Page 77 of Beautiful Noise
I laughed and nodded before I gripped the back of her neck and stole a kiss. “Sex, yeah, she was cool people though. She didn’t want shit from me but my dick and she was too damnold for me to be busting my first nut with honestly but shit happens.”
“Wait, she was your first?” Kori’s eyes went wide.
“Yeah.”
“Your first sexual encounter was in a studio with an older woman?”
I nodded and she frowned. “How much older?”
“I don’t know. Late twenties, maybe early thirties.”
“You wereeighteen?”
“I was also very aware of what I was doing and who I was doing it with. No one took advantage of me, but we’re getting sidetracked by the point.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Which is?”
I grinned and kissed her again. “That was the first of many. Women served a purpose in my life. My career was the priority so I never wanted commitment. And before you ask why now again, the answer is, my career is and has always been the one constant in my life until now. There has to be more than just music. You inspired lyrics before I ever touched you which proved therecouldbe more than just music. I needed to explore the possibility and I’m glad I did because whether we make sense or not, everything about us works.”
“And what happens when itdoesn’twork?”
“We adjust because that’s how relationshipswork. People change and grow, together and apart, but when you’re with the right person,yourperson, the growth is a bonus. We’ll work, Ri, as long as we’re both willing and want this. I’m promising you I’ll do my part. For the first time in my life, the priority extends beyond just the music.”
“Such a poetic declaration. Keep it up and I might just believe you really want something serious with me,” she teased, reaching for her phone and frowning at the number that flashed across her screen. “I wonder why Chantel is calling me? I sentmy notice before we left for Houston but I wouldn’t think it matters with everything going on. Maybe she wants to officially fire me.”
I froze, realizing Kori still didn’t know her old boss was the reason her face and personal information was leaked all over the internet. Nor did she know the reason Chantel was calling had to do with my team pulling up on her with a threat of a federal indictment as soon as Kori filed the official report. A report I also hadn’t mentioned to her.
Things were good after we left for Houston. She was happy and I didn’t want to fuck that up by revisiting the reason I wanted her here in the first place. Well not the only reason, but one of them. I wanted her with me and using the trip as a reason to keep her detached from the bullshit that ensued prior to us leaving was only a small part of the plan. She was, however, about to find out what I’d learned from Wil after we made it to the hotel and he called to let me know he’d set things in motion back in Atlanta.
“Hello…”
I could hear a woman’s angry, high-pitched voice screaming through Kori’s phone but the way her expression turned hard was proof enough that the call wasn’t friendly.
“I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about and you need to lower your damn voice and stop screaming at me before I end this call.”
I hadn’t been able to move quick enough to prevent her from answering but I managed to get the phone from her hand and place the call on speaker in time to catch Chantel going in.
“Bitch, I helped you and this is how you repay me. You send people to threaten me. These are federal charges; I can go to prison.”
“That’s exactly where the fuck you’re going because it’s what you deserve. You put Kori’s personal business out there and puther life in danger. Do you know how crazy things could have gotten if someone decided to pull up on her just because you wanted to make a few dollars?”
“What is she talking about?” Confusion settled on Kori’s face but Chantel wasted no time offering clarity.
“So this is him and not you?” she sneered.
“Yeah, it’s me and I’m only getting started. Call her again and you’ll see just how far I’m willing to go to fuck up your life for messing with hers.”
I stabbed my finger against the device to end the call and slammed it on the floor next to me.
“What is she talking about?”
“I told you I would figure things out. My people did some digging and learned Chantel Dior was the person who leaked your information online but she also sold it to several media outlets.”
“She’s the one?”
“Yeah.”
“How long have you known?”