Rhythm and Ray: A DJ’s Journey

[Chapter 244: Project Launch]

A group of people entered the conference room, which used to be a real estate finance company. When they moved in, no additional renovations were made, and the conference room's original furnishings were left intact.

Alongside Ryan, Ivanka, and Jared, Virgil entered, along with a few designers from Jared's team, all of whom were dressed in sharp Ralph Lauren attire, embodying the image of workplace elites.

Leading the group was a bald man wearing round glasses. He turned on the projector, and a series of concept design renderings appeared on the screen. The images displayed various retro and extravagant design elements, closely aligned with the theme of Orlando's Bad Room, featuring Gothic gray castle aesthetics, tall columns reminiscent of the Parthenon, and arching dome structures in the style of ancient Rome. The architectural relief details looked impressive, to the point where even Ryan had to admit that the design team had put in considerable effort.

Ivanka, sitting behind Ryan, nodded in approval. After Ryan had rejected the initial design drafts, she had encountered multiple teams herself, and she could see that this current proposal was significantly superior. Most importantly, Jared had promised a very low outsourcing price for the design -- nearly at the cost of the salaries of the designers, making the overall proposal highly competitive.

After about twenty minutes of presentation, the PowerPoint reached its conclusion, and the final slide displayed the logo for the Spirit Club, featuring a classical illustrative design that looked like a relief engraved on a stone slab. In recent years, illustrative design had become quite popular, with the iPhone extensively utilizing it.

As the lights came back on, Jared wore a confident smile. "This is just a preliminary proposal; we will refine it further. Ryan can officially announce the logo tomorrow and start marketing."

"Jared, there's still one more designer," Ivanka whispered, feeling that Jared's behavior had been somewhat impolite.

"Do we need to see it? Forget it; let's treat it as a formality," Jared replied dismissively.

Ryan heard this exchange clearly but remained calm, maintaining a smile. He recognized that this was all part of Donald Trump's sabotage, presenting him with a tricky situation. If he ignored it and played nice, Jared would only escalate the conflict. However, if he chose to confront Jared, Donald Trump would likely intervene and only weaken Ryan's influence in the company further.

Ultimately, he felt he would be affected no matter the outcome. Theoretically, this issue seemed unsolvable, but in practice, there were several loopholes.

...

Ryan looked over at Virgil, who understood it was now his turn. He opened his backpack and retrieved a laptop, walking over to the table. As he opened it, it was clear he was a bit nervous.

"The last time I worked on interior design was back in school," Virgil admitted with an awkward laugh, revealing his bright white teeth.

Jared scoffed, throwing his hands up toward Ivanka in frustration.

"And this time, I only had time to sketch out some drafts. However, I'm confident in the basic design elements," Virgil continued, opening some image files instead of preparing a PowerPoint.

As the files opened, rough sketches appeared on the screen, and Ryan couldn't help but smile at the promising ideas.

He knew he hadn't made a mistake in choosing Virgil this time.

On the other hand, Jared's smile quickly faded as he realized that Virgil was not as unreliable as he had seemed at first glance.

Ivanka, on the other hand, sat upright with a dazed expression, astounded by the unique design direction that no one had considered before.

On the white background, Virgil had drawn a striking three-dimensional structure, almost box-like with clearly defined angles, with diagonal lines corresponding to the construction warning tape evenly distributed across the exterior. It took a closer look to identify them as the logo of "Spirit Club," with an entrance that was also very much a boxy style.

The subsequent images displayed interior design drafts -- hollow steel flooring with exposed scaffolding, and metal staircases typical of factory settings, alongside stickers of the logo scattered throughout.

"Is this a construction design? Why did you draw this?" Jared questioned, perplexed.

"This is the final draft," Virgil said, shaking his head.

Industrial style and street elements were the focal points of Virgil's design. Ryan immediately thought of the graphic T-shirts Virgil had been selling, recognizing a thread that connected his previous work with his current designs.

What Ryan didn't know was that these drafts closely mirrored the style of the brand "Off-White" that Virgil would later create, which was subsequently acquired by LV, leading to Virgil's promotion to design director for LV menswear.

...

As the lights turned on again, Ryan turned to both of them, glancing at several mid-level managers from the company.

"Ivanka, whose design do you think is better?" Ryan asked.

"In terms of visual expression, Kushner Group's design is obviously more impressive. However, if we consider costs, Virgil's design is better and sufficiently novel to catch people's attention," Ivanka replied, leaning towards Virgil's proposal.

