Chapter Seven #3
“Look, just sign the contract and I’ll have Darryl send you on a month-long retreat,” Carla bargained, still not getting the point.
“I’m still not signing the fucking contract,” Tyler reiterated. “I believe that I can still make a good living without being under Oakwood's thumb. Why is that such a problem?”
“You want to blow up your life, then go right ahead. There’s a meeting at the label next week and I’ll let Darryl know you’re done.” Carla blew out a breath, tired of going back and forth with a brick wall.
“Thank you.”
“I still think it’s stupid.”
“Good thing it’s not your decision, huh?” Tyler smiled. “And since I stress you out so much, you’re free to go find another client.”
“Are you trying to fire me?” Carla's uneven eyebrows met in the middle of her forehead. They both knew Carla wasn’t capable of working with another artist. No one else would deal with her bullshit.
“If you’re not going to do what’s in my best interest, then you are free to move around.”
“I’ve always made decisions that were in your best interest.”
The lie that rolled off her tongue made both women's jaws clench. Carla was selfish and everything she did had a motive. Taking Tyler in was to fatten her pockets, just like throwing her into the lion’s den with Oakwood was to secure her own future, and they both knew it.
“Whatever. I actually came by to give you this.” Carla dug in her purse and handed her an envelope. “Rahlo is having a listening party, and he invited you and Dex.”
“When is it?”
“Tonight.”
“Why so last-minute?”
“I know his manager Terri, and when he mentioned it, I asked him for an invite.” Carla stretched the truth.
She actually saw a post on Instagram about the party and jumped in Terri’s DM.
At first, he told her the guest list was full.
Dexter’s personality didn’t always mix well with others, and Terri was familiar with his and Tyler’s public disputes.
Carla was pissed, but at the very last minute, a couple of people informed Terri that they couldn’t attend, so he doubled back and sent Carla the information, warning her that if Dexter started some shit he’d never receive another invite.
“You don’t ask for an invite, sounds like this was a pity offer, and I’m straight.”
“Oh girl, climb off the fucking high horse and go to the damn party. If not for you, then for Dex. He needs the exposure. I told Bobbi to tell him, but you know how dense your cousin can be.”
“Why would you tell her to tell him?” Tyler squinted.
“I asked him to give her a trial run as an assistant.”
“That’s a recipe for disaster, but whatever.”
“Do you need anything?” Carla asked, heading to the door. “I have some-”
“I don’t need anything and stop offering me pills like I'm a freaking crackhead!”
For Tyler’s 18th birthday, Darryl decided to throw her a big pool bash at a mansion he rented out for the weekend.
Not only was it her birthday, but Tyler signed a five-album contract with the label, earning the top spot as the R&B princess of Detroit.
Since signing, Tyler’s name rung bells around the Midwest. Everybody wanted a piece of her, but the price tag Darryl attached to her name came with stipulations that most weren’t willing to abide by.
After finding out she wrote her own music, Darryl knew that Dexter stumbled upon a goldmine.
Tyler wasn’t just a singer, she was a songwriter, a freestyle genius, and a visionary.
Her talents went beyond what Dexter saw, and for that reason, Darryl made it a point to handle Tyler’s career himself.
“Oh bitch, eighteen looks good on you!” Shane admired his best friend as she trotted around the master bedroom in her bathing suit and heels that she could barely walk in. “Who picked out this bathing suit?”
“Darryl, but Carla got the wrong size,” Tyler said, pulling the bottoms out of her ass.
“It’s probably all that ass.” Aria popped her on the backside.
“Right. I’ve seen a lot of BBLs, but they did a really good job on yours,” Shane agreed. “I still can’t believe you did it.”
“Me either.” Tyler cupped her perfectly sculpted cheeks.
When Carla approached her about the surgery, Tyler was bewildered.
She was only seventeen, but the label wanted to give her childish looks an enhancement.
They couldn’t have her talking about riding dick with a flat ass and boy chest. Tyler still had a baby face, but the upgraded booty and breasts were giving grown as fuck.
“I need to get mine redone,” Bobbi pouted, cupping her uneven cheeks.
“No comment,” Shane twisted his lips. Aria snickered at the shade because his no comment was a comment. Thus far, Bobbi had undergone two BBLs, lipo, and a nose job. They couldn’t figure out who she was trying to be because she looked nothing like the girl from years ago.
Bobbi opened her mouth to go off on Shane but paused when the door swung open.
“What the fuck taking so long?” Dexter barked, pushing the bedroom door open.
