Page 19 of Breaking the Rules
“It does. Like I know you’ll cover everything, but I also live in the real world. I know what you doing won’t last forever. Not unless you pivot. But you’re in it. You got the CK’s moving how you want it to move. I’m not going to put all my chips in that basket.”
“I taught you too much,” Zayden huffed with laughter. “You too damn smart. You hear me?”
Savanhi nodded.
“So why you keep doing dumb shit like being with a nigga like Brixx?”
“Doesn’t matter anymore, it’s over.”
“Yeah, for now. And then some other nigga comes along and I got fuck up another one. Why?”
Zayden was Savanhi’s safe place. She could talk to Lawryn but she could bare it all to her brother. And he would understand the weight of her comment.
“You know, being the lover, always giving it and never getting it back is exhausting and it’s gutting. I just want someone to love me. At this point, it seems to be too much to ask for, so I’m done.”
“Vanhi,” he buzzed. “Set your sights higher. And remember who the fuck you are. You right, I can get wrapped up, but me being in there don’t stop shit you got going on. That pole ain’t forever, don’t let the wasteland kill you.”
“I hear you. It’s no more distractions for me anyway. I got things to do.”
“Mmhmm, you do. Fuck these bitches and fuck these bitch ass niggas. It’s Vanhi season.”
“Here you go,” she softly giggled, rolling her eyes.
“I’m serious. You about to go up. It’s going to blow your mind. Just stay focused and know, in there or out here, I got you.”
Savanhi hugged his waist. “Love you, big bro.”
“Love you, girl. Go get ready I’m dropping you off and I’ll be there when you get off. The city hot right now.”
“Something I need to know?”
“Nah, I got it.”
By eight, Savanhi was walking through the back door of Tempt in her sweatsuit. Her hair in big rollers, and her AirPods in, drowning out the unnecessary noise. Viv had texted herearlier, letting her know she had been requested in the private room. That gave her four hours to get her mind right. Private rooms meant patrons with deep pockets. Deep connections and a sense of privacy. With that also came a sense of entitlement, niggas wanted to touch and grope. The private room for Savanhi meant she would, without question, be the midnight ballerina. She wasn’t coming off the stage or the pole.
She sat in the corner, munching on protein snacks and drinking her water, thinking about Zayden’s speech about setting her sights higher. As she looked around the locker room at the BBL’s, fillers, and women willing to knock each other off to get to the top, the heavier his words weighed.
Her exit needed to come faster than she planned for. With her rent paid up for the next couple of months, she could allocate more money to her studio rental. If she played it smart, she could sign the lease to her own space.
Maneuvering her apps from the music to Lawryn’s text thread, she texted.
Vanhi: off the pole in 3
Lawryn: for real this time?
Vanhi: got to do it. Zay fucked my head up
Lawryn: he loves you is all
Vahni: I know. More than that, I got to love me too
Lawryn: Let’s get off the pole in 3 commence, be safe tonight
Vahni: I will. Zay has Donnie on security tonight
Lawryn: make that money, baby
Vanhi: You too. Love you.
