“He was not my associate. I’ve never met him but finish your question.” He lifted his hand in her direction in the most unbothered way possible, though rage was slowly building inside of him at even the mention of the man’s name who caused his friend’s death.
“Mr. Savelle was found murdered in his prison cell,” she said with such relish. The woman was almost bouncing from her seat in her excitement in what she thought was a gotcha interview.
He quirked his eyebrow, waiting for her to finish.
“You don’t have anything to say about this?” She tilted her head in the caricature of a serious journalist again.
“No. Why would I?” He answered her question with one of his own. This was bordering on ridiculous and he was done playing.
“Mr. Savelle was murdered…”
“How?”
“Hm.” She rifled through from what he could see were blank notes then looked to him. “He was hanged.”
“Then I would look to his cellmate.” He knew for a fact that Savelle didn't have one or he’d have been dead years ago.
“He was alone at the time,” she responded, her lips all but disappearing under her frown of disappointment. Had she been cleverer and less obvious it may have worked, but no. Now she would have to contend with an interview of her looking mean spirited and not quite bright.
“Sounds like a suicide to me,” he said then canted his head to let the audience get a full picture of himself in the camera without breaking the fourth wall. He knew it would go viral before he left the studio.“Prayers to the family. I know what it’s like to lose someone you love. I would also like to speak about my mental health initiatives for young men.”
“She played herself,” Willow said as they were in the car on the way back to Creative Chaos.
“Yeah,” FADE murmured, scrolling through his news feed for any information on the Savalle suicide. Dread crept up his spine. A niggling feeling he couldn’t shake the whole ride back to the glass mid-city high-rise that housed their company.
It rode him from the time he got out of the car all the way to the top floor of the building that contained his office and the boardroom.
When he got there Flower and Ghadi were already there and to his surprise the Al Rasheed brothers.
“Surprise, surprise,” he said to them shaking hands and slapping backs all around.
“What brings you to town?”
“The premier,” Hasan said. “We needed to sit down with Flower and go over security. Nothing happens without her express say so.” He winked at her but FADE could tell he was a little annoyed.
He was not the type of man to be maneuvered and bossed around by a woman. They were in for a rude wakening if they thought to get anything other than that from Flower. Especially now. She was like a whirlwind of intention and action since she came back from Birmingham and Japan. There was a fire under her like never before and she had worked tirelessly to right the ship.
“Great news,” she stood up at the head of the conference table. “Mc2 has agreed to come on broad with minimal oversight into our day to day and shepherd us into the IPO. They will look at our financials which are sound then after a review we will be good to go. They are going to be very thorough but we knew that going in. You have done everything we needed you to do to revamp your image and today that hit job and the way you handle it was a superb demonstration of your sound business mind and your philanthropic spirit. I’m proud of you, big brother. You looked the part of a mogul and you acted like one.”
To say he basked in her smile would be an understatement. His sister had done everything she could to help him get his life back. Pushing her dream aside until he was ready to stand on his own again.
He held out his arms to her, and she practically ran to them. “I love you,” he whispered in her ear. “I love you back, FADE,” her muffled response against his heart was everything. They had been through so much.
“Okay,” he clapped his hands, stepping from big brother to CEO mode. “Let’s hear this security plan.”
“These are the VIPs,” Sadiq said, going over the list of high-powered Hollywood stars, executives and music industry people who’d received a personal invitation to come the premier.
“Wait a fricking minute, what is this name doing on the list?” Ghadi piped up. FADE turned to look at his brother, knowing exactly what he was referring to.
“She wrote the movie,” Sadiq calmly reminded everyone. “She did everything that was asked of her and more. I see no reason to exclude her.”
“It will take away from FADE’s night. People will start whispering again.” Ghadi slapped the table in disgust.
“That is a moot point. Your brother has set the record straight on that issue. She will not be in the main entourage but escorting her younger sister who needs help to navigate the space.” Hasan rubbed the bridge of his nose, supporting the decision.
“Did you agree to this FADE?”
“Yes.” He steepled his fingers and swiveled his chair toward his siblings. “It's fine. It’s over. There will be more than one ex there, this is business. To exclude her is mean spirited and unprofessional. She wrote the movie, man.”
“And almost got you killed over some stupid ass vendetta.”
“That too,” Flower murmured. “FADE is right though. Now, let’s move on to the after party.” She skipped to the next screen, going over the various weak spots and how she planned to reinforce the security team.
“Excellent job, Flower,” he said, as the others nodded as they concluded the meeting nearly an hour later.
She smiled and gathered her things. “I promised Willow dinner at my place you’re all invited,” she said to the men as she headed to the door.
“Stop walking so fast if you want us to join you.”
“Hush, dinner is later. Around eight is good for everyone?”
She smiled at the chorus of yeses and headed out. Feeding people was an expression of love from Flower as passed down from generations of their family. Being farmers in Alabama their ancestors had little else but what they did have whether it was part of a crop or sweet potato pie they shared it. So, if they cooked for you, they cared for you. He looked forward to whatever she had in store for them later.
