Page 20 of Tainted

“Who is he?”

“A nigga witha lotof money.” She smiled as he approached us and lifted her hand off her thigh. “Wassup Trin?”

“You and your girl,” Trindon flirted.

“Couldn’t have been that good of a show. You walked over here empty-handed,” Rajah pointed out.

Trindon smiled at her rebuttal. As quickly as his hand rose, another man appeared holding a designer duffle. He pulled out two snacks, handing one to each of us.

“Green and plentiful. Just how I like myappreciation,” Rajah flirted.

“Thank you.”

“What’s your name beautiful?” Trindon asked.

Just as I parted my lips, Rajah’s hand gripped my wrist.

“That’s going to cost you another five.”

“For her name?” Trindon scoffed, and Rajah nodded, standing her ground, so I did, too. He looked me up and down, assessing whether I was worth it.

“Would you want her name so bad if every nigga in here had it in their mouth?” Rajah asked, leaning in with her cleavage. “The only thing free is the shit you’renotinterested in, so pay my girl.”

“Is that right?” Trindon looked at me. When I didn’t offer my name, he reached behind him, and another stack appeared like magic.

“My name is Nova. It is a pleasure doing business with you.” I smiled outwardly, but inside, I was relieved.

“Super Nova.” Trindon licked his lips, staring at me like he was photographing me with his eyes, “I’ll see you around.”

Our intermission ended, and we were back weaving through the crowded floor. Rajah stopped to chat with a few clients, always with a flirty laugh and a quick smile. That was until Megan walked up wearing a scowl.

“In the dressing room. Now!” She demanded, storming off.

Rajah looked unbothered, but I needed this job. I had just rented an apartment and wasn’t ready to give up.

“What the hell was that?” Megan snapped, her voice sharp enough to cut glass, pointing at Rajah. “You know damn wellNova isn’t supposed to be on the main stage yet. And you,” she glared at me, “Did I not make the rules clear?”

My stomach was in knots while Rajah was playing with her nails. The entire dressing room was quiet, which never happened, but I had been here a few months and had yet to see Megan this pissed off.

“The crowd loved it. It’s not like the girl went up there and fell on her face. She did good for the first time out the gate.”

“This isn’t about what the crowd loved. It’s about you following the damn rules. There’s a reason new girls don’t come from the parking lot and straight to the main stage.”

“And exactly what is that reason again? You have a star player riding the bench, and for what? Put her in the game,Coach.”

Megan’s face flushed red with anger. “Don’t push me, Rajah. I’m serious. I can fire you right now for pulling this stunt.”

“Fire me?” Rajah crossed her arms and leaned back against the vanity, a smirk on her lips. “Don’t make me state the obvious in front of everybody.”

I glanced between them, tension thick in the air. I wasn’t sure if Rajah was bluffing or if she really didn’t care, but either way, Megan looked like she was ready to explode.

“Seniority lets you get away with a lot, but even you’re not invincible.”

“I never said I was. I just said the girl deserved a shot.”

For a moment, Megan looked like she might do it, but a knock saved her, and the door flew open.

"Rajah!" Kross rumbled, his voice deep and commanding. "My office. Now!”

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