16. Noree Marcell
Itossed and turned all night.
A few hours after Ozy left, he called me so we could go over the questions, and the whole time, I was a nervous wreck.
We went over the paperwork I needed to sign too. It was a featured-artist agreement covering this one song.
Derez had worked everything out with the label so they could release my vocals, properly credit me as a featured artist, and make sure I got paid directly.
The agreement said that after the label took its contractual share, the artist royalties from the song would be divided evenly between Ozy and me. Fifty-fifty.
That surprised me. He was already well-established in the game, and I was nobody, but I smiled a little when I saw that agreement because it meant he was trying to make sure I was good in every way.
Once we got off the call, I got my baby and myself ready for bed. I thought I was about to be counting sheep, but really, that never fucking happened.
All I could think about was whether the cameras would catch my good side, whether the questions and the way we rehearsed answering them would be good enough, and whether they were going to love the song when it premiered. All of that was floating around in my head until the sun started coming up.
It was now six-thirty in the morning. I had already showered, and of course, my baby was still knocked out. I threw on something chill, just an oversized sweatshirt with the matching pants. It was cute. It was pink with little floral designs embroidered into it.
I grabbed a big tote just in case.
I made sure to pack my own makeup, my own flat iron, a half wig, something to do my edges, some gel, and all that good stuff. My smell-goods too. Just enough so I could make sure I looked and smelled up to par in case the glam team was slacking.
My heart was racing more than ever as I slipped on my shoes, and then I heard a noise. I peeked my head out of the bathroom and heard feet shuffling, then a yawn. I laughed a little because that confirmed it was my sister.
Nourah came and stood in the bathroom doorway with her arms crossed and her eyes halfway open.
“Ree Ree…I’m so damn tired…you’re lucky I love you and my wittle Oaky Woaky.”
It didn’t surprise me at all when this heffa pulled a small bottle of orange juice out of her purse along with some champagne.
“Forget about me though! Cheers to your very first radio interview on a major fucking radio station. Like, hello.” She yawned in the middle of her own toast and had to catch herself. “I’m sorry, my bad. But let’s have a little sip of some mimosas. You know one won’t hurt.”
“Girl, you are too crazy,” I said, but I was already walking toward the kitchen behind her.
Nourah popped the champagne while I grabbed two wine glasses since I didn’t have any flutes. I sat them down, and she poured. Then she opened that little bottle of Tropicana and put maybe three drops in each glass, which was not a mimosa at all, but I ain’t say nothing.
“I’m so proud of you,” she said. “And I know I say this all the time, but I really am.”
“Aww, sis, that means a lot.” I picked my glass up, and then I remembered. “Oh, and I have a surprise for you.”
“What?”
“You know that real sexy pinstripe two-piece pants set you made me a couple of months back? And that cute purple bodycon, ruffled, off-the-shoulder joint with the crisscross straps in the back and the big giant bow?”
Nourah was already nodding slowly, like she knew where I was going.
“Well, I asked permission to wear your designs. I showed Ozy’s manager the outfits annnd…he said they were nice, so it’s a go.
One of those outfits will be making its debut in the blogs, and I’m super excited for your business to really, really take off.
You have done such an amazing job at making a name for yourself, but this is it, bitch.
This is the moment we have been waiting for. So, cheers to both of us.”
Her eyes started to tear up on me, and I ain’t even mean to do that this early.
“Thank you Noree like…for real,” she said.
“Sis, you know I will always be there for you no matter what. And I love how you always show up for me.” I wiped underneath my eye with my knuckle before my lashes had a chance to get messed up. “My nerves are really bad. I’m very nervous. But this is gonna be an amazing day. I can feel it.”
“It sure will be,” she said, and we clinked our glasses.
I took a couple of sips and then looked down at my watch. “Okay, for real. I have to go.”
“Go ahead. Grab your stuff.”
“You know where everything is. Make yourself at home.” I said.
“Girl, you already know I am. I’m ’bout to go get in your bed and take a quick catnap. You already know I have to catch you on the radio so I can post about it on my Instagram and let everybody know my big sis is a superstar.”
We hugged, and I went into the room and kissed Oaklynn on her cheek. Then I headed out.
The black truck was already waiting at the curb. I hopped inside, and Ozy was sitting there, fresh, smelling good, and looking like he got more sleep than I did.
