Chapter Text
"How can I get out of my contract Casper? " Carlos paused.
He barely ever complained in his life. Hearing this question from his best friend turned out to be a surprise though. He expected many things from him but not to want to terminate his contract with his record label.
As thoughtful as ever, not ready to jump to conclusions, the Norwegian asked him to elaborate.
"You know with Juanki, things aren't good anymore. I mean it's been a while we've been having creative and business differences but recently I no longer trust him" Carlos avoided his eyes, not willing to give too many details.
Recently, the nature of his relationship with his manager - Juanki - had become a complete mystery, leading to an imminent break up. For once, he wanted to take back control of his life, being his own person at the age of 25.
When he invited his friend for lunch that day, Carlos didn’t think their conversation would lead to such a sensitive topic. It came up unexpectedly. After all, Casper had been his friend for years, knowing almost everything.
"Really ? But you've been with him a big chunk of your life. What happened?" Casper took his friend's hand.
"I don't know actually. Alvaro has been warning me for months but I've decided to ignore this until late December... Before Christmas, we got into a big fight" He admitted.
"A big what ? You sound like you got into a big argument with your partner " Casper tried to joke, feeling Carlos' gaze on him.
"Casp, it's not funny. Okay. He wanted actually more money but my team said no. No further explanation"
Carlos, following his course of actions, held tighter his friend's hand, sensing a familiarity he had forgotten a long time ago when he met Casper for the first time.
"Alright I see... but you know it's not easy to end a contract prematurely. But what you can do now is to call this number my friend" He handed him over a fancy business card.
Considering the card, Carlos nodded.
"Thanks Casp for always being there for me. I still can't believe we decided to never date each other" he said cautiously, knowing where this conversation would end eventually.
"There's a reason. You know that, right ? It's because we were better off as friends. Remember Carlitos" the Norwegian concluded, finishing his food.
The name of Jannik Sinner was written on the back of the small paper. An Italian lawyer familiar with the Spanish legal system. He was among the best in his field and had already won several high-profile cases in his young career. Though Carlos wasn't sold yet to the idea of hiring him. The contact, however, came from his best friend so he knew he could trust the name on the paper. After all, Casper's dad and Jannik's had been knowing each other for a while.
With his manager Juanki, things didn’t go south overnight. It had been a long ongoing process. Their work relationship started well when he was just 18, figuring out the world. Everything was smooth and taken care of. Carlos just needed to blink twice and it was a done deal because Juanki had always his back.
Through the years, Carlos became more and more famous gaining a lot of recognition for his music, attention and overall money. The perfect recipe for fame but the distrust began at this moment with Carlos' entourage.
Carlos Alcaraz was now a household name but with success always came envy.
About a year and a half ago, Juanki altered his behavior without explanation. Everything only went through him from now on, leaving in the dark Carlos' team.
Though Alvaro didn’t like this situation, he didn’t want to be a cause for concern for his own brother. As mature as Carlos was, he couldn't always know all the dangers of the music industry. Still young and naive, learning how life worked, he could be taken advantage of easily.
Alvaro tried to find a way of exposing Juanki's intentions several times. But as a big brother, the most important thing was his brother's happiness. He didn't want to be seen as the one who disrupted his work relationship with his manager. So he decided to disregard the issue for a while.
Unexpectedly one night Alvaro stumbled upon a legal document stating that Juanki would now get 20% out of Carlos' earnings, which was unacceptable indeed.
Not knowing if his little brother was aware, he confronted juanki the next morning. The latter confirmed Carlos' agreement on this, which didn't make sense. Carlos always consulted with his family to get their feedback before any major change.
Several weeks passed and Alvaro put the issue on the back of his mind then.
One day at lunch, Carlos talked about the amendment of the contract and mentioned that Juanki would now get 13%. That was when the issues started from Alvaro's perspectives.
There was a discrepancy. A gap. The legal document stated 20% and Carlos mentioned only 13%. Something didn’t add up in that story for Alvaro.
The whole family couldn't believe it. Carlos had been working so hard to get there and now his manager wanted definitely to take advantage of the situation. They do know Juanki had been doing a tremendous job for years. Though it didn’t explain this sudden grid over their little boy.
Enough. Carlos' father wanted his son to part ways with his current management. 20% was too much for his own standards. But that wasn’t as easy as it looked to leave him.
With the revelation of this gap, Carlos was forced to reconsider his total involvement with Juanki.
The final push came from his own family. Carlos was now clearly ready to leave him and find a new management team. But he had also another issue to deal with beforehand. He wanted to work with a new publicist who could curate his current image with the media to the right crowd. He needed someone experienced and versatile used to work in high-profile pressured environments, knowing also a little bit about fashion.
He didn't want to post a job application. So he just spread the word around and waited for his peers to give him some leads.
Actually there were a few interesting candidates that applied for the job. One of them was Coco Gauff. She was currently working for the biggest Spanish fashion brand Loewe. She needed a new challenge, something more thrilling in sync with her own personality.
When he saw her CV for the first time, he found her pretty but that was beside the point. He was looking for someone professional who could guide him with the media frenzy.
