VINNIE

Most of my decisions in life were made in fear of failure. I always had something to prove, someone to please, and standards to uphold for myself. Nothing was done off impulse, I had too much at stake. Then, I met Bria.
I was in my mid twenties finally discovering what my purpose in life was. Kinda like it happened with a snap of a finger. One day, I was just King Vinnie of OTF. Rolling with Durk, and doing what I had to do to survive this world living as a black man from Chicago. Then literally the next, I was Dayvin. And, Dayvin wasn't scared to fail. He didn't have anything to prove, no one to please, nor standards beyond his personal boundaries. I was spontaneous for once in my life. I must admit, I loved it.
"Oh shit..." I said with a strain as I stretched. It was about eighty degrees outside, the backseat of my car was pushing ninety. My skin was sticky to the touch, while Bria's was sweating bullets. She attempted to snuggle her body close to mine, but her face was met with scorching leather. She then reverted back to her last position, as if she'd done it a few times already. "Bria.." I tapped her thigh and she sat up almost immediately. Her eyes were halfway open, scanning the car.
"Why is it so fucking hot?... where's my clothes?" She grumbled as she searched.
"I didn't expect for us to fall asleep in-"
"Shhh!" She ducked her head low behind the passenger seat. "You hear that?" A wave of near voices and random crowds of black people started forming in front of the hotel. Bria balled up behind the seats as if my 5% tints wasn't doing it's job already. I snatched our clothes from the front seat and we got dressed as quickly as possible. Something was going wrong. No matter how many times I called Durk, he just didn't answer. Bria was jittery, breathing heavy, and her phone lit up the minute she turned it back on. "Oh my god.."
"What is it?" I said.
"Um.. nothing. I need to talk to Durk."
"Well, how are we gonna get inside without anyone seeing us?"
"I work here, remember?" She said.
"Right, you lead the way." We scrambled through the parking lot to a side entrance of the hotel.
"This elevator will take us to his floor but-"
"We need to be discreet, let's take the stairs."
"Yeah, but you don't seem like the kind of guy who likes to walk up 5 flights of stairs. Besides, we already gotta walk to the other side of the building to get to his room."
"You right, elevator it is." I chuckled while pressing the Up button. When we got off the elevator, we rushed down the hall and around the corner. Then, we heard shouting and banging. Before we turned the last corner that lead us to Durk's room, I stopped and I pulled Bria beside me. "Shhh.."
Bang! Bang! Bang! "Durk, Open up this fucking door!!" Royale shouted. But, that's not what was worrying me.
"Girl, he prolly got that hoe in there with him. And if he do, we gone get that hoe in live!" Her infamous Bestfriend Megan said. That was my queue.
"It's time for you to go." I grabbed Bria's hand as I sprinted towards the elevator. When we made it to the second floor, the doors opened. A man stepped in and mugged Bria for a few seconds before she responded with a squeeze on my arm and watering eyes that she never took off of him. I had bout two inches on him, but he didn't hesitate size me up. He lifted his shirt to reveal a black handle to whatever he was carrying. Of course, lil niggas always jump. But, I use hands. The elevator doors opened to the first floor and I pushed Bria out in front of me as I walk behind. "If you was really bout that action, you wouldn't need that. And fasho, it wouldn't be over no female." I chuckled. He sucked his teeth reached for Bria, but I pushed him back. "See, this is what we not gone do."
"Bria, you got two seconds."
"Or what, Rodney?" She said. Her lips quivered in fear but she tried to keep a poker face. I didn't know what I got myself into, but dying at that moment wasn't an option. Rodney reached for his gun, but before he could pulled it out, the elevator doors opened again and Bria & I both pushed him. Luckily, we missed the woman exiting the elevator. Who happened to block us from his view as we ran through the side door we entered just minutes before.
"My car, I'm taking you home." I said.
"No, I'm not going home." She said as she grabbed her keys out of her purse.
"You sure you-"
"Yes. Thank you." She grabbed my hand and slightly smiled. "Now, hurry back before Megan gets suspicious." She gave me a wink as she climbed in the front seat of her car.
"According to our bet last night, I'll see you soon?" She bit her bottom lip and turned the key in the ignition.
"Maybe, you got my number." She said with a smile, then she shrugged as she backed out of the parking space and pulled off.

