The House

Nicki was on stage for the second night in mid October. It was an outdoor men's club house. It has about ten long tables and a stage that was placed in the middle. She stood firmly on it and moved her hips to the right then to the left then rolled her body forward. The crowd went wild as she began whine her hips lower then came back up and gripped the pole and used her upper body strength to pull herself up. She lifted her legs above her head and grabbed the pole with her legs and rolled her body side to side. Safaree watched from the crowd with amazement at her new tricks. He hadn't been watching her shows the last few weeks because he was behind the scenes making sure that money was right and adding up correctly. He watched as she fell down into a split then pushed up on her hands in a handstand stance. With her legs spread she flipped backwards and the music began to play as she danced around and he laughed at her using the dance moves he had taught her when they were on his rooftop at his condo. He watched a few more minutes then headed back to the office. His account and Lawyer sat on the sofa when he stepped in. They both had smiles on their faces as they looked over the computer screen they were looking at.

"Lloyd, you should really think about marketing her and this..."

He looked at the screen and looked at her as if she was crazy. There was an article about him possibly sleeping with Nicki, along with the fact that he had invested in her and that she was his new business plus some. He grabbed his phone, but Paula quickly took it from him. He knew there was more because she knew exactly what he was about to do. She grabbed the laptop and the books and showed him exactly what she was trying to do. Everything important or urgent was in red, blue was up for tossing and yellow was shared ideas or possible change. He looked over the red and frowned at the picture of him and Nicki on a celebration brunch two days ago.

"I'm not going to start a fake relationship because of the media... You know how I am..."

"But this could be a good thing! It would bring in more money because there would be more talk about it and scandal. Like? Everyone wants to know the dirt on the manager fucking the client! You guys could even do a dance duet."

She snuck in the last part looking him over. Dancing was something that used to matter to him, but now that was the last thing on his mind. Paula pushed her lips to the side and thought for a few minutes. He looked at his watch then back up at her and she began smiling before she spoke a new idea to him.

"What about the other marketing suggestions? Cookie Sastification Shirts, Mugs, VIPs and other things?"

"VIPs?"

"Yeah, we think it would nice to, you know, have her interact with her fans..."

"You want her to be in a VIP room with a bunch of thirsty niggas... Paula, get real."

"So? That's more money in our...."

"Paula, you know that's not how I do business! I need my client as comfortable as possible. And you really don't know her.... That's not a possibility."

"She loves fame..."

"Being in a room full of niggas is different from fame... Paula don't be stupid."

She sat on the chair across from where he stood and pouted. Any other time, he would go with her flow and start a marketing campaign, but this time he wasn't and she couldn't figure out why and what was happening to the old Lloyd. They all looked towards the door as Nicki rushed in with a big smile plastered across her face in her robe. She pushed up on her tip-toes and wrapped her arm around Safaree's neck. He smiled and hugged her back.

"You finally came to watch me dance!"

"I've seen you dance before... I saw you doing my move."

"You like?"

She asked looking up at him with big doe eyes. He melted seeing her face so bright and happy. Paula saw their affection and new exactly what it was now. He was falling in love with her and she couldn't have that. This was interfering with business. She cleared her throat interrupting their whispering back and forth. Nicki turned to her with attitude which they all saw, but nobody addressed it. Safaree smiled loving this new side of her. 

"I heard you guys discussing something when I came by earlier, but I didn't want to interrupt."

She looked up at Safaree and smiled with her head titled to the side. He let her go and she furrowed her eyebrows not liking the frown on his face. She looked back to his lawyer and accountant, who didn't look moved then turned back to him. He wasn't sad, but she knew he had something on his mind. She rocked side to side before huffing loudly at the silence. She whipped her head around with her body following towards Paula. Nicki vibed her and sized her up. This was the first time, she had met her and she couldn't figure out, why she didn't like her. Who is this bitch?

"Hi, Nicki... I'm Paula... I'm Lloyd's accountant and business advisor."

"Hey."

"We're just purposing new ideas to your manager. Would you like to see them?"

"Yes."

She said with a serious demeanor. She walked over to the computer and looked quietly over the documents that were on the screen. She read the article then looked back at Safaree. She turned her attention back to the screen then shrugged. She didn't really care about the article, but she thought the marketing was boring and wanted something bigger than just cups, T-shirts and such for men. She cleared her throat then stepped back into Safaree and grabbed the back of his head and pulled him down to her level. She whispered in his ear as he nodded then she tightened her robe and left out the room.

"We'll discuss it tonight then I'll get back to you guys with a contract... Write up yours and we'll see.."

Paula smiled finally getting what she wanted. She grabbed up her briefcase and stuffed everything back into it then went and hugged Safaree then left.

"What was that about?"

"What?"

"You and Shorty..."

"Nothing... She just said we'll discuss it over dinner."

