Chapter 713: The Album

The celebrations surrounding JD Records’ position as the number-one record label in the world had barely settled when Dayo called for a meeting with his core team. The company was still receiving attention from the media, and people were discussing its achievement across the music industry. Employees were busy with their usual responsibilities, while the executives had begun dealing with the demands that came with the company’s expanded position. Even so, Dayo had something else on his mind, something he had been thinking about for a long time.

When Valerie received the meeting invitation, she assumed there was another matter he wanted to discuss about the company. Wayne, Ulrich, Alice, and Felix received the same message, along with the other key members of the team. Nobody thought it was unusual for Dayo to call them together, but the timing made some of them curious. They had only recently celebrated their achievement, and there had been no indication that another major announcement was coming so soon.

By the time everyone gathered in the meeting room, the usual conversations had started. Alice was discussing a marketing issue with one of the other executives, while Wayne checked a message on his phone. Felix was already seated, and Ulrich had brought along a few documents he had been reviewing before the invitation arrived. Valerie came in shortly afterward and took her seat near the head of the table, where Dayo was expected to sit.

Dayo arrived a few minutes later, greeted everyone, and waited until the conversations died down. He looked around the table at the people who had been with him through different stages of the company’s development, some from its earlier days and others who had joined as the business grew. They had seen the difficult periods, the long working hours, the pressure surrounding important releases, and the many decisions that had brought JD Records to its present position.

"Before we discuss anything else, I want to say a very big thank you to all of you," he began. "I’m serious about that, because I know I wouldn’t have been able to bring this company this far by myself. I know how much I work, and I know I can be difficult sometimes because I like to get involved in everything, but that doesn’t mean I don’t see what each of you has done. You have all been part of the foundation we’ve built, and I appreciate that."

For a moment, the room was quiet as everyone listened. They were accustomed to Dayo speaking directly about business, but he did not often gather them simply to express his gratitude. His appreciation was not a surprise in itself, because they knew he valued their work, yet hearing him say it so openly was different from receiving a message after a successful project.

Felix leaned back in his chair and looked at him with a familiar expression of amusement. "Dayo, tell us about it. We know you like doing everything yourself, so we’re surprised you’ve even called this meeting to thank us. I was expecting you to tell us what else you want us to do before the day ends."

A few people laughed, and Dayo smiled as he rested his hands on the table. "That’s exactly what I’m talking about. I know I like doing things myself, but do you honestly think I can do everything? I’m talking about your skills and the work you all put in. Valerie, you’re the CEO, and you’re the person responsible for keeping this company running at the level it has reached. I can’t sit in your position and handle everything you handle, even if I wanted to."

Valerie listened without interrupting, allowing him to finish. She knew he was capable of taking on far more work than most people would consider reasonable, but she also knew that he understood the value of having people who could manage their responsibilities without waiting for him to make every decision.

Dayo turned toward Wayne next. "Wayne, you head the music department. You deal with the music, the production side, and all the things that go into getting our projects where they need to be. I can have ideas, and I can contribute when necessary, but I can’t replace you and do your job properly while doing everything else. Alice, the marketing work is your area, and you’ve done an excellent job with it. I know what you bring to the company, and I wouldn’t pretend that I can simply take over your responsibilities."

Alice smiled at the acknowledgement, then glanced toward Wayne as if to remind him that he was not the only one being recognised. Dayo continued by mentioning Ulrich’s work with internal management and the responsibilities he handled to keep the company’s operations organised. He also recognised Felix and the other members of the team who had helped him manage the growing demands of the business.

"I can’t split myself into five different people," Dayo said. "Even if I tried, I would still need people who understand their jobs and know what they’re doing. That’s why I want you to understand that I don’t take any of you for granted. We have come a long way, and every person in this room has contributed to that in one way or another. When I look at where we started and where we are now, I’m proud of what we’ve built together."

