The news about athletes using enhancement drugs was everywhere, spreading faster than anyone could control. Because the Olympics were only weeks away and every country was holding their trials, the timing of the scandal hit like a nuclear bomb. And the fact that it was America at the center of it?

That was what shook the world the most.

Global broadcasters replayed the headlines every single minute. Countries with strong athletic programs were watching closely. Rival nations were glued to their screens, waiting for names to drop. Some were secretly happy—after all, if top American athletes were disqualified, it gave their own athletes a better shot at medals.

But others were terrified, praying silently that their own athletes had not used the same formula.

Because if the formula had spread internationally…

Then the scandal was no longer America's headache.

It would become a worldwide disaster.

***

Inside USADA headquarters, Thomas had completely transformed.

He wasn't calm.

He wasn't composed.

He wasn't friendly.

He was a man in full war mode.

Everyone under him felt it.

"MOVE!"

"Get those samples to the lab!"

"Run the tests AGAIN!"

"No excuses!"

His voice echoed through the entire building from morning to night.

Thomas didn't sit all day. He walked between offices and labs nonstop, checking reports, questioning technicians, and pushing everyone to work faster. Even the smallest mistake triggered another wave of frustration from him.

His staff ran around with clipboards, laptops, documents, and boxes of evidence. The pressure in the building was thick—nobody even breathed loudly.

Labs across the country were now operating 24/7.

Doctors were exhausted.

Technicians slept on chairs, couches, or on the floor.

Nobody was allowed to go home.

Thomas made sure of that.

"No one leaves until every test is completed," he said. "If a sample exists, test it. If you think an athlete MIGHT have used enhancement two years ago, test them again. ZERO bias. Everybody gets tested—even if they're top athletes. I don't care."

His anger was real, and it wasn't because of publicity.

It was because he was disappointed in himself.

How had something this huge happened under his watch… for four years?

Thomas had already distributed the enhancement formula to every anti-doping lab in America, then sent it to the International Olympic Committee, the World Anti-Doping Agency, and several foreign doping agencies.

His instructions were straightforward:

"Check your athletes too. If this formula appears in their blood, then we have a global problem."

The responses came faster than expected.

And they were bad.

– A sprinter from Europe tested positive.

– A swimmer from Asia had suspicious hormone traces.

– A cyclist's blood pattern matched the formula.

Thomas was furious.

This wasn't a national scandal anymore.

It was international rot.

He pushed harder. More evidence came in every hour. Emails were being drafted and sent to all athletes suspected of using the drug—temporary suspension notices, hearing schedules, and warnings of possible bans.

And on that growing list…

Alex's name appeared.

***

Alex sat in his living room, shaking his leg nonstop as anxiety chewed at him. He had been calling his coach all day, but every call ended the same way.

Voicemail.

Voicemail.

Voicemail.

"Coach, please… just pick up," he muttered.

When his phone dinged again, he glanced down, expecting another news alert.

It wasn't.

It was an email.

From USADA.

His chest tightened instantly.

He hesitated, swallowed, then opened it.

"Dear Mr. Alex Raymond,

You have been flagged for possible use of performance enhancement substances.

Your recent blood analysis aligns with markers connected to current investigations.

You are hereby placed under temporary suspension pending formal review…"

The words stabbed him.

His fingers weakened.

The phone slipped from his hand and hit the couch.

"No… no… this can't be real."

He stood completely still, breath heavy, mind blank.

His throat felt tight.

His chest felt crushed.

"How… why did I let Coach talk me into this…?"

He dragged his hands through his hair, pacing the room, breathing fast. Everything he worked for—his dreams, his hard work—was collapsing right in front of him.

He grabbed his keys.

"If he won't answer… I'll find him myself."

He stormed out of the house. He didn't care how long it took. He wanted answers.

***

Meanwhile, Thomas was preparing the final step. The evidence collected so far was enough to shake the entire sports world.

Too many top athletes had tested positive.

Too many patterns matched.

Too many connections lined up.

It was finally time.

Thomas stood in the middle of the office floor and spoke loudly:

"Get the press ready. We're holding the first briefing."

Reporters had been waiting outside since morning.

Now, they were about to get what they wanted.

Thomas inhaled deeply.

"Tell them," he said to his deputy, "the conference begins in one hour."

The storm was ready to break.

***

Meanwhile, the person behind the domino effect wasn't even bothered.

Dayo was inside JD Label's main studio with all his top executives, going over the performance of his new song.

"So," he asked casually, "what are the numbers and placements?"

The room went silent for a few seconds.

Because how was an artist this calm?

His song blew up everywhere, yet he was relaxed like nothing special happened.

Ever since Dayo returned after his four-year "rest," he hadn't cared about releasing music or chasing charts. He wasn't eager. He wasn't stressed. He was just… calm.

Alice exhaled and finally answered.

"After one week on all platforms, Something to Remember is doing crazy numbers."

She lifted her tablet.

"Spotify – 59.4 million streams

Apple Music – #1 in 48 countries (+12 from yesterday)

YouTube – 45.2 million views (+32.5M in the last three days)

Audiomack – 15.7 million streams (+7.6M)

And it just entered the Billboard Hot 100 at #3, still rising fast."

Even the Billboard charts were calling it "the surprise comeback hit nobody expected."

Dayo nodded with a bright smile. "This is good. So what's the next step to increase streams?"

Valery shrugged. "Well… you're hot right now, so we could host shows or performances, but you already said no to that. And since you didn't let us plan the release, our options are limited."

Everyone on the board nodded.

They knew Dayo kept them in the dark purposely, and none of them could blame him. He was trying to protect them from unnecessary stress. But sometimes, he forgot that they were older and had handled worse before.

Dayo leaned back. "I know it's a bit difficult, but let's go with a music video. That's the best move."

They nodded again—even though they hoped for more explanation. But Dayo stayed quiet. That meant they had no choice but to move forward.

"Well," Alice sighed, "since it's decided, we'll start preparations immediately."

Dayo smiled faintly.

"Good. Looks like my days are about to get busy."

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