“Savelle is dead.” He turned to the men still gathered around the table.
“Good,” Ghadi said with relish dripping from the word.
“We saw that.” Sadiq’s face was wiped clear of all emotion. So was Hasan’s who finally let his real self shine through now that the women were gone. He’d never shown his true face to anyone but FADE and his brother. Many people mistook his charm and charisma for kindness, and that is where they went wrong. He was by far the most dangerous of the twin Al Rasheed brothers.
“It was more than he deserved.” Hasan didn’t blink, smile or give any indication that he was bothered by any of it at all.
“They are going to say I did it.” FADE kept his tone level, though anger licked at him.
“Good, maybe next time folks will think twice before trying to fuck with us,” Ghadi ground out.
“I’ve just barely got my name back. What are the Mc2 people going to think if they feel like I just go around having people killed?”
“That they better not wrong you. Look, sometimes a message has to be sent. I only wish we were the ones to send it.” Sadiq raised his hand in a “what can you do” motion.
“This wasn’t…?” FADE asked into the room at large.
They all shook their heads.
“Ghad?” he asked again for confirmation.
“He was too secure for anyone to get to him.” Hasan’s frustration was evident in his voice.
“So it wasn’t for lack of trying?” FADE gave a hollow laugh to the room at large. “You just couldn’t get to him.”
Shaking his head, he walked over to the floor to ceiling windows and looked out. “Incredible.”
“Something like this can’t go unanswered. You’d look like a chum
p,” Ghadi told him matter-of-factly.
“You mean more of one. You already think I’m one over Delightful.” FADE looked over his shoulder at his brother.
“That’s different. Relationships are not the streets. Savelle needed to be seen to. Whoever did it.” Ghadi shrugged. “Did you a favor because he was never going to stop until you were dead.”
“They say it was suicide but I know those guards can make anything look like a suicide and since he got so many life sentences he has to be buried on the prison burial ground.”
“Well, what done is done my friend. Your story is the only one that counts now and it will play across every screen in the country in a few short days.” Sadiq assured him with cold alacrity.
Chapter 18
Just See
“This is so outstanding. Isn’t it outstanding? I love it.” Delightful heard her sister who was never impressed about anything squee about everything that had to do with the Just Forever premier. Everyone was dressed in white in honor of FADE’s signature look. He was known for preferring a blindingly white on white ensemble for everything. The theme for the entire space was white on white and bling. The red carpet was a white carpet, the velvet ropes were white, and everyone from the attendants to the guests were all dressed in white.
Every celebrity and insta-famous person was there. It rivaled the Creative Chaos Oscar party that happened what seemed like a lifetime ago. This venue was open to nearly every relevant of hip hop artist, old and new. There were the godfathers of hip hop, the DJ’s, radio host, the scholars, video directors, vixens, mavens and aspiring artists all there to see the movie of the most successful rap artist of their time. The culture came to support one of their own being feted like never before.
FADE had done so much over the past few months to rehabilitate his image as well as forge an alternative path for himself. He’d made a clean break away from the snitch stigma proving that all it took was someone with enough power and force behind their name to change the narrative. That was the only way to get those communities that were suffering back, he argued. Stop giving a pass to the very people preying on you. They don’t deserve your loyalty. It would probably still take more than him, but him being unapologetic about it went a long way to re-establish his street cred.
“Where are we sitting?” Miracle asked, brimming with excitement.
“I don’t know. The attendant will lead us to the correct area.” She took her sister’s hand and walked over to the attendant.
“Miracle and Delightful Howard,” she told the attendant who nodded and looked down the guest the list. He called over an usher who led them to the VIP reception area.
There were a lot of people but nowhere near the number that would be there in an hour when FADE and his entourage probably came, which would include Lovie-Belle and the Al Rasheed brothers.
She led her sister over to the bar and got herself a gin and tonic and Miracle flavored water.
Just as they sipped on the cold beverages a commotion erupted at the entrance of the lounge. Her heart stopped as she turned to look, but only a little because Miracle was cutting the circulation to her fingers from gripping them so hard.
“Kristantinos,” Miracle whispered, her voice hushed in awe. “Jeeze Louise.”
“Indeed.” She knew he was a living, breathing person, but she too was a little star struck. He was six-foot-five and all rippling muscle. The biggest star in the world had his hair cut in a buzz cut and a kilowatt smile that could have panties dropping for miles.
Josh couldn’t get it, but looking at her sister now, she knew that Kristantinos “The Kronic” Kryrikos could get it on steroids.
As if feeling that vibe, his eyes lifted and met her sister’s and Delightful could have sworn it felt like she’d gotten the residue strike of whatever energy infused Miracle from that look.
“Ohmygoodness, he’s coming this way.” Miracle whispered, taking a drink of her water.
“Breathe, don’t worry.” She assured her easing her numb hand loose and holding her by the waist instead like it was a causal hug but she was applying deep pressure to ground her.
“Hi,” his voice was like smooth velvet, “I’m Kris.” He smiled down at them — no, correction at Miracle introducing himself.
