He gave me a side eye like I was lying to him. “Keep it real, Porsha. You know your mama was out here blasting all kinds of shit with you in the car.”
I pushed him because his ass was laughing too damn hard. Toots ain’t hide anything from us so he wasn’t lying. “I’mma tell her you talking shit.”
He didn’t even flinch because he knew my mama adored him without me saying anything. “Tell her. You know her ass ain’t gone do shit but agree and laugh.” He was looking at me again and before I could ask what he was thinking, he spoke up. “You talking so passionately you sure you don’t want to be an A&R?”
“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 intoFinesse. 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 atLyrically 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 wrongmove. 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 forLyrically 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?”
