by Tiece
Rayne blushed. “You’ve heard my song?”
“Well, I only heard a little bit of it, but from what I heard, you got some sweet pipes on you, Bae.”
Bae, Rayne blushed with unexpected thoughts. “Thanks,” she said. “I can’t wait to hear what you bring to the table. It can only make the song hotter.”
“I can agree with that,” Yung Gunner chimed in.
He held his hand out for a handshake. “Well, nice to meet you, Rayne. I look forward to working with you.”
Rayne reached out to shake his hand. “Likewise,” she responded, as their hands touched. Something about that moment gave her an intense feeling inside; one that would have her looking at Yung Gunner in a whole different light.
Wow, she thought to herself, as she quickly withdrew from the handshake. “Let me take you on up to Chase’s office. He’ll be happy to know that you’re here,” she said as she turned, only to find Chase already walking up behind them. “OMG,” she mumbled, in hopes that she could get herself together before her man fuck around and peep the wrong shit.
Chapter 4
Yung Gunner was oblivious to the nervous look plastered on Rayne’s face. He was standing face to face with the one person that had the capability to make him a rap legend. He played off his true feelings by looking at Chase as if the two of them were on the same level, although inside, he was bubbling with excitement.
“Yung Gunner, it’s nice to finally meet you.” Chase extended his hand to Yung Gunner and the two of them exchanged a firm handshake. Chase glanced at Rayne. Her eyes were on the floor and had yet to meet his, and he had no idea why she was playing mum. The two of them had agreed that right now wasn’t a good time to go public with their relationship. The union between them was to be kept on the low, with only their loved ones aware of it. It was Chase’s idea, so he understood why Rayne wasn’t jumping into his arms and pouring kisses all over him. For some reason, it still bothered him to see her standing next to Yung Gunner without acknowledging him.
“I see you met Rayne?” Chase said to Yung Gunner.
“Yeah, she was actually bringing me up to your office.”
Rayne finally looked at Chase. A flaccid smile was on her face as she brushed her arm against his. It was her weak attempt to ease his mind of any ill thoughts he may have had. For a second, Rayne had almost lost her mind by taking such notice of the artist her man was hoping to sign.
“Hey Chase. I guess the two of us spoke you up,” Rayne said.
“I guess you did. Let’s go on upstairs.” Chase led the way as Rayne and Yung Gunner followed him to the elevator.
The three of them stepped off the elevator and the loud ringing of Yung Gunner’s phone blared in the hall. Yung Gunner pulled his IPhone from the pocket of his jeans. He politely excused himself for a minute, so he could answer the call. If it was anyone other than Quincy, he would have sent the caller to voicemail. He wasn’t trying to disrespect Chase, but he never missed a call from his manager.
Rayne looked at Chase and touched his hand.
“Are you ok baby?” she asked lowly.
“I’m fine. Are you good? For a minute, you were looking like a deer caught in the headlights.” Chase gave her a charismatic smile as he opened the door to his office. He walked in after Rayne and closed the door. His hands instantly clung to her waist as he forcefully forced her body close to his. He pecked her lips twice, then pulled back and stared into her eyes for several seconds. The fire that always ignited when the two of them were together was set ablaze once again. It didn’t take much to make it happen.
Both of them came to their senses when three knocks on the door forced them to separate. Rayne walked over to take a seat as Chase opened the door. She kept her eyes straight ahead when Yung Gunner took a seat in the cushioned chair next to her.
Chase took his seat behind his desk and went in full business mode as he started laying out some of the reasons Yung Gunner would be a great addition to A-town records. Chase felt like it was his right to tell his prospective artists what he could do for their career. He saw the same passion in Yung Gunner that he did in Rayne.
It took a good five minutes for Chase to have Yung Gunner inking his name on the contract that solidified his position as the newest artist signed to A-town records. Chase, Yung Gunner, and even Rayne were all smiles as the deal was sealed.
