Page 37 of For the Love of City

“Hell no. Even though I can spot talent that doesn’t mean it’s what I want to do.

I just hate bullshit. Now style wise is different.

When Lyric reached out, I didn’t have to make her into Finesse .

I didn’t want to change her and I loved that she was going to be who she was, without a doubt.

Most record execs see somebody and want to change them but she wasn’t going for it. I’m glad y’all aren’t either.”

He took a step back and snapped his fingers as he pointed at me. “You saying all this reminds me. We were talking about having you come to work with us.”

“Who is us and what is us thinking I’m going to do and where?”

“Ain’t nobody trying to have you swallowing balloons to move across the border, baby. We’re talking about having you with us at Lyrically Sound . We want you to work your magic. Lyrie told me way back then how you took her style and elevated it. It was still her but slightly more polished.”

“She refused to get rid of her fucking black Ones.” I was so disgusted that this pretty ass little girl was walking around wearing black Air Force One’s like they were a security blanket.

“Aye, she needs those to stomp somebody out.” He defended Lyric as he walked toward the mini bar set up in his office to grab us some water.

I folded my arms as I looked at him like he’d lost his mind. He sounded way too sure that he was going to convince me to wear a pair. “Those are the shoes of a serial killer, City.”

The sides of his mouth dipped down as he smiled. “I mean…”

“And where are yours?”

“I been through a few pairs. But back to the topic at hand.”

Corey extended the bottle to me like it was no big deal how he was glossing over what he said and I knew better than to ask for details. Instead of playing with my life I cracked open the bottle and took a chug.

“I feel like you’re just offering me this because I was over here complaining. I promise I’m not about to jump off a building or nothing.”

“You not complaining. You’re discussing with me the path you want your life to take. Since we in this shit together, I’m honored that you trust me to see you being vulnerable. Old Porsha would just fake it until she made it.”

“Thank you.”

I appreciated that he knew just how much it took for me to trust him with this. With me and my fears of making the wrong move. Even though he hadn’t said it, I knew City would catch me if I failed and that surety meant everything.

“We were already thinking of what you need on your behalf. Whatever concerns or shortcomings or misgivings you had, God heard them and then put a bug in my ear about where we might be able to help. When you’re walking in your purpose, everything will fall into place.”

“So, what is this grand proposal?”

I couldn’t lie like I wasn’t interested in what he had to say. Helping people feel good about themselves in every aspect was something I would love to do.

“For you to come on full time and style our artists for Lyrically Sound .”

“Not just hair?”

Corey laughed as his eyes traveled from my feet to the top of my head. “Nah. You have a great eye for shit that just works. You care enough to give advice on people without changing them. This label means too much to us for us to have someone come in and rock the boat with what they think is good.”

“So you really want this to be a full family type thing.”

He paused his water that was heading to his lips. “You finally admitting your ass is family?”

“I mean you really just doing this while I’m having a crisis?”

“You not having a crisis you just ignoring what the hell I just told you was gone happen.”

“Oh, you telling me what to do?”

His eyes went directly to my pussy like he was silently challenging me. “I can’t?”

My thighs squeezed together but I wasn’t going to say anything to feed his ego. “Shut up, City.”

“I see you ain’t deny it. This is just something for you to take under advisement.

You could have a whole crew or work by yourself.

Most stylist charge a per diem and then an hourly rate to get looks put together.

You’d be saving us money while making bread.

And you could still service the people at your salon and run your wig shit. ”

“This sounds busy.”

“Photoshoots and tours are all scheduled far in advance. If it’s something short notice, you ain’t got to handle it. Lyric said you had a makeup artist in your shop that was hungry. She can definitely be a part of your team.”

I nodded because he sounded like he had already put thought into this. I was warming up to the idea but would still have to figure out how to talk money and not make it awkward. I didn’t want to overcharge, but my time would need to be compensated.

My face perked up thinking that Candace might be able to make her dream of breaking into the industry come true on a bigger scale. “She’s used her for the last few things she did and was really happy.”

