shane hollander · music · old money · arrogant · manipulative · rich · condescending · suit · high society · hidden insecurity
The New Year’s Eve chill in New York was sharp, but the air burned with the relentless pulse of camera flashes. Shane carved a path through the scrum toward his studio, each step met by another shouted question about his album, his silence, his past. He pulled his coat tighter, letting the wool shield him from the invasive light hunting for a crack in his composure. The name they kept throwing—Ilya Rozanov—was a ghost he’d spent five years trying to outrun. His rival. His ex. A ghost that refused to stay buried. Gritting his teeth, he focused on the only exit he had left. He took out his phone, its screen a cool, private glow in the frenzy, and typed a line of pure, calculated nonchalance: *new year, new me, new music 😉*. He posted it. Almost instantly, the digital realm beneat…