“I’m Delightful and this is my sister, Miracle.” Please don’t let him be a jerk. She prayed as she heard Miracle introduce herself. A lot of times people didn’t realize she was neurodivergent until she spoke or engaged in conversation but if he noticed it didn’t matter because he his eyes warmed more as they conversed.
After Miracle eased away Delightful dropped her hand as her sister as she often did no longer needed her support once she got used to the environment she was in. She was so engrossed in watching the sheer happiness on her sister’s face that she forgot about the time.
She heard the swell before she saw it. She longed to tear Miracle away and find a nice cubby hole to hide, but found she could not be that selfish nor that much of a coward. Her mother would be so disappointed if she knew those thoughts had crossed her mind. She didn’t raise cowards, she often said whenever they were faced with adversity, and they definitely were never allowed to quit.
She watched as person after person came in, her heart lurching with each new arrival. There was an area that had been cornered off for the entourage and special guests of FADE and the Al Rasheed brothers. She could hear the cheers and well wishes. Trepidation slithered through her. Her throat was tight and she could feel perspiration trickling down her back. Then first the Al Rasheed brothers came in along with Lovie-Bell in a white linen couture wrap dress that clung to every curve. She noticed that Sadiq had a hand on the small of her sister's back and wore an expression that threaten to slice any man who even looked her sister’s way. Okay, then.
The Carrington family followed with heavy security that swallowed Flower’s petite form, but she got a clear look at Ghadi as they were shepherded to the VIP area situated up a flight of steps to the left of them. Unfortunately, he got a clear look at her and it was obvious from his expression that he still had no love for her. She met his glare unflinchingly. His eyes narrowed before he finally turned to go into the area.
The crowd gave way like the Red Sea when FADE came in and he looked like a mother-fucking god. He wore white from head to toe but it held a little sheen that said this was posh. It was as if his tailor had poured him into that suit. She could see the barest outline of his dick and her heart fluttered, and her core tightened, remembering, longing. Not to mention the silk shirt he had on left a mouthwatering display of chiseled chest. The two thin platinum chains sparkled when the light hit them. It was an enticement to be perfectly honest she remembered how they felt when they brushed her nipples when he loomed over her giving her the most exquisite pleasure she’d ever experienced.
She swallowed against the thought as the motion of them stopped. He’d stopped, she saw as she looked up and saw that his eyes were trained on her. His gaze was cool and assessing as his eyes raked her from head to toe. She was aware for the first time of the form fitting jumpsuit that she’d worn that hugged every ounce of her. She couldn’t get a credit card between her and the material. She loved it the moment she’d seen it and secretly wanted him to notice her in it. He did, and she could tell from where she stood that his eyes smoldered. That wasn’t enough to get him to come over or acknowledge her though. He swung away when tapped on the shoulder by his security team and went in the direction of the rest of the entourage. She stood for a long time watching him go, knowing she looked like a lovesick idiot. There were probably even now hidden paparazzi plants in the throng who’d taken pictures of her obvious display. Until now no one had been able to confirm their connection or prove they’d had a brief love affair, but her reaction to him was enough to give life to the rumors again.
She turned back to the bar. “Another gin and tonic, please.”
The bartender nodded, and she took a sip, watching as her baby sister and the bi
ggest star in the world had their heads together like they were best friends.
“Excuse me Mr. Kyrikos, Mr. Al Rasheed has requested that you join them in the VIP lounge.”
“I thought this was the VIP lounge.” Kris, she had to keep reminding herself not to use the moniker, “the Kronic” turned to the guy puzzled.
“The above area is for exclusive guest requiring a certain amount of security,” the guy explained.
Kris took this all in and nodded. “Good. I’m bringing my two friends here along with me.”
“I’m sorry sir we allow only those already vetted by security in the lounge,” he hedged, his eyes darting to her in such a way that she knew he’d been expressly told to keep her away from FADE. They probably had been given her picture.
“This is the woman who wrote the film, Delightful Howard,” he said, then nodded toward Miracle. “This is her sister. If anyone says anything to you, then just tell them I pushed past you and wouldn’t listen. Ladies?” He held his hands out, his eyes softening toward Miracle, who accepted with a shy smile. Delightful hurried to put down her glass and grasped his other offered hand. What was happening? Kept reverberating in her mind as she walked arm in arm with the biggest star on the planet with Miracle on the other side.
Up the stairs they went and through the double doors as if the security meant nothing. Which it obviously didn’t when the person was a human movie franchise coming through the door.
“The Kronic has arrived,” Kris hailed bringing all the attention to them making Delightful visibly cringe, “And I have the lovely Delightful and the beautiful Miracle with me.” She should have been mad, but the worshipful tone his voice took on when he mentioned her sister made her forgive him.
“Okay, we should just go hang out back there, Miracle since our seats aren’t up here.”
“I’ll make sure you guys have a seat.” He looked around to call another attendant, but she stopped him. “No, it’s okay just see after Miracle. Are you okay with that Miracle?”
Rapper's Delight: The Mogul Series Book One Page 14