Chapter 23
Kolby raked her fingers through her hair and plastered on a smile before she unlocked her door and granted entrance to Samari. If things went well, she would have a guaranteed source of income to keep her bills paid.
“Hey girl, come in.” Kolby offered the greeting and Samari smiled, entering the townhome. When the text came from Asao stating she had a meeting today, followed by an address that took her to The Falls, Samari asked with who. She immediately agreed when he simply stated Kolby.
They had discussed that Kolby was being considered as an addition to Track Killaz which Samari had no objections to but she wasn’t sure what they needed to meet about.
“We can sit in here.” Kolby motioned toward the living room and Samari nodded, taking in how nice everything was. The decor was teal and white with a velvet sofa and love seat that sat on brushed gold legs. It matched the glass and gold tables decorated with candles and abstract glass pieces.
“It’s cute in here,” Samari complimented before she settled on the sofa while Kolby took the space on the love seat angled to the right of her.
“Thank you. I was trying to be fancy,” she said, looking around her place before she focused on Samari. “Did Sao tell you why we were meeting?”
“No, he just asked me to come.”
Kolby nodded and rolled her eyes. “I should have expected that. He’s making me do my own pitch.”
“Pitch?” Samari frowned.
“Yeah, you know my history with Cobra, so you kind of know what I do, even though he wouldn’t let me be on your team.”
“He wouldn’t let you?”
“No because you were his top selling artist and he didn’t want to let anyone who had some damn sense get close to you. That meant peeping you to game.”
“Game as in how he was stealing from me?”
“Pretty much, but that was then, this is now. We’re not going to get caught up on that. I want to be your label rep, which means I’ll manage you instead of Niles.”
“Niles know you’re trying to take his job?” Samari stated with a grin.
“He knows, trust me. His mean ass threw it my way and said take that shit.”
Samari laughed. “Damn, it’s like that?”
“Not the way you’re thinking. Working with Asao is different.
Niles literally doesn’t have to do much for him personally.
He handles the business and moves in the background, but he can’t do that with you.
He’ll have to be hands on and that’s not really his thing.
When I asked, he had no objections ,and truthfully, you need me.
I know what your career should look like. ”
“I don’t want someone else telling me what my career should be,” Samari was quick to say.
“That’s not the plan or how I mean it. If you say yes, we’re a team.
Regardless of what I know about this industry, the final decision is always yours.
We work together. You tell me what you want, I make it happen.
That goes for press, performances, looks, everything.
You drive, I’m shotgun, but I do know my shit, Mari.
I’m not bullshitting you, and if nothing else, you can trust Asao doesn’t play about you so he wouldn’t let me bullshit you even if I wanted to. ”
Samari took in everything she said and nodded. “Okay, I’m cool with that.”
“You sure?”
“As long as we do this together, then yes.”
“Okay, perfect. First order of business, album launch. The guys are handling the production and financial part, we’re going to take care of how you want to put it out there into the world. Have you thought about it?”
Samari shook her head and removed her phone from her purse, smiling at the text that came through.
Asao: You good?
Samari: Yes
Asao: That one word was dry as hell. You sure?
Samari: I’m sure, now leave me alone. I’m working and my label rep said she needs my undivided attention.
Asao: Bet, you got that because I’m gonna need your undivided attention later.
She grinned and locked her phone.
“Oh that man has it bad.” Kolby said with a grin.
“He does but so do I?” Samari admitted before getting back to work. “But no, I haven’t thought about anything.”
“What about a silent listening party? I mentioned it to Niles and Dom as a way of introducing the album and the label. We could have it at Track Killaz.”
“I’m good with that.”
Samari had been to an event set up that way. The guests were provided headphones to hear the music. It hadn’t been a listening party or album launch but she loved the concept and felt it could work.
Kolby smiled brightly and reached for the tablet next to her. After swiping for a few, she handed it to Samari. Once she had it in hand, Samari scanned the screen.
“Swipe left to see the full layout.”
Kolby took the liberty of pulling out images of what she visualized for the listening party.
There were clips of people in all white to set the vibe, white sheer silk hanging from the ceiling.
clips from a club venue, and mockups of Samari’s album cover which was just a picture of Samari standing near the shoreline.
