“Yea? And what are you, the welcoming committee?”
“Something like that.” Kas smiled.
“I bet,” she retorted. Turning her attention to Zahra, she held her hand out for a shake. “How rude of me, it’s nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you too, Yanna.”
“I’ve heard some of your music. You have potential. Once you get over that problem with singing through your nose the way you do and your inability to hit high notes, you’ll be a force to be reckoned with. Just remember, the key to great singing is pulling your breath from the diaphragm.”
“What? My singing is nasally?”
“Only all the time. I wouldn’t obsess over it, though.”
“Aye, I’ll get up with you later, Zahra.” Kas interrupted, pulling Yanna away, barely able to contain his laugh. “Why the hell would you tell that girl that?”
“Somebody needed to tell her. How can she get better if she doesn’t know her problem areas?”
“Onyx was going to tell her when they had their meeting with the vocal coach. Yo ass always doing something. My brother is already skeptical about us working here together, and you just proving why he should be. Then gone be looking crazy in the face if he fire yo’ ass.”
“Oh please, Onyx would not fire me.”
“He’d fire the fuck out yo ass without thinking twice about it before he let you start shit in here. Making his artists uncomfortable.”
“That bitch should be uncomfortable calling herself an artist.”
“Cut it out, Jaiyanna. Anyway, how your day been?”
“Your brother has been working me like my name is Kizzie Kente. Look, I broke a nail and everything,” she complained. Holding up her finger so Kas could see her chipped nail. “I need to go to the nail salon.”
“Yea, you need to do something about them feet too.” Kas joked, looking down at Yanna’s exposed toes in her slides.
“Ha ha, nigga you’re not funny. Just for that little joke, you’re paying for my nails.”
“As if I don’t already pay for them anyway.” Pulling her into him, Kas embraced Yanna in a hug. “You looking good as hell today too. Come in one of the empty studio suites with me real quick, let me tell you something.”
“You always trying to tell me something with your dick.”
“I’ll tell you with my mouth too, c’mere.”
“Kas, no, watch out. I’m not even about to play with you in one of those suites to have Onyx on my head. I just want to get my nails done and relax.”
“Want me to pay for nails, but I can’t get no ass. Let me grab my stuff, man. I’m coming,” Kas grumbled before heading to the suite.
Yanna laughed at his dramatics while waiting for him to collect his things. She noticed Zahra glancing at her through one of the huge glass windows. Always on her petty shit, Yanna offered the girl a roguish smirk before waving at her. Adding insult to injury, Kas didn’t even acknowledge her as he exited the suite and rejoined Yanna in the hall. Yanna offered one last taunting smile before she and Kas boarded the elevator hand in hand.
Zahra waited until Kas and Yanna were out of sight before sticking up her middle finger. She wanted Kas badly. She could tell Kas wanted her, and she’d almost had him in her grasps until Yanna walked up. The girl thought she was being funny insultingher singing, but as far as Zahra was concerned, she was just a hater. She couldn’t care less about Yanna. She wanted Kas as much as she wanted a record deal and was determined to get both by any means necessary.
Within thirty minutes, Kas and Yanna were seated in Pedicure chairs inside a Colonial Heights nail salon. Kas never made bones about getting pedicures and manicures because he felt as a man it was important for him to keep himself well groomed. His only caveat was that he didn’t want another man rubbing and massaging his feet. He tried to relax and allow the warm water to relax him, but the noises Yanna was making deemed it hard. Her head was tossed back, and eyes were closed as the small Asian man kneaded her feet in the pedicure tub.
“Why the hell you making all that noise?”
“Because he massaging the shit out my feet.”
“Put ‘em up here and let me do it. I don’t like that shit. Aye bruh, you can stop.” Kas snapped his fingers to get the man’s attention.
Fully understanding what Kas was saying, the man laughed and rubbed her foot harder, prompting Yanna to squirm in her seat.
Smiling up at Yanna, he asked, “That boyfriend? He pay for nails?”