The conversation became more relaxed after that. Some of the team members reminded him of how he used to involve himself in matters that had already been assigned to other people, while others spoke about the amount of work they had all put into reaching their current position. Dayo listened, sometimes defending himself and sometimes admitting that they had a point. He knew they were not trying to diminish his contribution. They simply understood his habits well enough to tease him about them.

"At least you know the problem now," Felix said. "The next thing is for you to actually do something about it."

"I’m working on it," Dayo replied, although his expression suggested that he knew the promise would be tested soon enough.

Valerie brought the conversation back to the purpose of the meeting by asking whether there was anything else he wanted to tell them. Dayo’s expression became more thoughtful as he prepared to explain the reason he had gathered everyone together. He had not called them only to thank them, important as that was. There was something he needed them to know before he made the necessary arrangements.

"Yes, there is something else," he said. "I’m going to take a short break."

The announcement produced a brief pause around the table. Nobody immediately objected, but several people looked at him as they tried to understand what he meant. Dayo rarely stepped away from the company for any length of time, and even when he had other commitments, he usually found a way to remain involved in its daily operations.

"A break?" Wayne asked. "What kind of break are we talking about?"

"I know how that sounds, especially after everything we’ve just achieved," Dayo replied. "I’m not leaving the company, and I’m not saying I won’t be available if something important comes up. I just need some time away from my regular responsibilities so I can concentrate on something else for a while."

Felix gave him a curious look. "Are you finally going to rest? Because I think most of us have been waiting for you to say that for a long time."

Dayo laughed quietly. "No, that’s not exactly what I mean. Well, I suppose I will get some rest, but the main reason is something else. I’m preparing to release a new album."

For a second, the announcement seemed to take the conversation in a direction nobody had expected. Then Wayne leaned forward slightly, looking at Dayo as if he wanted to make sure he had heard him correctly.

"Wait, your album?" he asked. "Dayo, you mean you’re going to release another album?"

"Yes, my album," Dayo confirmed. "I know it has been a while, but I’ve been working on the idea for a long time, and I want to give it the attention it deserves."

Alice laughed as the meaning of his announcement settled in. "Sometimes I forget you’re a musician yourself. You’re always here dealing with the company, working with other artists, and getting involved in everybody’s projects. When was the last time we actually sat down and discussed your own music?"

"That’s part of the problem," Dayo admitted. "I’ve spent so much time working on the label and helping other people with their music that I’ve kept putting this project aside. I have ideas I want to work on, and I don’t want to keep delaying them because something else needs my attention."

His colleagues were familiar with his musical career, but the demands of JD Records had become such a large part of his life that his own releases could easily be overlooked in everyday conversations. The success of the company had brought him recognition as an executive, and his work with other artists had given him responsibilities that extended far beyond his own recording career. Still, he had never stopped being a musician, and the album he wanted to make now mattered to him for reasons that went beyond his position in the industry.

"This will be my third album," Dayo explained. "The first one came after I left the global competition. I had finished that part of my journey, and I released the album afterward. It did well, and I was happy with how people received it. Then I released the second one, Unison, and that album broke a lot of records. People started comparing me to Michael Jackson, and there were all kinds of discussions about what that meant and whether anyone could really be compared to him in terms of timeless music."

Wayne nodded as he remembered the attention surrounding Unison. Its success had generated conversations that went beyond its sales and chart performance, and the comparisons with Michael Jackson had become a subject of debate among listeners. Some people believed the achievements justified the comparisons, while others argued that commercial records alone could not establish whether an artist’s music would remain timeless.

Dayo understood why people had those discussions, but he had never wanted his next project to be driven entirely by comparisons or expectations. The success of Unison had been gratifying, yet he did not want to approach his third album as though his main responsibility was to break every record the previous one had set.

"This one is going to be different," he continued. "I want it to be the most emotional album I’ve made. My music has always meant something personal to me, but this time I want to approach it in a way I haven’t really done before. I want the content to be connected more directly to my personal life and the things that matter to me. I don’t want to rush it just because people are waiting for another release."

