20. Yolani

MEET THE COMPTONS…

This evening, I was throwing somewhat of a surprise party for Cemone. He'd won the MVP award a little bit ago, and the public was in such an uproar about it as if he wasn't the best player in the league, just because they didn't like his personality.

I was able to invite all his brothers, having Nelly reach out to Khari's team to get everyone's information since Khari's people were the only ones my people had on contact since we were in the same industry.

I didn't want to reach out myself because I wanted our first meeting to be in person. Thankfully, everyone agreed to come immediately. It was obvious they loved him, which made me feel good since the world seemed to despise Cemone. It was great to know he had such a support system behind him.

By saying that, I wanted to celebrate him and help him celebrate himself and all he'd accomplished.

I didn't invite his parents, simply because Cemone explained he wanted me to meet them separately since it would be too much going on to do it all together. So, I made sure to listen to his wishes and not have them here at his surprise.

"This is so nice." One woman I recognized as Khari's wife entered the room, taking in the elaborate decorations I'd had set up.

"Welcome, ladies," I spoke, approaching her and the women that followed her in.

A bunch of tall niggas all wearing Cemone's face came in closely behind, doing the same as Khari's wife, taking in the scenery.

"Thank you for the invite," another one said. "I'm Analicia." She was pretty with warm brown skin and long dark hair.

They were all beautiful and, judging by their body language, quite close.

"Everyone else can act all unbothered, but I am fan-girling right now. I need a photo." Another one with caramel skin and a bright smile approached me. "I'm Scotland, by the way." She stood next to me and held the camera up.

I didn't need to smile for the photo because I was already laughing, especially because she caused the other ladies to shed their masks as well so they could get photos with me, giving me their names beforehand. I made a mental note to remember them so I wouldn't have to ask again.

"You are so beautiful!" Presley beamed.

"So are you. I see all the boys have good taste," I said, just as the men approached to greet me after looking all over the room at the decorations and food.

"Be real. How much he paying you?" Khari asked, making the group laugh.

"I'm under contract, so I can't say," I joked, extending the laughter as the rest of them gave their names. It was a lot of them but strangely enough, their demeanor's matched their names, making it quite easy to remember from all that Cemone had told me about them.

Nelly: He's here.

I looked at Nelly, who was by the door near security flirting with him, and nodded.

"Okay, everybody, the man of the hour is about to come in," Nelly announced over the room.

Moments later, Cemone walked in, looking confused until he realized what was going on.

"Damn, a nigga came strapped and everything." He chuckled as his brothers approached him to slap hands.

"I had Nelly invite you here. Why would you need a gun?" I asked, making my way to him.

Palming the small of my back and kissing me, he looked over at Nelly and said, "No offense, love, but you look like you be into some shit. I only came because she said it was for you."

Everyone chortled at his response as Nelly ranted about how she didn't get into nothing. It was funnier to me and her, because I knew her ass, and she was definitely always into something. Even now. I was sure in a few days she would be giving me the dick report of the security I'd hired to watch the door. They'd been flirting since we pulled up.

The deejay lowered the music and then handed me a mic, so I tugged Cemone back with me to stand before the room of everyone he loved, holding drinks and small plates. The real food would be served once we sat down.

"I know you guys know why we're here, but I wanted to tell you." I looked at Cemone, who smirked down at me. He was so so fine.

"She got this nigga blushing. This shit crazy!" Unique hollered, causing the room to erupt into laughter.

"Fuck you, nigga!" Cemone spat.

"Anyway," I giggled, "I wanted to do something to celebrate you winning MVP. I know you got it a little bit ago, but so much was going on that I didn't have time to do something like this. And I know you couldn't really celebrate because of how people reacted, but just know you deserved it, and you deserve to be celebrated. So tonight is for you winning and because I love you and just like doing nice things for you."

"Thank you." He spoke lowly as the room roared with applause and whistles when we kissed.

I grabbed the gift bag from behind the deejay booth and handed it over for him to open. Removing the case from the bag, he popped the top to see the diamond encrusted MVP ring with his number on it. His brothers crowded around like little boys to gawk at it, right along with Cemone, as the ladies and I rolled our eyes playfully.

"Damn, let me try it on," Unique said.

