"You think you such hot s.h.i.t. I can't wait for Sway to kick yo' uppity a.s.s to the curb."

"Well until he does get the h.e.l.l out of my face before you completely destroy what's left of my high," I said, swatting my hand, letting Tracy know I needed her gone like ten minutes ago.

As I was about to finish drinking the rest of my champagne I noticed I had ten missed calls and seven text messages on my iPhone. The music had been so loud I figured I didn't hear it ringing.

I didn't even bother to check the voice messages. I just checked out the text and one really caught my interest.

b.i.t.c.h u rock! U said u'd be a star...u on the way. U on all the blogs!

At first I didn't know what this text was all about. I put my champagne down, realizing if I wanted to get my thoughts together I didn't need to add anymore liquor to my system. Then it all started coming to me quickly. Oh s.h.i.t, the video must've dropped! n.o.body even gave me a heads up. But the director did say they were keeping it under-wraps until it officially dropped. But that dude Lorenzo promised he would call and let me know. It has been almost a month since I did it so yeah, I should've known it was coming out soon. f.u.c.k! I never got around to telling Sway. That n.i.g.g.a gon' spazz out. I'll work it out. As all these thoughts started swarming my head, they completely came to a halt when I heard this thunderous crash. It was so f.u.c.king loud that it made the music playing sound low.

"Turn that music the f.u.c.k off!" I saw Sway standing pointing his finger with big chunks of broken gla.s.s surrounding him.

Oh s.h.i.t, he knows!

"You disobedient hard-headed b.i.t.c.h!"

"Sway, I can explain."

"When the f.u.c.k did you do it?" I debated for a quick sec did I tell him the truth or lie.

"When we were in Miami but baby you need to calm down. You don't need to get upset."

"That baby s.h.i.t ain't gon' work this time, Dior. We were together every f.u.c.kin' minute of every f.u.c.kin' day, so you couldn't have done it while we were there, yo' lying a.s.s. Unless..." I could tell his mind was backtracking. "Unless, when early that next morning you said you had to catch the first flight out to Philly because you had just got word your mother was mad sick was some bulls.h.i.t? Did yo' scheming a.s.s make that s.h.i.t up?"

It had been so long that I had forgotten that was the story I used to get the f.u.c.k away from Sway and get my a.s.s on the video set. At the time it was the best excuse I could come up with, now it had me looking all sorts of trifling. I swallowed hard before answering. "Baby, calm down." I stood up and walked over to Sway and stroked the side of his face like I had done on so many other instances but my luck had ran out because I didn't get the usual response.

"b.i.t.c.h, don't touch me," Sway barked, knocking me down on the cold marble floor. "I told you I didn't want you doing that f.u.c.kin' video. Not only did you disobey me but you got me lookin' like a punk 'cause you went behind my back after I told everybody on set you belonged to me and you wasn't doin' that s.h.i.t."

"Sway, you blowing this outta proportion. Ain't n.o.body thinking that s.h.i.t! It's a f.u.c.kin' music video."

"Yeah, that yo' thirsty a.s.s had to be in. I hope it was worth it 'cause I'm done wit' yo' no good a.s.s. Get yo' s.h.i.t and get the f.u.c.k out my crib."

"Baby, you don't mean that. You can't be done wit' me over a video!"

"Do you know who the f.u.c.k I am! Don't n.o.body disrespect me especially not some ho that I put on the map! Now get yo' s.h.i.t and get the f.u.c.k outta here. f.u.c.k that! You ain't walking outta here wit' none of that s.h.i.t I bought you. If you not on my arm you ain't even worthy. Tracy, give Dior the clothes you came in."

I watched as Tracy hurried off to retrieve her clothes. She quickly returned and tossed them at me, thrilled to give me her hand me downs. She and Lori both stared at me with glowing smirks on their faces. They had been waiting for me to fall and felt no need to hide their enthusiasm of witnessing it firsthand. The same bodyguards that use to sniff after me like I was Queen of the world were now standing over me waiting for me to put on the clothes Tracy threw in my direction so they could escort me out.

With the glare of disdain coming from Sway I didn't bother to further try and plea my case. He had a point to make and unfortunately it was at my expense. So instead of fighting against it I took what little I had and left.

When I got to my apartment, I flopped down on the couch and ripped off the clothes I had no choice but to put on unless I wanted to walk down the street naked. Knowing I had been force to wear Tracy's clothes made me feel disgusting and cheap. I tossed them in the trashcan feeling slightly vindicated. As I walked back over to the couch it felt somewhat good to be back home in my own crib. It definitely wasn't close to being in Sway's penthouse or his condo or his mansion but at least it was my s.h.i.t that n.o.body could throw me out of and truth be told it was actually cute.