Valerie considered his words for a moment before asking how much of the album he had already written. Dayo explained that he had been carrying the ideas for a long time, but he still needed space to develop them properly. Some of the work had taken shape in his thoughts, while other parts needed more time before he could decide how they should sound or what he wanted to say through them.

He did not want to make promises about a release date before he had given the material the attention it required. The album was important enough to him that he wanted to approach it carefully rather than fit the writing around an already crowded schedule. He had spent years pushing himself to meet deadlines and respond to the demands of the business, but this project needed a different kind of attention.

"That’s why I’m telling you all now," Dayo said. "I want to take the time to write the songs properly and make something beautiful. I need to concentrate on the music without trying to manage every other thing at the same time. I know this company is in a strong position, and I know there is still work to do, but I trust you people to handle things while I’m away from the office."

"You don’t have to explain that part too much," Valerie replied. "We understand what you’re asking for. The company has a team for a reason, and we can handle our responsibilities. You don’t have to be involved in every decision for things to keep moving."

Wayne agreed that Dayo deserved time to focus on his own work. He also understood that the album would benefit from having Dayo’s full attention, especially if he intended to make it more personal than his previous projects. Alice and Ulrich expressed similar support, while Felix reminded Dayo that they would contact him if something genuinely required his involvement, rather than disturbing him over routine matters.

Dayo appreciated their response. He had expected them to understand, but hearing them say it directly made the decision feel easier. He knew that stepping away would require him to trust the team to make decisions without his constant supervision, and that was something he needed to practise if he wanted the company to continue growing without depending on him for everything.

"I’m not asking you to carry the entire company on your shoulders just because I’m taking a break," he said. "Everyone should continue doing their work as usual, and if there is something important that needs my attention, you can reach me. I just want to make sure I have enough time to concentrate on the album instead of constantly going back and forth between the music and the business."

"That’s reasonable," Valerie told him. "We’ll make the arrangements. You can focus on your album, and we’ll keep the company running. You’ve given us enough reasons to trust your decisions, so you should be able to trust ours as well."

The remark drew a few smiles from around the table, and Dayo accepted it without trying to argue. He knew he could be reluctant to let go of responsibilities, even when he had capable people ready to handle them. This time, however, he had made up his mind. The company had reached a position he had worked hard to establish, and he wanted to give himself the opportunity to do something that had been waiting for him.

Once the discussion was over, the meeting gradually came to an end. The team members gathered their documents and returned to their respective responsibilities, some stopping to exchange a few words with Dayo before leaving. Wayne mentioned that he was interested in hearing what Dayo came up with, while Alice reminded him that he should not spend the entire break working until he forgot to eat or sleep. Dayo promised to do his best, although everyone knew that his idea of taking things slowly could still involve several hours of work.

Valerie was among the last to leave. Before she went, she confirmed that she would coordinate with the others to make sure the arrangements were clear and that the company would not need Dayo to oversee ordinary decisions. He thanked her again, then watched the room empty before gathering his own things.

Back in his office, Dayo called his assistant and informed her that he would be taking some time away from his regular duties. He explained that the team had been informed and that Valerie would coordinate the necessary arrangements. He also reminded his assistant to take care of herself and continue with her responsibilities, rather than worrying about his temporary absence.

She acknowledged the information and assured him that she understood. Dayo answered a few final questions, made sure there was nothing urgent he needed to address before leaving, and then prepared to go home. For once, he did not open another file or ask someone to bring him a report before he departed. There would always be something waiting for him at the office, but he had decided that the album deserved his attention now.

The drive home gave him a little time to think about the project. He had spent years moving from one responsibility to another, often treating his own music as something he could return to whenever the company became less demanding. The problem was that JD Records had continued to grow, and each achievement had brought more work, more people to manage, and more decisions that required his attention.

