Chapter 02: I Am Meeting the Pioneer Group

It was the same day after Aurelie was hired when Hero decided to begin her orientation day. By means of that, he will introduce her to everyone since it's Saturday and there's nothing much to do except for one thing; their final rehearsal for the MBS Donations event that will be happening the next day which is Sunday.

In the middle of their walk along the connected bridges of the buildings, Hero introduced his company to her and she could feel a very special treatment at that point. It bothers her because other people might misunderstand.

"We call the building where we came from as Building A. That's where my office is located, the same as the main entrance. I decided to separate the artists' building in case an unauthorized person enters, they will remain safe," he explained.

"But, don't you think you should be the one to get extensive protection?" Aurelie asked him.

"Is it because I'm the owner and president?" Aurelie nodded at him as he smiled at her. "I don't believe in that rule. Everyone can lead something they desire, it doesn't matter if I get hurt. My job is to protect the people I am managing because I'm borrowing their lives to make a living for everyone in this company."

Aurelie couldn't believe how deep Hero could think and give out his opinions about things that should only be answerable by a simple answer. Everything he says has sense in them.

They proceed to walk to Building B where the senior artists, both solo and in a group, were staying in each of their designated rooms. As soon as they arrived there, Aurelie noticed how consistent the staff they come across from greeting Hero with just simple greetings of Hi and Hello.

The president noticed her fascination. "You should get used to this environment."

Aurelie glanced at him in surprise before smiling shyly. "I will." 

"By the way, I hope you are comfortable communicating with people that have other nationalities," Hero suddenly told her.

"Um, why is that?"

"Most of the staff here are Filipinos, but there are some that come from other parts of Asia. There are some Japanese, Chinese, Korean, and even Russian. I hope you're okay with that," he explained.

Aurelie couldn't help but gulp in nervousness after hearing all those nationalities, mostly Russian. She hasn't talked to Russians before although she believes some of them can be friendly. She only has experience talking with Japanese ever since she was way younger.

"A little adaptation won't hurt, right?" she asked Hero.

Hero grinned. "You bet."

After taking a few more steps, they both reached the first rooms that are opposite each other. Hero approached the room on their left side that had its nameplate glued to the wall stating the group name SURPRENANT with an acronym of SRPNT.

"As you can see, there are nameplates near the doors of each room. That will be your basis and guide to know which group or artists are occupying the place," Hero explained. "The room is made to be soundproof from the inside in case they are doing short rehearsals before the actual performance."

Aurelie nodded at him in acknowledgment. Based on what the president said, some of the artists could possibly do their rehearsals inside. It only means it's also possible for them not to hear the noise from outside the room.

"Aurie," Hero called her.

She looked at him. "Yes, sir?"

"Are you ready to meet the pioneer group of MBS Asia?" he asked.

Aurelie smiled happily before nodding at him. As soon as Hero got her sincere response, he opened the first room door. Then, they both entered the room.

The young woman didn't expect to see the collective seniority of men surrounding the whole interior. They were all properly seated on their seats. Three of them were on their phones while the other two were somewhat vocalizing and talking normally.

"Hey everyone, how is your day?" Hero greeted them kindly.

As soon as their attention was caught, their serious expressions turned bright after seeing someone new.

"Hero! It's nice to see you out of your office after how many years," said the man who looked friendly and kind based on his facial features.

Aurelie was unable to move from her place after getting starstruck by just seeing them. They looked just like what she had seen from the posters downstairs back at Building A.

One of the men who's doing a vocalization earlier approached them while looking directly at Aurelie, accompanied with a kind smile. "Hero, who is this pretty girl with you right now?"

Hero proudly smiled at them, before resting his left hand on Aurelie's back. "Everyone, meet the new member of the MBS Family."

He then lowered down his lips near Aurelie's right ear. "Introduce yourself."

Aurelie's eyes roamed as she looked at everyone. The rest approached her and Hero to take a good look at the new family member.

"Hello everyone, I’m Aurelie. You may call me Aurie,” she bowed at them. “I’m glad to be of your service.”

“Be of our service? What does she mean by that, Hero?” A man with a mole on the left lower cheek asked the president.

“I hired Aurie to be part of the assisting teams,” Hero explained.

They all nodded at him before looking at Aurelie once again and beginning their introductions.

"I'm Theo, it's nice to meet you…” The youngest-looking member of the group said. ”By the way, the three old-aged men here are Travis, Mavin, and Urvan."