It was a one bedroom on the upper west side and when I first got it you couldn't tell me s.h.i.t. But when you start getting accustomed to living Sway's lifestyle a place like this makes you feel like you're two steps away from being in the poorhouse. Not wanting to focus on my misery I picked up the remote control and there was Phenomenon on 106 and Park about to debut his new video. I sat up and for the first time within the last couple of hours I was excited.

"Wow, I look f.u.c.kin' amazing!" I said out loud as the video played. They had my makeup, hair and clothes all on point. The quality of the video was top notch too, no low budget s.h.i.t going on. Then the scene came where I was wearing the gray lace bra and panty set. They had a shot of me standing, capturing a side angle but my face was looking directly into the camera. It was right before I walked over to the bed Phenomenon was waiting for me in. The way I straddled the n.i.g.g.a you would've thought we really f.u.c.ked and I was sure Sway was thinking the exact thing. The very idea of that made me smile. He tossed me out in the street like I was yesterday's trash. He needed to think that maybe I was somebody else's treasure. Seeing myself up there on the television screen killing it made me decide that I had made the right decision doing the video. Yeah I had lost Sway but if I worked my s.h.i.t right it would gain me so much more.

Lorenzo.

Whatever You Want.

"Yo, the streets is going wild over your new video."

"I know it's crazy. I had no idea that n.i.g.g.as and b.i.t.c.hes love to see you get lovey dovey wit' a fly a.s.s chick. If I knew I would get this kinda love, I woulda came wit' this from the jump!"

"Nah, you did the right thing going hard on your first joint. You need to always get them with that grimy s.h.i.t off the cuff, that's the only way you'll get that respect from the hood. Then when you come back with that mellow s.h.i.t everybody else gon' jump on board."

"Yo, Lorenzo, I think you right. If I had done this joint first they would see me strictly as a soft n.i.g.g.a, now I got them across the board."

"Now you get my point," I said, nodding my head as I sat in my car talking to Phenomenon on the phone.

"No doubt. And that was a d.a.m.n good look you getting me that chick Dior. I don't know how you pulled that s.h.i.t off. You know Sway dumped her behind that s.h.i.t," Phenomenon chuckled.

"Get the f.u.c.k outta here!"

"I'm serious!"

"How you know?"

"The n.i.g.g.a called me the same day the video dropped. First he was like, how you gon' disrespect me like that using my girl in the video when you knew I wasn't down for the s.h.i.t. I explained it was a business move and that was all. We was pressed for time and thought she was a fit for the job."

"What did he say when you told him that?"

"That n.i.g.g.a wasn't tryna here that s.h.i.t. He was acting like what he say go and that I f.u.c.ked up our relationship by disrespecting him the way I did. But our so called relationship was already dead when his punk a.s.s bolted from my video set without even doing his guest spot."

"But you still didn't tell me how you know he not wit' Dior no more."

"Oh, 'cause before he hung up the phone, he said some slick s.h.i.t like, I know you f.u.c.ked her and you can have her cause I don't want her tainted p.u.s.s.y no more."

"Word, that n.i.g.g.a said that."

"Sure did...that n.i.g.g.a crazy! Of course I didn't let his stupid a.s.s know otherwise but I was thinking if you let that bad b.i.t.c.h go 'cause you thought I got the p.u.s.s.y then you a fool." I listened as Phenomenon laughed, getting a kick at Sway's reaction to the situation. My thoughts instantly went to how Dior was coping with it. On one hand she was on the tip of everybody's tongue 'cause there was no denying homegirl was looking like the only thing smoking right now but on the flipside she lost what she considered her biggest a.s.set-Sway. I figured it was the perfect time to make another move. I knew she was probably feeling anxious to make sure she stayed in the spotlight. If she hadn't already, soon she would be scheming to find her next victim to stay relevant.

"That Sway cat is a piece of work. I guess everything they say about that n.i.g.g.a is true."

"Yeah, and then some. I hope I don't ever start feeling myself to that point. He probably got a kiss my a.s.s at all time contract you must sign before being a part of his inner circle." We were both laughing after Phenomenon said that s.h.i.t because it was highly likely there was some truth to it.

"You ain't got to worry, I won't let you."

"I know that's right!"

"So where you at now?"

"In Atl. I'm performing at some club tonight. You know they got me doing mad club dates and s.h.i.t before my alb.u.m drop."

"Yeah, I know. That road s.h.i.t is draining but it's gon' pay off, watch when them first week numbers come in."

"True, but yo, whatever I gotta do. I've been wantin' this s.h.i.t for so long that if I have to live on the road for the next two years to blow up and get this fame s.h.i.t then that's what I'll do. Ain't no turning back now."

When Phenomenon said that, my mind again went back to Dior because she too craved that exact same fame. I wanted to call her as soon as I got off the phone with Phenomenon but I had been parked outside Lala's crib for awhile and I saw her peeping out her window a few times. It would be rude to keep having long a.s.s conversations when she knew I was basically right at her front door.

