KINGDOM: Love, Money, Power.

5

KING POV

It's been a week since we lost Nomi, I know we can save this but I need to clear my head for a little longer. This steam room has always worked for me.

"Hey, man, what's on your mind?"

I looked at Jermaine sternly. With his 20 percent shares in the company he knows I cant even avoid him. I was enjoying my alone time in this steam room. I haven't had a moment to myself since Nomi left, been too busy trying to mend relationships with sponsors and fans. I wish he would wipe that foolish smirk off his face. He strides into the room and sits, mirroring me. I just avoid eye contact.

"Wait. Please please tell me this is not about that chick. Do you actually want her back?! Don't even think about Nomi! I found another her already."

"oh really? And where is she now?"
"she's in vegas or something she had a thing to see with her friend-"

"and I guess you flew her out on company money"

"Of course I flew her out there on company money, she's our artist"
"she's YOUR artist Jey, You signed her with no consultation, nothing. Tell me something. How often is she in studio?" His eyes are shifting, "Jey, she's not in the studio, she's in restaurants malls clubs and every gossip column known to man. What can I do with that? This is not a modelling agency this is a record label. I have never even heard her sing, have you?"

"Yes. And she can sing very well."

"very well?"

"very well." That grin spreads across his face again.

"I can sing very well Jey, we need more than just a voice. Nomi-"

"Nomi what? Nomi this and Nomi that if you miss Nomi just say that brother."

I look at the ceiling and sigh. Nomi was our strongest artist, how can he not miss her. He has to at least miss the money she brought in. It's been two months and I'm trying to work with the buzz around the label from recent events but that's hard when the buzz is all about an artist that's no longer here.

"Miss Nomi" I say under my breath. I think for a while, watching the steam swirl around me. I start to hear a rustling and Jey reaches into his robe pocket. He pulls out a small white film packet.

"Here. Take one of these. I mean, your beard's growing out again, you're looking kinda scruffy recently man I thought we agreed you look best with no facial hair. Remember back in high school we had that one teacher, she was baaaaaaad. Ms Thompson you remember? You started tryna grow that out a little then one day in eco she hit you with that 'something looks different about you are you trying to grow a beard'-

"Where did you get this."
"like she said trying my brother you tried like you were not successful-"

"Jey." He's cracking up.

"fine." He snatches it back from me briskly and shoves it back in his pocket. "don't mention it again, I'm just saying you look rough."

I read his face. His eyes are avoiding mine now. He's high. I decide I don't want to know where he got that from. I'm not involved.

"think about it. Ever since Nomi left we've had more questions about label changes than I've ever seen before. We are the best, that means we set the pace for the rest of those struggling labels out there that are deludedly convinced they can beat us. If we let this slide labels everywhere will have artists dropping out left, right and centre. You need to do something about this-"
"This was your doing"
"This was Nomi's doing. Listen. I have an idea, honestly I'm getting tired of Lo-Lo myself"
"This was never about 'Lo-Lo.' Stop bringing her up."

"Right. So. Lo-Lo got me thinking-" I give him a hard stare. "some recent events got me thinking, there must be millions of girls out there who are talented and hungry for a chance like Nomi had. So we run a campaign. A rags to riches story and give it a flashy title like Miss Kingdom like a Miss America pageant type thing and we select and run hundreds of girls through audition to find a new Nomi. Take Nomi's ex-PR team, assign each of them to the upcoming stars and give them all a fighting chance. Considering how many girls want to be a star the thing will practically promote itself they'll all be talking about it blogging it sharing it..."

We stare at each other. It's a perfect plan. But I doubt he's not up to something. He smiles and struts out of the steam room, cupping his hands around his mouth"

"HEAR YE, HEAR YE KINGDOM IS IN SEARCH OF A NEW QUEEN!!!"

His voice echoes seemingly endlessly through the empty spa. Once he's gone I relax back into the warm walls of the steam room. Let the search begin.