"Ya'll dating? What's up, Bruh?"

"Dave..."

"Bro, you got that look again... Chill before you lay your heart out there again."

"I'm good.... It's not like that. It's just been cool to have a friend around the house..."

"She's staying with you?!"

His lawyer shouted in a questioning way. He began to pace the floor as Safaree stayed quiet not knowing if he should answer or just chill. He didn't know that he had already landed one foot in the door way of mixing business with pleasure. Any type of relationship besides the one of professionalism with Nicki was pleasure. Safaree knew this, but he couldn't shake her and leave her on the streets with nothing. 

"I can't believe you? Four years and this is when you want to fuck up?"

"We aren't sleeping together..."

"It's only a matter of time... You need to kick her out."

"Serious, G?"

"As ever... If Paula knew this... You'd be dead right now. What have we taught you? Nothing!"

"Business before Pleasure.. Money by all means, but am I suppose..."

"You could've paid for her a hotel or rented one out to her... You knew..."

"I wasn't thinking, G, but I promise on my father, we never fucked."

"You need to get her moved out before someone catches wind of this and it be all over the papers."

"Alright."

"I'm not playing."

"I got it."

He said lowly as Dave grabbed the door, shaking his head on his way out. Nicki stepped in soon after with a smile on her face. She closed and locked the door. She walked around and sat on his lap with a plate in her hand. She sat it on the desk and pulled the foil off and revealed a plate of spaghetti, garlic bread and corn. He looked at her then at the plate again. She grabbed the fork and swirled some of the spaghetti on the fork, grabbed the bread and placed it to his mouth that open and ate the foods together.

"You like? I made it for you... I know you said you love spaghetti and... Well, I can make it."

She smiled as he grabbed the fork from her and began tearing up the food. She loved watching him eat, it made her feel good that a man enjoyed her cooking. He would open his mouth to take a bite of bread the stuff his mouth with more food. He was down to his last bite of bread and spaghetti and looked at her for more. She went to put the bread in his mouth and his lips wrapped around her fingers and she slowly took them out. She bit her bottom lip watching him lick his lips. In the moment she realized how turned on by him, she really was. She stood up quickly and smirked.

"When did you make this?"

"Yesterday Night, I thought you were coming back to the condo but you didn't.. So I saved you some."

"Sorry,  I had to go check on things before tonight."

"I figured you were busy."

"So, was this dinner?"

"Yeah, you want to talk about it now?"

"Yeah...."

"I want to be in the loop of everything.... Teach me."

"Teach you?"

"Boss Shit."

"So you're ready?"

"Huh?"

"You finally growing up... I was waiting.."

"Oh, hush... Just teach me."

"Rule # 1, be in control of everything. Know what you want when you bring something to the table even if it's nothing.. What do you want?"

"A different Marketing Plan and prices... She's crazy to charge people 25$ for a fake autographed T."

"It's just to get your cut back from the money you spend."

"If you sell for less, you can double the money spent though."

"Smart thinking... What about... Marketing?"

"What about Calendar spreads, posters, lighters, beers cups... I mean, my crowd is mostly men why get them a keychain or shirt with me on it? That's not really that manly... & what about advertising though... Men's Magazines."

"You've been hiding these great ideas?"

"I've been studying you and how you do your business... I love it."

"I'll write up a contract for it... How much do you want to earn?"

"Sixty percent, twenty for you, ten for Dip and ten for the kids at the hospital."

"You sure about..."

"Positive, I know it's my dance money... But it's better than nothing."

"Alright.."

"Yay!"

She shouted feeling like a boss. She watched as he typed on the computer then backspaced a few things. She was excited about her knew found boldness. Well, it had been there, but over the course of two years with Webb had slowly turned her into her mother. Silent, letting everything just happen and not being who she really was, but Safaree made her be her and let her be her. He never judged her or got mad when she messed up. She looked down at the calendar on his desk and read over the marked dates. November 4th had Dinner Date on it. Who was he having dinner with? Probably another client or something.

"You having a meeting with a client on the fourth?

He looked at the calendar then back up at her and shook his head. She tilted her head then furrowed her eyebrows.

"Meeting my ex girlfriend for her birthday..."

"Oh, so you won't be at my show?"

"I'll be there, the dinner is before..."

"Oh, okay... What about the article? The rumor..."

"I don't think it's a good idea."

He stated not looking at her. She rolled her eyes then moved around to sit down on the desk. She looked over him then sighed as she looked over some papers that lay next to him. He smirked as she began humming and reading the article that had the picture of them walking hand in hand towards the theater before her next show. 

"You got something you want to say?"

"Why won't you fake date me?"

"Business and Pleasure... I've crossed the line already with you living with me."

"Oh."

She shrugged then looked up at him when he continued to talk.

"Have you thought about getting your own place?"