A few days later, he'd have a meeting with her in a cozy café.
Seated around the corner of the place, a young lady entered looking flawless. When he saw her he knew the meeting would be fruitful.
"Hey !" Carlos offered his hand first.
"Hey! I'm Coco. Really nice to meet you"
"Same. Please have a seat.". He gestured.
She brought with her an additional copy of her CV, which impressed him.
"Thanks ! I reviewed your background and you have a great body of work so far. So how's your job at Loewe ?"
"Good. I've learned plenty of things since I left the US but I'm looking for something more... stimulating. You know I am a Miami girl at the end of the day" She joked, trying to slow down her nerves.
"I see. Are you aware of what it's said about me ?" He questioned her, gesturing around.
"Yes, obviously but it's not an issue for me" She clarified, looking unbothered with a cup of tea.
"Good. Good. Alright, so let's get to the point then"
They spent more than 30 minutes talking about her first, and what he expected from the person who would get the job. She was well aware of the huge expectations that were required to work with such a public figure. She wasn't scared though. On the contrary, she always wanted to be in that kind of position.
The music industry had always been a battlefield, confirming the theory of the survival of the fittest.
*
Back to Murcia, Carlos needed to talk to his family. He wanted to get their view on hiring a lawyer to challenge his record label. They were happy about this perspective. Carlos wanted his freedom and was willing to put his words in action.
He needed to expose fully the situation and let them know he also wanted to cut ties with Juanki but it wasn't easy to do so.
One afternoon, they all gathered. They all thought it was a simple meeting but Carlos had a lot to say.
"Thank you all for being here today. The reason of this gathering is because I'm going to cut ties with Juanki. Last time, Alvaro told you about my situation now I have to act".
"After a deep thinking, it's time to go my own way because I'm no longer satisfied with his management and I might hire a lawyer to break my record deal. "
His parents expected this but overall questioned their son.
"I know you all wonder what really happened. It's a long story and I promise I'll explain everything soon but now I just need your point of view"
"We're all ears. What's your plan? Because a lawyer isn't cheap"
"To put pressure publicly on my label and Casper suggested me to hire an Italian lawyer"
"Italian ? Why Carlos ? There's plenty of attorneys in Spain " His father mentioned.
"I know but he's one of the best. And he knows the Spanish legal system though"
Still not fully convinced, his father added " give me his credentials and I'll give you my opinion".
Carlos knew, from that moment, what he had to do. Setting up a meeting with Jannik Sinner to assess his competences.
*
His hands turned out to be moist, gulping his saliva. Even though he researched a lot about the man, he needed to make sure he was qualified for the job. So he called him to assess the situation.
Surely, that wouldn't be Jannik's first famous case. He already handled a case about a record label, not willing to promote their artist, to give them a better platform. He solved it by using all the leverage against the record label. In law, the legal loopholes always mattered more than people think. Indeed, he won the case brillantly by signing a deal with the troublemaker, which was the hotel.
At just 33, Jannik was already established as a future star of law.
Carlos was well aware of his winning abilities but the first call they got didn’t go well. Worse. He wasn't used to speak to someone so cold. Though Jannik was just being professional, stating all the facts about Carlos' case. Still it wasn't easy to hear the truth. That wasn't Jannik's type to lie just to please a potential future client.
After the first exchange, Carlos didn’t want to plan for a new meeting in such a short notice. He simply didn't like the man's attitude. He told his friend who advise him to take his time and assess the situation. Rested. Emotionless but to pay attention whether he was the right fit for him. Casper knew how straightforward Jannik could be sometimes.
The first meeting in real life was cold. Unthinkable for Carlos. When he arrived at Jannik's office, he thought the welcome would be warmer. Instead, he only got a frank handshake without a smile. Jannik was in the middle of a case working on something when Carlos arrived in his building.
"Please, have a seat" he said. "What can I do for you ?" He paused.
"Oh wait ! Where are my manners. Would you like something to drink ?" Baffled, Carlos didn’t say anything. Trying to restart the conversation, Jannik offered his apology.
"Well let's not start on the wrong foot." He rose from his chair and poured some water in a glass, handing it to the singer.
"Please, drink". Carlos coughed, visibly taken aback by Jannik's insistence.
"You'll need it because from what you've told me your case seems dense ".
Ten minutes later, Carlos tried to explain his situation but something seemed off. Perhaps the way the lawyer was looking at him, trying to make sense out of his words.
"Not sure to have understood everything but correct me if I'm wrong. You want to get out of your contract ahead of its end. But you still have to complete one more album, right ?" Carlos aquiesced.
"The main dispute here is first with your manager who didn’t fullfil his duties, and according to you the record label was aware of the mishap. So you've been working with someone that was stealing money from you and your label didn’t do a damn thing".
Shocked by Jannik's language, Carlos just noded.
"Excuse-me for my bad language. You know it's the middle of the afternoon." Jannik explained, rolling up the sleeves of his shirt.
"Let's rewind. Your manager has been stealing money from you with the agreement of your record label, right ? " asked the lawyer.
"Yes" the first words after a while, he said.
