solemnly. "That's why it was so tragic when she was murdered."
I nodded my head, fighting back the tears that were swelling in my eyes. "It seems that everyone that I've ever loved has been taken away from me. But you know what the worse part is?" I stated, staring directly into Jamal's eyes. "In each of their deaths, I'm somehow responsible."
"You can't blame yourself for the madness of the streets. You're just as innocent as the victims themselves."
"Jamal, there is nothing innocent about me." Jamal had no idea that he was about to break bread with a killer. He still remembered me as Precious Cummings, the girl everyone felt sorry for because her mother was a crack whore. Oh, how things had changed.
"You'll always be innocent in my eyes." I could hear the sincerity in Jamal's voice. It was rather touching.
"Enough about me, look at you. You really have changed."
"You're right about that. Who would've believed I'd be the president of a hip hop label?"
"Me. Maybe not hip hop, but the president of a companyyes," I said honestly. "I knew you could rule the world if you wanted. You were just that smart."
"That means a lot coming from you," he said.
I wanted to get off the subject of me, because for some reason I felt guilty about how I treated Jamal a few years back. Yeah, we were only kids, but I was feeling like maybe I took advantage of him in some ways.
"Did you know Rhonda? She worked at Atomic," I asked.
"I didn't know her well. Was she a friend of yours?"
"Yes. We were very close. She was actually my roommate before I married Supreme."
"Really? We worked in different departments, but we talked occasionally. Everyone was in shock when she was murdered."
"Yeah, so was I. Another death I'm responsible for," I mumbled under my breath.
"Mrs. Mills, your dinner is ready."
"Thank you, Anna. Let's eat."
Jamal followed me to the dining room, and we devoured the delicious steak Anna prepared. Being around Jamal was so easy. I didn't feel as if I had to put my guard up as I would with everyone else. His behavior seemed genuine, without any ulterior motive.
"Dinner was delicious. We've spent so much time playing catch up, that I almost forgot the reason I scheduled this dinner in the first place."
"That's right, there was a reason. You have Supreme's business to discuss."
Jamal gave me a charming smile right before he cut to the chase. "Unlike many artists, Supreme fulfilled his record contract. He put out a CD every year, sometimes twice. Right before his death, he was in negotiations with Atomic Records to sign a new multi-million dollar deal."
"I guess that's impossible now that he is dead?" I inquired.
"Actually, it's not."
"I don't understand."
"You know how much Supreme loved being in the studio. He completed enough new tracks to come out with three full CD's. Technically, he owns them. They were done on his own time and money after he fulfilled his obligations with Atomic. He let us listen to most of the tracks during negotiations, and it's his best work. That work is part of his estate, so you now own his music. Atomic Records wants to buy that from you."
"Really? For how much?"
"I'm not going to bullshit you, Precious, his music is worth a lot, especially now that he's dead. Supreme had the same type of fan following as someone like Tupac. I believe you should sit down with your attorney and discuss what type of numbers you should be asking for."
"I appreciate you being so honest with me. You could've thrown a price out and if it sounded right I probably would've taken it, no questions asked. I mean, what the hell do I know about the music business? Plus, Supreme made so many lucrative investments, I have more money than I could possibly spend in this lifetime or the next."
"Well maybe it's time you get familiar with it. Supreme has left you a very rich woman. You need to make your decisions wisely."
"Thanks for the advice. I'll definitely keep that in mind. Maybe you can come back over again
I nodded my head, fighting back the tears that were swelling in my eyes. "It seems that everyone that I've ever loved has been taken away from me. But you know what the worse part is?" I stated, staring directly into Jamal's eyes. "In each of their deaths, I'm somehow responsible."
"You can't blame yourself for the madness of the streets. You're just as innocent as the victims themselves."
"Jamal, there is nothing innocent about me." Jamal had no idea that he was about to break bread with a killer. He still remembered me as Precious Cummings, the girl everyone felt sorry for because her mother was a crack whore. Oh, how things had changed.
"You'll always be innocent in my eyes." I could hear the sincerity in Jamal's voice. It was rather touching.
"Enough about me, look at you. You really have changed."
"You're right about that. Who would've believed I'd be the president of a hip hop label?"
"Me. Maybe not hip hop, but the president of a companyyes," I said honestly. "I knew you could rule the world if you wanted. You were just that smart."
"That means a lot coming from you," he said.
I wanted to get off the subject of me, because for some reason I felt guilty about how I treated Jamal a few years back. Yeah, we were only kids, but I was feeling like maybe I took advantage of him in some ways.
"Did you know Rhonda? She worked at Atomic," I asked.
"I didn't know her well. Was she a friend of yours?"
"Yes. We were very close. She was actually my roommate before I married Supreme."
"Really? We worked in different departments, but we talked occasionally. Everyone was in shock when she was murdered."
"Yeah, so was I. Another death I'm responsible for," I mumbled under my breath.
"Mrs. Mills, your dinner is ready."
"Thank you, Anna. Let's eat."
Jamal followed me to the dining room, and we devoured the delicious steak Anna prepared. Being around Jamal was so easy. I didn't feel as if I had to put my guard up as I would with everyone else. His behavior seemed genuine, without any ulterior motive.
"Dinner was delicious. We've spent so much time playing catch up, that I almost forgot the reason I scheduled this dinner in the first place."
"That's right, there was a reason. You have Supreme's business to discuss."
Jamal gave me a charming smile right before he cut to the chase. "Unlike many artists, Supreme fulfilled his record contract. He put out a CD every year, sometimes twice. Right before his death, he was in negotiations with Atomic Records to sign a new multi-million dollar deal."
"I guess that's impossible now that he is dead?" I inquired.
"Actually, it's not."
"I don't understand."
"You know how much Supreme loved being in the studio. He completed enough new tracks to come out with three full CD's. Technically, he owns them. They were done on his own time and money after he fulfilled his obligations with Atomic. He let us listen to most of the tracks during negotiations, and it's his best work. That work is part of his estate, so you now own his music. Atomic Records wants to buy that from you."
"Really? For how much?"
"I'm not going to bullshit you, Precious, his music is worth a lot, especially now that he's dead. Supreme had the same type of fan following as someone like Tupac. I believe you should sit down with your attorney and discuss what type of numbers you should be asking for."
"I appreciate you being so honest with me. You could've thrown a price out and if it sounded right I probably would've taken it, no questions asked. I mean, what the hell do I know about the music business? Plus, Supreme made so many lucrative investments, I have more money than I could possibly spend in this lifetime or the next."
"Well maybe it's time you get familiar with it. Supreme has left you a very rich woman. You need to make your decisions wisely."
"Thanks for the advice. I'll definitely keep that in mind. Maybe you can come back over again
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