"We have--scratch that, I have faith in you Daniel. Seriously, I do. I'm sure we can create something amazing together," Stacy smiled.

Daniel sat across from her, fidgeting with his fingers. "Why me though?"

"You should know why. What you did at that open mic was beautiful. You're talented," she explained, leaning back in her chair.

"Well, if I did sign with you, how would it work?"

"Well, the basics are that you'd get an advance. I gotta warn you, it won't be huge, we're still growing but I'll do my best to take care of you. As far as sales, I'd like 30%. It may seem like a lot, but we all need to make a profit. My producers and engineers are all taken care of so you don't have to worry there. If you agree, I set it for a year so you can decide if this place is or isn't the right family for you. We'll draw up a contract of course, so you can read further into it."

Daniel nodded in understanding. "Can I think about it?"

"Of course." She definitely understood his hesitation. "If you don't mind me asking, how old are you?"

"Just turned 21 last week."

"Happy belated birthday," she grinned. "You know what–how about this? As a gift, no matter how this plays out, we have a session. You could do whatever it is you want with what we create. Cool?"

"That's cool," he agreed.

"Great," she sighed. "So yea, just give me shout when you make your decision." Both stood as she began to guide him to the door. "You can take as much time as you need to think about this, alright?"

"Thanks Stacy," Daniel nodded, his dreads slightly swinging. "Talk to you soon."

Closing the door Stacy relaxed. "He'll be back," she mumbled aloud.

"Think so?" Prince responded, placing the pen and pad on the desk.

"Yeah," she began. "I'm positive. He wants guidance. We could all use a little guidance in our lives, you know?"

"Yeah, but 30% isn't that a little low? Usually labels take 60% right? Or something like that?"

"We're not a major label Prince. Remember that. Plus, I have the funds. I was in corporate law for a few years. Then I invested into a lot of different projects. One of which didn't go so well, but you live and learn." She revealed with a shrug. "Nonetheless, I'm good."

"What does your husband do?"

Stacy eyed him as she strolled over to the window. "Husband?"

Prince cleared his throat. "Ye–yeah. I uh, I saw the ring yesterday."

She hummed, peering out at the city. "He's a surgeon at Northwestern University Hospital." She quickly changed the subject. "Are you hungry?"
______________

After taking a Lyft downtown, they occupied a stir fry restaurant.

"This place is amazing," she sighed, scanning through the drink menu.

"You haven't even looked at the real menu," Prince chuckled.

"I already know what I want. Double chicken," she shared. "I just need a good drink right now."

The waitress approached their table. "Hi, my name is Carmen. I'll be your server this afternoon."

Prince eyed the petite chocolate woman standing before him. This, not going unnoticed to neither Stacy or Carmen, the waitress.

"Umm, can I get you started with anything to drink?"

"A screwdriver, will do just fine for me," he announced.

"Umm," she cleared her throat, certainly caught off guard. "Okay," she turned to Stacy, "And for you miss?"

"A tequila sunrise, please."

"Got it," she scribbled on her notepad. "Were you set on your choices of meat?"

"Yes," Stacy smiled. "I'd like double chicken please."

Carmen turned to Prince, "And you sir?"

Almost robotically, he responded, "I'll have the same."

"Great," she beamed, jotting down some info on to small pieces of paper. "Take these and attach it to the sticks and you're good to go. I'll be back shortly with your drinks."

Prince watched her walk away to the chef, then bartender.

"Jesus, you keep looking at her like that, you're gonna scare the poor girl off."

Prince's cheeks reddened. "That obvious?"

"Yea," she nodded. "C'mon," she stood with her bowl, guiding Prince to the bar. "Load it up with everything you want. Make sure you get the bread. It's so damn good."

Prince watched as she filled the bowl with spinach, then noodles and everything else her stomach desired. "Go to town," she instructed.

It was silent as they sat, drinking their cocktails. Neither knowing what to really say.

"So, uh, what are your plans this evening?"

Prince sat his glass down. "Studio session tonight with the fam."

"You're place?"

"Yes, we usually record in my place. We have everything we need there."

"What's the sound?"

