Empire State of mind

Chapter Twenty- Three: Family?

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Shelby's POV

I finish recording my song and take my headphones off before heading over to the soundboard and stopping the recording

I start working on my beat and background vocals of the song and other things I wanna do to it, I don't really fuck with havin a producer since I can do it all myself

I hear a knock on the door causing me to jump before getting up and opening the door to see my old friend Darrell at the door

"Aye man who you get in here" I say with a smile as I dap him up and I let him in

"I actually was escorted here after having to beg a bunch of security to let me in to see you but how you been......livin the high life and all" He says causing me to laugh a little

"I'm good man....as good as I can be as you know with mama gone now and still  adjusting to havin a dad...still feels weird to say" I say and he nods understanding where I'm coming from

"Well how is it like...you know bein with ya dad and all" Darnell says as he looks around curiously

"It's honestly kinda weird still, I was hella angry at first but now I'm kinda still adjusting to this family I mean I got three brothers too and his ex wife kinda took me in as her child so I'm just in a weird space you know" I say and he nods and smiles

"Well it sounds like you don't feel very familiar to things I mean how could you but don't worry....I'll be that but of familiarity, since I missed my best friend" He says as he puts his hand on my shoulder, I smile and we talk for a bit before he eventually has to leave cause his baby mama "trippin" which means he not doin what he needs too

Typical Darnell, he and I met when we were kids and we really only saw each other when our moms worked but when we did, he and I were close but we weren't friends outside of the strip club

I get back to work but I feel a bit of a weird feeling in my stomach like something isn't right like there something to come and I haven't felt this since.......since mama died
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I walk out to the main hallway and see Jania happy dancing causing me to chuckle as I walk up to her

"Why you happy dancin baby" I say and she looks at me and pulls me into a kiss, I smile and kiss her back and she pulls away with a smile on her face

"You know the surprise I was talking about earlier today" She says and I nod as I put my hands in her waist

"Well....I have been looking for a manager and as much as you have helped, I need a professional so......I asked Cookie if could manage me and she said yes" Jania says excitedly, I smile and pick her up and spin her around causing her to giggle

"That's great baby I'm so happy for you...wait, that means your working with" I say but Jania cuts me off

"Tiana I know but I'm gonna be ok...I can handle myself" She says and I smile at her

"I know you can" I say and give her a small kiss

"Alright let's go, I got a friend I want you to meet and we gotta get ready for the IPO signing" I say as I pull Jania with me out the door

Time skip cause this damn show skips so much

I help set up things downstairs with Jania helping out as well, I adjust my shirt as it keeps coming untucked, suddenly my phone dings causing me to go over to the table and pick it

"Who's that baby, is is Ronda" Jania says, she knows that Andre is in the mental clinic and Ronda is picking him up apparently even though he looks disinterested in coming

"Nah....it's um....i signed up for therapy and they got back to me saying that my first session is in a few days" I say nervously, other girls I've dated have told me therapy was a joke or said they'd be my therapy which was mainly them wanting sex and not to address my issues

Jania smiles and walks over to me causing me to tense up, she cups my face and kiss me before looking at me

"That's great baby....I'm happy your getting help now stop being so nervous and sit with me over here" She says and I smile widely as she detached from me and walks over to the couch

She's definitely getting some tonight

I walk over to Jania and we start talking about her contract and her music when suddenly her phone goes off, I see the contact briefly say Mom, Jania excuses herself and takes a call while everyone comes in

I say hey to Jamal, Hakeem and his girl Camilla as i wait anxiously for Jania to come back and as if right in Que I see her walking back into the room, she greets everyone before looking at me and motioning out of the room

"Excuse me yall" I say as they start looking at some pictures that Camilla took of Hakeem, walk out in the hallway to see Jania pacing a bit and I put my hand on her arm and she stops and looks at me

"Baby what's up" I say with concern

"Baby I have to tell you this and I mean it changes things a bit more but I don't know how you'll react" She says and I start getting nervous

"Babe your scaring me, what's goin on" I say as I try to comfort her

"I.....I have to leave Shelby...my family needs me and....I have to leave Empire" Jania says and my face falls immediately

"Wait what...why" I say confused

"My family owns a successful business....with that my brother can't run it properly so naturally my mother called me and told me I have to take over...which means I have to leave" She say and I try to process the information when suddenly the doorbell rings, I turn around as the maid open the door to reveal Darnell standing there

"Hey family" He says as he walks in, I look at my family and the lady who's helping with the papers and they all look at me confused

Well damn....this gon be a long night

A/n this nigh gon be wild lmao

Enjoy:)