Samari: I’m working on something. If you want, I can send it to you.
She never asked for his time but she knew the things that would put him on the chase for hers. Music was their connection but everything about Samari had Asao wide open. Her energy gave him peace, her music fed his soul, and her body kept him craving.
Asao: You trying to sing for me later?
They reached the door to the conference room and Samari still hadn’t sent a reply so he delivered one last text to make sure she was where he needed her to be later.
Asao: Meet me here at eleven. I have something for you.
He sent the address to Track Killaz and locked his phone, stepping into the conference room behind Niles. By the time their meeting was done, Asao planned to have a guarantee that Samari would be free and clear of any obligations lingering from the contract she’d signed with Cobra.
The device was locked and returned to his pocket so he could focus on the matter at hand.
“See, this is why you never say never.” Cobra sat at the head of the conference table, presenting as the sleazy ass king of his crumbling castle. “You’re in my house at my table to do business.”
Asao schooled his expression, deciding not to give away his true feelings. In reality he could have easily laughed in Cobra’s face because when he and his team were done handling business, Cobra would be exposed and left with what he deserved. Not a damn thing…
“Yeah, I guess shit plays out like that sometimes,” Asao said smoothly as he took the seat furthest from Cobra to ensure he kept his head level. He bypassed having a burner on him for the meeting but his hands were lethal.
Niles snorted and positioned himself between Asao and Cobra, turning his chair to face Cobra.
“Let’s get to it then.” Cobra smiled arrogantly, exposing the confidence he felt from having Niles and Asao at his table.
“Make me an offer.” Asao’s expression remained neutral but his arrogance was loud and weighted. The frown that surfaced on Cobra’s face seconds before he forced a cocky grin was proof he assumed he held all the power.
“You’re in my house. Sounds like you’re the one who needs to be making me an offer.”
Niles smirked but kept quiet, deciding to allow his boy to do his thing.
“Every time I try to give your ass credit for being smarter than you look, you fuck that up. Make me an offer.” Asao repeated himself and leaned back in his chair, posture and mood relaxed. Even though he needed something from Cobra, all the cards remained in his hands.
“You’re having a music festival with no artists. Tickets sold but that doesn’t mean you can pull it off yourself. If that were the case, you wouldn’t be here. Since you’re too arrogant to ask, I’llmake you an offer.” Cobra’s eyes darted to Niles before circling back to Asao. “I’ll give you my top five artists, two songs each. Nefatari will perform a new track but she’ll need to be listed as a headliner and I want fifty percent of ticket sales.”
Asao noticed the unease when neither he nor Niles spoke. Cobra curled his fingers into his palm and shifted in his seat. Seconds later he attempted to camouflage his unease by asserting false bravado. “I’m a busy man, if you’re not here to negotiate you might as well leave.”
After a few more seconds of silent tension, Asao smirked. “We aren’t negotiating a damn thing.”
“Then what are we doing here?”
“You tell me, you requested the meeting.” Niles finally spoke, and when Cobra’s eyes landed on him, they were narrowed and laced with irritation.
“My time is valuable. If you’re here to waste it, you might as well leave.” Cobra tried one last time to assert confidence that didn’t land. He was beginning to wonder if his assumptions had failed him.
Asao released a cocky laugh, shaking his head. “How you think your artists will feel knowing your ego is going to cost them opportunities? I bet this isn’t the first time you’ve fucked them over just to flex your shit. You want your artists on my stage or not?”
The men engaged in a war of wills which Cobra lost. When he refused to respond, Asao stood and motioned to Niles. “We’re out.”
Before Asao could take the first step, Cobra swallowed his pride. Regardless of his ego, the debt hanging over his head humbled him. “Wait…”
Asao angled his head to the side and waited for Cobra to continue.
“I want my artists on stage. I’m willing to negotiate.”
“Aight then, let’s do business.” Asao returned to his seat. “I hand select the artists I’m offering a spot. The artists will receive a flat rate to be paid out of a sponsorship directly to them.”
“That’s not how it works.” Cobra frowned, understanding Asao was attempting to cut him out of the deal.
“That’s the only way it works. The offer is to give them exposure, not give you another way to fuck them over.”