The three men Theo introduced alongside himself glanced at him with a completely betrayed reaction. “What do you mean by old-aged members, huh?”

Aurelie couldn’t help but grin since she can’t allow herself to laugh too much or it might insult them. Hero was also laughing at Theo’s savage description of his co-members.

Theo's vocalization partner, who is wearing a stone-blue colored suit jacket and has a tattoo on his left upper chest, had his turn of introducing himself. "Austin is the name. How are you?"

"I'm good, thank you,” Aurelie replied.

Austin stepped back as he put his hands in both pockets before they all started talking about what Hero had mentioned earlier which is the donation event that will be held the next day.

"I thought you guys had a rehearsal for Soul Pride," Hero suddenly commented.

"Aren't you going to attend the rehearsals with us?" Mavin, the guy who was the first to greet Hero earlier, asked him.

Hero closes his eyes as soon as he realizes what Mavin said. "Of course, I forgot... sorry, I'm getting really old." They laughed at him.

“Um,” Aurelie suddenly hinted at them. “How old are you guys exactly?”

"Take a good guess," said Travis, the man who will get your attention because of his semi-perfect anchor beard that traces the jawline, paired with a mustache.

"I don't think that's a good idea. You might get insulted," she said.

"Why would you get insulted if half of it was true?" Theo exclaimed while turning his head to the three elders.

They all looked at Theo and pulled him towards them and playfully hit him. Seeing this, Aurelie thought these men were really close to each other.

"Alright, guys. You're all grown ups now and stop playing around while Aurie is here," Hero told them.

Aurelie glanced at Hero before shaking her head and her both hands. "No, it's okay. I don't mind seeing them like this. Besides, it's much more ideal to see them somehow comfortable with each other."

"But, what exactly is your guess?" Austin asked her again.

Aurelie stared at them all before trying to give them her honest response. "I think you guys are in the age bracket of thirties."

The men couldn’t resist cheering accompanied by loud laughters because of what Aurelie said about their ages. They were all flattered by her sincere comment.

"I like this one. She's very witty," Mavin told Hero, who was just watching them enjoy Aurelie's company.

Aurelie remained smiling as she watched them before Theo approached her and put his right hand on her left shoulder. 

"Thank you for saying that our age bracket is in the thirties, you made the oldies here hap--"

"Stop telling Aurie we're oldies as if you're not the same age as us!" Travis poked Theo on the arms.

“I am not, really!” Theo glanced at them, then back to Aurelie. “Do you think I am the same age as them?”

“You guys all look alike,” Aurelie teased Theo.

Her statement made everyone laugh again, including Hero. Theo changed his expression into a not impressed one before pouting and walking away from Aurelie who’s laughing with the others. She remained speechless beside Hero who eventually noticed her usual silence.

“Theo is the only member in his thirties, while forty to fifty is the age bracket of the rest of SURPRENANT members,” Hero quietly told Aurelie.

She glanced at him in surprise. "Really? But, you guys don't seem to be at that age."

"She's really adorable. I'm pretty sure 2NDARY members will like her as much as we do," Urvan, the man with a mole on the left lower cheek told Hero.

"Or maybe MORE than we do," Theo added. "Aurie, be careful because 2NDARY likes younger women."

"Oh come on, Theo. Don't scare her like that," Mavin frowned at him.

Hero shook his head after finding their comments ridiculous. "Anyway, we're going to the next destination. We will have our meeting at the PERGYM after an hour. Let's meet there."

He opened the door as Aurelie exited first, then followed by him. “If I don't see your presence in the area, there's no free snacks for all of you. Do you understand?"

"WHAT???" They laughed in response to Hero's threat as he and Aurelie completely left the SRPNT's room.

He closed the door before continuing walking and conversing with Aurelie. "What can you say about SURPRENANT?"

Aurelie took a while before she could give the president her answer. "They seemed to be very professional and being at their age doesn't stop them from being playful which is part of a person's life."

"Theo and Austin were the last members to join SURPRENANT as the main vocalists before I established this company," Hero explained.

"Does that mean one of you and the other three members could be the first vocalist?" Aurelie asked.

Hero smiled. "No. There was someone else."

Aurelie didn't even think of adding additional questions about the group and Hero's past. Sometimes there are pasts that should just be left behind and never to remember.