"Nigga, I ain't even tried it on," Cemone replied, everyone chuckling in response. "You niggas move and let me thank my woman for the shit first." He barged through them big ass niggas to scoop me and kiss me deeply as the ladies called out and cheered us on.

"She fine as fuck. I know the bro be tearing you up," Unique commented, making Cemone smack the back of his head as the room smothered their cackling.

After they got done fawning over Cemone's ring, we all sat down at the table to eat, separated by gender. I knew he and his brothers were busy a lot, so I wanted to give them some bonding time, but also, I wanted to get to know the ladies.

"Girl, what did you do to Cemone? I don't even recognize him." Analicia beamed.

Giggling, I said, "Nothing, really. I just brought out the real him, I guess. What was he like before?"

"Umm, rude, immature, abrasive as hell, and extremely braggadocios," Couture listed off. "And no, this wasn't just when he got drafted. The boy been like that since he was ten or eleven years old."

We cracked up at that.

"You've known him that long?" I grinned.

"Yes, that's when I got with Khari. And soon as Khari brought me around the first time, Cemone tried to get my damn number, then told me I was tripping and gonna regret it when I said no."

That tore us up, especially me thinking about an eleven-year-old Cemone acting that way.

"Nigga was born cocky." Scotland laughed. "But I'm here for you two. I like the dynamic. I told Lequay as soon as the rumors started that I hoped it was true because I knew you weren't going to accept anything from Cemone. He was gonna have to work if he wanted you."

"You are definitely right. I just met you but seems like you know me well." I smiled.

"We're some of your biggest fans, that's why." Presley nodded.

"I always knew we would end up being friends. I used to tell my sister all the time when I would listen to you." Analicia winked as the table chortled heavily.

"Well, I'm happy to be friends with you guys. I only really have my assistant, and while I love her, we're on different waves sometimes." I nodded to Nelly at the door, now caressing the guard's lengthy beard.

The girls giggled, witnessing it.

"Wait until you meet my best friend, Bambi. She kind of reminds me of her," Couture said before biting into her rib tip.

"Child, wait until Bambi finds out not only did Cemone turn in his player card, but he in love," Analicia said.

"Right!" Presley giggled. "She's been wanting a Compton for herself." She put me on to what they were speaking about.

"Oh, I see." I smirked.

"Yes, but she said she couldn't deal with Cemone because she wasn't trying to train his rude ass," Couture said.

"I'm the same way. I don't train men. I just put it to him plainly, though. Either you're gonna act right or you're not, but you can only have me if you do right." I shrugged as the ladies nodded in approval.

"Well, he must've wanted you bad because I have never seen the man act right with anything or anybody. He was literally up there with heart eyes during your little speech," Scotland said.

"He definitely was." Analicia nodded. "This was a beautiful party, by the way, and such a nice thing to do. Cemone wasn't my favorite person upon first meeting him, but I definitely don't fuck with how people portray him. My brother-in-law is just rude; he's not a bad guy."

Couture, Presley, and Scotland commented to agree with her.

"Which reminds me," I turned to look toward the end of the table with all the brothers, "who said my man would never get anyone to marry him?" I raised a brow as the boys began to shout shit back and forth before finally deciding to snitch that it was Lequay.

"You can't tell me you ain't think the same thing when you first met him." Lequay smirked.

"Nope, I didn't," I lied, and the whole table guffawed in response, knowing I was fibbing.

Cemone winked at me from afar, causing my smile to spread even further.

The party went on for a few more hours before everyone went home with the gift bags I had for them. Cemone and I decided we would spend the night at his house this week, whenever we were in LA, so that was where we retired to.

We showered, had sex, then actually washed off, before going to lay in the cabana bed in his humongous backyard that looked like it belonged to a hotel in Cabo.

"You know I got a crib in Cabo, right?" He looked me over, chuckling at my shock.

"Really?" I pressed my chin to his tattooed chest to look up into his face.

His haircut was always perfect, right along with his perfectly trimmed medium-length beard. He was so clean, stylish, and always smelling good. Even his nails were clean, which was sort of surprising due to how much of a roughneck he was.

"Yeah. I got it a little minute ago. We gotta fly down and kick it there for a little bit."

"We do." I lay on his chest. "You know, I've never had sex with someone this quickly before."

