Kier didn’t look at any of them. Instead, he stepped forward, gave the room a quick observation, and spoke. “Nigga’s ain’t hungry! Can’t be.” The music stopped, and bodies started to slowly scatter. “Tell me something. Is this what I pay y’all for? Van, is the edit done on that new club hit, or the underground mixtape?”
“Nah, bro.”
“Ain’t no bro, nigga, we ain’t friends on studio time. Are you working or partying?”
“You got it, Stone, my bad.” Van stood and started gesturing for what appeared to be his party to leave. Apologies piled up as some of the men left, dapping up Kier in the process. Apparently, they weren’t moving fast enough because before long, Kier snapped.
“Aye y’all gotta get the fuck out.”
Immediately, everyone scurried out, all except one woman. Kier’s back was to her as he gathered disinfectant wipes and spray. Kier began wiping down surfaces, and I helped, much to his dismay. He turned on an air purifier and he appeared to somewhat calm down. But I on the other hand was trying to figure out why this lady was still lingering. She stood, leaning against the door frame. I watched her as she watched him.
“Hey, Stone. I see you’re back in town?”
His posture stiffened, immediately signaling my antennas. “What are you doing here?” he asked.
“Working, Stone. Same as you.”
“Nah, your lab is down the hall.”
“You wanna tal-”
“I don’t.” He cut her off before she could finish her question.
“Maybe next time,” she smiled, looking at me but never fully acknowledging me.
The smile was polite enough, but it carried some familiarity that made my instincts sharpen. Whoever she was, she knew Kier well enough to speak to him without hesitation. The real surprise wasn’t that she tried, more so how quickly he shut the door on the conversation.
I assumed she was someone within the industry, but I couldn’t tell. His irritation could have been with her, or with the lack of professionalism in the room. Either way, I’d never seen him fuming this way. But her presence made me feel a way.
He turned an inch toward me. “You straight?”
“Yes, I’m okay.”
Something about the way he handled the room made me relax a little. We walked into the chaos together, and it was clear it wasn’t acceptable to him. I didn’t have to wonder what Kier would do during studio time because it was clear partying wasn’t it. Kier pulled up a chair for me, and I sat down. Then, he pressed a button, and the booth door opened.
Legacee stepped out.
Every nervous thought I’d had about half-naked women evaporated, replaced by something else entirely.
“Hold up,” I breathed. “Wait a minute!
“You know who that is?” Kier asked, glancing at me.
“Don’t let the bougie fool you,” I said, trying to sound casual and failing. “I’m a fan. That’s Legacee.”
“Now how you know this nigga and you ain’t know me?”
Legacee’s attention landed on me, and the smile that spread across his face was charming. “Aye, who this?” He grabbed my hand and kissed it.
“Off limits, nigga. This Sibley,” Kier smirked.
“Nice to meet you. How did my cousin convince you to come to the studio?”
“Cousin?”
“Yeah, the machine behind the man,” he replied.
“Sibley kicking with me for a minute. She is also a marketing strategist.”
