“Sadiq, huh?’ Delightful quirked her eyebrow and watched as her sister’s face screwed up with disdain.
“I’ve told you it’s not like that. He wants nothing to do with me like that. Plus, it violates our contract. He’d be liable for a lawsuit.” The attitude rolling off her was really remarkable. Delightful knew that her sister did not like to be told no and to see her this disdainful was rare because she was rarely thwarted in her endeavors.
“Well, it’s good that the movie is over after the edit this week. Then you can see where it goes,” she said in hopes to assuage her.
“Nope. He’s always with some leggy model or some such and he’s very abrupt with me at times. All business with him. He’s cold and aloof. I think when we met he was just being kind because FADE wanted us on board, but now that’s all changed. We are only colleagues and he has made sure I know it. He ain’t dealing with any little peon director.” She laughed, but Delightful knew her sister and heard the hurt. Something had gone on with them. She’d leave it alone and let her work it out. She had her own issues to contend with.
“How’s your therapy going?”
“Good.” She looked up again at the change of subject. “I’m down to monthly visits now. She’s a wonderful listener.”
“Awesome,” came another voice from the doorway.
“Ohmygod! Miracle, why didn’t you have one of us pick you up?” Delightful rose from her floor sitting and rushed over to hug her youngest sister.
“Umm, because I’m grown and can navigate on my own. I know how to call an Uber.” She pulled away in a huffed, placing her hand on her curvy hips to glare at her sisters. “We’ve had this conversation twenty-six now, twenty-seven times.”
“Okay, okay,” Delightful raised her hands having already lost this argument with her sister several, no, twenty-seven times. She’d let it go for now.
“How’s your advocate?” Lovie-Belle asked, patting the area she’d moved to on the sofa, making room for her sister.
“Fired.” Miracle moved over to the sink and began washing her hands with meticulous precision. After drying them and rooting around for her unscented moisturizer, she came over to her sister and turned her back.
“Why did you fire your advocate?” Delightful kept her voice neutral, trying to keep her concern banked. Her heart was slamming. Every terrible thing that could happen crossed her mind.
“He fell in love and I felt like it was unfair to keep him when there was no hope of me ever being with him.”
“Keep him?” Lovie-Belle clapped her handover her mouth mid-shriek abruptly stopping the deep pressure massage she was giving her sister.
“Girl, you are crazy,” Delightful laughed.
“I’m not crazy, I’m Autistic,” Miracle deadpanned.
“You just broke poor Josh’s, heart,” Lovie-Belle laughed.
“He was a fuck-boi and infatuated. What?” Miracle turned to them as Lovie-Belle fell over and Delightful crumbled to the floor.
“D-did you tell him that?” Delightful asked.
“No, that would be rude. It doesn’t negate that he was one.” Miracle motioned for her sister to get back to the massage.
“Do you want me to do your legs or will that be too much?” Delightful asked, scooting their way, stopping when her sister held up her hand.
“No. I had the Uber to stop two blocks away so I could get my energy out, plus I had my backpack so I got enough input.” She closed her eyes, visibly relaxing under her sister’s touch.
Silence fell in the room as Lovie-Belle attended to her sister for the next few minutes.
“What are you working on Delightful?” she asked when she moved away grabbing the soft blankets on the sofa and pulling them over her.
“The final edits of this screenplay.” She moved back to the laptop on the floor. “It won’t take long and then we can watch movies or whatever you’d like.”
“Okay, but I want pizza for dinner.” She relaxed under the plush blankets. “Turn the air on, please.”
“Okay, I like the way you come here ordering us around,” Lovie-Belle chided but got up and did what she asked, going over to the thermostat moving it to the temperature her sister would find the most comfortable.
“I’m here because you begged me, Lovie. You want me to cheer up Delightful since her heart was broken.” Her eyes were closed, so she didn’t see Delightful’s furrowed glare to her sister.
“Oh, really?” Delightful asked, staring daggers at her other sister. “And what else did she say?”
“Miracle, remember you weren’t supposed to say anything?’ Lovie-Belle rushed in.
“Do you know how ridiculous you sound when you ask me to keep a secret then tell me I need to tell you all everything for my safety?” She sat up, looking between the both of them. “Please be consistent.”
“Okay,” they answered together, gazes hot with anger at each other.
“If you’re going to fight, I won’t stay. We’re supposed to love each other, remember? Delightful, Lovie called because she loves you and was concerned. Lovie, you know I will tell it. How many times has mommy said that?” she smiled hopefully at them.
They shook their heads and gave her a rueful smile.
“Okay, let me get done and we will watch Black Panther.”
“Whoop-whoop!” Miracle cheered at hearing one of her favorite movie, “How about something with Kris Kryrikos?”
“Why am I not surprised?” Lovie-Belle muttered. “You should come to the premiere of the movie, they sent out invitations, and he’s on the list. You know he got his start doing movies with the Al Rasheed brothers.”
“Really?” Miracle eyes lit up. Her sisters smiled, willing to do anything to make her happy. “I will go if Delightful goes. Lovie you’re a butterfly and will be flitting all over the place. Delightful can be my support person. Will you?”