"Quickly?" He damn near shouted, and I broke into laughter. "That was quick?"

"Yes, for me, nigga." I giggled since his eyebrows were touching his hairline.

"I ain't never waited this long. In fact, once shit go past forty-eight hours, I move on, and she loses her chance."

"Her chance?"

"Yeah, that's how I felt until I met you. But yeah, first night, I'm smashing or moving." He half smiled. "So I got it the quickest, huh?"

"Oh my gosh!" I rolled my eyes, giggling. "I should've never told your ass that. Now you're feeling yourself."

"I know. I can't help it. You just confirmed that I'm good with the ladies, like I been told you."

Crawling on top of him, I said, "You definitely are good with the ladies." I bent down to kiss his supple lips, always soft and never chapped. "I like you more than I've ever liked anyone. I've never been in love, just some deep like, but I can tell this is the real thing." I palmed his hard abs. "At the same time, if you so much as flirt with another woman, I won't stand for it. Me loving you doesn't mean I will accept anything less than what I've been expecting of you before I was in love with you." I stared down at him, noticing he didn't look the least bit fazed. Either he wasn't worried because he knew he wouldn't mess up or he wasn't worried because he didn't believe I'd leave him. "I won't care how sorry or regretful you are either. As you know, I've dealt with too much in the past to settle, even for a man I'm in love with."

Touching my hips and brushing his thumbs up and down my skin, he said, "Nothing to worry about, love." He studied me for a moment. "I would be sick as fuck without you." He sat up some and kissed my stomach. "I'm thinking about putting something in there, after I put something there." He pecked my ring finger. "Open the drawer." He rocked his head in the direction of the wicker drawer set out here that doubled as a coffee table.

"Cemone."

"Go 'head."

Climbing off him, I opened it to remove the small box, but he took it.

"What is that?" I bucked my eyes.

"Not that . It's still not done, and I would do it way bigger than in my fucking backyard, baby." He talked as he opened the box.

Inside it was a diamond encrusted band. It was simple but very sparkly and beautiful.

"It's so pretty." I damn near drooled.

Taking it out, he placed it on my finger. "Just until I get the real thing, but this is a promise ring until then. Promise from me to you that, for one, you don't have shit to worry about when it comes to me and other females, and for two, I ain't gon' fold on shit I been telling you. But also that I'm gon' make you my wife. This just the placeholder that you can put on a chain or some shit once I replace it."

I eyed it on my finger.

"People will think we're married if I wear it here."

"So. We will be pretty soon, once this muthafucka perfects the ring how I want the shit."

"Thank you, baby," I cooed, cuddling up to him and hugging his neck before kissing him.

"Whenever in doubt, look at that shit on ya hand, aight?"

"Aight." I nodded, kissing his lips, his neck, down his torso, before taking him into my mouth.

"I always said whoever I end up with gotta love sucking dick," he moaned. "That's definitely you, baby."

" G ood afternoon, everyone!" Gina walked in grinning with her assistants behind her. She had three of them, which I thought was crazy, but then again, she was a busy woman.

"Afternoon," my father answered, then Nelly and I followed suit.

Sitting down, she said, "So your father told me Fleur Doucé is going to send over the contract after thinking on it. That's good news considering we thought your relationship would cause you to lose that."

"Yep." I smiled, giving Nelly a look who grinned as well.

"I think your image is more so improving his versus his ruining yours, so that is good news. Also, fans like how protective he is of you." She smiled. "But what I wanted to discuss was who your new booking agent is, Yolani, because we need to have that on record." Gina opened her notebook and clicked her pen, ready to write the name down. "Not to mention, the booking agent's job is pivotal before you even begin recording, because they need to set up your appearances and promotional tours."

"I know that." I nodded. "I um, I haven't hired anyone because I was thinking of taking some time off."

Everyone's head in the room flew up and zoned in on me, especially my father, who was grimacing.

"Yolani, why?" he asked, searching my eyes for the answer.

"I've been working non-stop since I was sixteen years old. I go on tour every other year and have a new album just as quickly. Not to mention the videos, appearances, charities—I have had no time to enjoy all the money I've made and the luxuries I've been afforded. My only off time has been when I go down to visit my grandparents, and that is only for a few weeks out of the year, then it's right back to it.

