"You don't want to kill your fans' hopes, do you? If you go out there and say you're done permanently, you're only going to invite more scrutiny. I'm trying to help you protect everything you've worked for. Trust me, when have I ever steered you wrong?" he asked.
I looked from him back to Solana. She was still locked in on him, unmoved.
"You don't get to speak for me anymore. I'll handle this the way I see fit."
Before Henderson could get another word out, there was a knock at the door.
"Come in," Solana called.
The guy from earlier stood in the doorway with his clipboard. "It's time."
Solana smiled, walked over to me, and leaned down to kiss me a few times before following him out. I settled back into the couch and kept my eyes on the television. Henderson remained in the room, and an immediate silence dropped between us.
I could tell he had more to say by the way he started pacing.
"You know all that pacing isn't going to change a single thing she does in front of those cameras, right?" I said.
He stopped and looked me up and down with barely concealed disgust.
"How can you claim to love her and just let her throw everything away? Let me guess, you're the kind of man whose ego can't handle a successful woman, so you let her give it all up for you."
I rubbed my hands together and chuckled, then glanced around the room.
"This is what you define as success? That's clear. But she's already been successful to me. She doesn't need thousands of people fawning over her, millions sitting in an account, or a manager who thinks he knows her better than she knows herself. Solana's heart, her generosity, her loyalty, that's what makes her successful. But honestly, the only opinion that matters here is hers. And trust me, this isn't her definition of success anymore."
Before he could respond, the crowd on the television erupted at the sight of Solana walking out onto the stage. She had thekind of presence that made a room catch its breath. The kind that made you want to hold still and just take it in.
She waved and smiled before taking her seat on the cream loveseat across from the host.
"Damn right," I said quietly to nobody in particular.
The host leaned forward with a wide smile. "First, welcome. I am so excited to have you here. Can I just say you look absolutely beautiful and this new look is everything."
Solana smiled and reached up briefly to touch her curls before dropping her hands back into her lap.
"Thank you so much. And thank you for having me. I couldn't think of a better place for my first television appearance in almost a year."
Sweets was a natural. I locked in on every word.
"That brings me right to my first question. The industry can be overwhelming, and how we handle the hard days says a lot about where we are mentally. When you made the decision to step away from the spotlight, what was going through your mind?"
The studio seemed to hold its breath. Everyone in that audience was waiting on an answer they felt they were owed. I found myself leaning forward without realizing it.
I already knew why. But I wanted to hear how she would say it.
I replayedher question over in my head once more before smiling.
"We just jumped right on in there, huh."
Simone chuckled and glanced out at the crowd, who laughed right along with her.
I cupped my hands in my lap and released a breath.
"Honestly, that I wanted to live. We see it too many times where celebrities lose their lives to some of the very things I've experienced. I was not going to allow myself to become another one of those stories," I answered confidently.
Simone moved to the next card in her hand and nodded.
"You're absolutely right. Certain levels of stardom can really bring out the darkness, especially when you're known as a sex symbol. Do you think that played a part in some of what you experienced?" she asked.