“You know I absolutely will.” Delightful answered, having no intention of going to the premier until that very moment. She didn’t want to mar FADE’s night. She’d not had any contact with him in time she’d left him the suite in Birmingham and she doubted if he ever wanted to see her again. She’d hesitated, though she longed to contact Flower to ask how he was since she knew he’d gone back to New York. She’d stayed off social media, which is why everything Lovie-Belle had said was news to her. She was happy that he was finding his way, even if it was without her. She knew he’d shine without her. He’d already proven that. She had needed to see if she could live her life without her sole motivation — her vendetta. Had she thrived? She’d written two projects and got them both optioned. Her work had not suffered, but her heart was in shreds. She felt hallowed out. Numb. As if part of her had been amputated. Ripped away and cast into the sea. The time they’d spent together ruined her for all others. She saw now that it had not only been Justice’s death that she grieved. Those twelve years she had also missed FADE. She’d just put all her energy in her vendetta and her pursuit of success. Now, after months of therapy, she now realized the truth of what she’d done to them both.
“So FADE broke your heart?” Miracle asked. After they watched both movies and Lovie-Belle was asleep.
“No, it was me who hurt him,” she said to her sister. As she gathered up all the used snack bags and containers and threw them in the trash.
“So what now? Are you going to apologize?” Miracle had come to the counter separating the eat-in kitchen and the living room and cupped her chin in her hand, watching Delightful with steady determination.
“I have and he forgave me but there is a lot I did that is probably not worthy of forgiveness.” Delightful braved through the statement that had been her mantra. She knew what she wanted, but she had no right to demand anything from him. She was doing the work on herself and from Lovie-Belle’s revelations it seemed he had too. And his conclusion must be that he was better off without her. It had been six months. He’d gotten his company back together and his career was back on the upswing. All on hi
s own and there was nothing people loved more than a comeback and he was the guy who had done it. A bootstrapper. The American Dream on steroids. Having her in his life would be nothing but an aggravation he probably didn't need and definitely didn't want.
“Well, if he forgave you maybe y’all can be friends, now?” Delightful knew that her sister could still be innocent about some things, so she said. “You know how Josh didn’t want to be just friends? Well, FADE and I can’t just be friends anymore either.”
“Because you love him with all your heart.” Her eyes were shinning with unshed tears and Delightful could have kicked herself knowing how much empathy her sister had for others.
“Yep,” she deliberately put an upbeat note in her voice. “And that’s okay, Miracle. There are plenty of people I love with all my heart that I don’t get to see all the time. You being one.”
She hugged her.
“Yeah, but FADE is different for you,” her voice sounded so sad, that it took everything for Delightful not to cry because then they be in a bonafide cry-fest and wake Lovie-Belle who had fallen asleep and a six AM call time.
“I promise I’m okay,” she assured her patting her on the back.
“What about FADE?” She whimpered into her shoulder.
“FADE is fine.’
“He can’t be, Delightful. He lost Justice who was his friend soulmate and now you, his love soulmate how can either of you ever be fine?” She then hugged her so hard Delightful could do nothing but try to hold on to the thread of control she had remaining or just crumble.
As darkness surrounded, she looked at her phone. She couldn’t help but stare at the message. She typed her finger on the edge. She knew he maybe was up even at two AM. He was a creative and like her kept late hours.
Delightful: Hey
FADE:…
FADE:…
Delightful: Lovie-Belle asked about the premiere and Miracle wants to go with me as her support person. I didn’t want the night to be awkward for anyone. I wanted to give you a head’s up.
FADE:…
FADE: I’d love to have Miracle there.
Cold-blooded, she thought. Okay, she’d go as Miracle’s support person and stay out of his way. He’d moved on, that was obvious, so she needed to do the same. How she would navigate Ghadi and Flower, she had no idea. She was sure them seeing her with Miracle would be enough to let them know that she was not out for their brother again. She wouldn’t have time anyway because crowds were never Miracle’s strength. They tended to overwhelm her with sensory input. Too many smells, unfamiliar tones of voices and people invading her space. They would probably need to get there early and leave as soon as the film was over to avoid the crush of people. They would probably be nowhere near FADE and his entourage. Which was a good thing since some of the antics of his friends and hangers on would be too much for Miracle and she definitely didn’t want to be around him if he had a date. She’d be crushed. She’d left him, so what could she say? She told him she couldn’t ask him to wait, and why should he?
Lovie-Belle would have told her if he was seeing someone else, yet the premier was a huge deal. She doubted he’d show up with no one on his arm.
Putting the phone away, she snuggled into her covers. Her nose stung. Her heart hurt. She had no one to blame but herself for the love she squandered. Like most nights since she left him, she cried herself to sleep.
Chapter 17
Just Lonely
“Why are you looking at your phone?” FADE tucked his phone in his pocket and turned to his youngest sister, Willow. “Are they ready for me?”