“Good morning,” I said.
He gave me a small smile. “Good morning.”
Derez turned around in his seat to look at me.
“You ready for your life to change?”
“I guess so.” I put my seat belt on and set my tote down by my feet, then wiped my sweaty palms on my pants.
“You remember all the answers to the questions, right?”
“Yeah. I think so.”
He laughed. “Okay. You’ll be fine. I expect the song to do well. It’ll get its exclusive radio premiere this morning, and we’ll officially drop it on all platforms this weekend. Trust me, it’s going to do numbers.”
My stomach bubbled up on me a little, and I played it off by looking out the window.
By the time we were sitting in those chairs at the station, I felt like I was about to pee on myself. The cameras were rolling, and lights were flashing. Paparazzi snapped a few pictures of us out front, and we’d already taken pictures with the hosts for the episode’s promo.
My leg was shaking so badly underneath the table, and Ozy reached over and touched my hand.
“You good, love?”
“No. I feel like my heart is about to fall onto the fucking ground.”
He laughed. “Just follow my lead.”
“Okay.”
The hosts were still talking among themselves, going over something on a tablet, so he leaned in.
“Is this one of your sister’s designs?”
“Yes.”
“I like this on you.” He licked his lips.
I smiled and looked down at myself. I had ended up going with the pinstripe pantsuit set with the short sleeves, gold buttons, and a beautiful collar. It fit my curves just right. It wasn’t too tight, and it wasn’t too loose or baggy. It was perfect.
Glam had actually slayed my hair and makeup, so I ain’t have to jump in and do none of my own.
They gave me a curly updo with a few curly pieces hanging down, and my earrings, necklace, and bracelets were all gold and matched my outfit.
They went with a cute navy-blue smoky eye and nothing too crazy with the foundation, so it looked very natural.
They even got my fingers looking decent. They gave the healthy nails a clear manicure and covered the injured ones with bandages.
And then there were the shoes, which I was still shook by because they were red-bottom Christian Louboutin’s. Expensive as hell.
Mizz Keke and Bigg Boi Ross looked over at us to make sure we were ready. We both nodded, and they got started.
“What is up, y’all? Good morning, and welcome back to The Morning Hour with your hosts, Mizz Keke,” she said, and then Bigg Boi Ross leaned into his mic.
“And the biggest. If you’re stuck in traffic, that’s because there was an accident on 285 East. Everybody’s okay, but the two cars collided and caused a backup.
So, you might wanna go ahead and call your boss because you ’bout to be late as hell today!
They had to close two lanes, and y’all know what that means.
In the meantime, we got some special guests in the building today. ”
“Y’all will never guess who we got,” Mizz Keke said.
“He is a multimillionaire, multitalented, Grammy-winning singer. He’s an actor and apparently a father.
But stay tuned for that tea because it’s piping hot.
And speaking of hot, make sure y’all don’t have on long sleeves or nothing that’s gonna make you pass out today because the highest the temperature is supposed to get is ninety-eight degrees.
Keep some water on you! And again, you’re tuned into The Morning Hour!
Let’s start off with something to get your mind right. ”
The music started playing, and Mizz Keke looked over at us. “When we come back from break, we’ll announce y’all.”
My hands were sweatier than they were in the car. I wiped them on my pants discreetly and tried to keep my face together, but my chest got tight on me, and I knew what was happening.
I closed my eyes for a second and made myself breathe in and breathe out, breathe in and breathe out. Then I felt a hand on my back, rubbing slow circles between my shoulder blades.
“Just breathe. You got this,” Ozy said.
I opened my eyes. “Okay.”
When the song went off, Mizz Keke came back in.
“Welcome back. We hope y’all enjoyed the slow, soulful sounds of Rose Allegra.
That woman know she can sing her behind off.
But we got somebody here who might can sing her under the table.
We have the one and only Ozy Love in the building, and he brought somebody with him.
If y’all been hearing about all the craziness going on in the headlines, Ginger Maree said Ozy Love cheated on her, and the woman he allegedly cheated with is actually in the building.
We wanted to get their side of the story.
So welcome, Ozy Love. Always a pleasure to have you on the show.
And to his special guest and Up-and-coming R&B singer, Noree, welcome. ”
I felt like she threw a little bit of shade at me, but I held my composure and leaned into the mic.