They quickly and easily reached 2NDARY's room since it was only on the same floor. Just like the SRPNT's room, the next group also has a nameplate near the door. However, before the two could even enter the next room, there were other two women who approached Hero.

The first to talk after approaching the president looked strict and very professional. "Hello, sir. We have collected the complete list of schedules for both XENTRICS and THROBMAKERS. The assigned head managers already checked them, that's why we addressed them to you lastly." 

The other woman who acts bubbly and friendly seemed to be from Japan based on her appearance and the way her fashion style shows. She was also the one that reached out a folder with a few pages of paperworks attached between them to the president.

Hero reached for the folder before looking at it carefully. "Hm. Is this already made final? No more changes."

"Yes, sir. Everything included there was final."

"Alright. Please kindly make sure of them, mostly Sean and Tyler's schedule. I need them for the donation event tomorrow," Hero told them before returning the folder to the bubbly girl.

"Yes, sir." They were about to leave when Hero called for them again.

"Wait a second, ladies," Hero called their attention before resting his right hand on Aurelie's back again.

The two glanced at the president. "Is there something else, sir?" 

"Reiyu and Allie, this is Aurie. Aurie, these are Reiyu and Allie," Hero introduced the three girls to one another.

In conclusion, the bubbly girl is Reiyu while Allie is the professional-looking woman. She didn't even smile at Aurie that much.

"Hi! It's nice to meet you," Reiyu greeted happily. "Are you going to be the next Miya of MBS Asia?" 

Aurelie suddenly frowned in confusion. "Sorry?"

Allie suddenly grabbed Reiyu on her arm while still looking at Aurelie's reaction, making Reiyu suddenly fall silent.

Allie awkwardly chuckled. "Well, that was pretty awkward for Aurie. I'm sorry."

"No, it's fine. I was just shocked by what Reiyu said," Aurelie said kindly.

Reiyu grinned at her awkwardly. "It was nothing! Forget I said something aside from the words hello or hi."

"By the way, I'm Alessia. They call me Allie for short, I am the current assistant of CASANOVA and the temporary assistant of the group THROBMAKERS."

Aurelie suddenly got excited after hearing the group name CASANOVA. That's the group where her ultimate crush, Ryota Morii belongs to.

"It's nice to meet you, Allie..." They shared a handshake.

"And I'm the current assistant of BROS and the temporary assistant of XENTRICS," Reiyu interfered.

Aurelie nodded at them.

"Thank you for your time, Allie and Reiyu." Hero smiled at them before walking away.

"Have a nice day, Aurie." The two ladies said before going on a separate way.

As Hero and Aurelie got closer to the door of 2NDARY's room, she suddenly stopped in her tracks, making him notice her.

"What's wrong, Aurie?" Hero asked her.

Her hands were interlaced as she spoke to him. “I'm just a little curious about what Reiyu said about someone named Miya.”

She immediately noticed Hero’s unusual silence as she looked at him. The way his face expresses is as if there’s something that happened to Miya.

“I don’t mean to be nosy. I just suddenly got curious mostly when Reiyu asked if I was going to be the next Miya,” Aurelie said in a sudden, nervously. “I’m sorry for asking nonsense-”

Hero glanced at her. “No, it’s fine. I think I should at least tell you something about Miya because I am expecting more and more people in this company that will compare you to her.”

Aurelie still doesn’t really understand what’s going on, especially now that she gets involved with someone whom everyone seems to know. Whoever this person is seems to have contributed a lot to MBS Asia before Aurelie even stepped in.

"Miya was MBS's outstanding assistant for 11 years. She was SURPRENANT's first manager slash assistant and she started at the age of 18. Because of that I considered her as one of the MBS pioneers even though she never caught up with the establishment of the company,” Hero explained. "She stopped working as the group's manager in 2001 and we have had no more news from her ever since."

"If that's the case, then why does it seem like instead of others admiring her, it tells me like the way they met Miya was not good at all?" Aurelie asked.

"Whatever great things you have achieved before, in the end it's still your flaws that are even more imprinted and remembered by most of the people who weren't happy with your success," Hero stated.

Aurelie realized his words and quietly agreed on it. 

Hero looked at Aurelie. "Miya managed to handle SURPRENANT and at the same time do her role as the group's main vocalist."

Aurelie was shocked to hear those words come out from the president's mouth. Does that mean the SRPNT's vocalist that Hero had previously mentioned to have joined before Theo and Austin was Miya?