“Damn, what if we were naked?” Bobbi placed her hand on her hip.
“Ain’t shit I haven’t seen.” He stared at her before turning to face Tyler. “You ready, baby? Everybody here and that nigga Darryl getting antsy.”
“Ok, yall go ahead, I’ll be down in a second.” She smiled.
“See you down there, superstar.” Shane blew her a kiss, following Aria and Bobbi out the door.
“Two minutes, Ty,” Dexter demanded, shutting the bedroom door to give her a little privacy.
Sitting in front of the vanity, Tyler took a deep breath.
It was her eighteenth birthday, and she should’ve been happy, but all she wanted to do was go visit her mother.
This wasn’t how she planned to celebrate her birthday, but Carla and Darryl had other plans.
Had it been up to her, Tyler would have sat by her mother’s bedside and indulged in ice cream and cake.
“Girl, come on!” Carla snapped, opening the bedroom door. “The sun does not rise and set on your ass. Everyone is waiting.”
“I’m coming.” Tyler stood up. “I’m going to cut out a little early to go see my mama.”
“Girl, she don’t do shit but stare at the wall.”
“And we’ll be staring at it together.”
“So you’re going to just leave your party?”
“Carla, I don’t even know half of these people.”
“Then get down there and introduce yourself. Darryl spent a lot on this party. It’s your birthday and you don’t need to be thinking about nobody else,” Carla reasoned, going into her clutch. Pulling out a mint can, she removed a pill and handed it to her niece. “Here, take this.”
“What is this?” Tyler frowned.
“It’s going to take your mind off everything and allow you to enjoy the party.”
“I'm fine, I’ll just have a drink.” She shook her head.
“You don’t trust me?” Carla accused.
“Not at all.”
“Girl, just take the pill. It’s like a strong Advil or something. You won’t even need to drink.”
“Hm.” Tyler hesitated, reaching for the little pill that would change her life.
“I didn’t say you were a crackhead,” Carla said, snapping Tyler out of her memory. “Just make sure you relax before going to the party. I’ll keep you updated with the label.”
“Thanks.”
“You know I really have your best interests at heart, right?”
“No, you don’t, but I think you tricked yourself into believing it. A good person wouldn't have done half of the things you’ve done or allowed,” Tyler replied. “Oh, and please stop changing my mother’s contact information. I don’t need your help with her.”
“She’s my sister.”
“And she’s my mother. Stop changing her information, please and thank you.”
“Whatever.” Carla waved her off. “I’ll leave this here. Let me know if you need anything else,” she said before quickly slipping out the door.
Tyler stared at the mint can and shook her head.
???
“Good looking, Ms. G.” Logic leaned in to give the elderly woman a hug.
“You know I’m going to look out for you.
These other heathens couldn’t get my dirty drawers.
” She pursed her lips. “I’ve been staying in these projects long enough to know the difference between the ones that wanna hustle and the ones that need to hustle.
It’s a big difference.” She puffed her joint before extending it to Logic, who respectfully declined.
“No, thanks. I gotta couple of things to do.” He sighed, running his hand over his unkempt hair. With the pills he just bought off Ms. G, he planned to go grocery shopping, get the girls' hair treated, and give Sage a couple of dollars.
Dealing pills wasn’t the route he chose, but he was good at it.
The money was quick, and thanks to a few of the other women around the projects, he was able to get them at a discounted price.
While other dealers had to scheme and fuck on pharmacy techs for the hook up, Logic had a system that fell into his lap.
Ms. G fell a few years ago and broke her hip.
Since she was on Medicaid, the hospital basically patched her up and sent her home with a shitload of pharmaceuticals to manage the pain.
They didn’t care that the medicine they gave her was highly addictive, and had she been anybody else, Ms. G would’ve been strung out.
It was she who approached Logic, asking him to flip the pills for her.
Not only did he sell them within a couple of hours, but he made three times the amount she was asking for.
“See, I pay attention. You work hard for them babies, but the rest of these nobodies sit around hustling in two-hundred-dollar shoes, smoking weed all day, and chasing after these fast tail hood rats. They don’t wanna leave the projects, no dreams, ambition, just stewing in generational curses,” Ms. G grunted.
“I can say it because I was them. I am them. Three kids later, one deceased baby daddy, one a deadbeat, and the other one like dick. Shit, I’m still depending on the system for my next meal.
I’ve seen the best days life has to offer and the worst. They don’t listen to me because I’m the crazy woman who sits on her stoop all day, but you hear me. ”