ROYALE

Being in a relationship with a rapper as big as Durk, you gotta have thick skin. By thick, I mean impenetrable. The world's watching you, and every move you make will stick to not only your name. But, his. And, your kid's too. When we first got together, none of the politics mattered. I didn't have to try to move privately because no one was looking at us. Durk wasn't anywhere near as big as he is today. I've watched first hand while his fame came into fruition. That's when I was trapped. In order for our relationship to work, I had to submit to his lifestyle. While I was doing that, my life was constantly being put on the back burner.
So, I became this perfect house wife. I had some kids and stayed my ass at home. Meanwhile, my friends get to flourish in their entrepreneurship. Like Megan, she was out there making money doing club appearances, brand deals, and selling hair. Only thing I could brag about was how faithful my man was and his success. Well, that didn't last long. One day, Durk decides to host a live on Instagram and flirt with bitches. To make matters worse, this mothafucka drove to Ohio just to meet up with some bitch he was talking to on Live. Bet. So, what did I do? I dropped India off at my moms, and I call Megan. Megan tells me she knew exactly what hotel Durk was at and that she'd take me to it.
"It's two in the afternoon, he's not sleep. So, I don't know why he wouldn't be answering my fucking calls." I said as I beat on the hotel room door.
"It's cause he know he bout to get caught up." Meg said. She held her phone out as she recorded me on live.
"Do you have to be recording right now?"
"Yes, I want everybody to see this dirty bitch."
"Girl, you are a trip." I said as I rolled my eyes. I banged on the door one last time before Durk's security and manager ran towards us down the hallway. One of security used a key card to let us into the room.
"Hello, Ladies." Shawn, the manager, greeted us as he walked in behind us. I didn't even pretend to be interested in him speaking and went straight for the bedroom door. I flung the door open to see Durk sleeping as if he hadn't heard me banging on the door for close to thirty minutes. Megan stood in the doorway pointing the camera at the bed, I grabbed onto the covers and gave them a good yank. Revealing Durk with nothing but his boxers on. He woke up instantly frowning at me. My stomach twisted as I realized that no one was in bed with him and I began looking around frantically for proof of something or someone being there.
"Megan, what the fuck." Vinnie walked up to Meg and snatched her phone, turning off the live.
"It's a bitch in here somewhere, where is she!?" She said. Vinnie pushed her to the side and slammed the door shut, leaving me alone in the room with Durk.
"Royale, have you lost your fucking mind?" Durk said. He took a deep breath and rubbed his face. I checked the bathroom, and then the closet, and nothing. There was nothing.
"You came out here to meet someone, didn't you? You're cheating and-"
"So, you go live and record me sleeping in my draws?" He shook his head with disgust as he sat up against the headboard.
"I saw your live from last night, what did you-"
"But what possessed you to go live -"
"DID YOU JUST HEAR WHAT I SAID?!" His eyes widened and he got off the bed. He got dressed and completely ignored my presence. I tugged at his arm and he snatched away from me. "So, we're not gonna talk about this?" He ignored me and went into the bathroom to brush his teeth. There was a knock at the door and I opened it to see Shawn staring with concern.
"Umm, we gotta go. Like ASAP. More press is making their way out here the longer we stay." He said. My heart dropped and I bit the inside of my cheek.
"Press? There wasn't any when I got here." I said.
"Yeah, well your two hour long live video is what brought them here. You told them exactly where you were going." He said. He pierced his lips together and gave me a look of disappointment. Durk walked out of the bathroom abruptly, with fire in his eyes. Shawn must've known he'd be upset.
"Say what you just said." Durk said.
"Everybody knows your location because of her and Megan's live video." He repeated.
"I'm sorry, I-" I said. Durk grabbed his duffel bag and started shoving all his belongings in.
"Shawn, take her back home. I'll check myself out." Durk said.
"No, I'm riding with you-"
"Royale, I'm not dealing with yo shit right now! Shawn, take her home. Or, you better ride back with Megan. Cause, you not riding with me." He pushed pass me to get to his shoes. I picked up the cover and set it back on the bed and sat on the side. I took a few deep breaths as my stomach continued to knot up. I couldn't even look him in the eye, how could I accuse him of cheating and he's never cheated before? But, then I saw it. While my cheeks are warming up and I'm feeling exposed because of the assumptions I was making... I finally had proof. I wasn't crazy, I knew someone had been in that room. In the corner off my eye, peeking out from underneath the bed was a lavender scrunchie. I pretended to lift a falling edge of the cover off the ground as I grabbed the scrunchie. I snuck it into my back pocket and fixed my eyes on Durk. His low down and dirty ass thought he was clever. But, I always find what I'm looking for.
"Alright, bae. I'll see you at home." I said as I exited the room to find Megan.

DURK

Just when I thought nothing could get any worse, it did. When Shawn told me to tell Royale, I didn't think she'd go as far as causing a scene when she got suspicious. How was I supposed to explain that to Mona? Shit like that is what gets opportunity taken from you. But, even if Royale secured her spot on the show, she ruined her chance. I now had to go back home, which meant not signing Caly. And to if Royale was mad about Caly, she's gonna be hurt when she finds out she ruined her only chance to be on the show.
"Checking out early?" The receptionist asked.
"Yeah, just gotta get back home." I replied. I could hear some women in the back snickering and everyone walking by eyes are on me. Security made sure I got to my car untouched. I called Caly a few times, but it went straight to voicemail. So, I decided to leave one. "Hey Caly, it's Tay. Something came up and I had to go back home earlier than I planned. As far as the business plan, I'm not sure we'll be able to do it anymore. I'm sorry, I wish I had better news. Hopefully, one day, I'll see you again. Take care." After hanging up the phone, I started my car and was on my way back home. They say the drive back home is always the shortest. For me, it felt like forever. I couldn't listen to music, and I had a heaviness in my chest that only grew the closer I got to home.
"Hello?" I answered the phone.
"Mona, wants to meet up tomorrow morning at nine." Shawn said.
"Alright, and how is this gone go? I don't have anybody signed."
"What do you mean? I thought you got somebody last night?"
"I told her she had until tomorrow to make her choice and I haven't been able to get ahold of her thanks to the media."
"Durk, we don't got until tomorrow. She should've been in Chicago tonight."
"Tell me something I don't know. We don't have anybody to bring to this meeting tomorrow."
"Just pick another girl from last night and fly her out tonight."
"No, Im not doing it. At this point, I don't even care if Royale's apart of it. Especially not after the shit she just pulled."
"Man, I told you to-"
"Yeah, yeah. Ion wanna hear none of that shit."
"Alright well, if you not signing nobody make sure you at that meeting by yourself, Durk."
"Man listen, Just send the car." I said before hanging up.

💭💭💭

What do you think about Vinnie & Bria?

What do you think Rodney will do the next time he's mentioned?

Is Megan a good influence on Royale?

How do you feel about Royale?

Based of her finding Caly's Scrunchie, Is Royale valid in her assumption that Durk cheated on her?

In your opinion, did Durk cheat on her?

Where would you like the story to go?

Should Caly be signed to the label?