Duane did have a lot of respect for Reginald. Deep down, he did want to make a change. But he felt trapped in the life that he led. If he attempted to leave, he could be killed by his colleagues. Duane knew too much about the people who supplied him. He knew too much about crooked cops who covered up a lot of their own dirt. Most of all, he knew himself. He knew that he would have a hard time leaving all that tax free money on the table.
Duane sat in Reginald's suite, watching Yvonne as she washed her face in front of the mirror. His eyes glanced over her body. He looked at her butt and her hips and found himself licking his lips. "That's a fine woman," Duane thought to himself.
"What's your name," asked Yvonne while she began arranging her hair. She never actually looked back at him. Duane figured she was just making small talk. She definitely didn't really care, but she didn't want the uncomfortable silence. She also knew that Duane was watching her and she felt a little uneasy about it. She just wanted to break the ice and get him focused on something besides her ass.
"I'm Duane, Reggie's friend and manager," he said with a smile. "You," Yvonne said puzzled, as she turned around and faced Duane. "You are managing Reginald's career and his money," said Yvonne inquizitively. She looked him up and down. "He's not ugly," she thought, "but he is a hood." She looked at his gruff appearance. Duane looked like he lived a rough life, but his clothes were high quality, and he seemed smart. No, it wasn't the material things, his story was told in his eyes and in his words. She listened to the way he spoke and she saw a sneakiness in his eyes. "He's up to no good," she thought.
"Yeah, Reg is my boy," Duane said proudly. Yvonne turned around to finish her hair. "He played my club and I did everything I could to get him a break. Shit finally worked out," Duane finished. "He saw the way I ran my businesses and he believed that I would be an asset to his career," Duane said. "I know how to handle business and Reggie is a good friend," he said. "I'm going to have his back until the day I'm in the ground," he finished.
Yvonne wasn't impressed. "Don't screw this up for him, he's just getting started and he doesn't need your kind of trouble," she said as she turned around. She walked over to the door. "Tell Reggie that I'm sorry for everything and I hope he can forgive me," Yvonne said. She opened the door and walked out.
"What the fuck," Duane asked himself. "I'm trying to help my boy, and everybody got a fuckin' opinion." Duane slouched a little on the couch. After a few minutes, he felt his phone vibrating on his hip. "This is D," he answered.
"Boss, we got problems," Gerald said on the other end. "The Feds came through the club. Ain't no damning evidence here or anything, but they are getting more aggressive," said Gerald. "Okay, call our contacts at the precinct. Arrange a meeting and you and Earl stand in for me. Find out what they THINK they know. Get back at me later," Duane said as he hung up.
Reginald and Brandie walked back into the room as Duane was closing his phone. "'Blackney Spears just walked out. She said she was sorry and she hopes you can forgive her skanky ass," Duane said in a disgusted tone. Reginald looked at Duane, he could see frustration on his face. "He looks pissed. Yvonne must have said something," Reginald said to himself. "D, I gotta talk to you man," Reginald said solemnly. Duane felt his phone vibrate again. "Hold on man, and I'll give you my full attention," he said as he answered the phone.
"Yeah, this is Mister Clemons," said Duane. Reginald watched Duane's eyes get larger and his lips curl into a big smile as he listened to the voice on the other end of the phone. "Thank you, thank you very much! Goodbye," Duane said with excitement. "Reg, bruh, you are never going to believe this," Duane said.
Reginald began to get excited too. "Reggie, you've been invited to be on BST. You're going to be performing live in front of a national audience," Duane yelled. Reginald and Duane hugged. "Damn, man that's great," Reginald said to Duane. "I can't believe this," he said. "I'm going to be on live TV," Reginald finished.
"So what did you want to tell me before the call man," asked Duane. Reginald looked at Duane and then at Brandie. "It's nothing man, don't sweat it," he said. Brandie frowned and slipped out the door unnoticed with her bag as Reginald and Duane celebrated.
"Reginald is so naive," Brandie thought. "He just doesn't realize that Duane is going to dig them both a big hole," she said to herself. She walked out of the hotel and on outside. She stood on the side walk to catch a cab. The cab pulled up and she put her bag in and sat down in back seat, disappointed in what had occured. "The airport please," she said to the driver.
Back in the room, Reginald noticed that Brandie wasn't in the room, but he didn't know that she left the building. "Where's Brandie," asked Duane. "I thought she just went to get some air, but I don't know," Reginald said. He picked up his cell and called Brandie. She answered, while in the cab on the way to the airport.
"Baby, where are you," he asked. "I'm going home Reginald. I'm happy for you, but your success is not going to last until you drop Duane," Brandie replied. "Baby, now is not the time," he replied. "Reggie, there's never a good time to disappoint somebody. But you've disappointed me twice today, once with that drunk bitch and another time by not being man enough to talk to Duane about his situation and how it will affect your life. I can't live like this anymore. When you get it together, give me a call. Until then, have fun with your boy," Brandie said as she slammed her phone shut.
Reginald sat down. He was completely shocked. "What happened," Duane asked. "She just dumped me," he said quietly. "For what," Duane asked. Reginald didn't say anything. He just sat with his arms folded. "It's cool dog. You don't have to say anything. I'll leave you alone," said Duane as he got up and walked out.
Reginald chose to spend the rest of the time in Atlanta alone. The next few stops on the tour, Reginald sang his heart out. He was really feeling the words to his songs. He couldn't believe how he had lost his love. Duane continued to be there and support him. Even Mike showed support in his own way. Craig said to him several times, "A personal life is a detriment to the early part of a star's career!" It didn't help. Reginald was lonely.
The entire time they were on tour, Reginald watched Duane closely. He wanted badly to believe that Duane was keeping his nose clean. And he had no evidence to the contrary based on the most recent experiences. For that reason, he didn't see a need to let Duane go or even talk to him about it. It just seemed redundent. Reginald finally settled on the thought that Brandie was just looking for a reason to leave him. Duane was convenient, so she used him as reasoning.
"Her loss," he thought as he took a sip of his bottled water. "Great show tonight Reggie," said one of the production assistants. "Thanks man," Reginald replied. It was the final stop on the tour. Philadelphia was good to Reginald that night. He got three standing ovations. He actually had to come back on stage to get his last one. The applause held up Big Mic's performance by almost 20 minutes. Reginald was feeling pretty good about himself and his career.
"Reggie," said a familiar voice. He turned and saw Yvonne standing in the doorway. "We haven't talked much since Atlanta. I just wanted to tell you that I really enjoy your performances. You are getting better every stop," she said. "Thanks Yvonne, I appreciate that," he said quietly. "Okay, I'm going to go," said Yvonne. "Have a good evening," she said as she walked away. Reginald got out of his chair. "Yvonne, wait," he said. Yvonne turned around, "yes?"
"What are you doing tonight?"
To be continued...
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