DREAM GIRL

The girls vs. the world

BEYONCÉ KNOWLES
HOUSTON, TX
𝟤𝗉𝗆

"Bey... this is big" Kelly sighed, looking at Beyoncé who stood off to the side, nervously chewing on her fingernails. "I know Kells. I spent a whole week reading it over and over" Beyoncé said shakily. Latavia shook her head with her mouth agape. "This is a really good deal Beyoncé. We'd be signed to Epic Records and will open for the Jacksons every night on tour. The label's contract states we'll be earning nearly 20% of the tour income plus that per record, travel expenses covered, we have producing and recording freedom, everything" she said, flipping through the papers for the evidence of her words.

"I-I think this is great. One of the main reasons we aren't taken seriously is because we aren't signed. Imagine how much easier our lives would be with a label. With a stable and knowledgeable team. Imagine how much money we'll be making" Latavia said, in awe of everything in the contract.

Beyoncé remained silent. She didn't trust it, there was something wrong with all of this in her gut. Part of her felt like she was betraying her father but then again, Joe was around more than her father was as a child. Though his ways were harsh, she watched him turn his children into international superstars. At one point, Joe was adamant about bringing that same fame to Destiny's Child, but something happened that corrupted that plan.

Beyoncé had no idea what. She just remembered the Jacksons being there one day, and then gone from her life like they never existed the next. She felt like something was missing, everything sounded too good to be true. If she knew anything about Joe Jackson, his favors never came without a price. If he was going out of his way to help these girls get to the top, they'd have to do something for him. Joe was a man about his business and thought about everything. He planned everything out strategically before making decisions, especially concerning his money.

That was the difference between Joe and Matthew. Matthew was sloppy and reckless. He wasn't knowledgeable about the industry or business, he was just going with the flow. And with the lack of revenue, Destiny's Child couldn't afford to go with the flow much longer. They had to make a decision.

"We'd have to perform for the label, and you already know we got that down. What's with the hesitation Bey? This is exactly what we need" Letoya weighed in on the conversation. Beyoncé looked at her with a look of distress and conflict. She knew this was a great opportunity for the group and hated to be pessimistic, but there was a black hole within all of this. A big ol' puzzle piece missing. She had no proof, but she had the feeling in her gut. Her granny always told her to trust that gut feeling.

"I just... it's sounds good, yes. We've read the fine print to the best of our abilities, but it's something unsaid here. I know Joe Jackson. Nothing is this easy. The man doesn't believe in handouts."

Letoya groaned loudly, interrupting Beyoncé. "Look, I know you're stuck on whatever happened with lover boy but let it go. It's not about him, Matthew, or Joe ugly-ass Jackson. This is about us, Destiny's Child, our future. Don't go into another one of your self-sabotaging episodes and ruin it for the rest of us Beyoncé. That feeling, It's all in your busy ass head."

After her rant, Letoya got up and left the room, leaving the tension boiling in the air. Beyoncé looked at Kelly and Latavia and sighed. They agreed with Letoya. They didn't have to say it, the look on their faces said it all. "I'm going to go talk to that stupid ass girl" Latavia huffed, rushing after Letoya. Kelly stayed and stood from the bed. She engulfed Beyoncé in a sisterly hug and rubbed her back comfortingly.