Page 51 of Perfect Rhythm
“Fine. I’ll ask him about it,” she finally replied.
“Cool.” I sat back, watching calmly as she sent the screenshot.
She stared at her phone for several seconds, her nails tapping on the screen.
I tried to act like I wasn’t paying attention, but I was praying that shit worked out in my favor.
When her eyes met mine again, I didn’t need her to say a word. I already knew.
Trace glanced back with a knowing smirk. “Where to, boss?”
I grinned. “My penthouse.”
21
ELI
“Open the fucking door,” I shouted as I slammed my fist against Nimah’s front door.
“I’m not opening shit. Leave before I call the police.” Her frantic footsteps echoed behind the door as she raced to her living room window and held up her phone for me to see. “I promise you I will.”
“I just want to talk,” I said calmly. “I need to know why you sent that message to Nyx.”
She lifted her front window, pressing on the dark mesh screen to make sure it was locked in place. Despite being one of the highest-paid actresses in daytime TV, Nimah lived modestly. She wasn’t into flashy cribs or overpriced lifestyles, so her home was small and quaint.
“What message? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Bullshit! You really thought I would forget about that fake page you told me about? The one you use to talk shit on the blog pages when they piss you off?”
Her face dropped, recognizing she was busted.
“Fine, I did it. But Nyx deserves to know about the piece of trash she’s dealing with. You’re a fucking liar, Eli.”
“Oh, and you felt like you should be the one to share that with her?”
“Hell yeah!” She rolled her eyes. “The fact that she went to you instead of talking to me tells me just how clueless she really is.”
“Nah, she came to me because she’s not a dummy. She knows how crazy bitches are out here, and what they’ll do for a little clout.”
Nimah jerked her head back. “Bitches? Clout? Why the hell would I need to useyoufor clout? Did you forget who the fuck I am? I’m Nimah fucking Watts. I was famous before your stupid ass could even spell famous.”
“Yeah, well?—”
“No! Let’s be clear...I’m the reason you’re even being talked about right now. Before you were on the screen with me wasn’t nobody checking for your ass. I made you famous, not the other way around. So if anyone was fucking anybody for clout, that would be you, not me.”
I clenched my jaw, fighting not to show how deeply her words cut. But it was damn near impossible. What Nimah had, I wanted, and I was so close to getting it. Would I be lying if I said getting close to her didn’t boost my career? Hell yeah. And fucking her had boosted it even more. Because of our relationship, she’d mentioned my name in rooms I never would’ve been spoken about otherwise.
My cell phone beeped, knocking me out of my thoughts.
I looked down at the screen and saw Nimah’s name. “Why the fuck are you texting me?”
She smiled. “Just open it. I have a special link in there just for you.”
“I don’t have time for this shit,” I replied in annoyance. “I’m done playing games with you.”
“Fine. But after you hit that link, I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one you’ll be done with.”
Blowing out a heavy breath, I tapped on the link.