“This got a nigga ready to go in the booth.” Yung Gunner’s hood roots peaked as he thought of his family and homeboys out in Cali.
“The studio is next door. I want you to hear Rayne’s first single. It would be great if you could write something for the remix,” Chase said.
Yung Gunner nodded his head rapidly. “Say no more. I heard some of the track. I would love to be featured on the remix.” He walked next to Chase as Rayne sashayed a few steps ahead of them. The sway of her plump ass and curvaceous hips had Yung Gunner stealing glances every few seconds. He simply couldn’t help himself.
Rayne stopped at the doors to the studio and before she could open the door, Chase beat her to it. He held the door open for her and Yung Gunner followed behind. “This shit is sweet.” Yung Gunner nodded in approval as his eyes scanned the large plush studio. This was the most professional shit he saw thus far in his career and he was taking it all in. He stood in the middle of the room, while Chase and Rayne took two seats at the sound board.
Chase wasted no time starting up the track. Rayne’s mesmerizing voice boomed loudly in the room. Her heart fluttered every time she heard her song. Yung Gunner’s mind was already working in overdrive as he formulated some lyrics. He was feeling Rayne’s voice and the words she sung about made a verse come to him like it was nothing.
Yung Gunner took a seat on the couch in the back and pulled his phone out. His fingers glided across the screen as he wrote down everything that came to his mind.
Chase turned in his chair and smirked at the sight of the young rapper going to work on his phone. Without any hesitation, he started the track from the beginning and knew that, by the end of the night, Rayne was going to have a feature for her new single.
***
Brooke stood in the doorway of her home with the door pressed against her back. She had been standing there for over thirty minutes, just waiting for Chase to appear. Intense anxiety plagued her all throughout the day as she prepared for a conversation with him. Fear was the cause of most of it. The possibility of having her true love curse her existence for her past indiscretions was driving her crazy. “Where the hell is he?” Brooke pondered.
Two hours ago, Chase said he was headed her way, but he hadn’t made it there yet. He couldn’t have forgotten where his home was. Brooke shook her head and released a sigh. She was getting herself worked up and stressed out for a man that didn’t even want her. Brooke prayed every night for God to bring her family back together but after Quincy popped up, she knew her prayers were in vain. Chase would never come back home if all of her secrets were exposed. It boggled Brooke’s mind to no end that Quincy had appeared disguised as a legit business man. That man was as dirty as the bottom of his shoes. His presence in Atlanta would only bring terror on her and whomever else Quincy chose to involve in his masterplan to get his money back.
The thought of Quincy doing something to Chase came to Brooke’s mind but she told herself that he wouldn’t involve the father of her children. If he did, he would only regret it later. Chase wasn’t into the street shit, but Jeremy was a completely different story. Although he changed his life upon the start of A-town records, Brooke knew that a man like Jeremy would go back to being the same calculating, street nigga he was years ago, in order to protect his family and prospering business.
Brooke lifted her phone in her hand. She was about to call Chase and ask him if they could reschedule, but she already had a call coming in.
“Who the fuck is this?” The private number alarmed Brook slightly, as her phone vibrated in her hand.
No one walked around with a private phone number.
Most times, the caller was on some creep shit and didn’t want their personal number exposed. Brooke knew this because she did it every time she called one of Chase’s hoes. Her number would block them from linking her to the call and she would always deny that she was the culprit when Chase would bring it up.
Brooke raised an eyebrow while answering the call. The phone was placed to her ear as she gave no form of greeting.
“I didn’t think you were going to answer. You just keep proving me wrong Brooke,” Quincy said.
“Sadly, you keep proving me right. I knew it would be you.” It was easier for Brooke to put on a tough front through the phone. She was scared shitless as her eyes roamed around the outside of her home. The dark night prevented her from seeing anything or anyone, besides the plethora of tall trees that separated her home from the next one.
