𝐹𝑟𝑒𝑒 𝑋𝑜𝑛𝑒

𝑋𝑋𝑋𝐼𝐼𝐼

The silence around the table was thick as Nikki finally broke it. "What the hell just happened?"

The one question lingered for a moment, stretching out like an eternity. Gil looked over at Tina, eyes wide. "Is it true?" he asked. Tina hesitated, then nodded quietly.

Gil shrugged, letting out a sigh. "Then what's the big deal? She's bi; it's not like she committed a crime." He looked around, clearly baffled.

Kelly nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I don't care that Janet likes girls."

Nikki raised her brows, still processing. "I'm just... in complete shock."

Tina took a deep breath, looking down briefly before speaking. "Janet's just sensitive about the subject," she explained, glancing at me with an apologetic look, then away.

Gil's gaze shifted to me, his face a mix of curiosity and surprise. "You knew?"

I shook my head, feeling the weight of the moment, but before I could say anything, Kelly turned on Shawn, clearly angry. "Why did you do that to her?" she snapped, giving Shawn's arm a firm shove.

Shawn scoffed, clutching her arm. "Ouch!"

The room fell silent again as the door creaked open, and everyone turned. Janet stepped back in, her expression unreadable yet fierce. She held her head high, and despite the vulnerability she must've felt, she moved with that quiet, unbreakable strength that was so uniquely her.

Every eye was on her as she made her way back to the table, the tension thickening again. I wanted to reach out, to let her know I was here, but the fierceness in her gaze made me hold back, waiting to see what she would say or do.

"Shawn, why'd you need to get even?" Gil asked, his tone a mix of confusion and disappointment.

Shawn opened her mouth to respond, but Janet was already standing at the end of the dimly lit table, her voice cutting through the silence. "Because she's upset that I wasn't planning on going on tour," Janet explained firmly, her gaze unwavering. I knew she was lying to save herself from telling the her truth. "Tina and Shawn were both upset that I'd decided not to tour again."

Kelly's eyes narrowed, a look of hurt flashing across her face. "What?" she said, disbelief and disappointment in her voice.

Kelly sucked her teeth in frustration, and Gil let out a groan. But Janet's next words softened the tension in the room. "But I changed my mind," she continued, a hint of a smile pulling at her lips. "I'm going on tour after this next album." Cheers broke out around the table, everyone excited, everyone except Shawn, whose face remained tense.

I caught Tina's eye, and she gave me a beaming smile, clearly thrilled.

Janet turned her attention to Tina. "Now, Tina is one of the reasons I was hesitant to do this tour," she admitted, her expression softening. "I have been so grateful to work with her over the years, but now it's time for her to grow. She won't be with us on this tour."

Nikki whined, "No!" clearly disappointed.

"It's okay," Janet reassured her, smiling with pride at Tina. "She's going to move on to bigger and better things."

Tina chuckled, brushing off the moment with a gentle laugh. "I don't know if anyone's offering me better," she teased. "No one will ever be better than you, Janet. You're literally the best boss ever."

Janet pressed her hands together as if in prayer and gave Tina a respectful bow before standing up straight again. She took a deep breath, and her tone shifted to one of finality. "So, moving forward, Shawn will not be a part of the next tour. Shawn, you are fired."