Sully grinned through a cloud of cigar smoke. "I think he’d be pleased to meet you now."
Elias leaned into the rhythm, his right hand mimicking the iconic piano pulse. As he hit the bridge, the shift to the felt like a jolt of electricity—the moment the mask slips. He could almost hear the phantom "woo-woo" vocals bouncing off the soundproof foam.
"It’s not just about the notes," his mentor, an old session player named Sully, grumbled from the corner. "It’s the swagger. You’re introducing a gentleman of wealth and taste, kid. Act like it."
By the time he reached the solo, Elias wasn't thinking about finger placements or theory. He was lost in the hypnotic, circular progression. The chords weren't just a skeleton for the lyrics; they were the heartbeat of a timeless, dangerous charisma. He finished with a final, ringing E, the feedback humming like a lingering presence in the room.
Elias struck the first chord: . It rang out bright and commanding, a royal entrance. But as he transitioned into the D Major , the tone shifted. It felt restless, like a secret whispered in a crowded room. Then came the A Major , grounding the melody just for a heartbeat, before sliding right back to that dominant E .