Brooke took three steps backwards and quietly closed the door. She pulled her keychain out of the pocket of her sweatpants. A small can of mace was attached to the keychain and Brooke would use it on anyone she needed to, to protect her family. Her paranoia was in overdrive as she tried to figure out how Quincy got her cell number.
“What do you want Quincy?” Brooke asked.
“Well, I was just calling to tell you the good news. I’ll be in the city for a few weeks. I’m sure we’ll be seeing each other very soon. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy your gift.”
The dial tone greeted Brooke’s ear as a hard knock on the front door made her jump. The phone slipped from her hand and dropped to the floor. Instead of going for her phone, Brooke held the mace up with her hand, caressing the top of the spray can. Brooke stepped over her phone and opened the door wide.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” Chase stepped back. He held a vase of roses in his hands.
The crazy look on Brooke’s face, along with the can of mace in her hand, caused Chase to wonder what the fuck was up with her.
“Oh my god Chase! You scared the shit out of me. Why wouldn’t you just use your key?” Brooke spun it on Chase, although she looked like a madwoman at the moment. Quincy was getting the best of her already.
Chase gave her a weird look. He walked past her and entered the house. Her phone lying on the floor piqued his interest. Something had her shook up and it wasn’t him. Since the video that mysteriously popped up at his studio, Chase couldn’t look at Brooke without wondering who the fuck she truly was. The person she presented herself to be around him and his family was simply an act. Chase didn’t look at her the same way anymore. Now, he was ready to get some answers to the questions that flooded his mind from the time he saw his child’s mother fucking two people in front of a camera, like it was an everyday occurrence.
Chase left Brooke standing in the foyer of their home. He sat the flowers down in the dining room and went upstairs to see his sleeping son.
“Mason is asleep Chase. Please don’t wake him up!” Brooke yelled from the bottom of the stairs.
Her loud voice would surely wake their three-year-old up before he did. Chase didn’t break his stride as he headed to his son’s bedroom. He didn’t plan on waking him up, but he did want to see him. A wide smile came to Chase’s face as he stood in front of Mason’s bed, where he was sleeping peacefully. Mason was the only thing Chase missed about being with Brooke. It pained him to go without seeing his son. He loved coming home to him every night and wanted nothing more than to be there when Mason woke up in the morning.
Chase found Brooke in the dining room, sniffing the flowers he had found on top of his car when he was leaving the studio. He was shocked to see a small card with only her name written on it. Rayne was a little pissed, but Chase had no idea who the flowers were from or why they were on his car and not Brooke’s.
“You have a secret admirer,” Chase announced.
Brooke turned to him. “I thought you got these for me.”
Chase shook his head. “You thought wrong Brooke. Why would I get you flowers? It’s not like we’re together right now. I found the flowers on top of my car when I leaving the studio.”
Brooke rolled her eyes at Chase and took a seat at the table. “Thanks for reminding me that we aren’t together. Care to tell me what you’re doing here?” Brooke wasn’t feeling his cold demeanor at all.
“I rather show you why I’m here. Come on,” Chase demanded, as he walked out of the room. Brooke was on his heels as she followed behind him.
They walked to the living room and Chase wasted no time retrieving the small disc that he had placed in his back pocket. Initially, he wasn’t going to show her the DVD but after thinking long and hard about the lies that would come out of Brooke’s mouth, he decided to show her what he saw. There would be no denying the evidence.
Brooke sat back on the couch and began twiddling her thumbs while Chase messed around with the DVD player. “Are we watching a movie?” Brooke chuckled nervously.
“Something like that. You should know. You’re the star of it.”
“What do you mean?”
Chase glanced back at Brooke. He walked over to the couch she was sitting on and picked up the remote that was tucked under Brooke’s thigh. He pressed the play button and silence took over the room.
Brooke frowned at the television screen. The homemade porno had her confused. Chase wasn’t coming over for some pussy and this video definitely wasn’t playing to get them in the mood.
“Really, Chase?” Brooke gazed at the side of his head. His eyes were locked on the large flat screen, like he was in a trance. He didn’t say anything.
