“Okay, but…”
“But what? ’Cause the next words out of your mouth better be by the end of the day or I’m gonna owe Raaj for having to replace the carpet in this bitch.”
“I can’t promise the end of the day.”
Asao smirked and stepped back. “Nah you can’t because you don’t own them shits, do you?”
Cobra’s eyes quickly darted toward Raaj before they were back on Asao. He wasn’t crazy enough to think he was safe and prayed Raaj wouldn’t leave him unprotected with a killer.
“Of course I own them.” The words fumbled out of Cobra’s mouth with no confidence.
Raaj moved back to the conference table and pushed the phone across the table so it was within Cobra’s reach.
“Then contact whoever you need to in order to get them delivered. We’ll wait.”
Panic rushed through Cobra which had Asao backing up and dropping back into his seat.
“I’m done playing with this simp ass muthafucker. Handle your shit, Raaj,” Asao stated with irritation.
Raaj returned to his seat as well before he spoke. “You willingly entered into a contract knowing you no longer had ownership of Ms. Sellers’s masters.”
“I own them-—”
“Do you?” Raaj asked, leaning back in his chair. “Because according to this you don’t.” He shuffled through the stack of papers Asao had received from Kolby. Raaj had also reached out to Saxton Legal and requested copies directly from them,which he handed over to Cobra. They had been all too happy to cooperate considering the lawsuit currently pending because Mase Davidson had yet to pay royalties to those who rightly earned them. Anything to get them out of the middle of the situation was an asset.
Another round of sweat misted Cobra’s forehead before he tried to present as unbothered. “This doesn’t mean shit. You never gave me the money, so there’s not a damn thing you can do.”
Raaj smiled arrogantly. “Unfortunately for you, there is. The contract you engaged in is fraudulent. We’re prepared to sue and I’m thinking three point four million sounds like a good number for punitive damages. You good with that, Asao?”
“Nah, I want more. I want the label.”
Raaj glanced at Cobra. “I would advise against that. Taking the label means acquiring debt. One point eight million, to be exact.”
Cobra’s eyes darted between Asao and Raaj as his nostrils flared again. “I’m leaving.”
Asao chuckled and placed his hand over the Glock in front of him. Cobra followed the motion and nervously looked at Raaj.
“What do you want?” Cobra could argue his point but the number they’d handed over was a clear indication that they knew enough to ruin him. His best option was to play ball.
“You currently have twenty-two active contracts with artists under your label. I have drafted contractual release forms which will supersede any contract you have with them currently. The terms not only include their ability to completely walk away from Cobra Records but also guarantees them ownership of their masters.”
“You’re joking, right?” Cobra gritted through a locked jaw, knowing they weren’t. When neither Asao or Raaj spoke, Cobrahad his answer. “I need my attorney. You can’t expect me to sign anything without having it reviewed.”
“You have two options, Mr. Denton. Sign whatever we give you or we take you to court.” Cobra’s eyes immediately went to Asao but Raaj smirked.
“Actual court,” Raaj assured Cobra before standing and reaching for the phone. Once he moved it back to the center of the table ,he pressed the intercom button and a woman’s voice danced around them.
“Yes, sir.”
“Please get Judge Crawford on the line.”
After a moment, she was back. “I have Crawford for you, Mr. Armond.”
“Gary. This is Raaj.”
“Should I be worried?”
Raaj smiled, knowing his friend was expecting the worst. The two had a history of exchanging favors but Raaj always seemed to request the impossible.
