Streets

16. Dispute

Grove Town Hall
Archives Center
History of the Grove

Dorian was meeting with Derek, he was intrigued to meet someone who was also interested on expanding the Grove. He was looking through the history of how the grove first started, "Amazing isn't it?" Dorian turned to see Derek walking toward him, "Derek I assume." They shook hands, "Yes, Derek Deboux. You must be Dorian Fairchild of the glorious Mississippi Fairchild clan." Dorian nodded, "Yes decades of wealth all being handed to me and my siblings, but I'm not here to discuss my family tree but rather the history of grove. The grove has been pushed into the shadows for quite sometime." Derek agreed as they walked to the huge portrait of the Grove back before Mob City, "The secrets buried here, you can't find them in these books, nooo they are within the community. Which is exactly why Raymond the slave master is pushing the agenda of separating from the Grove entirely." Dorian looked at Derek shocked, "If he does that, might as well hand Mob City over to the governor." Derek shrugged as they continued walking around, "It may not be such a bad thing if Grove became it's own city. A new city is gonna need a new mayor." Dorian smirked as he looked around, he knew exactly where Derek was getting at, "A new mayor is gonna need a council and funds to run his campaign." Derek and Dorian exchanged a knowing look, they were gonna take Grove from money hungry moguls before they could have a chance to throw it away.

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Studio 88
Owned by Tiggs Records
Located on the edge of East Mob City

Benny was listening to a beat that a producer was playing for him, Marcus wasn't feeling it. "You feeling this bro? This sounds ass." Benny chuckled a bit and he was inspired, he had an idea for a song when the door opened and Samuel walked in, "How's it going?" Marcus blew out the smoke from his lungs, "This producer ain't producing." Samuel looked at the producer and nodded to the door, he quickly got up and left, "I keep telling my staff to stop hiring all these wanna be beat mixers off the street." Benny started playing around with the beat, he had a lot on his mind, "Here, I got a few beats you can play with, I'll have them sent over." Marcus walked over to the piano in the recoding booth, playing it he began to sing 'feenin by Jodeci', Samuel was nodding, "Hold up, I got a two for one deal going on? Your mans can sing." Benny nodded, "I mean he was my music mentor since we was kids." They watched as Marcus continued singing, not hearing the door open, "Mmm why am I not surprised to see you in here." The soft voice of a woman had Samuel and Benny looking at the door, Samuel who held back his aggravation and Benny whose jaw just about dropped. "I didn't expect you my sweet. Thought you were gonna be on tour for a few more months. Benny this is my daughter, Clover." Clover walked in, wearing almost next to nothing in a rose lace top and pants. "Where is my mom?" Samuel stiffened a bit but gained composure, "You just gonna be rude to my new artist?" She looked at Benny briefly, "Hello, now where is my mom? She won't answer her phone? She always answers her phone for me." Samuel sighed, "She's on a retreat in Aspen. Needed to get away from the city life." Clover knew that was a lie and she was beginning to worry. There was a reason she was no longer signed to her father. Benny was starstruck, he had heard Clover's music before and he was a fan, he just didn't realize that his new label was in her family. "I'm a huge fan." Clover looked at Benny again, he was cute she thought, not really her type, then she looked in the recording booth and saw Marcus and she was instantly attracted to him. "Whose that?" She asked and Benny still undressing her with his eyes, "That's my homie Marcus." Samuel noticed the way Benny took to Clover. "Well since you're back in town why not show Benny and Marcus the ropes of being an artist and being signed." Clover knew her father was just trying to distract her, she wasn't interested in sticking around Mob City but her mother hasn't contacted her in 2 weeks and she was worried. "I'm here to find mom." She looked at her father and whispered to him, "Mom hates Aspen, you and I both know that. So stop playing with me, I'll be in your office." She walked away toward the door before looking back at Benny and Marcus who walked back in and noticed her, "Nice meeting you, see you soon." She left and she took Benny's breath with her. "Damnnn was that Clover? Her last single was hot, y'all seen that music video?" Samuel chuckled, "My daughter is quite talented." Marcus realizing what he said was inappropriate cleared his throat. Benny was still mesmerized by her, her beauty was truly remarkable.
After Samuel left the session he headed to his office, he was a bit on edge since his daughter as returned. He hasn't seen her since she signed to Atlantic Records. Walking in his office there she was, looking at the picture of them, herself, him and her mother and her older sister. "Have you heard from Gigi?" He asked and she looked up, "All the time, she's gonna be coming here after her production ends." He sighs and sits at his desk, "I do believe you're being a bit dramatic. If anything was wrong with your mother I would know." Clover missed the days before money and greed took over her family. It changed her father, made it hard to be around him. "No matter what, mom would never miss a call or never not call me. I'm worried and so is Gigi but by all means keep working as if this isn't an issue." He scoffed then laughed, he knew where her mother was but he knew she didn't need to know. "Listen, your mother took a personal vacation and she told me she didn't want to deal with anyone. So if you have any issues you can talk to me....I am your father after all." Clover knew something was up but she also knew her father was so corrupted that she wouldn't get any information out of him, unless money was involved. "Okay, I'll give it a few days. Maybe while I wait I'll just stay in the city. Maybe I can guide your new artists." Samuel smiled and looked at her, "I would love that. Your room is still the same as it was. More than welcome to stay at the house." Clover walked to the door, "I have a place." She left without a goodbye or a I love you and some small part of Samuel was hurt by it. He did miss the times he shared with his family but money was all he could think about and that's all he was after.