The Rapper's Favorite || An Eminem Fanfiction

Chapter 11: Signing the Contract

Aria's POV

The contract sits in front of me, daring me to pick up the pen. My hands are clammy, and I keep rubbing them against my jeans, trying to shake off the nerves crawling up my spine. Marshall's words still echo in my head: This is your name. Your legacy.

I know he's right. Hell, I've known it all along. But signing this paper? It's more than just putting my name on a project. It's about stepping into a spotlight I've spent years avoiding. And not just any project—this is one of the most anticipated albums in the world. Signing this contract means taking ownership of my work, making sure my name—my real name—is attached to it. Even thinking about it feels strange, but this is the kind of thing that's going to change everything.

I've fought hard to stay invisible, to keep my head down and my name out of the industry's mess. Ghostwriting was safe, silent, like armor. No one could touch me when no one knew who I was. But this? This is different. It's my work, my chance to step out of the shadows. It's a big deal. And that's why it scares me.

Marshall cuts through the silence, his voice breaking up the tension in the room, steady but with that edge of amusement. "What's the holdup, Aria? You're not signing your life away—you're taking it back."

I glance up at him, and he's watching me with that look—half teasing, half serious. "C'mon. It's just a signature. Not like the world's waiting or anything."

I chuckle under my breath, but it's a nervous laugh. He's right, though. I've been circling this decision for too long. No more hiding.

The air feels thick, heavy with everything I've been carrying for years. The contract sits in front of me like a dare, and the weight of it is almost suffocating. The room around us is still—too still—except for the faint hum of traffic outside, like the world's oblivious to the shift that's happening here. I'm about to step into the light, and I'm not sure I'm ready.

With a deep breath, I grab the pen and sign: Arianna Bennett.

The ink dries quickly, but the weight of what I've just done lingers. My fingers tingle, and there's a rush of emotions—fear, pride, and relief, all tangled together. After years of working under a ghost name, hiding in the background, I've finally signed something with my real name. It feels surreal. Exposing.

Marshall steps closer and leans over the contract, reading it. "Arianna Bennett, huh?" He smirks, giving me a sidelong glance. "Sounds like you should be starring in some fancy drama, not writing rap hooks."

I roll my eyes, shaking off the tension. "Yeah, yeah. Don't get used to it."

"Hey, at least you make the credits look classy," he jokes, but there's an undertone of pride in his voice. He knows what this moment means, even if he's not saying it outright.

The relief is brief, swallowed up quickly by a familiar, gnawing fear. Signing the contract might be one of the biggest steps I've taken in my career, but it feels like I've just opened a door I can't close—that has a monster waiting on the other side. Evan's going to see this. He'll know I'm not hiding anymore. And that scares the hell out of me.

Marshall picks up the contract, glances it over one more time, and takes a quick picture with his phone. "I'm sending this to Paul. You're official now."

He pauses, then smirks wider, his eyes gleaming with that familiar edge of humor. "Welcome to Shady Records. Now you get to enjoy the pay and perks of the underground elite."

I let out a laugh, the tension breaking for a moment. "Yeah, the perks of surviving this industry."

But even with the jokes, the weight of the decision still presses down on me. It's easy for Marshall to make jokes. He's spent his career fighting off people who've tried to tear him down, and he's still here. Me? I've spent years trying to avoid the industry, to disappear. Evan taught me how to vanish when he erased me from everything. And signing this contract? It feels like I've just painted a target on my back.

Marshall notices the hesitation I can't hide. "Look, I get it. But Evan? He doesn't control you anymore. He's not running the show. You are."

I nod, but the knot in my stomach doesn't ease up. "It's not just about him coming after me. If he tries to screw with this album, with you..."

Marshall's laugh is sharp but confident. "You think I haven't dealt with worse? Let him try. I've been through plenty, and I'm still here. You are too."

I want to believe him. I really do. But Evan isn't just about tearing people down. He erases them. He's done it before, and I know he'll try to do it again if he sees my name.

Images flash in my mind of the lengths Evan might go to. I can already hear the whispers he'll plant, the media spins, the sabotage. He'll find a way to leak something, spread rumors, destroy the album's credibility. It's what he does—dismantles and erases.

"I just don't want to lose everything again," I say, my voice quieter than I'd like.

Marshall's voice is steady, unshakable. "You're not going to lose anything. You've got this. And now your name's on it. He doesn't have power over you anymore."

He steps closer, and for a second, his hand rests lightly on my shoulder—just enough to let me know I'm not alone in this. That's all it takes to remind me that I'm not fighting this battle by myself.

Marshall's phone buzzes, snapping me out of my thoughts. He glances at the screen and smirks. "Paul says it's all set. The contract's official. You're in."

I nod, trying to absorb what that really means. After years of ghostwriting, my real name—Aria Bennett—is going to be out there. No more hiding. It feels like I've been waiting for this moment, but now that it's here, it's hard to shake the weight of what's coming next.

"Everything's good?" I ask, more to distract myself than anything.

"Yeah," Marshall says, leaning against the wall, his arms crossed. "You did it. You're in. Now you just have to own it."

As Marshall talks, the gravity of the situation begins to settle in. This is more than just signing my name. It's about stepping into something bigger, something that could change the course of my career. I spent years in the shadows, and now my name is going to be on an album that people are going to hear. Worldwide. No aliases. No hiding. Just me—Aria—on something real. It's terrifying, but I'm ready for it. I have to be.

Marshall starts pacing, his mind probably already jumping to the next track, but I'm still standing there, staring down at the contract. My name—bold, final. I know there's no turning back now. And maybe, for the first time, I don't want to.

"What happens now?" I ask, my voice steady, though I'm still bracing myself for the unknown.

Marshall stops pacing and meets my eyes. "Now? Now we drop the single and finish this album. And the world's going to know your name."

His words are like an anchor, pulling me back from the edge of uncertainty. There's a spark of pride in his voice, and for the first time, I feel a glimmer of that pride too. I've spent so long running, hiding from everything that I never thought I'd get here. But I did. And I'm not running anymore.

I take a deep breath and meet his gaze. "Okay. Let's do this."

Marshall grins, his expression sharp and determined. "That's what I like to hear."

As he heads for the door, ready to get back to work, I stay behind for a second, staring at the contract one last time. My name—Arianna Bennett—staring back at me. This is it. It's real. And this time, I'm not backing down.