"Regarding costs, Kushner Group is willing to offer all their design proposals for free," Jared interjected, growing anxious.

"But what about construction costs? These are burdens the franchisees need to bear; we must consider their perspectives," Ivanka countered.

"Alright then, let's take a vote. Majority rules," Ryan suggested, raising his hand for mid-level managers to take part.

"Who supports Virgil's proposal, raise your hand," Ivanka added.

Everyone in the room immediately raised their hands in support, with the exception of Jared. All the mid-level employees backed Virgil's plan.

Achieving such unanimous support wasn't just because of the stunning design; these individuals were all being paid by Ryan, and they were wise enough to see that Ryan and Jared were at odds. Unless the difference was vast, they would typically side with Ryan.

"Ryan, you know that they're all on your payroll. How could they not support you?" Jared realized his miscalculation immediately.

"Then let's expand the voting to the entire staff. If that's not enough for you, we could even start an online vote," Ryan said fearlessly.

This left Jared completely speechless, realizing he wouldn't gain the upper hand; he turned to his team. "Delete the PowerPoint. We'll discard that design."

"Why delete it? You never know where you might need it," Ryan replied, maintaining his smile.

"It doesn't matter; Kushner Group has many designers, and our principle is to strive for excellence. Every design is custom-made," Jared insisted, shaking his head.

"I see, then since you're discarding it, why not give the design to me? It just so happens, it would work well for the Bad Room in Los Angeles," Ryan suggested eagerly.

This was a trap set for Jared, and he had fallen right into it. Ryan certainly wouldn't hold back in his demands.

Jared chuckled cynically, caught off guard. Despite Ivanka being present, he couldn't afford to show anger and pretended to be magnanimous. "If you like it, take it."

"Well, I should say thank you then," Ryan beamed, feeling he had unknowingly scored a victory while Jared couldn't contest it.

Ryan then turned to Virgil and announced before everyone that he was appointing Virgil as the design director for the Spirit Club.

"Can you complete the design renderings in three days?" Ryan asked in front of everyone.

"That might be a bit difficult," Virgil said, his expression faltering.

"I believe you can do it," Ryan encouraged, patting him on the shoulder.

"But..."

"This project is for interior design; the next one could very well be for fashion design. Surely you must have heard about the collaboration between sTray and Dior?" Ryan continued, enticing him.

Ryan sensed Virgil's potential; a talent like him was hard to come by.

As a designer, Virgil naturally dreamed of working with big names. Ryan's proposal struck a chord, making him nod in agreement to meet the deadline.

Ryan then turned to the other mid-level managers. "Since this is my first meeting with all of you, let's get to know each other."

...

One by one, the mid-level managers stood to introduce themselves by name and position. The structure of the Spirit Club roughly divided into three parts: operations, liaisons, and commercial real estate.

The operations department was responsible for contacting franchisees, signing contracts, and completing site selections.

The liaison team managed all supply chains, including internal decor, equipment, beverages, and operational guidance.

The commercial real estate aspect was currently run by one of Jared's subordinates, who would be based there.

Aside from that, standard support departments such as HR, administration, and finance made up the rest of the company's structure.

Ryan was generally satisfied with the personnel arrangements.

"This week, the Spirit Club will officially announce our opening!" Ryan declared to the group.

...

Three days later, the Spirit Club began to promote itself online under the banner of nationwide chain and extreme electronic music experiences. Ryan was fully behind it, retweeting multiple posts and openly claiming leadership of the project, with the ambition to roll out Spirit Club in every city in the United States.

This decision was well thought out. After all, Ryan was taking a risk; if the project failed, he would likely be labeled a "scam artist."

However, Ryan never thought of running away after making a quick buck, or quitting midway.

In addition to Ryan's efforts, Taylor also wanted to promote on social media leading up to the ACM Awards, sharing related messages along with her friends, all of whom reposted as well.

That afternoon, Ryan posted about promotions on his fan forum.

[Limited-Time Offer: Half Price Franchise Fees...]

The benefits were exclusive to his fans, and the post included the operating company's contact details.

...

"The results aren't great. Less than ten of your fans came to inquire," Ivanka said as she hung up the phone, shaking her head at Ryan.

Meanwhile, Jared, who was also in the office, could be heard chatting animatedly on his phone. "Yes, that's right, I get it, mainly because Ryan has been busy lately. There's a Spirit Club tour planned for this year..."

"I didn't make such commitments," Ryan shook his head when Jared hung up.

"The most important thing right now is to get people on board, and as for what happens later, who knows?" Jared shrugged, appearing unconcerned.

