Catching Feelings | Bwwm

6 | Carsen

When it came to never mixing business with pleasure, it seemed like that was another line I couldn't help but cross.

Hunched over and panting out of breath across the court from me with a net separating us, was my manager Basil. He was more than a manager though, he was more like a second father. Basil has been in my life since I was fourteen and I never felt like I couldn't turn to him. Besides Nixon, Basil was one of the few people that I trust.

The two of us are playing tennis and the both of us were okay at best. Neither of us grew up playing the sport, it was just something we both decided to pick up on maybe two years ago. Nevertheless, we always had fun when doing it and it was a great way for us to spend time together outside of work.

     Basil hit the ball over to my court and I purposely let it pass me by so I would have to walk over to get it. I needed to buy time to think of how I was going to tell him about the music program. If I was going to impress Nala then I had to make good of my promise to make her idea a reality.  At first I wasn't going to waste my time, but then she got into my head. She was the first women to reject me.

     I didn't like that.

     There  were three different girls in the industry. The established- the girls whose been in the limelight for so long they thought they were above everyone else. The hand-me-downs- the girls who were only famous by association but try so hard to make a name for themselves, and the reality hoes- girls who do just about anything they have to with anyone they have to to get fifteen minutes of fame. Nala wasn't in the industry so it made me wonder what type of girl she was. 

     I never paid attention to regular girls; all the ones I met were either crying too hard or became speechless in my present which was a turn off. But Nala wasn't a fan so she didn't act either way. She was different. A challenge. And I love a challenge.
     It wasn't until Basil and I paused the game to grab some water did I decided to bring up the mentoring program- well the music program. The idea of involving kids in the industry didn't sit well with me. But I was okay with doing something just a little bit different that would still benefit the kids.

"I thought of a way to boost my image."

"Let me hear it."

That's another thing I loved about Basil. He never stifled my creativity. While he was in charge of my career, he knew when to sit back and let me take the wheel. But knowing that I had his support behind my decisions was comforting. "I need your okay with the music program I want to open."

"What?" Basil said, his voice laced with surprise.

"It would be good for aspiring musician and give kids something to look forward to after school." I explained.

"This wouldn't happen to have anything to do with Nala Henderson would it?" Basil stared at me challengingly.

"What better way to charm her than to support her idea?"

"But I thought you were against the idea of kids getting in the industry."

"I am. But I don't see why I can't help them better their skills and give them a little faith in their dreams."

"Opening a mentoring program takes time Carsen. You'd need funding, a place, the right amount of advertisement." Basil went on.

"For the first time Basil, I'm not thinking so big. I was thinking we start off small, starting the program in one of the local middle school. You'd talk to the school board and get them on board and i'll supply the funding for the instruments."

"You really gave this some thought haven't you?" Basil raised a brow.

"I have." I said firmly.

"I think it's an incredible idea so you have my full support," Basil told me. "But what is it about Nala that's making you do this?"