Crown Heart
crown heart
. . .
Kupid was beautiful as fuck, so it was hard for me not to flirt with her ass. Everything I had just offered her, I made that shit up on the spot, surprising myself. The fifteen bands… I was goin’ to hear Trae’s mouth about. Then, having an office in my crib, I was out of my mind. At the basketball game, I wanted to spend more time with her.
It wasn’t like I didn’t know I shouldn’t mix business with pleasure, but damn, Trae should have gotten headshots of all the interviewees. Instead of interviewing Kupid for this position, I would have shot my shot instead. When she smiled, she had dimples on both cheeks. You could tell Kupid really didn’t have to do much to herself to look…perfect. She was perfect.
Grabbing my phone off the table, I texted my assistant, Nisha, to get me two floor seats for tonight's basketball game. Nisha was my childhood best friend who asked no questions and did as I asked. When I came up, I made sure to bring her, too. I glanced back up at Kupid, who still looked confused.
“Did you have plans this evening?” I quizzed. I took another sip of water.
She scoffed playfully. “Isn’t that something you should’ve asked before making plans? Tell me…what do you need me for at a basketball game, Crown? I don’t mix business with?—”
“Chill,” I said, cutting her off. “What did you know about me before meeting me today?”
“Honestly?”
I nodded my head and licked my lips. “Always.”
“That you’re a big music star, and I only knowThe Queen of My Heartlyrics. That shit…oh sorry. That song is fire.”
I chuckled at her apology. There was no need.
“It’s coo’. I'd rather you be yourself always around me. It’s already too much fake shit in this industry.” I told her.
Kupid nodded as if understanding.
“To answer your question, I want you to get to know me. Maybe that’ll help you to be over my social media.”
A smile tugged at her lips as if she knew my ass was lying about that. Again, I made that shit up.
“I can do just fine without knowing you personally, Crown. I mostly promote your tour dates, events, and anything else you have going on that your fans should know. I clean up your social media and make it more professional, but… I haven’t been to a basketball game and won’t turn it down.” We laughed in unison, hers more angelic.
“Aight, then. I’ll have my assistant draw all the paperwork and send it to your email. I’ll also send you a car tonight,” I told her, once again picking up my phone and hitting Nisha. I was full and sleepy now. I knew tonight would be eventful, so I needed to rest up.
Not only was I sending a car to Kupid, but I also had my stylist drop off a Heartville Hawks jersey to her. She didn’t have my number because I forgot to exchange numbers with the beauty, but I was getting the digits before the night ended.
Like I said, Trae damn near blew a gasket when he found out what I had offered Kupid. It wasn’t like I couldn’t afford it, or was it putting a dent in my bank account. It wasn’t taking from his mouth either, so I let him know what I said goes. Nisha just asked me if the number I gave her was correct. I could be out of my mind, but as Kupid said, she needed to ensure she could live in Heartville off her salary. If I was taking from her, I was adding to it.
I wore black Amiri jeans, a black hoodie, and my red and white Hawks jersey. After pairing it with all my Black Jordans, I stood before the mirror to put my diamond grill in my mouth. Adjusting my diamond Cuban link necklace, I turned my head from side to side to check myself out. After brushing my waves again, I grabbed all I needed from my dresser and headed downstairs. The driver had been waiting for me for at least twenty minutes.
Once I shut the door behind me, it locked. I lived in a gated community with spread-apart houses—just how I liked it.
“’Sup, Alec,” I said, greeting the driver who stepped out to open the door for me. He and another man named Lee rotated, driving me around. “Everything good?”
He nodded. “Everything is everything, Mr. Heart,” he replied.
I slid into the back of the stretched-out black-on-black Hummer and immediately poured myself a drink. While chilling at the crib, I almost talked myself out of tonight. I was still going to the game, but I thought about standing Kupid up ‘cause what the fuck was I doing? She was about to be an employee, and here I was thinking about her thick ass in a way I shouldn’t.