"Not deceiving franchisees is a matter of principle," Ryan frowned, emphasizing that empty promises only brought trouble.

"Principle? With all your principles, I assume you've already contacted quite a few franchisees?" Jared grinned, hinting at his successful day, having interest shown from several friends and clients associated with Kushner Group.

"Are you talking about having your subordinates make those calls one by one?" Ryan called out Jared's small tactics. He wouldn't actively seek out partners since this was a public venture; those interested would approach the operating company. Only then could they identify genuinely reliable franchisees.

Jared pretended not to hear, stepping over to Ivanka's desk, leaning on the tabletop, studying her features closely.

"Ivanka, I just landed another one. So far, this makes twenty-five today. He's a friend of mine hoping to open a Spirit Club in D.C.," Jared said triumphantly.

"Thanks," Ivanka nodded politely.

"Not at all! If you have any trouble later, just call me. Friends make things much easier," Jared offered again.

"You can't stay here forever; I can handle it myself," Ivanka laughed, shaking her head.

"I need to supervise that commercial real estate project in Florida, so I'll be around for a while," Jared seized the opportunity, trying to charm her, knowing her father was secretly assisting him.

"By the way, how did you resolve the funding issues for that commercial real estate project?" Ivanka inquired.

Jared glanced at Ryan. "United Bank."

Ryan made a mental note to follow up on that later... he had a decent relationship with United Bank as well.

...

As the Spirit Club just started its operations, Ryan visited often. The following afternoon, as he arrived at the office, he noticed Ivanka was busy meeting with potential franchisees.

There were two men, clearly brothers, matching in appearance. They looked excited upon seeing Ryan.

Ryan didn't hold back, joining Ivanka to introduce the business. After chatting for a while, he seized the chance to step away.

Shortly after, Ivanka approached Ryan about the outcome.

"They're still hesitant, mainly due to distrust in the Spirit Club's business model," she expressed her frustration.

In traditional American nightlife, establishments primarily earned revenue through drinks, whereas the Spirit Club, similar to Bad Room, relied on ticket sales. Although Bad Room had achieved commercial success, that was backed by glamorous performances. Clearly, the Spirit Club franchisees couldn't afford well-known DJs, which posed a hefty expense for them.

"This isn't an isolated case. In fact, I've encountered three similar situations today," Ivanka said, her smile fading.

"Isn't that one of Jared's friends?" Ryan asked.

"That's irrelevant. Besides, Jared can't do anything apart from flattering them to bring them in," Ivanka shook her head, realizing Ryan's perspective was correct. Jared's approach would only backfire on himself and the operating company.

Ryan rose to his feet. If Ivanka couldn't manage it, it was his turn to step in. He returned with her to the reception conference room, contemplating the potential franchisee's concerns.

"Given that, we could lower the ticket prices while raising the drink prices. Additionally, the design department will make corresponding adjustments to include more booths. You'll have to recruit staff locally, but we can create a recruitment plan and provide necessary training. As for the DJ, I will establish a separate talent agency to handle shows later, ensuring we help as much as we can," Ryan proposed a fair compromise, his intent sincere.

"Can nobody from Bad Room join us? We can pay their fees," one brother suggested.

Ryan shook his head, "Bad Room and Spirit Club operate on different scales, catering to different clientele. Connecting them would only complicate things for everyone involved."

"Honestly, our willingness to franchise comes mainly because of Bad Room's success," the other brother admitted.

"The two operate in parallel, independently. I'm sorry," Ryan reiterated. "Of course, the final decision rests with you. Out of caution, it's understandable to decline the franchise."

The brothers whispered to each other, then looked at Ryan and Ivanka.

"Risk and reward coexist. Ryan, you have to offer these first franchisees some incentives."

"Absolutely, the franchise fee will be cut in half, limited to this first group," Ryan agreed.

Ivanka sighed with relief, happy to finally secure one, grateful that Ryan was present.

She couldn't help but compare Ryan to Jared. One was a source of trouble, the other always brought solutions; the differences were stark.

Ryan instructed his team to detail the arrangements to the brothers and then stepped out of the office with Ivanka.

...

"Been slacking on the workouts these days?" Ryan suddenly asked.

"I've been so swamped with issues at the operating company that I haven't had the time," Ivanka replied with a smile.

"Things should lighten up going forward. Aren't you looking for a gym? I plan to go to one after work today; you should join me," Ryan suggested.

"Sounds good," Ivanka replied enthusiastically.

*****

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