“You’ve been in the backrooms so you know what to expect when it comes to all of this. Have your department or whatever and put who you need in place. They’ll work on a per diem but you’ll be on a salary. And nah, I’m not paying you in dick, Pretty.”

“I get that for free. Imagine me working for dick. Pfft. But what if you guys sign someone I don’t vibe with?”

“Then you don’t work with them. Simple as that. You think I’m gonna have you out here with a nigga that makes you uncomfortable? You know me better than that.”

“And how is our situation going to affect us working together?”

“Our situation is only going to make it better. My whole family works for this. You think I’m not going to make sure my woman ain’t eating off this shit too?”

“You really aren’t joking. How does the money work out? You making budgets? They need to pay you back?” ‘Cause he was a nice man but I didn’t want him getting taken advantage of.

“Not initially. We want people hungry but not out here looking unloved. I don’t want them spending their advance on stupid shit but they also not finna walk around in labels all day doing nothing on our dime.

Hell, Ion’t even do that. I’m from the A, a white tee and some jeans will always be our unofficial uniform.

Ion’t give a fuck about what them young niggas doing now. ”

I grinned at his words because he sounded like an old man just now. “You sound old as shit.”

“I feel like this solves your issues. It lets you still have your own hours, schedule your people and still have a new adventure without running around the world unless you want to.”

“This sounds like favoritism. Somebody might have an issue with it.”

His brows dipped and he looked like he couldn’t give a fuck less. “And? You think somebody gone come in our shit and tell us how to run it? Like somebody gone tell Travis what talent is good and Lyric what rhymes to write?”

I chuckled because City was very clearly all up and through Corey’s space. “So y’all gone run this just like the street.”

“The music industry was the original gang shit to be real. Pay for play. The mob getting involved deep in this. Keeping people in three sixty deals and then taking them out when they no longer served you. This move is more lateral than anything if I’m keeping it a buck.”

“You are scarily accurate with that.”

“I know you gotta go back to work and shit, but you coming by later, right? This meeting ain’t gone take too long and then we can head to this wedding thing tomorrow.”

“That works. I’ll see you tonight.”

“Why you frowned up?”

We’d finished dinner and now I had to turn my brain to getting ready for Yzzy’s wedding tomorrow.

They didn’t want to do anything too big so Yz didn’t even want to have a big bridal party.

We’d thrown her a bridal shower but even that was kept low key by our standards.

She was happy and they were only having their siblings stand up with them.

Candace was going to do her makeup as part of a gift from me but we didn’t have to be there any earlier than the regular guests.

My dress was already picked up from the dry cleaners and hanging in my closet ready for me to wear it. But I still had a problem.

“I need to wash my hair and my arms are tired.”

“They should be. You just did all them heads at your shop and then went and started working on custom orders. Your hands probably cramped up and I know you tired.

“But I can’t be outside looking crazy tomorrow. Fuck. Makes me want to shave my fucking head.”

“You don’t want to just slap another wig on that and be done?”

“The thought crossed my mind because nobody is gonna know, but it’s been a few weeks. I hate going too long without having my hair done for real. But I know you don’t understand that. Besides, I planned to wear my hair out tomorrow.”

His eyes lit up because Corey seemed to be fascinated with my natural hair.

When he saw it for the first time and realized it was longer than most of the wigs I wore he didn’t understand why I wore wigs.

I told him it was because of the wigs that my hair flourished.

I’d allowed shitty hair care practices to damage my own.

Which is when I realized that wigs were my thing.

Especially given the artistry of wigs back in the early 2000s.

Between that and extensions, I got my hair back healthy but I rarely wore it out.

“Oh, we doing it big then.”

His excitement made me laugh but if I could just get to sleep I wouldn’t be mad. “You think I can stretch this one more day?”

His eyes scrutinized my hairline and I knew he was seeing all the things I did: Lace that wasn’t lifting but wasn’t crisp. Hair that needed a good wash and condition the way my natural hair did.

“Pretty, I’m not gone lie to you, that shit needs to be touched up or sum’.”