara. However, life often requires us to make tough decisions, even if they're unpopular, for the greater good. You're not only doing this for yourself, but you're also doing it for the band, our fans, and everyone who believes in us."
"Scott, I disagree," Bethany interjected, "Syndicate fans will embrace Siti Sara regardless of whoever she's in a relationship with."
Scott raised his eyebrows, "Bethany, as you know, over 30% of Syndicate's fans come from Muslim countries. Our debut album has sold over three million copies in those regions alone."
The room was tense with the weight of the conversation. Kadia's voice, laced with sympathy, broke the silence. "But is it really fair to ask Siti Sara to make this sacrifice?" she asked. "She's in love with Vanessa, and it's not like they're hurting anyone by being together."
Scott, shook his head gravely. "I wish it were that simple, Kadia," he replied. "But as I said before, business and religion often conflict. Bobby has strict rules about relationships, and we have to abide by them if we want to continue working with him. I know it's not fair, but that's just the way it is."
At this, a wry smile tugged at Scott's lips, and he turned to the rest of the group. "Ah, the age-old question," he mused. "What weighs more, the love of music or the love of a person? We may never know, but either way, we better make sure we don't hit a sour note with Bobby."
The room fell silent once more, the tension palpable. Kadia bit her lip, clearly torn between loyalty to her friend and the pragmatic realities of their situation. Meanwhile, Scott rubbed his temples wearily, clearly feeling the weight of his position as the group's de facto manager.
As the silence dragged on, it became clear that this was more than just a debate about business and personal relationships. It was a clash of values, a collision between the desire for artistic freedom and the need to make a living. And as the group grappled with these competing priorities, the lines between friend and foe began to blur, and the stakes grew ever higher.
Bethany's voice cut through the air like a knife. "And what about Vanessa?" she demanded. "You're just going to ask her to give up the person she loves, too? That's messed up, Scott."
Feeling a headache coming on, Scott rubbed his temples and said, "I know it's not an ideal situation, Bethany. But we have to think about the long-term consequences. If we don't end their relationship, we could be facing legal fines and fees, not to mention the damage it could do to our reputation. We can't afford to take that risk."
As the phone rang again, Scott picked it up with a sigh. After listening for a few moments, he hung up and turned to face the group.
"I just got off the phone with Bobby. He's not budging on this. We have to end Siti Sara and Vanessa's relationship, or we risk losing everything we've worked for. I'm sorry, but we don't have a choice."
The atmosphere in the room was heavy and tense, suffocatingly so, with the only sound being the soft crying of someone. Siti Sara appeared to be on the verge of collapse, her eyes red-rimmed and puffy, evidence of her distress.
Scott put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I know this is hard, Siti Sara. But I believe in you. You're strong enough to make this sacrifice for the greater good. And who knows? Maybe in the future, things will work out differently. But for now, we have to do what we have to do."
Cassandra nodded in agreement, but Bethany looked skeptical. "But what about their happiness?" "You can't just ask them to throw that away."
Scott sighed. "I know it's not fair, but it's the reality of the situation." "We have to do what's best for the band."
Cassandra, who had recently read Sun Tzu's "The Art of War," quipped, "In that case, we must approach this situation like a wise general. We must use tactics that outsmart our opponent without resorting to force. Is there a way for them to handle this more discreetly?"
"Vanessa is a lovely girl," Kadia chimed in. "They're just in love with each other." Kadia looked at Siti Sara. "Siti Sara, have you spoken with Vanessa about this?"
Siti Sara nodded. "I'll talk to Vanessa and see if we can find a way to navigate this delicate situation."
Kadia, who was known for her sharp wit, replied, "Well, I guess it's true what they say, 'Lawyers are like nuclear warheads, you don't want to use them, but you damn sure want to have them.'"
Scott nodded in agreement, "Indeed, but we don't want this to escalate into a full-blown legal battle. That would be like bringing a knife to a gunfight."
Scott added, "We'll give you two or three days to sort things out with Vanessa." I'll check in with Robert again tomorrow.
"Oh my, Robert knew..." Siti Sara felt trapped in a difficult situation, but she knew that she had to make a decision for her own well-being and that of her colleagues. She would talk to Vanessa and find a way to navigate this delicate situation.
The room fell silent as they absorbed the gravity of the situation. Siti Sara was torn between her love for Vanessa and her duty to the Syndicate. It was a painful decision to make, and one that would have far-reaching consequences. As the girls left the room, each lost in thought, the weight of the decision hung heavily in the air.
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