Rewind With A Superstar System-Chapter 57: Convincing Argument (2)

<🎧 Song Recommendation: her by JVKE>

...

Zack paused, letting the threat hang in the air. "And if you lose... we will countersue for defamation, tortious interference with a business contract, and legal fees. My client stands to win one million dollars. If your lawsuit costs him that prize, we will seek damages for the full amount. Is Midnight Pulse prepared to assume a million-dollar liability?"

Leo’s eyes widened. "Wait, a million dollars? Dude, I just wanted credit. I don’t want to owe a million bucks."

"Leo, be quiet!" Finch hissed. "They are bluffing!"

"Are we?" Zack asked, raising an eyebrow. "My client is about to become a celebrity. He has the backing of a network. Do you really want to go to war with Project: Star’s legal team over a song that has generated zero dollars for your band?"

Leo looked at Finch, then at Von. The aggression drained out of him. "Look, man. I can say for sure I’ve never heard your song until the show. And I know I wrote that verse in my bedroom. But... hearing this? It feels like we just tapped into the same frequency or something. I don’t know."

"It’s destiny," Zack said simply. "It happens all the time, trust me."

"I like that," Leo said with a nod. "I’m cool with that. Honestly, hearing the full version... it’s better than what I was gonna do anyway."

"Enough!" Finch slammed his hand on the table, causing the water glasses to rattle. He was clearly annoyed by how friendly his client was being with the enemy. "This proves nothing! You are manipulating my client with fear tactics and philosophical nonsense! We are not convinced yet. We will review this evidence and get back to you. Come on, Leo."

Finch stood up abruptly, grabbing his satchel. He glared at Zack with genuine hatred, the hatred of a mediocre lawyer who had just been outmaneuvered by a student.

"Leo! Now!" Finch barked.

Leo stood up slowly, looking apologetic. "Sorry, guys. He’s... yeah. But hey," he looked at Von and smiled. "Nice track, man. Seriously."

Leo gave them a little wave as he followed his fuming lawyer out of the lounge.

Von and Zack watched them leave. Once the door swung shut, Von let out a long, shaky exhale. He slumped in his chair.

"Shit," Von muttered. "I guess we failed. The lawyer is still pissed." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Zack smiled, a slow, predatory grin spreading across his face. He picked up his water glass and took a sip.

"No, we didn’t. We gaslighted them perfectly. The lawyer is mad because he knows he lost his client. Leo isn’t going to sign the affidavit now. He likes you. And without the client’s signature, Finch has no case. Let’s just wait."

***

Outside, Arthur Finch marched toward his beat-up sedan, his face a mask of fury. Leo jogged slightly to keep up, looking unbothered.

As they got into the car, Finch slammed his door shut. The interior was stiflingly hot.

"What in God’s name was that?" Finch shouted, turning on the ignition. "Why did you go against everything we agreed on? You admitted the song was better! You admitted you never finished it! You handed them the transformative work defense on a silver platter!"

Leo shrugged, pulling his seatbelt across his chest. "But really, does it matter? We would never have finished that song. I forgot about it five months ago. And hearing his version... I don’t know. It felt right. Besides, I don’t want to get countersued for a million bucks. We’re broke, remember?"

"We could have settled for fifty thousand!" Finch yelled, hitting the steering wheel. "That was the plan! Squeeze them for a settlement! Now you’ve ruined our leverage!"

"I’m not even the one paying you," Leo pointed out calmly. "So chill out. Let’s just drop it."

Finch face-palmed, groaning at his client’s cowardice and lack of ambition. He ignored Leo, pulling his phone out of his pocket. He needed to make a call. He needed to explain this disaster to the person who was actually funding this legal crusade.

He dialed a number and held the phone to his ear. It rang three times before connecting.

"Hello, Lady Celine," Finch said, his voice shifting from angry to obsequious.

"Arthur," Celine’s voice came through the speaker immediately. "Do you have an update? Have you filed the suit?"

"It’s... complicated," Finch stammered. "We just met with Varley and his representative."

"Representative?" Celine asked sharply. "He has a lawyer?"

"A... consultant. A very sharp one," Finch admitted reluctantly. "Look, the meeting didn’t go as planned. They played a recording. A full version of the song. It has a bridge, a second verse... it’s much more developed than Leo’s demo."

"So what?" Celine snapped, her panic bleeding into her tone. "Leo wrote the melody first! That’s all that matters! Priority creates ownership!"

"Ideally, yes," Finch sighed. "But Leo... he wavered. He heard the song and admitted he never finished his. He told them he didn’t want to pursue it. He’s scared of a countersuit, and frankly, he seems to admire the boy’s work."

"Admire?" Celine’s voice rose a bit. "I am paying you to destroy him, not to facilitate a fan club! Who cares what the idiot band leader thinks? You represent him! File the suit anyway!"

"I can’t!" Finch snapped back, losing his patience. "Not if the client refuses to cooperate! If Leo testifies that he thinks Varley’s work is transformative or destiny, we will get laughed out of court! It’s a losing case, Celine. The boy has a stronger claim to the finished product than we do to the scrap."

"I don’t care!" Celine shrieked. "We’ll sue either way! Find a loophole! Use the timestamp!"

"Then you’ll have to find someone else to do it," Finch said firmly after seeing the lack of understanding. "It’s not your song, Celine. You have no standing. And the actual owners aren’t interested in fighting anymore. I cannot file a lawsuit that my own client wants to drop. I’m done."

"Arthur! Don’t you dare—"

Finch hung up the phone, ending the call. He threw the phone onto the dashboard and leaned back, closing his eyes. Beside him, Leo was humming the melody of the modified Coming Home already, tapping his fingers on his knee.

"Shut up, Leo," Finch muttered.

"Whatever," Leo grinned. "It’s a catchy song."