Prince thought for a moment. "It's a bit of everything. Some hip hop, a bit of R&B and soul. I've been working with this chick. She goes by No Name."

"I've heard of her. She's been getting some buzz..."

Prince nodded, "Indeed she is. We're working on her solo project right now."

"I'd love to sit in."

"I'll ask her about it," he pulled out his phone, sending her a text. "Tonight?"

Stacy checked her calendar in her phone. "Tonight works."

The chef came over with their meals, the aroma enticing them both. Both simultaneously bowed their heads, taking the other aback. Still, they continued.

"Amen," they both mumbled.

Just as Prince attempted to take the first bite out of his lunch, his phone chimed on the table. He quickly scooped it up checking the message before placing the phone down, now on silent.

"Sorry about that," he apologized. "She's cool with you sitting in."

"What time?"

"We usually link up at 7ish."

"Okay," she nodded, before the table grew silent.

Prince finally had a taste of his meal. "Damn, this is fye."

"Right?" She chimed, digging into her bowl. "So," she mumbled with her mouth full, "Did you look up anything about Daniel?"

"Ugh, no. I didn't know I had to..."

"Technically you don't but it's best that you should." She suggested, washing down her food with her sunrise. "As an assistant, sometimes it's best to know more than I even do. Ya know?"

"Yeah, I guess so."

"Guess so?" She titled her head in confusion. "You've never been an assistant before have you?"

"Nah...I haven't," he admitted. "I'm sure you know that. I just know music."

"Maybe I did..." she teased. "I just thought you had a general idea though. What did Tasha go over?"

"The basics, cold calling, scheduling....taking notes during meetings, buying your coffee..." his voice trailed off.

"Remind me to never let Tasha screen candidates," she groaned aloud. "I'll whip you into shape."

After lunch, Stacy gave a brief overview of the programs to use for scheduling. She also set him up with his company email address and login information for the company server. By the time everything was done, it was damn near 6.

Stacy gathered her belongings. "Prince, did you drive?"

"No," he replied.

"Okay. You can ride with me," she offered. "You said you record at your home right?"

"Yep."

"Alright, cool."

With Prince's guidance they managed to make it to his apartment within 20 minutes and found parking rather quickly.

"She's gonna get here a bit early," he huffed, rushing up the steps.

As they entered his home, he dropped everything on the dining room table before entering his studio.

Stacy followed him into the rather large built in studio. "Nice," she nodded admiring the albums decorating the walls. "Inspiration?"

"Yup."

Prince opened his MacBook that was linked to the surrounding equipment. He searched through his hard drive for the files he needed to continue the session.

Like he mentioned earlier, his doorbell rang signaling her arrival. Prince buzzed the door for her to enter the building and his apartment. Within a few minutes she was entering the studio.

"Wassup Fatimah," Prince greeted her with a hug. "Fatimah's this is my boss..."

"Rachel Tailor," Fatimah finished. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Likewise and call me Stacy," she insisted. "Thanks for letting me sit in. I appreciate it."

"Nah, you're good. It's dope to have someone listen." Fatimah, placed her jacket on a nearby chair before returning to Prince. "So we need to clean up the verse and tweak the the bridge right?"

"That's what we agreed upon last week." He nodded. "We could play what we have first to see if it's anything else you wanna do."

"Yeah, let's do that."

Prince queued up the track which began to play moments later.

The warp in the background was the first thing Stacy noticed. Odd but refreshing, she thought. Then Noname's verse dropped.

This sound like Mississippi sippy cup, daddy turn bibby up
Henny invented the catalyst for happiness in my cup
This sound like kiddies on the playground when mama was running up
Ooooooh, you about to get your ass beat
This sound like niggas complaining when their bitches like Raz-B
B2K in the stereo, we juke in the back seat
Or juke in the basement, in love with my KSWISS's
This feel like jumping in a pool and I'm knowing I can't swim
Ooooooh, you about to get your ass beat
For stealing that twenty dollars like "baby, just ask me"
Mama say she love, love, loved us
When the lights was off we had to stay with cousins
Granny at the BBQ with petty ass husband
Summertime, city life, Chi-town, my town, my town
After school matters like I'm needing that stipend right now
Kennicott parking lot got caught with the blunt like "wow wow"

Run, run, run, mama say come home before the streetlights do
Ice cream on my front porch in my new FUBU and my A1's too
Watching my happy block my whole neighborhood hit the diddy bop'

Stacy continued to listen as a fellow began to sing the hook. "Who's this?"

