She smiled, shaking her head. "No."
"Why not?"
"Because I don't feel like it."
"Yes you do. I see it all through your damn body. You want to run your verse about why you feel like fuck love, do me. I want to see how it feels with my verse. There was something missing from this track. I think you can make it right."
He turned and ran it back, watching her as she listened to his verse.
"Play it one more time."
He did and she closed her eyes, listening to his voice and lyrics. When his track ended, she adlibbed a few riffs and ran her verse when the next sequence of bass started.
Niggas got it twisted, love the way they got us misted
All I need is honesty, don’t care much about the money chase
Wish he understood, I’m a hustler so I’m good
Want a man to stand by me, hold me down, love me deep
He’s always moving fast, never seeing what he passed
If he can’t see me, then I say fuck you
Live life to the fullest, life rotates without you
So fuck love, get money, it’s better to be free
When she opened her eyes, he was staring at her, expression hard. She frowned back and he smiled, shaking his head. Asao leaned back, studying her for a minute before he said what was on his mind.
"I knew you had what I needed to make this shit complete. You're on this track."
"What, no. I can't."
With a slow nod, he appeared unbothered. "You can and you will. So if you're saying no because you think that contract means something, fuck that shit. I'ma handle it."
"How?" she questioned, hating how hopeful even a small possibility of getting her life back made her feel.
"Don't worry about all that. You want out?"
She nodded. She did, so fucking bad. She just wanted her life back.
"What are you willing to sacrifice to have control again?"
She didn't have to think about it. The word rushed out.
"Everything."
"Good because that's probably gonna be what it takes," he asserted.
"What do you mean?"
"I have to map this shit out. Can you give me a few days?"
She sputtered a laugh. "If it means I have control of my music again, I'll give you whatever you want."
Something flared in his eyes and he lifted from his chair, crossed the room, and leaned over her. The tips of his fingers brushed down the side of her face then over her lips. Her body trembled from his touch but his words had her shifting.
