From A Producer To A Chapter 28 – Danger lurking

Chapter 28: Chapter 28 – Danger lurking

After the Tonight Show performance, the expected happened, it blew up. This was the first ti Dayo and Luna had stood side by side to perform Hall of Fa live, and clips from the night were everywhere. From Twitter to Instagram, TikTok to YouTube, his slick footwork and her effortless control started new waves of trends. Hashtags surged into the millions: #JDxLuna, #HallOfFaAnthem, #WorldCupSoundtrack, #JDxLunaShip.

Within twenty-four hours, the streaming numbers reflected the whole thing

Spotify – 35.3 million streams

Apple Music – #1 in 36 countries

YouTube – 12.7 million views

Hall of Fa climbed to #3 on the Billboard Global 200

Press headlines rolled out one after another, each with its own voice and angle.

Billboard called it "a rare mont where a rookie and a veteran created lightning in a bottle, redefining what a World Cup anthem could sound like on stage.

Vogue: "The Voice. The Vibe. The Victory: Luna’s Powerful Return."

Rolling Stone: "Luna Reinvents Herself — Again — and We’re Here for It."

Pitchfork, usually sharp-tongued, admitted: "The Tonight Show proved JD isn’t a fluke. His presence under pressure, his chemistry with Luna, this wasn’t studio magic. It was real."

While millions praised the vocals and the visuals, others voiced skepticism:

"One viral hit doesn’t make you tiless."

"Dayo’s voice is nice, but wasn’t this mostly Luna’s coback?"

"FIFA’s about hype. Let’s see what he drops next."

New York Tis: "A teor or a Mirage? Dayo’s Rise Sparks Mixed Reactions."

The Guardian: "One-Hit Wonder or a Star? JD’s FIFA Anthem May Be a Fluke."

Los Angeles Tis: "Luna Reinvents Herself.... But Can It Last?"

"JD’s Stardom: Too Fast, Too Loud?"

***

Dayo was asked about the doubts and claims about him being a one-ti wonder during a backstage interview. His response was simple, calm, and clipped in a way that sohow fueled more headlines. "I don’t need everyone to believe in

at once," he said with a shrug. "Ti will prove what hype can’t. So, y’all can wait."

He started to walk away, then paused and added almost casually, "Also, not everyone likes seeing good, if you get." Then he left the set as if the questions had never bothered him.

That line—"not everyone likes seeing good"—was clipped into s, reaction videos, and TikTok edits, and ironically beca another trend under his na.

So critics called him arrogant. Others called him authentic. Whatever the case, the spotlight refused to move. His accounts grew daily. TikTok surged past 2.3 million followers, Instagram surpassed 1.6 million, and even Twitter, notoriously hard to build, broke the 800k mark in just a few days. For soone who had spent most of his ti indoors, the sudden wave of attention was surreal. He often caught himself staring at the numbers on his screen, wondering how the sa quiet producer he used to be had beco this public figure.

Even with all these numbers and trends, Dayo still found it hard to believe he was really popular. Everything felt surreal, as he mostly stayed indoors and rarely went out.

But that changed when he decided to go back ho. He had missed his family, and there was outstanding work to finish. Lois’s album was still in the production stage. With two weeks left before rehearsals for the World Cup opening ceremony, he booked his flight and headed for the airport.

***

In a room heavy with the sll of whiskey and cigarette smoke, Philip sat stiffly at the edge of a leather couch, fingers drumming against his knee. Across from him, in the dim light of the private suite, sat Shane, or at least, that was what he let people call him. Wearing a Sharp suit, a sharper smile, eyes like a scalpel.

"You’re sure he’s leaving London tonight?" Shane asked casually, like they weren’t planning sothing dangerous.

Philip nodded quickly. "Yes. its a direct flight to the U.S., I’ve tracked it. its at Heathrow airport. Tomorrow evening."

Shane leaned back, sipping his drink.

"Good. We’ll move with the crowd and make it clean noise, chaos, but we aim to make it wild so it gets caught on cara. And when people ask what happened..." His grin curled. "...they’ll just say it was overzealous fans who got too close."

Philip frowned. "Fans? And if anyone connects it back—"

"They won’t," Shane interrupted. "That’s why we’re using the crowd. Luna has so... devoted fans, the type who see her as a goddess. They don’t like JD being shipped with her, think he’s not worthy. My people will pose as those fans. Once he sings, people will recognize him, and then we strike. Then we strike while all this happens."

For a mont, Philip just stared, then gave a slow, impressed nod.

"That... actually works. Smart. No one will question it."

Shane’s eyes glinted. "Of course it works. We’re professionals. And the beauty? If soone records it, and i believe they will, it just makes him look like he can’t handle the pressure of the popularity. We destroy his reputation and break him down at the sa ti. Two birds, one stone."

Philip’s throat went dry, but he forced himself to smile. "Alright. Let’s do it."

Shane finished his drink, the ice clinking against the glass.

"Then it’s set. When the caras roll, the world will see chaos. And when he’s back on his knees, you’ll have what you wanted."

As Philip left the suite, excitent and dread twisted together in his chest.

This wasn’t just about sending a ssage anymore. This was war, and he wasn’t done with Dayo. He would make sure that he fanned the whole incident to blow up, and with that in his mind, he made a few calls to so shady people to be on stand by

***

At the airport, JD rolled his suitcase through the terminal, hoodie up. But anonymity never lasted long these days.

"JD!" three young won scread, startling him with a guy at their back.

He turned, blinking, then smiled. Fans. Real fans. Their joy lit sothing in his chest.

"OMG, I can’t believe I’m seeing you today! I’m such a huge fan!"

JD chuckled. "Really? Then it’s my honor to have fans as beautiful as you ladies."

The girls laughed, one teasing, "Ah, you’re such a flirt. Luna was right."

JD only smiled, enjoying the warmth of the mont.

"So where are you all headed?"

"Ho for a short break in the U.S.!" one answered.

"Oh, that’s nice. I’m heading there too, to see my family."

The conversation flowed easily, lighthearted and joyful. But just a short distance away, eyes were already watching. Plans were already in motion.

And JD had no idea that what felt like a sweet encounter would soon switch up to sothing else.