Chapter 26 #2
She was waiting by the elevators when the doors chimed open.
Yasmin stepped out. The moment her eyes landed on Zena, she froze, her face turning bright red. The folders in her arms practically shook.
"Zena," Yasmin stammered, looking everywhere but at Zena's face. "Hey. I... um... about yesterday—"
"Yasmin, stop," Zena interrupted. She took off her sunglasses and looked her in the eyes. "You don't have to say anything. It was a mistake.”
Yasmin swallowed hard, looking around before leaning in. "Zena, I won't say a word to anyone. Especially not Chyna. I swear."
"I don't care what you do, Yasmin. Like I told Dmitri... it never happened. Where is he now?"
"He caught the red eye to LA right after," Yasmin whispered. "He’s gonna be out there for a week handling the promotion run for a new artist. “
"Good." Zena walked past her, stepping directly into the elevator. "Tell the engineering team I need Studio #1 booked for the next seven days”
As the steel doors slid shut, Zena pulled her notebook out from under her arm. She stared at the lyrics she had written about him. Danger wanted her to be his artist.
Fine. She was about to give him the most profitable project of his entire career.
Heather Headley’s “In My Mind” played lowly in the background as Zena stared at pictures of her and Danger. There were three photos on a photo booth strip that had been hanging on her dresser mirror. Danger had his arm slung over her shoulder in most of them as they made funny faces at the camera.
Danger had come out of his shell that day. He was so cozy with her, smiling and laughing. For once, he didn’t seem so stressed by the weight of the label.
After a brutal recording session a few weeks ago, they decided on a whim to see a movie she had been wanting to see.
They spent all day at the theater, people-watching, taking pictures in the photo booth, and sharing popcorn.
Passersby complimented them, saying how beautiful a couple they were, and Danger never once corrected them.
Now, here she was, lying in bed all day, trying to piece together her next move. She was getting tired of the back-and-forth between them.
Out of nowhere, the music cut off. Zena shot up from the mattress with a scowl.
“Enough with the Heather Headley. Turn on the City Girls or somethin’. Fuck that nigga and his wishy-washy ass. There are too many fine niggas out there to be caught up on one.” Amari stood in the doorway, arms crossed.
Zena groaned, pulling the duvet over her head. “Leave me alone!”
Amari marched over and snatched the covers off her, letting them hit the floor. “I’m just gonna have to make you feel better. Get dressed. We’re going out tonight.”
Zena squinted at her phone screen. It was already four o’clock. “Did you even go to work today?”
“Girl, fuck that job. My best friend is about to be rich and famous!” Amari strolled into the hallway bathroom. Zena heard the shower turn on. “Get up!”
Five hours later, Genesis, Amari, and Zena pulled up to Star Lounge. They went straight to the front and were led directly to the VIP section on the third floor, overlooking the crowded dance floor below.
Three men already occupied the booth. The taller, dark-skinned one, flashing gold fronts in his mouth, immediately pulled Amari in for a hug. Genesis took a seat next to the light-skinned guy with the waves.
As Amari introduced everyone, Zena put two and two together.
She narrowed her eyes at her friends. A set-up.
She was supposed to entertain their homeboy while Amari and Genesis booed up all night.
She was gonna kill Amari; she’d rather be at home in bed watching The Wedding Planner or some other hopeless romantic movie.
The brown-skinned friend cutie sitting in the center of the booth caught the look on Zena’s face. He gave her a sympathetic smile and walked out of the section.
Zena shrugged, taking a seat at the edge of the couch. Looking around, she saw Genesis making conversation, and Amari was bent over, shaking her ass on the dark-skinned guy, Quez.
“Would you like something to drink?”
The cutie was back, sliding into the space beside her and shouting over the music. He held a fresh cup in his hand.
Zena shook her head, then turned her attention back toward the crowd of people dancing below.
“No, thank you.”
“I’m Xavier.”
“Zena.”
“You are very beautiful, Zena.”
“Thanks,” Zena said dryly. She had been on enough double dates with Amari over the years to be stuck with the lame ass homeboy looking for a mercy fuck.
“Why are you so stiff, lil’ mama? Loosen up.” Xavier shifted, his broad shoulder bumping playfully into hers.
Zena looked him up and down in annoyance. “Do you just go around putting your hands on people?”
He drew closer this time, and Zena caught the clean scent of peppermint on his breath. “I didn’t put my hands on you. Trust me, when I do put my hands on you, you’ll never want me to stop.”
Zena stared at him for a second, then burst out laughing. “Oh my god. Does that line actually work on anyone?”
Before he could defend himself, the bottle girl strutted into the section carrying a bottle of D’Usse with a huge grin plastered on her face.
Completely ignoring Zena, she stepped right in front of Xavier.
“Um…hi! I’m a huge fan,” the girl gushed. “Could I please get an autograph?”
“Fo sho,” Xavier said smoothly. “Where at?”
He looked around for a napkin, but the girl pulled a Sharpie from her apron, bent over, and exposed her chest in her crop top. “Right here.”
Xavier leaned back and ran his hand down his waves. “Nah. Can you bring back a paper from the bar?”
The bottle girl sucked her teeth and walked away.
Zena raised an eyebrow, suddenly curious. “I see you got fans. Are you a ball player or what?”
“Nah, I’m a singer. Have you ever heard of Legacy?”
Zena covered her mouth with her hand. “Oh my! Wait, I thought Legacy was a group?”
“It is. That’s my producer over there. That’s Millz.” He pointed to the light-skinned dude who was locked in conversation with Genesis.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen your face up close before,” Zena admitted. She was familiar with their work. She enjoyed a few songs from their debut album, but they were still new to the game.
“Ugly nigga problems,” Xavier laughed.
Zena laughed too. One thing she did know was that he was anything but ugly.
With the ice officially broken, Xavier and Zena spent the rest of the night tuned in to each other.
Naturally, music became the center of their conversation.
Their tastes were surprisingly similar, and Zena found herself shocked by how humble and easy to talk to he was.
It felt incredibly refreshing. By the end of the night, when he asked for her number, she typed it into his phone.
“You not gonna block me after this, right?” Xavier asked, locked eyes with her.
“I mean… I might,” Zena shrugged playfully. “You picked Biggie over Pac. That’s a red flag.”
Right then, the DJ slowed it down and started playing Miguel’s “All I Want Is You,”. Xavier didn’t miss a beat. He started singing directly to Zena, his voice smooth and flawless.
Zena felt her cheek grow hot as he gently took her hand in his, continuing the serenade.
Out of the corner of her eyes, Genesis had peeped. She tapped Amari, pulling her out of Quez’s lap so she could see.
Amari grinned. “Yasss! Danger, who?”