Now he wanted to stop postponing the album. He did not know exactly how long the writing would take, and he was not going to pretend that every song would come easily. All he knew was that he had things he wanted to express, and he needed the time to work through them without constantly dividing his attention.

When Dayo arrived home, he found Luna and Jennifer sitting together in the living room. The two of them were occupied with their own conversation when he entered, and Luna looked up as soon as she noticed him.

"Dayo, you’re back already?" she asked, surprised to see him home earlier than usual.

"Yes, I’m back," he replied as he came over to them. "I decided to take a break from work for a while."

Luna looked at him with interest. "A break? Is everything all right at the company?"

"Everything is fine. I spoke with Valerie, Wayne, Ulrich, Felix, Alice, and the others today. I told them I want to step away from my regular responsibilities for a little while because I’m going to work on my album."

Her expression changed from concern to understanding. She stood to greet him properly, and they embraced before sharing a kiss. Dayo held her close for a moment, glad to be home without having to think about the next meeting or the next decision waiting for him at the office.

"You’re finally going to do it?" Luna asked when they settled beside each other. "You’ve been talking about wanting to work on your music for a long time."

"I know," he said. "I’ve kept putting it off because there has always been something else to do. First, there was one thing with the company, then another, and before I knew it, I was spending most of my time dealing with everybody else’s projects. I don’t want to keep doing that with this album."

Jennifer remained close to them as Luna asked what he wanted to do differently this time. Dayo explained that it would be his third album and that he wanted it to be more personal than the previous two. His first album had come after he left the global competition, and Unison had followed with a level of success that had exceeded many people’s expectations. This new project, however, was not something he wanted to measure only by records broken or comparisons made by the public.

"I want the songs to come from a more personal place," he told her. "I want to write about things that matter to me, and I want to take my time with them. I have been thinking about this album for a long while, but I haven’t given myself enough room to sit down and work through everything. I don’t want to release something just because people are expecting another album from me."

Luna listened carefully, understanding that this was not simply another project he wanted to add to his career. Dayo had built a successful company and helped other musicians develop their own work, but he still had things he wanted to do as an artist. His responsibilities had not taken that desire away; they had only made it harder for him to find the time.

"Then I think you should take the time you need," she said. "You have worked hard, and you’ve spent so much time looking after the company. If this is something you really want to do, you shouldn’t keep postponing it. You don’t have to finish everything in a few days."

"That’s what I’m trying to remind myself," Dayo replied. "I want to do this properly. I don’t know exactly how everything will come together yet, but I know I want this album to mean something to me when I’m done with it."

They continued talking about the project for a while, with Luna asking a few questions about his plans and Dayo explaining what he could without pretending to have all the answers. He did not have a finished collection of songs waiting to be recorded, nor had he settled every detail of the album. There was still writing to do, ideas to develop, and decisions he would make along the way.

For now, he was content to be home with his family and to know that the first step had been taken. He had spoken to the people at JD Records, arranged to take time away from his everyday duties, and told Luna what he wanted to do. The next part would require patience and concentration, but he no longer intended to keep putting it off.

Later, when the house had settled into its usual evening routine, Dayo found himself thinking about the album again. The success of Unison had given him plenty to be proud of, and the company’s new position had brought another achievement to his name. Yet neither accomplishment had removed his desire to create something that reflected more of his own experiences and feelings.

He knew people would eventually want to hear the new music. Some would compare it with his previous albums, while others would look at its performance and ask whether he could repeat the success of Unison. Those expectations would be there whether he worried about them or not, but he did not want them to determine what he wrote.

This time, he wanted to give himself the freedom to explore the ideas he had carried for so long. He wanted to write the songs, work through the difficult parts, and see what the finished album became. For the moment, that was enough. JD Records had a capable team to keep the company moving, and Dayo had finally made room for the music he had been waiting to write.