"I know I have two film roles on the horizon, and those I will keep on schedule, as well as being Fleur Doucé's and Halo Makeup's ambassador, but I need a break musically. Give people time to miss me."

The perfume and makeup ambassador role plus the two films would bring me in a nice amount of money on top of what I already had. Couple that with my matcha company that had been steadily booming despite all the threatening emails, and I was good for some much-needed time off.

I'd become rich enough to not work for the next forty years, but I loved my career too much for that. However, a small intermission at the least was needed.

"They don't need to miss you. You're Yolani. You could drop an album every month, and it is gonna do crazy numbers," Gina volleyed.

"I understand that, but again, I want to enjoy my money and my life for at least a year."

"A year?" My father's brows rose.

"Yes. That really isn't as long as it sounds. I promise." I gave him a barely there half smile, letting him know his comment about disowning me hadn't been forgotten. The nigga had yet to apologize or take it back either.

I knew he was pissed about the tattoo I'd gotten of Cemone's name because aside from blowing me up when the photo first dropped, he didn't even mention it to me. That's how my dad was; when he got extremely upset, he would be at a loss for words.

"Are you sure?" Nelly quizzed.

"Definitely sure." I nodded.

"Does this have anything to do with that boy, Yolani? Please, please tell me it does not." My father closed his eyes like he was praying before I gave my response.

To be honest, a part of it did. I didn't realize that I had no issue with working continuously because I had nothing else to look forward to other than making music, meeting my fans, music videos, opportunities, and touring. Now that I had Cemone, it made me realize there was so much of life I was allowing to pass me by.

I wanted to spend time with him, travel, go to more of his games, and just enjoy being a twenty-six-year-old woman in love. And I believed I'd earned that.

"A little bit but not all the way. He's made me happy, and I want more of it, on a continuous basis without having to be away from him every four or five days. I want time off to enjoy him, yes, but my life in general. I want to go to Cabo for vacation and not work."

"Yolani, don't you see what this boy is doing?" my father bellowed, voice shaking like he would cry at the drop of a hat.

"Daddy, he hasn't done anything that I didn't need him to. In the past, my career has always come before my personal life and relationships, and granted, those other men deserved just that, but not this one and not this time. This needs to be nurtured because it's something great and long lasting."

"I think a year is fine, Yolani. As you said, you have the two films which will pay you seven million a piece, and then the ambassadorships is another twenty million over the next three years, with automatic renewal for ten years unless you both decide to end it.

"I think it's perfect for you to take a break, which you do deserve, but also be kind of working on other avenues, keeping your presence out there," Gina explained, nodding with a smile like this idea of mine was so groundbreaking.

"I agree." Nelly nodded.

"Mr. Ian?" Gina looked at him, but my father was just watching me, so much disappointment written on his face.

"It doesn't matter what I think, clearly. But sure." He shrugged, sitting up some and clearing his throat.

We wrapped the meeting up about half an hour later, and as I got ready to leave, my dad asked for a few minutes of my time.

"I only have five minutes," I said.

Sitting on the edge of the table, he gripped the edges as he peered down at the carpet for a bit.

"Firstly, I want to apologize for my statement the other night at dinner. You know I would never cut you off, Lani, but whether you know that or not doesn't make it right. I don't like Cemone, and I don't want you with him because he isn't good for you. However, no matter what you do, I want you to understand that I love you, and nothing or no one could make me disown you or never talk to you. I wouldn't even know how to function in that way. You've been my baby girl ever since I could remember, and from the first time I held you, I knew you would have me wrapped around your finger." He smirked, but I kept a straight face.

"Thanks."

"But, just because I love you does not mean I won't disagree with you. I understand you are going to continue this relationship with him, no matter what, but I ask that you promise me you will not get pregnant."

"What?" I frowned. "I'm not promising that."

"Lani, please." He stood up and came closer, taking my hands. "Even if you two marry, wait a few years before you get pregnant. Please. I'm only requesting this because I love and care about you."

"No, you're requesting this because you don't know the man I love." I took my hands from his. "Until you take the time to actually get to know him, nothing you say about him is going to have any weight with me. Also, make this request the last one, or I will be the one cutting a person off." I grabbed my purse and left the room.