Brooke turned her attention back to the television and her eyes widened. Her mouth was agape as the video captured a clear shot of her head. The visual of her on the screen caused her to shriek. Brooke had no idea when Chase received the video, but she knew who was responsible for him getting it. Quincy was wasting no time fucking up her life. Brooke stood up with her eyes fixated on the screen, just like Chase’s. The video was undoubtedly old, but it still caused shame to come over Brooke as she watched herself receive oral pleasure from a female she didn’t remember at all.
Chase peeped Brooke’s reaction and he figured she saw enough. He paused the clip. “It’s time for you to come clean about some shit. I’m getting videos of you sent to me and I have no idea why. What the hell are you into Brooke?”
******
Rayne and Winter were on the other side of town having a ball. Rayne was feeling herself after the successful studio session she had earlier. Yung Gunner had endless bars and he laid down two tracks after completing a verse for Rayne’s song. Chase was feeling his flow so much, he had to have Jeremy come hear the hot talent they had discovered. After hours in the studio, Chase ended their session so he could meet up with Brooke, much to Rayne’s dismay. She wanted to be by his side while he talked to Brooke, but she knew that wouldn’t happen. Unlike Rayne, who could control herself, Brooke had little control over what came out of her mouth. Rayne would be tempted to hit her if she said the wrong shit. Brooke already violated her once by popping up at her home. Rayne was done being nice to the bitch and, for that reason, Chase thought it was best to keep the two ladies apart.
“It is turnt up in here tonight.” Winter nodded in approval. Compound was crowded with partygoers. The ambiance of the club, combined with the hip hop hits coming from the DJ, had both sisters ready for a night of fun.
Rayne had called Winter after she showered to tell her about the wonderfully productive day she had. Winter took that as a sign to ask Rayne to come out for a few hours. Winter wanted a drink and Compound was one of the clubs where she could always find a baller willing to foot her bar tab. Not that she needed to, but it was always better to drink at the expense of someone else.
“You got me out in a club when I should be home waiting for my man,” Rayne told her sister.
Winter shrugged her off. “Who knows how long Brooke will keep Chase over there. Wouldn’t you rather be out, instead of at home waiting for him to come back?”
“Tr
ue,” Rayne agreed; she still didn’t plan on staying out long.
The two of them were sitting at the bar, both downing a long island iced tea. Out of the two of them, Winter was the drinker and she was always the last one standing. Rayne sipped her drink and nodded her head to the Future song playing. She couldn’t wait until it was her song playing in the crowded club.
The two sisters finished off their drinks and Winter took it upon herself to order them both a double shot of Patron silver.
“You’re trying to get me twisted tonight.” Rayne shook her head and didn’t reach for the shot glass in front of her.
Winter extended ten dollars to the bartender but he waved his hand. “It’s on the house. Some folks up in VIP took care of it.” He winked at the two sisters before going away to serve the next people waiting for a drink.
“Oh hell, you got niggas buying us drinks now? Chase is going to kill me.” Rayne was feeling the combination of the various liquors that were in the long island iced tea she had just finished. Winter, on the other hand, was just getting started and she had no plans of drinking alone. The fact that this round of shots was free made her want to go in even more.
Winter picked up her glass and picked Rayne’s up as well. She placed one of the shots up to Rayne’s mouth.
“Come on sis. This is the last one, I promise.” Winter smiled mischievously.
Rayne took the glass and moved it a few inches away from her face. “Last one my ass. You said we were only having one drink, Winter.”
“We did have one drink. Now, we’re having a shot. We have a good reason to celebrate tonight. You’re doing big things with Chase and I’m happy for you. Now, drink up.” Winter collided glasses with Rayne and tilted hers back. Her face didn’t change at all, as the Tequila made its way into her mouth and down her throat. It wasn’t a secret that Winter had inherited their mother’s ability to drink like a war veteran. She wasn’t a drunk, but she could hang with the best of them and not break a sweat.