Chapter Thirteen
Rhythm
The Listening Party “I can’t believe I let you drag me here,” Nique said as we walked through the doors of the venue where Raheem was having his listening party. “Furthermore, I can’t believe you agreed to come.”
She gave me a hard side eye as security waved the metal detector over us and pointed us to the elevator.
I sighed as we stepped on. “I only came to show my face.”
After Raheem pulled up on me, he seemed to be on his get back game strong. Since that day, I’d received flowers daily. It wasn’t just one bouquet. He sent five at a time. When Nique came back, she said it looked like a florist threw up in our apartment. Not only was he sending flowers, but he was sending gifts.
So far, I’d received diamond jewelry pieces, new handbags, shoes, entire perfume collections, and he’d wired six figures into my account. Earlier today, I’d received a delivery from my favorite boutique. He’d sent me a beautiful, sexy dress and heels for tonight. I couldn’t resist putting it on. Nique had rolled her eyes too hard when she saw me in it, but even she had to admit I looked damn good.
It was a metallic red dress labeled The She Devil. It was strapless, form- fitting, and stopped below my knees. It laced up in the front and if somebody took scissors to it, I was done for. The metallic red heels were the perfect compliment. I’d accessorized it with white gold jewelry and a little studded bag for my essentials. For my hair, I’d done a curly updo to accent my neckline.
“Mmm hmm…” Nique said as we stepped off the elevator. “Just know you aren’t leaving with big money grip tonight. You could have been getting dicked down by Mr. One Night Stand.”
I’d told her about my run in with Channing at the pet store. That man had me so flustered after he left that I didn’t even get the damn puppy. I had to sit in my car for a minute, to get myself together. His lips on mine caused flashbacks of the night we shared. My nipples hardened, my clit throbbed, and my pussy ached like she missed him. I hadn’t even had the nerve to use his number.
“I’m not thinking about that man, Nique,” I said.
“Lie again. I know you thought about it, and if you didn’t, you dreamed about him. I heard you in there moaning in your sleep the other night.”
I didn’t acknowledge her accusation. I had, in fact, dreamt of him… vivid dreams at that. Instead of confirming or denying her claims, I led her over to the bar for a drink.
“Two amaretto sours, please,” I said.
While they were being made, I turned around to survey the space. It was already packed in here. People were standing around laughing and talking. Bitches were dressed in their nigga snatching outfits. They wore dresses so short that it left nothing to the imagination. We got our drinks and headed to find a seat. As we made our way through the crowd, someone grabbed my arm.
“Rhy!”
I looked back to see my cousin, Rhyon.
I squealed as I hugged her. “Hey, boo!”
Rhyon was my cousin on my mom’s side. She moved out here to L.A. with her husband, Emerald, a few years ago. When I first moved here, I hung out with her all the time while I was settling in. She showed me the city and what not. These days, we mostly talked through text or FaceTime since she was busy with her law firm and family life, and I was busy with my clinic.
“I miss you,” she said, kissing my cheek. “Honey, you are wearing the fuck outta that dress. Hey, Monique.”
They shared an embrace as well.
“How have you been?” I asked.
“I’m living, girl. Between the firm, my babies, and my husband, I barely have time to breathe. We have to do lunch soon or you come by the house. The kids would love to see you in person.”
“We can make that happen. Where is Emerald?”
She looked around. “Girl, he’s here somewhere. You know he did a feature on the album, so he had to come support. I see you came to support your man. You finally okay with the spotlight?”
“Raheem and I aren’t together.”
Her eyes widened. “Since when?”
“A few weeks now. It’s a long story, girl.”
“Damn. I’m sorry, boo. It’s nice you came to support him still.”
“’Cause I would have said fuck him,” Nique said, rolling her eyes.
Rhyon laughed. “You’re still feisty.”
“Always, girl. And now my feisty ass is here on a permanent basis.”
“What! You finally left little ass Columbia, too?”
Nique linked her arm through mine. “I missed my boo, and I needed a change of scenery. It just so happens that my company had an opening for a higher position with better pay. They paid for me to move and covered my first six months of rent. No way I could pass that up.”
“I know that’s right. The three of us really have to get together. We have to show these L.A. girls how we do it in the south.”
“Period!” Nique said, raising her glass.
“I know that ain’t loudmouth Monique Talbert!”
We looked behind us to see Emerald aka G.E.M walking over to us with a grin on his face. Nique rolled her eyes. Emerald was actually her cousin on her mom’s side.
“Hey, Nique Nique,” he said, pinching her cheeks.
She slapped his hand away. “Don’t start that shit, Em.”
He pulled her in for a hug and kissed her forehead. “I’ve missed you, lil bit.”
“I bet you did. You miss bullying me.”
He laughed. “I’ve never bullied you. Hey, Rhythm.”
“Hey, Em.”
“Yo, your man is about to break records with this album.”
“He’s not my man,” I corrected.
