“Is his name inked on you?’
“Maybe.” Saniya glanced at Asao again then shook her head.
“Okay, I’ll move on. Let’s circle back to your album. It’s titledUnbound, what’s that about?”
“Exactly what it sounds like. I’m giving you all of me, no restrictions. I wasn’t limiting myself or holding back. There’s a story of heartbreak, how I healed, and the reason I was able to heal. I found home in a man who loves me the way I deserve to be loved. It’s also about me having full creative freedom to do what I want, not just with my lyrics but with my sound. There are throwbacks that give you that nineties R&B vibe, the rawness of the street like the track I recorded with Fyre, and ballads that show my range. My goal is for people to feel the music the same way I felt when creating it.
“I love that and mission accomplished. I definitely felt everything with this album.”
“Thank you.”
“Last question, you’re both high profile. Is there any competition between the two of you, and if so, how does that play into navigating your relationship?”
Samari laughed and rolled her eyes. “We’re both in our own lanes. People need to find something safe to do and stay out of our business. I know they talk but it’s crazy because first of all, he ishim…”
“Agreed, but you areher,” Saniya added.
“We are who we are and we embrace our roles. That man celebrates my wins harder than I do because he’s secure enough in himself to let me shine. Nothing I do dims his light. My success is a reflection of how he loves and supports me. My wins allow him to shine brighter. A real man can fall back and still be dominant andpresent. That’s him.”
“Okay, I think that’s it. I have what I need and will work on this tonight. I’ll email the final article for your approval before I send it in.” Saniya ended the recording and began collecting her things. Asao crossed the room and went straight to Samari. He leaned over the back of the sofa and kissed her temple while his hand rested on the side of her neck.
“That almost killed you, didn’t it,” Saniya said with amusement in her tone.
“What do you mean?” Asao asked with a frown.
“Having to share her with me.”
He smiled smugly but didn’t answer the question. “You sending that straight to Mari or to Kolby?”
Saniya grinned as she stood, noticing he’d skipped right past her question but the way he was immediately near Samari after they were done was her answer. “Both, actually. I believe she was copied on the email exchange.”
“Bet.” He tossed his chin.
“Y’all are cute though. Thank you for this and now I have to get home to my man before our daughter empties our bank account.”
“Damn, it’s like that?” Asao smirked in understanding, draping his arm around Samari as they walked Saniya to the door. The same way she could get every penny he owned, there wasn’t a doubt in his mind, if she blessed him with a daughter, his net worth would be shared between the two of them.
“Definitely like that. She asks, he says yes, and the fact that she’s two and knows how to work things in her favor is a whole problem.”
“Aw, but that’s how it’s supposed to be. A daddy’s girl,” Samari said.
“True, but it’s not just her. Our son does the same thing so there’s that.” Saniya rolled her eyes, making Asao laugh.
“Yeah but I bet you do too. My man doesn’t have a prayer in hell with y’all.”
“Nope,” Saniya said with a huge smile. They said their goodbyes then Asao and Samari were chilling in the lounge chair where they spent most of their time.
“You straight with that interview?”
“Yes, I think it was good,” she said, running through the questions asked and how she’d delivered her responses.
“It was you and that’s all that matters,” he said, pulling away from Samari and adjusting so she was on her back and he was hovering over her. When his weight was balanced on one side so he could reach the handle that would lower the back of the lounge chair, Samari narrowed her eyes.
“I can’t see the water,” she complained.
“That’s not required for what I’m about to do.”
“And what’s that?”
