It took everything in Tyler not to join Shane in laughter. If they thought she was about to make a whole album with Dex,they were smoking dope. It was one thing to jump on a song with him or write one for him, but a whole album... nah. That wouldn’t work. Tyler would need to be higher than Bobby Brown to record an entire album and go on tour with Dex.
“I think it’s a great idea.” Dex rubbed his hands together. “Baby, we already vibe in the studio, but an album,” he blew out a breath as if it was the best thing he’d ever heard. “We definitely walking away with a Grammy, shit, maybe two.”
“I’m going independent!” Tyler blurted out, unable to live in the fantasy they were trying to create.
“Hallelujah!” Shane pushed his bag up on his forearm and clapped his hands. “Won’t the good Lord do it!”
“Independent?” Darryl’s eyebrows creased, and his eyes rolled, landing on Carla for answers. “What’s going on?”
“She’s just talking, it’s not serious,” Carla explained with a tight smile on her face. “Tyler just wants to change a few things. Remember, I mentioned last week she wanted to add a few of her own songs to the album. She’s been working with some street producer, so I'm guessing he’s getting in her head.” She dry snitched, causing Dexter to sit up. This was news to him.
“I don’t want to change a few things, I want to changeeverything,” Tyler spoke up. “I will not be signing another contract with Oakwood. I'm not in arrears and I want to keep it that way.”
“Tyler, I already explained that the songs you want to add to your album don’t fit the vibe the label is going for. It’s not on track with your brand,” Carla rebutted.
“No.” Tyler shook her head. “The album the label wants me to make doesn’t fit the brand I'm creating for myself.”
“Ok, now, let’s work through this.” Darryl sat up in his chair. “We’re family and we can make this work.”
“I don’t want to make it work.”
“Tyler,” Carla hissed.
“Is she serious?” Darryl released a cynical laugh. “Carla, what’s going on? I thought you said she was on board. I have the signed contract right here.” He pointed to the folder on the table. “The ink is dry, and unless it was signed in some magical disappearing ink, this is legit.”
“I’m standing right here.” Tyler snapped her fingers, bringing his hard gaze back to her. “You can speak directly to me. I never said I was on board and I damn sure didn’t sign anything.”
“Ty, let me holler at you for a minute.” Dex stood up, finding the voice she thought he had lost.
“You can finish up your meeting. I just wanted to let D know what's going on since my manager is incapable of passing a simple message.”
“Tyler,” Carla warned. “Let’s go talk about this outside.”
“Mm, I’d rather not, and I don’t appreciate you signing my name on anything. That might’ve worked when I was seventeen, but I’m grown enough to sign my own name.”
“Plus, that shit is illegal,” Shane added.
“I’m not understanding what’s going on right now. I thought we were good,” Darryl interjected.
“We were, but lately I feel like something is missing.” Tyler turned to face him. “I want to sing the songs I write without begging to be heard. I need my own identity because I'm drowning trying to keep up with this hot girl image. I’m tiredof being what the label needs me to be. I’ve been so wrapped in everyone’s expectations of me that I’m losing sight of the real me. I’m thankful for everything you’ve done for me, but I’ve completed my end of the deal, and I think it’s time for me to branch off on my own.”
“This is kinda sudden, don’t you think? I mean I have shows and studio sessions in the works. You’re the face of the label, how do you think that’ll make us look? We were just meeting about your next album. I haven’t spent the last few years investing in you for nothing. We’re almost at the peak of your career and you want to back out now?”
“And I understand everything you’re saying, and I’ve followed your lead even when I didn’t want to. I’ve done a lot of things I didn’t want to, but this is for me.”
“Preach!” Shane clapped his hands. “The glow up is personal.”
“I mean come on, you have to give me a chance to fix this,” Darryl groaned, tapping his fingers on the table. “We’ve built a solid foundation here.”
“And that’s on Carla, I made it clear what I wanted. I can’t grow as an artist here. Oakwood has been good to me, but it’s not my forever home.” Tyler stood firm.
“And there’s nothing I can say to talk you out of it?” Darryl peered at her.
“I’m afraid not.”
“Well alright.” He rubbed his jawline before attempting to hug her again. This time Shane wrapped his arm around Tyler’s shoulder, ushering her away from Darryl’s perverted grasp.
“You know what, we do have something to do... celebrate!”