“Oh… I thought—”
“It’s a long story, babe,” Rhyon interjected. “We aren’t gonna talk about it tonight. Go on and mingle with your friends. My girls got me.”
“Did you just dismiss me, woman?”
She giggled, and she leaned in and kissed him. “I love you. Now go.”
He slapped her ass as he walked off into the crowd. I’d always loved how much they loved each other. When he came back home to get her, I thought it was the sweetest thing.
I had to respect a man that put in work to get back the woman he loved. I thought about Raheem. He was trying now, but would it matter?
Nique said he was trying to buy my love back, and I could see where she got that idea. He was sending all these gifts, and while they were lovely, they didn’t make up for the disrespect. He had to do more… show more… be more.
The girls and I finally found an empty section and claimed it for ourselves. While we waited for the show to start, we caught up with Rhyon and made plans to have lunch this week.
About thirty minutes later, the DJ got everyone’s attention to let us know that Raheem was in the building.
He made his grand entrance, smiling and waving at fans. He stopped for a few pictures or to sign autographs.
I had to admit, he looked good tonight. He was decked out in all black from head to toe. Gold chains hung around his neck. A diamond encrusted watch glistened on his wrist. He just looked like money.
My eyes followed him up to the DJ booth where he grabbed the mic.
“How y’all doing tonight!”
The crowd went wild with cheers.
“I just wanna thank y’all for coming out to celebrate withcha boy. I’m ten years in the game, and y’all have always shown me mad love. Tonight ain’t no different.
I’m excited to share my newest album with you guys. A lot of late nights, blood, sweat, and tears went into Savage Symphony.
I do this shit for my mom, my little sister, the kids on the block, and the niggas that look like me. We all have a story to tell, and this album is mine. I’m not gonna hold y’all on my soapbox though. DJ… drop my shit.”
The DJ dropped the track.
Almost immediately, the whole space started vibing. I couldn’t help but bob my head and rap along. He’d played the tracks so much that I knew them word for word. As we listened, Raheem made his way through the crowd, speaking to various people. The closer he got to us, the more nervous I became. I didn’t know what to say to him. I wasn’t sure if I should hug him or shake his hand or what.
The choice was taken out of my hands when he approached us with a smile.
“Ladies.”
He stooped down to hug and kiss Rhyon’s cheek. He did the same with Nique, though she gave him the stank eye. When he came to me, he grabbed my hands and pulled me to my feet. His arms came around me in a tight hug.
“You came,” he said, pulling back and kissing my forehead.
“I told you I would. Congratulations.”
“Thank you.” He stepped back, still holding my hands. His eyes trailed me from head to toe. “Damn you look good. I knew this dress would be perfect for you.”
“You did good.”
He bit his lip as he looked me over again. “Can I holla at you for a second?”
I looked back at Rhyon and Nique. Rhyon avoided my eyes as she sipped her drink, while Nique gave me a look that said, Bitch, you bet not.
“Please, Rhy?”
I looked at him and those pitiful eyes. I sighed.
“You have five minutes,” I said.
“That’s all I need.”
With his hand on the small of my back, he led me over to an unpopulated corner. I leaned against the wall with my arms crossed, waiting to hear what he had to say.
“I take it you’ve gotten my gifts?”
“I have. You’re doing too much, Raheem. Buying me gifts won’t get me back.”
“I’m just trying to show you I’m sorry.”
“The best apology is changed behavior.”
“I can change, Rhythm. I can’t show you that if you won’t even talk to me, baby.”
“I beg to differ.”
He sighed. “I told the label no to fake dating Lady Lingo.”
“That’s good. I would be more impressed if you had shut that shit down from the jump. You considered it and brought it to me, Raheem. That’s my problem. Additionally, you haven’t been moving like the rumors aren’t true.”
“Whatchu want me to do? Make a public statement? You gon’ come out as my girl?”
“No, because I’m not your girl. I gotta go. I don’t wanna talk about this here. I just came to support you tonight. Congratulations. I know this album will be a success.”
I started to walk off, but he gently grabbed my arm. “Rhythm.”
I turned back with a frown. “What?”
“Can you just come by the house later so we can talk?”
“Raheem, I don’t think that’s a good—”
“Prince Cole!”
The sound of a familiar voice interrupted us. Raheem looked over my head, causing me to turn around. When I did, I could have shitted a brick. It was him. Mr. One Night Stand. Our eyes met, and while I stood frozen, he played it cool.
“Channing, what’s up, man?”
Raheem slapped hands with him. His familiar scent infiltrated my nose, and immediately, images of us fucking like rabbits filled my mind. I closed my eyes, willing them away. I felt Raheem’s hand on my waist as he pulled me into his side.
“Rhythm, this is Channing Watson. He’s the producer on this album. Channing, this is the woman I was telling you about.”
Shit! Shit! Shit!
My guilty eyes met Channing’s, and he smiled as he extended his hand.
“Ms. Rhythm… it’s very nice to meet you.”