“What do you mean?”
“You’re out here making love affirmations. You know who’s pushing your sales, Sao. Women. You think they’re gonna fuck with you now that hope no longer exists.” Niles turned to Asao but Asao kept his eyes on the topic of their discussion. The smirk that surfaced, however, let Niles know Asao had heard him loud and clear.
“I can’t do shit about that.”
“Yeah, muthafucker, you can.” Niles’s smile was smug. “Don’t share your personal shit.”
It was pointless. His boy no longer had control of his emotions. His heart was committed to the woman onstage and there was no argument to be had.
“That’s me,” Asao motioned toward Samari. As soon as the affirmation left his mouth, Samari sang the lyrics in her song “Let Me” that confirmed the sentiment was shared.
Let him be my everything,
I trust him, I need him, I want him, I breathe him…
Let him handle me, protect me, please me
I see him, bleed him, I’m free with him
Niles grunted. “Let’s go. I’m not fucking up the media rotation. The only way I got Beauty to agree to an open invitation for all our artists was an exclusive with you.”
Asao frowned. “Why the fuck you do that?”
“Because we need exposure and reach. She’s the biggest reach we have access to right now who will even touch our artists before they gain any type of following. That’s your shit…” He pointed to the stage, motioning to the idea of Asao performing. “Business is mine, now let’s go. Ten minutes. She has twenty left on stage. We’ll be back before she’s done.”
Asao wanted to watch the rest of Samari’s set, but had already asked a lot of his boys. They never questioned his moves, so he would pay the same respect.
“Who’s going to make sure…”
Niles cut that statement off, pointing to the corner where security was positioned. Niles had hired them to shadow Samari when he or Asao couldn’t. “She’s covered.”
Asao tossed his chin, and walked away with his boy. His goal was to move through the interview with Beauty as fast as possible then be the first face Samari saw when she stepped offstage.
Samari heldthe crowd until the very last minute of her set, and when she waved to say goodbye, her heart was full. The minute Sheree noticed her girl’s disappointment at who was missing after her performance, she quickly remedied the situation. She filled Samari in with details that Niles had dragged Asao off to do a media run, starting with Beauty.
Samari relaxed and grinned, knowing Beauty had gotten her way. Niles had gone over the schedule, putting emphasis on being where they needed to be at all times. Apparently Asao wasn’t exempt but she’d learned that their dynamic when itcame to friendship and business differed greatly. Niles didn’t fucking play.
Sheree threw her arms around her girl as soon as she made it side stage. Ju’rae had already dipped off to check in with Sol. She had been blessed with the opportunity of styling him for the festival. Asao had set it up a few days prior, and when he asked if she could come up with options last minute, her only response had been hell yeah, even if it meant no sleep and using every favor and resource she had in her possession to get it done.
The women were escorted through the crowd by two linebacker built security guards, causing everyone to move out of their path.
“Mari, that was so damn good.” Sheree looped her arm through Samari’s and leaned into her side.
“I can’t believe that just happened.” A smile blossomed on Samari’s face and she dropped her head to Sheree’s shoulder.
“Believe it, friend. They love you real bad because you are the muthafuckin’ truth.”
“I am the truth.”
“Ay, that’s what I’m talking about. Pop. Your. Shit. Mari.”
Sheree paused and began dancing around her girl, shaking her ass. Samari joined in, both bending at the waist, locking their legs, and throwing their asses against each other before falling into a fit of laughter.
“Real shit though, Mari, I’m so happy for you. I’m proud too because you could have easily let that snake ass man break you and keep you from all this.”
He did, Samari thought before it was replaced with a thought that put a smile on her face. The man who’d placed her heart back in her chest.
Asao…
