Page 105 of Are You Going to Love Me

He had Keon and Maximus’ attention.

“When a label goes down and the board members jump ship, masters are returned to the artists. With Mama and Anzel out the way, you can really do some big shit. Your own shit. Trae Way shit. You show these niggas how to bet on themselves and win. I’m just sayin’, it might just play out in your favor,” Brody shared.

“And the whole time I thought you was going to be a clown ass nigga I was going to have to check,” Keon rumbled. “Whole time you got some fuckin’ sense.”

“I’m just saying, everything always works out when you do good. You do good, nigga, even when niggas try taking you out. Solid people like you rarely lose. So, Staysha and Keon are right. Keep moving like you don’t know shit. Keep climbing that fuckin’ mountain.”

“And what about Eden in all of this? This shit can’t touch her,” Maximus stated.

“It won’t. At least to the best of our ability. But it’s their mother, we can only block that so much.” Keon blew the smoke from his nostrils. “If anything, when it all falls down, they might get what’s owed to them.”

Maximus raised a brow. “After the feds run through that bitch?”

“Peace of mind. She never told you about those last weeks?”

Maximus shook his head in response to Keon’s question. “Nah.”

“She will. Poppi’s girls been living with broken hearts for a long time. Maybe it’s time for that shit to be mended.”

thirty-five

. . .

Eleven o’clock on the dot,the shoot wrapped, and the platinum joyride was parked on the curb of the gallery, awaiting Eden. Maximus had texted her throughout the night, but with the hustle and bustle of shots, she was unable to reply. According to his texts, he had her food on standby and a few tracks for her to listen to.

She was equally excited about both, but she found herself more excited about being in his presence again. Be it watching movies, listening to him breathe, or having him close enough to feel warmth, she needed it. He claimed that she weaved herself into his side, but Maximus was coming after her heart, and no matter what she did to deflect the deed being taken out on it, he was going to be the owner. Hell, he could already command her body with the glint of his eyes or the mere touch of her skin.

Inside the JoyRide, she texted him OTW and then checked her made-up face in the front camera of her phone. A half an hour ride to the studio and she was trekking through the congested area of the lobby and Studio A. Studio A was reserved for the label’s biggest artist – Pusha Peezy. A mumble rapper who popped Percs, drank lean, and poisoned the minds of kids with his lyrics. Glorifying drug use and collecting bad bitches, all while collecting and flashing money he made by pandering. In Eden’s opinion, he was trash and didn’t deserve his platform or Studio A.

“Ay chocolate,” slurred from a nearby man as she attempted to weave in and out of the thickness of people.

She attempted to skirt by until he caught her by the arm. “Bitch, I’m talking to you.”

Pusha Peezy’s hand was wrapped around her arm. The liquor oozed out of his pores, layering over the staleness of his cologne. Eden curled her lip as she studied his glossy eyes and dirty nails. Unkempt, unclean, and had the audacity to step to her.

She yanked away from him. “Nigga, get the fuck off me.”

She didn’t feel the need to get loud. The only person that had ever made her raise her voice in anger was her mother, and Maximus in the throes of passion. Peezy and his dirty hands and funky grill didn’t deserve a large reaction from her.

She maneuvered through the remainder of the crowd, landing her at Studio B, where Maximus was actively working. Sliding inside, she spotted him in the booth, Brody seated in the corner, and Keon on the couch.

Keon threw her a head nod along with Brody. Maximus looked up from his phone, stopped his adlibs to ask, “Why didn’t you tell me you were here?”

Eden winced. “Sorry.”

“Them niggas fuck with you?” he asked, pointing toward the door. His eyes watching intently as she grabbed the hand sanitizer off the counter and vigorously rubbed it on her hands.

“I’m good. Keep doing your thing,” she shared, taking a seat on the other end of the couch.

Maximus studied her through the thick glass. “You sure?”

“Positive,” she smiled. “I’m fine.”

The music started again, and Maximus picked up where he left off. Everyone was so caught up in the way he flowed that the door opening and closing didn’t interrupt the experience. But Brody was on high alert. Even in his seated position, he leaned up and watched Pusha Peezy stand by Eden and bop his head.

“Ahh, that’s the type of shit you like? Snitchin’ niggas. Word is he told on his set to get that time cut down,” Pusha Peezy muttered. “Nigga ain’t never caught a body for real.”

Eden chose to ignore him and attempted to ignore the stench associated with him.

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