16. Ronnie
Ronnie
“So, you got told off by Reese Rhymes yesterday?” Monae sat across from me at Starbucks talking shit. I met up with her on my break to make up for the dinner I missed.
“I wouldn’t say, told off. I’ll just say,” I huffed, thinking it over. “He read me my rights, bitch.”
She laughed, high fiving me over the table. I still can’t believe what he said. When Reese mentioned standing behind me, it got my panties wet. I guess I’ve been wrong about who I thought he was this whole time.
“So, if his best friend is telling you he’s no good, shouldn’t you break up with him?” She sipped her coffee. I know I should, I’m just not ready to admit my dad was right.
“The thought of running back to my dad and telling him he was right...” My voice trailed off.
“Trust me, boo. I know. You got to put them big girl pants on, though. Tell him you’re sorry,” she explained.
“Yeah, I know.” I exhaled deeply.
“Okay.” She slapped her hand on the table. “What about Reese?”
“What about Reese?” I inquired.
“So you don’t think he’s fine as hell?” Monae narrowed her eyes at me like she was tryna catch me in a lie.
“I mean, yeah. But bitch, I just told you how he read me. There’s no way Reese sees me like that. He thinks Sin has my head gone.” I expected her to tell me he was wrong.
“Well?” Monae twisted up her mouth.
“Mo!” I yelled, and she threw her hands up.
“Girl, you know you’re whipped by the dick. It ain’t no secret. And to tell you the truth, you haven’t had many sexual experiences, which is probably why you’re acting like this.”
“It’s plenty men out there who packing better than Sin Sizza, Ronnie,” she added. “Let that man go his way, and you go yours. Hell, get under Mr. Reese.”
“Mo. That’s Sin’s best friend. I’d really look bad out here.” I can’t believe she expects me to hop in bed with his friend. They’re already talking about me online like I trapped Sin in a relationship. They’ll have a field day if Reese and I ever go there.
“Who gives a fuck? I just want you to be happy, bestie,” Mo defended. I pouted, touching her hand.
“Aww, you know I love you.” She held up her empty cup.
“Enough to buy me another coffee?”
I giggled. “I got you.”
A Few Hours Later
“Mr. Masindi, I can assure you this is his best offer.” My phone vibrated. I looked down to see Sin’s name, and I hit ignore. He’d been calling me for the last three hours since I left lunch with Monae to come to this meeting, and I’ve yet to respond.
“How about this number as a signing bonus?” I slid the paper across the table for BCE’s newest prospect and his manager. Shayla stood behind me, looking on.
“Ms. Russell. You know every record company in New York is after my client right now. Surely you can go up a little higher on the price?” I peeked at the client to study his facial expressions.
His face tells me he wants to take the deal. Instead, he does what his manager wants him to do. Although he’s right when he said nearly every company jumping at the chance to sign him, Dante Bodega is gone be the next Maxwell, and Beast wants him on his team.
“Mr. Bodega, what will it take for you to sign on the dotted line today?”
His manager tried to interrupt, but I held out my hand.
“I’m speaking to Mr. Bodega,” I stressed before continuing my pitch.
“I know you have family in Texas, some in Arizona. Tell me what you want. Sign with us today, and I will make it happen for you.”
Dante cleared his throat and glanced at his manager for a second before looking back at me.
“Can you guarantee my family will be taken care of?”
‘Done!” I slid the contract closer to him.
His manager tried multiple times to get in the middle, but he ignored him. His ass just wanted to go with whoever has the fatter check. I knew from reading his file that the only thing he loves more than singing, is his family.
Dante took the pen to print his name while I did a lil’ happy dance in my head. After he signed, he gave the paper back to me, then stood up.
I reached out my hand for a shake.
“Thank you so much for this opportunity, Ms. Russell. Please tell Beast I look forward to working with him.
“Likewise. I will relay the message, Mr. Bodega.” I smiled broadly, watching them leave the room.
As soon as I knew they were gone, I turned toward Shay, squealing.
“Girl, you were on fire. I’m scared of you,” she joked, walking out of the conference room, and I went to go behind her, not before I did a little celebratory dance though.
I’m definitely gonna get a raise for this one.
A noise in the distance made me jump. Spinning around, I came face-to-face with a smiling Reese. Well, this is real awkward...
“Hey,” I said shyly, my eyes darting around the room. “Uh d-did you see what I just did?”
He nodded, his grin widening.
“Great,” I mumbled, rubbing the back of my neck.
He chuckled, moving closer into the room.
“Uhh, why you here?” I cleaned up the area I was sitting in as I waited for his answer.
“I actually had a meeting with Beast a few minutes ago. I was going to the elevator until I saw you in here having a seizure,” he teased me.
“Don’t hate!” I narrowed my eyes at him.
Reese’s head tilted back in laughter. I organized the files in my tote bag, getting ready to walk away when he stopped me. His hand came up to rest over his heart.
“Ronnie, I wanna apologize about what I said yesterday. The shit was out of line and not my business.”
“You right, it wasn’t.” I sat down. “But it was truth there, so I’m glad you said what you did, and I'm gonna stop seeing Sin.”
Monae was right when she said I didn’t have much experience. Maybe that’s why I was so blinded by Sin and his antics. What other explanation is there for why I let him treat me like shit? Reese sat two seats away from me.
“That ain’t because of what I said, right?”
“No. You’re not the only one who mentioned it to me,” I admitted, crossing my legs. “My best friend and my dad said the same thing, and I think it’s time to listen.”
I’ve been holding off calling Sin all day, but I know eventually I’d have to face the music.
“So, what was the meeting about?” I asked, seeing Reese rest his elbows on the table.
“I’m leaving BCE, quitting the group.”
“What?” I was in disbelief. They were at the top of their game, and I didn’t see them breaking up anytime soon
“Outside of Beast, you’re the only person who knows,” he told me. “I ain’t even tell Sin about it yet.”
“What made you wanna do this?” I sat my fist under my chin, watching Reese.
He really is sexy as hell. He leaned back in the chair, and his dreads hung loosely around his shoulders. Tattoos poked out from underneath his white t-shirt. Reese was a whole snack out here. How could I miss that?
“I’m tired of rapping. This upcoming album will be my last one,” he said with certainty, and it seemed like he had already made up his mind.
“What will you do next?”
He licked his lips, sitting up higher. “I’m opening my own label. Rhythm and Rhyme Entertainment.”
I sighed. “Well, it seems like you got everything figured out then.”
“Not everything,” he proclaimed, and my heart skipped a beat seeing the hunger in his eyes. “Let’s go get lunch.”
“What about Sin?” I questioned.
Reese ran his hand over his mouth. “Trust me, it ain’t nothing like that. I just wanna get to know you.”
I hesitated, biting into my lower lip. I’m not tryna be that girl.
“Okay, as just friends, though.”
Who am I kidding? I don’t think I can ever be friends with this man, but I appreciated him for playing along.
“Let’s get out of here then, friend,” he joked, raising from the chair.
Standing up, Reese pulled my chair out for me to stand. I may be making the biggest mistake of my life going out with Reese in public when my and Sin’s names are all over social media, but I just wanna enjoy myself. It’s been a long time since I let loose and had fun.