Page 39 of Intentional Foul
Tyrus pointed at Marquise and then at me. “How did you know he wasn’t Malcolm?” he asked.
“They don’t look alike to me. Marquise’s face is slimmer. Malcolm’s voice is deeper, their mannerisms are different, and Malcolm is wearing a black shirt,” I said as I pushed Marquise, and he laughed.
“I didn’t notice. I saw who I assumed was Malcolm and started talking,” Tyrus said.
Malcolm stepped back into the hotel using a room key that I didn’t give him. Tyrus stood between the two, searching for the differences.
“I don’t see it,” he said, and Malcolm gave me a confused expression, jerking his head back
“I had Tyrus spilling his guts about spotting talent. He thought I was you,” Marquise said, and they both chuckled. “He got a solid plan.”
Malcolm moved towards me. “Music Note, it’s getting late. What do you want to eat?” he asked.
We’ve been stuck in this hotel all day, and with my future in the air, I couldn’t eat. I moved to stand on my tiptoes and answer his question, but I stopped myself. Malcolm smirked as I planted my feet back on the floor.
“A chicken salad sandwich and a divorce,” I said.
Marquise cackled loudly at my answer as he clutched his stomach. With my hands on my hips, I glared in his direction, waiting for the joke. Nothing about my life hanging in the balance of a crush was funny to me. Malcolm snagged his phone and smiled.
“It’s done,” he said.
Malcolm’s phone lit and he smiled. “I have the legal paperwork in my email. You have your masters back. Tyrus, let’s move forward,” he said.
I went to question him, but my own phone rang. Davey’s number appeared on my screen, and I waved Tyrus over. He encouraged me to answer on speaker.
“Jhae speaking,” I said.
“I’m glad I caught you. After meeting with the... the board this afternoon. I decided to sign over your masters to a Malcolm Shaw- Jefferies. You are... are... clear from your deal. The track is cleared... Shit! And Moe is paid. Good luck. I did it. I did it,” he stammered while the tail end of his voice faded.
“Wait, you have my masters,” I paused everyone with my hand. “The deal was I got my masters,” I reminded.
Malcolm reached for my hand, but I snatched it away.
“The deal was if I could secure your masters, we could share a marital bed. Jhae, I’m not crazy. You were going to use the masters as a way to force a divorce. Once you are fully invested in this marriage, I will sign them over.”
“Awww, shittt. Bro, virgin days are over,” Marquise joked from the couch.
“Jhae, he is being truthful. He said if he could secure your masters. Malcolm never said he would return them to you,” Tyrus said.
My hands trembled with rage as I narrowed my eyes in his direction.
“Stand back. She is getting ready to grow a few inches,” Marquise said.
I trembled in anger, in disbelief about not having control over my world. Malcolm reached for me, but I slapped his hands away. He tried talking, but I shut him down with my hand before stomping off to the bedroom. I slammed the door hard and locked it. With my forehead resting on the door, I gritted my teeth as tears flowed. This should be a happy occasion, but it was riddled with pain.
The more Malcolm integrated himself into my world, the more my resolve softened. He showed up yet again to help aid my dreams. I remembered us sitting on my couch watching a singing competition. We both disagreed with the judge’s decision, and I explained how I planned to run my own label. He sat next to me and listened to me ramble about my vision. Now he’d made it come true, but at a cost. He asked for the most expensive possession I owned: my friendship with Anissa. I hit my open hand on the door as guilt twisted away at my insides.
My head rested on the pillow as I continued to watch the day slip away. Nothing I planned to do was accomplished; not a track or song written. I’m not completely upset because my creative light could finally shine. The vibration of my phone caused me to shift in my position. I lifted it to see it was filled with notifications.
Moe
I’m whole and the record label released your verse on KC.
I sighed with both relief and fear. How did I get here? Yes, I’m an independent artist with financial backing; it cost me everything to get it.
Me
Studio tomorrow
