His Secret

Jasmine

Aunt Vi name comes across my phone. It's 3 in the morning. "Hello?" I answer panicked. "Are you okay baby?" She asks sounding as sweet as ever. "I'm alright. What's wrong??"

"Nothing's wrong. I just had a dream and wanted to  check on you."

"What kind of dream?"

"About fish." Oh God. "Ohhhhh."

"You're the only girl unless Rico and Cato have knocked someone's daughter up." I laugh. "I hope not."

"So..."

I sigh, "I am."

"Aw Jasmine!"

"Don't say anything to anyone. I don't want it out yet."

"Is that guy the father?"

"Uh.."

"Jasmine." She says sternly. "Yes but it doesn't matter because he's too busy being married. I'm fine with doing this all on my own. He can go to hell for all I care."

"Jasmine that's no way to handle this."

"Aunt Vi he doesn't care. He's too focused on his wife. Now I'm made out to be some side chick. I actually liked this guy. He flipped the script on me fast."

"This situation is so ugly."

"It really is aunt Vi. But its cool. I just have to do whatever I got to do."

She sighs, "It's your life Jas." I roll over. "I know."

"Do what's best for the child."

"Oh I am."

"Get some rest. I love you"

"I love you too Aunt Vi."

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"Jas let August know I had to run back to the hotel. I left my ring." Arielle says. "Okay girl." I answer standing on the side of the stage.

August comes to the back. "Where did Arielle go?"

"She just left to go back to the hotel. She left her ring."

"I hope she's back in time for my set."

"Why?" Myesha asks. "Your ch-" I step on Myesha's foot. She looks at me. "What you was saying?" August asks. "Nothing."

"Hm. You ready Jas?" He asks. "I was born ready."

"Alright I see you big shot."

"Aye just the two I wanted to see." Jay says walking up. "What's up?" I question turning around sipping my water. They make sure I have something in my hand. "Jas the label thinks we should work on this You and August thing and August your label agrees."

"Excuse me?"

"What thing?" August asks. "They've been viewing the online conversation of I'm ready and you and him are where it's at. Rumors of the joint album are floating around, the pictures from the shoot came back and they're hot. Aug if ain't know you were married Jas would sho nuff be a good look for you." I roll eyes. "So what they want exactly?" I ask.

"A public relationship. Parties, clubs, the studio, events, award shows, stay seen in the public eye. Tweet each other, hang out, take pictures. Make it look real. It works because you're doing the album together and appearances. Promo runs, your names are already out there and the people love it."

"How you expect my wife to feel?" August asks. This wife. She's always at the forefront of his mind now. "For 5 million I'm sure she wouldn't mind." My mouth drops, "5 mill?!?" "Damn. They're willing to pay all of that?" Me and August say at once. "Yes their projections show they'll get six time more than that."

"So we'll only get five million in the beginning?" August asks. I'm still stuck on getting five million period. That's a lot of money. I could move Aunt Vi get her a house and Rico and Cato away from Hernandez, things would  be so much better. "Yeah. The more hashtag JasAug grows the more money that's made. They're even talking about a full tour after the joint album is complete. Bigger cities, better venues, they see nothing but success of this."

"Let's finish talking about this later."

"Are y'all ready Jasmine?!?... I don't think she can hear you! Are you ready for Jasmineeee." EJ says. They scream and begin to chant my name. "Showtime." Myesha says handing me my mic. "Hello New York! How y'all feeling?"

"Your city has been so good Me so in return Ima give you all of me plus some!" I perform every song except for I'm Ready.

"I got one question for you New York... This is the last song and I just need to know are you ready?... Augusttt."

"New York!" August says coming out. He walks over to me and sits his arm around my shoulder. "What's up Jas?"

"What's good?"

"You ready?"

"I'm ready."

We perform the song and the people are loving it. "Thank you New York. You've been beautiful." We walk off the stage and August DJ begins to set up.

"See what I mean?" Jay says giving me his phone. "Wow we're trending the twitter." I saw showing August. 90 thousand tweets, sheesh. "Damn." He says, "I'll have to talk it over with Arielle. It sounds genius though."

"Alright cool." Jay says. August walks to the back to his dressing room. "Jas. I need you to get him on board."

"Jay I can't force him to do it. He should talk it over with his wife."

"Did he talk the pregnancy over with his wife?" My heart drops. "How do you know that?"

"You were loud at the hotel. I overhead you two talking. Well that and the doctor indirectly assumed I knew." I believe that the nurse assumed I knew.

"Jay don't say anything." My eyes fill with tears. "Jasmine, never baby girl. You're the lil sister  I never had. This money we'd make from this would be very beneficial to you and the baby." He hugs me. "I know it would. I'll see what I can do."

"Cool."

I go to the back and knock on August's dressing room. "Come in." I open the door. "What's up?" He says looking at himself in the mirror. "What you think about the deal?" I ask sitting down. "It sounds real convincing but I don't know how Arielle would take it."

"If she wasn't a factor would you do it."

"Hell yeah. I mean our relationship isn't really public now. Only a close friends and family know were married. To most she's just my manager."

"Hm guess we weren't as close as I assumed." He turns his head and looks at me. "I really thought she told you the night you came to the dinner party."

"Anyway... We could really use the money from the deal."

"Who couldn't use 5 million dollars in their life."

I suck my teeth, "No really we could use it." I say rubbing my stomach. He sighs, "I'm sorry for how I've been acting lately towards you."

"It's whatever August." I roll my eyes. "Jas forreal."

"Okay."

"I'll talk to Arielle and let Jay know."

"Talk to me about what?" Arielle asks walking inside the dressing room. I sit up straight in the chair. It would horrible is she questioned my stomach. I wonder if anyone has noticed my weight gain.

"Well baby Jas label and mine feels that everyone could capitalize on I'm ready. Rumors of the joint albums has leaked, even since I'm ready dropped they haven't stop talking about us. Fans have created and are stanning the hell out of JasAug. The labels want us to do a staged relationship basically. A public relationship, social media, parities, events, awards, the whole nine."

"Hm."