"I know you gon' handle yo' s.h.i.t tonight so I'll hit you up tomorrow."

"That works, man." When I hung up with Phenomenon I went straight to Lala's door. She had it open before I even made it to the top stair.

"I was starting to wonder if you were ever coming in," Lala smiled.

"Sorry 'bout that. I was handling some business."

"Aren't you always? With all the work you do I hope you make some time for fun. That was something Darnell rarely did. You seem to be just like him in that way and now he's gone. You can't make up for lost time Lorenzo."

"Don't compare me to Darnell."

"I wasn't doing that." I could see the startled reaction on Lala's face because of what I said. "But would it be so bad if I was? Darnell was your friend."

"I just don't like to be compared to other people, friend or no friend. So where is Tania?" I asked trying to skip over this topic. Hearing that n.i.g.g.a's name still put me in a bad mood and that was no fault of Lala.

"My mom took her to a birthday party."

"The last few times I've been here she's always gone, Tania's schedule busier than mine." I was able to put a smile on Lala's face with my comment which I was happy about. I tried to avoid any sort of conversation about Darnell because I loathed him but that was something Lala could never know. No matter what she always managed to make him a part of our discussion. It concerned me that soon there would come a point that I wouldn't be able to conceal my contempt for him.

"Maybe you should consider calling ahead of time so we can plan for your arrival instead of just popping up," Lala suggested.

"I never thought about it but you might be right."

"I am. I'm sure Tania would love if you came over and had dinner with us and so would I. You've done so much for us I want to do something for you."

"I told you, Lala, you don't owe me nothing."

"I know that but I like when you come by. I enjoy your company. I guess what I'm trying to say is that you don't have to just stop by when you're dropping off money. You're welcome anytime."

For the first time I paid close attention at the way Lala looked at me. I couldn't lie and say that the last few times I came by I got some sort of vibe from her but the thought went as fast as it came. But there was no denying now that the vibe was real.

Lala had her hair pulled back off her face with nothing to hide what was going on behind her eyes. Her face was almost angelic like Tania's except she wasn't a child she was a grown woman with s.e.xual appeal. As fine as Lala was, I didn't want to go there. I could see the s.h.i.t getting messy for a few reasons and I didn't need any of them in my life.

"I have to be going but let Tania know I stopped by and I'll be back to see her soon," I said, putting my usual envelope full of money on the table.

"I will and I hope you'll consider my offer for dinner," Lala responded by putting her hand on top of mine as I sat the envelope down.

"I'll consider it."

"That's all I'm asking, Lorenzo." I knew Lala was asking for a lot more but since I had no intentions in complying with any of it I left it alone.

"I'll see you later, Lala." I could hear her saying something but I blocked it out as I made my exit. It was easy for me to erase what had just happened from my mind because I immediately dialed Dior's number as I was headed to my car.

"h.e.l.lo," she answered in a curious voice. I knew she didn't recognize the number so I was glad she picked up.

"What's up, Dior."

"Who is this?"

"Lorenzo."

"Lorenzo! I been waiting for you to call me. What happened to you giving me a heads up before the video dropped...huh?"

"I apologize. I got caught up in some s.h.i.t and honestly it slipped my mind. But you came out looking like a star so it's all good."

"That ain't the point. You was supposed to give me time to get s.h.i.t straight with Sway."

"You right. Again, I apologize but as savvy as you are I'm sure you smoothed things over with him," I said pretending not to know that Sway had dismissed her.

"So what do you want, Lorenzo?"

"Checking up on you, seeing how s.h.i.t was poppin' now that you were a star."

"Star, hum if you say so," she answered sarcastically.

"I know yo' phone been ringing off the hook since the video came out."

"Nope, just the opposite. I believe Sway's petty a.s.s shut all that s.h.i.t down."

"You might be right 'cause everybody buzzin' 'bout that video and especially you. But don't sweat that. What I'm about to tell you will no doubt put a smile on your face."

"It will?" she asked as if in complete shock.

"Yep. This should make up for me forgetting to call you about the video in advance."

"What is it...tell me!" her voice had now gone from having a p.i.s.sed off att.i.tude to hopeful excitement.

"They're going to shoot you to be on the next cover of King Magazine."

"Stop lyin'!"

"I ain't lyin'."

"The cover, not some inside one page booty shot?"

"Nope, that would be takin' a step back. How you gon' go from lead of Phenomenon's new video to that. It's the cover, baby."

"Don't play, Lorenzo! How the f.u.c.k did you manage that?"

"Money can do wonders, everybody gotta price."

"I can't believe you did that for me."

"Dior, I told you whatever you want. You think you need Sway to get to the top but money can get you there just as fast if not faster."