“Almost,” she quirked an eyebrow at him. “Are you seriously not going to tell me?” she huffed. “It better not be one of those side-chicks, video vixens or thots that are always trying to get with you.”
“You are all up in my business, little girl.” He wrinkled his nose at her and stood looking at his reflection in the green room mirror.
“Says the guy who makes me and Flower’s life all his business,” she laughed like ha-ha-ha in his face.
“Not anymore,” he muttered.
“That’s because she won’t tell you. Don’t worry if it was something detrimental she’d have told me and mom and she’s hit her stride now so leave her alone. That beard looks good on you, by the way.” She patted him on his back, but he found no solace in that. He’d been powerless when his sister needed him most, and that did not sit well with him at all.
“A minor change is all it takes to revamp an image or so I’ve been told by Flower.” He peered at his reflection. He looked mature, as if he’d put away childish things. Debonair was what his mother said when she got a look at him. He immediately pushed down the feeling of wanting to know what Delightful thought.
“I still want to know what went down.” He smacked his hand on the counter, causing her to jump.
“And that right there is why you won’t know. You can’t go killing everyone you think has wronged someone you love. Now you have to field some crazy questions today, I hope you’re ready.” She got the lint brush and ran it across his shoulders.
“I have people for that,” he muttered.
“Flower sent me because she and Ghadi have that meeting with the Mc2 people to solidify the deal for the IPO. And it’s not like I had anything else to do, I’m on hiatus.” She reminded him double-checking to make sure everything was nipped and tucked the way he needed it to be.
“I appreciate everything you have sacrificed for us, Willow. I hate that you came off tour with your company to take care of Flower and me.”
“Nonsense. That’s what family does.” She tossed the lint brush on the counter causing a clattering sound and sat in the seat he’d just vacated and started swiveling from side to side. “You want to know something?”
“What?”
“I hated dancing with them. They were too rigid. Too rote. I need more creativity in my life. There are so may companies here. I was their lead dancer. I can dance for any company I choose now that I’ve made a name for myself. I may just stay home til my contract runs out.” She shrugged.
“I thought you were happy with them. You traveled all over the world…” he trailed off at the revelation as she shook her head ‘No’.
“Nope. Nopity, nope, nope. Traveling is awesome but not with that crew. I was over it after the first tour. They were too cut-throat. You think the rap game is vicious just try out for prima ballerina for Swan Lake. Those little ninety-five pounders will cut your throat.” He chuckled watching her imitate slitting her throat.
“Well, I know mom and dad missed you.”
“They miss you now.” She quirked an eyebrow at him. “You haven’t been to Sunday dinner in a while.”
“I’m coming Sunday.”
“Ghadi, said you’d say that.” Again the eyebrow he sighed, and she mocked him.
“You keep that up and I am going to lock you in a trunk,” he threatened.
“There aren’t any here,” she teased.
“It's a tv studio I’m sure they have one somewhere.” He spun her around for emphasis.
“Whee,” she laughed. “Again. Again.”
A knock came at the door. “Five minutes, Mr. Carrington.”
They looked at each other, sheepish expressions spread across their faces.
“So unprofessional,” he chided. “Flower will be livid if she hears about this.”
“Not at you. I was supposed to be the one keeping you in line, remember?” she grumbled. “Give the PA an autograph or something to keep him quiet.”
“This barely registers on their radar. Think of all the people he’s probably caught having sex in here. In that chair, even.”
“Ew,” she squealed and jumped up.
“I’m sure they cleaned it,” He laughed as they headed to the door. “Or wiped it down with a dirty rag.” He winked at her shiver, knowing she was a germaphobe.
“So FADE you have this movie coming out, Just Forever; new artist signing up to you
r label with the IPO back on track. How does it feel your being on the comeback?” Jessica the entrainment reporter cheesed at him with a thousand watt smile. She was a former Miss America, Teen USA or whatever, but he could tell she was thirsting for more. He liked when people were hungry for success it either made them ruthless or reckless sometimes both but you could always use it to your advantage.
“It feels great. I’m always grateful to my fans for believing in me,” he smiled back at her keeping his tone mild. Showing any type of emotion was always a mistake. It was better to seem aloof than to be depicted as a raging maniac. Not that this interview would be anything other than a puff piece. Flower had seen to that.
“Hm,” she kind of tilted her in the manner that every reported did to imitate Barbara Walters before she cut someone’s throat. Reckless it was then. “Your fans seem to still be grumbling about this snitch moniker you’ve embrace. You’ve gone around defending your actions of twelve years ago as if you were some type of folk hero,” she fake chuckled. “They say you broke the code.”
He shrugged, “I don’t know what type of code you are speaking of. My code, my integrity and the way I was raised say take care of your people, help your community and that’s what I have always done and shall continue to do.” He kept his tone low but allowed enough passion to bleed through. He had months of training and had done enough interviews in print, live and online at this point that he could take on all comers.
“Last question.” She paused for dramatic emphasis. “Your former associate, Mr. Giano Savelle…”
Rapper's Delight: The Mogul Series Book One Page 13
