Every person in the club turned her way, looking at her with judgment. Speculation filled the air.
Demi snatched the microphone from his son’s hands and grabbed his elbow sternly as he escorted him out a side door.
“I… I didn’t…it wasn’t…”
Day came to her rescue. “No comment,” he said before pulling her into the VIP room.
As soon as Charlie saw DJ sitting on the velvet couch inside, she rushed over to him.
“Why would you say that? I’ve been nothing but nice to you! Why would you tell everyone that?!” Charlie was screaming and crying and pointing her finger as she chastised him.
Demi stood and intercepted Charlie. “Chill, Bird. I know it’s bad, but I need you to calm down.”
“Calm down?!” Charlie shouted. “Your son is out of line! His spoiled-ass is sitting over there listening to his mama bad-mouth me!”
“Bird, stop,” Demi said, trying to mitigate the situation. “I’m going to talk to him.”
“Talk to him? He needs his little ass whooped!” Charlie shouted. “My album release is ruined. Nobody’s going to hear the music now. They won’t even care about it. All they’ll see is the girl who slept with the head of the label and broke up his marriage.”
“You’re out of fucking line, Bird. Lower your voice when talking to my son.” Demi was stoic but his tone was deadly and Charlie recoiled in offense. “He’s a kid, Bird. He made a mistake.”
“He made a choice, Demi. He got on the mic and embarrassed me,” Charlie whispered in disbelief. “He’s never going to like me. His mom has programmed him to hate me.”
DJ sat with his head down, and Demi turned to look at him.
“He’s just a kid, Bird,” Demi said. “You need to check yourself. He’s telling his perspective. It’s his truth. Divorce hurts. That’s on me to fix. I’ma fix it, but you can’t blame him for the feelings adults put on him. Take it out on me. It’s on me.”
Day stood by the door silently, finessing his chin as he gave Demi room to address his family.
“This is bad,” Day said, finally interrupting. “Every piece of media in that room has already reported the headline on their social media.”
“Fix it,” Demi ordered.
Day nodded, eyes on his phone, his annoyance on high as he stabbed letters onto his text thread as he tried to do damage control. “I’ma try. Side chicks don’t get the most grace these days. I’ll bring in the PR team.”
Side chicks,Charlie thought, scoffing. Even with a ring on her finger, she would always be a part of the side chick club.
“Now the whole world will be praying on my downfall,” Charlie whispered, eyes brimming with tears. “Take me home, please.”
Her reputation and release were ruined, and there was nothing anyone could do about it.
Chapter 9
Stassi sat in the backseat of the car with her mouth agape as she watched the video in disbelief. It had already hit TheShade Room,and she was so shocked she didn’t know what to say.
This bad-ass fucking kid,she thought. She called Charlie instantly but wasn’t surprised when she was sent to voicemail. Instead, she sent a text.
Stassi
I fight kids too, sis. Text me if you need me. I love you.
Her phone buzzed in her hand. When she unlocked the screen, she invited those butterflies right back into her stomach. Day had messaged her.
Day
Come have a drink with me. Just say yes. The driver knows where.
Stassi hesitated in responding. She began typing then erased it, but she lifted her eyes to the front of the car.
