“Yea, I thought so too, but I got a fruit basket this morning from the label, thanking me for signing. I didn’t put my signature on shit, so I'm confused. This morning, I called Carla and she said there was a meeting today and told me not to worry, she’d handle it. Of course, I don’t believe her, so I'm here to handle it myself.”
“So, you’re here to start trouble.” Shane paused.
“A little,” Tyler admitted, stepping through the automatic doors. “All depends on what kinda bullshit she up there feeding these people.”
Early that morning when the security guard at the front door notified Tyler that she had a delivery, she told them to allow the driver up. At first, she thought the Edible Arrangement fruit floral was from Dex. Since their fight, he had been keeping his distance, and for that she was thankful. Without Dexter around, Tyler was able to move around in peace. He’d still call and track her location to make sure she wasn’t on no funny shit, but that was it.
When Tyler read the card, it was from the label thanking her for her continued business and partnership. She was surprised to say the least. Tyler knew for a fact that she had told Carla she wanted to go independent, and she thought she had made it clear. Seeing that she was gifted chocolate-covered apple slices, the message hadn’t been communicated properly.
“I wish you would’ve said something. I would have dressed in my hood attire today. You don’t need boardroom Shane, you need stomp a nigga Shane. How am I supposed to do that in these heels?”
Tyler glanced down at Shane’s four-inch slingback heels and then back up at his lightly made-up face. He thought the meeting was friendly, so he was dressed in a pair of white skintight dress pants with a black button-up shirt and a cropped vest. He couldn’t even walk fast in that ensemble, let alone try to fight someone. Tyler couldn’t help but snicker at the thought of his ass hanging out while trying to back her up.
“I don’t even know what would possess you to wear them tight ass pants, and I’m not going to comment on the heels.” Sheglanced down at his feet. “Eh, yes, I am. You wear a size 13 in men's shoes... that’s like a 20 in heels.”
“See, I almost told you to eat my ass.” Shane pointed his long nail at her. “I get my heels custom made and that’s all you need to know.”
???
Oakwood Records was located on the 70thfloor of the GM building in downtown Detroit. Their offices overlooked the entire city, and Darryl wouldn't have it any other way. His rise to fame hadn’t been an easy one and he stepped on many toes to get there. Darryl was notorious for putting his artists in gridlock contracts and using them at his disposal. He gifted them with luxury cars and trucks but kept his name on the lease just in case he had to take it back. Darryl paid for expensive dinners and trips but later found a way to charge his artist. He was all about the money and nothing else mattered. Darryl could take the most non-talented person and make them a star overnight. All he needed was for them to have a little bit of swag. People, songs, and beats could be bought, but swag, you had to be born with it, and authentic swag couldn’t be taught.
“Welcome to Oakwood Records. Can I help you?” The receptionist questioned, not bothering to look up from the TikTok video playing on her phone.
“You know I really can’t stand these Gen Z hoes,” Shane hissed. “Hey.” He reached across the desk and snapped his fingers in her face. “Learn some manners before you find yourself on the outside of this building looking in.”
“Oh my god!” She covered her mouth. “Ty.” Her eyes widened at Tyler standing there. “They told me you would be up here and I didn’t believe them. You’re so pretty and-
“Girl, shut up. All that damn screaming,” Shane snapped, moving around the desk. “You should've been paying attention instead of in here watching people eat crab legs with ya hungry ass. Do better.”
“Be nice.” Tyler poked him in the side. “Excuse him.”
“Excuse me?” Shane held his chest. “She’s the one up here watching food videos like a lil weirdo. They hire anybody around here.”
It didn’t take the duo long to find the boardroom, where everyone was meeting. Since the walls were glass, Tyler's gaze fell on Dexter, who was sitting at the end of the table with Carla to the left of him and Bobbi to the right, who appeared to be taking notes. Knowing her, Bobbi was probably jotting a bunch of unimportant shit down.
Dexter didn’t even tell Tyler he had a meeting at the label, and it now made sense why he stopped sharing his location with her. She wasn’t supposed to know. Darryl sat at the other end of the table along with executives, but they weren’t her concern. The meeting looked important, and Tyler was more interested in why Carla would suggest she didn’t need to be there.
“I think I might need to go grab my gym shoes out of your trunk because what thee fuck is this?” Shane pointed to the boardroom where everyone’s eyes were on Darryl.
“No need.” Tyler pushed her shoulders back. “I got this.” She calmly walked over to the door and pulled it open.
Almost immediately, the talking came to a halt, and all eyes focused on the front of the room. Darryl, for one, looked happyto see her, but Carla’s face held a surprising expression that she tried to hide.
“There she is! The girl of the hour!” Darryl pushed up from his seat. “I thought you had some sort of meeting. Carla said you couldn’t make it.” He moved around the room to embrace her.
Darryl’s pepper-like cologne tickled her nose, and his lingering fingers on her lower back made her cringe. Tyler’s eyes found Dexter’s and he looked away as if he couldn’t sense how uncomfortable she was. As if he was scared to speak up on her behalf. If it had been any other man, Dexter would have caused a scene, but he sat there looking out the window as if he were in deep thought.
“Hey everybody,” Shane spoke, stepping up next to Tyler, who retreated into his side. “D, how you doing?” he purred like Wendy Williams.
“Good.” Darryl pulled at the collar on his shirt, clearly just as uncomfortable as he made Tyler. “We just wrapping up, but if you’re not busy, I’ll catch you up.”
“Do I have anything on the schedule today that I’m not aware of?” Tyler glanced back at Shane.
“Nope,” he answered, twisting his lips. “You’re free as a bird.”
“Ok, cool.” Darryl rubbed his hands together. “Get them a seat. We were just talking about your next album. Carla suggested a joint album with you and Dex. Something like Jay Z and Beyonce, someOn The Runtype shit.”
“Not a joint album.” Shane flat out laughed in their face. “Yall trying to save this man's career by any means necessary.”