"I'm going to make it simple for you. The easiest route is to settle an agreement. The second option, the most difficult one, requires a lot of resources. Are you willing to go to the court ?" He asked.
"How much are we talking about ?" Asked Carlos, visibly anticipating the answer.
"I hope Casper told you about my fees. Cause I'm quite expensive. That's why my best advice for you is to settle an agreement. By the way, you could use your popularity to raise awareness about your label's bad practices to your fans, to the world. You're young, good-looking and people adore you. It's going to be David against Goliath" he summed up, visibly pleased with his comparison.
Stunned, a bit overwhelmed, Carlos gave himself several days to choose the best solution. He knew it wouldn't be easy but he had to make the most sensible choice for his career.
"I have to think... I'll get back to you soon"
"Time is up because I have plenty of clients that want me. So don't take all your time handsome" He winked.
After the meeting, Casper called his friend.
"Hello ! How did it go ?"
"I don't know he seems to know what he's talking about but..." he continued. "I don't like his attitude" Casper broke into smiles.
"Casp I can feel your smile through the phone"
"What ?" He said.
"Stop making fun of me. Your attorney is so weird. I'm kind of uncomfortable. He speaks like he knows every single thing. He needs to be humbled"
"Interesting... that you think so highly of him" Casper smiled, turning around his chair.
" I hope you're joking, right ?"
With a more serious tone, his best friend answered "I'm not actually Carlos. In fact, he's your best choice. Hire him. By the way, you're going to get a discount. Courtesy from Casper Ruud"
"Do you have a deal with him ?"
"Not really but you're my friend and he knows this. I don't want him to charge too much. So please, hire him Carlitos"
They hung up the phone. It seemed like there was no escape from this.
A few days later, he emailed Jannik Sinner letting him know the next step.
*
Two weeks later, Coco got the good news. Carlos Alcaraz hired her. She'd now supervise Carlos' media relationships and also have her say on his outfits.
That was her dream job. She never believed she'd be working for such a massive superstar someday.
The first job she got to do with Carlos was to attend his second meeting with Jannik Sinner.
Evidently, she researched about the guy to get ready just in case. Carlos wanted her to be with him because she was the one who would handle all his media activity against his label record.
When they both arrived in the building, Jannik looked a bit surprised, expecting only Carlos.
"I guess you came with your girlfriend " Coco almost spat out her orange juice. Horrified that he could think such a thing. She wasn't bothered by the thought but the assumption.
"She's not but my publicist. Any problem with that ?" Carlos demanded.
Faking a smile, Jannik declined to answer.
"Please have a sit. We have a lot to do today."
Coco took her notebook and typed everything she could diligently. At some point, she started to feel Jannik's eyes on her. She, then, looked up from her notes and stared at him. If he wanted to play this game, she was one difficult soldier to be beaten.
"Do I have something on my face ?" she asked, pausing.
"No. I mean I'm just observing you"
"Observing me ? About what ?"
"Are you sure, you two... " They both answered at the same time. " No !"
" What's wrong with you ? Are you my attorney or my therapist ?" Carlos raised his voice, visibly disturbed by Jannik's behavior.
"Carlos, this is a sensitive case. And I need to make sure she's not going to impede it."
"She won't and if that can make you feel more comfortable. She signed a non disclosure agreement. Fine ?"
After so much tension, they all took a break. Coco didn’t expect such a first intense day at work. But she got a theory on Jannik's attitude towards Carlos. As he was his boss, she wouldn't say anything but the eyes never lie. When they all returned in his office, Jannik basically explained them the strategy. They outlined every single part of his contract together, trying to find all the legal loopholes to back up their claims. They did all of this for three hours.
When they were aligned on the strategy, the plan would follow suit.
*
After all the meeting with his lawyer, Carlos wanted to fight for his future. Every step was now clearer in his mind. He knew it wouldn't be easy to face such a big record label but he'd had enough.
The first thing he did next morning was to post a statement. Coco spent her night to write it. They wanted to make a big impact by using Jannik's legal terms.
When the news broke, his fans were shocked about the mistreatment their star had endured for more than a year. They wanted to be part of the battle, be vocal about the label's practices.
In just a few days, the record label felt an immense pressure and an urge to respond to the accusations. So they used an old strategy, threatening to reveal something about Carlos' past. A typical PR strategy to bargain with.
But the superstar didn’t back down. On the contrary with the support of his team and family, he lashed out everything against them.
Two weeks later, Carlos' black car pulled up before the entrance of the courthouse. When he left the car, he was welcome by tons of photographers and journalists. At some point, he tried to find his way. Still for a moment on the right side, he saw Juanki for the first time in several weeks.
Since the Christmas holidays, they didn’t have any interactions. A first. His former manager didn’t look bad but thoughtful. The lines and the wrinkles on his face were new. The past few weeks might not have been easy because of the allegations, the singer thought. But he was determined to go though the legal battle.
Jannik, standing before the court house looking at his watch, asked him "Are you really sure ? We can still go back? Maybe it might not..." Carlos confirmed his position, without waiting by leading the path to the court"Yes, let's go Coco !".
The three of them entered the court house together, ready to fight the good fight.