He asked looking up at her. He really didn't want her to move out, but he knew it was only a matter of time before she may end up like Paula and he couldn't afford another situation like that.

"I have, I liked that place in Atlanta... I was thinking about moving there, you know... After this Dance Tour."

"That's cool..."

"Are you trying to kick me out?"

"No. I was just wondering..."

"Maybe you should move to a new a place... I mean, that house is big for little old you."

"It's my Dad's home away from home. He spent many of nights there... Working and trying to provide for us, but he always had his whores there... That's why I can't raise a family there. It's a place of broken trust and dirty memories."

"Dirty memories?"

"Yeah, but I don't want to talk about it."

"Maybe you should, but today.. I won't pressure you."

She stated jumping down from the desk.

"One day, you'll be in my home and I'll show you a real house."

She smirked before disappearing behind the door. He laughed at her then shook his head. She was something else.

The next morning they were at the house. Nicki had decided to finally put her money into the account that Safaree had opened for her because now it had reached over a million plus tips. She walked down the hall in her swim top and skirt to his door. She knocked on the door and was surprised to see a girl come out of his room in a dress. It was a little after three in the morning and the girl was just as shocked. She quickly looked away from her and hurried down the stairs towards the kitchen. He came to the door and cocked his head to the side.

"Wassup?"

"Oh, I just... Never mind..."

"No, wassup?"

"Nothing.... I'll tell you later."

"Nic?"

"No. I'll talk to you later."

She stated awkwardly as she walked back to her room. She felt the jealousy rising in her chest and tried to fight it, but it was going nowhere. She made it to her room before arguing with herself about her feels.

"Nicki, get yourself together."

She couldn't pep talk herself, so she grabbed her phone and called her friend TT from the block. She listened to it ring and ring as her temperature rised in her body. How could he? He didn't see that she loved him? That almost every night she wanted to be wrapped in his arms and snuggled. 

"Hello?"

"TT, it's Nicki."

"Nicki, where are you? Your family has been looking for you. I miss you girl..."

"TT, I'll explain later... I really need you to find me a place to stay in Georgia."

"Georgia? Nicki... We don't get to see you as is and now you want to move down south?"

"Please?"

"Nicki, talk to me..."

She whipped around and hung up the phone. He stepped inside and reached out to her. She was crying and didn't understand why? They were just friends.

"Nic?"

"Faree, please... If you wanted to be with your whore, you could've been up front with me."

"Huh? My whore? I'm single, Nic. I told you that!"

"Why was she in your room in that little ass skirt?"

"Calm down, stop crying and shouting."

He said calmly walking up to her. He grabbed her face and made her look at him. He smiled at her jealousy. He wiped her face then kissed her cheek. She smiled a little but quickly dropped the smile and folded her arms across her chest.

"Who is she?"

"She's my massage therapist. I have her come here at two forty every morning before you wake up. She puts the therapeutic candles in your room."

"Oh.."

She smirked then looked away from him. He laughed a little then grabbed her face again and made her look at him. She smirked as he got closer to her face. She went to say something when he hugged her tightly around the neck and messed up her hair. She wiggled away from him and punch his back as he laughed at the pout on her face.

"Don't be so jealous, I wouldn't disrespect you even though I don't owe you a damn thing.. You ain't my bitch."

"Bitch? Is that what you refer to your girlfriend as? I wouldn't want to be your girl.."

"All of you are bitches.."

"And all of you are good for nothing ass niggas."

"Is that right?"

"Correct!"

"Whatever, what did you want to tell me?"

"Um... Promise you won't get mad..."

"Promise."

She walked to the bed and reached under it and pulled out the four suitcases. She unzipped them and pushed them open to show him all the money. He looked at her then at the money. It was easy a million dollars finely smooth out and wrapped in rubber bands. She pulled out her money machine that she ran her money through to count her stash and showed it to him. He smirked at her.

"So you're just sitting on 1.2 million? Plus 20 Million in your bank account.. Smart."

"This is just tips and dance earnings."

"Damn, why are you showing me this?"

"I want to add this to my money and buy my mom a new house."

"So? Just go deposit it."

"Like this?"

"Yeah, no-one will question you. I'll go with you."

"I owe you! Big time!"

She hugged around his neck tightly. He laughed then pulled away. She grabbed a stack and placed it in his hand. He shook his head and handed it back to her.

"I don't want your money."

"What do you want? You've done all this for me... How can I repay you?"

"You're already repaying me, just by being here."

He stated as he squeezed her hand. She smiled blushing while exposing her dimples. He poked one and watched her crack up. For all that mattered to him, this was their home and she could stay forever. He just liked her being there and she had even dressed up the dead house with colors and pictures. He admired her family pictures and his own family pictures, she'd found going through the attic. To him, she was this house. This was a home.