Page 43 of Pretty and Loco

“You can stop looking so nervous, Rock. I’m not going to ask you to stay. I already know the ride home for you is going to be punishment enough. Just don’t beat yourself up too much wondering why you wanted to.”

I chuckled at her arrogance. But I walked out the door and hopped in my truck. She knew what she was talking about. Every part of me wanted to stay except the part of me that had some damn sense.

When I started the engine, Jeezy came over the speaker. This was the one time that Kendrick couldn’t help me. I turned up the music and headed home. This shit with Leah had to be done.

***

It was eight o’clock in the morning, and my phone was ringing nonstop. I figured that it was Leah on her bullshit again. I reached over and silenced it. But it rang again, and this time, I picked it up and looked at the screen. It was from my agent.

“Hello…” I croaked.

“Sanders! Are you out of your fucking mind?” I pulled the phone away from my ear to make sure I was seeing the right name, then asked who the fuck he was talking to.

“Watch your tone,” I warned. I didn’t even know what he was calling me for, but I didn’t like the energy.

“Who the hell pissed in your cereal today?” He snapped.

I used my elbow to sit up against the headboard. I had a decent relationship with him. But I still wouldn’t be disrespected.

“With all due respect, Greg, I don’t know why you’re yelling, and it’s too early. Say what it is that you need to say.”

“Why would you send such a distasteful email to Priscilla? Why do you think she has access to all these arenas? Do you not know her family owns one of the largest brands in the world? They’re our team’s biggest sponsors. They’re cutting ties with you effective immediately. Your ad campaigns are being pulled as we speak. You’re going to owe them millions in advance money.”

“What? What email?” I asked.

I was confused. But hearing that anything was negatively affecting my brand had my full attention.

He scoffed and said in a mocking tone. “You know the one. The contract was predatory at best. Your company has grossly misrepresented the budget with the assumption that athletes can’t read.”

As soon as he said that shit, I knew that it had Leah all over it.

“Look, G. You’ve been my agent for five years. I don’t even do shit like that. I’ll call her. I never sent that email. That’s not me.”

I hung up the phone and went to my contacts. I was hot. But I had to keep it together until I got Priscilla on the line. I never wanted to involve anyone in my personal affairs, but I felt like it was necessary for the moment, so she understood me.

We talked for the better part of thirty minutes, and I apologized to her more times than I could count. When I got off the phone with her, I felt lighter, and we understood each other. She even laughed about the situation toward the end of our conversation.

When the email was forwarded to me, it was even worse than what Greg had told me. At first, I thought that Leah had hacked me, but I couldn’t find any evidence of it. After I looked, I realized that she had created her own email address and pretended to be me.

I called my attorney as I hopped into the truck. I went back to the addresses I'd recently entered and drove to her place. It was a fifteen-minute drive, and I was pissed the whole time as I explained to Jim what had happened, and he told me about the consequences for what she had done.

When I pulled up into her yard, I barely parked before I was out of the truck and banging on the door. I knocked so loud that I could hear it echoing inside the empty living room.

After a minute, I knocked again. This time harder. Then the door swung open.

“Good morning, Sunshine,” she said after clearing her throat.

I could tell that I had just woken her up, but I didn’t give a fuck. I pushed past her, bumping her in the process.

“I didn’t expect such a quick turnaround time.” She joked. But I wasn’t in a playful mood.

“Why the fuck would you email that woman?” I gritted.

“What woman?” She feigned ignorance.

“Leah, cut the bullshit. You canceled the deal with Priscilla. I read the email; everything you said to me last night was right there.”

“When did I have time to send an email? Before or after you had me bent over the bathroom sink?” She reached out and touched my shirt. I slapped her hand.