“W-what do you mean?” She stuttered, letting me know I was on the right track.
“You keep talking about how you can elevate my life, but what do you get out of this?”
“The more attention we get in the media, the more eyes are on us. When brands see you trending, they want to book you to market their products. It’s all about exposure for me. The more my name is mentioned in the media, the better. Right now, the media is portraying us as the new it couple, and I’ve already gotten two magazine spreads and a commercial since we were spotted together in Atlanta. Wig and makeup brands have been reaching out daily to promote their products.
“A few other rappers have reached out for me to be featured in their video because they believe it’ll spark controversy. It’s all about money, love. Your story has captured the attention of millions, and they are rooting for you to have a happy ending. Right now, they believe I am what you need in your life.”
I took in her words, realizing the situation was much deeper than I originally believed. When I first got locked up, social media wasn’t as big as it is now. Now, it seemed as if people were obsessed with it to a disturbing level. All it took was one photo for them to link you to someone and begin planning your future with that person. The shit was weird as hell to me, and no matter how much Fatima tried to convince me it was necessary, I wanted no parts.
“You got it. Like I told you, Golden, I don’t mind the appearances, but I want to make it clear it’s only for the media. I am a single man, and I plan to live like one.”
“You’re free to do whatever you want, as long as you do it respectfully. Don’t get caught tonguing any bitches down in public, because you’ll be on the front page of every blog and labeled a cheater. You don’t want that kind of publicity rightnow.” Golden schooled me. I hated the idea of anyone telling me what to do, but I decided to let her rock for the time being.
“Alright, I’m about to head out of here. You take care.”
I made sure my clothes were in place and stepped out of the room. There were a multitude of thoughts swarming through my head. All I wanted to do was make music and take care of my family, but every day, I realized it would never be that simple.
“Girl, I’m so glad I could get in to see you. I messed around and tried some face wash I saw online, and my skin has been fucked up for weeks. I went to the dermatologist, and they told me the oils in the product clogged my pores. That’s what my ass gets for trying to follow a trend.” My client, Anaya, huffed. I tried to hold in my laughter, but I failed.
“I keep telling y’all about putting everything on your face. If you want to try a new product, you at least have to do a test area. Only put a little bit of the product on a small part of your skin so you can see how it reacts. What works for one person won’t always work for you, because our skin has different needs.”
“I know, girl. You should have seen how bad I cried when I saw how badly my face broke out. I’ll never do it again. The face wash and moisturizer you gave me is the only reason my face looks halfway decent now. I feel like I cheated on my favorite eater and got caught slippin’.”
“Girl, stop. Honestly, finding the right skin care routine takes time. There are a lot of trials and errors. I used to have bad acne in middle school and high school. I tried every product I could find, until I started doing research and decided to make my own. Your skin is gorgeous; you just have to find the combination that works best for you,” I advised.
My clients often asked for advice on products for their skin. Since I had experienced so many different ones over the years, I would share the ones I loved the most.
“What’s been going on with you lately? I was shocked to see your books were closed for two weeks. You never take time off work. I wanted to cry when I saw the grayed-out spots on your booking site.”
“I was spending time with my kids. We went on an impromptu vacation, so I had to close my books and reschedule my appointments. They enjoyed themselves, but I’m actually glad to be back at work.” I left out the part about my famous baby daddy whisking us from state to state so he could perform for a bunch of screaming and crying fans.
The only people who were aware of my situation were Nova and my mother. I wasn’t close to many people, so I kept a lot of my personal life private.
“Aww, I’m happy to hear it. You never take time for yourself, so I hope you were able to relax and reset.”
“Umm, I enjoyed myself. There have been a few changes in our lives, so my schedule will be adjusting for a little while.”
Keynauri sent over his schedule and all the events he wanted us to be present for. I couldn’t say anything negative about him, because ever since he found out about Kiaya and Keyaire, he made sure to be present. Whenever he was out of town, he FaceTimed them multiple times a day. Kiaya was head over heels for her daddy, while Keyaire seemed cool about it. We discussed their feelings about their father entering their lives, and theyboth made it clear they were happy to have him around. Not only did he provide for them, but he also made sure to get to know their individual personalities and interests.
I appreciated the effort he put in because it made things easier on me. We found a nanny for when we traveled, so I was able to sightsee and get some alone time as well. I told Keynauri I could simply send the kids with Lyric and the nanny, but he refused. According to him, they needed me there to maintain consistency in their lives. It sounded like a bunch of bullshit, but I decided to enjoy the free trips.
Things between us had been comfortable, but awkward at the same time. The sexual tension between us was thick, but we both avoided crossing the lines for our own personal reasons.
I heard the bell ring, signaling that someone had walked through the door of my suite. I hadn’t been expecting anyone, so I stepped out of the room to see who was out there. I normally locked my door when I was working with a client, but it must have slipped my mind.
“I have a delivery for Naire James.” I giggled when he butchered my name, but I guess it was to be expected. He wasn’t dressed like a delivery person, which kind of struck me as odd. My eyes were glued to the bouquet of roses. I had never received flowers before, so it took me by surprise.
“Thank you. You can put it on my desk over there.” I pointed over to the little desk that I worked from. My suite was small but perfect for me.
“I have a few other things, but I couldn’t carry them all at once. I’ll be right back,” he informed me. I eyed him curiously, wondering what else he was bringing in. I received my answer five minutes later when he brought in a large gift basket filled with goodies. There were also some individual shopping bags as well.
“What in the world is all of this?” I asked myself.
“You have a good day, ma’am.”
“Wait, let me grab my purse so I can tip you.” I felt bad for him having to make so many trips.
“No need. I’ve been tipped very well. I hope you enjoy your gifts and the rest of your day.”
