No Doubt About It (Jamal Lyon Love Story)

Chapter 14: Tension at Empire

I came to where Cookie and Hakeem was performing at, which was at Wallace Prison. I had some trouble getting in until Porsha told them it was okay. I thanked her and she lead me to where Cookie was located. We came to this office whee Andre and Cookie were talking. They both stopped talking when they saw me. Cookie stood up,

"Hey Ve. I was just arranging some things with Andre." She explained. I nodded and looked around,

"Where's Hakeem?" Cookie sat back down,

"He'll be here. He needs to finish his performance with Laura. Did you know about this meeting?" She asked me.

I shook my head,

"No. I haven't got any calls from no one lately, which is really weird. I didn't know until you called and told me about this, so I came as soon as I can." I explained. Andre interrupted our little talk,

"Look, we have to do something about this, Mom. Kicking Lucious out of the board would cause a major effect on Empire." He warned. Cookie had to think for a second, trying to find a solution. She looked at Andre, trying to make sure that this wasn't some type of play,

"So she's having a board vote to kick Lucious out tonight?" She questioned. Andre nodded,

"At 9:00."

I layed back on the wall, listening to the conversation slightly. What was I supposed to say? THE Lucious Lyon is about to be eliminated from his own company! And for the most part, it'll be crazy once this gets to the public. Embarrassing. To think about it, I just got this job at Empire....

Just then, Hakeem entered the room.

"What's going on?" He looked at Andre, and then at me.

"What they doing here?" He stated towards Cookie. Cookie looked at him in frustration,

"Boy, did you know that Camilla and Mimi got hitched?" She asked. Hakeem looked at her in shock,

"That's who she married?!" He said doubtfully. I looked on in confusion as to who was this 'Camilla' person.

Who's Camilla? And isn't Mimi that white woman that works with Lucious? Damn, this just got a whole lot interesting. Wow, and all this time I've been dealing with my feelings for Jamal, and not seeing what's REALLY going on behind Empire.

Cookie sighed,

"Damn it, Hakeem."

Hakeem continued talking, "She said that she didn't take Lucious's money, and she said you knew!" He argued.

Cookie turned her head warily,

"And she still bounced! Now she's trying to bowguard our company from up under us."

I stood there not knowing what to say because I didn't even know what had been going on before I came to Empire, but I knew that with the Lyon family, things are ALWAYS drama with them.

Hakeem sighed softly,

"But you said that Lyon Dynasty was our company, Ma---" Andre cut him off,

"Listen, we don't have time for this! Okay? Now bottomline, we need you both to be there to vote or we'll be losing Empire tonight. Hell, we might lose it anyways!" Andre motioned, with his folder he had in his hand.

Cookie raised up from her seat, as her eyes widened, "Tonight? No, no, no, Dre. Not tonight! I can't leave here tonight until I see Jezzy. Is there something else I could do?" She assured. Andre had to take a deep breath in and motioned to the folder he had and gave it to Cookie. He told her she could sign some papers or whatever. She told Andre and me to step out so she could talk to Hakeem. Great. I asked to come here and I don't know what the hell is going on. Me and Andre stood out there in awkward silence, which was really bugging me a lot, so I said something first.

"So...um, how's everything? You know, with you and Rhonda?" I questioned. I haven't seen Rhonda around since I been here. She was like a sister to me that I never had. Andre gave me a confused look until he realized what I was talking about,

"Great...I mean, I'm about to become a father...."He trailed off with a slight smile. I widened my eyes with a big smile, trying to process the words in my head, 

"Rhonda's pregnant?!?"

He nodded, smiling a little, "Yeah, she is...I forgot you were like a sister to her. She did miss you, but she had alot of things to do and lost your contact number." He mentioned. I waved it off like it was nothing,

"It's alright, don't worry. I don't blame her, I've been busy with my personal problems as well...."

Andre smirked at me, "Does it have anything to do with certain someone?" I glared at him,

"No. It doesn't." I lied smoothly.

When Cookie was finished talking Hakeem and Andre, she told me to stay after they went down to Empire.

Cookie faced me and sighed,

"Listen, I know that...you just came back. But...we need you now more than ever to help us on this. You might not know what's gonna happen after this, but I'm giving you a warning right now. Whatever beef we have in this family hasn't got anything to do with you, even if you get caught up in it. I want you to focus right now and stay strong with us. No matter what, you will always be like a Lyon to us. My own daughter. Our daughter. Promise me you will stand loyal to us now." She sternly said. I nodded, as my eyes were starting to water at her words.

"Okay, I'll try."

Cookie stared at me with a stern look,

"You better." She pointed at me.

We finished our conversation and head to Empire. It was a little dark, but the meeting was still on. Me and Cookie came to see the meeting at the clear window, but we saw Hakeem looking at this woman right next to us, nodding her head for some reason. I had a bad feeling she was up to no good and that in my mind, she used to know the Lyon family. Cookie seen this and yelled, "HAKEEM, NO!"

Hakeem didn't listen to her and  said clearly,

"Aye."

Lucious, Cookie, Jamal, and me stared at him in surprise. I could tell Lucious looked like he was about to have a heart attack when he said that. I looked at Jamal and he looked at me with unsureness in his eyes. Oh boy, this is definitely not we had planned it to go. This is going to be one hell of a ride for sure.