“Where to?” Alec asked.
I got up, dug my phone out of my pocket, pulled up my address for Kupid, and called it out to Alec. Kupid lived on the West End of Heartville, about a twenty-minute ride away. I sat back and sipped my Hennessy. I didn’t want to be messed up when we arrived at the arena. Earlier, after my shower, I smoked a blunt and had a turkey sandwich along with a couple of fruit snacks to satisfy the munchies.
Alec had some R I’ll be right back. I need to grab a jacket and my purse.”
Kupid scurried off, and I remained standing, checking her place out. She was clean. Very clean. There didn’t seem to be anything out of place. She had black leather furniture with a black fuzzy rug in the middle. A few plants were scattered in different corners. Kupid had a nice view of the city. Her curtains were pulled back, and she could keep them like that all day and night. Who was climbing up ten stories?
Before I could approach her kitchen, Kupid emerged from the back with a black leather jacket and a black crossbody Chanel purse across her body. I ran my thumb over my lip while ogling.
Kupid held a hand out as she approached. “Just to be sure, this is business, right? No blurring or crossing lines that don’t need to be crossed.”
I offered Kupid my charming smile and decided not to respond. If a line is crossed, a line is crossed.
“C’mon, my driver out there waiting on us, and the game should be starting soon,” I said instead. Kupid smacked her lips. “You smacking your lips at yo’ boss?”
“Tuh, yeah. You really be dodging my questions, and I don’t like that, but okay, boss. ”
I snickered, following her out of the door. When she locked up, I reached out and guided her by the small of her back.
“Again, this isn’t a date, Crown,” Kupid mentioned before we reached Alec, who had the door open for us.
“Get in the car, Kupid. It’s business,” I half-lied. I was still feeling Kupid out for business... and maybe pleasure.
“This is real niiice,” she gushed. “Wait.” Her eyes bucked, and I bucked mine back. “Will cameras be flashing in my face? Will I be in the blogs tomorrow with shit folks made up?” Kupid covered her face with her hands. “I should have thought this through.”
I ran my hands down my own face. “Alec, go to the back.”
That shit really turned me on. To know Kupid didn’t want to be in the spotlight made my dick twitch. Females I fucked with in the past wanted to be front and centered. Bitches are waving at the cameras ‘n shit… blowing kisses. Kupid was sitting here about to have a fuckin’ meltdown. Was this my wife?
Hesitantly, I placed my hand on Kupid’s knee, and she peeked down at my hand through a crack in hers.
I cackled because she was dramatically funny. I don’t know when I last laughed like this with someone other than Nisha, Trae, and AD.
“Chill, Kupid. I got you for real,” I assured her.
Kupid dropped her hands and took a few deep breaths.
“Here.” Her brows dipped at the glass filled with brown liquor. “It’ll help you loosen up.”
“Okay, but why are you offering me your glass as if I know where your mouth has been sir?” she shot off, causing me to smirk. I know where I wanted my mouth right now.
“My mouth hasn’t been anywhere lately, to be honest.”
Kupid slowly took my glass and downed the brown. She squirmed in her seat and beat her chest.
“Uggghhh. I hate Hennessey, but damn, I need it. Can I get one more shot?” She smiled sheepishly, her eyes already getting low. “My nerves are bad.”
I poured Kupid another shot and then poured myself one. Alec pulled to the back of the arena.
“What about when we get inside? Cameras are going to be there too.” Kupid began to panic again.
I ran a hand over my mouth. “To be real, with me, cameras are gon be everywhere. If they make up a story, which I’m sure they will, I’ll have my publicist clean it up. This is business.”
Kupid scoffed. “We’re practically matching.”
I grinned and raised a brow. “Yeah, we are. I meaaan, if you want to come off as my woman…”
“No.” She shut that down quickly.
Laughing into my fist, I could tell she was serious, but it wouldn’t be me if I didn’t try to change that.