Samari recognized the beach and the moment it had been taken.
She had been at Asao’s house in Crescent Cove.
“He gave you this?”
“Yeah, I asked for a picture of you since I didn’t think it was a good idea to pull one from your past work. That’s what he gave me. We would need to reshoot it but the vibe is dope as hell. Kinda like a transition or rebirth, since that’s where you are.”
Samari nodded and smiled. Her body blazed with acknowledgment. She wondered how many more stolen moments he had stored away in his phone.
“Unbound.”
“Unbound?” Kolby asked until Samari’s gaze met hers and she got it. “Yeah, that’s dope. The title of your album?”
Samari nodded. “I haven’t told anyone yet.”
Kolby arched a brow. “Not even your man.”
Samari shook her head again. “Not even him. I needed to sit with it for a minute to make sure it felt right. I guess since you’re officially on my team I might as well share.”
“Ahh shit. We’re about to fuck shit up, Mari. The ladies of Track Killaz will be running things.”
Samari laughed because that was the same sentiment she had when it came to her and Fyre. They were simply adding Kolby to the list. “We are. I like that picture too. If we can make it work I’m cool with using the one we have.”
Kolby nodded, extending her hand to accept the tablet.
Once she had it in her possession, she began tapping the screen to take notes.
“I feel like we can make it work. They can do some enhancements but the grainy vibe gives it a nostalgic feel and that’s what I get from your songs.
It’s like nineties R&B, house parties, and cruising the block with your girls, looking for them fine ass men who aren’t any good but the minute you fall, his bad becomes your good. ”
Samari grinned. “It’s exactly that.”
Because that was what it was inspired by, a man who was all the wrong things but right for her.
“The album is dope as hell.”
“You like it?” Samari asked, eager to hear another voice of confirmation.
“Hell yeah, it’s been in heavy rotation. First because I needed to get a feel for what we would be promoting but then because I just needed it in my life. Got me trying to lock down a man who keeps pretending like I can’t have him when he’s already mine.”
“Oh that sounds like a story I want the details on.”
Kolby rolled her eyes. “There’s no story yet. Just two people in denial because they’re too stubborn to admit how they feel.”
“There’s definitely a story there.” Samari laughed.
“Maybe but right now we have work to do.”
It took a few hours to map out the plans for Samari’s listening party. Not every detail was finalized but they had a blueprint for what it should look like and Samari was getting excited about putting her music into the world.
The songs from the festival were in heavy rotation and people had good things to say. She occasionally braved the blogs to see what they were discussing about her music but the whispers about the video that leaked were still out there.
Especially since Nefatari was doing her best to make sure it didn’t go away by sharing lies about that night. She made it seem like Samari was a willing participant in the activities that took place and it pissed Samari off but Asao kept her level by saying he would handle it.
After he asked if she was cool with whatever consequences were handed down to those involved and she gave her blessing, he told her it would be taken care of. She trusted his word, so she let it go.
Samari’s afternoon was spent with Kolby but early evening was promised to Asao’s mother. She’d reached out with a text asking if Samari would come by and she gratefully agreed because their bond was instant.
She was greeted at the door by Leedren who smirked when he let her in. “You already doing solo visits?” he asked, noticing his son wasn’t with her.
“Kendra asked me to come.”
“I’m not complaining. You’re more than welcome here whenever you want to be.”
He closed the door and brushed a hand over his head at the same time his smile was exposed.
When his eyes were on Samari again, she delivered one as well, noticing how there were subtle changes.
He seemed more at ease and comfortable in his space.
She was sure that a month of being home with his family was the reason.
“What are you cooking my son for dinner?” Leedren asked.
“Why would you think that’s what I’m doing?”
“All them damn groceries she made me buy this morning is why. Go with the fish. He loves that shit and so do I. If she’s teaching you, that means I get to have it later.”
“Wait, there are options?”
“Oh hell yeah. My baby doesn’t play about feeding the men in her life, which means you won’t either ’cause I know you’re not going anywhere.”
“You sound confident about that,” Samari said with a curious smile.
“I’ve seen you with my son. I’m very confident you’ll be here for a while. You couldn’t leave him if you wanted, but if that thought is in your head, just know that’s a fight you won’t win.”