My Billionaire Rockstar part 7

This episode whisks listeners away to the glittering skyline of Dubai, where Zack and Serena find themselves navigating a world of unimaginable wealth, towering responsibilities, and growing tensions. The story unfolds as they arrive at a palace that feels more like a futuristic Arabian Nights dream—a place of unparalleled luxury but also an unsettling isolation.

Zack, newly thrust into the empire his father left behind, is burdened by the weight of his inheritance. The once carefree rocker is now consumed with legal battles, board meetings, and the knowledge that his every decision has far-reaching consequences for thousands. Meanwhile, Serena, captivated by the grandeur but wary of its implications, takes on the role of both confidante and anchor, attempting to guide Zack through his inner conflict while grappling with her own place in this new world.

As Serena explores the palace, she stumbles upon clues about the vastness of Zack's father's empire—an octopus with tentacles in geopolitics, clean energy, and power brokering. The enormity of it all is staggering, and yet it’s clear that Zack’s heart remains tethered to his band, the music, and the simpler life they once shared. His reluctance to fully embrace his new role creates an emotional rift that neither luxury nor extravagance can bridge.

Their attempts to find balance lead them to the shimmering lights of The Dubai Mall, a shopping spree that blurs the line between indulgence and escapism. Yet, even surrounded by designer labels and champagne flutes, the questions remain: What does Zack truly want, and can their relationship survive the pull of these two conflicting worlds?

A grand gala dinner at a palace’s courtyard pushes Serena deeper into this glittering yet shadowy realm. Among the diamonds, string quartets, and high-stakes networking, a mysterious woman warns her: “Be careful. These walls have eyes and ears.” The cryptic caution adds a layer of intrigue to an already fraught evening, leaving Serena questioning the motives of those around them.

Amidst the opulence, Zack and Serena’s relationship reaches a critical turning point. Zack’s inner turmoil spills over as he debates abandoning his band to fully shoulder the empire's demands, a decision that Serena warns could betray not just his fans but his identity. Their shared moments—be it a vulnerable kiss, a tense dance floor confession, or a quiet toast to "unknown futures"—highlight the precariousness of their love in this labyrinth of excess and expectation.

The episode ends with Zack vowing to find a way to reconcile his two lives, even as Serena remains haunted by the whispered warning at the gala. The tension between personal dreams and inherited obligations sets the stage for what’s to come. Will Zack and Serena find their footing in this gilded cage, or are they destined to fall?

Chapters

• 0:00 Dubai
• 6:21 Two Worlds
• 11:34 Shopping
• 17:16 Crossroads
• 22:08 Warning

Transcript

Y’all, let me just say this: arriving in Dubai was like stepping into another universe. One minute I was in a helicopter, staring at the skyline, and the next, I was being chauffeured in a black Mercedes SUV through streets that look like they were paved with ambition and a whole lot of money. And that was just the appetizer for what was coming.

When Zack and I pulled up to this palace—the kind of place you only see in movies about oil tycoons—I thought, Okay, this is insane. I mean, Moorish arches mixed with sleek, modern minimalism? Chandeliers that sparkle like a disco ball made out of diamonds? Every single inch of this place screamed “money,” but it also whispered, “Watch your back.” You know what I mean?

Anyway, Zack barely had time to show me around before he got pulled into some lawyer meeting. “The responsibilities of being a billionaire,” he said, all serious-like, before vanishing into some massive office. And just like that, I was left wandering this palace alone.

And y’all, this wasn’t your run-of-the-mill mansion with a couple of fancy rooms. No, this place had everything. Indoor pools, walls that turned into TVs with a flick of your hand, and even a mini-theater. It was like living inside a James Bond movie, except instead of gadgets and car chases, it was me wondering if Zack was going to make it through this alive—or at least with his sanity intact.

When Zack came back later that night, I could tell the day had chewed him up and spit him out. He poured himself a drink, hands shaking just enough for me to notice. I asked him if he wanted to talk about it, but all I got was a “not now.” Classic Zack, keeping it all bottled up like some kind of emotional soda can about to explode.

So, while he retreated to wherever billionaires go to brood, I started digging around. Not in a sneaky way—okay, maybe a little sneaky—but I had to know more about this empire he’d inherited. I found his dad’s study, which was like the brain of the whole operation. Books on geopolitics, energy resources, and patents for things I couldn’t even pronounce. His dad wasn’t just rich; he was powerful. Like, change-the-world kind of powerful.

It hit me then: Zack wasn’t just dealing with money. He was dealing with a legacy that came with strings attached—strings so thick, they might as well have been ropes.

Later that night, Zack texted me to meet him on the rooftop. And let me tell you, standing under the stars in Dubai with the city glittering below us? It was chef’s kiss magical. But Zack? He wasn’t looking at the view. He was looking at me, and I could see the storm brewing behind those eyes of his.

“I don’t know if I can do this,” he admitted, his voice so quiet I almost didn’t hear it over the wind. And y’all, my heart just broke for him. Here was a guy who was already so used to carrying the weight of the world, and now it felt like someone had dumped a whole extra planet on his shoulders.

I told him what I thought—because let’s be real, I’m not one to hold back. I said, “Zack, it’s your life. At the end of the day, you need to do what makes you happy. Screw what anyone else thinks.”

The next day, he tried to lighten the mood by taking me shopping. And when I say “shopping,” I mean he dropped me into the Dubai Mall, handed me a glass of champagne, and said, “Go wild.” I’ve never felt so out of place and fabulous at the same time. Louis Vuitton, Armani, Versace—you name it, we hit it. I even snagged an LV bag that probably cost more than my car back home.

But y’all, even surrounded by all that luxury, I could see the cracks. Zack was trying to distract himself, but the weight of everything was still there. It was in the way he’d zone out mid-conversation, or glance at his phone like it was a ticking time bomb.

The gala that night was another level of over-the-top. Picture this: silk-draped archways, politicians and billionaires sipping champagne under chandeliers bigger than my first apartment, and a string quartet playing music so pretty it almost made me cry.

I was all dolled up in Vera Wang, and Zack looked like a movie star in his Tom Ford tux. But even in all that glamour, there was this undercurrent of tension, like everyone in the room was playing some high-stakes game I didn’t understand.

And then it happened. This stunning woman—Aisha, the wife of some big-deal sheikh—approached me. She was polite, but her eyes? They held this sharpness, like she could see right through me. She leaned in and whispered, “Be careful, dear. These walls have eyes and ears, and not everyone wishes you well.”

Let me tell you, that sent a chill down my spine. I’d been feeling out of my depth before, but now? It was like someone turned on a spotlight and I realized just how many shadows were lurking in this world.

When I told Zack about it later, he brushed it off, saying, “People love to make things sound more dramatic than they are.” But I could tell it rattled him.

And then there was this moment—just the two of us, sitting on the sofa back at the palace. He was talking about the band, the tour, the empire, and how torn he felt. And I told him, straight up: “Zack, you don’t have to choose. You just have to figure out what makes you happy and stick with it. But you can’t keep everyone waiting while you figure it out.”

He looked at me like I’d just handed him the answer to the universe, but I know it’s not that simple. Nothing about this is.

So yeah, that’s where we’re at: Zack’s stuck between two worlds, I’m trying to keep him sane, and we’re both trying not to drown in all this gold-plated chaos. Dubai might be a dream for some people, but for us? It’s starting to feel like a very shiny cage.