"Cam O'bi," Prince answered. "The next verse is Raury..."

Stacy listened tentatively as the rest of the song played with only an instrumental ending it.

"You should add something to the end. Not an entire verse, but something to close it properly." Prince suggested.

"I agree..."

"Okay," Fatimah nodded. "Take it to the top and we can work our way through it." She spoke entering the booth.

Prince waited until she gave her cue and the work commenced.

Two hours passed and they were listening to a roughly mixed version of the song.

"What do you think?" She asked Prince who bopped his head.

"You should already know, Fatimah. This is magic." He beamed at her. "Just give me a few hours to mix it and we're good."

Fatimah smiled wide. "Great."

"In the mean time," he cut the track. "Check this out."

Fatimah instantly found herself rocking to the beat. "I made it on the fly one morning," he explained. "It's more so relaxing then anything. Chill. More your speed ya know."

Hitting the bridge, she couldn't help be ask, "Is that a baby?"

"Yup. My niece," he smiled. "Chancelor was here when I finished it up. He wants it, but I think it would suit you much better."

"No, don't give it to Bennett!" She laughed. "Give me a few days and I'll see what I come up with."

Prince smirked at her. "Aw c'mon, you know you already plottin' something. I'll email it to you right now though."

"Cool," she beamed before gathering her belongings. "It was nice meeting you Stacy."

"Likewise, Fatimah. It was a pleasure seeing what you got."

"Wait, did you drive?" Prince quizzed.

"Nah," she answered fiddling with her iPhone. "I called an Uber. It's finna pull up ina minute. Iight, P."

"Peace, sis."

Prince turned back to the boards, flipping the track back to the previous one, to finish mixing it.

Stacy sat quietly, watching him work. It was nice to see a man just as passionate as she was about music. His focus on the music, made him completely forget she was there. Yet, she didn't mind.

What bothered her was that he was willing to dumb himself down during the day as an assistant instead of being the creator he just showed he was 24/7.

It was going on midnight when he sighed in satisfaction. "Sounds about right."

"It does..."

Prince jumped slightly in his chair. "Shit, I totally forgot you were here. My bad..."

"It's okay," she shrugged. "I'm the same way when it's about the music."

He nodded in agreement. "So what did you think about Fatimah?"

"She's good. Extremely talented," she complimented. "You are too."

"Thanks," he smirked.

"So why work for me?"

"I told you, I wanna learn how this game works."

"But why," she pressed.

"So they can have someone to hold them down. Kids like Fatimah, Tasha, Bella, Jovan..." he explained. "I know some don't want to sign, but if they ever did they could be under my wing. Feel me?"

"I get it..." she nodded. "But all female artists?"

"Not all—"

"Most," she countered.

"Maybe," he chuckled. "Ain't enough women out here makin' moves like these niggas are. Feel me? If I can be that guy to give these women the spotlight they deserve I'm all in."

Stacy definitely understood what he meant and admired how much he was down for female empowerment. "Well, I hope you're able to get them there. Just remember to keep business and pleasure separate."

"Oh," he waived. "I'm good on that. And while you over there being smart and shit," Prince turned to his laptop, saving everything before powering it down, "I'm surprised you're still here. I mean, if I was your husband, your phone would be blowin' up."

Stacy suddenly began to ramble through her purse for her cellphone. "Well, thank god you're not." Once she retrieved it, she clicked the home button. With only two notifications from her husband.

8:44pm: Emergency surgery.
8:47: Be home late.

Prince glanced over in her direction. "I'm assuming you got hella messages on your phone?"

Stacy tossed her phone into her bag and went to slip on her coat, to take her leave. "Don't get up," she instructed, watching him rise in her peripheral. "I'll show myself out. See you tomorrow."